I think Reese should read Arlie Hochschilds' 2016 Strangers in Their Own Land ... as well as watch more EWTN if he truly thinks religion and religious leaders aren't having an impact.  In my parish ... which is not even in the USA ... the divisions and intolerance grows ... .  Being a cradle Catholic with a father and brother very active in the K of C ... and watching the numerous good men in my parish being indoctrinated into thinking "giving and giving from our surplus" is somehow consistent with life with dignity for the full continuum, not political and is consistent with the teachings of St. John Paul ... is tragic to me.    It was JPII who introduced the term and notion of "social sin" into our Official Teachings.  Why does every K of C on this planet not know this.  He should also read Jane Mayer's Dark Money.