One moderator, a former Trump supporter, began by apologizing to attendees for his ‘MAGA activism.’
Almost 600 people attended an online training hosted by the Women’s March, titled “Uncomfortable Conversations,” that was held ahead of Thanksgiving to help disgruntled liberals talk to their more conservative family members around the table.
“MAGA ideology has been incredibly hurtful and openly harmful, and it’s hard to imagine why those of us who have felt hurt would extend grace because, honestly, it’s vindicating to point and laugh and say ‘You voted for this,'” Resa Barillas, co-host of the webinar, said. “After all, no one is more persuasive than the family we already know and trust, because the alternative is pushing them into authoritarianism that harms us all.”
The webinar featured a conversation with Rich Logis, founder of the group Leaving Maga, about why he is no longer a supporter of the president, as well as mock conversations, and a question-and-answer section, which the leaders of the call hoped would be “a tool to regulate yourself.”
Logis’s section of the call began with an apology.
“I would like to apologize to all of those watching for my past MAGA activism,” Logis said. “Had I met all of you when I was in the MAGA community, I would have deemed you all existential threats to my life, my livelihood, and my family and my country, and for that, I am sorry.”
Logis went on to explain why he abandoned his previous political commitments, saying he is “living proof that it is possible to change.”
The webinar then featured a role-playing exercise, in which Logis pretended to be a “MAGA cousin” and either Barillas or another moderator, Jess St. Louis, was the “liberal aunt.” St. Louis noted at the beginning of the call that he is a transgender woman.
Attendees had to be continuously reminded that the conversations were merely role-playing exercises and that no one participating actually supported the MAGA movement. A disclaimer that the conversations were not real appeared on screen.
“Oh my, he did not look the part of the character he was playing, but I was very offended with his response. I am now relieved,” one commenter wrote.
“You guys are fantastic actors. I’m having flashbacks to Thanksgiving dinners past,” another said.
“God I know this was role-playing but my blood pressure is skyrocketing,” someone wrote.
The call continued, with the moderators taking turns participating in the role-play and then offering critiques and thoughts on how the conversation progressed. The purpose of the critiques was to arm viewers with skills and phrases to help convince MAGA relatives of how hurtful and damaging their views are.
“I have a family member who votes based on what’s best for ‘his home’ (well off white dude). How can I build some empathy/understanding for others experiences?” one viewer asked.
The moderators noted that the truth is not the best way to go about these conversations, but rather to focus on values.
“This helps you understand them better and also identify values that may be useful to invite them away from authoritarian thinking, away from MAGA thinking, right, towards a more pro-democracy, feminist, anti-racist future, right?” St. Louis said.
Many viewers, however, felt like even these “tools” were not good enough, as their “passion is life or death.”
“It is hard to extend sympathy to someone who has chosen policies that have harmed me – and could cause my death,” one viewer wrote.
“I must admit, I don’t know if I could do this approach, maybe I am just too angry myself at them, and hard to not be pissed off at them, and thus hard to genuinely listen. Yikes!” another said.
One viewer even described their father’s support of MAGA as an almost death in itself.
“I lost my dad to maga in 2016 and then cancer in 2019, and listening to this role play breaks my heart, for conversations we were never able to have,” the viewer said.