While it is true that some of Donald Trump’s harsh and authoritarian policies may not be politically possible to enact, we must not use this truth as reason to say, “Everything is going to be OK.” Trump will take office with control of the Supreme Court, the Senate and the House of Representatives, which would give the Republican Party full power over every branch of the federal government. While some Republican lawmakers may decide that Trump’s campaign promises are too extreme, it is undoubtable that others endorse them.

The Supreme Court is supposed to be non-partisan, but this isn’t true in practice. In the 2024 case of Trump v. United States, the court, split along ideological lines, decided that the president is immune from being criminally prosecuted for any crimes committed as an “official act” of the office. Even if enacted policies do not completely resemble Trump’s rhetoric, the rights of immigrants, LGBTQ+ individuals and anyone who is not Christian may be at risk while Trump is in office. The risk for transgender people is especially high. We must not use optimism to obscure the very real risks at hand during the next four years.

This is all to say, we cannot disengage from the political process and just let these next four years pass. We must continue to advocate for the rights of minorities. We must continue to peacefully protest harmful policies, and we must continue to fight misinformation and disinformation. We must continue to vote, and not just in presidential years; the midterm elections are just as important, as they decide who is in control of Congress. Regaining congressional control is vital because it is the best counter we have to the power of the president and the Supreme Court.

When local elections occur between midterms and presidential years, as they did in Ohio last year, vote in them, too. That Ohio election enshrined women’s reproductive rights in the state constitution.

Most important of all is to stay informed. Read the news, and read news from reliable, non-partisan sources such as the Associated Press and C-SPAN. Social media is not news; it is a pit of misinformation and disinformation with some truth mixed in. Fact check claims you read, whether from news media or social media (but especially from social media) before spreading them to other people. Read reporting directly from Congress on what laws are being brought to the table – some don’t receive much reporting from the media.

Encourage people in your life to vote and be informed. Around 35 percent of Americans did not vote in this year’s election, and democracy works best when more people are engaged. Remember to be optimistic, but remember the rapidly approaching risks.

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