With the 4th of July and "America 250" approaching, the democratic experiment faces its most critical test yet. David Blankenhorn, the co-founder and former president of Braver Angels — a grassroots movement with over 12,000 members offering workshops and discussions to bridge political divides — warns that a country as diverse and as large as the United States cannot survive if Americans let political polarization turn into pure hatred. To preserve the nation's founding principles, citizens must reach across the political aisle and rediscover the skills to sit down, see each other's humanity, and have constructive conversations despite their differences. #America250 #July4th #PreservingDemocracy #PoliticalDivide #BraverAngels #USHistory #Shorts #Democrat #Republican #Independent #THIRTEEN #WNET #IndependenceDay