- The Americans Agree project tracked 100 policies with majority support across Democrats, Republicans, and Independents from July 2025 to July 2026, showing surprising common ground.
- Despite widespread public agreement on many issues, a significant gap exists between agreement and policy action due to obstacles like organized minorities, symbolic fights, and constitutional barriers.
- Key obstacles include intense minorities overpowering diffuse majorities, activists pushing beyond public preferences, symbolism overriding substance, and politicians protecting personal interests.
- Cross-partisan agreement can still lead to action, often through state/local laws, uncontroversial federal bills, or court cases, as seen with veterans spending or Texas' abortion bill.
- The Trump administration highlighted unique points of agreement, such as rejecting military force for Greenland or upholding Supreme Court rulings, amid political dominance.
- Polarization is not inevitable; focusing on existing agreement can help bridge divides and enable collaborative action on practical problems, restoring balance in politics.