My Post-Election Thoughts

We're about to find out how much worse it can get.

Toni Morrison’s words have been circling my thoughts. “Now is *precisely* the time when artists go to work.” I plan to continue to provide words and research to help us navigate this season, but I need your help to do it. If you want to see more of this commentary, become a paid subscriber today.

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My main message in the immediate post-election aftermath is: Take care of yourself.

No. Really.

Take care of yourself.

Step back from outside stimulation (news, social media, texting, etc.) and get in tune with yourself.

What do your body and emotions say you need right now?

Don’t overthink it. Don’t “should” and “ought” yourself out of taking action for yourself. Don’t give them another victory by losing your health.

Self-care is the main message for the moment, but I have many other post-election thoughts.

Many of these are adapted from my comments on Threads, so be sure to follow me there.

Photo Credit: Nyegi

My post-election thoughts (in no particular order):

• Many white Christians are ill-equipped to theologically address this political moment. They’ve been fed a steady dose of far-right political talking points for at least the past 40 years. Now, faced with a historically corrupt candidate and radically high stakes, they struggle to break free of their conditioning. They are practicing what I call a “thin” political theology. I wrote about it HERE.

My Comments on the Evangelicals for Harris Call

• It’s long past time to learn from, study, and follow the Black Christian tradition on politics and justice. The Black church certainly has its flaws (because it has people!) but we know how to theologize in opposition to racism and how to make political calculations even with very limited options. Start HERE. And get “The Spirit of Justice” book.

• You’re right to be worried. Don’t let anyone try to minimize the gravity of this moment. Yes, God is in control. Yes, we’ll find a way to continue the struggle. But some of us won’t fare well. All of us will have to endure the puerile decisions of an unwell human and the vindictive people he brings along with him. Pray and prepare.

• Think less in terms of an autocracy and more in terms of an oligarchy. Now the billionaires and the mega-rich (e.g. Musk, Thiel, corporate CEOs, influencers, etc.) will all benefit from Trump’s planned tax cuts for the wealthiest people. And they fear reprisals against their businesses if they cross him. So they will not only fall in line but attempt to curry favor. Not that Democrats aren’t influenced by more liberal billionaires because money is power. But the brazen favor the billionaire class is about to get from the president-elect will be sickening.

• We need to be talking a whole lot more about Russia. We know there was Russian interference in this election. To what extent and exactly how? I’m concerned that Democratic officials are so worried about being like Trump that they won’t analyze the election results closely enough and they’ll just trust that Trump played fair.

• Now is the perfect time to watch the “God and Country” documentary if you haven’t already. Check out the trailer HERE.

  Let's Watch a Movie...and Save Democracy

• I see some sentiments online about "just getting through the next four years." Bless your heart. Their goal is to dismantle democracy itself (Hello, Project 2025!). The next administration can do enormous damage in a matter of weeks or months that will take years of better leadership and massive people power to reverse. It's not even the next president we have to worry about primarily. It's all the people he'll bring with him. Now they're experienced and organized. We're about to find out.

• Not here for the “it’s time to fight” messages right now. We’ve *been* fighting, resisting, exerting everything we can. We need time to grieve, vent, and lament. This is not whining or giving up. It’s a strategic pause to process and preserve ourselves for the long struggle to come.

• It will, in fact, take more than a day to recover. If you need more than a single day to rest and grieve and feel the burden of this moment, that's fine. Take as much time as you are able, and then take even more (at *least* the rest of this week). Don't hand them another victory by neglecting your own needs.

• No one truly won in this election. We all lost.

• I’m STILL tired.

What are you initial post-election thoughts, concerns, musings? (And it’s still not the time for pious platitudes). Let us know in the comments!

“The Spirit of Justice” was made for this moment, and now the whole family can access the goods. Check out the picture book and young readers versions.