The United States has a trust problem.
Many Americans don’t trust their neighbors, their news, their nation.
Political tensions breed division–across the dinner table and across the aisle. Misinformation and vilification run rampant, leaving many Americans worried about where the country will go.
Is there a way forward?
Despite all our differences, can we still find a common ground to rebuild public trust?
Chief National Political Reporter Josh Robin looks at efforts across the country to bridge the divide.
Spectrum News travels to Wilmington, North Carolina, where one group is bringing together people of varied political backgrounds for bridge-building, one conversation at a time.
Then, we look at how social media, which often amplifies false stories, heightens our animosities and shaves off nuances that are a key part of life. Spectrum News travels to Harvey County, Kansas where we speak with two shoe-leather reporters, ditching screens to build trust in their communities, face-to-face.
Heading to Michigan, Spectrum News looks at the trust in our future. There, a team of high schoolers is learning about civics as part of a nationwide competition. We spoke with the students about how American democracy is seen through the eyes of their generation and learned about their hopes for a country that is more cohesive and optimistic than the one they inherited.