For my TED Talk, I will start off by explaining that bipartisanship is an essential part of democracy. It’s been a staple of our great nation since the beginning of the first political parties. For the past few decades, bipartisanship has significantly decreased, and the division between both the Democrats and Republicans has been widening since. Before the shift, both Democrat and Republican politicians, although fighting for their own goals, still supported and was open to finding middle ground with the opposing party. After the shift, both parties struggle to find common ground due to disdain toward one another and the radicalization of both parties.

My main points will include when this occurred, what other factors accelerated the shift, and how it affects us today.

One defining moment for my paradigm shift was the 1994 midterm elections. The 1994 midterm elections was the election following the 1992 Presidential Election in which led to the victory of President Bill Clinton. In 1994, Newt Gingrich and other Republican leaders came up with their plan to gain majority in Congress, which was called “A Contract with America”. Along with this plan, the Republicans also introduced scorched earth politics to us, which was a series of personal attacks and a “win at all costs” mentality. They were proven successful when they gained majority and now had control of both chambers of Congress. Newt Gingrich then became Speaker of the House and attempted to make the rest of Bill Clinton’s Presidency hell for him and the Democrats. I also want to explain how the media effected the 1994 midterms and added to the split. In the early 1990s, talk radio became insanely popular and one of the most popular radio hosts at the time was named Rush Limbaugh. Rush Limbaugh was a conservative and was not afraid to show it and was a pushing force for the victory of the Republicans in the 1994 midterm elections. The effects of scorched politics and the “win at all costs” mentality forever changed US politics by bringing an increase to partisanship in the US. This can be seen today through the obvious resentment between our current President, Donald Trump, and top Democratic leaders like Nancy Pelosi.