Harrison Ford opposes the state of American politics
In a new interview with Variety, Harrison Ford speaks openly about the state of American politics.
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Haley Pop has always had a close relationship with her mother.
The 44-year-old, from Flower Mound, Texas, opposed her mother’s conservative views. But they were always able to put their political differences aside.
That changed in 2016.
Haley’s parents, Mary Lou and Bob Kurtgen, became his enthusiast supporters of President Donald Trump and his appeal to “make America great again.” Haley and her brother, Chad Kurtgen, disagreed. Hard.
Political tensions peaked during the pandemic. Haley and Chad turned all their conversations with their parents into a political battle. They blocked each other on social media. Haley went from talking to her mother on the phone every day to going for months without talking.
“I always thought my mom was one of my best friends… that was sad,” Haley said. “It was a struggle. I thought I might not be able to talk to my parents again.”
“It was tearing my heart apart,” said Mary Lou, 70, who lives in Edmond, Oklahoma.
Their situation differed from the dynamics of many families in the United States, and later found ways to repair theirs.
A survey conducted prior to the 2024 presidential election found that one in five Americans were marginalized from their families, blocking their families on social media or skipping family events due to differences in opinion on controversial topics such as politics.
“Our current environment is becoming increasingly polarized,” said Dr. Marita Wills, CEO and Medical Director of APA, in October 2024.
In 2022, Chad decided that it was enough. He didn’t know the time he had left with his parents, and he didn’t want to spend the rest of the year alienated. If the only way he could talk to his parents was fighting over politics, he said, then bring it.
“All we were trapped was talking about politics,” said Chad, 44, who lives in Los Angeles. “I thought why not do this as a podcast because it reminds me of the need to gather for an hour each week.”
He approached Haley with an idea. She told herself, “We have nothing to lose, why?”
A podcast called the “necessary conversation podcast” has saved families.
By acting out a podcast every Sunday for an hour, I was able to focus on other things other than the show. If politics was mentioned during family gatherings or casual calls, Chad encouraged them to “save it for a podcast.”
“It’s an hour to fight ipping and chase after each other,” Mary Lou said. “Podcasts are just a part of our real life and what we mean to each other.”
Currently, the siblings are visiting their parents’ barns in Oklahoma and attending Kansas State football games together. Haley even helped her father while recovering from her second hip surgery.
They still don’t agree with politics, but they have learned to listen and sympathize with each other. Chad hopes to be able to show other families that it is possible to repair family relationships despite political differences.
“My relationship with my parents was more important than my relationship with Donald Trump,” he said.
Mary Lou agreed. “Politics is not worth losing your family or losing your love for your family,” she said. “It’s not worth it.”
Adrianna Rodriguez can visit adrodriguez@usatoday.com.
