Political Violence and the Power of Listening: What Comes Next? — Manu Meel

“People don't actually follow outrage; what they follow is what is unique and different.” Host Julie Rose talks with Manu Meel, co-founder and CEO of BridgeUSA, about how a new generation of college students is challenging the outrage economy, especially in the wake of the tragic assassination of Charlie Kirk. Meel explains that while conflict and violence often dominate headlines, the real counterculture movement is people hungry for respectful dialogue and pluralism. He argues that listening itself has become a radical act, one that could reshape democracy by empowering the “silent majority” to push back against polarization. Manu’s organization, BridgeUSA – https://bridgeusa.org/ Manu’s podcast, The Hopeful Majority – https://www.thehopefulmajority.com/ Don’t forget to subscribe for more conversations that challenge, stretch, and inspire. Episode transcript - https://uncomfypodcastbyu.blogspot.com/2025/09/political-violence-and-power-of.html CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction 00:46 Introducing Manu Meel and BridgeUSA 01:10 Discussing the Assassination of Charlie Kirk 02:28 The Mission of BridgeUSA 03:23 Challenges and Critiques of Bridging Efforts 06:30 Outrage vs. Dialogue in the Attention Economy 07:40 The Viral Impact of Constructive Dialogue 11:16 Building a Culture of Pluralism on Campus 15:49 Empowering the Silent Majority 18:44 Conclusion and Call to Action