Can't We All Just Get Along? Data Seems to Say Yes
Lauren Irwin (Deseret News) writes about the Braver Angels National Convention
Two Braver Angels members, one a Democrat with a blue lanyard, and the other, a Republican with a red lanyard, sit on a bench on Temple University’s campus during the Braver Angels Convention in Philadelphia held June 25–28, 2026. Jeffrey Sevier
What 900 People in Philadelphia Tell Us About Depolarization
Deseret News ran a piece this week on the Braver Angels National Convention, held over the weekend at Temple University, and it’s worth your time. Reporter Lauren Irwin dug into research from BYU professor Eliza Hawkins, who has been surveying participants before and after Braver Angels events to measure something specific: does sitting across from someone you disagree with actually change how you feel about them?
The data says yes, and the most striking part is who it works on. Using a “feeling thermometer” survey, Hawkins and her students found that the more strongly someone identifies with their party, the more likely they are to walk away from an event feeling better about the other side. That holds for committed conservatives and committed liberals alike. Moderates, by comparison, showed less change. The people often assumed to be the hardest to move are the ones moving the most.
The article also covers what format works best. One-on-one conversations outperformed even the structured Red and Blue debates, though both showed real effect. Online and in-person events were both effective, with online offering a path to reach more people. And the research found the strongest shifts among young Republicans and older Democrats specifically.
Braver Angels CEO Maury Giles ties it back to the organization’s founding premise, what he calls “courageous citizenship” — practiced personally, locally, and nationally. Ten years in, with almost 900 people showing up in person this year, the research suggests that premise is holding up.
Full piece is definitely worth reading in full at Deseret News — link below.
Were you with us in Philly? What stands out to you most?