Florida is looking to turn one of its last apolitical offices into yet another partisan job. It's the latest example of political polarization making its way into nearly every aspect of American life. This episode was produced by Victoria Chamberlin, edited by Matt Collette, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Andrea Kristinsdottir and Patrick Boyd, and hosted by Noel King. Transcript at vox.com/today-explained-podcast Support Today, Explained by becoming a Vox Member today: http://www.vox.com/members A demonstrator holds a "Ban Hate" placard at a rally in Miami, Florida. Photo by Eva Marie Uzcategui/Bloomberg via Getty Images. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Americans are more politically polarized than ever, you may have heard.
The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporters.
We're so polarized that seven years ago, political scientists at Johns Hopkins started asking Americans questions like, do you think people who vote for the other party are evil?
Or even less than human?
This is the type of thing that we measure in other countries because it's the type of attitude that exists before.
If there's a mass violence event, it doesn't always lead to violence.
But whenever there is sort of mass violence, you have to have these dehumanizing and vilifying attitudes present beforehand, because otherwise it's hard to harm another human being and still feel like a morally good person.
The results may disappoint but not shock you.
What might shock you, though, is that we're starting to corral areas of our lives that were apolitical into partisan frames.
Today Explained presents polar Opposites.
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