Week 6: Can We Reunite America?

Imagine this scenario: Two women from Ohio are sitting together at a table. One voted for Donald Trump, the other for Hillary Clinton. They're talking politics to each other. And actually listening.

This is the premise of a social experiment called "Better Angels." The project is working to rebuild civil dialogue in America after the election, with hopes of getting the country to move beyond polarization and stereotypes.

New report from #BetterAngels: "Who We Are: A Message from Trump and Clinton Supporters from Southwest Ohio" https://t.co/m3eW0h5rMV

On this episode of Indivisible, host Kerri Miller talks with two women who took part in the experiment. We'll also hear from University of Minnesota professor Dr. William J. Doherty, the professor who facilitated the project, about what it takes to have a productive dialogue in a time of deep division. Is it enough to tolerate different points of view? Or does a vibrant democracy require us to really listen and respect what we're hearing?

We also follow up on the news of Attorney General Jeff Sessions recusing himself from any investigations into the Trump campaign amid accusations of his own pre-election discussions with Russia. Kerri interviews Democratic Senator Al Franken -- one of the first politicians to criticize Mr. Sessions’ activities.

Here are some tweets from this episode:

Indivisible Week 6: Can We Reunite America?

Host Kerri Miller talks to relationship expert who lured a group of Trump voters and Clinton voters from southwestern Ohio into a conversation -- with surprisingly civil results. 

This program is produced in partnership with WNYC Studios, Minnesota Public Radio News, and The Economist. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and come back Mondays through Thursdays for new episodes.

WNYC Studios is the producer of other leading podcasts including Radiolab, Freakonomics Radio, 2 Dope Queens, Death, Sex & Money, On the Media and many more.

The hosts include WNYC's Brian Lehrer, Minnesota Public Radio's Kerri Miller, WNYC's Kai Wright, John Prideaux and Anne McElvoy of The Economist and longtime conservative radio host Charlie Sykes.