During our moment of “fiery trial,” a new vision of a democratic and egalitarian order that leaves no one out and no one behind is imperative. In other words, the challenge isn’t simply to defend our current democratic order from the assault that is surely to come from the new Trump administration, but to make it more fair, equal, and just in the process.

In retrospect, I would argue that Kamala Harris’ political platform was too politically timid. Or said differently, too centrist. Once that became the perception of millions, her claim to be the change candidate stood on thin ground. And that is no place you want to be given the dynamics of this election in general and the popular desires of tens of millions for change in particular.

It is worth noting that Trump’s base isn’t reducible to a bunch of losers in life. Some are facing hard times for sure, but others aren’t. In fact, they’re doing well by most people’s standards. Said another way, Trump’s supporters are a motley crew ranging from billionaires and multi-millionaires on one end to people in economic distress on the other and everything in between. And if we studied them we would likely find that their reasons for liking Trump aren’t reducible to one thing or another.