I’ve never met him in real life but Derek Russo is a friend of a friend. At 50, he is a hulking actor and stuntman who’s appeared in Cobra Kai, Bad Boys: Ride or Die and The Mule. He had a big role in the Creepshow Christmas episode as well.
But every now and again, we’ll get on a discussion feed on one of my friend’s social media posts. One thing about Russo is that he is very knowledgeable of what he speaks even if I don’t always agree with him. He mentioned that the 2026 general elections, i.e. the Midterms, are going to be a difficult time in America. I’m paraphrasing but he said that a Fascist Authoritarian regime is not going to willingly allow itself to be voted out of office.
He’s goddamn right!
Even if he lives for another three years, I don’t think Trump is going to be resolved with his final two years in the White House as a lame duck the way George W. Bush was. Following the 2006 elections, the younger Bush knew good and well to start pulling back. Americans were fed up with him and his administration. There were two ongoing wars and his domestic policy was on par with his father’s as being nonexistent.
Trump’s domestic policy is just to stay in power as much as possible. He’s constantly failed upward his whole life. He has no concept of losing mainly because he sees it as something beneath him. Rich and wealthy people don’t lose. This is what they’re taught from childhood. And as long as the Republican Party can get crumbs off of him, they will do whatever they can.
Yes, they’re will be midterm elections. I don’t think he would risk calling it off. Indira Ghandi tried during her time as Prime Minister of India and it created more turmoil. Trump isn’t as popular right now as Ghandi was back then. I would suspect she wasn’t that popular either which is why elections were delayed and the media was censored. It’s an entirely different world than it was 50 years ago.
But I look for the individual states to try to make it harder for voters as they always do. It’s a good bet that ICE will be sent into the most populous cities to try to intimidate voters. Now that many states require people to show government-issued photo IDs, there’s no way for undocumented immigrants to vote.
Yet, they will still make others believe it’s possible. But as many state’s legislatures begin to assembly this year, don’t be surprised when all the crazy laws are passed. Kristi Noem, secretary of Homeland Security, said people should expect to show the proper identification to prove they are Americans. But wouldn’t a driver’s license be sufficient? Are people going to be expected to show their Social Security cards and copies of their birth certificates?
I can already guess that there are legislators in red states expecting people to carry their birth certificates everywhere. Now, depending on which state it will be will be the determining factor if it is passed. But even if it makes news, it will still be something people might try to make into the gospel. All you need is to just get the idea into the public and it will spread like a disease.
The main problem with having a lot of information available is that we have a lot of misinformation available. And the rest is just total bullshit. I think people like Joe Rogan and others will have to answer one day. I’m not a Kill the Messenger person because I’m a journalist. But you’re only allowed to do the “That’s what we had at the time” mantra before it’s really just news people trying to change things to fit their narrative.
I find it odd that as a child of the Generation X era, so many people are more than willing to live in an era of authoritative control. Considering that the ghosts we were chasing were the dangers of the Soviet Union, it makes us wonder if the issue was really about fighting oppressive countries or just make it appear we’re fighting oppressive countries. Because if you can unite the public against a common enemy, they won’t realize how badly they’re being fucked over by their own government.
What do you think? Please comment.
Zane Says 