[Maru]

All I can add is that, compared to 2016 and even 2020, the vibe has really changed and people are much more willing and comfortable to express support for Trump. And not doing so in a hyper-hysterical way, but rather talking about it from a personal POV of how certain things effect them. It's more regular people now asking questions and learning to dissect politics for themselves instead of depending on others (a net good). The internet has lengthened our political memory, and also, people have picked up a new habit of doing their own research thanks to things like politics, vaccines and social media censorship (of all kinds). So that's one major difference... we may not all come to the conclusions based on "research", but to be fair, look at the types of media and propaganda we have to sift through... Americans have been poked, prodded and bombarded with propaganda for several decades. And we still have to pay taxes on that ****ery.

Anyway, the uneasiness seems to all but be disappearing. I'm actually surprised, but I think it makes sense when considering the last 6-8 years of what politics has done to our social lives. There may still be some unfortunates out there who have to maintain uneasy connections and narcissistic relationships with the kind of person who is willing to throw them under the bus for politics. But we hear less and less about those "break ups" and I think because a lot of that has already happened.

Consider the number of folk that very publicly and gleefully snipped those relations over the past few years. Even if someone were a person who were non-confrontational, they likely saw the behavior of someone similar in their circles and learned to distance. How many distanced themselves from those kinds of relations and it impacted their worldview? I'd think a lot, because on average people most just want to mind their own business and be left alone. Much money is spent on the inside of our homes to keep things that way. (That's uniquely American, imo). So I think such toxic people only damage themselves, imo. Whether it was over politics or COVID, most of us have now had interactions with that type of person. But it also seems now, apparently, that more others have found a way to gain renewed confidence in discussing their politics more openly and so I've noticed political discussions (on average) have become more civil, rather than just pandering. Maybe because more centrists too coming out and finding each other. Whether it's discussing the candidates, but policies and how that's translated to what they see in reality. It's just nice. I don't see how that development could ever be "bad". I've never been a fan of being "told what to do".

Re: Trump; Whether that translates to a "win"... Well, my feeling is I don't think that translates to he's now suddenly "more popular". I don't trust the polls. I think it's more that people have gotten off the fence and are less scared to share an opinion, especially right now, when it is at the forefront of our minds and actually matters. Probably post-election, it'll go back to being quieter, but I think people having said their piece will translate to a healthier country moving forward. Other people seeing this, maybe that influences or tempers the polls some. Who knows, who cares. Regardless, it's less the major supporters now having the discussions, but more "normal" individuals who have decided to self-educate and saying "I think this way and here's why..."... So because I see that, I think the country is slowly filling in the blanks as to how they can disagree more amicably (and productively).

The other thing I've noticed, especially post-COVID, is that people are becoming more and more concerned about quality of the education system, not even just college now... but our public schools now are having major problems and schools are either closing or having to shorten weeks (4 day school weeks).. so hearing someone is a "Harvard grad" isn't as confidence-boosting these days.

I'll say for myself, compared to 2020, especially before Parler was wrecked, the rhetoric around Trump just seemed so much more anti-social. There were too many internet personalities trying to get famous off fanning the flames, so to speak. I am not surprised Jan 6th happened with the way those discussions were developing close to the elections. But other than that, I'm just speaking from a normal perspective of what I'm encountering, online and offline, that people like that are becoming a minority in the national discussion. And I think it's because people have wised up to algorithms and have finally tired of pointless bandwagons. Bandwagons have not translated to lower taxes, better living conditions and a more unified society... it has translated to deeper pockets for the parties and more money flowing through politics in general. So imo, until that money dries up, that part of politics isn't really over yet.