I am anguished, I am heartbroken, I am afraid of what’s coming for people I love. I am shocked that my country just gave 247 years of Democracy away over one night. We live in a different country now, than we did when we woke up, yesterday. Exactly how violent and cruel and hateful this new country is has yet to be revealed, but it’s going to be pretty terrible.
I fought hard to prevent this. We all did. But I guess there was a fundamental hurdle we just could not overcome, and we have to be real about that hurdle: this country is full of people who are just drowning in hate and fear who want nothing more than to hurt as many people as they can.
I knew they were always here, but I always believed that there were more good, kind, compassionate people who chose light over darkness. I always believed that we were the good guys, the place people come to when they are fleeing what we became this morning.
it’s just … it’s a lot.
It’s going to take me a long time to process this, and find a way to not feel despair every moment of every day until he is dead and (maybe) America comes back from this open embrace of Fascist authoritarianism.
I mentioned to some folks earlier that I believe it’s important that we allow ourselves to feel all the feelings, to honor them without judgement. For a lot of us — millions upon millions — this is the greatest betrayal by our fellow Americans we have ever experienced, and that’s going to be a LOT. At the same time, we can’t really _do_ anything about that, other than support and love and show up for the people we love.
To that end, I’m going to retreat from public life for a bit, and be with my family.
Stay safe, everyone.
<3
I get it. I see it. We’ll miss you. Take care of yourself. I’ll try to take care of myself (and others) too.
Take care. I hope to see you again some day but I absolutely understand.
It should be interested that’s for sure. Here in Canada we’re trying to get our clown out because he’s destroying Canada. Make you wonder how these clowns get elected.
Take care of you. I’m an exhausted queer pollworker about to go into self-care hibernation myself. Thank goodness my ‘weekend’ is in the middle of the week so I have a day to myself.
I’m going to disagree here a bit. These are not a racist, hateful people. Yes—33% of the voting populace are. These are the locked-in, loyal MAGA goblins who won’t or can’t see matters any other way.
But there are also people out there who are wondering why that bag of “Dorritos” is still costing eight dollars a bag. Why there are so many people locked into the zombie “fentanyl freeze” on the street corners of their hometown, and nothing is being done to change this. Why their Netflix. subscription has gone up yet again.
It’s not that they embrace Trump, the man. They instead react emotionally with, “Who can fix this for me?” That’s as far as they go. I’m guessing this will play out again in four years when the democratic candidate is the alternative to “why is my life still such a struggle?”
Many of these issues are, ironically, the result of Republican machinations and policies. But it doesn’t seem like people think that deep. Maybe it’s hard to do so when your power bill has tripled in the past five years and you’re too busy trying to get to your second job.
So the choice became, “go with what’s already keeping me down” (even though these are complicated issues that any one president could ever fix) vs. “Go with the other guy.”
In hindsight—and I’m kind of angry at this—is that the Dems didn’t appeal to the same playbook. They didn’t appeal to emotions. They try to win on logic and pragmatism. Trump went straight for emotions. Fear. Anger. Insecurity. And it worked. He’s a used-car salesman. It worked. There’s a legitimate question here about campaign ethics, but let’s face it. There are none. There are no referees on the field.
Also, and maybe to his credit, Trump made a blitzkrieg run on podcasts right before the election, where he could directly connect with these people. Kamala was showing up on “Saturday Night Live,” of which most of the audience are already blue to begin with. Trump always comes off as a fool, but again appearances and character don’t matter. “Who will fix this for me?” does.
My brain hurts knowing that we have to endure four years of living in the spaghetti Trump attention vortex. But part of me also thinks that Trump isn’t concerned about actually making policies. He’s only concerned about evading jail and indictments and being the center of the public eye. The four years will go by quickly. Yes—there will be some serious horror popping up. But it won’t be without blow-back that will keep it in check. I think the integrity of the institution will hold, and counter any radical decisions that are introduced. He won’t earn the trust of the American people during that time, which will give the democrats the advantage in 2028. The pendulum will swing back to the other side.
I don’t want this to sound idealistic. But I don’t want to fall victim to my own over-reactions.
Yes, they are. At the very least — and I absolutely no longer believe this is as far as it goes — voting for an openly racist, hateful individual was fine and dandy with them.
I honestly, earnestly, appreciate that you think you’re being empathetic, trying to mount a defense of these voters, but read what you’re saying: “Doritos are understandably more important than the rights of women to bodily autonomy. The fact that Republican policies and ‘greed is good’ mentality led to the opioid crisis is understandably less important — less valid — than who Trump says to blame. The need for inexpensive ways to watch TV is understandably more important than the humanity of immigrants and queer people.”
That’s not a defense. That’s a condemnation. Those are exactly — exactly! — the priorities of racist, hateful people.
And the damnable misery of it is that they were absolutely inundated with facts. They had every chance to just take up the facts and say, “Oh, I didn’t know, but I do now. I’ll be better.” They willfully chose not to do that.
The overwhelming majority of these people who cited the economy as “terrible” rated their personal situations as “improved,” but continued to willfully spread misinformation that the economy was bad. The United States’ near-best global position in terms of recovery from the economic effects of the pandemic are literally a 10-second Google search away. Links were provided. So many links and facts and links to facts were provided. They willfully, repeatedly rejected them … choosing a rapist instead.
They do not care about the facts. Why don’t they care about the facts? Because they are racist, misogynistic (good Christ, how Americans despise women!), hateful people.
This is America now. I understand not wanting to believe it. But the facts are in front of you. Are you going to accept them? Or, instead, are you going to say something like, “What you’ve written here, Jeff, is why we lost”?
We have lost the United States. And because of how we lost it, and to whom we lost it, there is no longer a mechanism within democracy for reclaiming it.
This is true.
Yes. This.
If Trump had not had his spineless Republican followers kill the border bill then there would of been for almost a year plus more Fentanyl scanners on the border, more border agents, and more judges handling asylum cases. Trump knew that Americans would be dumb enough not to blame him, when it was himself who had the bill killed just so he could use it as a campaign point.
Inflection is now 2% and cost are coming down. Food makers and your big stores are the ones keeping the prices up. In Texas gas has been going down for over a year and where I am it is $2.309 a gallon. The lowest it’s been in years.
The stock market is as record highs and just last month the other leaders of the G7 countries called out economy the envy of the world. It is currently doing so well.
Trump with all his talk about tariffs, and killing the social security tax it going to bleed the Fund dry in 2-3 years. He has no plan to replace how social security is going to be funded. So I hope everyone’s retired parents that live on social security are ready and able to go back to work.
Thanks for all you do. Couldn’t agree with you more. As a father and husband I am deeply saddened by this turn. Stay well.
I don’t understand how people can hate women, queer folks, disabled folks, & people of color, more than they love themselves or this country. Because that’s what this is. They’ve decided they’d rather suffer themselves, they’d rather burn down our forests and destroy our national parks, they’d rather be jobless, homeless, than let a single one of us have joy in our lives.
How can people be this hateful? Aren’t they exhausted?
Take all the time that you need. Solidarity from Overseas. You saved us from the last bunch of Fascists, it’s high time that we returned the Favour.
I just turned on 15 episodes of Ben10 and turned off the news. I keep telling myself it’s going to be ok but all my trans sisters know that it isn’t… It just isn’t 🙁
You are not alone.
We will rest. We will rage. We will despair. We will hope. And we will resist.
As do other Trekkies (and… Wars-ers? Never really was a good name for that), I’m taking comfort in the wisdom and inspiration of that imagined future. One that you have joyfully helped to build. We can get there. I’m holding on to the mantras of our tribe:
I must not fear. Fear is the mind killer.
There’s good in this world, and it’s worth fighting for.
Rebellions are built on hope.
Never give up, never surrender.
To Boldly Go
We are fueled by love – of each other, our species as a whole, and of our environment. And that’s the most powerful Force there is.
Live long, prosper, peace, and long life.
The unfortunate thing is that the people who voted for this don’t see themselves as drowning in hate and fear, they see themselves as protecting the country they love. Cheap demagoguery works. And the Dems did what they do best which is divide. Dems are great on facts but poor on perception. The other unfortunate thing is that facts no longer matter only perception matters. We live in a post truth era.
What does all this mean? I have no idea, I don’t know what this is but I do know that we’re all about to learn a lesson. And we aren’t going to enjoy it.
But feel all the feelings, take the time, be with your loved ones. We’re not promised tomorrow. When you’re ready, get up and be the change you want to see no matter what because people are still suffering and people still need help. At least that is what I’m going to do. Historical times, if they don’t kill me, I aim to learn from them. And like Bob Marley says,
Some day all this will change
treat people the same
Stop with the violence, down with the hate
Some day we’ll all be free and proud to be
under the same sun singing songs of freedom…
It is tempting to conclude the world is a dumpster fire right now, and it certainly is, but it’s always darkest before the dawn. Those of us who value freedom, equality, compassion and kindness need to stick together, and be the bulwark against hate.
Greed has won over empathy. People would rather have cheap gas than democracy, and they won’t have either one.
Makes you wonder if this cheating liar did something dodgy to get the votes….
I fear that many of those who voted for this aren’t actually part of ‘them’, but just are so uninformed, consumed with their own lives, and completely disconnected from the political process that “muh grocery bills” and “inflation” is what they voted on. That’s my hope.
I disagree. If this were 2016, then maybe, though anyone doing even a bit of research could see what Trump is (Access Hollywood, anyone?). But Trump had 4 years as POTUS to show us how incurious, lazy, and incompetent he is (I am still convinced the ignorant slob thought POTUS was like his positions as head of his small, privately owned, FAILING companies, where his every whim was law), not to mention hateful. He then could not accept he’d lost, and tried to stay in power, and spent the next 4 years whining about how everyone hates him (not true, as demonstrated by far too many voters), and how he gets treated so unfairly (true – anyone else would be in prison for what he’s done).
The simple fact is that Trump has given people permission to hate in public, and they don’t want to give that up. They’re happy to attack any of the people he’s pointing out to them as The Enemy.
The racism, misogyny, and hatred for “The Other” was not a dealbreaker for them. They’re cool with it.
Right there with you, Wil. I can’t believe so many people value their wallet over their friends and family. America had a good run, but now apparently we’re done.
“Weltschmerz” will pretty much be my perpetual mood for at least the next four years or so.
Fellow commenters, how can vulnerable communities be helped to prepare for the onslaught after the inauguration? I’m looking for ways I can donate, volunteer, etc.
Thanks, Wil. Take care of yourself and your family. We’re all on the same page here, I think…
Incidentally, I am wearing the Wesley Crusher shirt today, and when I was getting a cup of coffee before meeting a friend for lunch, a young lady with a baby complimented it. When I was leaving, we talked again and I told her a lot of what you said here – take care of who you can when you can. Her baby daughter is only 5 months old… But another case of star trek bring people together.
Take all the time you need. I see you. I feel you.
I’m rethinking whether it’s safe to be in some of the FB groups I’m in related to LGBTQ+ things, whether it was a bad idea to get diagnosed (I’m neurodivergent), if anyone could hack into and get ahold of that paperwork, would I be on the “bad” list, should I just delete all social media… rethinking a lot of things. Like, will I be safe here come January? Will my friends be? I feel like the answer is no and I don’t know what to do. I have disabled family members who need me. I can’t go anywhere unless they can come too. Lots of research to do, and a plan B (and C, and D) to make.
I feel it was more apathy over hatred. He didn’t really increase his number of votes, but a huge number of previous democrat voters just didn’t turn out.
I think it was more apathy over hatred. He didn’t really increase his vote numbers, but a huge number of previous democrat voters just didn’t turn out.
I keep asking myself, what is so wrong with a country that it would ever be possible to elect someone as unhinged, addled, and vile as Donald J. Trump as its leader?
From your Canadian neighbor, I awoke this morning and felt shock, horror & disbelief – I only hope this isn’t the end of democracy.
Like many of you, I don’t understand how this happened – I have to question if it was a fair election with what we know of Trump’s obsession with power.
Stay Safe & Strong – Protect your women ❤️
I was hoping kamela harris was going to win I was so very hopeful we werent strong enough 💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙 I’m so very upset
Take care of yourself and your family. I am so sad that people voted for “lower prices” over basic human rights. I wept this morning for what this nation will become, but I refuse to give up.
Couldn’t agree more. I was a government teacher for 32 years and know how to dig into numbers and polls and none of it makes any sense.
I’ve been in a deep depression since yesterday. Just going food shopping today took an effort and I’m never like this.
The thought that so many people could vote not just against their own interests, but for terror against others is beyond me.
The policies of tariffs and deportation are going to cause social and economic upheaval the likes of which this country has never seen.
I only hope we survive, or our freedoms survive to vote this mess out of our lives in the next two elections.
It’s a lot to take in. As a mom of a gay son, I’m scared. Really scared.
I’m also torn between resisting, again, or just sitting back and watch every one of those Project 2025 actions be implemented, and watch you Trump voters lose your minds while the country crumbles into a dystopian hell.
I’m leaning towards the latter.
Thank you soo fkin much! I’m in the U.K. but thank you for your words and shared posts! ❤️
My thoughts exactly Wil, and the scary thought is that it’s not just America in danger of this lunatic. Stay safe and know that yes, there still are good people in the world, LLAP ❤️
I’m shocked and horrified that we’ve come to this, and terrified of what America my daughter will grow up in. But I’m finding myself needing to surround myself with like minded people. To build our own community where we can be safe together. Seeing posts like yours makes me feel like I’m not alone, and that my community is out there. I totally understand your wanting to step out of public for awhile, but I hope you come back. Because even though I don’t know you, your presence makes me feel better.
Wil, thank you for doing your part to try and protect basic human rights💙💙💙💙
When I can stop crying, maybe I can start thinking of plans to get thru this. In the meantime, judging by the numbers, a lot of women have to realize that the men who told them they value and support them actually voted for Trump.
My goal in life was to life to be old enough to see 1st contact day. Today we as far from Gene Roddenberry’s vision if not further than when he created in the 60’s. If the Vulcans were to show up today, they would keep on going and leave us for the Romulans or Ferengi to have.
Like many here, I’ve been a fan since the 90s. I even have your autographed photo to prove it!) I have always admired how your words and values resonate with my own experience. Thank you for standing up for others! I was too young to know it back in the 90s but I’ve come to realize that I also am member of a marginalized community. Your advocacy means more than you know during these uncertain times. I look forward to your return and hope that we both come back stronger and ready to fight for what’s right.
I really appreciate how eloquently everyone is expressing their feelings. Me? I’m just sad and tired. I don’t even know what to say, anymore.
Just look at who voted for him. I wish the exit polls would ask them whether they watch Fox News on a regular basis. Thank you for not being one of them. And I’m sorry that we all have to endure for years of a tyrant.
Reading this describes how I feel so well. Thank you for expressing what I have been unable to express myself. Take care.
I have little hope that America will be anything recognizable in 4 years. -.-
Thank you as always for your words Wil. I’m a lifelong Star Trek fan, my dad had me watching Next Generation since I can remember. I’m now struggling to come to terms with the fact that both of my parents are fine with this outcome, and the grief and fear that comes along with that. All my love to you and your family.
Thank you Wil for all that you do and all that you did to try and make yesterday go the way so many of us wished and hoped for. A reasonable, rational politician as president, who, while maybe not driving all the changes some might like to see, may of at least started the progress of this nation into a more inclusive, companionate, economically savvy and environmentally conscious people. And of course we would have gotten to see the first woman (and female POC) hold the office of president, an act that feels ever less likely to happen in our lifetime. But you already know all of this.
So in brief. Thank you. Also, thank you for the trans banner on your home page. As a cis woman married to a trans woman, every image and message of support means so much. Best of wishes to you and your family as we all take some time to heal and prepare for whatever this ever-more-seemingly dystopian future has in store. We won’t ever stop trying.
You somehow wrote out EVERYTHING I am feeling today. I couldn’t put it into words, but you did it. Yes, the best thing we can do now is keep kindness and decency alive. Take care of you and your family, that’s what I will be doing. And anyone else who needs it.
I don’t blame you at all for taking a break. I need to reassess many things myself. Many millions of my countrymen chose hate and division and I don’t know how to deal.
I am so deeply ashamed of our white Gen X cohort, since our margin for cheeto Hitler was the largest. I can’t decide if it’s malevolence, simple bigotry, or ignorance. Maybe a combo platter. It’s disheartening.
But we still aren’t going back. We just have a different fight ahead of us…to protect those who will need it most, however we can. Thank you for your activism during this election season.
Dear Wil,
I wish you well and understand. I had to take a day of work to cry and process that, again, our country has chosen this path. I am heartbroken too. I live and work in a red state, at a university. Many of the people I work with I love and respect. Yet, I know they are also probably people who voted for him. I don’t understand why good people would choose a misogynistic, charlatan. Why so many would not see his blatant falsehoods. I am mustering up the faith to fight for my hope in humanity. There are so many good people willing to peacefully, and with strength of integrity and respect, fight for a future that is kind and accepting. We will find each other and hopefully create a force that is strong in the right ways. I pray that the truth is revealed. That is the only and best and universally fair prayer I know. Let love win. Sense 8 is my 2nd favorite show ( next to Star Trek, duh) I hope for that kind of acceptance for our next generations. Sorry, I ramble. Peace to you and your family. Healing to all people.It is not over, yet. We must find the strength to, with love, fight on for our environment, people of all colors and identities. I still believe that is will be our saving grace.
I feel the same way. Hunker down and regroup.
Hey, Wil
I’m a speck in the public life that you understandably need a break from.
At about fours years your junior I’ve been perfectly positioned to see a lot of your body of work for most of my life. My brother and I were super thrilled to see you pop up in places in our adult lives where we didn’t expect you, like on The Guild and playing D&D with other favorite nerdy actors on YouTube.
During those moments it occurred to me that it means something that you survived your childhood, as we did ours. It is a joy to see your love for your family and career on social media.
In addition to being a blip in your public life, I’m a Black and Asian American woman who is also so gratefully the parent of a transgender child. As you take time to reflect with your family and process heartbreak, I want to send you my thanks for popping up in this most important place in my adult life. Thank you for wanting to create a safe space.
You are seen and appreciated!
I’ve been an activist all my life, from my childhood in Colorado and California, to my adult life in California, South Dakota, Texas, and now Florida. I’ll admit, I live in a mostly blue social group, but I’m also a blue dot in a red state, and we worked hard to support Kamala Harris, to support codifying abortion, to register voters and create interest in voting. Lines weren’t Pennsylvania or Georgia long, but by yesterday only six million Floridians had NOT voted early or by mail.
Like you – like all of you – I’m horrified, terrified, deeply saddened, and incredibly angry. Like many of you, I am exhausted, we all are.
So today and for the next few days we grieve, and we process, and we give ourselves permission to rest because that old adage of not being able to pour from an empty vessel, and then we get back to the good fight and causing good trouble.
Today, I didn’t want to leave bed. I wanted to stay home and cuddle my dogs, and watch endless episodes of TNG because it’s the happiest, coziest Star Trek incarnation. Instead, I joined another neighbor to visit a third neighbor who is a 93-year-old shut-in. She turned out to be an absolute pistol of a woman, and that visit was a breath of fresh air, and the connection made was much needed.
(And then I came home, and did the few tasks I had to complete for work, and cuddled my dogs and my foster puppy – because while puppy kisses cannot fix our totally screwed up political system, in the moment, they make things better.)
Thank you, Wil, for your candor, and your presence. All the respect to you for putting family and your own mental health before anything else.
When you’re ready to re-emerge, we’ll be waiting.
I am a woman. I have 3 daughters. My niece and a few nephews are gay. My gay friends are married.
My husband and best friend chose to vote for that man over my daughters and my friends and family’s safety and right to live a free life.
I am broken right now and not sure how to pretend I am not for my girls. They are 8,7&7. They are too young for all this but yet, my one 7 yr old today told me she’s going to go into politics so she can become president and make America safe again. She should be thinking about playgrounds and puppies and fun, not making America safe again because it is no longer safe for so many of us anymore.
It appears, from a distance, that the majority of people in the USA want to ensure their right to shoot someone is greater than their desire to save someone who needs dire medical care. Perhaps if it was a bit clearer that almost every other country in the world is suffering from high inflation and a significant cost of living crisis, yours could be put in perspective. Allowing people a basic understanding of what was being sold to them, i.e. higher tariffs, do you understand how they actually work? No prices will be coming down anytime soon as a result. Deporting foreign workers: isn’t the basis for a large number of businesses in the US hiring undocumented workers so they don’t need to be paid a proper wage? Who is going to be mowing the lawns now? It is your country and your vote but the world was watching and we are all quite baffled at what has happened. We were hoping cooler heads prevailed but I guess not. Good luck to you all.