Let's Find Common Ground

Independent voters make up more than 40 percent of the voting public. But you wouldn’t know that from media coverage, which focuses almost …

Want to know one of the most exciting and innovative ways to find common ground? Get people out of their political bunkers and move them beyond rigid …

2022 was a year of surprises in politics and the world beyond. In our year-end special, "Let's Find Common Ground" podcast puts the spotlight on six …

Collaboration is seen as a given in working life. Being part of a team means cooperating with others on all kinds of projects. But the reality is few …

The holiday season is here but many people across the country may be dreading sitting down with their nearest and dearest— all because of politics.

In …

Democrats feared and Republicans expected a "red wave" election, but it didn’t happen. 

Why was the outcome such a surprise?  Who gets the credit and …

While many American consumers have given up their daily news habit, millions of others are now addicted to rage media— cable news and social media that push sensationalism, groupthink, and tribalism.

This trend of "news …

The United States has one of the highest news avoidance rates in the world. Tens of millions of Americans don't read, watch or listen to the news each day. The media are held in low regard by the public. So, is there a …

Rigid polarization and political division are among the biggest challenges facing our country. Young people often feel that tribalism is better than …

Polarization is not just a problem for Congress and our political system, it’s also taking a toll in the workplace. Employees are falling out with …

Our guests on today’s show are part of the school shooting generation. Each grew up with active shooter drills and concerns that their school could …

The primary election season in this midterm election year is now over in most states. Turnout was often very low— less than 20% of registered voters showed up in many places— while the partisan divide was as wide as …

In US politics bipartisanship is now the exception, not the rule. But the Millennial Action Project is pushing back: it trains young leaders to …

American business can be a force for finding common ground, but large corporations must now answer to a growing array of stakeholders, who often have …

The world is being shaken by a collision of energy needs, climate change, and clashes between nations in a time of global crisis— made much worse by …

Environmental activist and author Bill McKibben warned the public about the perils of climate change and the damage human activity is causing more …

We live in a world of political extremes, with the far right and far left denigrating each other on a regular basis. But could the future lie with …

All too often people in public life talk past each other and assume that all Americans are rigid Republicans or determined Democrats. So what happens when we actually listen and give voters the respect and space they …

Every day on social media and cable TV, in newspapers and magazines, we're told that we live in a red-versus-blue world of rigid divides. Our podcast …

Kelly Johnston and Rob Fersh disagree strongly on many issues, and voted differently in the 2020 presidential election. But they are friends and “agree on major steps that must be taken for the nation to heed …

We all judge others on how they sound: their accent, their pronunciation, their use of slang. Some of us have been criticized for these things ourselves, mocked because we sound different from those around us.

The way we …

The recent mass shootings in Sacramento, California, and at a subway station in Brooklyn, New York have prompted renewed calls for action on gun …

Mónica Guzmán is the loving liberal daughter of Mexican immigrants who strongly support Donald Trump. We hear her warm personal story of how Mónica set out to understand what divides America and discovered ways to …

The public’s trust in government is near an all-time low. Now some politicians are recognizing that polarization and division in the United States is …

America has the highest rates of incarceration in the world. Once people leave prison the hope is that they’ll be law-abiding, productive members of society. But all too often this isn’t the case – four in ten prisoners …

What is the military’s role in protecting democracy? The question took on a new sense of urgency in the months after the riot at the U.S. Capitol on …

Black History Month is a celebration of the remarkable contributions of black Americans to our nation. Some of our guests share their personal thoughts and stories about the lessons of history. We learn about the legacy …

From the outside, Congress appears broken. Bills get bogged down in partisan fights, leaders openly smear each other, and animosity between members is at an all-time high. But our guests show that if you look closer, …

This year the federal government is expected to collect more than $3.5 trillion in taxes— a vast amount of money by any measure. One of the key …

One year after the January 6th assault on the U.S. Capitol, we take a close look at America's political divide with two journalists who covered the …

In a world of crises and catastrophes, we look at a handful of extraordinary problem solvers: People who use their passion and personal experience of …

At a time of increasingly urgent calls for climate action, the world also faces ever-rising demand for energy. How can these two trends be reconciled as we experience soaring gas prices and supply chain disruptions? 

Our …

What happens when people of opposing viewpoints and diverse backgrounds work in teams, have conversations, or even sit across the table from each other at family gatherings? How do they come together and listen to …

Sometimes the future can seem dark. The pandemic drags on. Climate change is upon us. Political polarization remains toxic. When stories of division …

Climate change is one of the most divisive issues in our country today. But this wasn’t the case 20 years ago. How did we get here? 

Katharine Hayhoe is a climate scientist and chief scientist for The Nature Conservancy …

As an ER doctor, Jay Baruch has been treating Covid patients since the start of the pandemic. He still sees many patients sick with Covid in his ER - the vast majority unvaccinated. 

 It might seem reasonable for him to …

Unlike the vast majority of journalists who cover U.S. politics, columnist Salena Zito lives far away from the centers of power and wealth. Twice a …

Common Ground Committee is part of a robust and growing national movement of bridge builders, who are working to reduce incivility and toxic …

The need to find common ground for improving race relations has rarely been more urgent than it is today. In this episode, we share profound insights …

The takeover by the Taliban in Afghanistan; a more aggressive China and Russia; a newly-elected hardline President in Iran: All are all major challenges facing President Joe Biden and his Administration.

 Our podcast …

Everyone wants the best education for their children. But parents and teachers don't always agree on how to get there.

In this episode, we hear from two education leaders whose views clashed when they first met. Gisele …

Most baby boomers who retire today can expect to …

What steps are needed to cause people to leave white supremacist and other hate groups of their own volition? In this deeply personal podcast …

We learn about two brave and successful attempts to get Americans of differing backgrounds and political convictions to engage in personal …

American democracy is being challenged by hyper-polarization, widespread distrust of competing parties, and extremists who seek to weaken democratic …

Young Americans, aged 18-29, believe that the threat from climate change is real regardless of their ideological leanings, compared to older …

Banks & businesses are betting big on sustainable investments. Can they help politicians bridge the gap on climate change?

When Joe Biden talks …

Growing numbers of voters are fed up with politics as usual. In a recent survey, 62% of Americans say a third party is needed — up 5% from September …

She lived in liberal Seattle and covered science, climate change and the environment for NPR for more than a decade. Then in 2018, journalist Ashley Ahearn made a big jump, moving with her husband to one of the most …

When Joe Biden became president he wanted to bring Americans together, to forge unity. But maybe unity isn’t what we should aim for. Our guest this …

With American democracy in crisis, can students save the day?  For college students it can be frightening to consider the prospects for a better …

By almost any measure, Congress is much more rigidly divided along partisan lines than it was 30 years ago. Politicians run nationalized campaigns, …

"All lives will matter when Black lives matter," says our guest, Hawk Newsome, in this passionate, challenging, and fascinating podcast episode. 

The co-founder and Chair of Black Lives Matter Greater New York answers …

Kelly Johnston and Rob Fersh disagree strongly on many issues and voted differently in the 2020 election. But they are friends and wrote recently …

The vital task of finding common ground in American politics became much more difficult in the traumatic days after the violence and mayhem at the …

James Baker was at the center of American political power for three decades. His resume is exceedingly impressive— Secretary of State, Secretary of …

From tragedy and disruption caused by COVID-19, to impassioned pleas for racial justice heard across the country, and the deep divisions in our …

For decades, environmental activists have cast themselves as defenders of the planet against greedy, profit-hungry corporations. At the same time, …

In a time of deep and sometimes bitter political division, what are the most effective ways to have conversations with family members who vote for a …

Voters sent decidedly mixed messages in the 2020 election. This episode looks at what we can learn from then about how divided the country is — or isn’t.

Voters in cities, suburbs and rural parts of the country went to …

With just days to go before the 2020 election, we invited a Trump supporter and a Biden backer to join us in the same (virtual) room, and share the personal reasons behind their vote. We have a lively, spontaneous and …

With just days to go before a bitterly contested election, we speak with two Members of Congress, one Republican and one Democrat, who are reaching across rigid partisan divides, recognizing the value of compromise and …

President Trump's "America First" policy has led to a U.S. withdrawal from many global institutions. For decades after World War II, American …

More than 8 out of 10 Americans think the country is divided, and a large majority says public debate has gotten worse in recent years. A recent …

With only weeks to go before the 2020 election, many challenges remain to holding a free and fair vote in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

From …

From devastating hurricanes to increasing destruction caused by wildfires, growing numbers of Americans are suffering from the impacts of drought, storms and other extreme weather events. 

On “Let’s Find Common Ground” …

How far apart are we as a nation? A liberal writer from Berkeley and a conservative military veteran decided to answer that question together during …

"The black people I come from were owned and raped by the white people I come from," wrote author, poet and academic Caroline Randall Williams in a …

What can we discover about personal pain caused by racism? In this episode, we speak with an inter-racial couple to find out what a well-educated white professional woman learned from her African American husband, …

Outrage, grief, and despair over cases of police brutality and racism erupted nationwide, with growing demands for major reforms. The protests …

Nationwide protests against racism, police violence, and racial inequality have shaken the nation to its core. Support for Black Lives Matter and …

Communities of color face visible threats. The recent murder of Ahmaud Arbery, a young Black jogger in Georgia, and the killing of George Floyd in …

The coronavirus emergency is the world's biggest crisis of the 21st century--worse than the tragic losses ‪on 9/11, and the economic damage of the great recession. Using lessons from history, we look at positive ways …

The times ahead may be radically different than what most of us have experienced so far in our lives. This episode considers what kind of sacrifices …

What does it take to be an effective leader at a time of unprecedented crisis? We look at the vital skills great leaders share in common. Guest: Retired four-star general, former Supreme Allied Commander Europe, and …

The world is struggling with a devastating global health emergency, but pressure is building to end lockdowns and ease other restrictions. What are the best ways to restart the U.S. economy without risking public …

As the tone of public discourse becomes increasingly angry and divisive, Common Ground Committee offers a healing path to reaching agreement and …