This was written in 2010. There was a sea change that took place around the time that Trump was elected after which it became far more fraught to discuss political topics. But the way it is now is not how it's always been. Things really did feel different ten years ago. Discussing politics with strangers was much more doable. For example, I remember watching the 2012 presidential debate between Obama and Romney with my neighbors who I didn't know very well at all. I felt completely comfortable doing this. And the outcome of the debate didn't feel like some sort of life or death moment for the country.

Also, it seems possible to me that the author might have been referring to company politics.