It’s easier than ever to write people off—especially in these highly divisive times where political views feel misinformed, extreme, or even dangerous. But if we want to pull our country back from the brink, silence isn’t an option. Political conversation can no longer be taboo – they’re required. We all know these conversations can be hard. Many of us have tried—only to be met with defensiveness, denial, or avoidance. It’s frustrating, even heartbreaking. But walking away entirely means surrendering the people we care about to those who thrive on division, confusion, and misplaced loyalty.

Yes, Trump supporters deserve an earful, but even more so, we deserve our democracy. This isn’t about winning arguments, it’s about rebuilding trust and helping those we care about find their way out of a carefully constructed illusion. This is strategic.

To help put you at ease, let’s clarify upfront what we mean by “talk” and “conversation”. This doesn’t have to be about rescuing them single-handedly—we’re not aiming for an “OMG, you’re right, how did I not see that?” moment (though it can happen). These conversations are more about reconnecting and planting the seeds that will help them find their own way back to reality.

While we’re at it, let’s clarify what we mean by “Trump voter” and “Trump supporter.” We use these as broad terms for anyone who voted for Trump—whether they’re hardcore MAGA supporters, misinformed voters, or simply casual ones. It can also include people who didn’t vote at all; if they didn’t vote, they weren’t paying attention—and they need to start.

Now, let’s get at it…

Before the election, Trump supporters were trapped in an information bubble—and we let them rot there. That was a fatal mistake. We can’t do that again. Our refusal to engage Trump supporters only strengthens the grip of those who’ve captured them.

Practically speaking, the only way to save our democracy is to broaden anti-Trump sentiment—enough to pressure his handlers and Congress to rein him in. We don’t just want people to reject Trump; we also want them to learn to distrust and distance themselves from those who’ve lied to and exploited them. It’s worth repeating – they need to do this on their own.

While some of us are eager to reach out to friends and family in the hope of reconnecting, many understandably feel repulsed by the idea. We know these conversations can be difficult, but they don’t have to be perfect, and there are ways to make them easier and more effective.

Relationships vary widely, so these heart-to-heart conversations will have many subtleties we’ll explore later. For now, here’s a quick sample of some of our most basic tips to give you an idea of what these conversations might look like:

• These conversations can take time—sometimes even months. Don’t rush them.
• They should almost always be face-to-face and one-on-one.
• Spend more time enjoying each other’s company than talking politics
• If you find yourself raising your voice, you’re probably doing it wrong.

To make our case for having these discussions, we’ll look at three things:

• Why these conversations are critical now
• Why these conversations will be easier than before the election
• Why our friends and family voted for Trump

Why these conversations are critical now

Billionaires, corporatists, and oligarchs have no interest in democracy; it, and you, get in their way. These are the true elites, and they have used their extreme wealth to seize control of media, technology, much of our government, and the minds of many of us. Their most decisive move came with a massive investment to install Trump as their front man in November 2024.

With Trump and his deeply corrupt appointees in power, we can expect amplified efforts to destroy truth, resulting in:

• Increasing disinformation and propaganda across right-wing and conservative media
• Expanded right-wing ownership of media
• Increased whitewashing by an intimidated mainstream press
• Suppressed independent journalism
• Even weaker and less effective democratic messaging

These conditions are the exact opposite of what’s needed to save democracy—and they will silence the voices capable of reviving truth and a deeper understanding of what truly matters. If we don’t engage with one another, we’ll only empower those who seek to control and exploit us, deepening our vulnerability and making democracy even more fragile.

Some of the few remaining places where sane discussion can still happen are around our kitchen tables and on our front porches. In other words, saving our democracy now depends largely on grassroots efforts—having conversations with those around us, whether they’re non-voters, apathetic Trump voters, or even staunch Trump supporters. They are our friends and family—and only we can reach them.

Even before Trump’s inauguration, some of his voters—especially the more apathetic ones—were already doubting their decisions, simply from belatedly learning what tariffs are or realizing that Obamacare and the Affordable Care Act are the same thing. But we can’t afford to passively wait for people to drift away from Trump. The sooner he loses support, the less damage he can do. Yes, time is of the essence, but it’s important to not rush these conversations.

We are the last guardrail of democracy, but only if we talk.

Why these conversations will be easier than before the election

For the most part, we neglected to have these crucial conversations before the 2024 election. Some of us—caught in our own information bubble—were certain Harris would win and felt little urgency to engage. Others held on to hard lessons learned from talking to Trump supporters in 2016 and 2020. We were left shocked, confused, and angry at the choices and behavior of people we thought we knew. In response, we pulled away—and so did they.

In many cases, the reality of living in a very different America will make these conversations easier going forward. Here are a few realities people will be forced to confront:

• Some will feel betrayed by broken promises.
• Some will witness—or experience—the pain caused by Trump and the Project 2025 agenda.
• Some will be shaken by the chaos, the cruelty, and the sheer absurdity of it all.
• Many will grow fearful of the intentional global instability.
• Many will begin to recognize how they’ve been misled by propaganda and disinformation.
• The growing realization that yes—it can happen here.

Showing is more effective than warning—saying “Look at what’s happening” is more convincing than “This is what might happen.”

There’s something else that will ease these conversations, but it requires you. We all have a powerful, unconscious need to belong or fit in somewhere – Trump and MAGA have (disingenuously) given that to many of his supporters. Don’t wait for their buyer’s remorse—get in front of it. Let them know they are welcome back. This is important: knowing up front that they have somewhere else to go makes it much easier for them to leave Trump—and their information bubble—behind.

Lastly, America isn’t a divided nation—we are a nation that was intentionally divided. That’s a crucial distinction. And it means this can be fixed. We are not each other’s enemy—we never were; we were simply persuaded to believe we are. Our anger, our energy, and our fight must be directed at the true source of this crisis: the oligarchs, billionaires, and propagandists who are tearing us apart so they can hijack our democracy. They spend billions to keep us distracted, divided, and blaming each other — instead of them.

But we were never meant to stand alone. We are wired for connection, built to depend on one another. It’s in our nature to care, to grow, and to stand—together. The more of us who remember that, the easier we will heal.

Why our friends and family voted for Trump

This is a complex and nuanced topic, one explored in countless books and articles—we’ll keep it brief…

We live in a world awash in manipulative and harmful rhetoric. It comes at us from all directions, all day, every day. At its core is an unrelenting drive for power by a select few. Several key dynamics shape this landscape:

• Oligarchs rising to power, extending their reach into government, dominating media, and pursuing an obsessive drive to control society.
• Traditional news sources are being abandoned in favor of social media, entertainment-driven reporting, and shallow headlines that obscure deeper understanding.
• Propaganda and disinformation technologies are advancing faster than our minds’ natural defenses and our institutions can adapt.
• Our brains’ inherent malleability (neuroplasticity) is being exploited to subtly reshape how we interpret the world around us — and how we react to it.

Persistent, widespread disinformation—amplified by fearmongering and scapegoating—has been deliberately weaponized by those intent on reshaping our society. Manufactured threats like “coastal elites,” “white replacement theory,” “wokeness,” “the deep state,” and “the attack on manhood” are deliberately deployed by those intent on re-engineering our society.

These tactics, combined with conservative policies that concentrate wealth and disempower the public, foster a sense of lost control and diminished self-worth. That loss breeds insecurity and anxiety, which in turn rewire our brains—eroding reason, amplifying threat sensitivity, and deepening distrust. Low self-esteem makes us resentful of “others” while drawing us toward fellow sufferers and charismatic figures promising quick fixes. The result: a vulnerable population, primed for exploitation.

Intelligence does guarantee defense; when low self-esteem and anxiety take hold, they often overpower our capacity for rational thought. It’s also important to realize that most of this goes on deep in our unconscious mind, leaving us unaware and unable to break free. 

Regardless of circumstances, anyone who spent too much time in the echo chamber was bound to be pulled under. It didn’t just manufacture victimhood, resentment, and tribalism — it also shaped our consent for the destruction of democracy.

Other dynamics that may have helped sway our friends and family include:

• Young Trump voters were in their mid-teens when he left office—too young to remember his failures. Democratic messaging didn’t fill the gap, but social media influencers amplified his bravado.
• Decades of conservative fiscal policies—like trickle-down economics—have left many behind, fueling legitimate feelings of low self-esteem and anxiety.
• Many still clung to the stubborn belief that Republicans are the party of “law and order” and “fiscal responsibility.”
• Contrived and disingenuous investigations of Democrats by Republicans created false narratives of corruption.
• Deliberate undermining of institutions—followed by citing that damage as “proof” of government incompetence and waste.
• A growing awareness that human progress was pushed aside for the economic progress of the few has created a sense of disillusionment and a longing for the past or ‘anything different’.
• The belief that “it will never happen here” insulated our minds from the urgency of the moment
• Long-running whitewashing and bothsidesism in mainstream media blurred the lines between the parties and their candidates, dulling the public’s sense of danger.

Beneath all of this is a simple truth: those stuck in the wrong bubble rarely heard criticism of Trump—but were flooded with negativity about Biden, Harris, Democrats, and the government itself. They were fed a distorted view of the world—and voted accordingly.

The good news is that neuroplasticity works both ways — what was done can also be undone. Rather than seeing those caught in echo chambers as lost causes, we might view them as individuals influenced by forces beyond their control—forces we can help them resist and overcome.

So now what?

Hopefully, you’ve made it this far because you see the urgency and possibilities of these chats. If you’re still unsure, look at our guidance pages to determine whether these conversations are for you. If you’re fired up and think you’re ready to go, you’re still advised to look at our guidance (or other sources) because there are simple ways to make these conversations smoother and more effective.

Two final friendly reminders as you consider having these conversations:

1. Our unwillingness to engage with Trump supporters only strengthens the influence of those who’ve captured them.
2. As long as we’re fighting each other, we’re not fighting those who broke the system.

Talking heads are destroying Democracy – talking friends can save it. Start your conversation here.