My son was struggling – then he fell for Trump’s toxic brand of ‘masculinity’. I’m heartbroken

A progressive father on how Maga drove a wedge between him and his son - and how he's trying to salvage their relationship

• Read more from our series on young men and the US election

I didn't get a call from my son on Father's Day this year. Our political disagreements have made things hard.

I'm a 59-year-old progressive and a special education teacher, and I'm voting for Kamala Harris in November. Nick* is 21, and he would say that he holds traditional, conservative values - but he's conflating those values with radical Maga ideas, which correlate the right with patriotism, manhood, intelligence, independence and honesty. I understand where my son's vulnerabilities came from, and why this rightwing posturing was able to seep into him. I understand it, but I still regret it.