There is understandable angst among liberals and progressives over the (re)election of Donald Trump. Some are trying to understand the “working class” who turned on them in the election, and, while proclaiming a reformed “Resistance,” suddenly realize they shouldn’t be scornful of “flyover country” and deeply held cultural norms. In that light, here’s a sampling of what the mainstream (e.g. “lamestream”) print media is offering:

• David Brooks, New York Times: Many on the left focused on racial inequality, gender inequality and L.G.B.T.Q. inequality. I guess it’s hard to focus on class inequality when you went to a college with a multibillion-dollar endowment and do environmental greenwashing and diversity seminars for a major corporation. Donald Trump is a monstrous narcissist, but there’s something off about an educated class that looks in the mirror of society and sees only itself.

There will be some on the left who will say Trump won because of the inherent racism, sexism and authoritarianism of the American people. Apparently, those people love losing and want to do it again and again and again.

• Dana Milbank, Washington Post: A majority of us — a very slim majority, but a majority, with votes still being counted — have declared themselves okay with the vulgarity, the explicit racism, the disinformation, the erratic pronouncements and the talk of suspending the Constitution, imprisoning critics and using the U.S. military to attack Americans who dissent. In response to the popular chant at Kamala Harris rallies, Americans said: We are going back.

• Ross Douthat, New York Times: Far from vindicating the rule of law, the entire project of prosecuting a candidate for president while he ran for president foreseeably made the rule of law a hostage to the political process. And it left the Democrats in the difficult position of arguing that Trump was a grave danger because he might prosecute his political enemies — while he was being serially prosecuted himself.

• Maureen Dowd, New York Times: We must now fathom the unfathomable: All the misogynistic things, the racist things, the crude things, the undemocratic things he’s said and done don’t negate his appeal to millions of voters. Because he will once again be our president, and he has declared that he has “an unprecedented mandate.”

Fasten your seatbelts. It’s going to be a bumpy ride. We have to accept a lot of Americans want Trump in charge.

• Megan McArdle, Washington Post: While some voters were undoubtedly voting on democracy, or immigration, or race or gender, most of them seem to have been participating in a pretty normal anti-incumbent election in which a telegenic candidate beat a weak opponent who was tied to an unpopular administration and following a suboptimal playbook. Obviously, that’s disappointing if you supported Harris and think Trump’s character is unworthy of the office. But it also means that in four years, you’ve got the normal chance of taking that office back.

• The Onion: CHAPPAQUA, NY — Pressing her finger to the recently defeated candidate’s lips and urging her not to be afraid, a cloaked Hillary Clinton reportedly beckoned Kamala Harris to follow her into the woods. “Come, it’s time for you to join me beyond the pines — surrender yourself to the embrace of nature,” said the 2016 Democratic presidential nominee, pulling back her hood, smiling gently and offering a hand to Harris as John Kerry emerged from a distant spruce wearing a flowing linen shawl to assure the vice president that it would all be okay. “There are wonders here, where the sunshine breaks through the canopy and the cryptids nurse from the stream. Now listen to the leaves... Here you are safe. Here you are free. Here you are with her.” At press time, reports confirmed Harris’ eyes had dilated as she gazed into the abyss and waited for acceptance by the forest spirits.

Further comment on the local election awaits a more complete vote count, a count that is coming in ever so slowly (and yes, we know every registered voter gets a mail-in ballot). Counties have until Dec. 5 to certify their election results.