Last night, the U.S. crossed a line that a lot of us have been quietly watching for years.

A nationally framed “Patriot Games” competition — one high school boy and girl per state, competing in an athletic showdown — sounds harmless on paper. But if your stomach dropped when you read that headline, this episode is for you.

In this episode of ABROADly Speaking, I’m talking about why moments like this aren’t isolated, why they feel eerily familiar, and why so many Americans are experiencing a low-grade panic they can’t quite explain. This isn’t about partisan outrage or dramatic predictions — it’s about pattern recognition, power, and what happens when spectacle starts replacing substance.

We’ll talk about why “you’re overreacting” is the most common response right before people regret not acting sooner, how cultural signals matter just as much as laws, and why waiting for a clearer sign is usually how people miss their window.

This is a quiet but ruthless conversation about trust, safety, and agency — and why for many people, the question isn’t if they’ll leave anymore, but when.

If you’ve been feeling unsettled, exhausted, or like you’re watching your country turn into something you don’t recognize, you’re not crazy — and you’re not alone.

And no, you don’t need another sign.