This is our first in a series of new reports on the work, people and projects of Braver Angels— the largest volunteer-led group in the bridging community. The show was recorded a few days after the assassination attempt against Donald Trump. Our guests are Jessie Mannisto and Luke Nathan Phillips, who spent this week in Milwaukee, right outside the Fiserv Forum Arena, site of the Republican National Convention. 

Since its founding after the 2016 election, Braver Angels has brought together many hundreds of Republicans, Democrats, and Independents to debate, discuss, and work together to bridge partisan divides. Jessie is Director of Debates at Braver Angels, and Luke is the Publius Fellow For Public Discourse. 

In this episode we hear about the Braver Angels petition calling on party leaders to detoxify our politics, the mood of Republican delegates and protesters on the streets outside, the differences between media coverage of the event and what its like to be there, as well as responses to Braver Angels and its push back against polarization. 

"We're at both party conventions because America is at the party conventions," Luke tells us. “It’s just really interesting observing how people are feeling on the ground."

"We set up Braver Angels in the wake of the 2016 election trying to keep people from hating their friends and relatives over politics," says Jessie. "Now the stakes are higher. We really are confronted with the possibility of political violence and have seen that is what we're up against.”

Braver Angels are working to fix the national crisis of partisan polarization at the heart of America's political paralysis. Last month they hosted America's largest Presidential debate watch party, with hundreds of Republicans, Democrats, and independents in the same room. 

In this episode we also hear about "A Braver Way", the podcast hosted by Mónica Guzmán." Her show is, we think, a companion to ours —  a personal guide across the divide that gives listeners creative, practical and sometimes playful suggestions about how to disagree over politics without getting angry, depressed or disagreeable.

Jessie and Luke photo by Nick Tan Photography