In a moment when conservatives appear to command the major levers of government and culture, many Americans feel the walls closing in. Yet history reminds us that power is never permanent—and that humility, inclusion, and open dialogue are the safeguards of every lasting movement.
There are times in a nation’s life when power tilts decisively to one side, and today feels like such a moment. Conservatives now occupy the commanding heights of national politics—controlling the White House, both houses of Congress, and a firmly right-leaning Supreme Court. Across statehouses, too, the map deepens red as legislatures and governorships move toward conservative majorities. Even the tone of the culture seems to have shifted: talk radio and podcasts, from Fox News to The Joe Rogan Experience, have become dominant voices of the moment, while traditional over-the-air networks increasingly follow their lead.
For those who do not share that worldview, the experience can be isolating. The sense of being out of step with the political, cultural, and even conversational mainstream can breed frustration and, at times, fear. History teaches that democracy depends not just on winning but on feeling represented, and when one side feels locked out of power, civic trust begins to fray.
Yet it would be a mistake to imagine that progressivism has vanished or lost all influence. The landscape of American life remains balanced in subtler ways. The nation’s classrooms and universities, animated by ideals of inquiry and social justice, still shape the next generation of citizens and leaders. Teachers’ unions continue to be among the most organized and enduring forces in public life. Major donor networks on the left—the quiet philanthropists who fund advocacy groups, think tanks, and civic coalitions—still wield deep and strategic influence. Cultural platforms such as NPR and public television remain respected venues for reflective discourse, and progressive think tanks in Washington and beyond still supply much of the intellectual framework for future policy debates.
These enduring pillars ensure that even when out of formal power, progressivism retains an infrastructure of thought, education, and culture. The nation’s soul, after all, is not defined by election cycles alone.
Still, one can understand the fear. To those who see hard-won rights and inclusive norms threatened, the idea of a single ideological current controlling not just legislation but the terms of conversation feels like suffocation. And to those who hold the reins of power today, this should serve as a warning, not a boast.
The conservative movement, now enjoying perhaps its most unified moment in a generation, must remember that power is a lease, not a deed. The temptation to overreach—to press advantage too far, to govern with triumph rather than stewardship—is a perennial danger. America’s political pendulum is a merciless corrector of arrogance. The side that forgets humility soon discovers the limits of dominance.
For conservatives, this should be a moment not of conquest but of consolidation—of proving to a diverse nation that limited government can still be compassionate, that freedom can coexist with fairness, and that moral clarity does not mean moral superiority. For progressives, it must be a season of reflection rather than despair—of reconnecting with communities where their message has grown distant and of rebuilding trust that can outlast the moment’s losses.
Ultimately, the country cannot thrive on alternating triumphalism and resentment. The future belongs not to those who crush opposition but to those who keep dialogue open even when they could close it. The strength of our republic has always rested not on unanimity but on the capacity to argue—openly, honestly, and in good faith—without fear of exclusion.
Today’s majority, whatever its persuasion, would do well to remember: no one holds the microphone forever. Power demands not only conviction but grace. The true test of leadership is not how firmly one governs when ascendant, but how wisely one prepares for the day when the pendulum swings again.
Author’s Note:
Thomas R. Drummond writes on American history, politics, and civic culture. His work explores how enduring democratic values—dialogue, balance, and humility in power—shape the nation’s character across generations. He is the author of BIRTH of AMERICA, Born on the Fourth of July and co-author of BURIED TREASURES. The Real-Life Amazing Story of My Remarkable Family.
