The Depolarizers

Episode Two of The Depolarizers features The Lincoln Project co-founder Reed Galen and political scientist Eitan Hersh. Galen courageously left the Republican Party to help elect Biden in 2020. An alumnus of campaigns for John McCain, Arnold Schwarzenegger and George W. Bush, Galen is the quintessential example of a depolarizer. Hersh coined the term “political hobbyism” as part of his book, Politics is for Power. Political hobbyism, which refers to the rise of people who treat politics like a spectator sport, has played a role in fanning the flames for political polarization and mistrust. In this episode, we'll discuss in what scenarios Republicans support Democrats, how political hobbyism plays a role in polarization, and more.