For half a century, Frances Fox Piven has worked as a dedicated sociologist and activist. In other words, she’s seen a few things. And she has a warning for us: Don’t get too cozy. Things could get decidedly worse, and there’s a good chance the U.S. could still become a fascist country.

Thursday, in an interview with The Guardian, the 90-year-old Piven, who has previously been targeted and threatened by far-right figures — said now is not the time to be complacent, simply because the midterms have ended and the “red wave” failed to materialize, Business Insider reports. The Republicans, after all, did reclaim the House.

“I don’t think this fight over elemental democracy is over, by any means,” she told The Guardian. “The United States was well on the road to becoming a fascist country — and it still can become a fascist country.”

And of course, Donald Trump looms large in this disturbing idea, with his former attorney Michael Cohen warning in October that Trump is “the standard-bearer for corrupt dictator wannabes.”

“He is the poster boy for fascism,” he warned in his book Revenge: How Donald Trump Weaponized The Department Of Justice Against His Critics.”

The picture Piven paints isn’t a pretty one either. And she’s not the only academic who says the U.S. may still march toward fascism.

Late last December, the noted political scientist Thomas Homer-Dixon offered this dire warning: A Trump presidential win in 2024 could spell the end of democracy in America. In an opinion piece for The Globe And Mail, Homer-Dixon, who considers himself a “scholar of violent conflict,” warns that the U.S. is turning “increasingly ungovernable.” He also predicted the country could “descend into civil war” if the situation continues as is.

Is a US right-wing dictatorship likely? Questions, disagree, or want to know more? Meet me in the article's #CommentsSection Dec 31 and Jan 1 to discuss. (1/3) https://t.co/rYzkn7ldZ4

— Thomas Homer-Dixon (@TadHomerDixon) December 31, 2021

While it’s good news that the Democratic Party maintained control of the Senate, Piven cautions there are too many things left in place that could still plunge the nation into fascism.

“There is the crazy mob, MAGA; an elite that is oblivious to what is required for political stability; and a grab-it-and-run mentality that is very strong, very dangerous,” Piven told the newspaper.

“I was very frightened about what would happen in the election, and it still could happen,” she said.

And even as years pass, “vengeance politics” will continue to escalate, and the right-wing will continue its attacks on President Joe Biden, especially now that Republicans control Congress.

“The MAGA mob is not a majority is not a majority of the American population by any stretch of the imagination, but the fascist mob don’t have to be the majority to set in motion the kinds of policies that crush democracy,” she said.

In a Congress stuffed with such right-wing nuts as Marjorie Taylor Greene, Lauren Boebert, Matt Gaetz, and Paul Gosar, to name a few, it’s easy to see how fascism could build a home in America.

This country can’t afford another Trump presidency. The same holds true if far-right Florida governor Ron DeSantis runs, and wins the 2024 presidential election. So if Democrats are serious about maintaining Democracy in this country, they had better do whatever it takes to do so.

This has been my happy story for today. We have all been warned and we’d best pay attention.