The author sums up the sentiment about democracy well, “Now, Trump is always going to present the best case he can. And yes, he lies. This is provable. But the strength of this rally wasn’t about the facts and figures. It was a group of people who felt like they had someone in their corner, who would fight for them.”

The facts of climate change, technological progress (and its perils), the measurable benefits of free trade and the inescapable silliness of building an actual border wall… don’t matter. Feeling good is what matters. Probably because so many people feel so bad.