I feel this is the essence of your argument. But I also feel it’s totally wrong.

American Republicans is defined by their opposition to Democrats and the actual left. All of their major issues, whether they be immigrants, reproductive rights, or climate change, are entirely oppositional.

If we progressives normalize vulnerability, then we guarantee that the US right wingers will never, ever, ever accept it.

I wish I had a better solution, but I know this isn’t the right one. If we tell the Republicans it’s OK to show weakness, then they will never do it.