Road to 2024: Reflecting on This Past Summer

How does the Opinions Department feel about the future of this country on a scale of “it’s fine” (1) to “it’s Joever” (5)?

Elaborate on the question above. For many adults, this summer has been like nothing they’ve ever experienced, but our political landscape hasn’t been normal for most of our lives. Explain what seeing all of this feels like.

“Whenever I look back at presidential elections in the distant past, I do so with apathy, not really considering or finding the significance in how things could have changed if votes swung the other way. But now it’s all I can think about—the different possibilities and routes this country could take both foreign and domestic, depending on who runs the country during these next four years.” — Mace Elinson ‘27

“The United States has become very politically polarized in recent years, and although I have grown up seeing this polarization, it still feels like the political landscape is becoming more charged. The conflict in Palestine has magnified many political divisions, and the mishandling of protests has definitely created more tension. This increased tension, combined with the potential for events like January 6 and the assassination attempt on Trump, makes it feel like American politics could devolve into chaos at any moment, which dampens some of my hope for the future.” — Narnia Poddar ‘27

“The election does feel a little chaotic, but there really hasn’t been a normal election since the 2014 midterm elections. Since then, every election has been defined in some way by Trump. Arguably, there have been far more chaotic elections in somewhat recent times. 1968 saw several successful assassinations of major political figures, intense protests in Chicago at the Democratic National Convention, and race riots, all while the war raged in Vietnam. While some are comparing 2024 to 1968, the only real parallels are an incumbent Democratic president withdrawing their bid for re-election and protests over United States involvement in a conflict abroad. Our current stronger political standing gives me more confidence in the future of the country since it greatly decreases the odds of Republicans doing severe damage to this country’s institutions, especially through manifestos such as the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 and Trump’s own Agenda 47. 2024’s focus on social and economic policy also makes this the first presidential election since 2012 where such issues have been at the forefront of the campaigns, which further reassures me.” — Muhib Muhib ‘25

“I feel that politicians are no longer good role models for the citizens who are supposed to look up to them. When politicians such as former President Trump commit crimes, spread blatant lies, and gaslight their followers with propaganda, it’s hard not to be worried that this country is putting itself in the hands of those unfit to lead. It’s also worrisome as many conservative leaders and their beliefs are taking root here in the US, consequently negatively affecting what children learn and believe. It is difficult for me, at least, to respect candidates who belittle their competition and spread rumors about them. Furthermore, I worry about this country’s political division; we cannot even seem to stand together on the most important issues. In light of the political conflicts taking place outside of our country, we should be making a greater effort to solve our internal issues so that we are as strong a country as we claim to be.” — Stella Krajka ‘27

“I’ve experienced both concern and desensitized humor during this election season. One of the major aspects of this generation is that because we gained political awareness in a complex political landscape, we’ve become desensitized to radical events and accepted the immense polarization of society. My peers and I have been fighting Trump since 2016, lived through the January 6 insurrection during online school, and watched many political figures have medical crises during their time in office. What society might describe as a coping mechanism, or humor, has definitely impacted my view and reactions toward current events. (To name a few: Trump x Biden edits, golf jokes, couch jokes.) However, it’s the same experiences growing up in a confusing environment that make me more concerned about this election. One of the surprises of this election, however, was "Kamala’s Brat Campaign" and her focus on the youth. In this election season especially, it’s exciting to see the emphasis on youth vote, and voice, coming into play. Watching both Trump and Kamala fight for the youth vote, in addition to the votes of other minority groups, such as the Asian vote, shows shifts in political and social power with this election.” — Joanne Hwang ‘26

“Keeping up with current events has been overwhelming. Oftentimes you can feel disoriented after taking a break from social media, or even after disconnecting for just a day. Parsing through articles and digesting cable news can be hard as a young person who has other responsibilities and concerns, but it feels essential given the weight of this election.” — Myles Vuong ‘26

Is the media / social media doing a good job covering these events? What are the pros and cons of how this election is playing out on screens?

“The way the media covers this election makes us feel like we are collectively watching the downfall of America in real time. But this is not true. There is much hope for what can be achieved and for the limits that can be placed on what can go wrong. A big issue with media coverage is that important policy decisions and disputes are overshadowed by the personal qualities of respective candidates.” — Mace Elinson ‘27

“Many people tend to pay attention to biased media sources, which makes sense given that most media sources are at least moderately biased. However, this is problematic when people only pay attention to references that reinforce their existing viewpoints. It has made it much harder to have an engaging political discussion.” — Narnia Poddar ‘27

“Traditional media has experienced and tested political pundits, but their reliability is questionable. For one, many pundits and journalists are ultimately at the whims of a for-profit media that can purposefully distort the facts to serve their own interests. The New York Times is a notable example of this with absolutely horrendous editorial policies regarding issues such as transgender rights and nowadays elections, which can be seen through the language of their articles and the mind numbing fact checks they publish. Even tested political pundits have failed before. There is clearly a need for improvement within the media with regard to political punditry, both traditional and social.” — Muhib Muhib ‘25

“This election season, information, opinions, and opportunities regarding the election are more accessible than ever online. We've seen with Vice President Kamala Harris’s social media campaign that these platforms allow for increased voter engagement. Increased engagement also allows for increased mobility, allowing concerned and passionate citizens to rally, vote, and be civically involved. A major downside is that similar to physical communities, social media communities have fueled political polarization. Media sources with political bias and reinforce political beliefs lead to further divide.”— Joanne Hwang ‘26

Articulate the reactions of you / your family during any of the major events this summer.

“When someone checked the news and yelled out to the entire room that Biden dropped out of the presidential race, the next few minutes were pretty chaotic. Everyone speculated who would replace him, and I distinctly remember debating the possibilities with my friends. The atmosphere felt really hopeful, and I was super excited at the possibility of a new candidate entering the race after several years of the same few candidates being so prominent.” — Narnia Poddar ‘27

“During the assassination attempt, I first got wind of it from Twitter group chats just a few minutes after it occurred, although it was unclear at that point that it was a shooter.” — Muhib Muhib ‘25

“Throughout the summer, my family and I have been in shock from all the twists and turns during the campaign season. Trump’s assassination attempt was incredibly surprising and a bit scary. The idea that we as a country are still at a point where this can happen is very sad. President Biden dropping out of the presidential race was also a surprise because even though many people and organizations thought that he should step down, I don’t know if anyone really thought he would.” — Stella Krajka ‘27

Has this election season caused any difficult conversations with friends or family? How is it affecting communities and our culture?

“Many of my immigrant relatives want to close the door behind them, restricting immigration and accessibility to citizenship, and have distanced themselves from my two gay cousins. This has created a lot of tension between my generation and my parents’ generation.” — Mace Elinson ‘27

“I definitely feel the political polarization brought about by this election season. I know friends who have had to cut off family members or feel uncomfortable discussing aspects of their identity with their family due to contrasting political viewpoints.” — Narnia Poddar ‘27

Are you getting involved at all? (Canvassing, registering people to vote, registering yourself...)

“I have been volunteering at Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s fundraisers and giveaways, but less so because I support her policies and ideology and more so because it’s a good experience that allows me to help people in need.” — Mace Elinson '27

“I have pre-registered to vote. However, I will be ineligible to vote in the election on account of being too young. I have begun my own foray into political prognostication and punditry—mostly for a social media audience—and I have made great strides since I first started.” — Muhib Muhib ‘25

“Unfortunately, at 15, there isn’t much I can do.” — Stella Krajka ’27

“I found the most important way I can contribute to the democratic process is during primary and state elections. People often ignore local politics and focus on the national stage, but your state senator and school board oftentimes have more direct influence than those in higher office. This summer, I canvassed for state assembly primaries on the Upper West Side, as it gave me insights into electoral politics and helped me connect with my community.” — Myles Vuong ‘26