5 reasons we may lose our country, 5 reasons we may not

Let’s be optimistic – but not too optimistic – about defeating Trumpism

There are positive signs that the right-wing assault on democracy is stumbling.

Special elections have scared the hell out of Republicans. Donald Trump’s poll numbers are terrible, even on issues he once owned, such as the economy and immigration. The MAGA con game is wearing thin.

That said, we’re still in big trouble. Republicans are using gerrymandering and other pernicious practices to try to rig the midterms. They keep telling us they won’t let inconvenient things like laws dislodge them from power.

Let’s be hopeful, but also realistic. And determined.

5 Reasons We May Lose Our Country

1. Trump doesn’t accept losing.

   I’ll go out on a limb and say that a person who attempted a coup and started an illegal war would have no moral objections to cheating in the midterms or denying the results. Even if Democrats capture one or both chambers of Congress, Trump will surely take more illegal steps to diminish the power of the legislative branch. He might even try to run for an unconstitutional third term in 2028. There really is no bottom to what he might do.

2. Past safeguards against autocracy – the military and the Supreme Court – are compromised.

   One of the strengths of American democracy, going back to George Washington, was a military subordinate to civilian authority. Trump, however, views the military not as a protector of the public, but as his own personal weapon. Does anyone doubt that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth would order troops to fire on Americans if Trump told him to?

   Then there’s the Supreme Court, dominated by Republicans. It occasionally rules against Trump, such as with his illegal tariffs, but it also outrageously granted him sweeping criminal immunity for official acts, the equivalent of handing a blowtorch to an arsonist. And its ruling last week on voting rights was Jim Crow’s dream, a blatant act to diminish Black political power.

3. The super-rich conspire against us.

   The row of oligarchs at the Trump inauguration – featuring Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, and Elon Musk – sent a clear signal that big business supported the would-be dictator. The sad fact is that a lot of powerful people prefer a dictatorship if they’re allowed to help do the dictating.

4. The MAGA cult keeps culting.

   Only a third of Americans approve of Trump’s performance, but that third is locked in. Christian extremism is a major factor. Pope Leo opposes Trump’s war against Iran, but other religious leaders like Franklin Graham stick with him no matter what. After Trump posted a picture of himself as Jesus, Graham endorsed Trump’s bogus explanation that he thought it was a picture of him as “a doctor helping someone.” Apparently Graham’s Bible is missing the commandment against bearing false witness.

5. The mainstream media are still failing us.

   The White House Correspondents’ Dinner was disrupted by a gunman, but that didn’t stop the media from playing footsie with fascists before and after the event. The mainstream press occasionally shows some gumption, such as pointing out the regime’s lies about the war. But would corporate media truly stand against the regime if Trump took the final steps to seize absolute power?

5 Reasons We May Save Our Country

1. When people vote, democracy wins.

   The will of the people has been clear in recent elections, including Virginia’s vote last month for congressional redistricting to counteract Trump’s gerrymandering elsewhere. A Republican-appointed judge has ruled against the Virginia redistricting, but that decision is likely to be overturned on appeal. In any case, Democrats have a decent chance to capture the House in the midterms. And the Senate is not out of reach.

   The Virginia vote was especially encouraging because it showed Democrats pushing back instead of being pushed over.

2. No one likes expensive gasoline.

   Trump’s war in Iran has already killed 13 Americans and injured hundreds, and the toll could get much worse. But even if the human cost doesn’t escalate further, the economic damage is already clear. Trump can lie all he wants about consumer prices, but people know what they pay for groceries and gas.

3. Trump’s corruption can’t be ignored.

   Trump and his family are leveraging the government to make themselves rich. Eric Trump bragged about his company’s $24 million Pentagon contract. Donald Trump Jr. is knee-deep in prediction markets while his father fights against regulating them. Son-in-law Jared Kushner is involved in Mideast peace talks while seeking business deals with key players in the region. And Donald Trump is suing his own administration over a leak of his tax information, raising the possibility that his government could make a huge payout to him – in effect letting him loot the Treasury. But on a hopeful note, a federal judge recently questioned the legality of the lawsuit.

4. Trump’s mental instability can’t be ignored.

   I’ve written repeatedly about the media’s failure to sound the alarm about Trump’s unhinged behavior. Finally, the media and the public are starting to focus on it. He needs to be removed from office. While getting rid of Trump would leave us to deal with soulless fraud JD Vance, the vice president lacks the mysterious charisma that Trump seems to have.

5. Trump’s incompetence may be a blessing.

   We are damn lucky that Trump is bad at governing and surrounds himself with fellow clowns. If he were an efficient fascist, he’d have his dictatorship by now, and I’d be scratching out this newsletter on the walls of my cell.

The bottom line

People power can win. If Trump’s tyranny grows, so will our resistance. Eight million people showed up at No Kings events in March, and many participated in May Day protests last week. Such demonstrations serve as rehearsals for a general strike, should one be needed.

We can beat back a dictatorship if we stay strong and vigilant. And vote.

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This week’s media atrocity

CNN welcomed Tricia McLaughlin, the former lying Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman, as a guest analyst last Tuesday. Two months earlier, CNN reported that claims by McLaughlin and other DHS officials “have fallen apart.” In other words, CNN put a known liar on its airwaves to lie to its audience.

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Join COURIER and 3.14 Action on June 11 for Facts vs. Fiction: The Fight for Science in American Democracy.

Misinformation isn’t just noise. It’s shaping policy decisions that impact healthcare costs, public health, and everyone’s lives. This live conversation will examine what’s at stake when facts are ignored and what changes when experts lead with evidence. From lowering costs to protecting access to care, we will break down how science-driven leadership delivers real results and why scientific integrity is essential to democracy.

Hear directly from:

• Dr. Vin Gupta, Physician + Medical Analyst

• Representative Emily Gregory, Member of Congress

• Dr. Paul A. Offit, Director, Vaccine Education Center, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

• Shaughnessy Naughton, 314 Action President

Stay tuned for more speaker announcements, and don’t miss this conversation. RSVP today!