Claude Sonnet 5Oct 1816 citations
Is political polarization worse than it's been in the past?
Short answer: Yes, by most measures—especially in the U.S.
Political polarization today is generally considered more severe than at most points in recent historical memory, though the full picture is nuanced depending on what exactly you measure and over what timeframe.
Evidence that polarization is at historic or near-historic highs
In Congress/elite politics: DW-NOMINATE scores reveal that