My previous column (“The Trump Era’s 5 Emerging Constituencies”) critiqued the emerging political constituencies of the Trump era. Today’s chronicles the major challenges confronting our two major parties as a divided nation seeks to find its way forward.

For the Democrats circa 2016 conventional wisdom viewed Hillary Clinton as a slam-dunk winner. Her campaign was to be a reaffirmation of Obama-style progressivism – and the importance of changing demographics. Most pundits foresaw a celebratory coming of age for Obama’s coalition: younger, hip, secular, and very liberal. A large turnout of minority voters (especially Hispanics) would ensure the demise of Donald J. Trump. The flipside was thought to be etched in stone – a death by demographics for the old, white, conservative, fossil fuel powered GOP. That dinosaur had enjoyed a long run. But it was now time to step aside for a new generation sure to dominate presidential cycle voting for the foreseeable future.