Derate the Hate: Civility, Fuel Costs, and Why Congress Must Act | 06-02-26

Sam Bushman sits down with Wilk Wilkinson, director of media systems at Braver Angels and host of the Derate the Hate podcast. Wilk shares his personal journey from a blue-collar trucker to a depolarization advocate, and how he discovered the common denominator in most of his problems was himself. They talk diesel fuel costs and what every American is missing about transportation and inflation, how to hold your beliefs without demonizing others, the difference between common ground and moral high ground, and why toxic polarization is the one problem that ensures all other problems never get solved. Plus Sam's constitutional take on the Iran war and why Congress needs to step up now. Timestamps: 0:38 - What is Derate the Hate and why Braver Angels matters 1:57 - Wilk's personal journey: the common denominator was me 3:54 - From trucker to depolarization advocate: 26 years in transportation 5:55 - Fuel costs are through the roof, and here is why it affects everyone 7:23 - Diesel over $5 a gallon and what that does to your grocery bill 9:07 - The nonpartisan take: how to find facts before opinions 15:44 - Common ground vs. middle ground: you don't have to jettison your beliefs 18:02 - Sam's reference point: God, family, and country explained 19:30 - Sam's constitutional take: Congress must authorize and fund the war 22:55 - Toxic polarization is why nothing in Congress gets done 23:02 - A clarion call for civility: Sam's book and callforcivility.com 24:04 - We don't need common ground, we need moral high ground Call to Action: If this hit home, share it with someone you disagree with. Visit braverangels.org to learn about the 2026 convention in Philadelphia, June 25-28. Check out callforcivility.com for Sam's book. And visit libertyroundtable.com for more. God save the republic.