While Congress can use spending to incentivize states, this becomes unconstitutional coercion when the financial penalty for non-compliance is so severe it becomes a "gun to the head." This was the basis for striking down the Affordable Care Act's original Medicaid expansion provision.

Despite growing talk of "national divorce," the idea of a state peacefully seceding is highly unrealistic. The federal government would almost certainly not allow it and would likely resort to military intervention to maintain the union, rendering the scenario a fantasy.

A lesser-known principle, the "equal sovereignty" doctrine, posits that Congress cannot treat states unequally without compelling reason. While used to strike down parts of the Voting Rights Act, states could invoke it to argue they are being unfairly punished or targeted by a hostile federal administration.

The Full Faith and Credit Clause isn't just a command to states; it contains an "effects clause" granting Congress power to regulate how states recognize each other's acts. This was used in the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) to permit states to ignore same-sex marriages from other states.

The Constitution lacks an "immigration clause." The Supreme Court established this authority as an "inherent power" derived from national sovereignty, not specific text. This plenary power, created by judicial interpretation, is assigned to Congress.

Escalating civil unrest, like that in Minnesota, is not random but a direct result of local and state governments refusing to cooperate with federal agencies. This antagonism creates a permissive environment for conflict and encourages public resistance, turning policy disputes into street-level violence.

Congress uses its spending power to enact policies in areas where it lacks direct authority, like education or local transport. By offering "conditional spending," it creates powerful incentives for states to comply with federal standards to receive necessary funds.

The conflict between state and federal governments is moving beyond rhetoric into "soft secession." This involves states actively refusing to cooperate with the federal government on a practical level, such as withholding tax revenues, representing a significant escalation in political brinksmanship.

Political conflict has escalated to include domestic economic warfare. A president threatening to cut off federal funding to non-compliant states represents a tactical shift where economic leverage is used internally to force policy alignment, moving beyond legislative debate to direct financial punishment.