Let’s cut through the bullshit. January 6th, 2025, is not just another anniversary of an already infamous day—it’s a goddamn warning shot aimed straight at our collective heads. Four years after the insurrection that shattered the illusion of American democracy’s stability, we’re looking down the barrel of a political moment that could be even more dangerous than 2021. Why? Because nothing has fundamentally changed to prevent it—and in many ways, the situation has gotten a hell of a lot worse.

If you’re not worried yet, buckle the fuck up, because here’s why this year should terrify you.

First, let’s talk about 2021—the day a mob of Trump supporters decided to cosplay as revolutionaries and storm the Capitol. Fueled by months of election lies, conspiracy theories, and Donald Trump’s refusal to accept reality, these people became the blunt instrument of his narcissistic rage. They attacked police officers, smashed through barricades, and roamed the halls of Congress, some carrying zip ties, others chanting about hanging Mike Pence.

Trump watched it unfold on TV, reportedly loving every second. He didn’t send the National Guard. He didn’t condemn the violence. He egged them on—because for him, it wasn’t an attack on democracy. It was a loyalty test.

And sure, some of the rioters faced consequences: prison sentences, fines, and bans from government jobs. But let’s not kid ourselves. The big fish—Trump, his enablers in Congress, and the right-wing media that poured gasoline on the fire—walked away mostly unscathed. Sure, Trump was impeached (again), but Senate Republicans didn’t have the balls to convict him. And just like that, accountability went poof.

Fast forward to 2025, and here’s where we are: Donald Trump is still a political kingmaker, Republicans are more radicalized than ever, and Democrats are still perfecting their impersonation of a wet paper bag.

The GOP didn’t learn a damn thing from January 6th. If anything, they doubled down. Election denialism isn’t a fringe belief anymore—it’s mainstream Republican orthodoxy. The crazies have taken over, from Marjorie Taylor Greene to Matt Gaetz, and their base has followed suit. These people aren’t interested in governing. They’re interested in burning the whole system down and crowning Trump—or someone just as unhinged—their authoritarian messiah.

What did the Democrats do in response? Not enough. They passed some reforms (like the Electoral Count Reform Act of 2022), but when it came to systemic changes—like expanding the Supreme Court, safeguarding voting rights, or holding Trump and his cronies accountable—they fucking folded. Why? Because they’re obsessed with bipartisanship, even when the other side is openly plotting their destruction.

The trust we once had in our institutions—courts, elections, the media—is in the shitter. Right-wing propaganda has turned half the country into conspiracy theorists who think vaccines are tracking devices and Joe Biden is a Chinese puppet. Meanwhile, the left has grown increasingly cynical about a system that seems incapable of protecting democracy. The result? A country that’s more divided, angrier, and closer to breaking than it’s been in generations.

So, what makes this year worse than 2021? Several reasons.

Whether Trump is in office or not, his shadow looms large. He’s still rallying his base, still crying about stolen elections, and still stoking the flames of grievance politics. His followers have had four years to stew in their anger, and they’re more organized and motivated than ever.

Since 2021, Republicans have focused on consolidating power at the state level. They’ve passed voter suppression laws, gerrymandered districts to hell, and installed loyalists in key election positions. If there’s another contested election, they’ve set the stage to simply throw out the results they don’t like.

What was shocking in 2021—like open calls for violence and insurrection—is just Tuesday in 2025. The Overton window has shifted so far right that politicians can talk about overthrowing the government without losing their jobs—or their voters.

In 2021, people were shocked. Outraged. Ready to fight for democracy. In 2025, that urgency is gone. The public has become desensitized, distracted, and disengaged, which makes it easier for authoritarian forces to take over without resistance.

Here’s the part where you should start losing sleep.

If this all sounds hopeless, it’s not. But it’s going to take work. Here’s what we need to do—right now.

January 6th, 2025, is a reminder of what happens when we take democracy for granted. Four years ago, we watched as a violent mob tried to overthrow the government. Today, we face an even greater threat: the slow, deliberate dismantling of democracy from within.

The question isn’t whether another January 6th will happen. The question is whether we’ll be ready when it does. And if we’re not? Well, then we’ll have no one to blame but ourselves.