In this week’s episode of A Couple Thinks, we dove into a topic that caught both of us off guard in the best way: what if Trump voters can be kind, but only inside a narrow circle?
The episode was sparked by a TikTok from Sara J. McCord (and her business substack Sara McCord) who broke down why some MAGA supporters feel confused when they're treated with suspicion by people outside their political camp. Her framing helped us see how differently people can understand compassion—some zoom in to their familiar circles, others zoom out to humanity at large.
That led us into a broader conversation about tribalism, how our brains evolved to protect our group, and what it takes to shift perspectives without immediately shutting people down. We also discuss psychologist Sam Darling’s instagram reel, who offers her take on how easy it is to be included in MAGA-world, along with a bit of hope on how to build an off-ramp for people leaving toxic communities, without judgment, but with accountability.
And yes, we touch on our own personal growth too: from learning about white privilege, to resisting the urge to clap back online, to raising kids who think globally. Spoiler: travel, Jewish history, and a great Mark Twain quote all make an appearance.
We’re not pretending to have it all figured out. But we do believe in making space for conversation, for growth, and shared humanity.
🎧 [Listen to the episode]📌 Watch the TikTok and Instagram we referenced (linked below and in the post)📝 Drop a comment: What helped you zoom out?
TIKTOK BY SARA J MCCORD re: MAGA voters kindness individually but not globally.
INSTAGRAM REEL BY DARLING.SAM.DARLING re: humans hardwired for groups/tribes etc.
Take Action:
5 Calls (for scripts to call your electeds)
Mobilize.us (look for upcoming actions near you)
