Carl Sagan may very well be correct, however he didn't make predictions about when such an event might occur, and his predictions were aimed at avoiding it occurring at all.

I've seen this article appear several times in two distinct time periods, one was after Trump was elected the first time, and the second is now.

Why is it popular now? Because people opposed to the present political party want to portray it as a decent into darkness and superstition. It's being used as a tool and it's hyperbole.

Don't fall for the trap, things in the US at least appear to be improving tremendously in just a matter of weeks. Border security is improving, cutting off trafficking and drugs. Middle East peace is advancing. Ukraine might be settled. Significant waste is being cut from government spending etc.