Tag: donald-trump

When We Accidentally Decided That Authoritarianism Is Okay

As a Gen X American, I grew up believing that authoritarian regimes—communism, dictatorships—were the enemies of everything we stood for. The Soviet Union, East Germany, Cuba—those were the cautionary tales. We learned that democracy meant something special: a government of the people, by the people, for the people. That was America’s promise, our core value.

But today, it feels like that lesson has been forgotten by a worrying number of Americans. Some have become convinced that Democrats have gone so far off track that the only solution is to embrace a different flavor of authoritarianism—a right-wing strongman who promises to restore order by force rather than consensus.

How did we get here?

I think it all traces back to when our news media stopped being accountable to truth. The pivotal moment came in 1987, when the FCC abolished the Fairness Doctrine, a rule that required broadcasters to present controversial issues of public importance in an honest, balanced way. Suddenly, news outlets could openly pick sides, prioritize profits, and turn journalism into entertainment or partisan propaganda.

Fast forward a few decades, and we have a polarized America, divided not by reality but by the media each side consumes. Many of us no longer agree on basic facts. Once truth is lost, authoritarianism starts looking tempting—especially if it promises to silence the “other side.”

But history has warned us again and again that authoritarianism never ends well. Not in East Germany. Not in Cuba. Not in the Soviet Union. And certainly not here.

We need to wake up and remember what we once knew instinctively: democracy isn’t perfect, but it’s infinitely better than the alternative. We have to reclaim the idea that government of the people, by the people, and for the people is still worth fighting for—even if we have to fight for it within our own borders.

May 21, 2025
Why Changing Someone’s Mind About Trump Is So Hard

Ever try to change someone’s mind about Trump? Not easy, is it? Feels impossible sometimes. But here’s the thing—it’s not just Trump supporters who struggle with this. We all do.

Changing your mind isn’t just about facts. If it were, most Trump supporters would have abandoned him the moment he promised to wipe out the national debt and then added trillions to it. Or when he swore Mexico would pay for the wall, and taxpayers ended up footing the bill. Or when he said only the “best people” would work for him, and half of them ended up indicted, testifying against him, or both.

But facts aren’t enough, because changing your mind isn’t just an intellectual process—it’s an emotional one. And the bigger the belief, the harder it is to let go.

Now, imagine that belief isn’t just about a policy or a politician, but about who you are as a person.

That’s what Trump sold. Not just an agenda, but an identity. He told people they weren’t just supporting a candidate—they were saving America. They weren’t just voters, they were patriots, warriors, the last line of defense against corruption and socialism and the deep state.

And when you believe that deeply, admitting you were wrong isn’t just humbling—it’s devastating. Because if Trump was a fraud, if he was conning them the whole time, what does that say about them?

That’s why no matter how many times he lies, fails, or even turns on his own people, they hold on. Because letting go feels like losing the fight of their lives.

But here’s the thing—changing your mind isn’t losing. It’s growth. It doesn’t mean you were stupid. It means you trusted someone who turned out to be unworthy of it. And we’ve all done that.

At some point, the evidence against Trump will be too overwhelming to ignore. And when that moment comes, I hope people remember that seeing the truth doesn’t make you weak—it makes you free.

May 21, 2025
We Are The Ones We Are Waiting For—And It Might Be You

If you’re frustrated with the Democratic Party right now, you’re not alone. I get it. Watching Chuck Schumer cave on the latest CR vote was just the latest gut punch in a long line of disappointments. We are watching democracy itself be chipped away, and far too many elected Democrats are still playing politics as usual—negotiating with fascists as if they’re just another political party instead of what they are: an existential threat to the country.

And yes, there are some fighters. Gavin Newsom, Jamie Raskin, Katie Porter, and Sheldon Whitehouse have shown real backbone. They call out corruption, they don’t back down, and they actually seem to understand the urgency of this moment. But they are outnumbered by career politicians who think we’re still living in the 1990s, where compromise was possible and bipartisanship wasn’t a bad joke.

We need brave Democrats. Democrats who won’t flinch in the face of Trump’s authoritarian takeover. Democrats who understand that what we’re dealing with isn’t just another Republican administration—it’s the unraveling of American democracy.

So here’s the real question: why not you?

If you’re reading this and thinking, I wish we had better leaders, then maybe it’s time to step up. Running for office doesn’t have to mean gunning for Congress right away. Start local.

• School Board – Right-wing activists have taken over school boards across the country to push book bans, erase history, and force their ideology on kids. This is where the fight starts.

• City Council & Mayor – Local government is where real change happens. Policies on policing, housing, and economic development all start here.

• State Legislatures – The GOP has spent decades stacking state governments with extremists, and that’s how they’ve managed to pass some of the most dangerous laws in history. We need to take those seats back.

• Congress & Senate – The Democratic Party desperately needs new blood—people who will fight for democracy without constantly looking over their shoulder for permission.

Think about it. Look up the filing deadlines in your state. Start showing up to local meetings. Build a network. And if you’re not ready to run, support someone who is.

We cannot wait for the old guard to suddenly grow a spine. If we want to save democracy, we have to do it ourselves.

May 21, 2025