Even before the alarming and violent January 6 assault on the Capitol, American politics was in danger of spinning out of control— bumping up against the guardrails of our democratic institutions.

On social media and in the civic square, many have separated into two camps that seem to hate the other side. We have become estranged from family and friends over politics.

More than ever, we need nuance.

In this episode, our guest is a liberal writer and feminist, Meghan Daum, who is increasingly critical of her own side: the left. Meghan wrote the book, “The Problem With Everything. My Journey Through The New Culture Wars.” She’s also the host of “The Unspeakable”, a podcast that celebrates disagreement and encourages guests to speak uncomfortable truths.

“We are not allowing ourselves to sort through our confusions. You have to be on one side or the other,” says Meghan. “If you’re not conflicted, you are either lying to yourself, or you’re not very smart.”

Recommendation: Jim recommends “Post Corona”, a podcast series hosted by Dan Senor that predicts how COVID19 will transform our world— indefinitely.