This election spells the end of the world as we know it, warn America's preppers, the survivalists who build secluded homes and stockpile seeds, canned goods, gold, solar panels, generators, and weapons to sustain and protect their families in the event of a national or global catastrophe.
In a fascinating new profile from Politico, some preppers suspect the election will be stolen from Donald Trump — "Trump will win the popular vote by a landslide, and then the Electoral College will give it to [Hillary] Clinton," one says — but they are hardly consistent Trump loyalists. On the contrary, these rural survivalists predict conflict and suffering no matter which candidate triumphs:
The end of the campaign, many in this community believe, is only the beginning: The really bad stuff will begin the day after the election. "I'll be honest with ya, I think some things are going to go down," Lucas told me."Nobody takes Obama seriously," he said, "but the two people who are running for office — a lot of people are scared that he'll hit the nuclear button without even taking a breath, and that she's so wicked that I won't be surprised if she opens the floodgates of ISIS to come in and kill all Americans." Though most of his clients, like him, support Trump, he says, "Most all of them expect there will be riots in either case." [Politico]
"It doesn't matter who wins," another survivalist mused. "We're in trouble." But the preppers' own destiny is far more certain than today's electoral outcome. For those who make survivalism their livelihood, business has boomed throughout campaign season. Cellars are stocked, off-grid dwellings built, and ammunition collected to ward off a world gone mad. Now, it is simply time to wait.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
5 sleeper hit cartoons about Sleepy DonCartoon Artists take on cabinet meetings, a sleepy agenda, and more
-
Political cartoons for December 6Cartoons Saturday’s political cartoons include a pardon for Hernandez, word of the year, and more
-
Pakistan: Trump’s ‘favourite field marshal’ takes chargeIn the Spotlight Asim Munir’s control over all three branches of Pakistan’s military gives him ‘sweeping powers’ – and almost unlimited freedom to use them
-
Trump tightens restrictions for work visasSpeed Read The length of work permits for asylum seekers and refugees has been shortened from five years to 18 months
-
Supreme Court revives Texas GOP gerrymanderSpeed Read Texas Republicans can use the congressional map they approved in August at President Donald Trump’s behest
-
Boat strike footage rattles some lawmakersSpeed Read ‘Disturbing’ footage of the Sept. 2 attack on an alleged drug-trafficking boat also shows the second strike that killed two survivors who were clinging to the wreckage
-
Trump boosts gas cars in fuel economy rollbackspeed read Watering down fuel efficiency standards is another blow to former President Biden’s effort to boost electric vehicles
-
Hegseth’s Signal chat put troops in peril, probe findsSpeed Read The defense secretary risked the lives of military personnel and violated Pentagon rules, says new report
-
Trump pardons Texas Democratic congressmanspeed read Rep. Henry Cuellar was charged with accepting foreign bribes tied to Azerbaijan and Mexico
-
GOP wins tight House race in red Tennessee districtSpeed Read Republicans maintained their advantage in the House
-
Trump targets ‘garbage’ Somalis ahead of ICE raidsSpeed Read The Department of Homeland Security will launch an immigration operation targeting Somali immigrants in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area
