You just need to glance at the news or social media to witness the chasm in U.S. domestic politics. With a little over three weeks before congressional midterm elections, the parallel echo chambers of liberal and conservative media are broadcasting at full volume. Fueling the fire are a number of partisan battles underway between individual states and the federal government. Such disagreements are part and parcel of the American system. Discourse and debate are woven into the fabric of U.S. history, and federalism is one of the key battlegrounds, as shown by these political conflicts. Midterm elections may shift the balance of power in one or both chambers of Congress, but California — America's most populous and economically powerful state — will be joined by several others as they continue to attempt to counter federal policy for at least the next two years.