AP Former President Barack Obama remains hopeful that America can solve its political divisiveness. But he also has a stark warning for the US: Our economy and our democracy are at risk if we can't get past the finger-pointing, partisan morass that has gridlocked the nation for years. Obama also said that technology from mobile phones to social networks is helping tear us apart, rather than bring us together. This is a new, more serious change of tone for the 44th president since he left office at the beginning of 2017, handing the White House keys to the Trump Administration.