The political divide is on display every day, and it’s on display almost everywhere you go. This is all leading some to believe it’s the worst it has ever been.
The question is whether or not the divide is really the worst in our history. SMU political scientist Cal Jillson says that's tough to say, but there's no doubt divisions run deep.
“It’s deeper than it has been in recent years and decades,” Jillson stated.
Historian Doug Wead told KTRH a big part of it is due to the mainstream media and what they do.
“We’ve never had the media arrayed like this. We’ve never had the media this bitter. But yes, we have had tough times before and have gotten through them,” Wead explained.
Jillson says social media plays a big role, too.
“You grind your teeth when you see something celebrating a political position that you don’t hold. A lot of people have swept opposing political views off of their Facebook pages,” Jillson said.
And then there is this. A poll from Quinnipiac University in July found that 91 percent of voters think the political divide is a serious problem today; 47 percent blamed President Trump while 37 percent blamed Democrats.