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Is America Becoming More Tribal Or Just More Angry?

Donkey Hotey
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Creative Commons

  

Newt Gingrich and Bill Clinton were using strategies to deliberately divide America's political system decades before the pivotal 2000 presidential election between Al Gore and George W. Bush divided us into gangs of  'red' or 'blue.'

Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich and former President Bill Clinton were two colossal personalities with outsize ambition. Gingrich wanted to break the Democratic stranglehold in the 1970's on a Congress ruled for decades by Democrats. Clinton wanted to break the Republican stranglehold on a string of Republican presidencies broken only by Jimmy Carter. 

The country that emerged from the mess in 2000 has become more divided than ever in 2018. Americans have chosen their respective tribes and dug in. Is there any way out of this mess?

Also this hour: We talk to a Native American scholar about what we can learn from Native American tribal nations. From a Native American perspective, American political culture is not becoming more 'tribal.' It is  becoming more angry. 

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Colin McEnroe and Chion Wolf contributed to this show. 

Betsy started as an intern at WNPR in 2011 after earning a Master's Degree in American and Museum Studies from Trinity College. She served as the Senior Producer for 'The Colin McEnroe Show' for several years before stepping down in 2021 and returning to her previous career as a registered nurse. She still produces shows with Colin and the team when her schedule allows.

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