Breaking the bubble
In these times of partisan divide, here’s a quick way to break a bubble. Use your drive time to and from work to listen to the radio, after finding a station whose hosts disagree with your worldview. Conservatives in Santa Fe can turn on the radio but also can strike up a conversation with a stranger or read the Letters to the Editor. There are no shortages of liberal viewpoints here.
For progressives, hearing other viewpoints might be harder. We suggest listening to news radio KKOB-AM 770 occasionally. Local drive-time shows give a window on both the national and local scenes; it’s a good one to open.
One day last week, for example, the afternoon drive topic on 770 was the recent announcement by President Donald Trump that he would be running for re-election. This discussion came during the news that Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, likely would be losing his security clearance (he did) and the president’s top aide, Hope Hicks, was being questioned on Capitol Hill. The investigation into Russian meddling in the election, meanwhile, continues in the background.
In the world of radio, Trump’s fans never mentioned that the president they loved was under investigation. They did not seem to mind that he had hired his relatives and that so many top-level appointees were taking first-class flights on the public dime or ordering expensive furniture for their offices. These same callers, mind you, likely cackled upon learning that Democratic Sen. Phil Griego would go to jail for his unethical behavior.
In their bubble, Trump was sticking it to the elites, bringing back jobs and, truly, making America great again. Repeatedly, callers praised Trump’s handling of ISIS, the tax cuts, his economic genius, his straight-talking ways and his blunt manner of dealing with the world. These callers did not mind Trump’s abrasive presence on Twitter or his inability to remember policy details. Compared to the callers, host Scott Stiegler was a moderate — he actually implied out loud that the president’s Twitter persona was less than presidential and wondered what alternative to Trump conservatives might have in 2020.
It was an interesting glimpse into a world far from Santa Fe, where residents do not understand why Trump is admired — by anyone. These callers had a variety of reasons. Many do like his policies. They want big tax cuts and don’t seem to care about deficits. They are excited about a border wall. They also like his braggadocio and his swagger, no matter how dangerous that might be for the world. Most of all, they like that in their view, Trump does not look down on them. They dislike the elites that Trump loves to poke. So long as he does that, he will have their support.
Trump, of course, does not have majority support. He was elected by the Electoral College, not the popular will of the people, and his actions in office have made him less popular. Trump’s approval ratings tend to stay below 40 percent, and this unpopularity could impact Republicans up and down the ballot.
Ed Kilgore, writing for New York Magazine, points out that what attracts the base turns off others. It’s the challenges of 2018: “How to balance base mobilization and swing-voter persuasion is a perennial puzzle for any political party. But it’s especially complicated when the base glories in the very characteristics of a leader that actually frighten others.”
Listening to the radio, it becomes clear that what concerns most of the world is exactly what his staunchest supporters like — bluster, bravado and speaking without thinking. (For more insight, watch the occasional Fox News show.)
Listening to other worldviews, unfiltered and in real time, is one way to break the bubble. It might not change minds, but hearing the opinions of people who think differently could be a useful tool at finding common ground. In this divided nation, seeking common ground is more essential than ever. We need understanding, if not agreement.