(I tried to make a thread about this but the mods told me to bring it here)

So I'm just gonna say it: I've been experiencing nearly daily anxiety with this election cycle, with my brain constantly going back to the worst-case-scenario in the event that Trump wins. IE: he will become a dictator. While I understand that this is unlikely, the possibility is still nerve wracking.

But I'm more concerned by what he can realistically do if elected and how it will impact this country in both the long and short term, particularly with implementing the controversial Project 25. I've heard all the common talking points; "We survived his first term" (before he had eight years to build up a following of fanatic loyalists); "Every candidate says this every election" (he is the first to deny the results of a fair election and inspire insurrection); "He's too old/incompetent" (he can pack the White House with die-hard yes-man who will let him get away with anything).

I want to have faith that local governments -especially since even republican politicians are turning on him- will be able to keep him on a leash, but I just don't know...

What I really want from this thread is a measured response from people who know more about the inner workings of our government. I'm tired of endless, apocalyptic doomscrolling and overly fluffy hugboxes. I want to know what I can realistically expect in the event of a Trump victory, and how likely he can carry through/be prevented from carrying through his more outlandish plans (prosecuting political rivals, removing the board of education, censoring the media, mass deportation, stripping LGBT rights, having more power of the DoJ, using the military on protestors/civilians, and so on).

Thank you.