Family Estrangement Is on the Rise. Are Politics to Blame?

The New Yorker contributing writer Anna Russell joins Tyler Foggatt to discuss the rise of family estrangement in mainstream culture. Recent studies have found that more than a quarter of all Americans are currently estranged from a relative. They talk about how the idea of going “no contact” has gained traction in mainstream culture, the personal and generational shifts that can lead people to distance themselves from relatives, and why family bonds feel less inviolable than they once did. They also look at the political disagreements that can lead to decisions to cut off contact, whether close family relationships can survive deep ideological divides, and what therapists and researchers say about the prospects for reconciliation following estrangement. 

This week’s reading:

• “Why So Many People Are Going ‘No Contact’ with Their Parents,” by Anna Russell
• “The Meaning of Trump’s Presidential Pardons,” by Benjamin Wallace-Wells
• “Nick Fuentes Is Not Just Another Alt-Right Boogeyman,” by Jay Caspian Kang
• “The Darkest Thread in the Epstein E-mails,” by Jessica Winter
• “Kash Patel’s Acts of Service,” by Marc Fisher 

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The Political Scene draws on the reporting and analysis found in The New Yorker for lively conversations about the big questions in American politics. Join the magazine’s writers and editors as they put into context the latest news—about elections, the economy, the White House, the Supreme Court, and much more. New episodes are available three times a week.