Ezra Klein explains how Republican and Democrats in the US became so different from each other, ideologically and demographically, and why that trend + our institutions = political gridlock. Questions covered include: Is polarization necessarily bad? Has the left polarized more than the right? And what should we make of polls that seem to show Republicans and Democrats used to agree on immigration policy? (November 5, 2021)
Additional links:
- Ezra’s book, Why We’re Polarized (2020)
- Ezra on Twitter: @ezraklein
- Vox article in which Ezra discussing new research comparing polarization across countries, “What polarization data from 9 countries reveals about the US” (January 24, 2020)
- Rationally Speaking episode 248 with David Shor discussing polarization, “Are Democrats being irrational?” (December 22, 2020)