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Dignity across the divide: Braver Angels ambassador calls for love in politics at IU event
John Wood Jr. discussed political polarization ahead of the U.S. semiquincentennial.
Center for Politics hosts former Attorney General Jason Miyares
During the event, Miyares reflected on the state of American democracy, warning about rising political polarization while urging attendees to take an active role in sustaining civic institutions ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary.
Scientists just found a way to store massive data using light in 3 dimensions
A new holographic storage technique uses light in three dimensions to dramatically increase how much data can be stored. It encodes information throughout a material using amplitude, phase, and polarization, rather than just on a surface. An AI model then reconstructs the data from light patterns, simplifying the process. This could pave the way for faster, denser, and more efficient data storage systems.
OPINION: One simple way to heal American politics: Run more union members
Candidates who come from the Labor Movement are exactly what many Americans crave By JARED ABBOTT Jared Abbott and DUSTIN GUASTELLA American politics feels hopelessly broken. Extreme political polarization, enormous amounts of Political Action Committee (PAC) money sloshing around during elections, and the increasing power of the rich make it seem like nothing, and no...
Partisanship and science
I recently participated in a symposium of the Denver-based Institute for Science & Policy, during which I had a “fireside chat” with Tony Mills of the American Enterprise Institute. Mills has written extensively on the politicization of science, and the two of us had a very enjoyable hour-long conversation on the topic. You can watch it below. The main questions we dealt with are why there is such a vast partisan gap in trust of science, and to what extent this is a unique moment. Mills helpfully brings a good deal of data to the discussion, as he did in this useful piece at Issues in Science & Technology. Tusk depends on reader support. To support this work, please become a paid subscriber. Subscribe Note this graph, drawing on a range of survey data to demonstrate partisan attitudes toward science since 1970s. As it demonstrates, there’s been a very sharp partisan divergence in confidence in science during the Trump Era, starting prior to the Covid pandemic. At least in part, we can attribute this to a rise in populist anti-science rhetoric embraced by Trump, his appointees, and those in his media orbit. But as the graph also shows, the partisan divide has existed in the past, and it’s not always in the same direction. The largest divergence in party views toward science prior to 2016 was in the 1970s, when liberals equated scientific achievement with the military-industrial complex and thus trusted it less. That era of scientific mistrust is often overlooked. Indeed, as Mills notes, the Moon landings (1969-72), which today are considered one of the last great moments of national unity, were experienced nothing like that at the time. There was sharp debate back then over whether the Apollo missions were worth the vast expenditures when the country had so much else to deal with. It’s outside the dataset, and we don’t have the partisanship lens for it, but the 1950s was another deeply anti-science decade, with critics of intellectuals and college professors alleging their ties to communism and their lack of commitment to basic American moral beliefs. This was the subject of Richard Hofstadter’s 1962 book Anti-Intellectualism in American Life, in which he quotes religious leaders like Franklin Graham: [In place of the Bible] we substituted reason, rationalism, mind culture, science worship, the working power of government, Freudianism, naturalism, humanism, behaviorism, positivism, materialism, and idealism. [This is the work of] so-called intellectuals. Thousands of these “intellectuals” have publicly stated that morality is relative—that there is no norm or absolute standard.… This fervor was heavily whipped up by Sen. Joe McCarthy (R-Wisconsin), although it’s clear that not all his fellow Republicans were on board with his red-baiting. What ended that era? The simple answer is the 1957 launch of Sputnik. Americans became afraid that they were losing to Soviet scientists, and suddenly university researchers and government projects were awash with funding. In our conversation, I asked Mills about the possibility of us having a Sputnik moment again that would rally the American public in favor of science today. Mills argued that the COVID-19 pandemic was essentially a Sputnik moment — a terrifying threat to all Americans that required scientific advances to address. But thanks in part to political polarization and the populist and conspiratorial leanings of Donald Trump, we got the opposite of a unifying moment. Many Americans turned against science, despite science actually stepping up in that moment. As we discussed in the chat, it’s not clear what scientists could or should be doing in this moment to increase faith in their work. As Mills notes, one of the chief complaints against scientists and professors is that they’ve become too political; scholars becoming even more political might not help them achieve their goals. This (mainly Republican-driven) anti-science era will end, of course, but it’s not clear what event will bring that about. Share
A strange twist in the universe’s oldest light may be bigger than we thought
Scientists studying a mysterious effect called cosmic birefringence—a subtle twist in the polarization of the universe’s oldest light—have developed a new way to reduce uncertainty in how it’s measured. This faint rotation in the cosmic microwave background could point to entirely new physics, including hidden particles such as axions and clues about dark matter or dark energy.
Elections 2026 Press Kit
Northwestern University faculty are available to discuss 2026 election topics including redistricting, voter behavior, campaign strategy, election law, misinformation, polarization and political history.
Why authentic leadership matters more than ever
Mission-driven leaders are facing unprecedented pressure as economic uncertainty, political polarization, rapid technological change and growing public scrutiny reshape how organizations operate, Harvard Business Review writes. A recent analysis highlights how these overlapping forces are turning routine decisions into tests of values, strategy and credibility. Research based on surveys and discussions with nonprofit and social […]
Unlike in Past Conflicts, Most Americans Oppose Iran Attacks
While the public has historically backed military intervention initially in international conflicts, deep polarization has left the latest strikes against Iran with record-low support.
Can deliberation save democracy?
By Vince Bzdek In September 2019, 523 Americans traveled to Dallas, Texas, for an experiment called “America in One Room.” The gathering was designed to test a theory: Could representative citizens deliberate productively even in an era of intense polarization? The event took place soon after the presidential primary and it focused on policy proposals […]
Can deliberation save democracy?
By Vince Bzdek In September 2019, 523 Americans traveled to Dallas, Texas, for an experiment called “America in One Room.” The gathering was designed to test a theory: Could representative citizens deliberate productively even in an era of intense polarization? The event took place soon after the presidential primary and it focused on policy proposals […]
Class: Is Civil Discourse Still Possible in Politics?
Americans are struggling to talk across political divides, but a class at Kalamazoo College recently became a laboratory for civil discourse.
South Korea's Juristocracy Moment Reflects a Deeper Political Divide
In South Korea, deep ideological polarization turns courts into arbiters of power, making judicial rulings a key driver of political legitimacy.
Rethinking Strategy in a Hyperpolitical World
In an era of intensifying polarization, the boundary between business and politics has effectively vanished, rendering political and ethical dynamics as no longer peripheral risks but central strategic variables. This interview with Martin Reeves, author and managing director and senior partner at Boston Consulting Group, examines how leaders who embed pragmatic political thinking into their strategy will be better positioned to safeguard long-term value.
Rethinking Strategy in a Hyperpolitical World
In an era of intensifying polarization, the boundary between business and politics has effectively vanished, rendering political and ethical dynamics as no longer peripheral risks but central strategic variables. This interview with Martin Reeves, author and managing director and senior partner at Boston Consulting Group, examines how leaders who embed pragmatic political thinking into their strategy will be better positioned to safeguard long-term value.
Political Candidates and the Troubling Chill Factor
Whether it’s political polarization, ruthless social media or federal interference, this is a particularly tough time to be in elected office in a city or a state.
How UGA political science spaces combat polarization
While national headlines warn of worsening political polarization, University of Georgia students and faculty say their classrooms feel thoughtful, not broken.
Political analyst weighs in on State of the Union importance, Trump's priorities
The State of the Union matters less than in previous years because of polarization and low viewership, said political analyst Larry Sabato.
Double-phase metasurface operators for all-optical image processing
Light: Science & Applications - We propose metasurface operators leveraging double-phase encoding and polarization multiplexing enable compact, all-optical analog computing for high-resolution...
Explainer: How the State of the Union became a stage for political confrontation
What began as a spare presidential report to the U.S. Congress has hardened into a prime-time pressure chamber shaped by an era of fierce polarization, with the State of the Union speech now unfolding as a long night of choreographed tension and open confrontation - a moment for presidents to wrest narrative from turmoil and craft the defining images of their time in power.
Dueling Protests at South Korean Ex-Leader’s Sentencing Highlight Political Rift
As a judge reprimanded former President Yoon Suk Yeol for amplifying political tribalism, demonstrators from warring camps blared slogans outside the courtroom.
GCU students put their passion into politics at statehouse
It can be tough working in government and politics with the polarization and rancor around it these days. But Kady Binsbacher sees it as a […]
Talking politics with family: We won't make it if we don't 'put our hearts and heads together'
This episode of One Small Step reflects on how political polarization can strain family relationships and how trying to build connections across political lines can help repair that divide.
Back to Future in the Eastern Mediterranean: Polarization Once Again?
Without doubt, by this alignment Israel, Greece and Greek Cypriots attempt to provoke Ankara in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Political polarization in Pittsburgh communities is rooted in economic neglect − not extremism
Voters in places like Aliquippa and Braddock aren’t becoming more radical; they’re responding to decades of disinvestment and institutional failure.
The biggest accelerant of our political tribalism
In years past, my go-to word in describing our political condition was “polarization.” I used it endlessly and still do on occasion. But as time has moved on, and the divide has only grown in depth and toxicity, polarization no longer seems to fully capture the magnitude of what has overtaken us. In its place, […]
The only thing limiting Taylor Swift’s popularity is partisan polarization
Although she’s the world’s reigning pop star, attitudes toward Swift are split markedly along both partisan and gender lines.
Top U.S. Catholic cardinals urge Trump administration to use moral compass in foreign policy
In a joint statement, Cardinals Blase Cupich of Chicago, Robert McElroy of Washington and Joseph Tobin of Newark, N.J., warned that without a moral vision, the current debate over Washington's foreign policy was mired in “polarization, partisanship, and narrow economic and social interests.”
Analysis: South Dakotans, power and national politics
SDPB's Dakota Political Junkies discuss how polarization impacts the ability to craft effective policy
Putting political divisiveness aside is key to Maryland’s future success
Lawmakers will face tremendous challenges when they convene next week, but partisan posturing should not be one of them, writes Karl Bickel, who says it's time to abandon polarization and rediscover the lost, but essential, art of compromise.
Democrats look primed to win the House but a wave may be harder
Gerrymandering and longer-term trends in polarization have left fewer competitive House seats in next year’s midterm elections.
Israeli tech CEO calls on US govt to 'limit' First Amendment,' take control of social media to prevent 'lies'
Tech CEO Shlomo Kramer advocated government regulation of free speech during a CNBC interview, claiming First Amendment limitations necessary to prevent polarization and "lies."
A Political Scientist’s ‘Altar Call’: PW Talks with Ryan Burge
In The Vanishing Church (Brazos), the Washington University professor, who examines American religion through data, frets over Christians’ deep polarization, urging believers to find a church where differences, diversity, and doubts are welcomed.
More local officials than ever see political polarization as harmful nationally, survey finds
The survey findings, shared exclusively with NBC News, also point to which local institutions help reduce political strife.
GSPM director to confront enrollment challenges in shifting political, higher education landscape
Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, a former member of Congress and university official, said she is aiming modernize the school and increase enrollment amid declines and heightened political polarization.
Future Focus: Vaccine Politics, EU Hiring, and Campbell’s Crisis
From vaccine polarization to EU hiring challenges and a Campbell PR crisis, here’s what business leaders need to know now.