{"author_name":"The Excerpt","author_url":"https://art19.com/shows/5-things/episodes/5ed2a73c-274a-4b08-b1d0-f213782a12d5","description":"<p>The United States is marking its 250th anniversary at a moment of deep division over politics, rights, power and <a href=\"https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2025/04/24/america-political-polarization-week-of-conversation/83228550007/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">who belongs in the nation’s story</a>. Steven Olikara, founder and CEO of Bridge Entertainment Labs, says movies and television can do something politics often can’t: move people beyond caricature and contempt. He joins The Excerpt to discuss whether Hollywood can help Americans build more curiosity, complexity and connection across their differences.</p><p>Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to <a href=\"mailto:podcasts@usatoday.com\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">podcasts@usatoday.com</a>.&nbsp;</p><p>Episode transcript <a href=\"https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2026/06/03/can-movies-and-tv-help-bridge-americas-political-divide-the-excerpt/90385121007/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">available here</a>.&nbsp;</p>","html":"<iframe src=\"https://art19.com/shows/5-things/episodes/5ed2a73c-274a-4b08-b1d0-f213782a12d5/embed\" style=\"width: 720px; height: 200px; border: 0 none;\" width=\"720\" height=\"200\" scrolling=\"no\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"></iframe>","provider_name":"ART19","provider_url":"https://art19.com","title":"Can Hollywood help heal America's divides?","type":"rich","version":"1.0","width":720,"height":200}