>> Cathy: THANKS, FRED.

>> HERE IS MY SIX-WORD PRESCRIPTION FOR REDUCING THE POLITICAL POLARIZATION THAT IS TEARING OUR COUNTRY APART.

TAKE DOWN.

YOUR DAMN.

CAMPAIGN SIGNS.

WE LIVE IN THE LIBERAL ENCLAVE OF ST. PAUL, AND THERE IS VIRTUALLY NO PLACE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD THAT I CAN WALK WITHOUT A SERIES OF 24 X 18 INCH REMINDERS THAT KAMALA HARRIS AND TIM WALZ LOST THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

WHEN WE DRIVE TO OUR CABIN IN NORTHERN WISCONSIN, WE PASS THROUGH TERRITORY THAT RANGES FROM SALMON PINK TO CARDINAL RED.

THERE ARE TRUMP FLAGS.

TRUMP BANNERS.

AND BIG TRUMP SIGNS REPURPOSED FROM 2016, WITH MIKE PENCE'S NAME SCRIBBLED OUT IN WHAT LOOKS TO HAVE BEEN ANGER.

I SAY THIS WITH ALL THE KINDNESS IN MY HEART: I MAY STRONGLY AGREE WITH YOUR POLITICAL IDENTITY OR OPPOSE IT WITH EVERY FIBER OF MY BEING.

BUT IN THIS MOMENT, I TRULY, HONESTLY, DEEPLY DO NOT GIVE A FLYING FIG WHO YOU VOTED FOR.

AND WHILE I CHERISH YOUR RIGHT TO FREE EXPRESSION, I WOULD ASK YOU TO CONSIDER THAT THE CONTINUED PRESENCE OF YOUR SIGNS AND YOUR BANNERS AND YOUR FLAGS IS NOT HELPING.

THEY ARE A CONSTANT, UNRELENTING REMINDER OF THE THINGS THAT SEPARATE US.

AND THEY ARE A GOAD FOR THE WINNERS TO REMAIN SMUG AND THE LOSERS TO REMAIN OUTRAGED.

AND GUESS WHAT?

SMUGNESS AND OUTRAGE ARE CRAPPY INGREDIENTS FOR CIVIL DISCOURSE.

POLITICAL IDEOLOGY IS AN IMPORTANT LENS THROUGH WHICH WE VIEW THE WORLD, AND IT'S ALSO THE EASIEST WAY TO HURL BOMBS ACROSS THE CHASM BETWEEN OTHERWISE INTELLIGENT PEOPLE.

SO I'M ASKING THAT WE DISARM.

AT LEAST IN OUR FRONT YARDS.

FOR THE MOMENT.

IT'S A TINY STEP.

BUT MAYBE TINY STEPS ARE THE BEST WE CAN DO RIGHT NOW.