My friend is open to change and I've gotten her to change her opinion on some things like book banning and trans people. (big win on the Trans part IMO)

You first have to understand the person and their reasons for WHY they may believe something before tackling it. For her, she simply wants what's best for her country, which is an innocent thing to want; I also want what's best for my country. But she thinks that through all the golden promises Trump makes that he'll be her golden ticket to the nation being "great again"

Her reasons for being MAGA play on the fear of her own country falling apart, and the desperation/hopelessness of not being able to do anything about it. Trump preys on people's fears and worries. That's what's got her hooked. And that's the angle im trynna attack it from.

Relating to her or finding common ground is the best way to get someone to see you as a person worth listening to. I've told her many times before that I'm Democrat, but she believes me to be different because I'm open-minded enough to listen to her and what she has to say. She listens to me because I give her grace in a world that would be much quicker to insult and shame her, and shame isn't a good way to change someones mind, as tempting as it can be to just call someone a "dumbass idiot"

I think that's why a lot of MAGA are so deeply rooted in their camp. It's because of the shame that may come with realizing that your entire worldview was wrong, or that they were stupid for being MAGA in the first place. And to avoid that kinda realization, they would much rather bury their head further into the sand. It can be a lot for someone to handle all at once if growing up thats all you knew.

I know this cus after debating her about the border situation and digging at her point just enough, she said something like "I'm just a cold-hearted person... but you have a lot of heart, I just don't think I have any left..." or something like that. Every day I remind her that she is a good person, even if her beliefs are... blegh– Good people can make mistakes too, good people can end up doing bad things through having good intentions. I wanna be the cushion for– if and when her ideology does fall apart– it won't ruin her completely. If that makes sense.

A neighbor or coworker is probably a lost cause, but this friend sounds open to change.

TLDR; facts and logic arent enough to just change a person's mind. It takes understanding the individual and having a lotta empathy to break down their defensive walls for them to actually listen to you.