Robert Reich, the former US Secretary of Labor, has described the past year under a second Donald Trump administration as a "fucking nightmare," but suggests it may be the necessary jolt to awaken America to long-simmering crises.
A Nation Awakened by Crisis
Reich draws a parallel with historical turning points, such as the civil rights movement spurred by televised brutality and the Progressive Era reforms born from muckraking journalism. He contends that the overt "neofascism" of Trump's second term—marked by open racism, attacks on critics, and the dismantling of government norms—has served a similar shocking, revelatory purpose.
"Sometimes a nation needs a nightmare before it can fully awaken," Reich writes. He believes the blatant cruelty and corruption on display have ripped away any remaining illusions, forcing a "grand reckoning" that was long overdue.
The Unmasking of Rot and Cowardice
According to Reich, this period has done more than expose Trump's character, detailing acts like sharing AI-generated derogatory cartoons and making tragic events about himself. It has also revealed a profound failure in America's leadership class.
He lambasts the "suck-up cowardice" of CEOs, billionaires, Wall Street figures, and Republican politicians who have remained silent or sought to curry favour with the Trump regime. "America’s so-called 'leadership class' is a sham," Reich states, arguing they are motivated by self-interest, not the common good.
This rot, he asserts, began decades ago with policies of deregulation, union-busting, and tax cuts for the wealthy initiated under Ronald Reagan. These policies created record inequality and stagnant wages while allowing corporate profits and shareholder value to eclipse the wellbeing of workers.
Mobilisation and the Path Ahead
However, Reich sees signs of powerful pushback. He points to the record turnout on 'No Kings Day' (18 October) and a string of Democratic victories in special elections, mayoral races, and even in traditionally Republican areas.
"We are organizing and mobilizing with a resolve I have not seen in my lifetime," he observes, suggesting the Maga movement is fracturing as Trump's poll numbers decline.
Reich warns the nightmare is not over, predicting 2026 could see intensified damage as Trump and his allies may feel it is their last chance to entrench power. Yet, he concludes with a note of cautious hope: this painful darkness might be the essential prelude to a future focused on social justice, democracy, and widespread prosperity. The awakening, however traumatic, has begun.
