How Persuasion Works in Local Politics

Veteran lobbyist and community mediator Michael Covington shares lessons from a career spent navigating conflict in South Carolina politics and public life. From tense racial disputes over highway construction to behind-the-scenes statehouse negotiations, he explains why confronting problems directly, as well as listening carefully, can unlock progress. Covington argues that persuasion starts with understanding what people already believe and building from there. Along the way, he reflects on bias, the power of simple communication, and the surprising role of the scientific method in public reasoning. It’s a conversation about patience, persuasion, and why engaging the people you disagree with still matters.

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