On this episode of The Federalist Radio Hour, reporter Zaid Jilani joins Culture Editor Emily Jashinsky to discuss polarization in American politics, but explains how Americans can remain optimistic despite the contentious divide.
“It wasn’t really normal for the average person to become a political combatant in every moment in their life,” Jilani said. “Having social media and having smartphones and doing things like that enabled us to do which is like everyone’s grandma and uncle will tell you what they believe about everything,” he said.
“There will be a contest to see who can get the likes and the comments and the shares and so on and so forth … it’s elevating your political identity to like your core function of your person,” Jilani said.
Yet, Jilani believes not all hope is lost.
“I think it’s very, very important to stress that things are getting better and that things are working and that this is actually a pretty solid place and we shouldn’t really just try to completely do a 180 and tear it down because then things will be a lot worse,” Jilani explained. “There’s a reason more people want to come to this country rather than any other country in the entire world.”
Listen here:
