This week, Robert and Jean discuss one issue on which the partisan divide is as wide as possible (mass shootings and gun control) and another on which there is significant consensus and hope for bipartisan action (infrastructure investment). The hosts round out this episode by finding hope in history and hugs.

Jean and Robert welcome back Diana Berrant, founder of Survivor Corps, for an update on the massive volunteer effort by COVID survivors to engage in citizen science. The second half of this episode is a thoughtful, appreciative and bipartisan analysis of President Joe Biden’s COVID-19 anniversary speech.

Jean and Robert wonder whether to fret a squelch of Seuss. And why Democrats have not cut Andrew Cuomo loose. Tune in right now so you can see Where they align and where (respectfully) disagree.

One year in to the COVID-19 pandemic and one month into a new presidency, Robert and Jean discuss their own COVID experiences (including the depth of nasal testing), changes in politics and news, the importance of a balanced information diet and the refreshingly normal push-and-pull in Congress over the size and specifics of the Biden COVID relief package. The co-hosts find hope in commissions and candles.

Jean and Robert have a fascinating discussion with legal scholar Bruce Fein about the constitutional issues surrounding the second Trump impeachment trial. Then Robert shares why extraterrestrials are making him hopeful.

David Murray, author of the forthcoming book “An Effort to Understand," is Bipodisan’s special guest this week. Robert, Jean and David apply their public speaking expertise to the matter of the speech that happens (or doesn’t happen) among our friends, neighbors and family members with whom we disagree. This episode ends on high hopeful notes of baseball and Yardi Gras.

Jean and Robert are joined by Susan Milligan, senior political correspondent at U.S. News & World Report, to break down the theatrics and the substance of the final presidential debate. They find some areas of common ground and a lot on which to (respectfully) disagree. Also Robert is shocked that Jean doesn't know what a horcrux is while neither she nor Susan is surprised that Robert does.

Robert and Jean agree that political theatre in the U.S. Senate was downright un-watchable this week as Judge Amy Coney Barrett reminded the world of an unflinching Buckingham Palace guard while Senators from both sides put on annoying, over-the-top shows of partisanship. More agreement is found on the bungled attempt of Twitter and Facebook to correct their past wrongs by blocking posts of a controversial New York Post story about Hunter Biden’s laptop.

While Jean and Robert find little to agree on this week (other than the need for the Biden campaign to confirm or deny an intent to pack the Supreme Court), the two hosts share a sense that presidential and Vice Presidential debates don’t really matter — especially this year. Robert finds hope in voting and Jean scrapes the bottom of the barrel of hope by looking forward to the return of trashy reality television.

Co-hosts Robert and Jean reflect widespread agreement that the first Trump-Biden debate was excruciating to watch. Jean revisits her theory that President Trump is a message-tester who functions like a social media or search engine algorithm; Robert is relieved his children weren’t watching and looks forward to the next moderator muting the mic. In spite of their shared blues about the debate, the co-hosts manage to find hope in entrepreneurship and baseball.