Author Warns America Is Stuck in a Bitter, Loveless Union

Kurt Andersen, discussing his forthcoming novel, portrays the United States as a deteriorating marriage rather than a functional federation. He points to growing “soft secession” where red states have adopted Second Amendment sanctuary policies and Texas Governor Greg Abbott has used the National Guard to impede federal border enforcement, while blue states similarly defy federal immigration and abortion directives. Recent polling by universities and YouGov shows that over a third of respondents expect a civil war in the coming decade.

Andersen argues that this fragmented cooperation is unsustainable and suggests a future where regions gain greater autonomy, citing models like Spain’s autonomous communities and Switzerland’s cantons. He warns that, if tensions persist, a negotiated breakup akin to Czechoslovakia’s Velvet Divorce could become the only viable path, though it would be costly and complex. The piece also references historian Timothy Snyder’s view that the current political climate could hasten the nation’s dissolution.