It's hard work being the Optimist of the House. I play that role myself even though it really doesn't come naturally to me, but DW has a tendency towards paranoia and fear as a result of her upbringing.

Optimism is its own reward though. The goal isn't necessarily to convince the pessimist. The goal is to continue to act as a beacon of hope so that you can continue to enjoy the time you have together rather than wallowing in mutual misery waiting for the worst to happen.

I understand how exhausting it can be when you're trying to actively bring positivity into the household while your partner seems dead set on shooting down every bit of good news or message of hope that you bring, but try to understand that what your partner is actually bringing you is their fears.

You address one fear, and they just throw the next one at you, not really because they want to prove you wrong, but because they NEED you, the optimist, to help them get through all of their fears. You are their lighthouse shining through the storm. In the end, it's really about faith. The pessimist is experiencing a lack of faith, and they need you to help them recenter and refill their well.

So when it gets nearly overwhelming and you feel like your well of faith is also running dry, try not to look at them as they are in this moment of weakness and crisis of faith, but as the whole human being that has been with you through the years. Focus on the times that they have been there for you and used their personal strengths to make up for your personal weaknesses and know that eventually it will again be your turn to lean on them.

Worst case: if you're coming to the end of your ability to maintain a positive outlook in the face of their negativity, tactical retreat is perfectly acceptable. Just change the subject to something less taxing. Odds are, their mood will also improve once you get them off the topic and thinking about something else for a bit. Human beings really aren't designed to be constantly subjected to negativity the way we are by the advertising agency media. Get away from it together and focus on something else. Enjoy Christmas or whatever you do this time of year. Play games or watch old movies you both enjoy. Do the things you love to do together when politics isn't dominating your life.

That will do more to remind him of why he should be happy and optimistic about the future than any nuanced debate regarding election law.