What is this: "The pundits like to slice-and-dice our country into Red States and Blue States ..."?

A. Figure of speech about divisions among people

B. Metaphor about how others see the United States as two separate countries

A. Figure of speech about divisions among people

Note: It would be better to restate it as, Figure of speech about divisions among people on political basis.

Red States and Blue States

It is a figure of speech namely (political metaphor) for partisanship (prejudice in favor of a particular cause; bias).

It is not really about division among people, it is about in which party's favor majority of the people of a particular state vote.

Explanation:

This metaphor originated in USA during 2000 presidential elections. In USA political context denotes states in which majority of the people have voted for Democrats (Blue States) or for Republicans (Red States).

This full phrase "The pundits like to slice-and-dice our country into Red States and Blue States" was used by a young senatorial candidate from Illionoise named Barack Obama. By using this political metaphor he wanted to convey a message to media and election pundits and to the public that The USA is united and it can not be divided neither on political basis nor by any other method.

This metaphor has never been used by others to see the United States as two separate countries.