The latest monthly Brave Conversations, moderated by Braver Angels facilitator Chris Goelz, felt a little heavier than usual. While the evening began with casual conversation and participants sharing Thanksgiving stories, the tone shifted after people regrouped following the small-group discussions. The change wasn’t dramatic, but it was noticeable.

The meeting came at a time of heightened national tension, following an act of political violence on Thanksgiving Eve (shooting of two National Guard members) that placed Washington state in the national spotlight. That tension lingered quietly in the room and later surfaced during the discussion.

Brave Conversations is a community discussion group that brings together people with differing political views to discuss national issues in a structured and respectful setting. This session drew several new participants, including Mercer Island Reporter guest columnist John Hamer, former school board candidate David Figatner, and former legislative candidate Emily Tadlock.

Participants were divided into small groups of three and asked to share the issues that concern them most. Each person was given equal time to speak and, just as importantly, to acknowledge the concerns raised by others in their group. One representative from each group then shared the themes that emerged before the conversation opened to the full room.

Across groups, participants expressed frustration with declining trust in institutions and the growing difficulty of communicating across ideological lines. Concerns included media bias, misinformation, polarization, education quality, the role of universities, the federal deficit, immigration, political violence, and the appropriate role of government.

Polarization, and the role of social and mainstream media in fueling it, and in some cases contributing to political violence, drew particular attention across political perspectives. Participants pointed to social media and partisan news outlets as major contributors to division and hostility.

John Hamer, who has more than 50 years of experience in journalism, reflected on his time covering Congress in the 1970s. He recalled that lawmakers and journalists from different political backgrounds often disagreed strongly, but still socialized together, sharing meals, attending games, and visiting one another’s homes.

He acknowledged both media dynamics and President Trump’s role in polarization, saying, “I think the over-the-top, exaggerated criticism and name-calling has become standardized and normalized throughout society.” He also shared his view that Fox News offers some of the most objective straightforward news reporting when opinion programming is set aside.

Others echoed concerns that social media algorithms, designed to reward outrage, and influencers’ pursuit of clicks and followers are detrimental to good-faith disagreement. Participants across the political spectrum shared concern over rising political violence and emphasized the need for greater civic engagement.

What I’ve learned from these discussions is that many people across the political spectrum share similar concerns, but disagree on how to address them and often on the underlying facts, leading people to talk past one another. Name-calling, labeling, and shaming on social media have played a significant role in silencing voices and deepening division. This dynamic widens those divides and, at times, makes political violence feel closer and more real.

The harder question we now face is what we can do to model healthier disagreement, so that our children do not grow up normalizing violence in schools and public spaces.

Rabbi Rosenbaum concluded the meeting by suggesting that the group begin shifting discussions toward identifying common ground and potential solutions, after more than a year of practicing civil dialogue, with the hope of setting an example for other communities. I agree, and believe it is time. The next Brave Conversations meeting is scheduled for Jan. 12, 2026.

Linnea Augustine is a Mercer Island resident. Visit wa.braverangels.org to learn more about Braver Angels of Washington state.