You hear the words spoken every day, over and over, on CNN and Fox News: We’re more polarized than ever before. And on Facebook and Twitter President Trump – who sees igniting his ‘base’ as a key to defeating Biden – pours fuel on the fires of polarization.

But there’s one wayward fact: Polarization isn’t driving voters into Trump’s Republican Party. Trump’s base is shrinking. Look at North Carolina: We have fewer Republicans today than we did in 2016 when Trump won.

Here’re even starker numbers: Ten years ago, 35% of the voters in North Carolina were Republicans – today it’s just under 30%.

Ten years ago, 45% of the voters were Democrats – now it’s 36%.

But, during the same time, Independents soared from 23% to 33%.

Polarized voters aren’t standing in line to swell the ranks of Trump Republicans or Biden Democrats – instead the group that’s growing is Independents. Who’re not polarized.

For Trump, polarization turns out to be a sword that cuts two ways – Trump’s ignited his ‘base’ but he’s taken a step backwards with Independents.