Helping Americans with disparate political views turn confrontation into collaboration was the focus today during a special panel at the Sine Institute of Policy & Politics at American University. Led by former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, the event featured a conversation with National Governors Association (NGA) Chair Utah Governor Spencer Cox and NGA Vice Chair Colorado Governor Jared Polis.

The discussion was Governor Hogan’s first seminar as a Spring 2024 Fellow at the Sine Institute. Each year, the bipartisan Sine Institute hosts six new Fellows who are leaders and visionaries across industries including business, government and the public sector, non-profits and advocacy, the media, the arts, and other areas. The Sine Institute Fellows host seminars throughout the spring semester where American University students and community members can benefit from the experiential learning opportunities and engaging conversations. Through their unique and varied contributions, each Fellow helps to advance the Sine Institute’s mission of bringing diverse viewpoints together to solve our nation’s biggest challenges.

“The Sine Institute is honored to host Governors Cox and Polis alongside our 2024 Sine Fellow Governor Hogan for a productive discussion on this critical topic,” said Sine Institute Executive Director Amy K. Dacey. “The NGA’s Disagree Better initiative goes hand in hand with the Sine Institute’s mission of convening, communicating, and collaborating and bringing diverse viewpoints together to solve the biggest problems we face, and I thank each of these respected public servants for taking the time to share these strategies and ideas with students and our AU community.” 

The panel, entitled “Overcoming Political Polarization,” was an extension of the National Governors Association’s (NGA) “Disagree Better,” initiative, which is being spearheaded by Utah’s Governor Cox, current chairman of the NGA. The project seeks to discover what “disagreeing better” might look like through public debate, service projects, and a variety of other tactics, promoting a positive and optimistic approach to addressing the most pressing issues of our times. The conversation was moderated by Tiffany Waddell, Head of Government Relations at The National Governors Association. 

"’Disagree Better' has been conceived by the nation’s governors to help create a culture of civility and mutual respect,” said Governor Hogan. “The initiative invites all Americans to learn to Disagree Better at home, in their community, and in the wider political discourse by bridging partisan divides and finding common ground. A variety of resources are available on NGA’s website to find inspiration, take action, and engage in constructive dialogue." 

While “Disagree Better” has been conceived by the nation’s governors as an attempt to find a productive way of formulating policy at the state and national level, the initiative invites all Americans to learn to Disagree Better at home, in their community, and in political discourse by bridging partisan divides and finding common ground. A variety of resources are available on NGA’s website to find inspiration, take action, and engage in constructive dialogue. 

"The exhausted majority of Americans are tired of the deep partisan divisions and inaction we see in our politics today," said Governor Cox. "If we're truly going to solve problems as a nation, we've got to reject animosity and relearn the art of persuasion. The Disagree Better initiative gives us tools to do just that."

“People in Colorado and around the country are tired of the endless bickering, and the reality is that too many are disengaging from democracy because of it. The Disagree Better initiative is an important reminder to all Americans that there’s a healthier, more productive way to deal with conflicting opinions,” said Governor Polis.

As a non-partisan platform for policy innovation and discussion of some of the world’s most pressing challenges, the Sine Institute plays an essential role in American University’s mission to prepare the next generation of changemakers. The Institute was made possible through a $10 million gift from AU alumnus, trustee, and entrepreneur Jeff Sine, SIS/BA ’76, and Samira Sine, respected journalist and advocate for women and children. The Sine’s gift was a milestone in American University’s Change Can’t Wait campaign, which has raised $444 million to date.

The 2024 cohort of Sine Institute Fellows will convene conversations on issues that include civility, collaboration, immigration and food policy, crisis communications, social justice, democracy, the past, present, and future of tech policy, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the future of the workforce, the global workforce, and more. Learn more about Governor Hogan’s upcoming Sine Seminars here and about Sine’s other 2024 Fellows here.