Tim, we are social creatures, and fitting in with others is paramount.

I suspect most folks believe those around them more than detached experts or data. The family, neighbors, and friends found in churches, schools, and local organizations forge the opinions. Regional and national commentators can unite themes and people into a broad swath -- and force.

Democrats had a big hand in creating President Donald Trump and undermining democracy (not deliberately, but by their neglect). Over decades, they systematically abandoned rural and small-town America, where they were unlikely to win elections. This left a void that Republicans filled and, with time, consolidated (Republicans offered little, but any relationship is better than none). Trump united the left behind, left out (or worse) leftover people.

Have Democrats learned this lesson? They repeated the behavior in Florida by failing to support candidates adequately because their chances of winning looked slim. The result was Florida shifting from a purple to a red state. There are now efforts to change the situation, but the lapse in attention was enormously costly, and the loss never recovered.

Many thanks. Best.