GW Sesno Series Addresses Polarization, Government Shutdown and Bridging America’s Divide

October 3, 2025

Authored by:

Brook Endale

George Washington University continued its commitment to open, public dialogue by hosting a conversation on some of the nation's most pressing challenges, including political polarization, as part of the latest installment of the Sesno Series.

The speaker series was established to promote civil discourse and bridge political divides. It was endowed by GW alumnus and trustee Ted Segal, B.A. '03, and Meredith Perla Segal, B.Accy. '05, in honor of Frank Sesno, director of strategic initiatives at the School of Media and Public Affairsand executive director of the GW Alliance for a Sustainable Future.

GW President Ellen M. Granbergopened the event by emphasizing the importance of holding space for open and respectful dialogue.

"Our democracy depends on finding ways to overcome divisions, to listen rather than shout and to talk across our differences," Granberg said. "And there have been times recently where that ideal can seem very far away. That's why tonight's discussion matters more than ever."

Granberg welcomed the evening's panelists, which included political pollster and CNN contributor Kristen Soltis Anderson, Washington Post congressional reporter Marianna Sotomayor, B.A. '15, M.A. '16, and SMPA Director Peter Loge. U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner, D-Va., B.A. '77, joined the event later, as he was delayed due to voting in the Senate.

"This series, as President Granberg said, focuses on democracy and civil discourse. Two things that are very much in the news and very much up for debate in these highly polarized and disturbing times," Sesno said.

Noting his four decades in Washington, Sesno said he has never experienced a political moment quite like the current one, which has been marked by rapid policy shifts and deep cultural fractures. He said the political division and political violence in the country constitutes a national crisis and highlighted the urgent need to address it.

Before the panel discussion, the audience viewed a video produced by Thea Lawson, a GW senior majoring in political science with a minor in journalism, featuring interviews with GW students across the political spectrum. Students shared their perspectives on political polarization in the United States.

They expressed concern about the deepening divide in American politics, the hardening of views and the rising threat of political violence. Many also voiced fears about the consequences of speaking openly and warned that the current climate could discourage civic participation and alienate younger generations from engaging with politics.

Anderson said the students' frustrations echoed what she has seen in national polling. "The one thing that is unifying is the idea that we are all very divided," Anderson said.

She cited data showing that Americans overwhelmingly see internal conflict as the nation's biggest threat. "By an absolutely cavernous margin, Americans said the biggest threat was from within," Anderson said.

She explained that polling also shows Americans are not as divided on individual issues to the extent many people believe.

"The good news is that our polarization is not that half of America believes one thing and half believes something else. Very few Americans are all the way out on the edges. Most take a little of column A and a little of column B," Anderson said.

She explained this offers a potential path forward. "Even though we just have two parties, we don't have two factions with nothing in common," Anderson said.

Speaking about the threat of a then-looming government shutdown, which has since occurred, Sotomayor described a climate in which partisan entrenchment routinely blocks progress. Even amid national crises, she said, lawmakers often prioritize political posturing over collaboration.

"There really does not appear at this time to be a resolution," Sotomayor said. "Both sides are incredibly, incredibly entrenched."

She added that bipartisan voices exist, but they tend to work quietly, away from the spotlight.

"They do exist, and I will say they're usually not the ones who are tweeting the most or yelling the most on TV," Sotomayor said.

Sesno asked Loge about the political consequences of government shutdowns, referencing a past conversation with then-Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell(R-Kentucky), who had vowed not to allow another shutdown due to voter backlash. Sesno asked whether similar public accountability remains a concern today.

Loge said that officials on both sides are being driven by electoral incentives. Democrats, he explained, are appealing to their base to show strength and raise money, especially in states like Virginia, where President Donald Trump is using political pressure tactics. Similarly, Republicans are focused on maintaining support among their core voters to avoid primary challenges.

"It's not voters or public opinion that matters. It's a handful of voters in a handful of places that make the difference, and the smart political games are being played at them," Loge said.

The panel also discussed how media echo chambers and the collapse of local journalism are exacerbating polarization. Social media was cited as a major driver of division.

"Echo chambers have gotten worse," Sotomayor said. She explained that platforms increasingly tailor what users see to fit their existing views. This deepens ideological isolation and makes it harder for Americans to understand, or even hear, differing views.

Anderson added that social media often shows you things that make you feel, not think. This amplification of emotionally charged content discourages thoughtful deliberation, which isn't healthy for democracy, she said.

Loge emphasized the need to rebuild local community connections as one way forward.

"Most politics isn't about national issues. It's about stop signs. It's about who's picking up the garbage," Loge said.

He said more people need to engage more with local government rather than just national political narratives. Loge also encouraged making genuine connections with neighbors and building community.

The panelists agreed that healing this rift can start with individuals making intentional choices to seek broader, more balanced perspectives when it comes to the content they are consuming.

Later in the evening, Warner joined the discussion and spoke with Sesno about the breakdown of political dialogue in Congress, particularly regarding the threat of a government shutdown.

Warner attributed the dysfunction to rising misinformation and disinformation that are leading to strong disagreements, even among families and friends.

"You've got to have those hard conversations," Warner said.

When asked whether Democrats should compromise on health care funding to pass a short-term spending bill, Warner pushed back, citing the real-world consequences of rising health care costs on everyday people. He also raised concerns about growing executive overreach and politically motivated decisions within federal agencies, such as the federal government threatening to withhold funding from institutions in blue cities.

"That kind of arbitrariness, which is taking place in terms of how our government operates, that has never been the case," Warner said. "If those changes take root, that's where I get the most worried."

Sesno and Warner also addressed recent political rhetoric directed at the military. Warner expressed strong confidence in the military's institutional integrity, emphasizing that its members will uphold their oath to the Constitution and not to any individual.

Responding to a student who asked what he would say to young people disillusioned by politics, Warner acknowledged the frustration but emphasized the importance of staying engaged.

"I say there's still nothing more noble, there's nothing more frustrating, but at the end of the day, nothing more rewarding. Because at the end of the day, what you're trying to do is help the public good," Warner said.

He warned against tuning out of the political process. "When you do that, you default the power to the extremes," Warner said.