Welcome to Gotham

November 30, 2024

Hello everyone, I hope you all enjoyed a safe and happy Thanksgiving. We celebrated Sofia’s 1st. Sebastian receives weeks calls now with Elf and Santa. Full blown Holiday Mode!

Election 2024

The results of the Presidential Election are in: Donald Trump won 49.9% of the popular vote, securing approximately 77 million votes—2.5 million more than Kamala Harris. With victories in swing states, Republicans will control both the House and Senate in 2025, albeit narrowly in the House.

Political scientists will undoubtedly analyze the election to understand the factors that shaped its outcome. It’s equally important for all of us who oppose another Trump term to reflect on the outcome and plan our best path forward.

Before we dig further, let’s acknowledge reality — The election confirms who We are in 2024. At least 77 Million of Us. And while it might seem to the other 75 Million, myself included, that we are entering our Gotham City era, this is the simple reality of our Country.

How, and Why, did the American people make this choice?

Voter Choice

For Democrats, gaps in policy and messaging proved costly. Voters across Race —Whites, Latinos, Asians, Black voters, and those under 30—leaned heavily toward Trump, citing concerns about immigration, the economy, and unwavering support for Israel despite its war crimes on the Palestinian population. These issues, amplified by the influence of new media platforms, helped carry dominant narratives that Democrats failed to effectively counter.

Missed Opportunities

I invite everyone to re-read Pajama Republic (March 2020), where I wrote in-detail about the future inflation we should expect in prices of goods and services over the next decade.

In that post, I explain that while Americans were focused on Coronavirus, the greatest spending and wealth redistribution scheme was underway. $2 trillion in Bank Repurchase Agreements (Repo) and $2.2 trillion through the Cares Act reshaped the economy. Yet Democrats failed to explain to the layperson how printing money and CARES Act, including a massive $180 Billion in estimated Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan fraud contributed to inflation and exacerbated wealth inequality for future generations.

Instead, the GOP shifted focus to the $183 billion in aid provided to Ukraine to defend against Russian imperialism, while conveniently having the luxury to ignore the PPP Loan fraud. More to follow later regarding economics.

Immigration rhetoric also played a key role. Democrats missed opportunities to steer the conversation and make actionable reforms or even highlight damning data from Trump’s first term. Illegal immigration remains a divisive issue, comprehensive solutions—including penalties for corporations exploiting cheap labor—remain absent from the national dialogue. These were all missed opportunities for Democrats to hold their opponents accountable.

Foreign policy was yet another issue. Unwavering support for Israel despite continued atrocities committed on the Palestinian population, including women and babies, certainly did not help Democrats.

Debates vs Public Perception

The debates were another miss for Democrats. Many Americans were left unimpressed, citing Joe Biden’s communication struggles and Kamala Harris’s overly polite dismissals of Trump’s claims. These moments failed to deliver the decisive attacks on GOP rhetoric that undecided voters likely needed to witness.

The American public was clearly upset, frustrated, and tired of politics held in the normal Washington DC manner. So, when forced to choose between the smiling party looking to reassure them, and the angry party promising fixes, the American people choose the latter.

The Circus Returns

Winning an election is one thing; governing is another. America is about to receive the circus it voted for. Trump’s administration will face the same hurdles as his first term: fulfilling ambitious promises like a border wall, ACA repeal, and trillion-dollar infrastructure plans, all of which went unrealized. Additionally, he returns to Washington on the heels of three assassination attempts within the last few months, including one funded by Iran.

Americans might not even care when inflation and recession inevitably continues and further eviscerates the middle class. A large majority will look the other way at corruption, fraud, and conspiracy to commit crime. Again, We are entering our Gotham City era. Additional issues might include more assassination attempts, separation from our political allies, and due to isolationism - the heightened possibility of a terrorist attack on American soil.

Make no mistake, 2025–2029 will undoubtedly bring significant changes, hardships, pain and anxiety to tens of millions of Americans. The Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 is expected to influence policy on issues including education, abortion, food stamps, healthcare, immigration and the rule of law itself. If you seek a complete rundown of how dystopian Project 2025 is, and how eerily similar it is to The Republic of Gilead from The Handmaid’s Tale, then I highly recommend listening to the breakdown provided by legal journalist Liz Dye.

Historical Lessons

History offers perspective on rhetoric versus governance:

These examples remind us that promises often falter under the weight of reality, creating opportunities for opposition parties to step forward.

The Corruption Ahead

The Trump administration should be expected to continue where it left off with the revolving door of discarded, indicted, jailed, and disbarred loyalists who commit crimes and receive pardons. The clearest example is Matt Gaetz, infamously under investigation by the Department of Justice and House Ethics Committee for child trafficking and pedophilia and drugs, for Attorney General.

Expect to see loyalists grift products aimed at the MAGA supporters at dog-whistle sale prices. Remember what became of Mike Lindell, Steve Bannon, Peter Navarro, Michael Cohen, Paul Manafort, George Papadopoulos, Roger Stone, and others including Trump’s former Vice President Mike Pence.

So brace for it in advance. Rather than mere distress, let's find a way to combine that with action.

United Citizens

Americans remain more united than divided. Politics through the economic lens of income inequality and the shrinking middle class drove this election. Economics help rally Americans across party lines into a unified cause. There is a reason Anthony Oliver’s anthem Rich Men North of Richmond went viral worldwide. However, expect significant efforts from powerful interests to perpetuate the divisive culture wars, distracting from these core issues. Paying for the culture wars paid off handsomely over the past decade.

Grassroots action will be essential to counter these challenges. Reconnecting with voters, supporting local candidates, building community networks, and volunteering are practical ways to make a difference.

Working Toward Positive Change

We know millions of Americans will be affected by projected changes under the Trump administration. Will the United States ever return to a pre-Trump America?

Maybe....

For the 75 Million of Us who didn’t vote for what we are about to live through, perhaps the more important question is: What are You, individually, going to do to help fix it? What will We do collectively to make a positive impact on the future of the Country?

Look, I won't claim to have all the answers. However, I do know that sitting down feeling dejected for too long will not help anybody's situation. Thus, the answer begins with realizing that the situation can change. And that change begins with committment to get involved. Through Art or Law or Education or Civics — however you can lend your time, talents, and/or dollars to improving the trajectory towards Gotham and toward a new Metropolis, I encourage everyone to get involved!

We, the People, must place a check on the incoming administration and work toward meaningful change. So, let’s pick ourselves up and get back to work!

Peace & Love, Worldwide ✌🏼❤️🌍

-anthony

Anthony Nieto | 2024