Since the Trump and Brexit bombs exploded and sent shockwaves through Western civilization in 2016, the contest over who can issue the direst prognosis for the state of humanity has raged.

At first, the years themselves took the brunt of the blame. Some variation of “F*** 2016!” was a common post to see on social media, particularly following news of a natural disaster or a celebrity death. More beloved actors and musicians seemed to be dying that year than ever before. For secular liberals with college degrees — i.e. the Democratic base — it was as if we’d been hexed. It’s amazing how instinctively religious even the irreligious can be.