I don’t do this work in optimism. I do it in hope”, Braver Angels President David Blankenhorn tells our podcast. “If we’re going to have any chance to fix this and save our country, this is what needs to be done.”

Soon after the tumultuous 2016 election Braver Angels sprung to life— co-founded by David, Bill Doherty and David Lapp. Two years after its founding this nationwide volunteer-led citizen movement had its first convention attended by 72 conservative and 72 liberal delegates. Last summer, more than 750 reds and blues were at the Braver Angels national convention in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

In the past few years Braver Angels workshops, debates, and other events have been held in all 50 states. The work continues every day all across America.

We are releasing this repeat episode of our 2024 interview with David, recorded at Braver Angels offices in New York. This June he will transition from his role as Braver Angels President. Episode 416 includes more of our conversation and David’s thoughts.

This episode is the latest in our series of reports on the people, projects and ideas of Braver Angels. For the past ten years, How Do We Fix It? has featured lively and creative cross-partisan interviews with a broad range of authors, journalists and public thinkers.