PROJECT 2026: A Mandate for Leadership on the Progressive Promise

This book is a compilation of a series of blogs I wrote over the first year of Donald Trump’s second term of office. The series was entitled, The World Is A Cruel Place For Those Whose Hearts Are Easily Broken. I knew that even if we survived 2025, we couldn’t let things continue as they where much longer. Whether by ouster, the 2026 midterms, or the 2028 presidential election, we must put an end to Trumpism. In many ways we are already too late; but in others ways, it is never too late. The blogs (chapters) reflect my many topics of interest. As a development economist, my heart is in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. With multiple blogs on Gaza and Sudan, it is clear that not just my heart, but my soul is there as well. As a political and social economist, I’ve written on socioeconomic issues and policy. As a U.S. immigrant and dual citizen with Canada, I’ve written on immigration and Trump’s cruel autocratic policies. As a mother of a daughter and her family in Norway, I’ve written in admiration of Norwegian socioeconomic policy. As a grandmother of two white and two Black children, I’ve written on white supremacy and racism. As a global author on matters pertaining to nationalistic populism, I’ve written of U.S. and European Trumpism. As an in-law of a Kenyan family, I’ve written about Africa. Most importantly, as a democratic socialist, I’ve written of my vision for the U.S. future. I am calling on progressives everywhere to work together to change the trajectory of a country rapidly becoming authoritarian and undemocratic-a country abandoning allies and threatening a new and oppressive world order, a country that is dooming the planet and its climate, and a country that has forgotten any humanitarian impulse it ever had to meet the needs of the global poor whose plight has been exacerbated by this country’s exploitative policies, climate emissions, weapons, and wars. It is a country predicated on contempt for the poor and systemic racism, both domestically and globally. I have ten policy proposals, realizing not everyone will agree on all things. I have some red lines, and a few are more pink. The proposals are: Affirmative Action and DEI, Criminal Justice Reform, Free Palestine and No Super PAC Financing, Foreign Assistance, Global Cooperation, Immigration Reform, Public Education, Single-Payer Universal Comprehensive Healthcare, Social Safety Net, and Tax Reform. New Blog – Progressive Now: https: //substack.com/@progressivenow