It's the Brian Laird

show on WNYC.

Good morning again everyone.

So one obvious feature of American politics right now

is the high levels of polarization, right?

That word has certainly got a lot of meanings though that go beyond having differences on key issues and so even in this election year when people are rightly working for victory in their party's races, polarization is a topic unto itself.

Biden and Trump have both been known to call for unity, though they tend to use the word

differently.

The Carnegie Corporation of New York has begun stepping into this fray.

Their current president, Dame Louise Richardson,

former president of Oxford University,

has committed to making a fight against polarization their top priority

for the foreseeable future.

And we'll talk to her now about that.

Dame Louise, thanks for joining us.

Welcome to WNYC.

And it's a pleasure to be here.

First I believe I addressed you in the proper way, Dame Louise, but for our listeners thinking,

what does that mean? Could you explain that title to our listeners thinking what does that mean could you explain that title to our

listeners who might be unfamiliar? Well a dame is the female equivalent of a night

so a man would be awarded a knighthood and calls sir by the British monarch and a woman is named a dame which is the equivalent.

So it is an award given by the British Monarchy in recognition of particular achievements usually.

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