Your Questions Answered: Trump Term Two

Advice on surfing the blood-dimmed tide in the latest reader Q & A!

Welcome to the answers section of the Q & A! Subscribers, you beat your own record yet again — I had to shut down comments a mere five hours after posting the call for questions since there were so many. I believe I answered them all.

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Chris S: What helps you think about the society that we're leaving to your kids? I read the travel and place-oriented essays, and I understand that you ground them, and yourself, in real experiences offline and in the phenomenal world. How do you resist despair on behalf of your kids? KM: How might you suggest we help our 20/30 year-old adult children find any optimism for the future? Or is that simply gaslighting them (*sigh*)? Thanks.

SK: I’ve been asked about raising children in a collapsing world more than any other topic, to the point that I wrote a book about it, The Last American Road Trip. (You can preorder it here.)

It is impossible to be both honest and optimistic when discussing the American future. But it is possible to teach kids to appreciate what we have, the importance of protecting it, and how to build your own world in the ruins — a world no one can take away. Imagination, integrity, and compassion are all qualities an individual controls, even in a mafia state. Whereas elections are not, and institutions will often betray you.

When everything feels like it’s collapsing, it helps to have something reliable that brings you joy. It can be a hobby or a passion or simply love: the love you have for your children, for example. Knowing you are unconditionally loved in a collapsing world goes a long way to withstanding the pain of it.

I don’t believe in lying to kids unless they are too young to understand the subject. Older kids have few illusions: they have only known a life of escalating existential crises. But there are still wondrous things in the world that provide solace from despair. The more imagination you have, the more you’ll appreciate them. Let kids be adventurous and teach them to be kind. Let kids know it is normal to feel sorrow in bad times. The tendency of society to demonize sadness, like anyone would choose it, is unhealthy. Feel it, don’t deny it (it’ll come for you anyway), but try to find things that fill you with love and awe, too.

Materialism and careerism are harmful, especially for children, but also for adults. You’re not your job or your grades: you’re how you treat people. Encourage kids to read widely and learn the full history of this country so they’ll see how others endured hard times. When society is in denial, your best friends might be in books. As James Baldwin said, “You think your pain and your heartbreak are unprecedented in the history of the world, but then you read.”

Rebecca S: In the past week, I've shared your post from August 2019: "You should take the Greenland shit more seriously. It's not just theatrical assholery; Trump and his backers are seeking to profit off climate change in a world without old alliances or protocol." I'm again in awe of how you use your education, intelligence and analytic skills to lay out the plain truth, years in advance. You also wrote at that time: "Trump wouldn't invade, he'd do it corporate raider style like Carl Icahn. Break a country then buy it. Not just for Denmark/Greenland, but anywhere. His backers see a severe global recession as an opportunity to get away with ideas previously regarded as insane or impossible." In that vein, he's threatening new tariffs on imports from Denmark. Will the tariffs work? Do you see military involvement? Will the asshole succeed?

SK: I was prescient regarding Donald Trump’s desire to buy Greenland (now there’s a sentence I never thought I’d write as a child.) But I’m somewhat surprised he’s starting his term with an imperialist agenda. I’ve written about how Trump differs from 20th-century fascists in that he wants the US to collapse so that he and his kleptocrat cohort can more easily strip it for parts. He now appears to be flirting with a more traditionally fascist (and traditionally American) trajectory.

So yes, it’s possible that the US will try to take Greenland. I doubt it will be done militarily; threats and bribes are his way. But I’m wary of evaluating anything this early. Some plans being proffered are only tests to gauge the reaction of potential partners and enemies. What’s notable is that Trump is again disregarding sovereignty, just like his kleptocratic backers. The notion that Greenland is merely a land mass to mine instead of people’s home is one his team seeks to normalize as their foreign partners carry out invasions — and plan a “going out of business sale” for the US.

Bill C: How long do you think Trump and his enablers will be able to navigate the civil war between Bannon and Musk and hide Trump’s growing cognitive decline?

SK: I’m skeptical Trump is declining. What people mistake for decline is often him faking infirmity to get out of trouble or not giving a shit about something a president is expected to take seriously. I’m also not sure the rivalry between Bannon and Musk is real. The first Trump admin had a lot of kayfabe feuds to stave off serious inquiry into criminal behavior. Bannon vs Jeff Sessions was fake, for example. But Bannon vs Jared Kushner may have been real. Bannon vs South African tech lord assholes may also be real. Bannon went to prison for Trump and may resent being replaced. However, it’s hard to parse these battles when key communications infrastructure is owned by those fighting them.

Steve C: Do you think the climate crisis is a bigger threat than Trump and his malicious Trumpsters? Dean A: Is it even possible to imagine a path back to our best-case (pre-Reagan?) version of democracy?

SK: YES (to both questions). The climate crisis is bigger than any political crisis. Political crises are fixable, but climate catastrophes are permanent: extinct species, destruction of the ecosystem, etc. We can and should work to mitigate the damage, but much of our lives will be spent bearing the consequences of decisions made by people long gone. As for Trump, he has a fatalistic view of life that he’s expressed since the 1980s. He believes the world will end in nuclear annihilation and he may feel similarly about climate change. He shrugs since he won’t be around for the worst of it. Sadly, he’s not different from many geriatric officials in this regard.

Genevieve S: What can be done to ensure that we get factual information given that our media companies are compromised and social media is flooded with AI bots (and bad faith humans) deliberately spreading misinformation? AC: Why is Tech so desperate to shove AI down our throats no matter how inefficient and costly it is?

SK: I lack words to describe how much I hate AI. Perhaps AI will come up with some plagiarized ones to provide me.

I had a nightmare that all new phones came with cameras that refused to capture reality. Instead, they changed photos to AI without telling you. As a result, your memory deteriorates, and as time passes, you never know if what you saw is real. Now that was just a dream — but it’s in line with the future tech oligarchs are designing. They want control not only over your material possessions and political activity but your imagination and privacy. Guard them with your life. Avoid AI as much as possible. They want to replace you and make you its servant and their servants. They are not only trying to annihilate reality, but to make reality so unattractive that you will not mind it being replaced. They seek to create the ideal fascist subjects: pliant, uncreative, unnoticing.

I no longer know how to get accurate information except from direct witnesses who have proven to be reliable over time. But also trust your own observations — and write them down, because everything is designed to make you doubt your own recollections.

Ken G: Do you think Trump & his oligarch supporters will crash the economy? Arete A: If these guys are wanting to crash the economy, does that include the stock market? Doesn't that hurt their buddies, the oligarchs? James D: Can you envision any organized resistance to the ensuing chaos? Andrea K: Why do you think the American people don’t organize boycotts and hit the puppet-masters where it hurts?

SK: Yes, they want to crash the economy. As I note in my books and articles, Trump admits this openly, and it’s reflected in the mafia and corporate raider world from which he and his cohort emerged.

Regarding boycotts, it’s hard to boycott when the ruling class wants the economy to collapse. The puppet masters are happy to cut the strings. They’ve reached a level of wealth so vast that the economy 99% of the population participates in does not affect them. Look at how much money Musk lost grabbing political power through Twitter, and how little he cares. Power, not money or stocks, is what they’re after.

I still support strikes and boycotts — they just need to be strategic and include support for the workers who corporations will dismiss and replace. Mutual aid groups and labor unions are essential. The stronger those become, the more successful a boycott will be. The biggest obstacle to organized resistance is the tech surveillance state. The potential for organized resistance is there, but it’s very easy to infiltrate or stomp it out right now.

Debbie K: Not a political question ... just wondering if you and your son are still doing Duolingo? You inspired me to dive in, and a year later, I find it to be an invaluable distraction from the chaos. Thank you.

SK: Si, grazie! I finished Spanish and moved on to Italian. He’s still doing Spanish. My sister and mom and nephew also joined. We do a lot of family “friend quests” together!

SB: What advice do you have for those of us teaching in [private and/or public] universities? Is self-censorship in our futures? Shared governance is already in decline. What new issues/trends do you see emerging in higher ed?

SK: I worry about self-censorship, state censorship (especially in public universities), and the replacement of professors with robots. As a parent with a kid applying to college, I watch out for all these things and there’s no way I’m shelling out tuition for robot profs — and I’m not alone in that!

Many of my concerns about higher ed are the same ones I wrote about a decade ago: exploitation of adjuncts and low-paid professors, the elimination of humanities and social sciences, credentialism valued over education. But now we also have to worry about punitive responses to students and faculty who speak out on Palestine or on civil rights in the US. Rough years are ahead.

I do think there is a “silent majority” of parents and they’re not who the GOP believes they are. They are parents who want their kids to get an affordable education and are sick of campuses being exploited by right-wing propagandists and plutocrats. In other words, more people appreciate you and have your back than you realize.

Bill B: Best practices for writers to protect themselves from political prosecution?

SK: I may find out the answer to that firsthand — let’s see if I’m still around to share it! I don’t think there’s a way to protect yourself other than bowing down and being a mafia state lackey. Prosecution in mafia states is often launched on baseless grounds so you might as well speak your mind.

Sabrina A: Should ordinary citizens be concerned about posting criticisms of the incoming administration? Is Trump going to go full Putin-esque retaliation on anyone who dares say a negative word about him, not just his political rivals? If so, what do you advise?

SK: You should be concerned as in aware — but don’t let it shape you inside. I don’t know how far Trump will go because he’s no longer threatened by revelations about his background or criminal networks. He owns the courts and has the immunity he’s craved since the 1970s. But he also is more of a frontman than a person calling the shots. I’d watch those surrounding Trump — the oligarchs and aspiring successors, especially lackeys like Miller and Vance. They need to establish dominance more than Trump and have more of an ideological agenda. Trump’s agenda is himself.

Joey: If “the ceremony of innocence is drowned”, could you speak/ write to us about the rituals you might use and that we need now? Is that what The Last American Roadtrip is about?

SK: This line was in an early draft of The Last American Road Trip, cut for space: “We would road trip through the end times, we would surf the blood-dimmed tide.” So yes, you’re right. It’s about the search for the opposite of mourning.

Kay Leigh H: Can you envision interventions (like positive 'black swan' events) that could create opportunities for the US to change course toward a new democratic government?

SK: The year is two weeks old. We’ve already seen an alleged ceasefire in Gaza and Los Angeles burning down. Nothing feels predictable and everything feels overwhelming. So yes, I can see a black swan event accidentally working in our favor. It’s the flip side of a world so unstable that anything seems possible.

Sarah: I'm curious to know your thoughts on the speed of the coming destruction. With control over all three branches of government and a solid 30% of the population brainwashed through weaponized conspiracy theories, how quickly do you think the regime will move to crash the US/ eventual Balkanization?

SK: I’m hesitant to attribute any percentage to the population being “brainwashed”, since the situation is fluid, and most people aren’t easily categorized. But we obviously have millions who are just fine with Trump Term Two and many who voted for him seeking stability instead of the chaos they will experience instead.

Mafia states tend to move very fast when a new regime enters power. The difference with Trump is that he already laid the groundwork, both in his previous admin and with Biden continuing some of his initiatives. What happens to the US is very likely not being planned by Americans but by overlapping global networks of plutocrats and fascists and mafiosos. How Americans respond though — that will be decided by Americans. Resist any talk of secession and splitting the country. They seek to divide the US into oligarch fiefdoms, some of which will war with each other for their profit. They’ll market partition as a solution until false pretenses. Don’t fall for it!

Peter S: Where in Graham Cave State Park is the portal to the reality where Trump, Putin, and all members of the international crime syndicates masquerading as governments never rose to prominence because they were charged, arrested, convicted, and imprisoned for the many crimes they committed early on in their lives? Asking for a friend.

SK: Don’t you know? The portal isn’t in Missouri but in the Shawnee National Forest in Illinois! I know because I spent two hours trekking only to not find it and stay trapped in this shitty dimension. I still believe it’s out there though! It’s more real than DOJ integrity ever was.

Anna P: Watching in horror from afar, I don’t see the same energy in the resistance as last time — women’s marches etc. The leading Dems are all complicit too. Do you think this second term will be much worse as the far right have consolidated power or do you see any strong waves of resistance emerging?

SK: There were more protests during Trump’s four years in office than in any other period of US history and people should feel proud that they made their voices heard. They should also feel furious with their representatives for ignoring their concerns and instead creating Cop Cities and laws that threaten free speech and assembly. The Democrats are as bad as the Republicans in this regard. What’s changed is not people’s anger, but their perception of loyalty and leverage.

I am wondering if a third party might finally take root, because there is also discontent with Trump among the MAGA ranks. America is an unhappy country of betrayed people. Where that energy goes is hard to predict, since we don’t know how quickly the Trump admin will move to curtail freedoms and which ones he will target first. Once people have a sense of the agenda, though, things can go a variety of ways. More Luigi Mangione-style vigilante actions are likely. (To be clear, I’m not encouraging this, but it’s often what happens when peaceful demands are ignored for decades.)

Marina: What are your predictions for the war with Iran and implications on the world including Ukraine, Middle East, Europe and the USA?

SK: Contrary to Joe Biden, oligarchic rule — mafia state rule — did not just begin. It has been the framework for international relations for decades and Trump only accelerates it. Some guesses on foreign policy: Trump will back Putin and frame Russian theft of Ukrainian territory as “peace.” The US will continue to defend Israel’s theft of Palestinian land. In the background of these crises will be enormous kleptocratic deals, and that — along with religious fanaticism from Trump’s cabinet and Israel’s Kahanists — will be the motivator for an Iran War.

David E: With so many blustering, ignorant and arrogant promises already, what will happen in the first 100 days, Sarah, when the sky turns orange over DC as well as LA?

SK: I don’t know but I’ll be shocked if it’s anything good!

M. Danko: Are there any countries that would be a hopeful case-study in how to go through this time period and push for a better future?

SK: Ironically, South Africa, where some of the worst influencers on US political culture grew up, is a good example. I’m referring to post-apartheid practices like Truth and Reconciliation. It did not work perfectly but you cannot fix a country without an honest appraisal of past sins. The Black rights movements in the US are also full of examples of resilience and ingenuity. But we have to square historical examples with advances in surveillance technology and with an admin that will not respond to traditional leverage. We should look at South Korea and Brazil for recent examples of public pushback that seemed to work.

Jenn G: What has surprised you MOST (recently)?

SK: Assad finally fleeing Syria. I’m curious about the timing.

Shawn: In what ways will it be unsafe for residents of DC during the next 4 years (given Trump’s antipathy towards the District), and should they consider moving?

SK: I never give advice on moving — that’s a personal decision. I don’t think Trump will be personally focused on DC residents; he doesn’t care enough to bother. But his team is more likely to respond violently to protests when they’re right in front of them. Trump will likely spend most of his time in Mar-a-Lago, but his advisors will want to stomp out any signs of disobedience in their DC “domain”.

Somer: What are your thoughts on policies and programs that impact children and adults with disabilities and what do you think the administration will do in regard to education, healthcare, and overall future opportunities?

SK: I’m worried about defunding of school programs and denial of insurance to disabled adults. Disability has skyrocketed since covid, and both the Trump and Biden admins did nothing about it but deny the public data, research, or aid for conditions like long covid. There is a rising eugenics movement that the government encourages. Disability activists were early to spot that threat and are good sources on battling autocracy and attacks on vulnerable populations. This is a time where folks need to have the back of disabled Americans; they will be abandoned by institutional actors even more than usual. Everyone should be respected in their full humanity.

Shirley: Why does the press north and south of the border keep scurrying whenever Trump takes a swing. Might ignoring him be a better response? Linda O: As a neighbor to the north in Canada, I am horrified by the talk of annexing our sovereign and democratic country by your incoming president. What do you make of this threat and do you have any recommendations for Canadians?

SK: What’s left of the press is covering Trump’s slights against Canada mainly because he’s the POTUS-elect. Ignoring him won’t stop him. But I wish there was more analysis of what he’s trying to achieve. My guess is that the rhetoric is not aimed at Americans but at Canadian secessionist movements in Alberta and French-speaking Canada. He wants a less united Canada because it’s easier to manipulate. With Mexico, it’s the opposite: his comments there are aimed more at Americans to stir up hatred and to frame Latino migrants as a security threat, which he finds a useful canard. My advice to Canada is to reject secessionist rhetoric, which is meant to weaken you for takeover. Also, in the spirit of Canada, I’d like to say, “I’m sorry.”

Natalie: Any chance you’ll be starting a new podcast or something of the sorts?

SK: Not any time soon! Maybe after the book is out.

Pat B: What are some things getting missed by our overloaded “radar”?

SK: One of the big ones is the apocalyptic rhetoric of Israel’s government and how it’s matched by Trump’s backers. They want to demolish Al-Aqsa, build the Third Temple, and usher in the apocalypse — and they’re serious. Whether the motive is greed, or they really believe Trump is fulfilling a Biblical prophecy, I don’t know. But I know it’s more dangerous than folks let on. I wrote about it in detail in They Knew.

Mark Mark: What are the most notable differences between Russia and the US in two years (following the current default trajectory) —if any?

SK: The US has a much richer tradition of free speech. We expect this right, in contrast to Russia, where free speech was a short-lived novelty. The US may be as corrupt as Russia, but we still have the right to discuss it. Free speech is under attack by both the government and by social media companies who purchased the public sphere. In two years, we may lose this right even further as tech corporations merge with an overtly autocratic regime. I don’t think, however, that we will ever accept this situation as normal — there will be continual pushback.

The US differs from Russia in that our fall as a “superpower” is more recent, which is a double-edged sword. Reality has not sunk in for many Americans, but cynicism is not as hardened either. When Americans finally stare into the abyss, the abyss will roll its eyes and say, “About time — now act on what you see!”

Creative Processes: Where do you see hope? What activities or communities do you find genuinely inspiring and effective?

SK: I said in an interview way back in 2012: “Hope is something you should have for other people, not for yourself. Hope holds you down and blinds you to possibilities.” Everyone defines hope differently and in 2012 I was burnt out on broken promises of “hope and change”. Inspiration, though, is everywhere. I’m grateful for acts of kindness by people who refuse to capitulate to cruelty. I’m glad there are still people who spurn conformism and value creativity, who create thoughtful art and work to protect nature and civic life. They aren’t famous. But they’re all around you.

Dani B: Curious if you've read The Fourth Turning Is Here or watched Leave the World Behind and if so would love to hear what you thought about either of them!

SK: I haven’t read The Fourth Turning Is Here. I’ve read excerpts of its predecessor, The Fourth Turning. There’s something to it in terms of how generations respond to crisis, but the 80-year increment aspect is more pseudo-science than inevitability. That’s not a criticism: I have my own pseudo-scientific theories, like that everyone’s political view hardens at age 30 and you can predict their future beliefs on it. (I turned 30 the week of the financial collapse.) The Fourth Turning is not a guidebook — even though it’s treated as one by people like Bannon — but an interesting thought experiment.

I watched Leave the World Behind with my kids and the most terrifying part for them was that it was produced by the Obamas. It’s hard not to see it as a warning and wonder why one of the most influential men alive would deliver it this way while shrugging as the real world burns. It was a good movie, but it’s hard to separate it from the political conditions in which it was produced.

Jack O.R: The American dollar is on the path to lose the status as the world reserve currency. It happened to the British pound and we are next. Do you have any reaction to this bit of news? Trump's plan to wreck our economy would accelerate our decline.

SK: I’m worried about a currency crisis. I’m also a bad person to ask since I don’t fully grasp it. I think the implementation of digital currency will play a big role, along with insistence on electronic payments instead of cash. I wrote about this a bit here.

Chris J.R: When you say “they” who are you referring to?

SK: Depends on the sentence!

Geri D: Was in a meeting of library directors last week and we spoke about feeling small in the face of it all. We decided what we COULD do is make our libraries as welcoming and safe as possible for our patrons and staff. Perhaps if we can do that, the welcome and safety can bubble up and out into our community a bit. Are we totally delusional?

SK: No, you’re wonderful! Libraries are a refuge. They are more important than ever given erasure of digital media and the loss of communal spaces. You are doing us all a great service.

MsWong: What are your biggest regrets? What are your most proud moments? That's two questions, I know. I regret that I cheated. But I am also proud because I'm a rule-follower, generally, and I'm trying to be bold.

SK: Regrets, I’ve had a few, but then again, too few to mention…kidding, kidding. I always thought my time would be short or that the country would collapse so I tried to get the most out of life while I could. On the whole, I think I made the best of it — but I’m easily pleased, so that’s not saying much. I’m dazzled by a river or a song.

There are decisions I thought I’d regret — like sidelining my career to stay home with my kids — that I’m glad I made, because the time when they were babies was precious. I’ve never regretted following my heart, even when it made my life difficult. I’ve walked an unconventional path, and it wasn’t easy, but it was mine. I have private regrets that I try not to dwell on, usually about trusting people I shouldn’t have.

As for pride, I guess I’m proud of my writing. But I don’t think pride is a great attribute. Pride can make you complacent — and then you’ll really end up with regrets.

Alexander L: How can the ‘opposition’ unite?

SK: Anti-corruption is a unifying issue. No one likes corruption except the corrupt. People will vote for an asshole, but they’ll reject a swindler — so long as they can identify him as one. Unfortunately, the opposition itself has been hijacked by swindlers. We need fiscal and political transparency to rebuild trust.

Judy G: Do you feel that the Democrats — or even a reasonable GOP regime — can ever gain a stronghold again? Gerrymandering has meant Ohio and NC will be red forever, and I'm sure there are many other states in which this is the case. So many are saying 2026 is our chance to reverse course...but is it?

SK: I’m worried that things will change so rapidly and for the worse under Trump that we won’t recognize the US as a place where regular political parties have leverage. I may be wrong about that; I thought he’d move faster in his first term than he did. I don’t know if the Democrats can regain lost seats, but that’s in part because they’re a tainted brand. In Missouri, many folks will vote for progressive policies — we see this with ballot initiatives — but not for Democratic candidates.

The reasons for this vary depending on whether you’re coming from the right or the left, but the main reason is that Democrats are seen as the Party of Betrayal. Republicans will screw you openly. Democrats pretend to have your back and then stab it. You should not vote GOP unless you enjoy being screwed, but voting for a Democrat feels like setting yourself up for the particular pain of betrayal.

However, if we still have elections, I think Democratic candidates could win in states like mine if they ran as independents — especially if they are honest about the sins of both parties and can offer a pragmatic and compassionate vision of the future. Everyone is hungry for someone who’s not a liar.

Arlene H: If the mastermind(s) behind the Nazi regime had been killed, do you think that millions of humans would have still been murdered?

SK: I’m not sure. In mass movements run on vicious propaganda, it’s easy for one killer to be replaced with another. I also don’t think the leaders were masterminds; obedience played a greater role than ingenuity. The lesson here is never obey Nazis.

Jendi: What would be a realistic path for blue states to defy possible federal policies banning transgender or reproductive health care, and what kind of pushback, including civil war, would ensue?

SK: I am worried that the punitive stance GOP state governments have toward trans people and women of reproductive age will worsen under the Trump admin. Biden did nothing to remedy these crises. He shrugged when we lost Roe and when trans people lost rights — but he wasn’t cheering abuse to the degree MAGA does. More effective protection for vulnerable people will likely come from grassroots groups operating quietly. One can support those efforts while keeping a wary eye out for attempts to criminalize them. The people doing this advocacy work are brave.

I don’t see this matter as a “blue state/red state” issue, since Democratic governors are becoming more conservative and liberal cities in GOP-governed states often boast the strongest activism. Nefarious parties want civil war based on contrived “red/blue” divides, so it’s good if we debunk their delusions and help each other out instead.

Tom C: Have you ever had to deal with prior restraint?

SK: No, though all my books were subject to rigorous legal review.

Suzanne C: Do you see Marianne Williamson, running for chair of the DNC, as a ray of hope not just for the Democrats to win elections but for us to be a caring species instead of an exploitive one?

SK: I appreciate her efforts to out corruption and encourage compassion. But the DNC is not going to get us out of this mess no matter who is leading it.

Frances H: I'm curious to know what percentage of a Substack writer's income goes toward maintaining the platform?

SK: 10% goes to Substack; 90% goes to the writer.

Mark S: Is there any historic example of a society losing rule of law and emerging from it without a civil war?

SK: There is a vast difference between law and justice. Every autocracy has rule of law. None have justice, and many democracies hide their attempts to suppress justice behind bullshit legalities. Positive changes in law often emerge when there is widespread social and political pressure, as it did in the 1960s civil rights movement following decades of grassroots efforts. We are in a very difficult situation now due to literal fake people — AI “people” — joining “the public” online and creating an illusion of support for terrible policies. We also have to contend with courts bought off by autocrats and plutocrats. A civil war will do nothing to remedy this problem; the people causing these crises want a civil war. Regaining control of media and a shared sense of reality — and from that, a shared sense of injustice — will help.

Lynn D: How much is bluster and how much is real policy? Will he get bored and walk away from implementing things that are immediately unpopular and cause him to lose support? He seems to focus on popularity, personal wealth and power over any other aspect of the job. Maybe if the outrage against him is fierce enough, he'll back off, claiming he solved the "problem”?

SK: I’ve said for years that Trump cares about only three things: money, power, and immunity from prosecution. He finally got the third one, so I wonder if his interest in the presidency will remain. He may step down, which is why I encourage people to keep an eye on Vance and the oligarchs backing him.

Trump doesn’t care about public pressure, only about his own sense of “winning”. Whether he stays depends on if he sees stepping down as “losing” or envisions himself as a victor exiting the ring. He refuses to be labeled as a loser even when he clearly has lost. Decades ago, he said he would never run in an election unless he was certain he would win. I believe he sees war the same way: he is unlikely to enter a war unless he’s sure he will win. This could be a positive thing — except he has no morals, so there are no limits on what he will do to win a war if he and his backers decide to pursue one.

Glenn: How will Republicans avoid responsibility after Hegseth runs DoD into the ground?

SK: If he’s confirmed, they’ll double down in support, or they’ll fire him claiming they never liked him anyway. I don’t know what will happen except that it will involve lies.

John W: I watched the new docudrama, 2073, last night. Chilling. And The Grab on Hulu last week. Can you comment on these two works?

SK: Sorry, I haven’t seen them! But thanks for the recs!

Kathryn: You talk about Democrats like Biden and others being complicit in continuing the world power order. Do you mean that they do so by acts of omission or by deliberate support of maintaining the power status quo? I know you don't believe in a "savior" but how do we fight if all the power is against us? Here in Houston, it seems being a blue city is not enough to counter the state’s continued red path. Voting blue locally doesn't have an impact so what do we do?

SK: For the sake of brevity, my thoughts on Biden’s complicity are in the articles here: Ten Articles Explaining the 2024 Election. As for frustration over living in a liberal city in a GOP hostage state, I feel you! I’m repeating myself, but activist groups and informal aid networks are more effective than formal parties. As are places that simply provide for the public good, like the libraries mentioned earlier.

The initial period of Trump Term Two will be about working around the constraints of power rather than building it, because we need to get a handle on what we are fighting first. But a good way to start the process of building back political power is through solidarity with like-minded folks in your community. Do not wait for elections. Focus on everyday relationships of support. It is normal for people to be lying low as they wait to see what Trump’s administration has in store, so don’t interpret current expressions of helplessness as a permanent state of being.

Velma: I am a Black woman (and I have not read Project 2025 but am aware of most things), but no one seems to be mentioning black people and where we will end up in all this. Generally, we are the punching bag, but the latest scapegoats seem to be immigrants and Jewish communities. While we are making plans on both having refuge in another country as well as protecting what we have here, including our friends, I'm still at a loss about what to do, what's the wisest choice(s)?... I find it odd that no one is talking about Black people, or if we're being lumped into immigrants/brown people. I know we ain’t high on the love list. I fear that whatever is happening in Gaza is what will happen to us here...eventually.

SK: I answered a similar question on Black Americans in an earlier Q & A (look for TrinaCassadine’s question). I am angry at the continued abandonment of Black Americans after the 2020 protests and the choreographed, vicious backlash that followed. The government failed Black communities in terms of voting rights, protection against state violence, and more. Many white people treated the movement for Black rights like a fad. As I said before, I hope you don’t feel compelled to leave. This is your country: the US has been a Black country since the start.

There is no way to address autocracy in the US without addressing Black rights. The fight for Black rights is tied to all progress toward real freedom the US has made. The backlash against Black rights always heralds broader oppression. I had hoped that Americans understood this better after the revived interest in Black history over the past decade, but many have reverted to forced forgetting.

As noted, I don’t give advice about moving: where one lives is a personal decision. This answer is for everyone: if Americans are serious about battling autocracy, you cannot compromise on Black rights. You cannot compromise on anyone’s rights — I see similar “bargaining” talk made about LGBTQ people and Muslims. I do fear that something like Gaza could happen here, and if it does, it will be because the powerful decided to treat certain groups as disposable — as they have done throughout American history, in the treatment of Native Americans, Black Americans, and others. We need to have each other’s backs. No one’s humanity is up for negotiation. Anyway, you’re high on my love list — and a lot of other folks are high on my rage list for creating this climate of fear.

Cheryl B: In your “Trapped Echo” newsletter, you mentioned that the only place where you’ve had a legitimate paranormal experience was at the Crescent Hotel in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. That was too juicy a tidbit not to ask; would you mind describing what you saw and/or heard?

In case you don’t wish to answer that, here’s an alternative question: Do you believe there is anything Trump could do that would significantly weaken MAGA support for him? If so, what? Kevin: What would be a reasonable time for former Trump supporters to realize that they have been screwed and used simply for votes?

SK: I reveal the paranormal experience in The Last American Road Trip, so preorder it! Trump has already started to lose MAGA support due to his imperialist agenda, his hiring of billionaires and tech oligarchs, and his public coziness with Obama and Biden. The isolationist branch of MAGA sees Trump as no different than past presidents who valued foreign heists and elite networks over the welfare of Americans. This should have been obvious to folks long ago, but better late than never.

Marc: How do we avoid becoming the Germans who stood by while Nazis initiated their atrocities? What warning signs should we look for to know when it’s time to take a stand? The number of authoritarian policies and plans being discussed feels like such a flood I don’t know what to attend to and what’s noise. How can we acquit ourselves for the next generation?

SK: The best advice I gave about this is nine years old and still stands; read it here. Know your morals, write them down, and do not deviate from them no matter what.

Karen M: I'm a developmental and neuropsychologist. Our brains were not wired for the times we live in. Reality and sanity are both elusive, and by the symptoms I see thus far we are going to have mass casualties over the next four years. Do you think there is any recognition by Mumpets that once the people break, they will be eating the rich, entitled elite? Or is this not a possibility in their minds?

SK: Not sure what you mean by “Mumpets” but if you mean “kleptocratic assholes” then yes. Mangione put some fear into them, as did social media, as did the protests of the 2010s — which is why they are suppressing speech and assembly and are terrified of Mangione copycats. They are making preemptive moves to protect themselves and seem to be making themselves miserable as they bring misery upon others. I agree our minds are not wired for these times and worry what the effect of witnessing so many atrocities. I encourage people to go easy on themselves and on others right now — with the exception of the aforementioned kleptocratic assholes. Go hard on them.

That’s it for questions — except for one last thing. Some asked for practical advice about carrying out secession along “blue” and “red” state lines. I am extremely opposed to secession and will only advise against it. I’ve laid out my reasons many times, but I’ve attached a few pages from my book They Knew that spell it out in detail. There’s more to it in the rest of the book, but I’ve run out of space!

Thank you everyone and see you next time! We will get through this together.

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“The current push toward secession and 'national divorce' is a conspiracy by kleptocrats. 'Red' and 'blue' states were manufactured to create monocultures out of a multifaceted nation in which most people belong to neither party.” – THEY KNEW, Chapter 7.

Trump sign shot up with paintballs in Illinois, photographed October 2022.