The Middle Way Out
A space for moderates, independents, and the politically homeless who still believe compromise is possible.
The Only Way Out Is Through the Middle
I grew up in a politically mixed household, where at our family table you’d find a full smorgasbord of American politics. Even now, our house seems to be one of the only places left in America where Democrats, Republicans, and Independents can sit down for a meal and still manage to enjoy each other. We’ve had plenty of heated debates over the years, but nothing that couldn’t be solved with a well-timed cocktail.
Perhaps that’s why people on both sides of the aisle still talk to me. Lately, it feels like our country is truly on the brink of a civil war. Everyone’s acting like we’re living in different Divergent houses and we’re going to have to wipe out the other for our own survival.
These are real things I’ve heard in just the past few weeks:
“The Dems have a terror network and plan to kill everyone who disagrees with them.”
“Trump’s canceling the midterms. It’s all over.”
“Democrats have a mental disorder.”
“Anyone who voted for Trump is either stupid or racist.”
And my personal favorite:
“What does being in the middle even mean in 2025?”
Is this really who we are?
So let me answer the only one worthy of a real answer: what exactly is the middle today?
The Power of the Middle
First and foremost, the middle is powerful. According to a recent CNN survey from September 2025, 44% of Americans now call themselves independents, outnumbering both Republicans and Democrats. There are even more that remain registered in the two parties, but haven’t felt at home in their party for quite some time.
If we choose to speak up, we can change the course of history.
And after years of staying silent, the middle is finally starting to talk to each other and realize we’re not alone. Somewhere between Donald Trump and Zohran Mamdani lies an entire country full of people who think both sides have lost their minds.
Everyone may have different interpretations of what the “middle” means, but this is what it means to me:
The middle doesn’t believe either party is 100% right or 100% evil.
The middle can be a moderate Democrat, a moderate Republican, an Independent, or someone politically homeless who doesn’t want to give either party a blank check.
The middle is exhausted by polarization.
The middle believes an entire generation is being radicalized on both sides because that’s what they’re learning from the adults around them.
The middle sees both Republicans and Democrats blaming and trolling each other, when all we really want is for them to work together and help people get back to feeding their families.
The middle wants both sides to defend democracy, freedom, and equality.
The middle believes in safety and security and wants both sides striving for it.
The middle believes science should be funded, trusted, and free of political agendas from all sides.
The middle wants to know what both parties think the endgame is for this division. Are we hoping to shut down the government forever? To completely annihilate the other side? Or are waiting for a meteor strike and hoping for the best?
Most importantly, the middle believes that compromise and real-world solutions are more important than finger-pointing.
Photo by Josue Michel on Unsplash
Where Does It End?
If we want to save our country, it’s time for the adults in the room to step up.
Trump won’t stop grabbing power because AOC complains about him. Trump will stop when Joe Rogan complains about him. And the left won’t move away from socialist policies when J.D. Vance trolls them. The left will move to the center when they fear losing an election.
We can rebuild our democracy if we use our collective voices to force each side to compromise. Once the parties see that the world doesn’t end when they work together, perhaps our democracy will start to function again.
We need to demand better from our politicians and our parties. Make them earn our vote every single time.
So this is my plea to moderate Democrats, moderate Republicans, Independents, and the politically homeless: get louder. Our silence isn’t working.
Follow me on Instagram @TheMiddleWayOut and subscribe here on Substack TheMiddleWayOut — a space for those of us who still believe compromise is possible.
Share it. Copy it. And if you think I’m an imperfect messenger and believe you can be a better one, I wholeheartedly agree. Start your own account. Amplify moderate voices.
We’re a majority of the electorate, yet only a tiny fraction of the voices on social media. Help us make the center as loud as the extremes.
Each week, I’ll bring ideas where we might find common ground and steps we can take to bring our parties and our country back to sanity. If you’re still optimistic enough to believe we can chart a better path forward, grab yourself a cocktail and pull up a chair at the table.
I won’t have all the answers, but I’m happy to get the conversation started.
Because, like it or not, the only way out is through the middle.