The New Jersey College Civility Tour event at Rutgers’s Eagleton Institute brought together student leaders from opposing parties to discuss polarization, AI, immigration and democracy, showing that people can agree on the problems while disagreeing on solutions. The authors, Talking Across Difference fellows, reflect on the value of respectful dialogue, and on the need to listen critically when a statement disregards others’ dignity.

How a few fluffy faces on Instagram might be the key to sparking and civic engagement and curing political burnout.

A student expressed that he felt discouraged from promoting civic engagement as a non-partisan individual in polarizing political spaces. Upon hearing this, Flake encouraged the attendee to become involved in his community.

My Summer 2025 internship on Capitol Hill wasn’t your typical Hillternship. I spent nine weeks working for the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Democrats, currently in the minority, but steadfast in their fight for transparency and accountability in our government. 

This summer, I had the immeasurable privilege to pursue two internships in the United States Senate, with the office of U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján, from my home state of New Mexico, and for the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources under ranking member, Senator Martin Heinrich. These opportunities were absolutely life-changing.