Is America Headed Towards a Civil War?

<div class="DraftEditor-paragraphElement"> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr"><span><span>With political violence on the rise in America, along with disinformation, mainstream propaganda and the consolidation of media under conservative ownership, the scapegoating of LGBTQ+ people, women, and nonwhite people, and the weaponization of government in several Republican-led states, are we headed towards a civil war?</span></span></div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr"> </div> </div> <div class="DraftEditor-paragraphElement"> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr"><span><span>In this week's episode, Andrea interviews Jeff Sharlet, the author of the new book</span></span> <a class="sc-ftoIWw jEFbpa" href="https://wwnorton.com/books/9781324006497"><span><span>Undertow: Scenes from a Slow Civil War.</span></span></a> <span><span>Sharlet is also the author of</span></span> <a class="sc-ftoIWw jEFbpa" href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/554986"><span> <span>The Family: The Secret Fundamentalism at the Heart of American Power</span></span></a><span><span>, that launched the must-watch</span></span> <a class="sc-ftoIWw jEFbpa" href="https://www.netflix.com/title/80063867"><span><span>Netflix series</span></span></a> <span><span>of the same name, that takes viewers into the dark heart of corruption known as the National Prayer Breakfast, and how it's used as a tool for the extreme religious right to consolidate power. In Undertow, Sharlet takes readers on a cross-country roadtrip to show how we're in a slow-motion civil war, and provides ways to confront this dangerous crossroads, including lessons from Civil Rights leader and artist Harry Belafonte.</span></span></div> </div> <div class="DraftEditor-paragraphElement"> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr"><span><span>Sharlet is the <em>New York Times</em> best-selling author or editor of eight books. His writing and photography have appeared in many publications, including <em>Vanity Fair</em>, for which he is a contributing editor; the <em>New York Times Magazine</em>; <em>GQ</em>; <em>Esquire</em>; <em>Harper's</em>; and <em>VQR</em>, for which he is an editor at large. He currently teaches the art of writing as a professor at Dartmouth College. In our bonus episode, out later this week for Patreon subscribers at the Truth-teller level or higher, Sharlet takes the Gaslit Nation Self-Care Q&amp;A to share what art, music, books, and documentaries and other cultural resources that he recommends to help process the times we live in. We will share a free excerpt of that for all listeners wherever you get your podcasts. </span></span></div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr"> </div> </div> <div class="DraftEditor-paragraphElement"> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr"><span><span>We'll be back with an all new Gaslit Nation episode next week, along with our regular Q&amp;A bonus episode for Patreon subscribers. For supporters at the Democracy Defender level and higher, submit your questions to be answered in an upcoming bonus episode. Thank you to everyone who supports Gaslit Nation and keeps our show going! To join our community of listeners, sign up at Patreon.com/Gaslit</span></span></div> </div>