The Dramatic Shift in American Politics: Understanding Ideological Polarization

📈Over the past few decades, both political parties in Congress have shifted away from the center, but Republicans have moved much further right than Democrats.

📚Political scientist Norm Ornstein has extensively researched and written about the changing nature of Congress and American politics, highlighting the asymmetric polarization and the Republican Party's increasing extremism.

⚖️The Republican Party's ideological goals, such as opposing immigration reform and environmental regulations, have become more conservative over time.

⚔️As Republicans have become more extreme, Democrats have responded by playing hardball, leading to increased polarization and obstructionism in Congress.

📰Journalists face challenges in covering the asymmetric polarization, as the desire to appear balanced often obscures the reality of one party's extreme behavior.

What is asymmetric polarization?

—Asymmetric polarization refers to the phenomenon where one political party, in this case the Republican Party, becomes increasingly extreme in its ideology and unwilling to compromise, while the other party, the Democrats, remains relatively consistent and open to incremental changes through negotiation.

Why does asymmetric polarization pose challenges for journalists?

—Asymmetric polarization makes it difficult for journalists to maintain neutrality and appear balanced when reporting on political issues. The extreme behavior of one party can often overshadow the actions of the other, leading to false equivalences and a failure to accurately represent the asymmetric nature of the polarization.

What are some examples of the Republican Party's extreme behavior?

—Examples include refusing to vote on Obama's judicial appointees, holding the debt ceiling hostage, shutting down the government to defund Obamacare, and blocking Obama's Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland. These actions demonstrate a willingness to use hardball tactics and prioritize party goals over effective governance.

How has the Democratic Party responded to Republican extremism?

—Democrats have responded by adopting similar tactics, such as changing Senate rules to lower the threshold to break a filibuster. They have been compelled to match the Republican Party's obstructionism in order to prevent the erosion of important policies and institutions.

Why is it crucial for journalists to call out norm-breaking and corrupt behavior?

—Journalists play a vital role in maintaining a healthy and functioning democracy. By holding those in power accountable for their actions and shedding light on norm-breaking and corrupt behavior, journalists ensure transparency and help safeguard democratic principles.

00:00American politics has experienced a significant shift in ideology, with Republicans moving further right than Democrats.

06:10Norm Ornstein, a respected political scientist, has written extensively about the changing nature of Congress and American politics.

08:54Asymmetric polarization forces the other party to play hardball and match the extreme behavior of the Republican Party.

09:29Journalists need to be brutally honest about the root causes of the polarization and call out norm-breaking and corrupt behavior.