Oversimplified, this is the problem: conservatives use tactics that target fear/uncertainty/doubt/… which are all “survival mechanisms” present in ALL brains (not even just mammalian). Progressives rely on actual facts and peer review, but you need to have a developed prefrontal cortex in order to think critically and logically. This is not something you’re innately born with FYI; it’s a skill that needs development and training, just like you would need to develop muscles in order to become an athlete.

The problem is that the first mechanism (amygdala) kicks in before the rational part of the brain does. It’s feelings vs. thoughts. It takes conscious effort and knowledge of this mechanism to escape back into your “logical self” and then argue from reason and facts. The opposite requires none of this. Just an emotional reaction without a consistent follow-through. These people don’t escape the emotional part of their psyche to then rationally overthink the facts; they BEGIN with their conclusion and will follow emotional cues to that end, and then rationalize their decision afterwards.

You can’t possibly reason someone out of a position they arrived at without using reason to begin with.