Politics Weekly America Is Trump preparing for civil war?
18 snips
Oct 24, 2025 
Barbara Walter, a political scientist at UC San Diego and author of "How Civil Wars Start and How to Stop Them," joins to discuss the potential for political violence in the U.S. amid recent No Kings protests against Trump. They explore how political identity—not ideology—shapes voter alignment and how democratic standards have declined. Walter highlights the troubling use of the National Guard and media manipulation to justify military presence in cities. Ultimately, they question whether Trump seeks civil war or simply thrives in chaos.
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United States In The Risk Zone
- The U.S. has slid into a "partial democracy" where risk of political violence rises.
- This middle zone, not full democracy or autocracy, is where most civil wars begin.
Voting Shifts Toward Identity
- Race and religion now strongly predict American voting behavior.
- White evangelical support for Trump has reshaped party alignment along identity lines.
Erosion Through Institutions
- Democractic erosion shows in attacks on elections, watchdogs, and media.
- Weakening executive constraints and silencing critics accelerate democratic decline.
