What Are You Ambivalent About?

The Brian Lehrer Show dedicates its final segment to a recurring call-in feature on ambivalence, challenging the media's culture of certainty and outrage. Host Brian Lehrer argues that ambivalence—feeling torn or uncertain about complex issues—is not a weakness but a sign of humility and deeper understanding. He invites listeners to share their ambivalent feelings about pressing news and cultural topics, emphasizing that many real-world issues are not black-and-white. Callers and texters respond with a range of thoughtful reflections: Michael from Brooklyn expresses ambivalence about NASA's Artemis program, questioning whether space exploration goals have become too incremental despite technological achievements. Amy from Larchmont shares her frustration with the fragmentation within the autism community over diagnostic language and the impact of movements like the Maha movement. April from Brooklyn voices her emotional conflict about Israel, balancing historical empathy for Jewish people with a desire for open borders and peace. Other contributors express ambivalence about AI in education, GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, and America’s 250th anniversary, highlighting the tension between pride and concern about national decay. The episode closes with Lehrer affirming the value of public ambivalence as a counterbalance to polarization.