@nytopinion: How can you effectively argue with someone you don’t agree with? The @nytopinion columnist Ross Douthat joins “The Ezra Klein Show” to explain why you must first engage with the best, most high-minded version of your opponent's position. #theezrakleinshow #nytopinion

CBella :

So basically assume the best of others

JerryJones2000 :

Conservatives: A fetus is a life. Liberals in Massachusetts: We'll kill a baby up to the moment of birth if we want.

salsicha :

Hilarious that someone needs to explain what a steel man argument is to Ezra

power__moves :

Love that Ross is basically calling Reagan era GOP’s stance on immigration “liberal.”

Al :

Abortion is acceptable because the government unalives human lives all the time for less reasons than terminating an unwanted fetus. I wonder if republicans would be open from that starting point?

ディオゲネス :

Simply restating the principle of charity

huckleberry_hounddog :

This is how the Wright brothers settled arguments. They would go home and come up with the best points of each other’s arguments and then come back and do it again. I really can’t believe this guy isn’t crediting the right brother for this.

dustyinq4dv :

He’s right. But I also noticed that his examples were on two completely different topics. It would have made more sense if he then said, and pro-life conservatives have to start at X with prochoicers.

Justin Peterson :

This is such an armchair vibes take from Ross

KB :

Nobody talking about politics at work, or dinner, church, or at home. Rarely.

Angie Curls :

The old adage. You have to meet people where they are.

Stephen :

John Stuart Mill.

Michael Burlingame :

his argument is true and worthwhile only to a certain extent. where people should individually wrestle with issues and determine the real rational underpinnings for them (and also listen to debates where people strive to do the same thing). but it goes wrong when people start to use this argument to insist one side act weaker in the political arena. because progressives/Democrats are "supposed" to uphold the highest ideals of debate instead of talking truth to power and asking tough accountability for politicians and voters who vote the wrong way.

Cotton’s Room :

You also need to give people ample time to answer questions and not ask them why they’re taking some time to answer after a second

grando :

'good-faith' is the key issue in that whole word salad of debate 101. what a garbage take overall

Nia Koo :

critical thinking, debating without malice is what the left hates about conservative & independence

JerryJones2000 :

Wait the left's best argument for immigration is we can exploit them economically?

Gabi :

congrats to Ross for understanding the principle of charity, something I learned as a college freshman. unfortunately, it only works if both parties are being intellectually honest - which Ross rarely is

MJR :

Nini Kara :

We need to give Ross his flowers. I am almost vehemently opposed to most of Ross’s idea about society, culture, politics and yet he’s probably my favourite writer at the NYT. He is one of the few that is earnest and I dearly dearly miss his old podcast with Michelle Goldberg and David Leonhardt.

Chikish :

So steel-manning.

𝓙💕 :

first

Biscotti R Jones :

sometimes, they're just misinformed or uninformed

ANTHONY :

I can’t see though conversation in this clip, but I bet ya Ezra got told a little bit. Not in a bad way.