Trump and MAGA Want You Hopeless, Passive, and Distracted—Here’s the Simple Belief That Breaks Their Grip

The Jack Hopkins Now Newsletter #243

The Core Belief That Shapes Our Future: Why We Must Assume Democracy Will Prevail

Every era has its storm. Ours just happens to come with algorithms…autocrats… misinformation campaigns…and more economic whiplash than most generations endure in a lifetime. (Oh. And, a wannabe Dictator named Donald Trump.)

The instinct, for many…is to bunker down emotionally—to brace for the next blow from Washington or Wall Street.

But in moments like this…it’s not just useful—it’s vital—to hold a core belief:

We can prevail. Democracy can hold. Our future can still tilt toward liberty and dignity, not decline.

This isn’t naive optimism. It’s strategic thinking. Because what you believe about the future directly affects how you engage with the present.

When you assume collapse is inevitable…apathy and passivity creep in like mold. But when you assume progress is still possible…your brain begins solving in that direction.

It influences what you read…how you talk…where you donate…and how you vote. It fuels persistence.

We live in a country where the future is still being written. No outcome is set in stone…no backslide irreversible.

Yes, democracy is under pressure—but pressure has also forged every great moment of progress we've had. The true battle is not just for policy or elections; it’s for belief.

If we lose that, we’ve lost the foundation on which any future action can stand.

That belief—like democracy itself—requires tending. It isn’t something we can outsource to others. It must be renewed daily…through the choices we make and the stories we tell ourselves.

It begins in the quiet moments: when you choose to speak up instead of stay silent…to hope instead of disengage…to invest time or energy in what matters. That is the architecture of progress.

Now…just imagine for a moment—not as a fantasy…but as a felt truth—that there is a part of you that already knows how to rise to meet challenge…a deeper part that…when reminded of what's possible…begins to wake up a little more.

And as it wakes, it begins to guide you toward decisions and actions you didn't even know were waiting inside you…and that part is listening right now—and already leaning forward.

The Persuasion of Hope—Backed by Psychology

People respond more powerfully to what they believe others are already doing. And in communities across the country—small towns…cities…church basements…civic tech forums—Americans are quietly but steadily recommitting to democratic values.

When you remind yourself and others that you’re not alone…that there is a rising tide of engaged citizens refusing to fold…it becomes easier to believe the future is still ours to shape.

But hope does more than comfort—it drives action.

Research shows that people are more likely to contribute…participate…or advocate when they believe their effort will join a collective wave. Even small wins—getting a neighbor to register to vote…pushing your representative on a key issue—matter more when you trust they’re not isolated.

In behavioral psychology, this is known as social proof—the idea that we take cues from what others are doing. When people see others investing in democracy…they are more likely to do the same

.You become not just a participant…but a signal to others that action is still worthwhile. Hope, in this sense, is contagious—and strategically powerful.

When paired with momentum, that hope becomes movement. Each act of civic engagement can serve as a visible nudge to those around you.

It builds a sense of collective purpose and reminds us that change isn’t abstract—it’s made up of ordinary people doing what they can…when they can. That’s the formula for sustaining democratic resilience.

You might find yourself already beginning to feel it—that subtle sense that what seemed distant is actually unfolding now…and when you notice others stepping in… something lights up inside you too…and you might wonder: if that feeling grew just a little more…what could it lead you to say, to do, to become?

You don’t need to know the whole path…just the first small step—and that step is already within you.

The Danger of Defaulting to Defeat

On the other hand, if we normalize the idea that "nothing matters anymore," we surrender our most powerful tools: influence, agency, and momentum.

The cynicism that comes from despair may sound smart…but it functions as a sedative. It tells you to stop before you’ve started. It suggests democracy is a relic and engagement is a fool’s errand.

But here’s the twist: that belief isn’t just destructive—it’s contagious.

Studies show that messages laced with futility reduce people’s willingness to act—even when the issue directly affects them.

Defeatism is a virus. And right now, our country is battling a major outbreak of it.

We need to treat that cynicism the same way we treat disinformation—by challenging it. When someone shrugs and says, “It won’t make a difference,” the response isn’t to debate facts; it’s to show what already has made a difference.

Highlight victories, however small…and keep the conversation centered on agency…not doom.

History is filled with turning points that seemed impossible until they weren’t. If past generations had listened to that same defeatist voice…segregation might still be law… women might still be denied the vote…and LGBTQ+ rights might still be a political taboo.

The only reason those things changed is because enough people refused to believe they couldn’t.

And if you’ve ever felt the pull to stop trying…that’s not failure—it’s a signal…a quiet reminder to pause…breathe…and choose again…because the part of you that once cared deeply hasn’t left…it’s just been waiting for the moment you remember how much this still matters…and maybe…right now…is that moment.

Confidence as a Civic Muscle

Believing we can prevail isn’t about guaranteed success—it’s about fostering a mindset that supports resilience…creativity…and connection.

When you expect your efforts to matter, you show up with more energy and clarity. You’re more likely to talk about politics constructively…not just argue about it. You ask questions…share stories…and listen more deeply.

This belief also shields against burnout. It turns engagement into something sustainable.

You don’t have to win the whole battle today—you just need to believe the war for democracy isn’t over. That’s how movements grow. That’s how eras change.

Confidence also gives you a roadmap for how to respond when things go wrong. You don’t spiral—you strategize. You don’t disengage—you re-engage smarter.

Civic confidence isn’t arrogance; it’s the steady hum of someone who knows democracy is fragile…but also knows that fragility can be protected.

It invites others in. People are drawn to energy that says, “Come with me, we can still make this work.” That’s leadership, whether you’re knocking on doors…writing op-eds…or simply holding the line in a tough conversation with friends or family.

Your belief radiates, and people feel it more than they hear it.

There’s something powerful that happens when you remember you’re not powerless…and…maybe even now…some part of you is realizing it’s been ready all along—ready to re-engage…to re-imagine…to lead in a quiet…grounded way…and you don’t have to wait until you feel ready…because you can begin now….and the feeling of readiness will follow.

How to Anchor This Belief in Your Daily Life

Surround yourself with examples of democratic courage:

Read about past generations who fought for justice under impossible odds. Realize you’re part of a lineage.

Frame your contributions as part of a larger whole:

No one wins this alone. But together, millions of seemingly small actions tip the scale.

Call out progress—even when it’s messy:

Democracy is rarely elegant. But when it works, even in broken systems, celebrate that. It builds momentum.

Speak the future you want aloud:

Not in shallow affirmations, but in grounded language: "We’re not done. We’re building."

Set a small, consistent civic habit:

Whether it’s calling your reps once a week, reading up on local elections, or supporting independent journalism, anchor your belief in regular practice.

Turn discouragement into curiosity:

When you feel hopeless, ask: “What haven’t I tried yet? Who’s doing good work I can support?” Action starts with curiosity.

Surround yourself with examples of democratic courage:

Read about past generations who fought for justice under impossible odds. Realize you’re part of a lineage.

And as you imagine applying even one of these small shifts…notice what begins to change inside you…and maybe there’s a warmth in your chest…a calm in your breath… or a new lens through which today suddenly feels a little more possible…and you are already becoming the person who makes this belief real.

The Cost of Giving Up Belief

Make no mistake: if we stop believing in the possibility of democratic recovery…we invite its erosion.

Every authoritarian regime in history has counted on the public’s hopelessness to cement control.

When people no longer believe they can change anything…they stop trying. And when enough people stop trying…the door swings wide for those who’d rather rule than serve.

We cannot afford that.

But the good news is: we don’t have to.

History gives us clues, not guarantees. And what it shows over and over again is this:

Belief precedes breakthrough.

Movements are rarely built on certainty. They’re built on conviction…and the courage to keep going in uncertainty. Giving up belief is not just surrendering your voice—it’s surrendering your vote…your neighborhood…your values.

The moment we think the game is over, we stop playing. And if we’re not in the game… someone else will write the rules. That’s how we lose—not just elections…but the soul of the democratic experiment.

So take this in gently: the stories that scare us don’t have to be the stories that shape us…and you’re allowed to notice the fear and choose differently…because you’re allowed to say, "Not on my watch!," and to do so from a place not of panic—but of purpose…because even one spark of belief can light the fuse of an unstoppable movement.

Final Thought: The Future Responds to Us

If there’s one thing history teaches, it’s that no matter how powerful the forces of regression…they are always met by people who refused to accept them as permanent.

I don’t know about you, but I’m one of those hard-nosed, rebellious people who refuse to accept BS that’s been forced upon me…as being permanent. I think you are, too.

From civil rights to labor movements, from suffrage to marriage equality—the arc of progress has never moved on its own.

It bent because people believed it could.

So yes, the economy may wobble. The headlines may bruise. The president may provoke. But you—and millions like you—still hold something more powerful than fear.

You hold belief. And if you choose to act from it…instead of shrink beneath it…then the future isn’t just something to survive.

It becomes something we get to build.

Belief, when shared…becomes culture. And culture is what shapes institutions… communities…and elections. It’s not magic—it’s momentum. Each of us has a role in seeding that belief in others.

So hold the line. Speak the vision. Act from hope. Not because the outcome is guaranteed…but because history has always belonged to those who believed it could be better—and were willing to prove it.

And maybe…just maybe…you feel a stirring—a reminder that there’s still time…and that right now…even as you sit here reading…you are becoming more aligned with that version of you who acts…because that version who already knows the next right thing…and you can…allow that version guide you…because it’s not separate…it’s you…and your future is already listening……

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Warmly,

Jack