How to Navigate Politics at Holiday Gatherings

Managing Politics at Holiday Gatherings: Lessons from Washtenaw County

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

Key Takeaways

• Political tension at holiday tables is common and affects families across Washtenaw County and beyond.
• Local leaders recommend a mix of respectful honesty, active listening, and topic shifting to keep gatherings peaceful.
• Some families embrace political debate as part of their relationship, while others prioritize peacemaking and refocusing on connection.
• Gratitude for health, family, and community service helps re-center conversations on shared values.
• Simple strategies like ground rules, empathy, and backup topics can transform conflict into constructive dialogue.

Table of Contents

• Why Political Tension Happens at Holiday Tables
• How Local Leaders Handle Holiday Political Conflict
• Everyday Strategies from Washtenaw County Residents
• Practical Tips You Can Use This Holiday Season
• Refocusing on Gratitude and Shared Values
• Keep Learning and Supporting Your Community

Why Political Tension Happens at Holiday Tables

Across the country, and in communities like Ypsilanti, Ann Arbor, and throughout Washtenaw County, holiday gatherings routinely collide with political polarization. As the WEMU feature highlights, many families find themselves split between sharply different news sources, party loyalties, and narratives of who the good guys and bad guys are.

This environment makes it easy for a casual comment about elections, policy, or media to turn into a full-blown argument. Yet the same table is also where people come together for food, tradition, and connection  which means there is real motivation to manage disagreement better.

How Local Leaders Handle Holiday Political Conflict

The article draws on insights from Michigan legislators and county leaders who regularly face political disagreement, even at home.

State Senator Sue Shink describes being a staunch Democrat in a family where some are super MAGA. Her experience offers a practical pattern:

• Avoid starting political talk at family events.
• Do not shy away if others bring it up.
• Respond in a calm, respectful way, even when you know claims are factually wrong.

Saying ‘you’re wrong’ isn’t going to work.  Sue Shink

County Commissioner Andy LaBarre takes a different but equally intentional approach. For him, arguing politics with his father-in-law has become part of their relationship. He values honesty and sharp, but loving debate over silence.

Americans should argue about politics every day, all the time, so that we don’t resort to fighting with weapons or fists.

State Senator Jeff Irwin actually welcomes and often initiates political conversations, seeing them as a chance to talk about issues he finds important and energizing.

Together, these perspectives show there is no one-size-fits-all model. What matters most is intentionality: deciding in advance how you want to show up when politics comes up.

Everyday Strategies from Washtenaw County Residents

Area residents interviewed in the piece offer a complementary, on-the-ground view. Many see themselves as peacemakers at the table.

• One resident steps in when voices rise, changing the subject to sports (like the Detroit Lions) or food to reset the mood.
• Another notes that often a quick trip back to the buffet table naturally cools tensions.
• Others emphasize listening first, then responding with empathy and compassion, and deciding whether the comment needs a response at all.

Several residents highlight that some people are more interested in declaring their beliefs than in real dialogue. In those moments, it can be wiser to prioritize relationship over winning.

Practical Tips You Can Use This Holiday Season

Drawing from the article and broader communication research, you can try:

• Set expectations early: Before guests arrive, quietly agree with key family members about whether politics is on or off the table this year.
• Lead with questions, not claims: Ask, What makes this important to you? instead of jumping to rebuttals.
• Use respectful framing: Replace Youre wrong with I see that differently because…
• Have safe topics ready: Local sports, shared memories, recipes, or upcoming travel plans can quickly shift the energy.
• Know your boundary: It is okay to say, I care about you too much to fight about this right now.

For more ways to redirect conversation, you can even prepare a few interactive ideas for your gathering:

• Ask everyone to share a favorite holiday recipe or cooking tip.
• Start a quick gratitude round: one thing from the past year and one hope for the next.
• Invite guests to share a favorite local spot in Washtenaw County to visit together in the new year.

Refocusing on Gratitude and Shared Values

As the WEMU story closes, interviewees come back to a common theme: gratitude.

• Sue Shink is thankful for people who serve their community and make the world a better place.
• Jeff Irwin is grateful for health  his own and his familys.
• Andy LaBarre sums it up in two words: My children.
• Residents mention family, friends, faith communities, and peace as their core hopes for 2026.

When conversations stall or overheat, returning to these shared values  health, safety, family, community  can reset the tone and remind everyone why they chose to gather in the first place.

Keep Learning and Supporting Your Community

This WEMU feature is part of a broader ecosystem of local, non-commercial reporting that covers everything from holiday porch piracy to carbon-conscious travel and supporting local businesses. If you found these perspectives helpful, consider:

• Exploring more coverage from 89.1 WEMU on community issues.
• Using their stories as conversation starters that focus on shared problems and solutions instead of partisan labels.
• Supporting fact-based local journalism, which provides the nuanced context national sound bites often miss.

With a bit of preparation, empathy, and intention, your next holiday gathering can hold both real conversation and real connection  even when politics comes to the table.

Source: https://www.wemu.org/wemu-news/2025-12-23/managing-the-politics-of-a-holiday-get-together