Politics in the 21st century is witnessing a new type of divide. Rather than being between the Left and the Right, electorates are increasingly being divided between those supporting the status quo and those who want radical change.

Joe Biden exemplifies how the political establishment that formed in the 1980s and persisted through the 2000s is on its last legs. Biden, clearly ill and delusional, struggles to fulfill the responsibilities of the president of the United States, much like the old consensus fails to meet the demands of the 21st century. Despite calls for change, Biden remains resolute in his intention to shape the future, mirroring the establishment’s desire to maintain the status quo.

While the mainstream media has only recently started to question Biden’s performance, younger voters have long been disillusioned with his performance and the status quo he represents. Gen Z and Millennials desire more radical actions from Biden, such as raising the national minimum wage, implementing single-payer healthcare, and supporting “Palestine” over Israel.

Biden, who comes from an older generation of Democrat leaders, is interestingly serving as a bulwark against these radical ideas. The same Democrat establishment that stole the 2016 Democrat nomination from democratic socialist Bernie Sanders has been working overtime for the past five years to protect Biden from his left flank in an effort to maintain its ideological influence on national affairs. Biden’s history of moderation may even explain why so-called or former conservatives like Stuart Stevens, Joe Scarborough, and Tim Miller have been some of the biggest Biden cheerleaders during his four years in office.

Another development from the past two weeks that reveals the division between status-quo statists and change-makers is the loss of Freedom Caucus Chairman Bob Good to the Swamp-backed Virginia State Senator John McGuire. While one can levy justified critiques of Good’s management of the Freedom Caucus, he is a conservative stalwart whose voice is greatly appreciated in Congress.

Why did such a strong, prominent conservative lose a race in a red district? Two words: Donald Trump. The septuagenarian endorsed McGuire, ostensibly as payback because Good endorsed Ron DeSantis at the beginning of the Republican primary.

I call BS on this explanation. Over the years, Trump has shown immense forgiveness to those who have initially shown reluctance toward his candidacy. Consider J.D. Vance, Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, Lindsey Graham, David McCormick, and more. Why could he not extend this forgiveness to Good?

I suspect that this endorsement by Trump is just another step in his long march toward currying favor with the establishment. This past week, Trump even denounced the anti-statist Project 2025, claiming he knew nothing about it.

Trump’s preference for stability over change is consistent. He endorsed primary challengers against Thomas Massie in 2020, recently called for Chip Roy to be primaried, and supported Mike Rogers for a Michigan Senate seat over Freedom Caucus cofounder Justin Amash. Both Trump and Biden are favoring continuity over disruptive change.

A similar pattern is observed in France. In the recent snap elections, Marine Le Pen’s National Rally received the highest share of votes at 33.1%, running on an anti-immigration platform. This outcome has shocked the French political establishment and might force Emmanuel Macron’s centrist party to collaborate with the left-wing New Popular Front to prevent Le Pen’s return.

The election results also reflect an age-based divide. Older voters (70+) showed significant support for Macron’s coalition (32%) and Le Pen’s RN (29%), with less support for the New Popular Front (18%). Conversely, younger voters (18-24) gave only 9% of their votes to Macron’s coalition, 33% to RN, and 48% to the New Popular Front. This indicates a greater polarization among younger generations, similar to trends in the United States, where the youth reject bipartisan centrism embraced by older generations.

The growing political polarization presents both challenges and opportunities. While it is good that the youth are rejecting the entrenched political establishment and its antiquated ideas, it also suggests a future marked by even more disunity and discord.

You can reach Caleb at [email protected].