KPBS Midday Edition

Thanksgiving And Politics: How To Navigate The Holidays Amid Trump Impeachment Inquiry

By Maureen Cavanaugh / KPBS Midday Edition Co-Host, Marissa Cabrera / News Producer, KPBS Midday Edition

Published November 26, 2019 at 10:00 AM PST

This story was published more than 5 years ago.

This Oct. 14, 2016, photo shows food from a Thanksgiving dinner from Martha & Marley Spoon in New York

Political scientist Darrell West of the Brookings Institution discusses his new book, “Divided Politics Divided Nation,” which explores polarization in America through his own family history.

As the impeachment inquiry against President Trump moves into the next phase, Americans will be coming together this week for the Thanksgiving holiday. But with the country divided over impeachment, that could make for some tense discussions across the dinner table.

It’s been said that the political polarization in America now is more intense than it’s been since the Civil War. But how did it get this way? And is there a way back?

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Darrell West is the vice president and director of governance studies at the Brookings Institution. His new book, "Divided Politics Divided Nation: Hyperconflict in the Trump Era," explores polarization in America through his own family history. West grew up in a conservative, rural community in Ohio and today his family is remains divided along party lines.

He joined Midday Edition on Tuesday to discuss his new book and what he's learned about how Americans can begin to bridge their divisions.

KPBS Midday Edition

Maureen Cavanaugh

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Maureen Cavanaugh has been a familiar voice for KPBS listeners for more than 15 years, serving in a variety of capacities including announcer, host, and producer. As host of KPBS Midday Edition, Maureen has interviewed a wide range of notables, such as comedienne Sandra Bernhardt, actor John Lequizamo, author Chuck Palahniuk, composer Marvin Hamlisch, artist Robert Irwin, and designer Zandra Rhodes. But of all the interviews Maureen has conducted, her most special was with His Holiness, the Dalai Lama. Before joining KPBS in 1997, she worked as a news anchor for KSDO and KOGO News Radio in San Diego. While working for commercial radio stations in San Diego and in Salt Lake City, Utah, Maureen reported on both hard news and lifestyle features. Maureen has received three "Golden Mike" awards from the Radio and TV News Association of Southern California for economic reporting and breaking news. She has also received a "Best of Show" and “Best Radio Newscast” awards from the San Diego Press Club and the "Flo" Award from Public Radio Program Directors Association for Best Public Radio Announcer in a large market. Maureen is a native of Queens, New York, but after more than 20 years in San Diego she feels she qualifies as a real Southern Californian.

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Marissa Cabrera

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Marissa Cabrera worked as a producer for KPBS Midday Edition and had previously served as a Newscast Producer for KPBS' Morning Edition. Before joining KPBS she reported on Vatican affairs, social, and cultural issues in Rome, Italy. She also contributed to a documentary on sex abuse in the Catholic Church. Marissa has worked as a multimedia journalist at various news stations in San Diego and Monterey as well as Columbia, Missouri. Marissa graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a bachelor's degree in broadcast journalism.

See stories by Marissa Cabrera