Survey data suggests most Americans hold views that cross party lines

Shanna Berry and Alma Ong have been friends for years, but they rarely discuss politics. In January, the two women sat in a cafe and agreed to share their thoughts on the U.S. capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Berry, a Christian, Air Force veteran, and Trump supporter in her early 50s, said she believed the end of the regime was necessary. She noted that while she was unsure about the legalities, she recognized the strong interest in Venezuelan oil and the happiness of many citizens there. Ong, a liberal Buddhist who also is in her early 50s, was surprised by the response. She told Berry she agreed with every point made. This exchange illustrates a common dynamic in American political discourse.

Kristin Laurin, a psychology professor at the University of British Columbia, said the interaction matches research findings. People often avoid political conversations to prevent conflict. This silence leads them to overestimate how different their views are from those of others. Laurin noted that Berry and Ong made wrong assumptions about each other's beliefs. They actually held similar opinions on the Venezuela issue. Laurin said political elites often portray opponents as extreme to energize their base. Social media also amplifies anger to drive engagement. This combination makes the country seem more divided than it is.

A concrete example of this cross-party agreement emerged in April. Former FBI Director James Comey was indicted for posting a photo of seashells on a beach. The Department of Justice claimed the post constituted a death threat against the president. The indictment caused shock among Democrats and many conservatives. Jonathan Turley, a constitutional law professor at George Washington University Law School, told Fox News he felt he was living in a parallel universe. He questioned the logic of discussing shell art in a legal context.

Stan Fletcher, a restaurateur near the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland, voted for Donald Trump in all three of his elections. He sided with Comey and the First Amendment after the indictment. Fletcher said Comey has always been opinionated. He added that no one should be indicted for their opinion. Fletcher believes 95 percent of America falls under a bell curve of moderates. He said the public hears about the extremes on both sides, but these groups do not represent the whole country.

Pew Research Center data supports the idea that the political center is large. The nonpartisan group classifies Americans into nine distinct groups based on values and attitudes. One group is called the Pragmatic and Polite Right. Within this group, 56 percent identify as Republican or Republican-leaning. Thirty-seven percent identify as Democrat or Democratic-leaning. This group has the oldest average age. Members value civility and are conservative on economic issues. They are more moderate on race and immigration.

Jocelyn Kiley, who leads politics research at Pew, said looking beneath party labels reveals much variation and overlap. She stated that this messy political middle is larger than the groups at the ideological extremes. Pew estimates that the messy middle makes up about 60 percent of the electorate. The groups farthest to the right, including the No Apologies Right and Faith First Conservatives, make up just 21 percent of the population. Kiley said the country is highly polarized, but there is also a lot of nuance underneath that division.