Lunch and Learn 

Wednesday, January 8th, 11:30 am

Join us for a greater understanding of today’s political polarization.  Professor Michael W. Wagner will speak on “Beyond the Left-Right Divide: Partisan Polarization in American Politics”

Michael W. Wagner is the William T. Evjue Distinguished Chair for the Wisconsin Idea and Professor of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he is the Director of the Center for Communication and Civic Renewal (CCCR) and the Director of Graduate Studies. 

The talk describes how what we think of as the contemporary political divide in the United States is far more complicated than it appears in the typical “red state-blue state” coverage we see in the news media. While we tend to think of Americans being “liberal,” “moderate,” or “conservative,” American public opinion is primarily organized around two types of issues: economic and cultural. Things get complicated because some people have liberal views on both types of issues, some have conservative views on both types of issues and others have views that are liberal on some issues and conservative on others. The talk explains the far-reaching consequences of this insight from party identification, voting behavior, political participation, media use, the 2024 elections and the future of American political conflict.

We gather for a luncheon at 11:30 am in Friendship Hall, $10 per person, with the program at 12:30 pm in Worship Hall.  Professor Wagner appears courtesy of Badger Talks.

Please RSVP to Steve Sheets [email protected] The hospitality team appreciates knowing the number to attend.