{
  "id": 3741813,
  "title": "A Republican Governor Tried to Heal American Politics. It Almost Broke Him.",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/27/a-republican-governor-tried-to-heal-american-politics-it-almost-broke",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-27T13:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Atlantic",
    "slug": "the-atlantic",
    "url": "https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/08/spencer-cox-book-off-ramp/688419/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In August 2023, Utah's governor Spencer Cox met with President Joe Biden in a secure presidential limousine in Salt Lake City. Seeking a solution to the deepening political crisis, Cox proposed that Biden grant a presidential pardon to former President Donald Trump, who faced multiple criminal charges and was the frontrunner for the Republican nomination. Cox believed that a pardon could ease tensions and prevent further partisan retribution. Surprisingly, Biden expressed open-mindedness towards the idea, suggesting that he had previously considered it. Cox left the meeting optimistic that a pardon might be a reality.\n\nHowever, the proposal never came to fruition. Later that year, Cox extended a hand to Trump again, writing him a letter encouraging the former president to unify the country and offering his own support for Trump's candidacy. Cox publicly endorsed Trump in a press conference, but the nation saw Trump revert to his usual rhetoric of anger and division. Within days, Trump was once more criticizing political figures and attacking those he deemed unworthy.\n\nCox explores these experiences and their aftermath in his upcoming book, Off Ramp: How to Be a Peacemaker in an Age of Contempt. He frames his encounters with Biden and Trump as earnest attempts to bridge the growing partisan divide. Despite the lack of success, Cox remains steadfast in his belief that contempt can be eradicated from political discourse, and that healthy conflict is essential to a functioning democracy. His new book serves as a practical guide for individuals seeking to reconnect with one another in a deeply divided America.",
  "summary": "Spencer Cox’s very hopeful, very quixotic crusade",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}