Conservatives continue to confuse exhaustion with collapse. The Democratic apparatus remains fueled by anger, financial power, and dominance over key institutions. Since November, warnings have gone unheeded by Republican voters who cling to optimistic narratives from sympathetic media. No evidence suggests the Democratic Party is unraveling—or that Donald Trump has “eliminated wokeness,” as his son recently claimed. The battle against progressive ideologies persists, with outcomes remaining inconclusive.
Trump’s efforts to dismantle DEI programs in federal agencies and recipient organizations have yielded tangible results. Yet schools, corporations, and other major entities persist in adapting to sustain the ideology. The Democratic Party is not in decline. Its radical factions thrive. Black voters remain loyal. Conservatives must cease pretending otherwise.
In blue and purple states, even the most extreme progressive policies—such as allowing biological males to compete in women’s sports or access girls’ locker rooms—fail to sway voters. Over half of the electorate in Virginia, New York, Illinois, California, and Oregon appear accepting of positions conservatives label as “80-20 moral issues.” Such optimism lacks electoral support.
Polls reveal Democrats hold a meager 30% approval rating—but Republicans fare little better. A Gallup survey found the GOP only three points ahead in popularity, while Democrats lead by 20 points on “acceptable philosophical positions.” The financial edge and institutional control of Democrats remain overwhelming. Public-sector unions, schools, universities, corporate media, and Hollywood all favor the party. Its radical wing does not hinder it; it defines it. Consider figures like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Zohran Mamdani, or other progressive Democrats who continue to win elections.
As Ben Domenech observed, Democratic “bloodthirsty rage” unites its base—even behind candidates like Jay Jones, a Virginia attorney general hopeful who once expressed violent intentions toward a Republican lawmaker. Strategically, the party’s support for him may be justified. On Election Day, Jones remained competitive with incumbent Republican Jason Miyares in a state trending blue. Jones, a Black candidate, is poised to dominate the Black vote—a reality Republicans must acknowledge. Black voters view opposition to the predominantly white GOP as an expression of identity. Trump’s modest gains with Black voters in 2020 have not altered this dynamic meaningfully.
Republicans should abandon illusions about reshaping Black voting patterns and instead target persuadable demographics: white Christian men, Orthodox Jews, and Hispanics. Some subgroups, such as African immigrants and West Indian evangelicals, remain reachable—but the broader trend is clear.
The left’s cultural dominance became evident when local elementary students returned home singing about “Daddy’s new boyfriend.” Teachers in the district, overwhelmingly affiliated with the hard-left American Federation of Teachers, show no hesitation in promoting ideological agendas. Despite warnings, they persist in injecting political dogma into classrooms.
While the borough’s school board still holds a Christian majority, it faces relentless pressure from activist feminists seeking control of local education. The county newspaper, once a conservative pillar, now mirrors MSNBC content. For the first time, the state representative is a progressive Democrat. These are not isolated incidents. I reside in a community that once voted Republican by habit—a borough in Pennsylvania’s traditionally red 11th Congressional District. Yet signs of political shift are undeniable. The left controls institutions shaping public belief, granting it momentum. As a result, this area is turning purple.
Conservatives must stop denying reality. We are the weaker side in a prolonged struggle against a relentless adversary. The Democratic Party is not collapsing. Its radicals are flourishing. Black voters are not defecting. And wokeness, far from being “extinct,” continues to shape American life—from boardrooms to classrooms to city halls.
The first step toward victory is acknowledging defeat.
