37. There is an enormous amount of distrust and gullibility - Andreas Schedler

How Broken Trust is Poisoning American Democracy

In this episode, host David Beckmeyer interviews Andreas Schedler about his research on political polarization in the United States. Schedler challenges the traditional understanding of polarization as a simple left-right divide and argues that the breakdown of trust is a fundamental factor driving hostility between political factions. He explains that people increasingly believe the other side is willing to break the rules of democracy to win, leading to a dangerous lack of trust. Schedler discusses the importance of recognizing these perceptions and engaging in dialogue to bridge the divide. He also highlights the need for critical thinking and self-reflection to overcome polarization.