One month in

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Elections have consequences. By electing Mr. Trump and giving Republicans (slim) majorities in both houses of Congress, America chose to invite the foxes into the hen house. What will be the cost-benefit to people, country, and world?

The administration is acting fast on its priorities, testing and stretching ethical and legal boundaries, serving their self-interest, and exacting vengeance—while showing little compassion or regard for the many lives drastically disrupted, here and abroad, now and into the future.

Polls suggest that, for now, slightly more Americans approve than disapprove the path we are in. The argument is that—consumer prices aside—Mr. Trump is energetically pursuing priorities that he campaigned (and was elected) on. And that is largely true.

But where many see ‘promises made, promises kept,’ many others appropriately see reasons for deep concern. The signs of emerging authoritarianism are clear. Even on issues that need change, overreaching Executive Orders and controversial actions of DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) are dangerously weakening the foundations of our country and society. Their collective ‘sledgehammer’ approach is doing indiscriminate and profound harm to individuals and institutions.

Much of this was predictable ahead of the election, but finger pointing does not help. Objective forward-looking reflection and effective actions are needed. The question is how to capitalize on any positives, minimize damage in the many places where that is needed, and forge a robust and effective path for recovery (whatever we make ‘recovery’ to mean).

I wish I had the answer, exactly. I don’t. But this much I believe: A fearful, apathetic, and misinformed population is what authoritarianism wants and needs.

Hence, keys to any worthwhile recovery necessarily include:

• Be informed: Listen broadly, understand facts and data, screen out misinformation.
• Be true to principles of honesty, decency, service and empathy.
• While aware of the challenges and dangers we face, don’t live in fear or succumb to depression.
• Be constructive: The best opposition involves creation (of bold problem-solving alternatives), not just resistance (to actions and policies perceived as harmful).

Most Americans are good, hard-working people, who care for country, family and neighbors. As a People, we have done great things both historically and recently. But we are feeling overwhelmed in too many ways. We are struggling for a true sense of direction and purpose, and for reassurances that it will all be OK. In this age of blatant misinformation, we are easy prey to those who seek power, wealth, or deception.

We are trapped in a false political dichotomy: Republicans or Democrats, Democrats or Republicans. There is no possible equivalence between these two choices, but there are pitfalls in both. No two, and just two, political philosophies capture our much more nuanced differences as a People. And the lack of choices favors extremism.

We are also trapped among easy ‘answers’ to complex problems, shouted divisively—independently of reality or merit. We are led to believe that there is no room for nuance, reflection, deep learning, data/fact-driven decisions, tolerance and forgiveness—partially because those are all key to avoiding authoritarianism.

We can and must escape both these traps and recover our sense of purpose, humanity and community. Only then can we resist authoritarianism, ideally by providing a positive political alternative that most Americans can embrace. For all this, though, we must first find our individual and collective balance—a daunting challenge amidst the harmful chaos we live in, and that this administration purposefully fosters.

Be informed. Be principled. Don’t panic. Don’t despair. Be strategic. Stay strong.

— Antonio Baptista