In 2014, researchers at Pew Charitable Trust set out to determine just how politically polarized the country truly is.

A survey of Americans — one of Pew’s largest undertakings ever — proved what was likely evident to most: that Republicans and Democrats are farther apart ideologically than at any point in recent history.

Each party’s antipathy for the other had more than doubled in the past two decades, Pew found.

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Nick Thornton

Nick Thornton is a financial writer covering retirement and health care issues for BenefitsPRO and ALM Media. He greatly enjoys learning from the vast minds in the legal, academic, advisory and money management communities when covering the retirement space. He's also written on international marketing trends, financial institution risk management, defense and energy issues, the restaurant industry in New York City, surfing, cigars, rum, travel, and fishing. When not writing, he's pushing into some land or water.