A Berkeley activist tries to bring civility to the Trump era

If you needed more proof that the country is painfully divided over politics, picture this. A former divorce mediator, trained in the art of keeping husbands and wives from throttling each other, is trying to create a calm, safe space for people to talk about politics.

Living Room Conversations is the brainchild of Joan Blades of Berkeley, California. A political activist and former divorce mediator, Blades is another voice in the chorus calling for more bipartisanship in Trump-riven America. But unlike good government crusaders like the No Labels group, a...