@svenjamin.eth
Especially in the US it feels like there is no middle ground.
In Europe we have a lot of topics most people would agree on or are mildly opposed of.
Nevertheless I completely second your strategy: just leave politics out and try to get to know people first. If you already have a small connection it might be easier to share on politics.
I actually have the same strategy irl. The better I know a person the more I can talk to them about politics.