Marking 1 Decade of Trump
And picking up the pieces
This past Memorial Day weekend marked 10 years since I began my journey working in politics professionally. To simply say “It’s been a ride!” would be an understatement like no other. I know I’m not alone in this sentiment—even for those who pay little attention to politics—as America collectively has been on quite the journey this past decade.
With so many reflections floating through my head—the good, the bad, and the unbearably ugly—it’s hard to narrow down the biggest lessons I’ve learned, but I’ll try:
1: America is more fragile than I ever believed.
In the first couple years of the Trump administration, I was working right down the street from the White House. As a political communications professional, I was constantly bombarded with the news of the day and every sensational move President Trump made. It took some time before the shock wore off, but there was a deep, remaining uncertainty about America’s future. My generation had never witnessed a tumultuous political season like this one, and I was reminded daily that our system only holds if we are committed to defending our democratic norms and institutions. I never thought I would witness such blatant, egregious assaults on these systems and it instilled a sense of fear for my country I had never felt before. I simply didn’t ever think this could happen in America.
2: America is more resilient than I ever believed.
Interestingly enough, once enough time had passed and I was able to process the chaos, I gained a new perspective. I saw America fighting for a comeback. Civic engagement skyrocketed: Americans turned out for elections in record numbers, protested peacefully, and talked about politics more in their daily lives. The metaphorical antibodies began multiplying to attack the infection, and I witnessed a recommitment to American values.
3: Our individual strength is found in local communities, and our national strength is dependent upon these bonds.
Moving out of D.C. helped me with this one. I was able to gain a new perspective by grounding myself in a city that didn’t revolve around the chaotic news cycle. I was reminded that most Americans are simply trying to work hard to better their lives for themselves and their loved ones. There is strength in knowing and serving your community. As humans, it’s what we’re built for. Added bonus: It strengthens our minds to be a stronger force against a tyrannical government.
4: Most Americans want the same end goal, but the fringes are currently dominating the national conversation.
Thankfully, the loudest voices (amplified through media and the internet) don’t hold the majority’s opinions; they are simply entertainers. While it is concerning to see the rise of these personalities building large followings, we know through data that extremists from both sides of the political aisle only make up about 30% of the population. Normal people simply have real jobs and responsibilities, so we don’t hear from them in the click-baity media sphere.
5: We can rebuild.
The most surprising macro lesson about this journey has been the enduring hope I still have about what America is capable of becoming. In spite of all the noise and corrupt violations of our system, the center is still holding. More Americans are engaged than they’ve ever been in my lifetime, and if we can get through this decade, we can overcome just about anything. It will take work, but our nation still holds enduring promise and opportunity.
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Some More Good Reads
The Free Press: “How Ben Sasse Raised Me”
“Every single day of my childhood, my parents asked the same question at dinner. Not ‘What did you learn?’ but ‘Who did you serve?’…At 22, I’m profoundly grateful that I get to view my life and work through the lens of service.”
New York Times: “There Are Scandals. There Is the Law. And Then There’s This.”
“Trump is circumventing Congress’s power of the purse. He’s circumventing the judiciary’s role in adjudicating disputes…he’s circumventing civil and criminal law. This is one of the most purely monarchical moments of a monarchical presidency.”
KCUR: “Cynicism about the media makes people more likely to fall for misinformation, KU professor finds”
“Wilner’s study found that some skepticism is healthy. However, when questioning turns into automatic distrust, news consumers can become cynical, which actually makes them more vulnerable to misinformation.”
Gabriel & Jeanette Salguero: “Artificial Intelligence and the Evangelical Test of Moral Leadership”
The deeper issue is not merely whether AI can assist ministry. The question is whether the Church possesses the moral imagination necessary to discern how AI is reshaping humanity itself…The evangelical task, therefore, is not technological enthusiasm nor technological fear. It is ethical stewardship. We must move beyond fascination with utility and toward serious theological reflection about design, deployment, scaling, and consequence.