Building Bridges
Engaging in Conversations with MAGA Supporters
A compilation of videos, resources, and strategies presented at our December 2024 meeting, practical tips for having effective, respectful conversations across the political divide.
Why This Matters
Finding Common Ground
After a hard-fought election season, many of us are navigating difficult conversations with friends, family members, neighbors, and coworkers who hold different political views. Rather than retreating into our separate corners, we believe in the power of effective, respectful dialogue across the political divide.
The goal is not to “win” an argument, it’s to find common ground, understand where the other person is coming from, and plant seeds of shared values that transcend partisan labels.
At our December 2024 meeting, presenters Tina, Neil, Neil, Mike, and Michael shared practical tips and strategies that members can use in everyday conversations. Below you’ll find the resources, videos, and organizations discussed that evening.
Strategies
Tips for Productive Conversations
These principles were discussed at the December 2024 meeting and are drawn from organizations like Braver Angels, Leaving MAGA, and The Builders Movement.
Lead with Curiosity, Not Contempt
Ask genuine questions. “Help me understand why that matters to you” opens doors that lectures close. Curiosity is the antidote to contempt.
Find Shared Values First
Most people, regardless of party, care about their families, their communities, and fairness. Start from what you share, not where you differ.
Listen More Than You Talk
People who feel heard are more open to hearing you. Reflect back what they said before offering your perspective. Validation does not mean agreement.
Avoid the Gotcha Trap
You’re not on a debate stage. Catching someone in a contradiction doesn’t change minds, it hardens them. Plant seeds. Let them grow.
Know When to Walk Away
Not every conversation will be productive. If it turns hostile, it’s okay to step back. Preserving the relationship matters more than winning the moment.
Stay Grounded in Facts
Use specific, verifiable examples rather than broad generalizations. Personal stories and local impacts resonate more than national talking points.
Watch & Learn
Recommended Videos
These videos were shared and discussed at our December 2024 meeting. They offer different perspectives on bridging the political divide, understanding the MAGA movement, and building productive dialogue.
Braver Angels: How to Talk Across the Divide
Braver Angels demonstrates practical skills for having productive conversations with people who hold different political views. Their approach focuses on depolarization through structured dialogue.
Rich Logis: Why I Left MAGA
Rich Logis, founder of Leaving MAGA, shares his personal journey of leaving the MAGA movement, the doubts, the turning points, and how he found clarity. Understanding these journeys helps us have more empathetic conversations.
Heineken: Worlds Apart
A powerful experiment pairing people with radically different views, showing that connection is possible when we sit down and listen to each other as human beings first.
Organizations & Resources
Bridge-Building Organizations
These organizations are doing critical work to bridge the partisan divide. We encourage all members to explore their resources and get involved.
Braver Angels
The nation’s largest cross-partisan, volunteer-led movement to depolarize America. Uniting red and blue Americans in a working alliance through workshops, debates, 1:1 conversations, and community alliances.
- Free eCourses, Professional-level courses on skills for productive conversations across political lines
- Workshops & Debates, Structured events for engaging across differences
- 1:1 Conversations, Paired dialogue with someone on the other side
Leaving MAGA
A nonprofit empowering others to leave the MAGA movement and tell their stories. Founded by Rich Logis, who says “leaving MAGA was a tumultuous roller coaster of a process” but ultimately brought clarity and inner peace.
- Personal Stories, Read 20+ testimonials from people who left MAGA
- Free eBook, For people concerned about loved ones in the movement
- Support Groups, A safe, non-judgmental community for those experiencing doubt
The Builders Movement
A cross-partisan nonprofit equipping citizens to overcome us-vs-them thinking and solve tough problems together. 87% of Americans are frustrated with divisive politics, Builders gives them the tools to do something about it.
- Builders Toolkit, Resources for addressing divisive issues in homes, schools, and workplaces
- Citizen Solutions, Convening Americans with passionate disagreements to find common ground
- Power Rankings, Weekly assessment of Congressional members as “Builders” or “Dividers”
Take the Next Step
Recommended Reading & Listening
Books
- “One Betrayal Too Many” by Rich Logis, A memoir about leaving the MAGA movement
- “I Think You’re Wrong (But I’m Listening)” by Sarah Stewart Holland & Beth Silvers, A guide to grace-filled political conversations
- “How to Have Impossible Conversations” by Peter Boghossian & James Lindsay, Practical techniques for talking across divides
Podcasts & Shows
- Braver Angels Podcast, Conversations between red and blue Americans (Listen)
- Pantsuit Politics by Sarah Stewart Holland & Beth Silvers, Bipartisan political analysis
- The Argument (New York Times), Debates on tough political questions
The Work Starts with How We Show Up
Bridging the divide isn’t about changing someone’s mind in a single conversation. It’s about showing up with respect, listening with intention, and finding the humanity in each other, even when we disagree.