I lived in DC from 2009-2018 and I had friends all across the political spectrum. I didn’t work in politics but many of them did and we never talked about it. They punched out like they would from any other job and we cracked beers. I’m sure things are very different now but that’s how it was then.

I think a big part of it must be that even the average GOP intern who did a poli sci degree and wants to go to law school works for his rep bc he has at least a trace of civic dedication and public-mindedness, even if misguided . These people really, really do not, that is not part of the play

Working for W should have made people social lepers.