Outrage Overload: Rethinking politics, division, and media
David Beckemeyer
129 episodes
3 days ago
When the Center Becomes the Rebel Once, being radical meant picking a side—Rush Limbaugh on the right, Keith Olbermann on the left. But today, that kind of partisanship isn’t radical anymore—it’s predictable. In this episode, we explore a surprising idea: maybe the true radicals now are the independent thinkers—the bridge-builders—who refuse to be boxed into red or blue. Our guest, Lura Forcum, President of The Independent Center, shares how her organization is empowering independent voters, ...
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When the Center Becomes the Rebel Once, being radical meant picking a side—Rush Limbaugh on the right, Keith Olbermann on the left. But today, that kind of partisanship isn’t radical anymore—it’s predictable. In this episode, we explore a surprising idea: maybe the true radicals now are the independent thinkers—the bridge-builders—who refuse to be boxed into red or blue. Our guest, Lura Forcum, President of The Independent Center, shares how her organization is empowering independent voters, ...
When the Center Becomes the Rebel Once, being radical meant picking a side—Rush Limbaugh on the right, Keith Olbermann on the left. But today, that kind of partisanship isn’t radical anymore—it’s predictable. In this episode, we explore a surprising idea: maybe the true radicals now are the independent thinkers—the bridge-builders—who refuse to be boxed into red or blue. Our guest, Lura Forcum, President of The Independent Center, shares how her organization is empowering independent voters, ...
We take a closer look at the online world known as the manosphere—a loose network of communities including incels, Men Going Their Own Way (MGTOW), men’s rights activists (MRAs), and pick-up artists (PUAs). These groups may look different on the surface, but they share a common core: resentment toward feminism, nostalgia for traditional masculinity, and a belief that men are the new victims of modern society. With guidance from researcher Havana Mohr-Ramirez, we unpack how these subcultures o...
Why Talking Isn’t Enough to Bridge Divides What happens when people in deeply divided communities set aside differences to work on real problems together? In this episode, we hear from participants in Southern Oregon and from Urban Rural Action’s Senior Director of Programs about how building trust and taking action can bridge divides, create belonging, and spark lasting change. Text me your feedback and leave your contact info if you'd like a reply (this is a one-way text). Thanks, David Koy...
What If Inclusion, Not Normalization, Was the Goal? Too often, conversations about autism happen without autistic voices at the table. In this episode, we talk with Ari Ne’eman, Assistant Professor at Harvard and co-founder of the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network, about the real divides in autism advocacy and what a better path forward could look like. Ari brings both lived experience and policy expertise, with service under multiple U.S. administrations, to examine how public policy shapes aut...
Why Owning Your Online Identity Matters More Than Ever Is it possible to fix social media? In this episode, I’m joined by Yevgeny Simkin, Co-Founder of Sez.us, a new social media platform built to encourage civility and healthier online spaces. We talk about why we need real alternatives to Facebook and Twitter, who controls online conversations today, and how owning your online identity could change the way communities connect. Yevgeny explains why escaping social media giants might be the f...
Gen Z’s political gender gap is widening. Young women are trending left, while young men drift right—and it’s not just politics. In this episode, we explore the cultural, social, and economic pressures shaping young men’s identities, from the “manosphere” to societal expectations around masculinity and the pressure to be the breadwinner. We examine the consequences for democracy, social cohesion, and the future of civic engagement—and consider how society can create better spaces for young me...
The Shift from Certainty to Nuance We’ve all heard the saying: facts don’t change minds. But new research challenges that idea. In this episode, David talks with social scientist Nick Stagnaro about what happens when people dive deep into the facts on divisive issues like gun control. The findings? Knowledge can soften extreme positions—shifting people toward a more nuanced middle ground. But here’s the catch: while attitudes toward policies change, feelings toward people on the “other side” ...
The Hidden Power of Social Norms Social media often gets blamed for fueling outrage and deepening political divides. But what if the very tools that spread division could be used to bridge it? In this episode, we talk with Kristin Hansen, Executive Director of Civic Health Project, about Normsy.ai—a groundbreaking initiative using human-plus-AI tools to foster civility and connection online. Kristin shares her personal journey into bridge-building, why social norms matter just as much as rule...
What Happens When Students Talk Across Generations? We sit down with with Dr. June Klees, a historian and educator at Bay College, about the Waging Dialogue initiative — a unique civics program designed to help students develop the confidence and skills to engage in dialogue across generational and ideological divides. Students are paired with older conversation partners in what’s called an “intergenerational dyad,” encouraging sustained, intentional conversations that challenge assumptions,...
The Connection Opportunity Report: Hope, Barriers, and the Path Forward How can we truly connect across political, racial, religious, and class divides? In this episode of Outrage Overload, host David Beckemeyer dives into the Connection Opportunity report from More in Common with guests Kate Carney and Calista Small. Discover: ✅ Why most Americans still want connection—even across differences ✅ The biggest barriers keeping us apart ✅ How working together locally can overcome political tensio...
Is democracy failing because citizens aren’t truly thinking through the issues? In this episode, we hear from Prof. James Fishkin, Stanford scholar and creator of Deliberative Polling, a groundbreaking method used around the world to reveal what people would think if they had the chance to deliberate in depth. Fishkin explains why deliberation is about more than civil conversation. It’s about helping ordinary people make better decisions on complex policy questions. Discover how projects like...
War, political chaos, economic fears, AI disruption—the world feels like it’s on fire. And the media? It never stops pouring fuel on the flames. In this final chapter of the Outrage on the Mic series, we explores how outrage has become the currency of media—from the fiery sermons of Father Coughlin to the viral rants of today’s podcasters and political pundits. Why does outrage work so well? Can creators build something different in a world addicted to anger and fear? And what does it look li...
In Part 2 of our special series Outrage on the Mic, we go back in time to explore how public outrage has shaped societies long before the digital age. David Beckemeyer is joined by Outrageous History! host Ernest Granson, who brings his journalist’s eye to scandals, uprisings, and media-fueled conflicts from the French Revolution to the Spanish-American War. Whether you're a history nerd, media critic, or just trying to make sense of today’s outrage culture, this episode is for you. Text me y...
Outrage Overload x Outrage Factory This week, we kick off our special July series, Outrage on the Mic, with a fun and irreverent crossover featuring the hosts of Outrage Factory—Dale Deruiter and Geoff Gauthier. We explore the absurdity of online outrage, how humor can both defuse and amplify it, and what it means to build a show around the week’s most ridiculous controversies. This is Part 1 of our Outrage on the Mic series, where we partner with fellow podcasters to explore how different vo...
Why is it so hard to have civil conversations about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict? And can we break through the outrage culture, media tribalism, and polarization that dominate today’s discourse? In this episode, we talk with Adam Boaz Becker, founder of Headon.AI, an AI platform designed to foster political dialogue and bridge divides. Adam shares what he's learned from years of street interviews in Israel and the West Bank, the challenges of creating conversations in conflict zones, and ...
Exploring Democratic Erosion and the Rise of Authoritarian Tactics Is the U.S. Sliding Toward Competitive Authoritarianism? Political scientist Lucan Way joins us to discuss signs of democratic erosion, competitive authoritarianism, and the weaponization of institutions. Drawing from his co-authored New York Times essay, “How Will We Know When We Have Lost Our Democracy?”, Way explains how democratic backsliding may already be underway—and why recognizing it matters now more than ever. Te...
Why are we so divided — and what can we really do about it? In this episode, Rich Harwood, founder of The Harwood Institute and author of The New Civic Path, returns to the show to share how communities across America are rebuilding trust and taking action — without waiting on Washington. We talk about how to bring people together, restore belief in each other, and start healing our divided country from the ground up. If you're tired of outrage, political fighting, and feeling stuck, this epi...
How Wellness Content Fuels Conspiracies What starts as a search for natural living or homegrown veggies can slowly become something else entirely. In this episode, we follow the personal story of Kavisha Pillay, a digital ethics expert who unexpectedly found herself pulled into the “tradwife” aesthetic while simply exploring homesteading and wellness content online. We explore how seemingly wholesome spaces—like DIY cleaning tutorials and sourdough baking videos—can become subtle entry point...
How a Doctor’s Long COVID Journey Exposed Systemic Failures Millions are still living with long COVID, yet many patients are dismissed, misunderstood, or left without answers. In this episode, Dr. Zeest Khan shares her personal journey—from treating critical patients as a cardiothoracic anesthesiologist to becoming a long COVID patient herself. This conversation isn’t just about COVID—it's about how we listen, how we heal, and what needs to change. Guest: Dr. Zeest Khan, physician, long COV...
How AmeriCorps Cuts Threaten Our Civic Future Tens of thousands of AmeriCorps service positions are being eliminated. In this episode, we explore how cuts to national service programs are affecting communities, civic engagement, and the future of democracy in America. Maureen Eccleston, Chief Impact Officer at Service Year Alliance and longtime AmeriCorps alum, joins David Beckemeyer to break down what these cuts mean, who’s being impacted, and why service years matter now more than ever. We ...
Outrage Overload: Rethinking politics, division, and media
When the Center Becomes the Rebel Once, being radical meant picking a side—Rush Limbaugh on the right, Keith Olbermann on the left. But today, that kind of partisanship isn’t radical anymore—it’s predictable. In this episode, we explore a surprising idea: maybe the true radicals now are the independent thinkers—the bridge-builders—who refuse to be boxed into red or blue. Our guest, Lura Forcum, President of The Independent Center, shares how her organization is empowering independent voters, ...
