I feel like I need to address the fact that I’m still struggling about the results of our presidential election. We’re all still struggling, right? I know we have to find ways to cope and sometimes that means stepping away from the news and the podcasts and the doomscrolling. And I’m doing that. But as one friend said to me this week, “We are supposed to be upset.”
We’re living in the scariest timeline. This isn’t going to be like it was in 2016-2020, even though that felt like living in a dark timeline (the pandemic notwithstanding). This time, Trump can have unchecked power. He is already filling his cabinet positions with MAGA loyalists, he has a majority on the Supreme Court (and will get to fill at least two more seats), and will appoint even more federal judges that serve for life. Checks and balances? Those don’t exist anymore. Not when the Republicans (most of whom are fiercely loyal to Trump) control the presidency, House, and Senate.
I know people are saying “it’s just four years” and “we’ll take things back in 2028.” But will we? Are we even going to have a democracy after this? I think that’s where the most of my panic stems from. Trump wants to be a dictator. For fuck’s sake, he staged a coup when he lost an election and his supporters wanted to murder the vice president for certifying the results of the election. That’s not normal politics. A peaceful transfer of power is one of the cornerstones of our democracy. And the fact that we rewarded this by giving him another four years makes me want to throw up.
I’m mad. I’m sad. I don’t know what to do. I’m scared for immigrants who are here legally and may get deported (because yes, that’s his plan). I’m scared for kids with disabilities and kids in poor school districts who are now no longer going to have the funding they need because Trump wants to dismantle the Department of Education. I’m scared of how unregulated our food will become once RFK Jr. steps in as head of Health and Human Services. I’m terrified for myself as a queer woman and as a woman who could get pregnant—my rights are already being stripped away and what more could happen? (I’m grateful to live in a very blue county in a red state, though.) I want to throw things against many walls when I think of Matt Gaetz as attorney general.
I listened to an episode of the 5-4 podcast yesterday, and it was both maddening and enlightening. The hosts (who are left-leaning but also criticize the Democractic Party quite regularly) broke down what happened in this election and where Kamala’s campaign went wrong. I don’t agree with everything they said, but it was helpful to better understand what happened, how we failed so miserably, and what needs to happen moving forward (that is, if Democrats can even gain power again… that remains to be seen).
I don’t have any tidy bows to wrap up this post. I just needed to get all of this out of my head. Things are going to get very dark and very scary for America, and I just hope we can make it through.
Solidarity! I feel exactly the same. It’s really scary and hard to remain hopeful. The goal is to dismantle governmental institutions and fill positions with loyalists, not experts. Hang in there! There is comfort in knowing there are so many of us.
It’s been hard to have hope, but what I do take solace in is there are too many of us to stay silent. I really hope we can get through this.
It’s been a lot for me to process as well and I have gone from feeling numb to feeling rage to feeling embarrassed. His cabinet picks and other appointments are so ridiculous. A Fox News host who has a limited military record and a white nationalist tattoo as secretary of defense? COME ON. I think I am most upset that he has talked about recess appointments (which seems unlikely to happen but STILL.). I mean can you even imagine the outrage if Kamala won and then said she was going to use a loophole to get her cabinet picks in?? Have the GD conviction in your selections to follow the law.
I know a lot of people voted for him because they are upset about the level of prices. But nothing he is promising will put downward pressure on inflation. And price declines tend to only happen during recessions. But of course his stump speech about lowering prices sounded so compelling to people who want to pay less for rent and groceries and such.
I am glad I live in a blue state, though…
His cabinet picks are EMBARRASSING. Whoever kisses the ring will get a job that should go to the top experts in their field. But that’s not what he wants.
One of my cousins shared a meme about how excited she is for lower prices/fuller grocery carts now that he’s president and I’m like… but that’s not going to happen?! They were sold a lie.
I hear ‘ya. Nothing seems like it should be, yet here we are facing the worst bunch of American scoundrels I’ve seen in my lifetime. No idea where this is headed, but do know that I’ll not bury my head in the sand, pushback when I can. And also, to quote Mary Engelbreit: I shall: “KEEP CALM, They Hate That”
That is a GREAT quote! We cannot bury our heads in the sand. We have to be prepared for a big fight ahead.
Not only for America unfortunately. I worry for Europe as well, Ukraine most of all.
*hugs*
That’s very true. This will have major ramifications globally, and that scares me so much.
I wish I had a thoughtful, insightful response to your very well-thought post, but I don’t. I’m still vacillating between pretending (hoping?) everything will be okay and doomscrolling.
Sometimes I’m like, “Maybe things won’t be as bad as they predict!!!” And then I go on Instagram and I’m greeted with things like “Trump picks Matt Gaetz as attorney general.” SIGH.
((hugs))
I’m with you. I’m just plain devastated. It keeps hitting me in waves. We handed over unchecked power of the entire country to the some of the worst people in the country who are intent on running it into the ground, turning us against each other, then turning us over to our enemies.
Yes, yes, all of this. It’s so demoralizing and I am already exhausted about the fight ahead of us. And all the stupid news stories we’re going to be subjected to.
Sorry to reply again lol but the news stories – yes!! I logged on to X one day [my last day there] and saw a headline about “Elizabeth Warren sounds the alarm that Trump is already breaking the law” and it hit me again, a reminder of what his first term was. Every day he was breaking a law or it was a new controversy that the Republicans ignored, every day one of his staff was doing something unethical, and something else disastrous was always brewing. And this country just signed back up for it again, seeing the Musk, Fox News & Trump sons victory tour is so gross – reminds me of the TSwift lyric “the wrong ones now think they’re right”
I think the whole planet outside of all the Bad Actors, are holding their collective breath worrying about what comes next. And just how this man’s presidency is going to affect us all and for a long time to come. There are no easy answers but to fight back.
Yes, this whole election is going to affect people globally and I am scared of the ramifications.
Yes, yes, and yes. The thing is, even IF the dems can regain power in four years- which I agree is very iffy- a lot of REALLY BAD things can happen in those four years. And that’s the best case scenario. I’m glad you wrote this, because I go back and forth between talking about it on my blog and then ignoring it completely. But then I’m like “Wait- I hope everyone knows I’m still upset about this!” The worst is definitely still ahead.
Jenny I think we need to take a more political stand these days. I have been going back and forth about that two but have deiced to put my thoughts out there. If we stay quiet and not voice our opinion, if we are not brave how can other people who are feeling the same voce there opinion. I really do believe it is time to step out of our comfort zones and have a voice. To have hard conversations. Would I like to spend my time in happy place, read a book, write postcards, chat with my blog friends. For sure. But every once in a while we need to pinch our ass together (its a German saying and I am not sure what the equivalent would be) / suck it up and start doing.
I agree, Jenny. It’s hard to strike the balance between wanting to talk about it but also recognizing that we have to find other ways to cope, and sometimes that’s writing silly blog posts. I totally understand. I think that’s where I was at when I decided to write this post. I was like, “I hope people don’t think I’m not upset anymore!” Because I think about this SO MUCH.
Yup! If you aren’t upset, you aren’t paying attention. It almost feels healthy to be so mad. We should be angry, scared, exhausted, etc. because this situation is all of those things! Our response is natural and appropriate.
My hope is that Trump will continue his long tradition of destroying people’s careers in the wake of his destruction. There’s a good chance that many of his nominees will get crushed under his wheels in a matter of weeks (days?!). The issue is how many good people will be harmed as a result of the ensuing chaos.
The one thing that is bringing me sanity right now is intentionally building community and finding hyper-local wants to be helpful. Literally loving your neighbor. Keeping your loved ones close, validating everyone’s fears and concerns, planning small acts of kindness, and reminding yourself that you SHOULD BE UPSET!
ALL OF THIS.
I am also trying to find ways to make a difference in my community in whatever ways I can. It’s something I can do when I feel very hopeless.
Girl, I hear you and I agree with everything you said. It’s very, very scary. The scariest thing to me is that so many people apparently have no critical thinking skills and don’t understand that Tr*mps deportation plans will cost money, that deporting immigrants (who do the dirty work that white Americans won’t do, let’s be honest) will not lower, but raise prices, and most of all that Tr*mp has never cared or thought about anyone else but himself.
I’ve never been so happy to live in California (in a blue county in a blue state), but man, the effects will be felt by all.
I think a lot of people are hoping for a solution to high prices, and right now, they think Biden’s the reason for those prices and as such, Trump is a better option. They’re in for a rude awakening when they realize Trump does not care about anyone but his rich friends. UGH.
Stephany, I feel everything you expressed, and the comments so far, too. I’m so sad for our country and the world. All we can do is find joy where we can, keep resisting, and caring. They want us to be apathetic. It’s going to be hard. 💔
Yes, I think being joyful in our resistance is KEY. We can’t let them win.
I think it is mandatory to stay upset and not settle e into just serving 4 years. A lot can change in four years as you have pointed out. As you know the whole thing is on my mind a lot too. The not know what to do, the helplessness but seeing what is happening. It is a scary timeline we live in and I am fearing we are on the verge of a new global military conflict. And right now only clowns are spearheading the major players (USA, Russia, China, Germany?!) This is a shit show and we cannot look away. We are not ALLOWED to look away. This will be so much work in the coming years.
Yes, yes, yes. We cannot look away. We cannot STOP being upset. We cannot let any of this feel NORMAL. It’s terrifying that we’re going to let him have the most powerful position in the world, and I am so, so angry at the people who let him take it back.
Oh, Stephany, you know I agree with you. If we think Trump will just hand over the presidency in four years, we have learned nothing. I am still astounded that more than half of the voters of this country thought that a fascist buffoon was a better choice than Harris. I am ENRAGED. Sure, I’m scared, but mostly I’m enraged. And I’m going to channel that rage into the fight that is coming very soon. We need to save our democracy.
Yes to all of this. We are going to have a big fight on our hands and it’s so scary to think about what is going to happen over these next four years. And I’m still so very sad we don’t get to see Kamala as president and Tim Walz as our VP. I was really hoping we’d be lucky enough to get that.
Same. Same, same, same! Excellent reflection, you practically took the words out of my mouth. I came to this country from Russia to escape the regime, and now THIS.
I can’t even IMAGINE what you are going through, Daria. Sending you so much love. <3
This. THIS. ALL OF THIS. I am terrified of what the next four years will look like and furious at the gloating, the rampant disregard of any kind of order or rules, the claim of a “mandate” with – it now seems – less than 50% of the popular vote. I am beyond frustrated at our antiquated election system in this country and how it allows parties hell-bent on claiming and keeping power to break – not bend, break – the system to let them do so. I try to hold out hope, but oh, friend, it is hard. Thinking of you a lot these days. <3