Episodes

  • What We Learned From "The Abortion Talks"

    What We Learned From "The Abortion Talks"
    Aug 7 2023
    For many Americans abortion is a matter of deep personal conviction. These people are not open to compromise. Both sides of the debate often find it very difficult to meet with or even respect those on the other side. But that's exactly what a small group of six women did. Three leaders of the pro-choice movement and three from the pro-life movement met privately over six years to talk about abortion after two murders occurred at abortion clinics in Massachusetts in 1994. None of the participants would change their minds, but the dialogues did change their lives. In this episode, Common Ground Committee co-founders Bruce Bond and Erik Olsen share their thoughts about our recent "Let's Find Common Ground" podcast interview with Frances Hogan and Rev. Anne Fowler. Both women took part in the talks and are featured in the new documentary, "The Abortion Talks". They explained why the talks were often intense, passionate and profoundly difficult.  You're invited to Common Ground Committee's special online free screening of the film. Sign up today at common ground committee.org to get access to the film between August 5th and August 12th. You can also learn about the film's conversation guide.
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    16 mins
  • Rising Interest in the Common Ground Scorecard

    Rising Interest in the Common Ground Scorecard
    Apr 14 2023
    Seeking common ground and reaching out to the other side may play a greater role in next year's election than in previous years. During a recent visit to Washington, Common Ground Committee co-founders Bruce Bond and Erik Olsen noted increased interest in the Common Ground Scorecard among Members of Congress and their staff. "There's definitely from a polarization perspective more interest in getting away from that in the upcoming election," said Bruce Bond in this episode. Erik Olsen says that during meetings with Members of Congress, "they are very interested in representing themselves as bipartisan." We also focus on findings of a recent survey that found two-thirds of voters said they would be considering the degree to which a candidate worked with members of the other party as a factor in their voting decisions. Separate research conducted for the anti-polarization movement Starts With Us, is also discussed. A recent study found that seven Members of Congress with the lowest numbers on the Scorecard received much more news media coverage than those with the highest scores.
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    12 mins
  • Building Common Ground in Washington DC and Beyond

    Building Common Ground in Washington DC and Beyond
    Feb 23 2023
    America is often described by the news media as being hopelessly divided between two opposing camps that hate each other. But not only is the reality among everyday citizens very different, in Washington DC itself politicians, non-profit groups, and several leading journalists are highlighting new efforts to find common ground. In episode 5, Bruce and Erik discuss their recent trip to Washington, where they met with Utah's Republican Governor Spencer Cox to learn more about his plans to work across the political aisle. Governor Cox was elected as Vice Chair of the National Governors Association and plans to put a special focus on depolarization and furthering bipartisan policy solutions. At a separate venue, they sat down with three other leading players in the bridging space: David Blankenhorn co-founder of Braver Angels, Keith Allred of the National Institute for Civil Discourse, and journalist Amanda Ripley who has written extensively about conflict. Also in this episode: Erik and Bruce also share their take on President Biden's State of the Union Address and the Republican response.
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    14 mins
  • Turmoil Among House Republicans: Is The Political System To Blame?

    Turmoil Among House Republicans: Is The Political System To Blame?
    Feb 7 2023
    The internal party wrangling before Kevin McCarthy was finally elected Speaker put GOP divisions on full display. The adoption of new House Rules and the passionate debate has added to concerns that the House may be headed for two years of dysfunction and a damaging standoff over the federal government’s debt ceiling. In this episode of Our Take on Common Ground, CGC co-founders Erik Olsen and Bruce Bond discuss whether the nation’s political system is partially to blame for the recent Republican turmoil and how extremists are sometimes rewarded at the expense of political consensus builders. They give valuable insights on the debate between civic pluralists and political zealots, and discuss the definition of common ground, which is often framed as a debate between red and blue, while ignoring the complex divisions and passions inside both major parties.
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    15 mins
  • The Lessons to be Learned From 2022

    The Lessons to be Learned From 2022
    Feb 7 2023
    With the resumption of in-person events following the pandemic and widespread public interest in a historic midterm election, 2022 was a momentous year for Common Ground Committee. How did bipartisan-leaning candidates fare in those midterms, and how did the Common Ground Scorecard play a role? What factors continue to drive division in American politics, and where are the areas of greatest opportunity for finding common ground? Tune in now to a special episode of our new podcast Our Take on Common Ground as our co-founders Bruce Bond and Erik Olsen share a behind-the-scenes look at how we worked to bridge divides in 2022, areas of opportunity, and reasons for hope in the coming year.
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    11 mins
  • Renewed Hope for Solving Gun Violence

    Renewed Hope for Solving Gun Violence
    Feb 7 2023
    At our live event Finding Common Ground on Guns at The George Washington University on September 27, 2022, Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) and former Congressman Will Hurd (R-TX) found many points of agreement on approaches to reduce gun violence – despite Murphy holding an F rating from the NRA, and Hurd having held an A rating during his time in Congress. What was most surprising about the event? What did both lawmakers agree on, and where did they stop short? In the latest episode podcast Our Take on Common Ground, hear a rundown from our co-founders Bruce Bond and Erik Olsen on the discussion between Murphy and Hurd – two legislators who have represented the communities of Sandy Hook and Uvalde, respectively – and find out why the event offered renewed hope for progress on a sharply divisive issue.
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    12 mins
  • Laws Should Unite, Not Divide

    Laws Should Unite, Not Divide
    Feb 7 2023
    For the past decade-plus, Common Ground Committee’s mission has been to improve political discourse. That mission hit a speed bump with Texas Senate Bill 8 (SB 8).  As a non-partisan organization, we don’t take a position on whether abortion should or should not be legal, but recognize the strong moral concerns held by both sides. Yet on the matter of SB 8, we find that taking a position is necessary. We believe SB 8 sets a dangerous precedent – and unnecessarily adds even deeper divisiveness to an already contentious issue. In the first episode of our new podcast Our Take on Common Ground, our co-founders Bruce Bond and Erik Olsen talk about why weaponizing disagreement is a dangerous path, and how citizens can stand up and push back against legislators who seek to divide us with laws.
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    12 mins