Building a Fortress for Democracy: Why We Need "Soft Secession"
By Pat Rosa and Wes Fryer
It’s easy to feel helpless when looking at the the weakening of liberal democracy in our country. But in the latest episode of the Indivisible Charlotte podcast, guest Chris Armitage offers a different perspective: the battle for democracy won’t be won in D.C., but in our own backyards.
Chris Armitage, author of The Existentialist Republic, joined Indivisible Charlotte’s In the Know Live to discuss the uncomfortable reality of “autocratic democracy”—a system where structural imbalances make the will of the people nearly impossible to enforce . He points to North Carolina as a prime example of one of the authoritarian states in the U.S., noting that even with a Democratic governor, the gerrymandered legislature maintains an authoritarian-like grip on power .
The Strategy: Soft Secession So, what is the solution? Armitage proposes a concept he calls “Soft Secession.”
Crucially, this is not about states leaving the Union. Instead, it is a survival strategy. It involves “Blue” states and communities aggressively using their own powers to insulate their citizens from the overreach of Presidential power. This includes:
Aggressive State Attorneys General: Armitage argues that AGs are the most critical line of defense. They must stop writing “strongly worded letters” and start investigating, prosecuting, and incarcerating corrupt federal officials and contractors In this way agencies like ICE and Customs& Border Protection could be help accountable
Economic Independence: By establishing state-level public banks and services (like North Dakota), states can protect funding for healthcare and social safety nets, even if the federal government tries to cut them .
Interstate Compacts: States working together to enforce rights and manage resources outside of federal gridlock. This includes examples such as coordinating health care policies as agencies such as the NIH and CDC retreat in this area.
Tactics & Themes Some additional themes discussed:
Will we have midterms in 2026? Armitage says “we could end up in a very chaotic situation where the President tries to cancel the election, and then we’re going to need to pressure “Blue” states to still hold their elections”. A key question is if Trump tries to cancel the midterms, will any Democratic governor stand up and say we’re going to hold elections no matter what? We must realize that “he will do anything he can to stay in power because all the incentives…he doesn’t value human life. Every incentive is for him to stay in power and every disincentive is for him to not lose power.”
How Republicans are Unworthy of Governing Armitage argues that activists can fight at every level by making the case that the Republicans in North Carolina government are simply bad at governance, “they don’t manage organizations effectively and until they step up to the table and actually improve the lives of their constituents and accurately reflect the wishes, values and morals of their constituents, they don’t deserve a seat at the table. And they should be removed from every office possible.”
America Needs a Good Johnson, (LBJ that is…) LBJ was known for his bullying tactics while he was Senate Majority Leader in the late 1950s, however, just look at the domestic policies he accomplished while President in the 1960s: Civil Rights Act, Voting Rights Act, Medicare, Medicaid, etc. “He showed up and he was ready to fight for what was right.” Reframing Victory Perhaps the most energizing part of the conversation is Armitage’s philosophy on activism itself. He challenges us to redefine what “winning” looks like.
“Fighting is winning,” Armitage told us. “You don’t have to win every case... winning is making them expend resources: time, money, energy, enthusiasm” . Every moment an authoritarian spends fighting a lawsuit or a protest is a moment they aren’t spending hurting people. He pointed out that the anti-abortion forces fought for 50 years to reverse Roe v. Wade. Fighting to restore liberal democracy may take years, but Armitage is optimistic about eventual success.
Finding the Joy Finally, Armitage reminds us that we don’t have to be miserable to be effective. In fact, finding joy in the community of resistance is essential for survival. “You can have a damn good time tearing down fascism,” he says.
Whether you are worried about the 2026 midterms or the long-term future of the country, this episode provides a strategic blueprint—and a much-needed morale boost—for the work ahead.
This article was first shared in our Indivisible CLT newsletter for January 2026.