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Lura Forcum returns to talk about a word that's everywhere in politics right now: purity test. Her recent USA Today op-ed argues that the Democratic Socialists of America have pulled the Democratic Party further left, and Wilk and Lura use that as a jumping-off point to dig into something people on both sides of the aisle will recognize: why political parties keep drifting toward their most extreme edges instead of the center.
The conversation moves through Minnesota's record primary turnout, the DFL's shrinking influence against a rising DSA, and a line from the current Trump administration — that the president answers to Republicans, not the country — that Lura says marks a real break from how American politics used to operate. Underneath all of it is the same mechanism: purity tests turn political parties into something closer to gangs than coalitions. Pass the test, or you're out, regardless of what you actually believe.
But this isn't just a diagnosis. Lura shares how she personally engages politically without becoming a partisan cheerleader — voting in primaries she isn't excited about, being upfront about which candidates disappoint her, and finding other voters willing to hold that same honest, non-cheerleading stance. Wilk and Lura agree that a healthy civic culture has to be modeled from the ground up, since parties have little incentive to dial back tribal loyalty on their own.
Key Themes
● Purity tests turn political parties into something closer to gangs than coalitions — you pass the test or you're out, regardless of what you actually believe.
● Tribalism, not any single policy fight, is the real threat. A psychological switch flips once “our side” becomes identity rather than ideas — old wiring reasserting itself in modern politics.
● Political parties benefit from tribal loyalty, so there's little incentive from the top to dial it back. A healthier civic culture has to be modeled from the ground up, not handed down.
● Real change starts small: Lura describes voting in primaries she's not excited about, being upfront about which candidates disappoint her, and finding other voters willing to hold the same honest, non-cheerleading stance.
● Building something together across difference — not just disagreeing more politely — is what actually shifts a civic culture.
Takeaways
● You don't have to pick a side entirely to participate. Disagreeing with your own party on some issues doesn't make you a traitor to it.
● Show up to primaries. Low-turnout primaries are exactly where purity-test politics gets its power.
● Find people, even a small group, willing to say “this worries me too” without it turning into partisan warfare — that's where a healthier civic culture starts.
● Learn more about Lura's work at her newsletter, How to Human, or connect with her on LinkedIn.
About Lura Forcum
Lura Forcum, Ph.D., is a social psychologist, writer, and strategic advisor whose work focuses on political tribalism, polarization, and civic culture — how identity and belonging shape the way people engage, or disengage, with politics. She previously served as president of the Independent Center and now advises organizations working to strengthen civic engagement. She sits on the board of advisors for the Pro Human Foundation, writes the newsletter How to Human, and co-hosts the podcast We Made This Political.
Learn more and connect with Lura Forcum:
Website: https://luraforcum.substack.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luraforcum/
Podcast: https://wemadethispolitical.substack.com/
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