Civic Discussion Meetup

Join us for an in-depth discussion analyzing the first year of Donald Trump’s second-term presidency. We’ll explore key policies, executive actions, domestic and foreign impacts, and the political dynamics that shaped this period. Participants will have the opportunity to discuss successes, controversies, and long-term implications for the country. This session encourages thoughtful, respectful dialogue across perspectives and aims to provide a nuanced understanding of the administration’s early trajectory.

Why do different parts of the United States feel—and function—so differently? From state to state and region to region, people experience civic life in ways that reflect much more than political preferences.

These differences are shaped by a wide mix of factors: economic conditions, geography and climate, local laws and policies, religious traditions, historical experiences, demographic shifts, and sociocultural values. Together, they help define the identities and perspectives of communities across the country.

In this discussion, we’ll explore how these overlapping forces contribute to regional divides and what they mean for how we live, vote, work, and connect as a nation. From the rural South to the urban coasts, from heartland towns to fast-growing Sun Belt cities, every region tells part of the American story.

Relevant Content:

U.S. Divisions: https://www2.census.gov/geo/pdfs/maps-data/maps/reference/us_regdiv.pdf

U.S. Regional Data: data.census.gov

Geography King: https://youtu.be/mGge_d1BOZU?si=GKqS6UZz5VArTe0N

Why do conversations about politics and social issues so often go off the rails, even when everyone involved has good intentions? In this Civic Discussion Meetup, we’ll explore insights from Hidden Brain’s “Mind Reading 2.0: Why Conversations Go Wrong,” featuring linguist Deborah Tannen. The episode looks at how differences in conversational style—tone, pacing, assumptions, and expectations—can lead to misunderstanding and unintended conflict.

Rather than debating specific political positions, this discussion will focus on how we communicate in civic spaces and why people frequently feel unheard or misinterpreted. We’ll examine how these dynamics contribute to polarization and explore practical ways to have clearer, more productive conversations across ideological and social differences. The goal is to better understand not just what we say in public discourse, but how we say it—and how small shifts in communication can lead to more meaningful dialogue.

Relevant Content:
Mind Reading 2.0: Why Conversations Go Wrong: https://www.hiddenbrain.org/podcast/why-conversations-go-wrong/

Propaganda is the systematic spread of biased or misleading information, images, or ideas to influence public opinion, shape behavior, or promote a specific political or social agenda. It often relies on emotional appeals, selective facts, or fear, and can be found in political campaigns, advertising, social media, and everyday messaging. Its goal is to shape beliefs or actions through strategic communication—sometimes subtly, sometimes overtly.

In this Civic Discussion Meetup, we’ll explore the tools and techniques of propaganda, from framing and word choice to imagery and repetition, and how they influence the way people think and act. We’ll also examine the ethical questions it raises: When does persuasion cross the line into manipulation? What responsibilities do governments, media, and corporations have in shaping public opinion? And how can citizens critically recognize and respond to propaganda in their daily lives?

This discussion is designed to be thoughtful, evidence-based, and interactive, providing space for participants to explore the power, ethics, and consequences of propaganda in contemporary society.