I see it in the smartest people I know. I live in the Netherlands but I have a "CNN addicted" colleague. And I like to tease her and say things like: "You know people want to carry guns so the government does not have a monopoly on violence, so when you feel like you got a leader (as you do now [this was Trump era]) that really does not have the consent of the governed anymore, you may not be powerless." Sure, society changed, we can have a dialogue.." And it would just end with her almost frothing at the mouth about how she could never have dinner with a Republican. And than I would think that she is so intelligent, and a scientist, imagine how bad it is back in her home country. Or, maybe it has nothing to do with intelligence. Maybe it was also her way to feel even smarter, obviously there are so many stupid people that just don't see how it is. It's fascinating. And I see the echoes in Dutch colleagues as well, although they are not so worried about their country going to hell, so they are less emotional.