Here’s what’s actually working in America.
More insights from The Up and Up Community.
As part of this week’s Reality Check, I asked members of my Gen Z community what they think is currently working in the U.S. – and what’s not.
The Gloomcycle is real and there’s a lot to worry about. But the young adults I heard from have some clear-sighted insights on what’s actually functioning, too.
Their replies reveal nuance in their political views and drive home the fact that, right now especially, many young people feel politically homeless: turned off by President Donald Trump and his economic or immigration policies, but also completely fed up with Democrats who aren’t offering leaders to turn to or a viable path forward.
Take for example:
The 27-year-old from Dallas who told me they’re in favor of “closing borders, returning to traditional views on gender roles,” and the “re-evangelism of Christian roots/traditions,” but oppose tariffs, the current job market, and the growing deficit.
Or the 18-year-old from Virginia who said “Trump’s plans are working,” even if they “aren’t necessarily popular.”
Or the 26-year-old from Maryland who appreciates “rethinking food and agricultural policy” and “the role of the federal government in American life,” but is against the “dismantling of American soft power, undermining education and science, and undermining of the federal government.”
These responses highlight the complexity of young people's political views. They're capable of holding two truths at once, even when it defies party lines or challenges conventional thinking. Anyone trying to resonate with young adults, young voters, must understand that.
As for what’s working, many are turning to people they know personally, their neighbors, and their communities. Some emphasized the power of mutual aid initiatives. Others stressed the importance of freedom of speech and the gumption to speak up.
I found this reply from a 25-year-old from New Jersey poignant: “People still want to come here to start companies. People are less excited about coming here to build a life.”
When it comes to the politics of it all, one respondent said that while they disagree with Trump’s policies, this administration seems transparent – which they appreciate. I thought that was an interesting take.
“Whether you agree with the current administration or not, I appreciate the transparency — at least I know who’s leading and what the administration stands for. There’s no confusing secrecy; policies and priorities are made public, and we can hold leaders accountable,” this 22-year-old shared.
This same young adult offered a stark warning to politicians in both parties.
“It’s honestly wild how Gen Z used to be known as the most progressive generation, but now more and more of us are shifting right. And it’s not out of hate — it’s because people are tired of being told that 2 + 1 = 7 and expected to just go along with it ‘because that’s the truth.’ That’s not truth, that’s insanity. It goes against logic, reality, and common sense. I truly believe this shift will continue, especially because the Democratic Party hasn’t learned from their mistakes in the 2024 election. If they don’t change course, I don’t see them winning back the House or Senate for another 10, maybe even 11 years. People are waking up, and they’re done with being silenced, dismissed, or gaslit. They want leadership that’s honest, grounded, and logical, not performative or extreme.”
The takeaway: With a national conversation as bleak as the current one, there’s an opportunity for local leaders to step up. The voices that resonate will be blunt communicators who hold heterodox positions, not confined to straight party lines or beholden to a mold of how they’re supposed to think and act.
Here are some more of the replies — about what’s working and what’s not — from The Up and Up Community:
I think the people as a collective are doing a lot of things right, but the elected representatives and institutions meant to represent them are failing us more every day.
I think if we focused on ourselves as a nation things would be better. Getting involved in other countries' politics is not working. I do think prison reform changes are working in America.
Apathy is working. People don't care anymore because they need to put food on their table. Simple as that.
Healthcare, housing, transportation, and the general social fabric is not working. Infrastructure is working. People are speaking up, even when they're afraid of retribution, which no one should have to fear in a free society. The marches and protests have made powerful noise and sent a symbolic message: every city in America is capable of standing up for justice.
The left side needs to actually do something. Our government officials aren’t doing anything. People are coming together but we need ACTUAL change.
Citizens and neighbors standing up for one another and demanding humane treatment, very patriotic.
The political turmoil and unrest are so alarming and disheartening. I do believe there are more good people in our country than bad and that good will prevail. It feels like we've hit rock bottom so... hopefully the only way we can go from here is up. But I'm not optimistic about much right now.
I have hope in the people and in my community.
An appetite for reform.
People calling out the corruption in the government is a great start to shedding light on the checks and balances system.
Social media has allowed for those who are like minded and/or share values to come together. What isn't working is the other side of the same coin. Social media and algorithms drive bubbles and the inability to see the other side's point. When you are surrounded by people who think like you, you reinforce the notion that the ‘other’ is ‘obviously wrong.’
Fee speech, especially online. It seems like the social media censorship we saw earlier this decade has gone away, and I couldn't be happier. But what's not working right now is the thoughtless sledgehammer cuts to government programs, and the constant changes in tariff plans. I know lots of Trump voters chose him because they wanted a more stable/financially responsible government, but he's causing lots of chaos and uncertainty instead.
I think that the courts are working to stop the Trump Admins’ overreach on immigration, deportation, and executive power. I think that the Democratic Party has proven itself useless in combatting his policy in the legislature and proven that they are not a true opposition party.
I think government efficiency cuts have been effective, but it seems like negotiations and compromise are hard to come by as seen with the struggle to pass the BBB. There also seems to be a lack of legal clarity as judges override each other over the constitutionality of the President's actions.
Court systems for the most part are upholding the law - the entire trump administration & their continuous defiance of the law is not working.
While it is encouraging to see small ways in which our government's checks and balances have protected against certain policies of the Trump Administration, I would still say as a whole that our system of representative democracy is not working well to represent people's interests.
The ability for corporations to influence policy — working very well.
The people. Not the politics, not the systems, but the people. I’ve seen strangers help each other in ways that remind me why my wife and I chose this country. There’s still kindness here. There’s still grit. There’s still something deeply good in the way people try to take care of one another when no one else will. What’s not working is everything that’s supposed to make that easier. As an immigrant, married to an immigrant, I’ve seen how hard it is to navigate the system, even when you’re doing everything right. Healthcare, immigration, housing, even just trying to build a future without constant anxiety, it’s like climbing a mountain with a weight on your back, while being told to smile for the flag. We came here believing in America. I still do. But believing shouldn’t mean ignoring what’s broken. It should mean fighting for it to live up to its promise. And right now, that promise feels out of reach for too many.
ICYMI
Last night I went live with , a former Congressman, conservative talk radio host, and the founder of ‘The Social Contract,’ to discuss Gen Z and democracy. You can watch our full conversation here. Thank you, Joe, for having me on your show!
Noteworthy reads
Kids are protesting against I.C.E. in Roblox, Taylor Lorenz for
More Babies and Beef Tallow, Less Blue Hair and Birth Control, EJ Dickson for The Cut
Graduate roles are so hard to find that Gen Z is pushing up America’s unemployment rate, Eleanor Pringle for Fortune
It’s disturbing and stunning to read some of these perspectives which show the ongoing and skewed expectation that Republicans are allowed to destroy our economy, undermine housing expansion, dismantle civil/consumer rights and environmental protections and progress, and execute policies that only help the very rich while Democrats are blamed for not stopping/fixing literally everything. It also echoes the mainstream media’s ongoing narrative and ignores the fact that we are here because voters can’t be bothered to turnout in midterms which have been critical to helping Republicans consolidate power and wealth through state and federal policies and judicial appointments. It also ignores the outcome of apathetic voters in 2000 and 2016 which gave us the MAGA majority on SCOTUS and have undone civil, political and environmental protections that are devastating. But somehow it’s all Democrats’ fault. Democrats should stop doing anything and maybe people will finally realize that Democrats have protected them from the worst of the Republican agenda for decades. Maybe voters will finally learn that you get the democracy you show up for.
Anyone that supports Trump is an effing idiot and traitor after Jan 6.