My friend woke me up Wednesday at 5:45 a.m. I knew from her face that Kamala Harris lost the election before I could even check my phone for the time, much less the AP News live election updates.
I immediately wanted to call someone to pass on the news. Instead, I opened my laptop and updated the live-blog: “Trump wins the presidential election, becoming the 47th president of the United States.”
It was my instinct to conclude The Beacon’s election coverage from the months leading up to the presidential election. I never thought about it ending as we covered the major stories: Tim Walz’ announcement as Harris’ running mate, the only presidential debate between Harris and former President Donald Trump, or the Oct. 2 vice presidential debate.
I have enjoyed navigating a journalist’s role in reporting right now. Countless class discussions weigh the laws and ethics of journalism, and it brings me hope that many of my classmates are choosing to approach journalism with compassion. I especially appreciated the news outlets that fact-checked the presidential debate, as well as moderators David Muir and Linsey Davis fact-checking Trump during it. To me, this is balanced journalism. It was dangerous for CNN to not fact-check Trump during the June 27, 2024 debate with President Joe Biden. It is not responsible journalism to give anyone, let alone the former president of the United States, a national platform to spread misinformation.
When Trump won Wisconsin, pushing him to overall victory, I thought about all of the losses our country is going to experience. Trump does not care about the ongoing genocide in Gaza; he told Netanyahu last week to “do what you have to do.” He does not care about abortion rights; he notably took credit for the overturn of Roe v. Wade in 2022. Trump doesn’t care about education; he literally wants to shut down the Department of Education. He doesn’t care about any of the 72 million people who voted for him on Tuesday. He. doesn’t. care.
During this election cycle, Trump has honed his attacks on journalists and the media. He has continued to use his 2016-coined term “fake news” against major media outlets: ABC, CNN, CBS. Trump administration officials have said they will “prosecute [journalists] for their crimes” when Trump takes office—which is now 74 days away.
Many of my friends talked about leaving the country, which I think is a valid emotional reaction to Trump’s election. Even more of my friends said they wanted to switch their majors. Especially when Emerson’s tuition is $80,000 and climbing, why should I pursue a degree that one man might make completely obsolete?
Trump has said he wants to jail journalists whose coverage he doesn’t agree with. He wants to revoke broadcasting rights as retribution. While he does not have this power under our current laws, who knows what he will do come Jan. 20, 2025 when he takes his hand off of that Bible? Especially when Republicans gained control of the Senate and are likely to win the House in the coming days? Trump already has his dream Supreme Court line-up from his last term with a 6-3 conservative majority on most recent decisions.
Our system of government relies heavily on checks and balances and the free press. Trump has proven he goes against those ideals over the past eight years. He incited an insurrection in an effort to stop the peaceful transfer of power. He created a new social media platform because Twitter wouldn’t let him post blatant lies. And any actual plans that materialize once he takes office—not just “concepts of a plan”—are going to set us back 50 years.
Since America did not vote to keep Trump out of office on Tuesday, he is our new reality. It doesn’t seem likely we can remove him from office during the next four years since he has already overcome two impeachments. While not all Republican senators and representatives agree with him, the Republican Party will still likely hold all of the power in Washington, D.C.
What are we left with? How can those of us who felt powerless in this election do anything to limit Trump during his term? Journalism and education. While he may try to strip us of those rights, too, they can be the most powerful thing in making sure America learns from this election. I hope that, if we get to vote again in four years, we will have a better grasp of what is truly at stake at the polls.
