Here we are again — another day, another thousand “breaking news” stories about our democracy’s collapse. The constant alarm bells have become white noise for many, but the concerns about our nation’s trajectory deserve serious reflection, not apathy.

When the foundations of democratic governance tremble, we cannot afford complacency.

I write this column not for those unwilling to see past party lines. Despite being a Democrat, I am an American first and foremost. My allegiance is to the health of our republic, not to partisan victory at all costs — something that our local Republican “leaders” have seemed to lack.

The challenges we face transcend political identity, demanding honest assessment, regardless of which party might benefit.

Growing up reading history, I’ve been struck by how clearly today’s America reflects patterns that preceded democratic decline elsewhere. Nations rarely collapse overnight; they erode gradually as citizens surrender critical thinking to blind idolization of leaders or ideologies. History’s lessons are painfully clear: The republic dies when people choose comfortable myths over uncomfortable truths.

Let’s be clear: Propaganda isn’t something America is immune to. Propaganda is essentially advertising designed to convince you of something — often against your own interests. While many Republicans once seemed keen on calling out propaganda elsewhere, a significant portion has now embraced it........

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