Maryland cafe conversation reveals American political overlap

In a cafe in Edgewater, Md., Shanna Berry and Alma Ong discussed the U.S. capture of Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro in January. The two women, both in their early 50s and friends, had previously avoided political conversation to preserve their relationship. Berry, a retired hairdresser, Air Force veteran, and Christian who supports President Trump, wore a bright yellow cardigan while speaking. Ong, a Buddhist who grew up in London and moved to the United States in the 1990s, holds more liberal views and is critical of the president.

When Berry offered her perspective on the Venezuela situation, she described the end of the regime as necessary. She expressed uncertainty about the legalities of the operation and noted a strong focus on Venezuelan oil, while acknowledging that many Venezuelans are happy with the outcome. Ong reacted with surprise, stating that she agreed with everything Berry said. This exchange illustrates a concept supported by political researchers: that perceived polarization often exceeds actual political division.

Kristin Laurin, a psychology professor at the University of British Columbia, identified this dynamic in the literature. She noted that individuals often avoid political discussions due to a fear of conflict, which leads them to overestimate their differences from others. Laurin explained that the friends in the cafe were making incorrect assumptions about one another’s beliefs. She added that political elites frequently portray opponents as extreme to energize voters, while social media platforms amplify outrage to drive engagement. Laurin stated that the perceived gap between political groups is much larger than the actual gap.

A similar pattern of cross-partisan agreement emerged in April following the indictment of former FBI director James Comey. The Department of Justice alleged that a photo of seashells posted by Comey constituted a death threat against the president. Both Democrats and many conservatives expressed surprise at the charge. Jonathan Turley, a constitutional law professor at George Washington University Law School, remarked on the unusual nature of the case. At a riverside restaurant near the Chesapeake Bay, Republicans and Democrats alike supported Comey’s First Amendment rights.

Stan Fletcher, a restaurateur and three-time Trump voter, supported the view that most Americans hold moderate positions. He estimated that 95 percent of the population falls within a moderate range, while public discourse focuses on extreme voices from both sides. This assessment aligns with data from the non-partisan Pew Research Center. Pew classifies Americans into nine groups based on values and attitudes, identifying a diverse political landscape that extends beyond simple binary labels.

One Pew group, the Pragmatic and Polite Right, includes 56 percent of Republicans or Republican-leaning individuals and 37 percent of Democrats or Democratic-leaning individuals. This group, which has the oldest average age, values civility, holds conservative economic views, and takes more moderate positions on race and immigration. Jocelyn Kiley, who leads politics research at Pew, noted that there is significant variation within parties and considerable overlap between them. She stated that this messy political middle is larger than the groups at the ideological extremes.

Pew estimates that the messy middle constitutes approximately 60 percent of the electorate. In contrast, the groups farthest to the right, labeled the No Apologies Right and Faith First Conservatives, make up just 21 percent of the population. Kiley acknowledged that political division in America is real but emphasized the nuance underlying that division. She concluded that while the country is highly polarized, there is more agreement among citizens than is commonly recognized.