Kurt Andersen — The Breakup - with Sean Rameswaram — at Conn Ave
Kurt Andersen visits Politics and Prose to discuss his new novel *The Breakup*, set in a near-future United States where a marriage comes apart as the country itself fractures. The story follows Natalie and Asher, whose twenty-three-year marriage has long carried quiet fault lines shaped by their different views of fellow Americans and by life in an AI-suffused 2045. After surviving the civil war of the 2030s, they now live apart—Natalie in rural Tennessee, inside the new Free American Republic, and Asher in San Francisco, in the smaller United States. Their personal unraveling mirrors the nation's own messy, painful, ambivalent separation. When the couple comes back into contact while touring colleges with their seventeen-year-old, they set off on a road trip through a strange, uncertain American landscape, confronting questions about irreconcilable differences and whether something broken is worth saving. Andersen will be joined in conversation by Sean Rameswaram, host of Vox's daily news podcast *Today, Explained*.
The evening offers both an in-person event at the Connecticut Avenue store and a livestream option for those who cannot attend. Andersen is the *New York Times* bestselling author of *Fantasyland* and *Evil Geniuses*, as well as novels including *Heyday* and *Turn of the Century*; he co-created the dystopian comedy series *Command Z* with Steven Soderbergh, co-founded *Spy* magazine, and hosted the Peabody Award–winning public radio show and podcast *Studio 360*. Rameswaram previously reported for WNYC's *More Perfect*, produced for *Studio 360*, and hosted CBC's *Podcast Playlist*. The book is available for preorder in hardcover at $30.00, with a publication date of August 18, 2026.
When: Tuesday, August 18, 2026, at 7:00 p.m.
Venue: Politics and Prose at 5015 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008.
Tickets: This event is free, with first come, first served seating.
Livestream: A livestream is available for those who cannot attend in person.
Lineup: Kurt Andersen in conversation with Sean Rameswaram.
Book: *The Breakup: A Novel* (hardcover, $30.00, ISBN 9781984801371), published August 18, 2026.
Accessibility: To request accommodations or inquire about accessibility, email events@politics-prose.com, ideally one week before the event date.
Note: No age restriction or run time is listed on the event page.