This #ListenFirst Friday, we invite you to learn about a new book from author Emily Kasriel: Deep Listening: Transform Your Relationships with Family, Friends and Foes. youtu.be/wbcl0Kn1EAc

This #ListenFirst Friday, we’re spotlighting a new generation of lawmakers who are proving it. You aren’t just a character in the story of democracy. You’re a coauthor, and these Future Caucus Rising Stars are showing what’s possible when we write that story together futurecaucus.org/future-caucu...

A new counterculture is rising. One that rejects outrage-as-default and insists that dialogue, not division, is the radical act this moment demands. www.philanthropy.com/commons/char...

We are deeply disturbed by the news that Charlie Kirk was shot while speaking at UVU today. We stand alongside bipartisan leaders and elected officials who have condemned this attack on a fellow American. We denounce this shooting and all forms of political violence.

Democracy Day is just a week away! We are thrilled to be participating in this event hosted by Team Democracy and The Pluralist Lab next Monday, September 15th from 7:30-9:00pm ET (and you're invited!). Register Now us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

Congress just got graded. Bridge Grades has launched its first report for the 119th Congress. It's like Rotten Tomatoes, but for politicians. 🍅 Find out if your Member of Congress is a bridger or a divide today. www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2hG...

Despite our perceived differences in perspective, ideology, and political affiliation, Americans are all in this raft together, quite literally, when it comes to RAFT for America (Reuniting America by Fostering Trust). www.deseret.com/utah/2025/08...

What if “they” aren’t who we imagine? 🤔 Research shows we vastly overestimate how extreme the other side is. Change moves at the speed of trust—and trust starts with real relationships. www.bushcenter.org/catalyst/pro...

“Clarity doesn’t come from echo chambers. It comes from friction.” In her recent essay, Sophie Levy reflects on what she learned after joining a virtual, conservative-leaning podcast listening club—not to be persuaded, but to understand. www.unasbtheclub.com/p/conviction...

Are political differences straining your relationships? You’re not alone—and we’re here to help. Join us Aug 12 @ 7pm ET for a session on navigating relationships across divides. 🔗 tinyurl.com/Takes-Two

Happy #ListenFirstFriday! 👂🌍 What if tech brought us together instead of tearing us apart? 🎥 Watch @civichealthproject.bsky.social's Kristin Hansen share why the June 26 Global Expo on Tech & Social Cohesion matters. 🗓️ Free + hybrid → Register + Agenda: techandsocialcohesion.org/ctsc-expo/

If you’ve never changed your mind on anything, you’re not evolving. You’re just rooting for a team.

Happy #ListenFirst Friday! Ethical storytelling means honoring everyone in a story. Join Stories Change Power’s June course to learn how to share stories with dignity, impact, and empathy—in just 1 hour a week. Space is limited, so register now! www.storieschangepower.org/product/ethi...

Gen Z isn’t anti-democracy. They’re just asking: What has it done for us lately? New research from @moreincommonus.bsky.social CommonUS shows their skepticism stems from disillusionment—not dictatorship. It’s a call to deliver, not dismiss. 📖 Report: moreincommonus.com/publication/...

Darcy needed less brooding, Elizabeth needed fewer assumptions, and everyone needed a decent conversation. A new blog post shows how bridge-building could’ve saved a lot of drama (and heartache): wordandway.org/2025/04/25/a...

“Change doesn’t happen in echo chambers—it happens in the hard, messy spaces where people choose to stay in conversation.” — Chelsea Miller Have the courage to connect during this year’s National Week of Conversation. thefulcrum.us/civic-engage...

“That shift can start anywhere... with the stories we dare to tell − and the humanity we choose to see.” —Steven Olikara, Bridge Entertainment Labs. In this USA Today op-ed from Bridge Entertainment Labs, storytelling takes center stage as a path to connection. www.usatoday.com/story/opinio...

Happy #ListenFirst Friday from Out for Undergrad! One important quote? “You can't create relationships of support when you shake hands with a closed fist or think with a closed mind. You have to listen deeply first — even to those who oppose you.” vimeo.com/1070374784

Happy #ListenFirstFriday! We're thrilled to invite you to join us for National Week of Conversation— taking place April 21–27, 2025. Today's powerful video captures the heart of why National Week of Conversation (NWoC) matters—and why we need you. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Njtb...

Connection fuels trust, but Americans need more chances to engage. @moreincommonus.bsky.social’s report shows bridging divides starts with shared action—when people connect once, they’re more likely to do it again. Let’s create spaces that bring us together. 📖 moreincommonus.com/publication/...

📣 TEACHERS! 2 paragraphs could win your school PIZZA, BOOKS & RECOGNITION! Share how you're teaching empathy & dialogue for a chance at $500 from the Prohuman Foundation. Submit between March 10-April 27: #CivicLearningWeek

The future of online communities isn’t about scale—it’s about trust. As people seek smaller, more intentional spaces, we have an opportunity to design digital environments that foster connection, reduce division, and support meaningful dialogue.

Happy #ListenFirst Friday! Urban Rural Action is taking applications for their Uniting for Action programs in southern Oregon (Douglas, Jackson, Josephine, and Klamath Counties) and south-central Pennsylvania (Adams, Dauphin, Franklin, and York Counties)! youtu.be/UUyDJ9zOvRw

Rather than fight about what we don’t agree on, lean into what we do. A new post from Bridge Grades discusses how we can rethink America's ideological tug-of-war. bridgegrades.substack.com/p/the-case-f...

Good news – Facing the Fracture is shortlisted for the Chanticleer International Book Awards (Instruction and Insight genre) and was named a finalist for the Feathered Quill Book Awards (self-help category). taniaisrael.com/writing-book...

We didn't have this on our 2025 bingo card! We love seeing people who embody different sides of the political spectrum calling out what they admire about each other, even when they disagree on politics.

Looking for a good read? Check out this book by @leedrutman.bsky.social Our politics is stuck in a doom loop—two parties fighting for power, not solutions. We need more players in the game. That’s where fusion voting comes in—reviving coalition politics and making our democracy work for us. 🗳️✨

How do you teach students to navigate polarizing conversations with confidence, curiosity, and respect? At the University of Texas at San Antonio, Professor Sara DeTurk has been doing just that. 👉 iftalks.org/G5BhR #WhatIF #CollaborativeDiscussion #HigherEd #DialogueMatters

This Republican says, “There’s always a place for loving our brothers and sisters.” Everyday Americans explore what divides us and understand what unites us.

This bipartisan couple shows that love and politics aren’t mutually exclusive. Their story is a reminder that listening and respect can bridge even the widest divides. buildersmovement.org/2025/02/10/6...

"The reasons for hate are as stupid as they sound." It says a lot about where we are at as a nation that Snoop Dogg and Tom Brady need to make an ad calling that out. With conversation.us we are proud to help Americans lower the temperature. www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOxm...

The Super Bowl message wasn’t just about football—it was about us. Our greatest victories come when we stand together in ways that have lifted the world and one another. The only way forward is together. America, it's time to huddle up. www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkji...

Finding common ground isn’t weakness—it’s the foundation of progress. Stalemate serves no one, and productive dialogue is the only way forward. Thank you for emphasizing the importance of working together for real solutions. www.pantsuitpoliticsshow.com/p/stalemate-...

U.S. organizations lost over $2.7 billion per day due to reduced productivity and absenteeism caused by incivility and polarization—an increase of over $600 million lost per day from Q3. $2.7 BILLION PER DAY. We can, and need to do better. www.shrm.org/enterprise-s...

In 2010, Oregon's evenly split House turned potential gridlock into effective governance through strict power-sharing and collaboration. A testament to the power of bipartisanship and both sides are still talking about it! www.ncsl.org/state-legisl...

More in Common's Stephen Hawkins sits down with Will Kaback at @tanglenews.bsky.social to discuss our post-election polling. Listen to the free preview here (26 min): pod.link/1538788132/e...

Happy Listen First Friday! Jeff Wasden, President of State Business Executives, discusses how civility and common sense benefit business and society, including tackling $2B/day polarization costs. Learn how leaders can make a difference. www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1zj...

We love to see how unlikely allies can lead to groundbreaking solutions! In Framingham, MA, climate activists and a gas utility have joined forces to implement a networked geothermal system, showcasing how collaboration can lead to innovative solutions. insideclimatenews.org/news/2112202...

In a time of deep division, access to diverse perspectives is more important than ever. @tanglenews.bsky.social brings viewpoints from the left & right together in one place—helping us move beyond echo chambers and make informed decisions. A vital step toward a stronger democracy!

🚣‍♂️ Would you spend a whole day on a raft talking politics with strangers who disagree with you? These folks did—and proved the divide isn’t as deep as we think. After hours working as a team, they found kinship beyond politics through RAFT for America. www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBJp...