ver recent months, I have had many hour-long conversations on the upcoming elections with friends, acquaintances, colleagues and discursive parents in pick-up lines – people from diverse nationalities, religions and economic backgrounds. Many of these exchanges have been enlightening. Some boil down to oversimplified rejection of the Left’s ‘mindless destruction of American values.’

“Did you see,” or “Did you know,” or “Imagine what would happen if,” are almost always directed at Democrats who haven’t contextualised their liberal-progressive policies within a notoriously diverse vote bank.

Issues of election integrity, political violence, threat to minorities and women and disenfranchisement are almost never on the table; not even climate urgency, a balanced Supreme Court, or AI regulations. Issues having long term implications sustained only through consensus-driven policy making and, this needs emphasis, a steady leadership. Many of the people I have spoken to seem to have taken Trump’s word for it, “I am your retribution.” The more he is seen as a threat to democracy by his opponents, the more his support base is convinced that he is their saviour.

Make-America-Great-Again runs on wholesale unverified content across platforms with a surprisingly loyal audience, instigating mistrust and rigid political positions. Liberal media, on the other hand, is serving left-liberal direction as the only redemption from a possible Trump second term, further antagonising Trump-leaning voters. In an election fixated on personalities, voters are willing to compromise on personal flaws for more decisive action on economy, healthcare, immigration, access to abortion and gender-related policies.........

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