I think in post Covid world zeitgeist you no longer need to cater to "mainstream" to have enough critical mass politically or economically for anything
This dynamic will send mainstream scratching their heads & screaming-meme
Stop asking for permission and stop bending the knee
I don't think much has changed in that regard, minority opinions have always had power in the American political system, which is by design
it's a blessing and a curse, it takes broad consensus to make things happen, so there's a lot of gridlock if people don't operate in good faith
True
