An October report from Pew Research found that the U.S. is entering the 2020 election with partisan antipathy at an all time high with 53% of Republicans and 45% of Democrats saying the other party has almost no good ideas.
Michael Kirk, director of Frontline's latest documentary, "America's Great Divide: From Obama To Trump," joined Boston Public Radio on Tuesday to dissect the sweeping story the series tells of the past decade in politics.
"The nation was increasingly divided, partly due to economic problems we were having, certainly in 2008, so (President Barack Obama) promises unification, he says we're not red we're not blue, we're the United States of America," said Kirk. "Flash along eight years and as he leaves office he is devastated about the idea that he no longer believes he's the unifier, and in fact things have gotten worse, and into that breach, into that terrible boiling stew of what happens to American democracy, walks a man waiting for his moment, waiting to create division and chaos, and that was Donald John Trump."
The first installment of the series aired Monday night, providing context to the challenges Obama faced in office and the groundswell of divisiveness that was channeled by Trump to gain the White House.
The second installment of the series airs Tuesday night at 9 p.m. The series in its entirety, as well as separate interviews with sources, is available on Frontline's website.
