There are 39 days until the election, and I can’t lie: I’m worried. A lot of things keep me up at night as I think about what’s happening in America. If you’re paying attention, there’s a slow shift happening, and not all of it is good.
One of the things that really bothers me is how public opinion around protest has changed since 2020. In the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder, we saw an incredible wave of activism. People were in the streets, demanding justice, demanding change. It felt like we were on the brink of something transformative. But now? It feels like the tide has turned against public protest. People are less patient with disruptions, less willing to entertain the idea that shaking things up is sometimes necessary to create real change. Instead of recognizing the power of collective action, many seem more interested in maintaining the status quo.
Then, there’s the way our culture is pushing hyperfemininity and hypermasculinity. You can see it with celebrities like Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, who basically look like the couple on the top of the wedding cake. While I don’t have anything against them, it feels like our culture is pushing towards less complicated expressions of gender. There doesn’t seem to be much room left for people who don’t fit into these narrow categories. What’s more concerning is that other times in our history when we’ve seen a push toward rigid gender roles, they’ve often gone hand in hand with the rise of more conservative political movements. It’s a pattern that’s hard to ignore, and it makes me wonder if this cultural shift is part of something bigger.
This is especially concerning as we’ve become desensitized to mass death, violence, and displacement. We’ve lived through COVID, which killed over a million people in the U.S. alone, and now we’re watching wars rage on in Ukraine and Gaza. But instead of these tragedies making us more empathetic, it feels like we’re numb. It’s like we’ve built up this collective tolerance for suffering, and that scares me. If we can see so much pain and loss and just scroll past it, what does that say about our capacity for empathy?
There are lots of ways in which Gen Z seems to be the most progressive in history, but their anti-sex attitudes are a notable outlier. I’m not saying everyone has to be a sexual revolutionary, but the pendulum has swung in a weird direction. It’s not just that they’re less interested in sex; it’s that there’s this almost puritanical vibe coming through. Maybe it’s a reaction to the hypersexualized culture they grew up in, but it feels like we’re losing something in the conversation about bodily autonomy and pleasure. There’s a lot of moralizing happening, and it doesn’t leave much room for open, healthy discussions about sex and identity.
Lastly, I worry about this broader environment where people don’t want to think too hard about what their fun costs. Whether it’s the environmental toll of fast fashion or the human cost of political disengagement, people seem more interested in entertainment than accountability. It’s like the more complicated the issue, the less people want to engage with it. That’s dangerous in a democracy, where we rely on an informed and engaged electorate to make decisions about our future.
So yeah, all of that keeps me up at night.
But despite all that, there are things that get me out of bed in the morning.
For one, online is not real life. If you spend too much time on Twitter (sorry, X), it’s easy to think that the world is way more polarized and broken than it really is. But when you step outside, when you talk to people face-to-face, it’s clear that the internet’s not an accurate reflection of reality. And here’s the thing: The Republican Party has become way too online. They’re catering to this small, extreme corner of the internet, and it’s costing them elections. They’ve lost touch with real people, and that gives me hope.
I’m also heartened by the rise of queer performers like Chappell Roan and Reneé Rapp. These artists are unapologetically themselves, and they’re connecting with audiences in a way that feels fresh and exciting. In a culture that’s obsessed with rigid gender norms, they’re showing us that there’s a place for authenticity and queerness in the mainstream. It’s a reminder that not everything is as bleak as it seems.
People seem less angry than they were a few years ago. I don’t know if it’s the post-pandemic calm, or if people are just tired of being mad all the time, but there’s a noticeable shift in the mood. That’s not to say the problems have gone away, but maybe we’re getting better at finding productive ways to deal with them.
And let’s not forget the overperformance of Democrats on abortion ballot initiatives. It’s clear that when reproductive rights are on the line, people show up. The results in states like Kansas and Ohio prove that even in red and purple states, there’s a broad consensus on this issue. That gives me hope for the future. It’s a reminder that when people are given the chance to vote on concrete issues, they often choose progress.
Lastly, Trump. He’s still around, but honestly, he seems more focused on grifting than on winning the election. He’s selling merch, throwing rallies, and raking in donations, but I’m not sure his heart’s really in it anymore. That’s good news for everyone who doesn’t want another four years of Trumpism.
So yeah, there’s a lot to worry about, but there’s also a lot to be hopeful for. If anything, this election is a reminder that we have to keep showing up, keep fighting, and keep believing that things can get better.
The stakes are high this November. Donald Trump and the Republicans are focusing more and more on trans people, even as polls show that they gain no obvious advantage from doing so. I’d take this as a sign that their rhetoric comes from a place of genuine hatred. If you are trans, now is a great time to finish your paperwork. Set up the appointment you’ve been putting off. Do it today. You’ve done harder things before. That’s how you got this far. Plan for the worst, and hope for the best.
Solid post from Ari.