Common ground is a starting point, not a surrender
Cooperation begins with a shared problem. It does not require identical beliefs.
Read the guide ↗A thoughtful place in a divided world
Different perspectives.
Common ground.
We do not have to agree on everything to understand one another—or work together on something that matters.
Independent & nonpartisan28 lasting guidesPractical civic participationRespectful disagreement welcome
Begin with understanding
Ideas that outlast the headlines.
Listen to understand before preparing a rebuttal
A useful reply begins with an accurate account of the other person’s point.
Read the guide ↗Bipartisan and nonpartisan: two different commitments
Working across parties and refusing party allegiance are related, but distinct.
Read the guide ↗Our point of view
Cooperation without
giving up conviction.
Common ground is not a demand to abandon your values. It is a place to examine evidence, understand differences and explore what people can accomplish together.
Read our editorial commitment ↗01
Understand before judging.
Explain a viewpoint fairly before making the case against it.
02
Evidence over allegiance.
Ask the same questions of every proposal, including the one you prefer.
03
Make room for more voices.
Republicans, Democrats, independents and other perspectives belong in the conversation.
04
Cooperation with accountability.
Cross-party support does not remove the need to examine outcomes and costs.
At the same table
A better conversation starts here.
One issue.
Better questions.
Before a debate becomes a contest over who is right, find out what each person is trying to protect or improve.
Read the conversation guide ↗- What problem are we trying to solve?
- What would a better outcome look like?
- Which evidence should we examine?
- What is the strongest objection?
- What could change our assessment?
Explore the publication
Six paths to a wider perspective.
Original guides for thoughtful readers, community conversations and future podcast discussions.
6 guides
Common Ground
Shared goals, honest differences and practical cooperation.
Explore this collection ↗6 guidesCivil Dialogue
Ways to listen, ask better questions and disagree with care.
Explore this collection ↗6 guidesGovernment Explained
Understand the institutions before evaluating the promise.
Explore this collection ↗2 guidesHistory of Cooperation
Examine the achievements, conflicts and costs in the record.
Explore this collection ↗6 guidesWays to Participate
Useful steps for taking part in civic life.
Explore this collection ↗2 guidesReading & Research
Habits for examining claims, sources and uncertainty.
Explore this collection ↗From understanding to participation
Your voice has a place.
Practical, nonpartisan ways to take part—online, in your community and through official channels.
Register & prepare to vote
Start with ElectoralVote.com, then confirm current requirements with your official election office.
Visit ElectoralVote.com ↗Contact your representatives
Find the federal, state or local official connected to the issue you want to discuss.
Find your officials ↗Participate locally
Locate your local government and check its public meeting agendas and participation instructions.
Find local government ↗Comment on a proposal
Use the official docket, read the notice and check the deadline and privacy information.
Explore public comments ↗Start a conversation
Use a clear question and equal speaking time to understand a different perspective.
Read the discussion guide ↗Share your perspective
Suggest a constructive question, explain an experience or propose a topic for a future podcast.
Contribute an idea ↗Lessons from the record
When cooperation changed the story.
Study how agreements happened, and whose experiences must remain part of the account.
The coalition behind the Civil Rights Act of 1964
A historical case of cross-party work amid deep conflict.
Read the guide ↗
Building the interstate system required more than a vision
The 1956 highway law also involved competing financing plans.
Read the guide ↗
Three founding documents, three different roles
Read the original texts before relying on a quotation online.
Read the guide ↗PODCAST · IN DEVELOPMENTDifferent voices.
Different voices.
One conversation.
The Bipartisan Politics Podcast
The conversation can grow
A future place
to listen together.
A podcast is part of our long-term vision: thoughtful guests, honest differences and questions worth exploring. Episodes, guests and a launch date have not yet been announced.
Your perspective matters
Bring a question.
Share an experience.
Help us identify issues worth examining and conversations worth having.
Share your perspective ↗Thoughtful contributions welcome. Personal attacks and unsupported accusations are not.
Email submissions are reviewed privately. Nothing is posted automatically, and we seek permission before publishing reader contributions.
Read our submission approach ↗