I go back and forth between 'confident' and 'concern' on democracy

I'm not a historian by any standard; I've just watched a lot of documentary episodes on Hitler's rise to power. And someone can correct me but he accomplished his dictatorship by way of propaganda and fear. You either accepted the propaganda as truth, or you were sent off to some prison camp or just executed.

I just recently learned Zuckerberg was threatened by Trump at some point in the past, claiming Facebook/Meta had 'violated' his
freedom of speech by essentially fact checking Trump's propaganda, which Trump decided was election interference and he would imprison Zuck for the 'crime.' 'Course, all Trump wants is unfettered abuse of free speech on all the social networks so his and his supporters' lies get to his base...

Now I learn, Zuck has decided to no longer fact check posts on Facebook/Meta... He has succumbed to the wrath of Trump...concern.

And while we're on the free speech topic, Zuck should remember the free speech clause prohibits only the government telling us what we can or can't say, with a few exceptions. Privately owned businesses are not bound by any free speech regulations. Zuckerberg owns the damned network, he can control the posting content however he sees fit; same as is mandated on this forum. Zuck should have told Trump any interference with Meta's content control will be a violation of his free speech rights.

There are also other corporate types who appear to be ring kissers...concerning.

https://www.politico.com/news/2024/12/16/from-big-tech-to-the-media-the-rush-to-kiss-trumps-ring-is-on-00194625

A few weeks ago, 6 or 8 Repug legislators showed some spine and voted down a bill Trump wanted, which was encouraging for the pro-democracy movement. Then I heard a comment from Thune that Congress may not always be able to legislate to suit Trump...encouraging. Then I hear another comment that Thune told Trump not to worry over his nominee confirmations...concerning.

All the political moves to come with confirmations and Trump swayed legislation will maybe be the acid tests for the direction the country will go. I think we all know, the only guardrail that can maybe stop Trump is Congress. If a handful of GOP Representatives and Senators decide to retain our Constitutional Republic, Trump's term will be a repeat of his first term...lots of lies, empty talk and whining, with no significant accomplishments...encouraging. But I've also heard from journalists the Senate sentiment is favoring Trump on his nominee confirmations...concerning.

I keep, possibly mistakenly, thinking that the Congress will step up and save the Country...and maybe there are too many people like me thinking similar, which may partly explain why Harris isn't President elect.

But if I had Zuck's $200B and 3B users on Meta, I'd tell Trump to f*ck off and bring it on.