I had a friend in grad school who influenced my political beliefs more than anyone I'd met.

He never engaged in political conversation with "here's what I believe, and here's why you should too." His approach was more Socratic; to listen to me talk, and then offer an additional viewpoint or context.

I never got the impression from him that he was trying to convince me of something, or that he thought I was wrong about X/Y/Z, but rather, that we were on an intellectual journey together to identify what the problems actually were and what nuanced solutions might look like.

I still have no idea to this day what his ACTUAL political party is (or if he even has one). I genuinely could not tell you if he was left, right, or center.