Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been, America?

This reflective essay analyzes the deepening polarization in the United States following the 2024 presidential election and the victory of Donald Trump. Ewa Antoszek contextualizes the rise of populist and anti-intellectual rhetoric, drawing on cultural, political, and media dynamics that have reshaped public discourse. The essay uses George Packer’s framework of the four Americas—Free, Real, Smart, and Just—to explain ideological fragmentation. Antoszek connects the US political climate to broader European trends, particularly in Poland, highlighting how right-wing populism and patriarchal norms are gaining traction transnationally.