Commentators across the spectrum warn of rising polarization as violence and economic strains test the U.S.

A new round of political violence and ongoing polarization have prompted pundits across the ideological spectrum to warn that the United States faces deeper divisions with few credible voices capable of de-escalating the tensions. The Dallas shooting has become a focal point for competing narratives about political violence and allegiance, underscoring perceived gaps in national leadership and the difficulty of bringing rival camps together.

From the right, National Review contributor Jim Geraghty argues there is no visible way out of America’s intensifying political divisions and the rounds of ideologically motivated violence. He notes that the incident in Dallas produced a flurry of competing interpretations about the perpetrator’s political affiliations and warns that few prominent figures are trusted across the spectrum to calm fears or reduce rancor. The assessment points to a broader problem: leadership that can lower the temperature appears increasingly scarce as the country lawmakers with broad, cross-aisle credibility fade from view.

Eye on Cali: No Longer a ‘Golden’ State. Bed Bath & Beyond is not an outlier in its decision to leave California, contends Ana Kasparian at RealClear Investigations. The move fits a broader pattern of companies departing in response to prohibitively high costs of doing business: unaffordable housing, a generous minimum wage, steep taxes and fees, and heavy regulatory burdens. Business owners also say crime is driving closures. The result, Kasparian notes, is a 45% increase in unemployment since August 2022 and the perception that California is facing one of its toughest economic challenges in years. With liberal majorities in control of state policy, there is little immediate optimism that the traditional California Dream can be readily restored.

Liberal: We Must Address Internal Threats. In a column for The Liberal Patriot, John Halpin cites an Echelon Insights poll showing that roughly three-quarters of Americans view internal threats—polarization, corruption and cultural dysfunction—as the country's most pressing dangers. To compete with China, Halpin argues, America’s leadership in politics, business, education and the media should take concrete steps to reduce polarization, root out corruption and improve social and political culture. He adds that achieving such changes will require a shift in leadership and the values those leaders bring to the table.

Conservative: Why Voters Don’t Trust Dems. Nicole Russell, writing for USA Today, notes that Americans trust the Republican Party more than Democratic leaders on issues like the economy, crime and immigration, arguing that Democrats lack mainstream policy positions. She credits Donald Trump with economic changes and points to actions such as deploying the National Guard to Washington, D.C., to curb crime and tightening border controls as examples of Republican leadership. Democrats, Russell contends, have yet to offer a compelling alternative to Trump and must reevaluate their messaging and candidates—including newer figures who advocate different stances—to regain voters’ trust.

Schools beat: Our Desperate Need for Reform. Pedro Rodriguez, in the Washington Examiner, reports that test scores have fallen to historic lows while student mobility has stalled and the gap between top performers and peers has widened. Experts warn that the nation’s youth face weak standards, discipline issues, understaffed schools and limited opportunities. Ironically, graduation rates are rising even as test scores fall, a trend observers attribute to weak school leadership and a reluctance to embrace standardized testing in favor of ideological campaigns such as diversity, equity and inclusion rather than focusing on academic rigor. Rodriguez calls for urgent reforms to reverse the nation’s education crisis.

The collection of viewpoints, compiled by The Post Editorial Board, illustrates how polarization informs debates over political violence, state policy, economic vitality and educational outcomes. Taken together, they portray a country wrestling with credibility gaps, policy disagreements and the friction between economic realities and ideological priorities. As policymakers and citizens navigate these challenges, the need for credible leadership capable of bridging divides remains a central question for the era.