The Democratic Dilemma: Resist or Radicalize?

The American presidential election happened in November 2024. A narrow win feels like a landslide. In terms of the popular vote, the margin was 1.62%. Yet Republicans have wasted no time attacking everything—or more accurately, breaking everything. The president now wields king-like powers, standing above all other branches. This is far from normal. It represents a centralization of power and an attack on the federal system while simultaneously expanding control over states. Checks and balances seem complicit in this shift, highlighting how radical the change has been. However, something much bigger is happening beneath the surface.

Top Trumps

Trump won, and Harris lost. Since that defeat, Democrats have drifted. They lack a united message or voice. Leadership of the party is spread across many roles and offices. The strength of the federal government—decentralized power—has become a glaring weakness. Unlike many other political systems, there is no single opposition leader. What was once a strength is now a liability. The party has been vocal about Trump breaking rules and norms, yet many voters appear indifferent. The silence from Republicans has gone unchallenged. The mainstream media has tried to paint what is happening as normal. It is anything but normal, as Project 2025 unfolds—a deeply unpopular platform that is breaking everything.

Dazed by Defeat

Dazed by defeat, Democrats have not had time to process. Members have tried to explain the flipping of all three branches of government. The obvious point is the economy; voters told everyone it was inflation and their anger over it. Poor messaging, failure to listen to voters, and a desire to punish the party are the answers. Voters wanted change, frustrated with political gridlock. Various figures have offered ideas and analyses of why, who, and what happened. Some common themes emerge, but many are fighting past battles. It feels like a funeral happening one day after a death, with people at the wake fighting over what went wrong.

Stacking the Cards

It is unknown what these changes mean for future election cycles. The deck is being stacked in favor of Republicans. Loyalists are being installed at every level, and political appointments—scrapped decades ago—are being reintroduced. We don’t yet know how this will play out. If every new government removes civil servants, the American system, like clockwork, could grind to a halt, creating chaos. The midterms and the next race will come quickly, with different offices and seats up for grabs. Even something like voting districts can be gamed, sealing an advantage. This narrow defeat has painful consequences. With limited guardrails and moral values, people will do anything to get ahead. Republicans have proven they are ruthless and unwilling to relinquish power. This leads to a dangerous situation that could unfold. Insurrection has happened once. Under the surface, something much bigger is brewing—a volatile electorate that is fragmenting. It feels different this time.

Resist or Radicalization?

Two schools of thought have emerged. Democrats can sit back and watch the chaos unfold, playing by the old rules. Norms apply to them but not their opponents. They don’t propose major changes and instead play within the old system, treating this as a blip. They still fight but pick their battles, seeking to preserve and conserve the order that came before. One such battle is playing out now. Democrats find themselves in an impossible position on government shutdowns and the debt ceiling. They fold to avoid blame for a shutdown, seeking to win the war, not the battle.

The other viewpoint is far more fragmented. It focuses on defending liberal values and moving toward a more progressive path. There is no clear guiding light here—just a desire to improve the lives of working-class Americans. It’s about being conservative but with progressive ideas to remake the system and fix what is broken. It’s liberal versus conservative, but with progressives wanting to do more. Both sides view their approach as correct. Parties normally fight over future direction; this time is no different. Radical revolution versus incremental change. Republicans underwent a similar process, and the result was Trump. Progressives view the defeat as another ignored warning shot. Conservatives see it as a minor setback that can be dealt with. They believe the changes can be undone once the worst impacts are felt.

Resist or Revolution?

Republicans have made it very clear this is a revolution. I don’t think that has dawned on many people yet—not voters, not either party. One thing both sides are missing is the fragmentation and push toward the fringe. This leads to more backsliding and shifting gravity. Why? The gaming of the system and the primary process mean pandering in the name of purity. The right has radicalized itself before. Political parties are not immune to outside influence, which shifts the mainstream toward fringe views.

Now, the online right has radicalized itself, causing mainstream center-right parties to shift further right. This empowers the far or alt-right, bolstering its support. This small group now believes in a reality based on an information diet of nonsense, engaging with a false world. Junk information is infecting voters and parties. What has happened in America is part of a global trend. Partisan politics are on steroids, and rage is spilling out. That’s the fragmentation happening naturally across the world. Both parties are moving away from the average voter.

In America, the online right has taken over the Republican Party. Calls to move toward the center and compromise are valid, but in a hyper-partisan world, purity becomes a liability. A wide tent can be useful for reinvention, but a small tent with purity above all else is dangerous. Democrats should learn from their opponents’ mistakes. They should listen to moderate voices, progressives, and voters’ desires. But that also means unclogging the system and making major constitutional changes. Here, Trump’s wrecking ball may be a blessing for the future. One key lesson is the information war—how one side has used it and been consumed by it. The other side is still fighting by the old rules. Cleaning up the information space and dealing with tech giants is a necessary evil. Democrats must also enter this alien world and do a better job engaging with folks outside their algorithm.

Resist or Fight Another Day?

I understand why people are angry at Democrats for not fighting, but it’s part of a much bigger problem: the lack of an opposition leader and failure to reinvent the party. Democrats now need to expand their appeal. Moderates and progressives can work together to find common ground and push for necessary changes. Trump has already shown his willingness to push his power to the limits. Democrats should have shut down the government and blamed him, focusing on inflation and the chaos he was causing.

A single message focusing on why the Democrats care and addressing voters’ fears would have been deeply risky, but the hope is Trump would do the damage for them. The biggest risk is fighting everything without being strategic. The obvious fight is over spending cuts and the debt ceiling, forcing Republicans to own it and creating conflict with figures like Musk. Another viewpoint is keeping powder dry until debt ceiling talks. It all comes down to partisan politics and the ability to rise above it or sink to it.

Authoritarian Turn: Everybody is Angry

The information war has evolved. People no longer get news from mainstream sources. Instead, mainstream media is downstream. Upstream feeds are dominated by certain groups, missing their voice. This allows them to set the tone and paint the narrative before Democrats can respond. That needs addressing because one side is talking to itself, unable to connect with the voters it needs. Democrats need plain-speaking messages that resonate with voters.

The problem is one side is setting the message and tone before the debate begins. What we now have are two opposing views: an illiberal but liberal elite seeking to destroy the liberal elite. They exploit the system they helped break to destroy it and rebuild it. Authoritarian power grabs are driven by extreme partisan views. It’s easy to destroy but much harder to create. The good news is the election cycle continues. The bad news is one side seems willing to give Republicans unlimited power, fearing they’ll be consumed by this revolution. Trump now wields king-like political power. The party of small government is fine with using that power however it pleases. But they haven’t considered what happens when the other side gets it. This authoritarian takeover shows no desire to yield power. That’s just my gut talking.

Falling for Radicalization as a Response

Democrats should avoid being radicalized like Republicans. As much as I like some figures being pushed as the answer, they are not the solution but part of the problem. They do, however, have some solutions to America’s woes. Sadly, most voters don’t share that instinct or ideological lean. Voters are complicated, often holding conflicting views. They base decisions on vibes, hearsay, and information from non-mainstream sources.

That last point is something Democrats need to address quickly. They must enter the rabbit hole—not to be consumed by it but to use it to deliver their message. I’m an outsider to American politics but no stranger to progressive versus moderate battles. My views lean progressive, but I think about politics differently than most voters, who often don’t. If you’re curious why Trump can get away with breaking the rules, that’s why. Voters care more about the price of eggs and gas. Democrats and their allies should start there and build a case against Trump. That also means winning the information war and quickly getting into the fight.