The modern political landscape requires thoughtful minds to dissect the current moment, offering analysis that is both profound and therapeutic. When brilliant commentators gather, the discussion often turns into a metaphoric fire pit—a space to analyze the chaos and resolve to burn up whatever is no longer serving us. This shared space is where diverse backgrounds converge: a journalist and civic tech builder like Ahmed Baba, who has covered the political sphere for over ten years and documented Project 2025 since 2023, meeting with those whose expertise lies in political science and education policy. Both recognize that storytelling at the intersection of politics and media is what truly changes hearts and minds, empowering people to engage with issues that affect their daily lives.
The Symbolic Demolition of the Executive
The present moment is an “absolute shit show,” marked by events that carry immense symbolic weight, such as the widely circulated images of the demolition of the White House East Wing. For many, this event evokes a deep, complex grief. The building, constructed by enslaved ancestors, is simultaneously a beacon of democracy and a painful site of torture. The destruction is heartbreaking, a visual shock, and a painful reminder that the current administration—seen as a “symbol of everything that is wrong, everything that is inept, that is despicable about our humanity”—is not content with psychological torture but must also physically destroy what is loved.
This act is interpreted as a direct reaction to recent pushback, a tantrum to “amp up the abuse.” As Ahmed Baba noted, it’s a visual representation of the demolition of the executive branch, the White House, its norms, and the institutions held dear. It is a manifestation of the current leader’s disdain for what America is supposed to stand for, including multiculturalism and the ideal of equality. The physical erasure—taking down the East Wing and destroying the Rose Garden to potentially build a “tacky Mar-a-Lago” replacement—is an attack on history itself, akin to burning books and destroying curriculum. This demolishing declares, “I am a king. I can do whatever, however, whenever, and you have no recourse.”
The images of the destruction were reportedly leaked by federal contractors who had signed non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), a testament to the belief that the “entire regime is a sieve.” These leaks often come from individuals loyal to the Constitution who are compelled to share what they witness on the front lines of destruction.
The Weakness Behind the Tantrums
The shocking nature of Trump’s behavior, exemplified by the demolition and the public re-posting of an AI video of himself as a king dropping excrement on the American people, is symptomatic of a leader who lives in a self-constructed “made-up alternative universe space.” He is surrounded by sycophants and shielded within an echo chamber that convinces him he is a “genius” and “extraordinary.” When faced with reality, he can’t handle it, retreating into extreme behavior.
Crucially, this extreme behavior masks a deep unpopularity and weakness. While many are “numbed” into shrugging off his actions as those of a “toddler” or “just AI,” the reality is that the public is highly critical.
Trump’s approval rating has recently hit 37% in Gallup polling, just three points above his all-time first-term low of 34% recorded in the days after January 6th.
By comparison, former Presidents Biden and Obama were still in the 50s at this point in their presidencies.
The 7 million people who participated in recent protests represent the largest single-day protest in U.S. history—a global condemnation of the administration.
The fact that Trump is being “kept in that bubble” and not on a non-stop “I told you so tour” confirms that his inner circle knows the applause and cheers are not there. He is genuinely shell-shocked by negative reception.
The Acceleration of Project 2025 and Opposition Strategy
The urgency of the current administration’s actions stems from this unpopularity. The Project 2025 blueprint, originally a four-year plan, is now considered nearly 50% complete after just nine months. This acceleration is driven by the fact that the agenda is deeply unpopular and by the perceived decline of Trump’s health, which puts him on a “different timetable.” With figures like Stephen Miller and Russell Vought stepping in as the main puppeteers, the goal is to front-load as many executive actions as possible.
The strategy of “brazenness” and moving “too fast” is ultimately seen as a point of vulnerability. The administration “misread the mandate,” focusing on a cultural fight instead of preserving the strong economy they inherited. If they had moved “silently” and maintained strong economic approval, they might have had a popular mandate for authoritarianism. Instead, they overreached with tariffs, troop deployments, and aggressive ICE actions, turning the entire country against them. As one observer noted, “It’s difficult to engineer the full level of regime authoritarianism control you need when you’re this unpopular.”
To exploit this unpopularity and channel the energy of the 7 million global protesters, the opposition needs a radical change in approach:
Speak with Conviction: Leaders must stop using poll-tested talking points and instead speak “off the cuff” with the raw honesty the moment demands, channeling the outrage felt by the public. The truth does not need to be poll-tested.
Champion New Voices: Encourage new leaders who embody the current political groundswell to move forward, embracing the righteous energy now being seen on the ground, even in groups of older white people calling themselves “Grand Tifa“ (grandparents of anti-fascism).
Visible Resistance: Democratic leaders must be everywhere, making the case against the administration and its destruction, rather than retreating to press releases and strongly worded letters.
Ultimately, the aggressive overreach, the deep unpopularity, and the internal stumbles of the current administration offer a hopeful outlook: “they’ve moved too fast, and I think they’ve turned so many people against them that I think we’re in a place where we actually could reverse this over the next couple of years with the midterms.”
