We know this is a difficult time for many of you, and the future is uncertain and bleak. We don’t have all of the results in hand, and Democrats may yet squeak out the House of Representatives. But you read the Prospect because we’re honest with you, because we will always tell you who has power and what they’re going to do with it. So let’s be honest.

A second Trump presidency will bring untold suffering to millions of people. It will likely usher in a kleptocracy, cement a right-wing majority on the Supreme Court for the rest of most of our lives, and put our collective future in the hands of someone who will be virtually unchecked by our institutions. The country has shifted rightward, and while America tends to whipsaw back and forth, the reverberations will ensue for potentially the next few decades.

Over the next several weeks, everyone is going to rush to give their postmortem on this election, and what could have convinced so many people to vote for a second Trump presidency. You can find some preliminary thoughts here:

But teasing out what happened and what matters will not be wrapped up in a single hot take. As usual, we’re focused on figuring out the real story, apart from conventional media narratives. We will want to find out what the American people actually believe, and the broader societal forces that created such an outcome. We do this work because there will be a next time, and we need to be equipped when that moment comes.

The battle to defend the country from Trump’s whims will be fought not only in Washington, but in courtrooms, state capitals, and city halls all across the country. We’re committed to articulating how the levers of power can be used for good even with Trump in the White House, and what Democrats can do to defend our liberties in Trump’s America. We’ll also continue to shine a light on social movements, and how everyday Americans are organizing to fight back against oppression. And we will focus on abuses of power wherever they exist, from the White House to corporate America, in the hopes that they will be so undeniable that they will have to trigger a reaction.

During a second Trump administration, a robust independent media ecosystem will be more important than ever. Our democracy needs clear-eyed reporting that articulates what’s at stake. We don’t take our work lightly, and we know we have a responsibility to inform the public.

We’re thankful for our community of readers, who make everything we do possible. Thank you for trusting us. Thank you for being a part of this. And thank you for helping us figure this out together.

David Dayen
Executive Editor
The American Prospect