5. The Puzzle of Extreme Media and Political Tolerance: An Immigration Case Study

Using immigration content as a case study, Taylor explores the way extreme media framing and affect impact political tolerance for groups associated with S.B. 1070. Until now, there is no research looking into extreme media and political tolerance. Taylor finds that all media treatments decrease political tolerance, but—when interacted with affective engagement—liberal extreme media are able to increase political tolerance for pro-immigration groups and actors. The negative results for conservative extreme media and mainstream also dissipate when interacted with affective engagement—but are not significant—which highlights the importance of media activated emotion on political tolerance. These results show political tolerance is affected by extreme media, but significant changes in tolerance occur when the host’s framing and emotional engagement align for ideological congruity.