Where is the Pushback?

The "Silence" of the Opposition

Where are the massive protests or radical movements in the streets of America? In 2026, the traditional "street protest" has been largely neutralized.

Institutional Capture: The opposition isn't "accepting" the situation out of agreement, but out of exhaustion and fear. With the executive branch having effectively captured the judiciary and the Department of Justice, the "legal playbook" for authoritarianism is in full swing.

The Cost of Dissent: We have seen an escalation in domestic enforcement. When the state brands opposition as "domestic terrorism" and uses paramilitary forces with impunity, the risk of a "single blow" or a march becomes too high for most.

Theater of Democracy: Even the "opposition figures" in the media and minor politics are often caught in a loop of performative outrage that changes nothing. They are playing by the rules of a game that has already been rewritten.

The 2026 Midterms: The Illusion of Change

There is a massive bet being placed on the midterm elections later this year. But this assumes the machinery of democracy still works.

Will Elections Happen? While they will likely be "allowed," the question is whether they will be consequential. Through aggressive gerrymandering and the dismantling of the civil service (replacing experts with "loyalists"), the system is being rigged to ensure a "preordained" outcome regardless of the popular vote.

We already know that neither Trump nor his allies would accept defeat. History and recent actions support this. The rhetoric has already shifted to delegitimize any outcome that doesn't favor the current power structure. This creates a "zombie democracy" where the ritual of voting exists, but the power never shifts.

The Danger of an Isolated, "Pariah" America

When a superpower begins to crumble, it doesn't just go away; it becomes predatory.

Economic Contagion: As the U.S. weaponizes the dollar and exits global trade agreements (like the recent decoupling from major European trade blocks), it creates a "death spiral" for global markets. A U.S. economy that is "closed for business" but still holds the world's debt is a ticking time bomb.

Security Vacuums: The withdrawal from NATO and traditional alliances has turned the U.S. from a "security provider" into a "rogue actor." The recent unilateral military actions in South America (like the intervention in Venezuela) show that the U.S. is willing to use raw force to secure resources as its domestic economy fails.

The "Pariah" Effect: An America that is isolated and desperate is more likely to lash out. For the rest of the world, this means a total breakdown of the "rules-based order." We are entering an era where "might makes right," and no international treaty is worth the paper it's printed on.

What Can Be Done?

If we cannot stop the crumbling from within, we must insulate from without.

• Strategic Decoupling: Nations must stop relying on the U.S. as a moral, financial, or security anchor. This means building independent payment systems and regional defense pacts that don't require Washington's permission.

• Holding the Line on Human Rights: As the U.S. retreats from its role as a defender of democracy, other regions—led by Europe and parts of the Global South—must take the lead in sanctioning authoritarian behavior, even when it comes from the former "leader of the free world."

• Preparation for Volatility: The goal now is Resilience. We must prepare for a world where the U.S. is no longer a partner, but a competitor—and at times, an adversary.

  
  

The collapse of a superpower is never sudden. It is slow, unstable, and dangerous. The real threat comes not at the fall, but when the system finally gives way and its debris is flung outward, striking everyone in its path.

Thanks for reading. Abrazos.

Diego Rojas