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A study released by University of California, Irvine in May 2026 found that more than a third of Americans reported having lost a relationship with a friend, family member, romantic partner, or coworker over political differences. These “political breakups,” as researchers call them, were more likely to happen in friendships than between family members or romantic partners.
Meanwhile, across the nation, many people struggle to figure out how to deal with enduring relationships that have been soured by serious political disagreement. Is it morally OK to stay close with someone whose values you find problematic? What if you have no choice but to stay close with someone even though you disagree on serious social issues? How do we challenge beliefs we find harmful while still recognizing the humanity of the person who holds them?
On this episode of Glad You Asked, hosts Emily Sanna and Rebecca Bratten Weiss talk with scholar Nichole M. Flores about what it means to love someone when you hate their politics.
Flores is an assistant professor of religious studies at the University of Virginia who researches the relationship between religion, aesthetics, and democracy with an emphasis on the Catholic and Latine theological and ethical traditions. She is the author of The Aesthetics of Solidarity: Our Lady of Guadalupe and American Democracy (Georgetown University Press).
Learn more about this topic in these links:
- “Love your neighbor—even if you don’t love their politics,” by Kathleen Bonnette
- “Jesus says love everyone—not just your inner circle,” by David Cloutier
- “Fighting fascism is an act of love, says this activist.” A U.S. Catholic interview
- “What if you don’t have to forgive your enemies?” A U.S. Catholic interview
