BETHLEHEM, Pa. — This week on Lehigh Valley Political Pulse, Tom Shortell and Chris Borick dive into the intersection of politics and natural disasters.
Each week, Shortell is joined by Borick, Director of Muhlenberg College's Institute of Public Opinion, for a weekly political conversation to discuss politics at the local, state and national levels.
They unpack how politics works — or doesn’t work — and what it all means for constituents.
This week, the two discuss how a lack of bipartisanship in American politics can impact the deployment of federal resources.
That includes both the immediate aftermath of a crisis and the long-term process of rebuilding, with some politicians even proposing that conditions be attached to federal aid. What once was a "point of unification" for political parties is now the opposite.
"Like so many things in American politics, we've seen a path where elected officials often use natural disasters as an opportunity," Borick said. "To frame the opposition as incompetent, ill-prepared, weak in terms of their handling of those situations — and we've seen that play out."
Tom and Chris also delve into the issue of disinformation on social media and how it can shape the public's perspectives about how natural disasters are handled by local, state and federal officials.
Want to learn more? Watch or listen to this week's episode.
Political Pulse airs throughout the day Tuesdays on 91.3 WLVR. You can listen to an extended version of the conversation by clicking the listen button above.
