Vidal and the Shadowy Figures

For the past year, I have felt like I was standing on top of a cliff, looking down at two trains speeding toward each other on the same track. I felt like I was shouting to the people on those trains, desperately trying to warn them of what was coming. Every time I tried to get people to see what I was seeing, I was called a traitor, a liar, a fraud, a “Democrat.” I was mocked, ridiculed, and unfollowed. Thousands of my own followers—people I have spent nearly nine years building trust with by always being honest with you—told me they no longer trusted me. I painstakingly created content with one goal: to help people recognize the divide, understand why it was happening, and figure out how to fix it before it was too late. Instead, I was told I was a fool. “There is no divide.” “The base had never been stronger.” Quite honestly, this past year has felt like living in a bad dream. But now, everybody has no choice but to wake up. I am not your enemy. I never have been. Despite how difficult this year has been, and how bad tonight was, I’m not in despair about the election results. Not at all. First, I’ve known for months this was coming. It wasn’t a surprise. But second, and most importantly, I’ve never been more hopeful. Truly. The Republican Party needs to change. It’s broken. It doesn’t work. If we had been victorious tonight, we would have simply returned to the same failed system, having learned nothing. I know firsthand, from the pain I felt voting for Hillary Clinton and the subsequent upheaval of my life when Trump won in 2016, that sometimes you have to get really, really uncomfortable before you’re willing to ask yourself tough questions—and face the even tougher answers that force you to take action and make change within yourself. I believe a journey of reformation is about to begin, and I am truly excited to be part of it. I hope those of you who resisted my warnings will begin to let go of your anger toward me. It was never warranted. I’ve been trying to help, not harm, all of us. And I hope you’ll join me on the incredible journey that’s about to begin. We have a lot of work to do. Let’s come back together and fix this. 🇺🇸🇺🇸