Cut ties with everyone who watches corporate media (i.e. regularly ingests Western propaganda) during campaign seasons. Don't waste your sanity on people participating in synthetic social hysteria.
You can probably talk to them again a month after the election - especially if their preferred capitalist oligarch "wins".
I own it and would play with a group.
I have not played it, yet - so I will be garbage-tier at it. Fair warning.
I have experience with many other paradox games though so I imagine I'd pick it up fairly quick.