Hope Springs Eternal

Guest Opinion

By Karen Mulvahill | April 11, 2026

Have you ever been walking along the road and spotted a plant that had split the asphalt to reach the sun? I’m reminded of this image when I think of the No Kings protest on March 28. It was a wild blossoming of outrage against those who would pave over the Constitution with their crimes.

And yet, amid this sea of people, I also felt hope. Hopeless people don’t come out on a cold day that felt more like winter than spring. There were thousands of us in Traverse City. I felt hope.

The symbolism of spring as a time of awakening, rebirth, and light is as old as human existence. If we look hard, we can spot positive signs popping up like crocuses and snowdrops. Yes, each hopeful bud is surrounded by a field of noxious weeds. Still, it’s important that we look for them, nurture them. I had a boss who used to say smugly, “Hope is not a strategy.” But in actuality, it is. It helps us see possibilities in difficult circumstances.

Numerous lawsuits have been brought against this administration and won. The ACLU alone has filed 239 legal actions against the administration, 64 percent of which achieved success in “delaying, diluting, or defeating the Trump agenda.”

One of the big strikes against Trump was when the Supreme Court struck down his tariffs. And his attempt to abolish the Consumer Financial Protection Agency was stymied by a federal judge who said the administration “acted arbitrarily, capriciously, and contrary to law.”

In a victory for freedom of speech, another judge ruled that restricting press access to the Pentagon was unconstitutional. And yet another ruling in late March found the president’s order to end federal funding for NPR and PBS unconstitutional.

The unprecedented level of crimes against immigrants continues, but there are pockets of hope here and there. Following the murders of U.S. citizens poet Renee Good and ICU nurse Richard Pretti, the majority of Americans believe ICE has gone too far. And arguments during the Supreme Court’s hearing on the birthright citizenship case demonstrated the justices’ skepticism of the administration’s point of view. It is likely that by June or July the court will reaffirm birthright citizenship.

There’s been pushback as well on the administration’s attacks on the LGBTQ+ community. Last year, the NEA disqualified for grants any organization that promotes “gender ideology.” Sued by a number of arts organizations, the court held that the NEA’s rule violated the First Amendment and was “arbitrary and capricious.” In another case, a judge ruled that the Department of Defense (DOD) must stop censoring classroom and library materials pertaining to race and gender in the DOD-run schools.

Going to war with Iran was a tragic decision. Changing the name of the Department of Defense to the Department of War should’ve been a signal. To now call the trillions of dollars that will be spent “defense spending” is true hypocrisy. Let’s call it what it is: “Trump’s war” and “war spending.”

While it’s hard to pluck out anything hopeful here, I suppose it’s possible that the resultant soaring costs of gas and groceries will lead voters who believed candidate Trump’s promises to turn away from Republicans in the midterm elections. There are even a number of prominent MAGA supporters who have expressed disagreement with their dear leader on this issue.

On the environmental front, there are dozens of lawsuits underway. A number have been won already, such as allowing wind projects to go forward, protecting salmon in the Columbia River, and restoring the National EV Infrastructure charging network program. Many state and local units of government are undertaking their own efforts to protect the environment, often involving zero emissions goals. In our own backyard, we have numerous NPOs actively engaged in taking care of our precious resources.

Yes, it is like playing Whac-a-Mole, with the moles reproducing like cancer cells. Ever since the Citizens United case was decided, I’ve felt that we were doomed to become an oligarchy. But an effort by the citizens of Montana gives me hope.

Dubbed “The Montana Plan,” the ballot initiative would prohibit corporations from spending money on political candidates or ballot issues. Polling indicates that 75 percent of Montanans are in support. If every state were to adopt a similar initiative, the Citizens United decision, a decision 80 percent of Americans disagree with, would be moot.

Trump’s approval rating has steadily declined, now below 40 percent. I hope this dissatisfaction will be reflected in the midterms. I hope that the elections are held and are not manipulated by the GOP. If that is your hope, contact your senator to oppose the SAVE act, which would make voting much more difficult for millions of people.

Stay strong. Stay engaged. Stay hopeful. Like that little plant cracking the asphalt, together we can break through to the light.

Karen Mulvahill is a writer living in northern Michigan. Her new book, The Lost Woman, is now available.