"You get your hopes up thinking youโ€™ve found a friend, then all of a sudden, they post the Turning Point halftime show on their Facebook."

I'm an LA-based trending news writer covering health, politics, and internet culture.

"I'm mostly center-left, although I've learned to never be critical of this admin or its leaders, especially the man at the top. People openly spew the latest right-wing talking points and largely are OK with how detained immigrants are being treated, as well as American citizens being harassed, beaten, or losing their lives just for protesting."

"I would never have guessed people are so hateful and happy to show it. I believe in 'We the People,' not 'We the Democrats or Republicans.' Our pastor said, 'Politics will stop being our demon when politicians stop being our gods,' and he hit the nail on the head. People need to wake up and realize what's important. Who we vote for shouldn't come at a sacrifice of our humanity."

"What is most unsettling is realizing, in real time, that policies are being designed and implemented to erode our well-being and mental health: the gutting of the Department of Education, shifting SBA policies that make it harder for Black entrepreneurs, and rolling back civil rights protections that widen gaps, such as access to housing and education, instead of closing them.ย 

Despite these challenges, I am reminded, sometimes by faith alone, that we must keep moving forward. We have always done so. We continue to pray for strength, for clarity, and for hope. We connect, we organize, and we persist."

"I have faced discrimination from jobs for being educated and autistic, whether it is in librarian or teacher-related fields. It is hard to find stability when the workforce is very cliquish, and others do not accept my personality as a caring, compassionate, open-minded individual who shares progressive values of equal rights for all. I am in a state where everyone should think alike and not have a mind of their own. I watch a lot of horror films, and I'm looking forward to being a final girl surviving this era."

Note: Some responses have been edited for length and/or clarity.