American political discourse has become more toxic than ever. In today's episode, Rick speaks with Frank Bruni, author of the new book "The Age of Grievance," which examines the pervasive culture of outrage and grievance driving contemporary American politics. Together, they analyze the roots of this phenomenon, tracing it back to historical and media influences, such as the rise of conservative media figures like Rush Limbaugh and Fox News. They explore how social media has intensified this culture, rewarding anger and performative outrage over substantive dialogue. They reflect on the decline of civility and compromise in political discourse, the rise of apocalyptic partisanship, and the erosion of trust in institutions.

Timestamps:

[00:01:30] The Age of Grievance

[00:16:22] Pessimism sells

[00:15:46] Breaking the spell

[00:24:40] Strategies for governing

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