Ten and a half long months ago, America began slipping into a dark and frightening place. Many people already believed Trump was dangerous based on how chaotic and damaging his first term had been. But even with that memory, very few were ready for how disastrous his second term would turn out. It felt as if the country had stepped into a storm with no clear way out.
Part of the reason things went downhill so quickly was that Republicans won control of both the House and the Senate. With that power, Trump felt unstoppable. Members of his own party were scared to oppose him. He bullied, pressured, and intimidated them into approving whatever he wanted, even when those ideas made no sense or would hurt the American people. For months, it seemed like no one in his party had the courage to say “no.”
But recently, something in Washington has started to shift.
A group of Republicans — the same people who once defended Trump through every scandal — are suddenly pushing back. They are rejecting his strange economic idea of giving Americans $2,000 “tariff dividend” checks, a proposal economists say would only make inflation worse. They are also refusing to support his plan to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies for another two years. These lawmakers, once silent, are finally talking about the national budget again as if it actually matters.
Foreign policy is breaking them apart too. Republicans who usually speak strongly against Russia are now disturbed by Trump’s warm, almost cheerful behavior toward Vladimir Putin. His soft stance on the war in Ukraine has shocked members of his own party who believe America should not be cozying up to dictators.
And then there are all the smaller moments that have added fuel to their growing frustration: Trump’s friendly meeting with Zohran Mamdani, a progressive politician many Republicans strongly dislike; his refusal to release the Jeffrey Epstein files, which raised suspicions even among his allies; and the strange, poorly explained bombing missions in the Caribbean involving Trump and Pete Hegseth. Some members of Congress want answers — real answers — not the confusing and inconsistent statements the White House has been giving.
When Marjorie Taylor Greene, one of Trump’s loudest defenders, suddenly decided to quit Congress, most people assumed she had picked a fight with Trump and lost. But now, more Republicans are privately talking about stepping down too. If enough of them leave, Trump and his loyal House Speaker Mike Johnson could lose the ability to block Democratic legislation — a nightmare scenario for the White House.
And this leads to a surprising question:
Is the Republican Party finally growing a backbone?
As shocking as it may seem, yes. A small handful of them are rediscovering the courage they lost somewhere along the way. And once a few begin to stand up straight, others start remembering what it feels like to stand up at all.
But the real question is: Why now? Why not months ago, when the damage was already piling up?
Because the MAGA base — the force Republicans have feared for years — is finally showing signs of breaking. Trump’s most loyal supporters are beginning to see the truth: he is a man who only cares about himself. Not the country. Not the working class. Not the people who trusted him with their votes. His only real interest is power, wealth, and stamping his name on buildings and deals.
He promised he would fix everything “on day one,” but by month ten, the people who believed in him the most are feeling more betrayed than ever. Prices are high, wages are stagnant, and Trump refuses to take responsibility for any of it. Instead, he calls the affordability crisis a “con,” as if millions of struggling families are simply imagining their hardship.
Meanwhile, Democrats have been quietly gaining ground. They won races last month that they almost never win. And earlier this week, they performed surprisingly well in a deeply Republican district in Tennessee — a warning sign for Trump that even his strongest territories are beginning to slip.
So, if you’re feeling a sense of satisfaction watching the MAGA movement fall apart, be careful. This is not the moment to relax. History has shown that when Trump feels cornered or embarrassed, he reacts in unpredictable and extreme ways. He will do anything to shift attention away from failure, even if it means creating new chaos for the country.
That is why many political observers are warning Americans to stay alert. The most dangerous version of Trump appears when he senses that his power is cracking.
This analysis was written by Robert Reich, a professor of public policy at UC Berkeley and former U.S. Secretary of Labor. He often writes about democracy, inequality, and the direction of the country. His essays can be found on his Substack page, and his newest memoir, Coming Up Short, is available through major booksellers and independent bookshops nationwide.
