Well, you can either agree not to talk politics, or just walk away. Besides, if defending the indefensible means more to them than a 40+ year friendship, it’s their loss.
I'm in New York, so you are expected to make sacrifices to live up to your true beliefs. It's hard. I used to be a liberal many years ago.
But my heart was never really in it. I've always thought abortion was terribly wrong, which is why I never impregnated her. It seemed like she needed a trophy abortion.
I never wanted any part of that, so I was always careful to take my sperm with me.
Note to men: Take your sperm with you! :)