I don’t see how we’d be able to fortify and defend Alaska. Though it would sure be nice as a spy base. Maybe we could keep part of it. Illinois looks isolated, but I spect the commos could take and hold Wisconsin. We of course would incorporate New Mexico and Colorado. Not enough people there to hold out and most of’em are prolly on our side anyway.
Bottom line, let them secede, fall apart, then go to war and take them back. Commos can’t form Armies.
Another little thing I learned about why the Italians seemed so hapless in WWII. There were many reasons, but high among them was the Italian people never really “got into” fascism the way the German people did. I think that’s instructive. Meaning, the people of CA may have something to say about seceding just because Sacto says so.