Maury Giles, CEO of Braver Angels

Gracious reader,

I first met Maury Giles at the 2023 Braver Angels Convention in Gettysburg. When I heard the public announcement that he’d been selected to lead Braver Angels into its next chapter as CEO, I was thrilled.

I recently had the chance to sit down with Maury for a conversation on Day Seven of his new role. I wanted to share a few interesting take aways from this exchange.

1. He started as a journalist.

Maury began his career in journalism, which helps explain his thoughtful, curious approach. He understands the importance of storytelling—and of really listening.

2. He speaks to the “exhausted majority.”

Maury often references a study by More in Common, which found that the loudest voices in our politics—the most extreme—make up only a tiny fraction of the public. In contrast, roughly 77–80% of Americans make up what they call the “exhausted majority”: people who may hold strong views, but are tired of polarization and ready for a better way. Maury wants Braver Angels to be a home for these Americans—and to channel their quiet strength into real change.

3. He’s a registered Republican—and that matters.

Maury is open about his political identity, and that’s significant for two reasons. First, it helps address a longstanding challenge: attracting conservatives to depolarization work. Many on the right have felt that such efforts treat them as problems to fix rather than people to engage. Maury’s background allows him to meet conservatives where they are and invite them in on their own terms—with respect and authenticity.

Second, his openness refutes a common misconception: that to work in the depolarization space, one must lack strong convictions. Not so. Maury models the truth that one can be principled, even passionate, and still lead with humility and respect. He believes what he believes—and believes even more deeply in the dignity of others.

I enjoyed reconnecting with Maury and look forward to seeing how his leadership shapes the future of Braver Angels.

Let me know what you think of this episode in the comments!