Ever since Donald Trump began his “Revenge Tour” in January 2025, I have avoided discussing politics with my friends. Trump’s presidency depressed me to the extent that I began to distrust the American voters: How could they elect someone who was so evidently in it for himself only? Someone who was so obviously mendacious and corrupt? The only solution was to break the man—but that was something beyond my power to effect. I could vote, and I did vote; but I saw that mere complaining was only going to upset me.

Above all, I had to keep myself in one piece. Parochial political discussions were useless.

With the 2026 midterm election, I see the first glimmerings of hope. It will take time to heal, and I don’t entirely trust the Democrats either. They can still emerge as the circular firing squad they used to be over the last several decades. Or they could rise to the occasion.

As usual, I was not completely satisfied with the election (I never am). I was against many of the Propositions that passed. And I was dismayed that Brian Goldsmith will be my State Senator. Well, I have been represented before by jackals in the halls in Sacramento and Washington, DC. That’s nothing new.