History Repeats: How Technology and Division Shaped Politics Then & Now | David Axelrod & Karl Rove

"This technology chooses you and it does it armed with all of this data about you, to push all your hot buttons and drive you into these silos. It's
addictive. It's meant to be addictive."

David Axelrod and Karl Rove highlight how technological innovations, from the telegraph to social media, have repeatedly influenced American politics, often intensifying divisions. Axelrod and Rove draw parallels between today's fractured political landscape and previous eras, such as the 1960s civil rights struggles, the 1930s Great Depression, and even the post-Civil War period, to show that political turmoil is not new. However, they emphasize that modern technology is uniquely dangerous due to its addictive nature and its ability to manipulate and silo individuals through targeted information. Despite the challenges, Axelrod and Rove remain cautiously optimistic about the resilience of democratic institutions, though they are under significant threat today.

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