"No one is forced to take red pills. We take red pills. The question is why." I first heard Bari Weiss’ voice in November 2024, a week after the U.S. presidential election. My friend had sent me an episode of Weiss’ podcast “Honestly,” and as I was doing chores around the house, I popped in my Airpods with some skepticism. “She makes it clear why Trump got elected,” my friend texted. “Idk, it just makes you feel better.” As a lifelong progressive, I was wary. And yet, I wanted to feel better,