Carmen Macri
Words by Carmen Macri
Though two sides of the same coin, they couldn’t be more different. Despite all the talk of unity, the reality couldn’t be further from it—even at the local level. The political divide has become so stark across the country—and within our own city—that friendships and relationships are unraveling over opposing beliefs. Moderation? It’s either a rarity or practically extinct.
So who’s to blame?
Or what is to blame, would be the better question. Where have we gone so wrong to let ourselves be divided this extremely?
The deep divide in Congress today has been building for years. An analysis of members’ ideological scores conducted by Pew Research shows that the current standoff between Democrats and Republicans stems from multiple overlapping trends that have developed — and often reinforced each other — over decades. Both parties have become more and more ideologically cohesive, meaning each party has become more unified within itself resulting in less moderation and a hard partisan line between them. And the media and its information bubbles only make things worse.
Partisan media and social media have become echo chambers, where people mostly hear views that confirm their beliefs. News outlets and platforms now often cater to specific political audiences, ramping up divisive language and deepening biases. This limits exposure to opposing views, fueling mistrust and misunderstanding. The constant leftist and right-wing media debate fuels the fire.
Curious about how each party truly perceives the other’s media presence, “Folio” reached out to both the Duval Democratic Party and the Republican Party of Duval County chairmen (Daniel Henry and Dean Black), asking them the same set of questions. This approach aimed to provide an unbiased look at how each side views the other.
This is how it went:
Q: In your words, how would you describe the effect of social media on this election?
Dean Black: “Social media has become the new town square. It is chaos and that is exactly as the framers of the Constitution meant for it to be.”
Daniel Henry: Social media plays a significant role in this election, particularly with the amplification of disinformation. While the Democratic Party uses its platforms to promote our candidates and engage directly with voters, bad actor states (Russia, Iran and China) spread fake news and divisive content. Ultimately, social media acts as both a tool for the empowerment of spreading critical voter information and a source for disinformation.
Q: How do you think the influence of typical right-wing/leftist media shapes public opinion or outcomes?
Black: Declined to answer
Henry: “Typical right-wing media influences public opinion by framing issues in a way that presents a false choice to the voters. This media often emphasizes narratives that distort the basis of a story to push a particular narrative. By selectively highlighting certain stories, right-wing outlets reinforce pre-existing beliefs of alienation and prejudice. Additionally, these media outlets create a sense of community among their viewers, fostering loyalty and trust in the information presented. This can lead to a more polarized environment, where their viewers only seek their outlets for information. As a result, right-wing media not only shapes individual opinions but can also impact campaign narratives in political elections.”
Q: In what ways do you think right-wing/leftist media impacts political discourse and decision-making?
Black: Declined to answer
Henry: “Right-wing media significantly impacts political discourse and decision-making by promoting a narrow set of narratives that often prioritize partisan agendas over objective facts. These outlets amplify misinformation and fear-based messaging to skew public perception on national issues. This polarization can hinder bipartisan cooperation and rewards politicians who seek to divide, rather than build consensus.”
Q: How do you feel the portrayal of events by right-wing/leftist media affects people’s understanding of key issues?
Black: Declined to answer
Henry: “Often, right-wing media emphasizes sensationalized narratives that frame complex topics — like immigration, healthcare and climate change — in overly simplistic or misleading ways. This can lead to fear and misunderstanding among the public, reinforcing old stereotypes and fostering division, creating an echo chamber where individuals are less exposed to diverse perspectives and a divided electorate operating under different facts.”
Q: Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?
Black: “Duval County can sometimes be highly polarized; however, I believe that Republicans are exemplary in their behavior in these troubled times. While the Republican Party of Duval County has profound disagreements with the Democrat Party, I believe we are committed to resolving these differences with them peacefully, lawfully and with an eye toward the best interest of our citizens of every political party.” persuasion.”
Henry: “The choice this November is clear. Vice President Harris and Governor Walz are fighting to protect our fundamental freedoms, strengthen our democracy, and ensure everyone has the opportunity to live the American Dream. Their administration will be focused on:
- Cutting taxes for working families and lowering the cost of everyday items
- Making rent more affordable and homeownership more attainable
- Growing small businesses and investing in entrepreneurs
- Restoring and protecting reproductive freedoms
- Making our communities safer from gun violence and crime
- Supporting service members, veterans, and their families”
*While Black did not individually answer these questions, he did leave us with commentary about the subject at hand:
“I lament that such a thing as a ‘left-wing or right media complex’ even exists. As a former journalist myself, I miss the days when journalists were committed to the ethical presentation of both sides of reportable issues without bias to anyone. The larger issue here points to the breakdown of the profession of journalism itself. It is in a state of collapse. This means the First Amendment duties of the free press aren’t being discharged in a way that is healthy for our republic. Journalists should look in the mirror and ask themselves what internal reforms are they willing to undertake themselves to restore their integrity and thereby the trust of the public who relies upon them.”
(Maybe I took that wrong, journalist instincts and all, or maybe I am just a tad salty about being referred to as “Mr. Macri” – Mr. Macri is my father; I am his daughter.)
Media isn’t the only reason the two parties keep drifting further apart, of course. Some of their core beliefs directly contradict each other, and it’s these fundamental issues that drive each side forward. One of the biggest differences between the two parties is in how they approach key issues. Democrats tend to take a humanitarian view, prioritizing people’s needs when addressing topics like abortion, immigration and transatlantic relations. Whereas Republicans generally tend to frame their approach as a “law and order” or “security-first” strategy. Neither is inherently good or bad; it just depends on which side of the coin you’re on, but it drives the wedge between both sides all the same. Both parties have shifted ideologically—Democrats leaning further left on issues like healthcare and environmental policy, while Republicans have moved further right on economic deregulation, immigration control and traditional values.
With mainstream media as powerful as it is, everything has turned into a blame game. There is no longer a middle ground to stand on.
Former President Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis regularly point to President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris as the cause of the country’s “poor state,” a message echoed across primary Republican news outlets and in every debate. But it goes both ways: Vice President Harris and other Democrats are quick to place the blame back on Trump. The back-and-forth has become so constant that instead of working to solve our country’s issues, both sides seem more focused on pointing fingers. Our political climate feels more like a schoolyard than a serious debate.
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