How to Stop a Civil War—Impeachment at a Time of National Fracturing

We are living in a dangerous moment in America. Unprecedented partisanship, inequality, social upheaval, and structural failures in our democracy have divided the nation and threaten the American experiment.

This urgent issue is addressed by The Atlantic’s December special edition, "How to Stop a Civil War.” Hear a conversation with three of that issue’s leading writers about how to bring back compromise and civility, and whether we even should. Editor in chief Jeffrey Goldberg moderates with Tom Junod, whose longtime friendship with Mr. Rogers inspired the film A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood and for Junod to consider what the television legend would make of this moment; Caitlin Flanagan, who in her essay urges people to listen to one another on even the most fraught of issues; and Adam Serwer, who argues that compromise as a goal in and of itself has led to the country abandoning its promises of freedom and equality for all its citizens—that we've sacrificed civil rights for civil discourse.

Recorded on December 11, 2019 at 92nd Street Y.

[vladtepish]

Wouldn't have thought you could make this topic boring but here it is! Antigun vs gun Advocate, wonder whose going to win?

[crystallapensee]

I think a divide was created with the word deplorable .

[liliacfury]

The only way to stop a civil war is to give everyone the facts and for people to listen to each other. If y’all actually believe a group of people who are legit doing the exact and believe it ain’t gonna happy, is sadly mistaken.

[judykinsman]

It’s easy for those not effected by Trump, et al, policies to smile and look at what unites us. Not so much if you are poor, a person of color, not Christian. The privileged always have tipped the scale to help the oppressed find their rights.