Dwain Northey (Gen X)

For too long, Democrats have clung to the notion that playing fair will eventually win the day. But the modern Republican Party, led by Donald Trump, has rewritten the rules—and Democrats must catch up or be left behind. The GOP has mastered the art of relentless messaging, never letting a scandal die, and turning even the most damning truths into weapons of political advantage. Meanwhile, Democrats often back down or “move on,” allowing lies, corruption, and criminal behavior to fade from public memory. That must end.

Take the Epstein files, for example. Trump’s associations with Epstein, the allegations, the photos, the flight logs—these should be front and center every time he opens his mouth about “law and order.” Instead, Democrats too often shy away, fearing blowback or accusations of playing dirty. The same goes for Trump’s decades of lies, bankruptcies, racial discrimination cases, and his business dealings while in office. The GOP would hang these facts like a noose around any Democrat’s neck and never let go. Why don’t Democrats do the same?

The stakes are too high to keep fighting a fair fight when the other side is setting fire to the rulebook. If democracy is on the line—as Democrats claim—then it’s time to act like it. That means being ruthless with the truth, repeating it, weaponizing it, and refusing to let the public forget. Because if the Democrats don’t play the game to win, the country may lose everything.