There have always been "multiple Americas," but it's worrisome that the various strands of U.S. culture are growing further and further apart. Even if you believe in the "wisdom of the crowds" effect to counteract polarization to some extent, that only works if fractures are moderate.
A new Pew study shows how profoundly polarizing the 2016 election has been for Americans.
The think-tank’s new poll shows that 47% of Clinton supporters and 31% of Trump supporters say they have zero close friends who support the opposing candidate. Trump supporters do seem to have a broader set of friends with opposing views, with 67% saying they have at least a few friends supporting Clinton, compared with just 53% of Clinton backers saying they know a few Trump fans. Here’s the graphic: