They’ve been showing up at school board meetings around the country for the last couple years, initially angry about school closures and, more recently, school mask mandates and “critical race theory.” They devour the right-wing headlines about baby formula shortages. If you have kids — or know people who do, especially white people — you’ve probably already noticed that parents who used to be liberal or apolitical have been turning to the right.

Earlier this year, all this anger seemed likely to cost Democrats the midterms. Now, the far right has angered this demographic, too, with bans on abortion and children’s books — two decent indicators of freedom, especially for people raising kids. A significant share of the population opposes book banning and will punish legislators complicit in it, according to current polling, and the same is true of assaults on abortion rights.

American parents are political dynamite because we are already so stressed. It doesn’t have to be this way.