DC insider drops a reality check on everyone celebrating Trump’s defeat

Supporters react after media outlets projected Democratic US Senate candidate and Texas State Representative James Talarico's victory in the US midterm elections in Austin, Texas, US, November 3, 2026.

I was moved to tears this week. I expect you were, too.

It wasn’t just a repudiation of Trump. It was a reaffirmation of our democracy, our diversity, our ideals. A confirmation of America.

I’m filled with gratitude for the hard work so many of you did — writing postcards, organizing friends and colleagues, going door-to-door to get out the vote, supporting good candidates. Also protesting and marching, demanding an end to the madness. And protecting the most vulnerable among us.

I also want to thank you for being a part of our small but mighty community here on this Substack. Thank you for joining me day after day. Sharing these posts, commenting on them, offering your thoughts, being respectful of one another. Thank you also for suggesting to others that they join us here. (And for supporting this effort, to the extent you can, with a paid subscription.)

But our work — yours and mine — is not over. In a real sense, it’s just beginning.

The billionaire oligarchs who put Trump and JD Vance into power and financed their Republican enablers still have extraordinary wealth and power — and motivation — to destroy our democracy.

Giant corporations and private equity firms that rigged the economy for themselves and against most Americans still want to increase their monopoly profits at the expense of average Americans.

Corporate Democrats — so-called “centrists” and “moderates” who drink from the same financial troughs as the Republicans — are still determined to protect the status quo and preserve the current allocation of power in America.

Trump himself is still in the White House, now buttressed by the most bigoted and belligerent chief of staff ever.

In other words, the regressive forces are as dangerous as they were before. What has changed is that We the People have shown our repugnance toward them — loudly and clearly — and voted people into government who might constrain them.

The contest between democracy and authoritarianism is hardly over. We have won this battle, but we have not won this war.

Let’s celebrate our win. Feel the joy. Appreciate the stunning beauty of America. Relish our diversity and decency.

But tomorrow, we continue the fight.

Robert Reich is a professor of public policy at Berkeley and former secretary of labor. His writings can be found at https://robertreich.substack.com/

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