This is an I-Heart podcast.

This is Solvable.

I'm Ann Applebaum.

The answer is not to turn inward, to retreat into competing factions, distrusting those who don't

look like you, or worship the way you do, or don't get their news from the same sources

you do.

We must end this uncivil war.

Thankfully, President Biden was using poetic language in his inauguration speech on November 20th, 2021.

The U.S. is not in a state of civil war.

But certainly, with the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, uncivil actions by U.S. citizens,

as well as our deep divisions, were on full display.

What is it that they want? What are their concerns? What are their ideals, their objectives?

If you don't have an idea of what they want, it's very difficult to negotiate.

Negotiation is a way to mitigate tension. Another is to

elevate truth and distinguish it from fiction, but just how best to pursue any of these tactics

can be harder to discern. Here it's solvable. We're going to explore these questions and others

as part of a series examining the strength of democracy and how to solve polarization.

In the U.S., President Biden has inherited a nation that is not just politically polarized,

but it's also reeling from a long history of racial trauma.

We know that anger and pain don't disappear with the installation of a new president.

Every peace process boils down to where you draw the line between peace and justice.

No matter where you draw the line, there will always be some people from one side seeking

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