The Enemy We Imagine - NaPodPoMo 2025 Day 20

Day 20 of our 30-day challenge, where we’re answering the most urgent questions about bridging our divides — gathered from people across the country at the Bridging Movement Summit.

We’ve talked a lot about the forces pushing us apart — outrage media, polarization, power dynamics. But today, we’re zeroing in on a hidden driver that often goes unnoticed: Our assumptions about each other.

Research shows that we tend to believe the “other side” hates us more than they actually do — and those exaggerated negative perceptions can do real damage. They lead us to disengage, distrust, and reject the possibility of common ground before the conversation even begins.

So today’s question:

How do overly negative perceptions of political rivals break down the work of bridging — both personally and across society?

To help us unpack that, we’re joined by James Coan from More Like Us, a project dedicated to revealing the true — and often surprising — beliefs that Americans hold about one another.

Learn more: OutrageOverload.net

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