The Covid-19 pandemic struck at a time when political polarization in the US is at record levels. At first glance, Americans’ experiences of the virus confirm a story of a deeply divided nation. Research has consistently shown partisan identity to be among the strongest predictors of Americans’ divergent responses to the virus, and extensive coverage of protests against lockdown orders vividly dramatizes the red-versus-blue dynamic.
The Covid-19 pandemic struck at a time when political polarization in the US is at record levels. At first glance, Americans’ experiences of the virus confirm a story of a deeply divided nation. Research has consistently shown partisan identity to be among the strongest predictors of Americans’ divergent responses to the virus, and extensive coverage of protests against lockdown orders vividly dramatizes the red-versus-blue dynamic.
