Adam,totally agree with your justified anger and frustration! Dems have had lots of time to prepare and organize resistance because T has been telling us what he planned to do and now he’s doing it as fast as he can. I hope I’m wrong, but I don’t think we’re going to get it until it gets so bad people take to the streets and that has other whole implications. Not even sure if they would. Dems aren’t doing it : Freedom and Responsibility Party now while it’s still possible to form a new party. The way corporations and individuals are rolling over turns my stomach!
I have been thinking pretty much since last week about how disillusioned I am with the party. I am far too familiar with the futility of starting a third party, so I won’t bring that into the picture, but right now the void in leadership is startling. Seeing Obama and Biden and commiserating with Trump both in the WH and at Carter’s funeral was kind of a wake up call for me. I don’t need to hear anymore “they are trying to protect the norms.” F that. What are we doing here?? Are we serious about opposing this guy, or are we just passively going along with the ominously words of Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts who said, “the revolution will be bloodless, if the left allows it to be.” I hope Adam finally jumps into the party and kicks up some dirt. Chuck Schumer is not inspiring a lot of confidence right now.
Hegseth cutting General Milley’s security detail, eyes stripping him of star. Outragious!!!! Being a Veteran I'm pissed. Who's next George Washington?
Dr. Fauci being stripped of security. Outragious!!!!
We need to do something. We can write to the Senators and Representatives in Congress but that seems to be useless. We can protest but the weather right now would make it difficult. Boycotting companies that are SUPPORTING THE REPUBLICAN PARTY makes sense right now. For starters:
These CEO's attended the Trump inauguration:
Elon Musk - Boycott Tesla, X/Twitter
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg - Boycott Facebook and Instagram
Amazon's founder, Jeff Bezos - Boycott Amazon. Whole Foods and Zappos
Apple CEO Tim Cook - Boycott Apple Computer
Shou Zi Chew, TikTok's CEO - Boycott TikTok
Google CEO Sundar Pichai - Boycott Google, Fitbit and Nest
Companies that a majority of their political donations went to Trump/Republicans in alphabetical order:
AAA, Allstate, Applebees, Arby's, A&W, Brooks Shoes, Buffalo Wild Wings, Carl's Jr, Charles Schwab, Chick-Fil-A, Chili's, Coors, Cracker Barrel, Dairy Queen, Delta Airlines, Discount Tire, Dole Food, Dollar Tree, Dunkin Donuts, Duracell, Five Guys, Fruit Of Loom, Great Clips, Goya Foods, Hardee's, HBO, Hobby Lobby, Home Depot, Hooters, IHOP, Jersey Mike's, Jimmy John's, KFC, Krispy Kreme, Little Caesars, LL Bean, Maytag, Michelob, Miller Beer, New Balance, Outback Steakhouse, Panera Bread, Papa John's, Pizza Hut, Procter & Gamble, Taco Bell, Texas Roadhouse, Sirius XM, Wendy's, Whirlpool, White Castle, USAA, Waffle House, Wayfair.
I can't spell it out anymore then this!! If you feel like you can't make that sacrifice, just think of the men and women and their families that are disabled or died in action serving their country for us for our freedom. Vietnam Veteran
These are terrific, concrete, suggestions--thank you. I'm already following most of them, and although I have drastically reduced my Amazon spending, I haven't actually pulled the plug yet--or on Instagram either. But mulling it over. Sadly, of the long list of companies you cited, except for Wayfair and Home Depot, there isn't a single one that I have ever used! I guess that makes me practically un-American...but I can live with that.
P.S. My Amazon "trick" is to use their search engine to find products, then search the internet to buy directly from the manufacturer/company--and for books, I borrow from the library or buy used from Thrift Books.
P.S. again. Support Costco. They are keeping their DEI program and are a fantastic company--great products, treat their employees well, and overall are ethically sound.
Thanks for doing your part, it feels good to do something!!! Spread the word. All the large hardware stores support the Fascist so you can't do much there.
Thank you! I've copied the list of companies to boycott and will start writing letters to them, and every time I choose another store instead of them, I will also write and tell them.
Thank you for this! I am surprised about a few of them. I am trying to avoid ordering anything from Amazon, but have not stopped using FB or Instagram. I am following certain people, like Robert Reich and Heather Cox Richardson, on them and as long as they keep posting on these platforms, I will stay.
I have no idea why Robert Reich and Heather Cox Richardson would still be using these platforms? That's crazy!! It's like me going out and buying a Mercedes during World War 2.
I get what you're saying but you HAVE them so maybe donate them to like a veterans group or St.Jude where parents have to fly there for their kids treatments or other groups. Then stop using Delta but it's a shame just to toss those miles.
Exactly. Trying to play by outdated norms is part of what got us here. There are no norms in the fight for survival. Don't play nice with the enemy and give him more power.
Christopher, there hasn't been any real effort at a third party in a long time. I'm not talking about like Ross Perot, but a big united effort of disaffected Republicans, Demoocrats aKnd INDEPENDENTS that could get funded and have moderate platform and strong leadership emanating from both parties, i.e. Kinsinger, Cheney, Whitmer, Pritzker, Bresshear etc. Yes, some would have to leave the Dems, but the Dems are really showing how incredibly ineffective they are right now. When what you keep doing isn't working at all. in my opinion you need to try a new tack. I envisage this as the party of moderate, sane folks who right now are ringing their hands and saying what do we do to stop this s--t! I'm not saying it's easy. But right we're blowing in the wind while T just keeps hammering us to Jello! And then he will have exactly what he wants and the moderate majority is screwed!
I've forwarded Adam's message to anyone and everyone. Honestly, I'm frustrated as he'll with my parry. I felt like we had it together going into the election and was shocked by the outcome. I begged people to volunteer and people are lazy, apathetic and " don't want to get involved". We've had Project 2025 in front of us for a long. The only suprise is that he won the election. I don't know what else to do. I've lost friends and family over this monster. I'll keep fighting the fight but people need to get off the sofa and do something. WAKE PEOPLE UP!!
165 million people who didn't vote for Trump will need to come up with some courage to fight back. Only 1,500 maniacs were able to mount a attack on our government. If we don't push back were looking like Russia. We'll see real soon if were the "Land Of The Free And Home Of The Brave". I'm ready, I hope every abled bodied person also is.
THE "LIBERTY BELL" RANG ON JANUARY 20TH. It's time to get serious, we may not be able to protest right now because of the weather but we sure as hell can boycott.
Honestly, I think Democrats are were trying to be all-inclusive and they couldn't spread their wings that far. After watching the Kennedy hearing today, I think 90% of the Republicans should resign for a total lack of backbone. Enabling is just a polite word for other very impolite words. It seems the norm for the trump cabinet isa minimum of 3 marriages 6+kids and at least one major alcohol or drug addiction. They are all being pushed through so fast. No time for a second round of questions. Who is taking this seriously??? At least the dems tried to ask relevant questions. Some actually had MD after their name.
powerful women rise despite great odds but only get called when there is a mess to clean up; then men who are born with the expectation they are in charge of everything pull the power back and proceed to make another mess and when the shit hits the fan once again eventually allow another woman to step forward; it's a rotation; an intermittent "Hail Mary" pass played at a male dominated losing game
Costco is one of the few major companies that hasn’t bowed to T’s order to ditch Dei programs! I just wrote the CEO, Ron Vachris, rvachris@costco.com, to thank him for supporting diversity at Coscto. HOPE YOU CONSIDER DOING SAME!
Agree, Wendy. Some “good people “ I know voted for the FOTUS bc they were told to by their churches, yet they have no idea of what T is doing with the wrecking ball.
Costco is one of the few big compaies who haven't bowed to T's get rid of DEI programs order. Ron Vachris, rvachris@costco.com, is the CEO. I just wrote him and told him Thank You for keeping diversity at Costco. I HOPE YOU WILL CONSIDER DOING THE SAME. It's imperative we support companies and individuals who are standing up!
The "Dark Ages " are back and getting darker by the minute and this time it's in our country. It seems other countries don't have a problem fighting these Fascist, all I hear in America is crickets.
Headlines: Tesla Faces Boycott Call In Poland Over Musk's WWII Comments.
It was reported the other day in the German press that dozens of the most important large universities in the Germany are leaving Elon Musk’s X platform in protest against its increasingly radical direction. Why isn't our country doing that?
C'mon America get with it before it's to late!!!!!
Hakeem Jeffries is not doing much better than Chuck Schumer. Neither compare to Nancy Pelosi, in her 80's who lectured Trump in the Oval Office. Bernie Sanders has been a force of dissent. It is not the age, it is the courage and backbone.
As Biden said and believe him -- it is up to not any one man or party but us. It's on us. But who would lay down money and bet on any of us? Not even us. Take up the mantle or not. No one is coming to our rescue.
Exactly. The Dems are in shock, or intimidated, or really have nothing that can make an attention-grabbing message. Adam is not scared, is courageous, well-spoken, and let’s face it, young, white, male and telegenic. He also has integrity, honor, decency, dignity, all things alien to the MAGAtocracy but not to true independents and liberals prepared to take half or a that of a loaf rather than being forced to swallow what’s coming out of the backside of the felon in chief disguised as his mouth. It may not seem like a good time as this regime is new. But it has already caused so much damage that I ask an old question another oppressed group asked in another context, Adam—if not now, when? And if not you, who? If we wait too long, there may be no saving this country.
I was a Republican the first half of my adult life. Switched to Democrat right after Reagan. Now, I wouldn't wish the Democratic Party on anyone. Especially Adam Kinzinger. He is strong and needs to stay right where he is. Jeffries and Schumer? They are not leaders by any stretch of the imagination. I am going Independent as soon as is possible for me.
I am wishcasting. But if the Dems are serious about fighting against authoritarianism, they need to open up the tent and welcome anyone who is against the dismantling of our constitutional republic.
In my opinion, this is NOT the time to run a presidential campaign. It's a time to offer constructive criticism if you have any, and if not, to shut up and think.
Too many people constantly blame Democrats for being "bad at messaging". As if somehow in a democracy, that's what politicians SHOULD be focused on. It's easy to be "good at messaging" if your message is designed to make people hate The Government and The Elites and if you have a two-decades-old fake news machine in the form of Fox spewing lies for you 24/7.
Democrats are democrats. That means: they are experts in GOVERNING, so in figuring out how to make real progress for the American people, and how to negotiate with many different fractions of the party, how to ensure that interests groups are involved in the process etc.
No serious democratic party (liberal or conservative) is supposed to be constantly "messaging". It's the job of the media to inform us.
And what would democratic messaging against Trump be? Just venting the same outrage that Adam proposes here? How will that help us? We urgently need to calm down and think (while launching the lawsuits and, behind the scenes, organizing the resistance in Congress, as I'm sure they ARE doing). The challenges are unprecedented, and THE most important thing will be to reach out to Trump voters and those who didn't vote and inform them of what is going on, and make them show up in 2026 and 2028. But in a democracy, it's "we the people" who have to do this. No politician can do it in our place. So... I love Adam, but I didn't find his venting here particularly helpful, I have to admit. Just being mad at each other won't do it. We need to get together and think first.
Sorry, but Adam's right here. I'm a lifelong Dem, but that hasn't blinded me from noticing that Dem leadership isn't messaging with enough urgency in the face of tRump's disastrous edicts. No, Dem leadership is not doing all they can. Where's the gathering of Dems congressman on the steps of the capital to express outrage? Things like that should be happening daily. When messaging is your our only weapon, we need to weaponize it.
So your idea would be to no longer use the few weeks they have to strengthen ties with their constituents at home (a KEY activity of every Congressman to make sure that he can be reelected, especially in swing districts), and to just stand there on stairs yelling each day, while the House is in recess?
I can imagine that that would make you feel as if your feelings of outrage are validated, but as a political strategy to fight back, it's sounds ridiculously ineffective to me... .
More than ever before, we need them to THINK and use their constitutional power in the best way possible. That means: doing exactly what they did during Trump's first term, using their long experience in Congress to legally block as much of his agenda as possible, and undermining, bill after bill, GOP unity by negotiating with those who still represent constituents that are old-school Republicans, not MAGA.
So no, messaging is not only Dems "only weapon", in the current media landscape it's an extremely weak weapon (the GOP "floods the zone" with outrageous stuff, as Bannon called it, so outrage is everywhere these days, so much so that more and more people are tuning out, just to keep their sanity), AND once the House is back in session, Democrats have MUCH more powerful tools at hand.
They are also explaining this, right now, in their many appearances (TV, independent podcasts such as The Bulwark (GOP, Never-Trumpers), Brian Taylor Cohen, David Pakman, Meidastouch, Adam Kohler, and so many others. It all makes a lot of sense to me...
So IMHO we need to stop complaining and become part of the solution, doing what ONLY we can do: TALKING with our neighbors, family members etc who fell for the fascist propaganda so that within two years from now, they vote for Democrats.
Thank you! How does one ask the Democrats to please do more? I’m doing what I can in my red state but I can’t email a Democratic politician if they are not my own.
This is a good source and direction in response to the current trauma we are all experiencing from Project 2025's puppet Trump: It is a Substack article entitled POWER ALSO COMES FROM THE BOTTOM UP on the podcast YOUR LOCAL EPIDEMIOLOGIST
also sign up for PUBLIC CITIZEN alerts which solicit signatures; the signatures are accepted after which there is a solicitation for support which you can opt to donate or just close out of site; acceptance of the signature is not predicated on whether you donate -- I get daily e-mail asking for my signature on issues; the most recent Trump's Freeze -- here is a link
you can leave a voice mail message for any representative; I did so leaving a message for Fetterman in PA to voice my concern over his going to "kiss the ring" -- I donated to his campaign from where I live another state -- if you can donate from across state lines -- you can voice opinions -- they have no qualms in asking for money from other states -- which I support wholeheartedly -- I could not email him as a constituent on his web site so I called and left a message for him -- you can even contact Homeland Security -- there was an article on SubStack that outlined all we can do -- it is excellent "MY EPIDEMIOLOGIST" is the site. I'll try to poste it here. I think though I already did so.
I agree to a point. And that is that everyone needs to show, however one can, that the media, and by that I mean any Sinclair owned/operated media, Fox, Washington Post, New York Times, LA Times, WSJ, and ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN and yes, even MSNBC (looking at you Scarborough and Mica), IS IN TRUMP’S POCKET BECAUSE OF THEIR BOTTOM LINE: $$$$$$.
Add to that list UK's "The Telegraph" whose U.S. editor Tony Driver does little else than spew Pro-Trump articles. I was subscribed to the UK Telegraph and unsubcribed after all the Trump muck coming from Driver. And I let them know why. I doubt they care. But who is The Telegraph to come from the UK and start promoting a U.S. wanna be Dictator.
Agree with your sentiments. All the messaging in the world isn't going to do any good because the only ones who will hear are those who already share our views. The MAGA Republicans aren't tuning into or reading the same things we are. And the media is scared to death of speaking out against the orange rage machine, for fear of being shut down. The country is so polarized that I don't know how we reach the other side. They refuse to admit that Trump is a maniacal meglomaniac, even though it's right in their face. The majority of his followers know it isn't okay to do the things he has done, and continues to do, but they have been swept up in his despicable, cruel movement & have been completely indoctrinated. I wish I knew what the answer is, but I fear things may have to get so bad that there's a revolt, a rising up from ALL Americans.
I really think that Harris was right: we need to fight the way MLK Jr. did. And that means bringing together the political and the spiritual. You don't have to be religious to believe in key spiritual values (I'm an atheist), but you can sum it up with Harris's concept of being a "joyful warrior". The NYT and MSM immediately followed Trump when he suggested that it was some form of entertainment and a "honeymoon" that would soon come to pass. They were wrong, and Harris's result in only three months showed how much the concept resonated.
Being a "joyful warrior" comes in part from Harris's Hindu heritage (both Hinduism and Buddhism work with the idea of a spiritual "warrior" and "joyful effort"), and in part from her civil rights background, which taught her to fight NOT against what you hate but FOR what you love, even under the most difficult circumstances.
How to do that? By cultivating what MLK proposes in "strength to love": first of all, learn to love your enemies. As Harris constantly repeated on the campaign trail, that starts with actively deciding to cultivate faith in our common humanity, and to see that we will always have so much more in common than what could ever separate us.
If you know that fascism thrives on division and hatred, it becomes clear why learning to love Trump voters (before we even try to show them how mistaken they are) could be a radical game-changer. It means understanding that they are NOT stupid or evil and that they cannot be reduced to the hatred that they so often seem to feel. It means learning to stand in their shoes first. Look, we only had one week of Trump everywhere and OUR outrage levels and the need to BLAME someone, anyone, even our best allies, is already going up too. When you watch Fox and listen to some of these right-wing podcasts, the outrage is being triggered 24/7.
Talking WITH them will also requires us to increase our emotional intelligence and "be with" our own difficult emotions rather than acting upon them (that's why it's a "spiritual" practice in the first place). We need to learn to stay calm, and then to first just LISTEN to them, so that they feel heard and seen and we break the isolation that their media put them in. It will require time before we gain their trust, but we CAN do this. Only after that's done can we begin to - respectfully - talk about politics.
Fascism, history has shown, vitally needs cynicism to thrive. Start loving your enemies, and you have THE strongest weapon against fascism in hand. And this is something only we citizens can do for each other. So IMHO it's time to roll up our sleeves and get to work. The only way to have a government FOR the people is to have a government BY the people. Now is the time to wake up and build bridges. The joy, in that case, comes from our faith in our common humanity and from the decision to cultivate the belief in democracy. It comes from staying focused on our end goal, so that we can calmly lay the groundwork and tackle each and every obstacle as it comes. That's how to be a "joyful warrior", in the profound sense of the word. And if past generations could do it, why couldn't we? The baton IS now truly in our hands...
Timothy Snyder on the Politics Girl podcast recently advised us to always proffer freedom FOR rather than freedom AGAINST. He cited the example of folks who blame government for all that's wrong. Snyder recommends emphasizing government practices for free meals for kids in school, affordable day care, longer vacations from the workplace (as in Europe), more affordable housing and healthcare. Trump is against those measures. Where do our fellow Americans stand on those needs and programs? Let's find out by speaking with folks. (Campaigning for sanity)
Bandi X. Lee's recent series of podcasts that no one listens to stated we are at a turning point; a "death spiral" that leads to WWIII and total annihilation; but it can be turned around -- she targets the mental state of Trump as not being suitable in his role -- but she said the solution is also partially spiritual. I'd rather die than go thru this and feel so blessed my child had no children.
I read frequently how many MAGA supporters make their voices heard - and not in MAGA sources. Let’s speak out loud and clear - I’m betting it will be covered. The press likes a controversy.
I agree that many are "zombies", but I believe more of them are "sleepwalkers" who just need to wake up and see reality. As they are directly affected by Trump's actions, they MAY wake up, and likely be enraged.
Hi, Theresa: I just don't get why 90,000!! chose not to vote. Why throw the vote away. I know a few people who wrote in a name only they knew. They felt they had expressed their choice so the vote "wasn't wasted."
Re: Trump2016: I was in an LA cab moaning about Trump winning, and the woman driver chimed in saying she didn't vote because she was sure Hillary would win. OMG. That killed me more than anything!
Happy to report that I have 'gotten through' to one non-voter who told me today that she PROMISES to never miss an election again. Prior to November 5, she didn't understand how her one vote would make a difference. Today, she said, "If we can get a million more people to understand this, we'll be in better shape next time." Then she added, "My new favorite word is 'resist'!" By the way, she is 24 years old. This gives me hope.
Good news, John! She’s actively speaking up within her circles (of other non-voters). And believe it or not, we might have Elon Musk to thank. She has been suspicious of him for a while, something just hasn’t sat well with her. Recently, all of the press showing Musk’s Nazi salute ratcheted her alarm. My young friend is of German descent, and the recent rhetoric to ‘get over it’ (I.e., Nazi history) lit a fuse in her. It’s a beautiful transformation of complacency to conviction to action!
"Reaching out to Trump voters." Mike and anyone: Tell me how you'd do this. I have tried in the most calm, open-minded (cross my heart), kind approach I can to even open a discussion of the pros and cons of both Trump and a Democratic candidate. It hasn't worked for me. Trump voters clam up, give me a dirty look and walk away.
I say to myself, "Well, that went well." So help me out, please.
In case it can be of any help, here's my experience. They have been told, for years, a whole series of things about us, and not knowing them makes communication impossible since they'll interpret what we say very differently from what we try to say.
A first very important thing to keep in mind: part of fascist propaganda is to make them believe that objective truth doesn't exist. All truths are subjective, which means that to have access to THE truth (and yes, that's paradoxical), you need to choose your info source wisely and then basically blindly trust it. By definition, that makes fact-checking not only superfluous but also impossible. So the very IDEA of objective evidence (for instance produced by nonpartisan experts) has been entirely abandoned. For them, that does NOT exist... so much so that CLAIMING to want to fact-check ALREADY means that you're lying to them, in their eyes, since these words now simply refer to OUR source of info, which cannot but be false because... it claims something different from their source of info.
Keeping this in mind is absolutely crucial because if not, we'll imagine that they're cynical or that they WANT to get us angry, etc. That's not at all the case. It's simply caused by their belief that there is no objective truth.
Secondly, by now many of them are also convinced that we see them as utterly stupid and ignorant, so as soon as they discover that we're not pro-Trump, they already become defensive.
Third, they are convinced that anyone who disagrees with their source is part of the "elites". That stands for: born with a silver spoon in your mouth, selfish, highly educated, and most of all, couldn't care less about "real people's suffering".
So... with that as starting point, where/how to begin the conversation?
For me, what works best is FIRST skipping the topic of politics and trying to install a connection focused on making them feel VALUED by us (we can do that by validating their thoughts, feelings and opinions, and showing interest in what interests them, their family life, work, etc.).
Once you notice that some level of trust has been installed, it all depends. Worst-case scenario: as soon as you mention that you're not pro-Trump, they explode. In that case, we need more time and first build much more trust without talking about politics (we have two years, so we can take the time :-)). Once the topic becomes accessible, we can move on to the next step: VALIDATE THEIR POLITICAL OPINIONS.
This is not easy and feels entirely counterintuitive to us. It doesn't mean that we have to falsely claim to agree with them, it means that we first LISTEN and ONLY focus on understanding WHY they support Trump, assuming that they MUST be as smart as we are and therefore have logically sound reasons. That, again, indirectly refutes their fear that we cannot but hate them and see them as inferior.
Next step: we try to find something about politics that they said and that we CAN more or less agree with. That now tells them, implicitly, not just that we value them, but also that we don't systematically disagree with their info source (so with what for them cannot but be evidently true). That will help to make them see YOU as a potentially reasonable person and not that different from them.
Once we get that message across, we can finally address a first, not too intense political disagreement. Here, they will immediately react by telling us that we're wrong and that that is because we're listening to the wrong media. THIS is when we can finally, cautiously (usually step by step and in more than one conversation), address the question of objective truth. We can tell them that we understand that they rely on Fox, for instance, and then add that WE find NO media truly reliable, sadly... . Because Fox says this and it sounds true, but then we find evidence that suggests the opposite, so WHO can we still trust today??? (feeling that they often implicitly share, so that may allow them to understand why we may not spontaneously trust Fox either).
And THEN you can try mentioning nonpartisan studies, but knowing that you'll have to EXPLAIN what that is and in terms that don't come across as "lecturing". You can say, for instance, that you saw studies that CLAIM to be nonpartisan and then explain that you checked it (because you don't tend to blindly trust no matter what study), and discovered this and that reason (not funded by a suspect person/group, sound mathematical methodology, sound reasoning, findings confirmed by other studies that also look solid) showing that the study IS reliable. Of course, they cannot do this for themselves, but now, with all the preparation work done, they may become interested in what you discovered since they began to see you as a trustworthy, likable person. Then, usually, they go back to believing their own source again. Whenever they do... it's important not to despair. A seed has been planted. Then it's better to leave the topic aside and start all over the next time you see them.
Bottomline: make sure that you FIRST focus on seeing them as decent, intelligent human beings (so do what Harris told us often during the campaign, namely see that we will always have so much more in common than what could possibly separate us) and make sure that they FEEL it, so make sure that they feel that you see them as "good people". Without this first step, nothing is possible. Then, gradually build up until you can begin to discuss how objective evidence works, step by step. Then... repeat, short times many times... :-)
This is quite the recipe!! 🙂 it’s late and I’m not thinking so clearly now but I appreciate what I’ve skimmed tonight and will come back to your comment tomorrow. I’m a psychotherapist in my professional life so I believe you’ve got some good points to make here. 👍🏼
I have tried as well, with my sister in law..and we always had a great connection. Not with this! She is sure that dt is going to "move us forward in really good ways." I truly wonder and hope... who among them is starting to see the destruction coming down..or if they are just continuing to blindly follow along. What a painful and scary time...let's stick together!
Agree. Five really good people that I’ve known for many years responded to me with “I wish we had better choices” and two of them refused to engage. This was in late October when I tried to point out the dangers of FOTUS.
I’ve been a failure at it as well, Barbara. I’ve lost what I thought were good friends. It will take time and I don’t have answers except never stop talking and trying
Hi, Mike, I'm with you in never stopping to try to talk. Sometimes, I wonder if it's the "in person" aspect that makes Trump supporters and others? resist and/or take offense.
A number of my friends, some MAGA, some not, are on my Facebook page. What I tried last week was to not "say" anything but just to post a pic from ACLU announcing that Trump's executive orders will have to get past them and the 400 times they have sued Trump and won.
I couldn't believe that a few of the Trumpers actually liked that post. Go figure.
With all due respect, I think that's more inaccurate than ever before, and for two reasons:
(1) Democrats have PROVEN where the real power lies, when it comes to fighting back against a dictator, during Trump's first term, namely
(a) in doing what any politician is hopefully an expert in: building coalitions - in this case, coalitions that prevent the GOP from passing Trump's horrible ideas in Congress - and
(b) in launching lawsuits. Democrats are doing that all over the country as we speak. Result? It immediately forced Trump to NOT rescind the 14th amendment's birthright clause and to not enact any funding freeze. How come they could act SO swiftly? It's the combination of months of hard work by Dem lawyers (preparing for exactly this type of onslaught way in advance), a strong determination to work for the American people, and a laser-focus on where they can make a difference fastest. As even Saul Alinsky shows, if you want radical change (which we need; stopping the GOP from turning America into a dictatorship is a fight that is more radical than anything we had to fight for before), you HAVE to fight wisely. That includes CELEBRATING each major win, instead of standing at the sidelines yelling "not enough!" each time those standing in the mud get one step closer to the finish line. So YOU could help us with "messaging" by using your platform to make sure that people know how crucial these two wins were (at least for now).
(2) today's media landscape is entirely saturated already. Democrats ARE everywhere, right now. Yesterday alone (and when it comes to Trump's Eos) Tim Walz was on MSNBC, I heard from Elizabeth Warren on TV, Rep. Brendan was on multiple independent media podcast, I heard from Jasmine Crockett, AOC, Hakim Jeffries had a long message saying all the right things (aside from his line about God that you quoted), Pelosi sent out a message, Tim Kaine was on the news, Schumer said the right thing on the Senate floor, and those are just the first ones that come to mind. At the same time, liberal and progressive independent media are going full in - including, often, all the outrage your heart may want. THE question is, however: WHO will hear it? Not Trump voters. And that wouldn't change if all Democrats would stand together outside of Capitol Hill and yelled the exact same message (IF the news would get to them, they'd see it as proof that Trump must be doing something right...).
It is precisely the goal of the Heritage Foundation and Bannon to "flood the zone", so to sign 200 outrageous EOs in one week so that we all become highly emotional and get into a permanent state of alarm... THE state that makes it very difficult to sit, think, and come up with a truly effective plan.
So again, I understand and share your outrage. But the only way to strike back and win is to make sure that we've studied the history of fascism, learned how its opponents fought back and won, and then think about how to adapt those strategies to the current situation and a totally new kind of media landscape.
In the meantime, Senate Democrats are ALSO in the news 24/7 right now with VERY good and well-prepared (albeit not always perfect) questions for Trump's scandalous nominees. So here too, it's not as if they're not "messaging" right now. I honestly don't understand what more you'd want them to do, in terms of messaging. And since you said, in your video, that for now you don't know either, why not stop the (imho obsolete and ineffective) typical "Dems are not good at messaging" line, and see how WE can contribute to the fight, right now? Because in a democracy, it IS we who need to ask ourselves what we can do for the country, not what the country or Democrats can do for us. And obviously, telling them WHAT to do when we think we have a good idea is part of that. But a double "emergency" video only to vent and tell us that you have no idea what to do but want to blame Democrats for not being out there when they are... I really don't see how that could help.
That being said, I very strongly appreciate all the utterly courageous work you have done and continue to do to save America's democracy, and I am absolutely delighted to discover that you're on Substack and stay in the fight - and even more so knowing what huge risks you are willing to take for yourself and your family. So although I disagree with you on this specific point, I also want to make sure that it's clear that I find your leadership in general, since Jan. 6, deeply inspiring, and your courage to stand up for what is right, including when it is very dangerous, helps me and so many others to not give up, no matter what happens next. So from the bottom of my heart: THANK YOU!
We don’t need messaging against Trump. We need Democrats who’ve been much better than Trump but apparently but good enough - where are they? Not sure they exist. One example why I think that is what they allowed to happen to our fascist like schools. The union made common ground with fascists running our schools and helped purge the dedicated teachers.
Democrats let this happen. People are mad. That’s partly what paved the way for Trump. They’re quiet because they don’t want to fess up and do what’s right. They want to keep doing a little fascism - a little politics. They need to change.
Just check out WhiteChalkCrime.com and you’ll see they allowed democracy’s foundation to be compromised.
They’re only better than Trump. Their reaction to this shows they’re not good enough. Hearing Schumer say he “did this to us without a warning” sickened me. He’s the one who didn’t hear the warning.
Our leaders may need to come from the Republicans who stand for democracy since they stand for something. We need a resistance leader not a political leader and a good place for that leader to start is looking at democracy’s foundation- our schools.
People are sick of things like that not being done so they tried a con man.
Yes. I'm sure there will be an election -- midterms and in four years, but those votes will not be counted -- for real -- not a conspiracy theory -- they will not be counted for real -- because the actions of today do not speak of a party that thinks they need to win anyone's vote. Not even the vote of those who voted for them. Not even the Maga's in fact. They stopped campaigning long ago.
Exactly. I asked Adam in another post why he continues to say "we just need to get through the next 4 years". Trump will do anything to dismantle the constitution & his cronies will help him every step of the way. Adam, I'd still love to know why you remain so optimistic about this.
I agree with Adam, it's very early but I am confident that as things get worse the voices of "We The People" will be heard through protest in the streets and through boycotts of companies that are kissing the ring. Don't underestimate the power of the people, all 165 million of us that didn't vote for Trump.
The universal pain that's coming hasn't been felt yet, it's early and the there will be a response! I'm still speaking English and not Russian!!! Get out of the negative zone. If things are still this way by next winter I'll be taking a Russian language course.
I don't see Trump as being able to navigate from point B to point B. The monsters who wrote Project 2025 are the puppeteers. The oligarchs are the money. The nominated are the enforcers.
Trump did not run for President in 2016 when he announced. He was looking for a soft landing. A failed human being. A failed businessman. A failed celebrity star. He did not think, nor did anyone that he would be nominated much less win. All he wants is money, property and prestige at any cost.
His talent was to divide. And it was quickly discovered and employed by the monsters who wrote Project 2025. Anyone who has not read it is going to continue waking up each morning shocked by the latest awe. I really do not understand actually how anyone at this point in time has not read it. It is obscene as much as the recent Executive orders and the letter to government workers and all that will come tomorrow is obscene.
But is not hidden. It's available and has been available for ANYONE to read since long before the most recent election. The one I predict will be the last one in which our votes are counted.
The founders of that document and this new regime bet on the fact that today "no one reads." They just react. The difference between us and those who lived thru the Revolutionary War is those citizens, most of them farmers, could read and they did read.
We have been sitting ducks for decades -- lulled to sleep by our blue screens that were invented by what is now our enemy, the oligarchs who profited and addicted most of us to those blue screens. Sitting ducks laid out for slaughter. Being nice and law abiding isn't respected any more. Winning and dominance and holding all the power and all the wealth is. So, we lose.
Our votes if we can even vote will not be counted -- And this time it will be for real not a conspiracy theory -- That's my view of where this is going -- It's over -- And damn do I blame those who did not vote or voted for Trump over Harris because she is a woman or more subtlety they did not like "her laugh" __ And personally really pissed over the professors who encouraged our youth to protest Gaza by not voting for VP Harris -- Many of those did not vote or what who knows -- wrote in a random name? -- Or voted for Trump, guess -- So to those who could not see individually, or by direction their professors did not see this was our last chance -- Our last vote -- And that "ALL HAD TO LEAN IN" to stop Trump by supporting the opposition VP Harris -- The blame is on them -- And please tell me how can anyone think there will be mid-terms or another presidential election -- How? Please tell me how. I don't see it.
100 per cent with you. Adam, you seem to be the only one who can get these spineless democrats to wake up and fight for our country. I thank you 🙏🏻 Please be safe.
It’s like ALL the democrats and those republicans who know better are waiting around to see if anyone will step up and what could the message possibly be. The flurry of action pushback against the dumb ass man-baby et al should equal the flurry of the absurdities coming from the administration. Instead it’s crickets. Yikes, we’ve elected dummies and do nothings across the board in this country. Adam, I sense your anger and disappointment and am feeling it also. I’m pray that some Democrats are listening to you. Hakeem Jeffries I’m looking at you.
I’m a Christian but even I know God was on his throne while Hitler was dismantling the German government, while Lee Harvey Oswald was loading his gun, while shots were fired at Fort Sumpter and our country was ripped in half in 1860. WE are the ones who have elected a divider who brings nothing but chaos with him. We are not absolved of our decision simply by believing that God is just gonna “take care of it”. And it DOES feel like “the church” has convinced themselves (despite all evidence) that Trump is one of them.
The religious folks seem to have gotten in bed with the oligarchs. For some reason, people believe in a Christian message. These are followers, and I think they have been tricked. They have Pope Donald now. Deprogramming would help, but I'm not sure what they might replace their beliefs with - something positive though!
Well McConnell voted against Hegseth but didn't start a movement. Idk i thought with 3 repubs others would join but alas they're all self serving cowards
IT IS NOT THE FAULT OF DEMOCRATS. I am so sick of hearing people blame Democrats for the disgusting, misogynistic, racist, and hateful politics of the REPUBLICANS.
I’m sorry that is your take away from what I wrote. I didn’t explain myself very well, apparently. I’m not blaming the Democrats for any behavior of the Republicans. I’m simply saying that we all need to continue to counter all of the garbage coming from Trump and his minions.
We’re all tired. Can we try not to fight amongst ourselves? I’ll go first: I apologize for offending you.
Your statement was clear and concise and on point. It’s not about blaming the Democrats, it’s about expecting them to live up to their part of the bargain. Many of us worked our asses off on the ground during the summer months leading up to the election, and we helped get many congressional reps elected across the country. Now it’s time for those leaders to hold up their end of the bargain and do what we put them there to do….lead and fight and articulate a vision/strategy for opposing this insanity. For all the dire warnings about Project 2025 during the campaign, it’s gone deadly quiet. Trump never went quietly, he kept yelling from the sidelines throughout Biden’s term. And that seems to have paid off. We need aggressive leadership.
Well said. We all knew what was coming if Trump won the election. Why did not one prepare for it, just in case? There should have been a pushback plan in place even if they thought they would win. Playing catchup is difficult especially when you are fighting evil and people who are brainwashed.
Fair is fair. What are the Dems DOING??? Nothing. They're not doing anything except for channeling their inner Susan Collins and saying how "concerned" they are. Schumer should have retired last round. He looks old and tired. He at least had something of a pulse in 2016. The only person I see doing anything constructive is AOC and a few others. Even Jeffries has been meh. I'm really afraid.
My opinion, not MIA. Just not playing to the liars game as we did last time. Facts don’t seem to matter as her debate truths should have wiped the floor with a massive win for Kamala.
Our messaging of gov’t here to help by proof in the pudding vs. loudmouth’s lying “promises” didn’t work as too many pre-empted by more lies to not taste, nor believe their taste buds. That, his lies, is what has got us to his real goal for destruction of our a constitutional country. Why people didn’t see the great economy, jobs, etc. is still a mystery - except sheer delusion.
Today was day one of the war as he showed he will not engage in Democracy and our Constitutional Laws. He again lied in his oath.
We need positive, hard belief in the fight. We don’t need navel gazing of yesterday.
I agree completely about needing “positive, hard belief in the fight.” The leaders we elected NEED to lead. They need to be pushing back on every illegal, unconstitutional, and immoral action he takes. We can shout until we’re blue in the face, but we don’t have the megaphone or platform they do.
Adam, thank you I couldn’t agree more - it’s like your house is on fire and the Democratic leaders are throwing cups of water on it - COME ON DEMS - be vocal in explaining what the psychopath is doing and what can be and is being done - GET OFF YOUR LAZY BOY and fight for our democracy!
I agree with this entire video post. There is no message all it is is discombobulated rants about what trump is doing and it's illegal. And then silence. There needs to be a huge opposition of All of us democrats Republicans independents jjst everyone a d we all need ri rise up. Adam maybe through country first and other organizations like aclu and medias touch and Scott dworkin Liz Cheney lawyers doctors unions Capitol police officers arnold schwarzenegger people from every walk that join together In one party of unity and OPPOSE together. Adam you are a leader you really are and iam ready to join this fight we must do this now we cannot wait for dems who are dithering we need the dem voices like AOC and others who are willimg to speak out. governors who are speaking out we need this messaging to be loud and clear that we are the opposition. With all these talented and brave people we can get a unified message out!!
I disagree. First of all, as long as Congress isn't in session, Congress CANNOT do anything, and they don't lead it anymore, so they can't call people back. Secondly, they ARE on independent media denouncing it all. I see them everywhere. And this is WHILE they are officially in recess. Third, beyond the usual outrage, what CAN they do, in terms of "messaging"? If anything, the summer taught us that MAGA 2.0 is led by neofascist ideologues who by now built a VERY well-oiled propaganda machine that is sucking all the air out of ANY message that isn't blatant outrage. And outrage tends to only benefit middle finger politics. Democrats - and democrats - need real, constructive communicating, which is almost impossible these days. Finally, 22 Democratic states already sued Trump for his birthright EO and WON. Other lawsuits are being filed as we speak. So they aren't being "lazy" at all (and IMHO, this kind of finger-wagging won't help in the first place). It's WE who need to get real. Democrats are people like you and me, and HOW to take over the messaging war, under these new circumstances, isn't clear at all. Adam himself just admitted that fact, and you seem not to have any concrete proposals either... ?
We put them in the opposition (well, I'm sure not you and I, but the American people). And again, Congress is in recess, so what can they legally accomplish in DC right now? Nothing. Also, Adam is calling for more media presence. As far as I can see, they ARE present in the media, on a daily basis, so what more could they do (apart from launching lawsuits, which is exactly what they're doing)?
Also, "being at home" is not nothing. They HAVE to take time to connect with their constituents too, not everything that can be done can or should be done at the national level right now. So, with neither you nor Adam nor I having any idea of what more they could do... why blame them for "not doing enough" in the first place? It sounds too easy to me...
It is our elected representatives JOB to do everything they can to resist the attack on our democracy- this is not a run of the mill issue - this is our D-Day and that means do whatever is necessary to save our democracy
But none of you can say what, and their job is on the House floor, but the GOP closed the door (for once not illegally but because that's always how the House works this time of the year, so it's the usual recess).
In the meantime, what good will venting and whining do?
I strongly prefer Harris's "joyful warrior" approach: do NOT let them get into your head and start screaming all the time too. Stay calm, inform yourself, and pick your fights. I'm sure that Democrats are doing exactly that. It's also the ONLY way to be in it for the long haul. Constant outrage only leads to activism burnout and in-fighting, and THAT, of course, is why the GOP is flooding the zone right now in the first place.
I'll repeat here, Podcasters, Instagram posters, X and all the other platforms are welcome and space is being made for them at all the press conferences. Young people AND others do NOT get their news and information from Legacy Media anymore. Look at the ratings of network and cable news, EXCEPT Fox. Will they let in any left leaning persons? We'll see but not surprised if they didn't.
Having those people there is a BRILLIANT idea, and watch, those influencers , over time, are going to be asking the questions, NOT mainstream media.
I think Donnie got a pretty good idea on how to do the "messaging war" and who better to brainwash than the young. So I'm sorry, the dems are left flat footed. A great example is shutting down AOS's bid for a committee chair I think it was and they gave it to Gerry Connolly who is a lovely man and is OLD, and I AM TRULY SORRY to say, has been diagnosed with cancer.
Being evil doesn't make you dumb. Donnie has VERY smart people around him. Wake up Democrats.
Except that there is no battlefield. That's what "recess" means. At least when it comes to the House (Senate Democrats are in DC!). No one can propose any vote or pass bills, since the Speaker won't be there. So your analogy doesn't hold any water...
Yes, but we ARE the Dems. I'll speak for myself to say that before 2016 I always voted, but largely left the governing and activism up to the people I voted for. I was not an active citizen. Trump in 2016 changed that for me, and now in 2024 I'm willing to keep doing my part. BUT--I also see that my fellow Americans--Repub and Dem--are NOT CARRYING THEIR SHARE OF THE F-ing LOAD. Our electeds can only do so much. People need to be in the streets, writing letters, calling, boycotting, striking, and generally being a pain in the tuchus to Trump and all of them. Personally I think we (American society at large) got lazy in the aftermath of WWII and post-war prosperity, and we took democracy for granted.
What can we do? Share Adam’s video. Call your congress people to object (both parties). Donate to ACLU, Democracy Forward and other groups starting lawsuits against Trump’s actions. Support local groups that help immigrants. Get on lndivisible’s email list. Follow Jess Craven’s Chop Wood Carry Water, Simon Rosenberg’s Hopium Chronicles, MeidasTouch Network, Robert Hubbell or Jim Acosta on Substack. Educate yourself and those in your circle. Share personal stories of how these immigration policies are affecting those we love. My daughter became a naturalized citizen over 20 years ago but her accent makes her a target. Her friend who works at INS called her this week to tell her to carry her papers and passport at all times. I shared this story with all my friends, even people I knew that supported Trump. Resist, resist, resist and do NOT despair. Their intent is to overwhelm us into non-action. If we do merely wring our hands and feel helpless, they win.
I wrote my Republican Senator on 3 issues in the last few weeks. Hegseth confirmation - which went nowhere. School choice and hosing taxes for working and poor! RFK and how it better be 100-0 against because he’s so outrageously unqualified and dangerous.
I’m picking and choosing because he won’t listen about everything.
Andrea HV we ARE the someone. Unfortunately too many of us are either too exhausted right now to make a stink or we are all waiting for someone to do it for us. 🤷♀️
Ron Filipkowski posted on X (and I couldn’t agree more):
What would I do? Senate, House, DNC & Dem Govs EACH need to have a Rapid React WarRoom staffed 24/7/365. They need to have a rotating Senator, Rep, & Gov on call all times to post video, TikTok, statements & do interviews. Pressers are old, tired & mostly useless. Welcome to 2025
(And I would add, hire highly skilled retired educators to help with messaging, especially for the low information voter/citizen!)
As far as I can see more people are talking about Adam as a leader they could stand behind. The democrats need to get their game up. Adam for President!
We need leadership! We need direction! We are so friggin overwhelmed with all of this and feeling helpless! What do you suggest we do? I post on Social Media, I'm a part of several activist groups, I email and call my Democratic and Republican representatives constantly and donate to ACLU to fight in court. If there's something else, tell me
Democracy Forward just filed suit on T’s stopping the funding for $1T of funding they stopped. The courts have blocked his impoundments to this can be reviewed. I’m donating to them too!
Why is the best (strongest and speaking out) Democrat a Republican. Eat your Wheaties and Impeach - he has violated his oath and it needs to be punished.
I couldn't disagree more. Look at how Democrats are voting: THEY are the party that systematically knows how to come together and pass breakthrough legislation that helps the 99%. The GOP, for years already, utterly failed to do ANYTHING and was divided on the most simple issues. And now that Trump is president and the wealthiest man on Earth his buddy, he STILL does nothing to unify his party at all, he just bullies them in obeying by threatening to finance a primary challenger. That's not a democratic way of treating your own members of Congress, it's a FASCIST way to treat them, and we surely don't want Democrats to take over tactics like that. Also, they have been STRONGLY unified in day one for what truly matters now, namely immediately launching lawsuits against Trump's illegal actions. That required MONTHS of preparation. One key lawsuit (birthright) was already WON by Democrats.
So no, this is definitely NOT "Dems falling apart". This is Dems being in recess, being VERY well-prepared already to immediately fight back in the courts, and preparing their strategy to fight back in DC (which, they have proven in the past, they are VERY good at) as soon as recess ends.
I hope you are right, and I don’t mind hearing your strong disagreement at all. I hope they can unify to vote against RFK, Gabbard, and Vought, but I am not heartened by the record. Dems who caved on all except Hegseth. It just felt as though they’ve lost steam. I have voted Democratic all my life and am an admirer of many in Congress. I just hope they can put aside their intra party differences and stop the damage. I truly love it that it is a big tent party with many voices, I just think that sometimes it makes it a little harder to cohere. Our people question—something that people in the GOP do far too little of. My fingers are crossed — you have no idea how much I want to be wrong, and I didn’t mean to write a strident attack — more of a sigh from a very sad person who’s spent her career working for nonprofits trying to do the right thing. These are difficult days.
I "liked" your reply even though I disagree again, but "thinking" about what to do next truly requires us to brainstorm freely, so I really appreciate what you wrote.
I just checked and it turns out that only 7 Democrats voted for Noem. Who were they? ALL Democrats representing swing states.
Imho, one of the things that makes progress so slow in the US is the low level of political literacy among traditionally progressive voters. In a democracy, the job of a representative is to represent NOT an ideology but your constituents.
When Democrats win red states or swing states that's great, but we also need them to be reelected, and that's only possible if they do their job in a democratic way and listen to their constituents, including when many of them are wrong. And then there is the fact that the GOP has much more power to slip their seat, in those states, so for anything that they KNOW their constituents will want them to do, they HAVE to work with Trump. And for many people in Pa for instance (especially after so much Fox News coverage of her) actually have a positive image of her. So Fetterman blocking her would probably have backfired... . The same goes for all traditional "blue dogs". We actually NEED them because when push comes to shove, they DO caucus with the Democrats, but they will inevitably water down a compromise bill because that's what they have to do. This is not "the Democratic party" being "divided", this is exactly how a democracy is supposed to work.
And then again, Democrats came together SEVERAL times, under Biden, to pass landmark legislation (Infrastructure bill, Inflation Reduction Act etc), which is VERY difficult to accomplish and yet, once again, they did it. For DECADES now, the GOP is unable to do something similar, they only come together around ONE issue: tax cuts for the wealthiest. That's why they need such a massive propaganda machine in the first place...
Finally, WE remain THE most important factor here. If each time Trump does something, citizens call their Senators and reps (Democratic or GOP), they can SHOW Trump that no matter how much money he'll put into financing a primary challenger, they will WIN the next elections if they do the right thing and oppose Trump. So we actually do have a lot of power, we just tend to not know it. Perhaps now, many more citizens will finally discover this fact and get involved... also because constant outrage is just not viable in the long run... :-)
Okay, okay, I give up, already. You’ve encouraged me, damn you. All your points are good, and I should have added I’m far from checked out. I do call and write, I never miss an opportunity to share well reasoned thoughtful commentary that makes the case for progressive policy. Probably I need to be more thoughtful when I comment. It’s just been so hard — uh oh, now I’m winging —- just a bit. My background was in non-profit communications and I had the wonderful and rare privilege of writing about scientists from several disciplines ranging from astrobiology to marine sciences, to health research, always mindful of how amazing life on this planet is and how fragile. As a boomer, I remember the rise of the environmental movement. We knew—-we KNEW, and yet …. heavy sigh and over it. I appreciate your thoughtful outreach. And I was quite sincere about feeling encouraged. For the last week and a half I’ve been marinating in the worst political news of my life — a life that includes Nixon. I told a friend I. need to either cut myself off from social media or at least micro-dose. Political and science literacy are important, and so is differentiating between the things you can change and the things you can’t — you know. Have a great evening!
I understand perfectly. It's only normal to feel what you feel (who with still a beating heart in his/her chest does NOT feel what you feel, today... ?). And yes, sometimes it feels as if we, who are fortunate enough to be "educated", KNOW what won't work, that SHOULD be enough. But sometimes it isn't. And with the income gap only increasing, especially for the "uneducated"... in hindsight, how could we even EXPECT people to know... ?
So yes, first and foremost, let's acknowledge that this IS hard. That's precisely why it's a spiritual practice and not just a political act (as Audre Lorde said, self-care is political warfare too). And it's also why there's nothing wrong with venting, in and of itself. We NEED it, as a first step. As long as we remember that we can do more than that, it's fine to vent.
At the same time, making the opposition SO exhausted and desperate that we give up is precisely the goal of fascism and THE reason why it destroys so many things we care about. It WANTS us to give up.
That's where MLK and the art of being a joyful warrior comes in. First, we can just take the time to study how it (the art of being a joyful warrior) works, the way we study science... . And then you could argue that it's actually all about learning how to approach Trump voters ("the enemy") with the same sense of curiosity and wonder we cultivate when studying science rather than coming from a place of despair (and, let's be honest, HATRED for how they vote and currently think). Imho, being a democrat (a believer in the democratic process - and what else IS there to believe in in the first place?) means deciding to do exactly that, again and again, knowing that each generation has to fight the same fight because that IS the inherent fragility of all democracies. But if we can learn how to fight with joy, and in a way that strengthens our values and commitment... then why not? What do we have to lose (once our batteries are charged, that is)?
Some sleep will help too. Woke up at 4am thinking about something I wanted to write about Google in the wake of their changing names on maps — got up, made coffee before I lost it and for that blog I’ve slacked on:
Years ago, Google worked with researchers at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) to add undersea topography to their maps. MBARI had the data they needed, but there was a problem. The software could only add height to existing terrain. In other words, they could build mountains but not carve canyons.
So what did they do? The engineers changed the base size of the planet from sea level to that of the ocean floor at its known most extreme depth. They proudly informed theorists MBARI partners “We shrank the Earth.”
I now realize that all along they actually meant to write this slogan
But, the Dems have to be out there in our faces like the R's. That is how you get the people to learn about you and to, hopefully, become voters. Most people these days are so tied to their social media that they do not know about many things going on especially lawsuits and such to try to slow the snowball rolling down the hill. The people of today who we need to vote, given the opportunity, need to have messaging at all times. That is exactly what T and team did and look what happened. We can't fight in the background and expect a change. Doing the same thing as always will get us the same results. The world has changed and the Dems have to change with it.
It's not that easy... . Today's MSM are only interested in what immediately increases revenue for them. That means: clickbait headlines and short slogans. We will NEVER save democracy with outrage and short slogans only. Those who truly want to govern by and for the people need a media climate that focuses on real debates about the issues in all their complexity and history. You cannot make people understand important things in under two minutes. You CAN sell them outrage and fake news in under two minutes though. THAT is why it's so much easier for fascist middle finger politicians to be "good at messaging".
And then again, the only reason why Republicans can tweet 24/7 (apart from the insomnia caused by their rotting souls...) is precisely because they couldn't care less about governing. REAL governing is a full-time job! That's why a democracy vitally needs a thriving media landscape with real journalism. It's the job of journalists to inform people, NOT the job of politicians. And that's yet another reason why criticizing the Democrats right now is not realistic and not helpful, I'm afraid...
Finally, they ARE out there. I see them on TV and on YouTube every day!
Latest example: Tim Walz talking with Rachel Maddow:
It's not! We should stop the constant self-blame. Corporate MSM no longer inform people of the most relevant facts, and the GOP has become a truly fascist party, these last four years, with a perfectly oiled propaganda machine. That is utterly unprecedented in the US. No one knew how effective the combination of the demise of the legacy media and the rise of a truly fascist American party would be, so no one was truly prepared for it. NOW we know. Usually, when you have a presidency that is as successful as what Biden/Harris achieved, your record is enough to win the next election. From now on, that's no longer the case. People are being massively brainwashed AND they no longer even watch MSM. So how do we change things around by 2026? That's a real question, with no clear answer yet.
I put the Fox News app on my phone to see how THEY are writing about what Trump is doing. It’s like a freaking pep rally. Lots of “winning” language and hand clapping but low in facts and any real insight into the chaos these EOs are creating. No wonder their readers/listeners don’t know anything. Lots of ‘outrage’ and they are writing about some stuff I didn’t even know about. Adam spoke about that with his 2 guests on a previous post….the MAGA echo chamber.
Yes, exactly. I'm "following" the Heritage Foundation and conservative media on FB, as well as the WH, Vance and Trump etc. At least in that way, they still hear different voices. But it's BAD indeed, and almost all of it is either distorted, taken out of context or outright false... . Now imagine that all your family members, friends, colleagues, people in church etc listen to the same stuff... before you know, it will all begin to feel true. THAT's how they grabbed power and finished the violent coup started on Jan. 6. The good news? Trump voters are not "bad people". They did NOT vote for an insurrectionist rapist and immoral, failed businessman. They think they're voting for a highly moral businessman who was thrown out of the WH by evil, corrupt, immoral Democrats... and they voted to RESTORE democracy. So at least, they do want democracy and moral leadership. THAT's what we have in common and can learn to build on, IMHO. Because only when we citizens reach out to them, restore trust, and see them for who they are, can we gradually begin to talk politics with them again. If we all do it, we CAN beat fascism, especially knowing that it's still very early...
Spineless people on both sides of the aisle. Lawlessness unleashed. Frightening. Even CNN put Acosta in a late night position. He quit. Feels like CNN cowered to the autocratic oligarch. Free press…please give the message of lawlessness before democracy is fully exploded. Adam…your passion for country first is respected. I agree with your message tonight. Democrats…and gop leaders with spine…please push back.
I AGREE 1,000%!!!. I don't understand why almost no one is saying anything when Trump is forging ahead with a clear intention to destroy democracy. As a (unaffiliated) random voter. I find it maddening to fire off emails to my senators and rep., and get, at most, a form email response. As an old guy, I can remember when such actions would lead to near-instantaneous mass protests. Doesn't anybody care?
My House Rep was an R, but she was just voted out. I emailed the shit out of her and only ever got form letters. I now have a D Rep and both D's as Senators who are fighting back. So what am I supposed to do? I knew we were screwed when Roe was overturned and barely any protests happened. I attended one rally in the big city I live near but that was the last of the marches. We need George Floyd level protests with people out in the streets, on the House, Senate, and Supreme Court steps. I don't think it has to be our elected leaders who step forward to motivate us, but someone with a large following could start the fire. Until an event that truly shocks the consciousness occurs, I don't see any real organized protests or resistance happening. It's sad and disappointing.
The lack of protests this time around follows a historical pattern. I think it played out in Orban’s subversion of Hungarian democracy. Autocratic leader’s first term, a lot of protests in response (think back to 2017—the women’s march, climate protests, etc.) Autocrat gets voted out, but perpetuates the claim that election was rigged, all legal actions against him are political and unfounded, etc. Autocrat manages to get elected to second term—people feel beat down, feeling that everything they did the first time around has come to naught. Very few if any protests, etc. I listened to an interview of some of the women who spearheaded the women’s march in 2017; many said they would not repeat, since it seems to have had no long-term effect. I agree we need SOME initiative to get things moving; that being said, I don’t know how to make it happen in the current mindset of people.
Like us or not, we will need to work together to fight this. It is easy to blame Democrats, but truth is the Republicans put him into power AGAIN and are caving to every demand he has had so far.
That's not the problem. Democrats clearly know how to GOVERN, as Biden/Harris and the Dem Congress just proved, and in normal times, that IS their core job. It's just that we now learned that normal times are over and that a fascist GOP grabbed power through massive lying and voter suppression. How to fight back against it? With lawsuits, AS they're doing already (= VERY fast), and by taking the time to THINK and see what an effective strategy in the long run can and should be. For now, no one knows. Even Adam not... :-)
Each day wasted is another day Trump gains more power, Dems needed to fight back starting day 1 - Trumps minions are operating at a quick pace and Dems need to be quicker else they never will catch up.
Unfortunatly my view is this will only stop when people feel the negative impacts of these changes in their daily lives - until then Dems need to carry the message against this and eventually people’s reality will catch up.
What he’s doing to our country is complete utter madness. It’s only been a week. I can’t imagine 4 years of this lunatic.
This needs to stop. He needs to be stopped.
- Adam Kinzinger 2028 for President -
If the Dems are too weak to fight, they need to recruit Kinzinger into the party and have him as the voice of resistance.
Adam,totally agree with your justified anger and frustration! Dems have had lots of time to prepare and organize resistance because T has been telling us what he planned to do and now he’s doing it as fast as he can. I hope I’m wrong, but I don’t think we’re going to get it until it gets so bad people take to the streets and that has other whole implications. Not even sure if they would. Dems aren’t doing it : Freedom and Responsibility Party now while it’s still possible to form a new party. The way corporations and individuals are rolling over turns my stomach!
I have been thinking pretty much since last week about how disillusioned I am with the party. I am far too familiar with the futility of starting a third party, so I won’t bring that into the picture, but right now the void in leadership is startling. Seeing Obama and Biden and commiserating with Trump both in the WH and at Carter’s funeral was kind of a wake up call for me. I don’t need to hear anymore “they are trying to protect the norms.” F that. What are we doing here?? Are we serious about opposing this guy, or are we just passively going along with the ominously words of Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts who said, “the revolution will be bloodless, if the left allows it to be.” I hope Adam finally jumps into the party and kicks up some dirt. Chuck Schumer is not inspiring a lot of confidence right now.
Hegseth cutting General Milley’s security detail, eyes stripping him of star. Outragious!!!! Being a Veteran I'm pissed. Who's next George Washington?
Dr. Fauci being stripped of security. Outragious!!!!
We need to do something. We can write to the Senators and Representatives in Congress but that seems to be useless. We can protest but the weather right now would make it difficult. Boycotting companies that are SUPPORTING THE REPUBLICAN PARTY makes sense right now. For starters:
These CEO's attended the Trump inauguration:
Elon Musk - Boycott Tesla, X/Twitter
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg - Boycott Facebook and Instagram
Amazon's founder, Jeff Bezos - Boycott Amazon. Whole Foods and Zappos
Apple CEO Tim Cook - Boycott Apple Computer
Shou Zi Chew, TikTok's CEO - Boycott TikTok
Google CEO Sundar Pichai - Boycott Google, Fitbit and Nest
Companies that a majority of their political donations went to Trump/Republicans in alphabetical order:
AAA, Allstate, Applebees, Arby's, A&W, Brooks Shoes, Buffalo Wild Wings, Carl's Jr, Charles Schwab, Chick-Fil-A, Chili's, Coors, Cracker Barrel, Dairy Queen, Delta Airlines, Discount Tire, Dole Food, Dollar Tree, Dunkin Donuts, Duracell, Five Guys, Fruit Of Loom, Great Clips, Goya Foods, Hardee's, HBO, Hobby Lobby, Home Depot, Hooters, IHOP, Jersey Mike's, Jimmy John's, KFC, Krispy Kreme, Little Caesars, LL Bean, Maytag, Michelob, Miller Beer, New Balance, Outback Steakhouse, Panera Bread, Papa John's, Pizza Hut, Procter & Gamble, Taco Bell, Texas Roadhouse, Sirius XM, Wendy's, Whirlpool, White Castle, USAA, Waffle House, Wayfair.
There are many more ring kissers and supporters, do your research: https://www.goodsuniteus.com/
I can't spell it out anymore then this!! If you feel like you can't make that sacrifice, just think of the men and women and their families that are disabled or died in action serving their country for us for our freedom. Vietnam Veteran
These are terrific, concrete, suggestions--thank you. I'm already following most of them, and although I have drastically reduced my Amazon spending, I haven't actually pulled the plug yet--or on Instagram either. But mulling it over. Sadly, of the long list of companies you cited, except for Wayfair and Home Depot, there isn't a single one that I have ever used! I guess that makes me practically un-American...but I can live with that.
P.S. My Amazon "trick" is to use their search engine to find products, then search the internet to buy directly from the manufacturer/company--and for books, I borrow from the library or buy used from Thrift Books.
P.S. again. Support Costco. They are keeping their DEI program and are a fantastic company--great products, treat their employees well, and overall are ethically sound.
Write Costco CEO Ron Vachris, rvachris@costco.com and let him know you stand with their diversity program! I just did!
I've done that with Amazon for a long time, they are NOT always the cheapest either.
Thanks for doing your part, it feels good to do something!!! Spread the word. All the large hardware stores support the Fascist so you can't do much there.
Thank you! I've copied the list of companies to boycott and will start writing letters to them, and every time I choose another store instead of them, I will also write and tell them.
They do listen when it is about profits.
Thanks for doing your part, it feels good to do something!!!
Thank you for this! I am surprised about a few of them. I am trying to avoid ordering anything from Amazon, but have not stopped using FB or Instagram. I am following certain people, like Robert Reich and Heather Cox Richardson, on them and as long as they keep posting on these platforms, I will stay.
I have no idea why Robert Reich and Heather Cox Richardson would still be using these platforms? That's crazy!! It's like me going out and buying a Mercedes during World War 2.
TY! I have also copied this list and will send it out to all my contacts.
Thanks for doing your part, we have to do something, anything at this point!!!
Delta Airlines!!??? Going to cut up my AM EX Delta Miles.
Thanks for doing your part, every little bit helps!!!!
I get what you're saying but you HAVE them so maybe donate them to like a veterans group or St.Jude where parents have to fly there for their kids treatments or other groups. Then stop using Delta but it's a shame just to toss those miles.
Thank you for the list, I will boycott whichever I can!
That's all we can do, check the website out you might find more!!!
Exactly. Trying to play by outdated norms is part of what got us here. There are no norms in the fight for survival. Don't play nice with the enemy and give him more power.
Wait a minute. Nancy Pelosi, Michelle Obama, and AOC did not even attend the inauguration. It means a lot in diplomacy. Not to mention Maxine Waters.
Hillary attended it, but she laughed the psychopath in the face.
Christopher, there hasn't been any real effort at a third party in a long time. I'm not talking about like Ross Perot, but a big united effort of disaffected Republicans, Demoocrats aKnd INDEPENDENTS that could get funded and have moderate platform and strong leadership emanating from both parties, i.e. Kinsinger, Cheney, Whitmer, Pritzker, Bresshear etc. Yes, some would have to leave the Dems, but the Dems are really showing how incredibly ineffective they are right now. When what you keep doing isn't working at all. in my opinion you need to try a new tack. I envisage this as the party of moderate, sane folks who right now are ringing their hands and saying what do we do to stop this s--t! I'm not saying it's easy. But right we're blowing in the wind while T just keeps hammering us to Jello! And then he will have exactly what he wants and the moderate majority is screwed!
I've forwarded Adam's message to anyone and everyone. Honestly, I'm frustrated as he'll with my parry. I felt like we had it together going into the election and was shocked by the outcome. I begged people to volunteer and people are lazy, apathetic and " don't want to get involved". We've had Project 2025 in front of us for a long. The only suprise is that he won the election. I don't know what else to do. I've lost friends and family over this monster. I'll keep fighting the fight but people need to get off the sofa and do something. WAKE PEOPLE UP!!
Current Dems are not prepared or organized.😿
165 million people who didn't vote for Trump will need to come up with some courage to fight back. Only 1,500 maniacs were able to mount a attack on our government. If we don't push back were looking like Russia. We'll see real soon if were the "Land Of The Free And Home Of The Brave". I'm ready, I hope every abled bodied person also is.
THE "LIBERTY BELL" RANG ON JANUARY 20TH. It's time to get serious, we may not be able to protest right now because of the weather but we sure as hell can boycott.
Sadly agree with how it looks.
The Dems have a job that's all they really care about! I shouldn't say all of them.
Honestly, I think Democrats are were trying to be all-inclusive and they couldn't spread their wings that far. After watching the Kennedy hearing today, I think 90% of the Republicans should resign for a total lack of backbone. Enabling is just a polite word for other very impolite words. It seems the norm for the trump cabinet isa minimum of 3 marriages 6+kids and at least one major alcohol or drug addiction. They are all being pushed through so fast. No time for a second round of questions. Who is taking this seriously??? At least the dems tried to ask relevant questions. Some actually had MD after their name.
I feel we were much stronger with Nancy Pelosi. What do you think needs to change? Where does it start?
powerful women rise despite great odds but only get called when there is a mess to clean up; then men who are born with the expectation they are in charge of everything pull the power back and proceed to make another mess and when the shit hits the fan once again eventually allow another woman to step forward; it's a rotation; an intermittent "Hail Mary" pass played at a male dominated losing game
Costco is one of the few major companies that hasn’t bowed to T’s order to ditch Dei programs! I just wrote the CEO, Ron Vachris, rvachris@costco.com, to thank him for supporting diversity at Coscto. HOPE YOU CONSIDER DOING SAME!
Agree, Wendy. Some “good people “ I know voted for the FOTUS bc they were told to by their churches, yet they have no idea of what T is doing with the wrecking ball.
Costco is one of the few big compaies who haven't bowed to T's get rid of DEI programs order. Ron Vachris, rvachris@costco.com, is the CEO. I just wrote him and told him Thank You for keeping diversity at Costco. I HOPE YOU WILL CONSIDER DOING THE SAME. It's imperative we support companies and individuals who are standing up!
Dems don’t know how to fight or communicate. Btw, elderly Dems need to retire so younger Dems who are canny and creative can win congressional seats.
The "Dark Ages " are back and getting darker by the minute and this time it's in our country. It seems other countries don't have a problem fighting these Fascist, all I hear in America is crickets.
Headlines: Tesla Faces Boycott Call In Poland Over Musk's WWII Comments.
It was reported the other day in the German press that dozens of the most important large universities in the Germany are leaving Elon Musk’s X platform in protest against its increasingly radical direction. Why isn't our country doing that?
C'mon America get with it before it's to late!!!!!
Hakeem Jeffries is not doing much better than Chuck Schumer. Neither compare to Nancy Pelosi, in her 80's who lectured Trump in the Oval Office. Bernie Sanders has been a force of dissent. It is not the age, it is the courage and backbone.
She didn't do that on day one though... so it's WAY too early to start judging them already, before Congress is even in session...
But hopefully we can sus out the imposters who want to get elected as Dems only to "turn Republican" after the election.
We could use him.
As Biden said and believe him -- it is up to not any one man or party but us. It's on us. But who would lay down money and bet on any of us? Not even us. Take up the mantle or not. No one is coming to our rescue.
Exactly. The Dems are in shock, or intimidated, or really have nothing that can make an attention-grabbing message. Adam is not scared, is courageous, well-spoken, and let’s face it, young, white, male and telegenic. He also has integrity, honor, decency, dignity, all things alien to the MAGAtocracy but not to true independents and liberals prepared to take half or a that of a loaf rather than being forced to swallow what’s coming out of the backside of the felon in chief disguised as his mouth. It may not seem like a good time as this regime is new. But it has already caused so much damage that I ask an old question another oppressed group asked in another context, Adam—if not now, when? And if not you, who? If we wait too long, there may be no saving this country.
Or engage Adam as an advisor on strategy, messaging on how to fight back.
Completely agreed 💯👍💯
I was a Republican the first half of my adult life. Switched to Democrat right after Reagan. Now, I wouldn't wish the Democratic Party on anyone. Especially Adam Kinzinger. He is strong and needs to stay right where he is. Jeffries and Schumer? They are not leaders by any stretch of the imagination. I am going Independent as soon as is possible for me.
I am wishcasting. But if the Dems are serious about fighting against authoritarianism, they need to open up the tent and welcome anyone who is against the dismantling of our constitutional republic.
In my opinion, this is NOT the time to run a presidential campaign. It's a time to offer constructive criticism if you have any, and if not, to shut up and think.
Too many people constantly blame Democrats for being "bad at messaging". As if somehow in a democracy, that's what politicians SHOULD be focused on. It's easy to be "good at messaging" if your message is designed to make people hate The Government and The Elites and if you have a two-decades-old fake news machine in the form of Fox spewing lies for you 24/7.
Democrats are democrats. That means: they are experts in GOVERNING, so in figuring out how to make real progress for the American people, and how to negotiate with many different fractions of the party, how to ensure that interests groups are involved in the process etc.
No serious democratic party (liberal or conservative) is supposed to be constantly "messaging". It's the job of the media to inform us.
And what would democratic messaging against Trump be? Just venting the same outrage that Adam proposes here? How will that help us? We urgently need to calm down and think (while launching the lawsuits and, behind the scenes, organizing the resistance in Congress, as I'm sure they ARE doing). The challenges are unprecedented, and THE most important thing will be to reach out to Trump voters and those who didn't vote and inform them of what is going on, and make them show up in 2026 and 2028. But in a democracy, it's "we the people" who have to do this. No politician can do it in our place. So... I love Adam, but I didn't find his venting here particularly helpful, I have to admit. Just being mad at each other won't do it. We need to get together and think first.
Sorry, but Adam's right here. I'm a lifelong Dem, but that hasn't blinded me from noticing that Dem leadership isn't messaging with enough urgency in the face of tRump's disastrous edicts. No, Dem leadership is not doing all they can. Where's the gathering of Dems congressman on the steps of the capital to express outrage? Things like that should be happening daily. When messaging is your our only weapon, we need to weaponize it.
So your idea would be to no longer use the few weeks they have to strengthen ties with their constituents at home (a KEY activity of every Congressman to make sure that he can be reelected, especially in swing districts), and to just stand there on stairs yelling each day, while the House is in recess?
I can imagine that that would make you feel as if your feelings of outrage are validated, but as a political strategy to fight back, it's sounds ridiculously ineffective to me... .
More than ever before, we need them to THINK and use their constitutional power in the best way possible. That means: doing exactly what they did during Trump's first term, using their long experience in Congress to legally block as much of his agenda as possible, and undermining, bill after bill, GOP unity by negotiating with those who still represent constituents that are old-school Republicans, not MAGA.
So no, messaging is not only Dems "only weapon", in the current media landscape it's an extremely weak weapon (the GOP "floods the zone" with outrageous stuff, as Bannon called it, so outrage is everywhere these days, so much so that more and more people are tuning out, just to keep their sanity), AND once the House is back in session, Democrats have MUCH more powerful tools at hand.
They are also explaining this, right now, in their many appearances (TV, independent podcasts such as The Bulwark (GOP, Never-Trumpers), Brian Taylor Cohen, David Pakman, Meidastouch, Adam Kohler, and so many others. It all makes a lot of sense to me...
So IMHO we need to stop complaining and become part of the solution, doing what ONLY we can do: TALKING with our neighbors, family members etc who fell for the fascist propaganda so that within two years from now, they vote for Democrats.
Agree! I am so frustrated by the mild approach of Dems when we really need forceful ferocity! WTF???
Thank you! How does one ask the Democrats to please do more? I’m doing what I can in my red state but I can’t email a Democratic politician if they are not my own.
This is a good source and direction in response to the current trauma we are all experiencing from Project 2025's puppet Trump: It is a Substack article entitled POWER ALSO COMES FROM THE BOTTOM UP on the podcast YOUR LOCAL EPIDEMIOLOGIST
https://open.substack.com/pub/yourlocalepidemiologist/p/power-also-comes-from-the-bottom?r=rfr9f&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email
Thank you!
also sign up for PUBLIC CITIZEN alerts which solicit signatures; the signatures are accepted after which there is a solicitation for support which you can opt to donate or just close out of site; acceptance of the signature is not predicated on whether you donate -- I get daily e-mail asking for my signature on issues; the most recent Trump's Freeze -- here is a link
https://www.citizen.org/about/contact/ or www.citizen.org
you can leave a voice mail message for any representative; I did so leaving a message for Fetterman in PA to voice my concern over his going to "kiss the ring" -- I donated to his campaign from where I live another state -- if you can donate from across state lines -- you can voice opinions -- they have no qualms in asking for money from other states -- which I support wholeheartedly -- I could not email him as a constituent on his web site so I called and left a message for him -- you can even contact Homeland Security -- there was an article on SubStack that outlined all we can do -- it is excellent "MY EPIDEMIOLOGIST" is the site. I'll try to poste it here. I think though I already did so.
I agree to a point. And that is that everyone needs to show, however one can, that the media, and by that I mean any Sinclair owned/operated media, Fox, Washington Post, New York Times, LA Times, WSJ, and ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN and yes, even MSNBC (looking at you Scarborough and Mica), IS IN TRUMP’S POCKET BECAUSE OF THEIR BOTTOM LINE: $$$$$$.
Add to that list UK's "The Telegraph" whose U.S. editor Tony Driver does little else than spew Pro-Trump articles. I was subscribed to the UK Telegraph and unsubcribed after all the Trump muck coming from Driver. And I let them know why. I doubt they care. But who is The Telegraph to come from the UK and start promoting a U.S. wanna be Dictator.
Agree with your sentiments. All the messaging in the world isn't going to do any good because the only ones who will hear are those who already share our views. The MAGA Republicans aren't tuning into or reading the same things we are. And the media is scared to death of speaking out against the orange rage machine, for fear of being shut down. The country is so polarized that I don't know how we reach the other side. They refuse to admit that Trump is a maniacal meglomaniac, even though it's right in their face. The majority of his followers know it isn't okay to do the things he has done, and continues to do, but they have been swept up in his despicable, cruel movement & have been completely indoctrinated. I wish I knew what the answer is, but I fear things may have to get so bad that there's a revolt, a rising up from ALL Americans.
I really think that Harris was right: we need to fight the way MLK Jr. did. And that means bringing together the political and the spiritual. You don't have to be religious to believe in key spiritual values (I'm an atheist), but you can sum it up with Harris's concept of being a "joyful warrior". The NYT and MSM immediately followed Trump when he suggested that it was some form of entertainment and a "honeymoon" that would soon come to pass. They were wrong, and Harris's result in only three months showed how much the concept resonated.
Being a "joyful warrior" comes in part from Harris's Hindu heritage (both Hinduism and Buddhism work with the idea of a spiritual "warrior" and "joyful effort"), and in part from her civil rights background, which taught her to fight NOT against what you hate but FOR what you love, even under the most difficult circumstances.
How to do that? By cultivating what MLK proposes in "strength to love": first of all, learn to love your enemies. As Harris constantly repeated on the campaign trail, that starts with actively deciding to cultivate faith in our common humanity, and to see that we will always have so much more in common than what could ever separate us.
If you know that fascism thrives on division and hatred, it becomes clear why learning to love Trump voters (before we even try to show them how mistaken they are) could be a radical game-changer. It means understanding that they are NOT stupid or evil and that they cannot be reduced to the hatred that they so often seem to feel. It means learning to stand in their shoes first. Look, we only had one week of Trump everywhere and OUR outrage levels and the need to BLAME someone, anyone, even our best allies, is already going up too. When you watch Fox and listen to some of these right-wing podcasts, the outrage is being triggered 24/7.
Talking WITH them will also requires us to increase our emotional intelligence and "be with" our own difficult emotions rather than acting upon them (that's why it's a "spiritual" practice in the first place). We need to learn to stay calm, and then to first just LISTEN to them, so that they feel heard and seen and we break the isolation that their media put them in. It will require time before we gain their trust, but we CAN do this. Only after that's done can we begin to - respectfully - talk about politics.
Fascism, history has shown, vitally needs cynicism to thrive. Start loving your enemies, and you have THE strongest weapon against fascism in hand. And this is something only we citizens can do for each other. So IMHO it's time to roll up our sleeves and get to work. The only way to have a government FOR the people is to have a government BY the people. Now is the time to wake up and build bridges. The joy, in that case, comes from our faith in our common humanity and from the decision to cultivate the belief in democracy. It comes from staying focused on our end goal, so that we can calmly lay the groundwork and tackle each and every obstacle as it comes. That's how to be a "joyful warrior", in the profound sense of the word. And if past generations could do it, why couldn't we? The baton IS now truly in our hands...
Timothy Snyder on the Politics Girl podcast recently advised us to always proffer freedom FOR rather than freedom AGAINST. He cited the example of folks who blame government for all that's wrong. Snyder recommends emphasizing government practices for free meals for kids in school, affordable day care, longer vacations from the workplace (as in Europe), more affordable housing and healthcare. Trump is against those measures. Where do our fellow Americans stand on those needs and programs? Let's find out by speaking with folks. (Campaigning for sanity)
Appreciate this approach a lot James! Way to get people on board with what is right and good.
Bandi X. Lee's recent series of podcasts that no one listens to stated we are at a turning point; a "death spiral" that leads to WWIII and total annihilation; but it can be turned around -- she targets the mental state of Trump as not being suitable in his role -- but she said the solution is also partially spiritual. I'd rather die than go thru this and feel so blessed my child had no children.
I read frequently how many MAGA supporters make their voices heard - and not in MAGA sources. Let’s speak out loud and clear - I’m betting it will be covered. The press likes a controversy.
Agree. Reaching out to Trump voters and those who didn’t vote is the most important thing we can do now.
I agree with the non-voters but with the Trump voters, Good Luck!!!! We're talking about zombies.
I agree that many are "zombies", but I believe more of them are "sleepwalkers" who just need to wake up and see reality. As they are directly affected by Trump's actions, they MAY wake up, and likely be enraged.
Wake up and do what? Be enraged at the "enemy within" for forcing Trump to do it to them!
Still; little pissed at the 90000 that sat it out.
Hi, Theresa: I just don't get why 90,000!! chose not to vote. Why throw the vote away. I know a few people who wrote in a name only they knew. They felt they had expressed their choice so the vote "wasn't wasted."
Re: Trump2016: I was in an LA cab moaning about Trump winning, and the woman driver chimed in saying she didn't vote because she was sure Hillary would win. OMG. That killed me more than anything!
Actually it was 90 million that chose not to vote. Infuriating!
Correction: 90 million
Happy to report that I have 'gotten through' to one non-voter who told me today that she PROMISES to never miss an election again. Prior to November 5, she didn't understand how her one vote would make a difference. Today, she said, "If we can get a million more people to understand this, we'll be in better shape next time." Then she added, "My new favorite word is 'resist'!" By the way, she is 24 years old. This gives me hope.
I hope she has a lot of friends to convert. We need a lot of help right now.
Good news, John! She’s actively speaking up within her circles (of other non-voters). And believe it or not, we might have Elon Musk to thank. She has been suspicious of him for a while, something just hasn’t sat well with her. Recently, all of the press showing Musk’s Nazi salute ratcheted her alarm. My young friend is of German descent, and the recent rhetoric to ‘get over it’ (I.e., Nazi history) lit a fuse in her. It’s a beautiful transformation of complacency to conviction to action!
Good for her and good for us!!!
"Reaching out to Trump voters." Mike and anyone: Tell me how you'd do this. I have tried in the most calm, open-minded (cross my heart), kind approach I can to even open a discussion of the pros and cons of both Trump and a Democratic candidate. It hasn't worked for me. Trump voters clam up, give me a dirty look and walk away.
I say to myself, "Well, that went well." So help me out, please.
In case it can be of any help, here's my experience. They have been told, for years, a whole series of things about us, and not knowing them makes communication impossible since they'll interpret what we say very differently from what we try to say.
A first very important thing to keep in mind: part of fascist propaganda is to make them believe that objective truth doesn't exist. All truths are subjective, which means that to have access to THE truth (and yes, that's paradoxical), you need to choose your info source wisely and then basically blindly trust it. By definition, that makes fact-checking not only superfluous but also impossible. So the very IDEA of objective evidence (for instance produced by nonpartisan experts) has been entirely abandoned. For them, that does NOT exist... so much so that CLAIMING to want to fact-check ALREADY means that you're lying to them, in their eyes, since these words now simply refer to OUR source of info, which cannot but be false because... it claims something different from their source of info.
Keeping this in mind is absolutely crucial because if not, we'll imagine that they're cynical or that they WANT to get us angry, etc. That's not at all the case. It's simply caused by their belief that there is no objective truth.
Secondly, by now many of them are also convinced that we see them as utterly stupid and ignorant, so as soon as they discover that we're not pro-Trump, they already become defensive.
Third, they are convinced that anyone who disagrees with their source is part of the "elites". That stands for: born with a silver spoon in your mouth, selfish, highly educated, and most of all, couldn't care less about "real people's suffering".
So... with that as starting point, where/how to begin the conversation?
For me, what works best is FIRST skipping the topic of politics and trying to install a connection focused on making them feel VALUED by us (we can do that by validating their thoughts, feelings and opinions, and showing interest in what interests them, their family life, work, etc.).
Once you notice that some level of trust has been installed, it all depends. Worst-case scenario: as soon as you mention that you're not pro-Trump, they explode. In that case, we need more time and first build much more trust without talking about politics (we have two years, so we can take the time :-)). Once the topic becomes accessible, we can move on to the next step: VALIDATE THEIR POLITICAL OPINIONS.
This is not easy and feels entirely counterintuitive to us. It doesn't mean that we have to falsely claim to agree with them, it means that we first LISTEN and ONLY focus on understanding WHY they support Trump, assuming that they MUST be as smart as we are and therefore have logically sound reasons. That, again, indirectly refutes their fear that we cannot but hate them and see them as inferior.
Next step: we try to find something about politics that they said and that we CAN more or less agree with. That now tells them, implicitly, not just that we value them, but also that we don't systematically disagree with their info source (so with what for them cannot but be evidently true). That will help to make them see YOU as a potentially reasonable person and not that different from them.
Once we get that message across, we can finally address a first, not too intense political disagreement. Here, they will immediately react by telling us that we're wrong and that that is because we're listening to the wrong media. THIS is when we can finally, cautiously (usually step by step and in more than one conversation), address the question of objective truth. We can tell them that we understand that they rely on Fox, for instance, and then add that WE find NO media truly reliable, sadly... . Because Fox says this and it sounds true, but then we find evidence that suggests the opposite, so WHO can we still trust today??? (feeling that they often implicitly share, so that may allow them to understand why we may not spontaneously trust Fox either).
And THEN you can try mentioning nonpartisan studies, but knowing that you'll have to EXPLAIN what that is and in terms that don't come across as "lecturing". You can say, for instance, that you saw studies that CLAIM to be nonpartisan and then explain that you checked it (because you don't tend to blindly trust no matter what study), and discovered this and that reason (not funded by a suspect person/group, sound mathematical methodology, sound reasoning, findings confirmed by other studies that also look solid) showing that the study IS reliable. Of course, they cannot do this for themselves, but now, with all the preparation work done, they may become interested in what you discovered since they began to see you as a trustworthy, likable person. Then, usually, they go back to believing their own source again. Whenever they do... it's important not to despair. A seed has been planted. Then it's better to leave the topic aside and start all over the next time you see them.
Bottomline: make sure that you FIRST focus on seeing them as decent, intelligent human beings (so do what Harris told us often during the campaign, namely see that we will always have so much more in common than what could possibly separate us) and make sure that they FEEL it, so make sure that they feel that you see them as "good people". Without this first step, nothing is possible. Then, gradually build up until you can begin to discuss how objective evidence works, step by step. Then... repeat, short times many times... :-)
Does that make sense?
This is quite the recipe!! 🙂 it’s late and I’m not thinking so clearly now but I appreciate what I’ve skimmed tonight and will come back to your comment tomorrow. I’m a psychotherapist in my professional life so I believe you’ve got some good points to make here. 👍🏼
I have tried as well, with my sister in law..and we always had a great connection. Not with this! She is sure that dt is going to "move us forward in really good ways." I truly wonder and hope... who among them is starting to see the destruction coming down..or if they are just continuing to blindly follow along. What a painful and scary time...let's stick together!
Agree. Five really good people that I’ve known for many years responded to me with “I wish we had better choices” and two of them refused to engage. This was in late October when I tried to point out the dangers of FOTUS.
I’ve been a failure at it as well, Barbara. I’ve lost what I thought were good friends. It will take time and I don’t have answers except never stop talking and trying
Hi, Mike, I'm with you in never stopping to try to talk. Sometimes, I wonder if it's the "in person" aspect that makes Trump supporters and others? resist and/or take offense.
A number of my friends, some MAGA, some not, are on my Facebook page. What I tried last week was to not "say" anything but just to post a pic from ACLU announcing that Trump's executive orders will have to get past them and the 400 times they have sued Trump and won.
I couldn't believe that a few of the Trumpers actually liked that post. Go figure.
Makes me feel kind of insignificant since I had no idea how hateful, stupid and racist we are as a country
When you’re in the minority you have one tool. Messaging. If you can’t do it you need someone who can
With all due respect, I think that's more inaccurate than ever before, and for two reasons:
(1) Democrats have PROVEN where the real power lies, when it comes to fighting back against a dictator, during Trump's first term, namely
(a) in doing what any politician is hopefully an expert in: building coalitions - in this case, coalitions that prevent the GOP from passing Trump's horrible ideas in Congress - and
(b) in launching lawsuits. Democrats are doing that all over the country as we speak. Result? It immediately forced Trump to NOT rescind the 14th amendment's birthright clause and to not enact any funding freeze. How come they could act SO swiftly? It's the combination of months of hard work by Dem lawyers (preparing for exactly this type of onslaught way in advance), a strong determination to work for the American people, and a laser-focus on where they can make a difference fastest. As even Saul Alinsky shows, if you want radical change (which we need; stopping the GOP from turning America into a dictatorship is a fight that is more radical than anything we had to fight for before), you HAVE to fight wisely. That includes CELEBRATING each major win, instead of standing at the sidelines yelling "not enough!" each time those standing in the mud get one step closer to the finish line. So YOU could help us with "messaging" by using your platform to make sure that people know how crucial these two wins were (at least for now).
(2) today's media landscape is entirely saturated already. Democrats ARE everywhere, right now. Yesterday alone (and when it comes to Trump's Eos) Tim Walz was on MSNBC, I heard from Elizabeth Warren on TV, Rep. Brendan was on multiple independent media podcast, I heard from Jasmine Crockett, AOC, Hakim Jeffries had a long message saying all the right things (aside from his line about God that you quoted), Pelosi sent out a message, Tim Kaine was on the news, Schumer said the right thing on the Senate floor, and those are just the first ones that come to mind. At the same time, liberal and progressive independent media are going full in - including, often, all the outrage your heart may want. THE question is, however: WHO will hear it? Not Trump voters. And that wouldn't change if all Democrats would stand together outside of Capitol Hill and yelled the exact same message (IF the news would get to them, they'd see it as proof that Trump must be doing something right...).
It is precisely the goal of the Heritage Foundation and Bannon to "flood the zone", so to sign 200 outrageous EOs in one week so that we all become highly emotional and get into a permanent state of alarm... THE state that makes it very difficult to sit, think, and come up with a truly effective plan.
So again, I understand and share your outrage. But the only way to strike back and win is to make sure that we've studied the history of fascism, learned how its opponents fought back and won, and then think about how to adapt those strategies to the current situation and a totally new kind of media landscape.
In the meantime, Senate Democrats are ALSO in the news 24/7 right now with VERY good and well-prepared (albeit not always perfect) questions for Trump's scandalous nominees. So here too, it's not as if they're not "messaging" right now. I honestly don't understand what more you'd want them to do, in terms of messaging. And since you said, in your video, that for now you don't know either, why not stop the (imho obsolete and ineffective) typical "Dems are not good at messaging" line, and see how WE can contribute to the fight, right now? Because in a democracy, it IS we who need to ask ourselves what we can do for the country, not what the country or Democrats can do for us. And obviously, telling them WHAT to do when we think we have a good idea is part of that. But a double "emergency" video only to vent and tell us that you have no idea what to do but want to blame Democrats for not being out there when they are... I really don't see how that could help.
That being said, I very strongly appreciate all the utterly courageous work you have done and continue to do to save America's democracy, and I am absolutely delighted to discover that you're on Substack and stay in the fight - and even more so knowing what huge risks you are willing to take for yourself and your family. So although I disagree with you on this specific point, I also want to make sure that it's clear that I find your leadership in general, since Jan. 6, deeply inspiring, and your courage to stand up for what is right, including when it is very dangerous, helps me and so many others to not give up, no matter what happens next. So from the bottom of my heart: THANK YOU!
We don’t need messaging against Trump. We need Democrats who’ve been much better than Trump but apparently but good enough - where are they? Not sure they exist. One example why I think that is what they allowed to happen to our fascist like schools. The union made common ground with fascists running our schools and helped purge the dedicated teachers.
Democrats let this happen. People are mad. That’s partly what paved the way for Trump. They’re quiet because they don’t want to fess up and do what’s right. They want to keep doing a little fascism - a little politics. They need to change.
Just check out WhiteChalkCrime.com and you’ll see they allowed democracy’s foundation to be compromised.
They’re only better than Trump. Their reaction to this shows they’re not good enough. Hearing Schumer say he “did this to us without a warning” sickened me. He’s the one who didn’t hear the warning.
Our leaders may need to come from the Republicans who stand for democracy since they stand for something. We need a resistance leader not a political leader and a good place for that leader to start is looking at democracy’s foundation- our schools.
People are sick of things like that not being done so they tried a con man.
You are very optimistic if you think he's leaving in four years.
Yes. I'm sure there will be an election -- midterms and in four years, but those votes will not be counted -- for real -- not a conspiracy theory -- they will not be counted for real -- because the actions of today do not speak of a party that thinks they need to win anyone's vote. Not even the vote of those who voted for them. Not even the Maga's in fact. They stopped campaigning long ago.
Yes. I’m afraid there will be a “fake” election where people line up to cast votes but that a winner will be “declared”, like in Russia.
Exactly. I asked Adam in another post why he continues to say "we just need to get through the next 4 years". Trump will do anything to dismantle the constitution & his cronies will help him every step of the way. Adam, I'd still love to know why you remain so optimistic about this.
I agree with Adam, it's very early but I am confident that as things get worse the voices of "We The People" will be heard through protest in the streets and through boycotts of companies that are kissing the ring. Don't underestimate the power of the people, all 165 million of us that didn't vote for Trump.
Yes but out of 165 mil...where IS everyone now!???
The universal pain that's coming hasn't been felt yet, it's early and the there will be a response! I'm still speaking English and not Russian!!! Get out of the negative zone. If things are still this way by next winter I'll be taking a Russian language course.
I don't see Trump as being able to navigate from point B to point B. The monsters who wrote Project 2025 are the puppeteers. The oligarchs are the money. The nominated are the enforcers.
Trump did not run for President in 2016 when he announced. He was looking for a soft landing. A failed human being. A failed businessman. A failed celebrity star. He did not think, nor did anyone that he would be nominated much less win. All he wants is money, property and prestige at any cost.
His talent was to divide. And it was quickly discovered and employed by the monsters who wrote Project 2025. Anyone who has not read it is going to continue waking up each morning shocked by the latest awe. I really do not understand actually how anyone at this point in time has not read it. It is obscene as much as the recent Executive orders and the letter to government workers and all that will come tomorrow is obscene.
But is not hidden. It's available and has been available for ANYONE to read since long before the most recent election. The one I predict will be the last one in which our votes are counted.
The founders of that document and this new regime bet on the fact that today "no one reads." They just react. The difference between us and those who lived thru the Revolutionary War is those citizens, most of them farmers, could read and they did read.
We have been sitting ducks for decades -- lulled to sleep by our blue screens that were invented by what is now our enemy, the oligarchs who profited and addicted most of us to those blue screens. Sitting ducks laid out for slaughter. Being nice and law abiding isn't respected any more. Winning and dominance and holding all the power and all the wealth is. So, we lose.
Great reply!
Our votes if we can even vote will not be counted -- And this time it will be for real not a conspiracy theory -- That's my view of where this is going -- It's over -- And damn do I blame those who did not vote or voted for Trump over Harris because she is a woman or more subtlety they did not like "her laugh" __ And personally really pissed over the professors who encouraged our youth to protest Gaza by not voting for VP Harris -- Many of those did not vote or what who knows -- wrote in a random name? -- Or voted for Trump, guess -- So to those who could not see individually, or by direction their professors did not see this was our last chance -- Our last vote -- And that "ALL HAD TO LEAN IN" to stop Trump by supporting the opposition VP Harris -- The blame is on them -- And please tell me how can anyone think there will be mid-terms or another presidential election -- How? Please tell me how. I don't see it.
T needs to be stopped in his illegal actions and orders with every means available and FAST!
Wait till they send out loyalty oath’s for
signature by federal employees-
you guessed it - it already happened.
100 per cent with you. Adam, you seem to be the only one who can get these spineless democrats to wake up and fight for our country. I thank you 🙏🏻 Please be safe.
No inspector’s generals and no office of accountability. Where do I sign up?
The Democrats have been MIA on all these issues and what’s happening. It is terrifying that everyone seems to be complying in advance.
Everyone in congress seems to be MIA
Except Jasmine Crockett and AOC.
Women got to save us
That’s a fact
It’s like ALL the democrats and those republicans who know better are waiting around to see if anyone will step up and what could the message possibly be. The flurry of action pushback against the dumb ass man-baby et al should equal the flurry of the absurdities coming from the administration. Instead it’s crickets. Yikes, we’ve elected dummies and do nothings across the board in this country. Adam, I sense your anger and disappointment and am feeling it also. I’m pray that some Democrats are listening to you. Hakeem Jeffries I’m looking at you.
Jeffries’ “God is on the throne” message wasn’t very inclusive.
I’m a Christian but even I know God was on his throne while Hitler was dismantling the German government, while Lee Harvey Oswald was loading his gun, while shots were fired at Fort Sumpter and our country was ripped in half in 1860. WE are the ones who have elected a divider who brings nothing but chaos with him. We are not absolved of our decision simply by believing that God is just gonna “take care of it”. And it DOES feel like “the church” has convinced themselves (despite all evidence) that Trump is one of them.
The point is that many Americans aren’t religious. It was an unforced error.
The religious folks seem to have gotten in bed with the oligarchs. For some reason, people believe in a Christian message. These are followers, and I think they have been tricked. They have Pope Donald now. Deprogramming would help, but I'm not sure what they might replace their beliefs with - something positive though!
Well McConnell voted against Hegseth but didn't start a movement. Idk i thought with 3 repubs others would join but alas they're all self serving cowards
Maybe, but the work getting done that having soundbites doesn’t sound as good as the actual work product.
I just would like to answer the Q to know, “Where are the Dems?”.
It is hard to follow the paper trail when looking for soundbites.
This 4 page document is worth reading, it’s fire.🔥
https://t.co/FoxBXQcC35
IT IS NOT THE FAULT OF DEMOCRATS. I am so sick of hearing people blame Democrats for the disgusting, misogynistic, racist, and hateful politics of the REPUBLICANS.
I’m sorry that is your take away from what I wrote. I didn’t explain myself very well, apparently. I’m not blaming the Democrats for any behavior of the Republicans. I’m simply saying that we all need to continue to counter all of the garbage coming from Trump and his minions.
We’re all tired. Can we try not to fight amongst ourselves? I’ll go first: I apologize for offending you.
Your statement was clear and concise and on point. It’s not about blaming the Democrats, it’s about expecting them to live up to their part of the bargain. Many of us worked our asses off on the ground during the summer months leading up to the election, and we helped get many congressional reps elected across the country. Now it’s time for those leaders to hold up their end of the bargain and do what we put them there to do….lead and fight and articulate a vision/strategy for opposing this insanity. For all the dire warnings about Project 2025 during the campaign, it’s gone deadly quiet. Trump never went quietly, he kept yelling from the sidelines throughout Biden’s term. And that seems to have paid off. We need aggressive leadership.
Well said. We all knew what was coming if Trump won the election. Why did not one prepare for it, just in case? There should have been a pushback plan in place even if they thought they would win. Playing catchup is difficult especially when you are fighting evil and people who are brainwashed.
Fair is fair. What are the Dems DOING??? Nothing. They're not doing anything except for channeling their inner Susan Collins and saying how "concerned" they are. Schumer should have retired last round. He looks old and tired. He at least had something of a pulse in 2016. The only person I see doing anything constructive is AOC and a few others. Even Jeffries has been meh. I'm really afraid.
I know people want to know, “Where are the Dems”.
It is hard to follow the paper trail when looking for soundbites.
This 4 page document is worth reading, it’s fire.🔥
https://t.co/FoxBXQcC35
It’s everyone’s fault for pride and being extremely partisan. If we think either party isn’t complicit at all, we are deceiving ourselves.
My opinion, not MIA. Just not playing to the liars game as we did last time. Facts don’t seem to matter as her debate truths should have wiped the floor with a massive win for Kamala.
Our messaging of gov’t here to help by proof in the pudding vs. loudmouth’s lying “promises” didn’t work as too many pre-empted by more lies to not taste, nor believe their taste buds. That, his lies, is what has got us to his real goal for destruction of our a constitutional country. Why people didn’t see the great economy, jobs, etc. is still a mystery - except sheer delusion.
Today was day one of the war as he showed he will not engage in Democracy and our Constitutional Laws. He again lied in his oath.
We need positive, hard belief in the fight. We don’t need navel gazing of yesterday.
Fights on (esp. legal).
I agree completely about needing “positive, hard belief in the fight.” The leaders we elected NEED to lead. They need to be pushing back on every illegal, unconstitutional, and immoral action he takes. We can shout until we’re blue in the face, but we don’t have the megaphone or platform they do.
I keep trying though.
Adam, thank you I couldn’t agree more - it’s like your house is on fire and the Democratic leaders are throwing cups of water on it - COME ON DEMS - be vocal in explaining what the psychopath is doing and what can be and is being done - GET OFF YOUR LAZY BOY and fight for our democracy!
Good analogy
I agree with this entire video post. There is no message all it is is discombobulated rants about what trump is doing and it's illegal. And then silence. There needs to be a huge opposition of All of us democrats Republicans independents jjst everyone a d we all need ri rise up. Adam maybe through country first and other organizations like aclu and medias touch and Scott dworkin Liz Cheney lawyers doctors unions Capitol police officers arnold schwarzenegger people from every walk that join together In one party of unity and OPPOSE together. Adam you are a leader you really are and iam ready to join this fight we must do this now we cannot wait for dems who are dithering we need the dem voices like AOC and others who are willimg to speak out. governors who are speaking out we need this messaging to be loud and clear that we are the opposition. With all these talented and brave people we can get a unified message out!!
Ehat do you think?
And whatever dems don't speak out well we move on and speak out with the ones who will stand up and fight
Have you heard of the Meidas Mighty? They are communicating like the DEMS should be!
I disagree. First of all, as long as Congress isn't in session, Congress CANNOT do anything, and they don't lead it anymore, so they can't call people back. Secondly, they ARE on independent media denouncing it all. I see them everywhere. And this is WHILE they are officially in recess. Third, beyond the usual outrage, what CAN they do, in terms of "messaging"? If anything, the summer taught us that MAGA 2.0 is led by neofascist ideologues who by now built a VERY well-oiled propaganda machine that is sucking all the air out of ANY message that isn't blatant outrage. And outrage tends to only benefit middle finger politics. Democrats - and democrats - need real, constructive communicating, which is almost impossible these days. Finally, 22 Democratic states already sued Trump for his birthright EO and WON. Other lawsuits are being filed as we speak. So they aren't being "lazy" at all (and IMHO, this kind of finger-wagging won't help in the first place). It's WE who need to get real. Democrats are people like you and me, and HOW to take over the messaging war, under these new circumstances, isn't clear at all. Adam himself just admitted that fact, and you seem not to have any concrete proposals either... ?
I wasn’t elected as one of this countries leaders - - they need to LEAD!!!!
We put them in the opposition (well, I'm sure not you and I, but the American people). And again, Congress is in recess, so what can they legally accomplish in DC right now? Nothing. Also, Adam is calling for more media presence. As far as I can see, they ARE present in the media, on a daily basis, so what more could they do (apart from launching lawsuits, which is exactly what they're doing)?
Also, "being at home" is not nothing. They HAVE to take time to connect with their constituents too, not everything that can be done can or should be done at the national level right now. So, with neither you nor Adam nor I having any idea of what more they could do... why blame them for "not doing enough" in the first place? It sounds too easy to me...
It is our elected representatives JOB to do everything they can to resist the attack on our democracy- this is not a run of the mill issue - this is our D-Day and that means do whatever is necessary to save our democracy
But none of you can say what, and their job is on the House floor, but the GOP closed the door (for once not illegally but because that's always how the House works this time of the year, so it's the usual recess).
In the meantime, what good will venting and whining do?
I strongly prefer Harris's "joyful warrior" approach: do NOT let them get into your head and start screaming all the time too. Stay calm, inform yourself, and pick your fights. I'm sure that Democrats are doing exactly that. It's also the ONLY way to be in it for the long haul. Constant outrage only leads to activism burnout and in-fighting, and THAT, of course, is why the GOP is flooding the zone right now in the first place.
DO NOT TAKE THE BAIT!
I'll repeat here, Podcasters, Instagram posters, X and all the other platforms are welcome and space is being made for them at all the press conferences. Young people AND others do NOT get their news and information from Legacy Media anymore. Look at the ratings of network and cable news, EXCEPT Fox. Will they let in any left leaning persons? We'll see but not surprised if they didn't.
Having those people there is a BRILLIANT idea, and watch, those influencers , over time, are going to be asking the questions, NOT mainstream media.
I think Donnie got a pretty good idea on how to do the "messaging war" and who better to brainwash than the young. So I'm sorry, the dems are left flat footed. A great example is shutting down AOS's bid for a committee chair I think it was and they gave it to Gerry Connolly who is a lovely man and is OLD, and I AM TRULY SORRY to say, has been diagnosed with cancer.
Being evil doesn't make you dumb. Donnie has VERY smart people around him. Wake up Democrats.
“Officially on break”
Are you fucking kidding me?
Do you think any of the soldiers on D-Day might have been on a break?
Except that there is no battlefield. That's what "recess" means. At least when it comes to the House (Senate Democrats are in DC!). No one can propose any vote or pass bills, since the Speaker won't be there. So your analogy doesn't hold any water...
Well, what’s a joyful warrior without a battlefield?
You don't think they could hold an outraged press conference on the edge of sanity to get the attention of Americans? Recess Schmeecess.
If any of you folks are looking for the Democrats to come to the rescue, then your wait will be long.
Republican have all the power atm and are doing the same. We need to work together or all could be lost.
Yes, but we ARE the Dems. I'll speak for myself to say that before 2016 I always voted, but largely left the governing and activism up to the people I voted for. I was not an active citizen. Trump in 2016 changed that for me, and now in 2024 I'm willing to keep doing my part. BUT--I also see that my fellow Americans--Repub and Dem--are NOT CARRYING THEIR SHARE OF THE F-ing LOAD. Our electeds can only do so much. People need to be in the streets, writing letters, calling, boycotting, striking, and generally being a pain in the tuchus to Trump and all of them. Personally I think we (American society at large) got lazy in the aftermath of WWII and post-war prosperity, and we took democracy for granted.
No. It’s like Republicans set your house on fire, watched (and laughed), because they have more fire-fighters than you do.
Do you think the “battlefield” takes a day off - I wouldn’t want to go into battle with you!
What is your real name ?
It would be nice if someone did SOMETHIMG
Seriously - what can we do?
What can we do? Share Adam’s video. Call your congress people to object (both parties). Donate to ACLU, Democracy Forward and other groups starting lawsuits against Trump’s actions. Support local groups that help immigrants. Get on lndivisible’s email list. Follow Jess Craven’s Chop Wood Carry Water, Simon Rosenberg’s Hopium Chronicles, MeidasTouch Network, Robert Hubbell or Jim Acosta on Substack. Educate yourself and those in your circle. Share personal stories of how these immigration policies are affecting those we love. My daughter became a naturalized citizen over 20 years ago but her accent makes her a target. Her friend who works at INS called her this week to tell her to carry her papers and passport at all times. I shared this story with all my friends, even people I knew that supported Trump. Resist, resist, resist and do NOT despair. Their intent is to overwhelm us into non-action. If we do merely wring our hands and feel helpless, they win.
I wrote my Republican Senator on 3 issues in the last few weeks. Hegseth confirmation - which went nowhere. School choice and hosing taxes for working and poor! RFK and how it better be 100-0 against because he’s so outrageously unqualified and dangerous.
I’m picking and choosing because he won’t listen about everything.
Andrea HV we ARE the someone. Unfortunately too many of us are either too exhausted right now to make a stink or we are all waiting for someone to do it for us. 🤷♀️
Exactly. It's up to us.
Ron Filipkowski posted on X (and I couldn’t agree more):
What would I do? Senate, House, DNC & Dem Govs EACH need to have a Rapid React WarRoom staffed 24/7/365. They need to have a rotating Senator, Rep, & Gov on call all times to post video, TikTok, statements & do interviews. Pressers are old, tired & mostly useless. Welcome to 2025
(And I would add, hire highly skilled retired educators to help with messaging, especially for the low information voter/citizen!)
THIS!
As far as I can see more people are talking about Adam as a leader they could stand behind. The democrats need to get their game up. Adam for President!
We need leadership! We need direction! We are so friggin overwhelmed with all of this and feeling helpless! What do you suggest we do? I post on Social Media, I'm a part of several activist groups, I email and call my Democratic and Republican representatives constantly and donate to ACLU to fight in court. If there's something else, tell me
Democracy Forward just filed suit on T’s stopping the funding for $1T of funding they stopped. The courts have blocked his impoundments to this can be reviewed. I’m donating to them too!
Why is the best (strongest and speaking out) Democrat a Republican. Eat your Wheaties and Impeach - he has violated his oath and it needs to be punished.
Frustrating to us, too. This is an egregious example of Dems falling apart while GOP members fall in line. Lack of organization is crazy making.
I couldn't disagree more. Look at how Democrats are voting: THEY are the party that systematically knows how to come together and pass breakthrough legislation that helps the 99%. The GOP, for years already, utterly failed to do ANYTHING and was divided on the most simple issues. And now that Trump is president and the wealthiest man on Earth his buddy, he STILL does nothing to unify his party at all, he just bullies them in obeying by threatening to finance a primary challenger. That's not a democratic way of treating your own members of Congress, it's a FASCIST way to treat them, and we surely don't want Democrats to take over tactics like that. Also, they have been STRONGLY unified in day one for what truly matters now, namely immediately launching lawsuits against Trump's illegal actions. That required MONTHS of preparation. One key lawsuit (birthright) was already WON by Democrats.
So no, this is definitely NOT "Dems falling apart". This is Dems being in recess, being VERY well-prepared already to immediately fight back in the courts, and preparing their strategy to fight back in DC (which, they have proven in the past, they are VERY good at) as soon as recess ends.
I hope you are right, and I don’t mind hearing your strong disagreement at all. I hope they can unify to vote against RFK, Gabbard, and Vought, but I am not heartened by the record. Dems who caved on all except Hegseth. It just felt as though they’ve lost steam. I have voted Democratic all my life and am an admirer of many in Congress. I just hope they can put aside their intra party differences and stop the damage. I truly love it that it is a big tent party with many voices, I just think that sometimes it makes it a little harder to cohere. Our people question—something that people in the GOP do far too little of. My fingers are crossed — you have no idea how much I want to be wrong, and I didn’t mean to write a strident attack — more of a sigh from a very sad person who’s spent her career working for nonprofits trying to do the right thing. These are difficult days.
I "liked" your reply even though I disagree again, but "thinking" about what to do next truly requires us to brainstorm freely, so I really appreciate what you wrote.
I just checked and it turns out that only 7 Democrats voted for Noem. Who were they? ALL Democrats representing swing states.
Imho, one of the things that makes progress so slow in the US is the low level of political literacy among traditionally progressive voters. In a democracy, the job of a representative is to represent NOT an ideology but your constituents.
When Democrats win red states or swing states that's great, but we also need them to be reelected, and that's only possible if they do their job in a democratic way and listen to their constituents, including when many of them are wrong. And then there is the fact that the GOP has much more power to slip their seat, in those states, so for anything that they KNOW their constituents will want them to do, they HAVE to work with Trump. And for many people in Pa for instance (especially after so much Fox News coverage of her) actually have a positive image of her. So Fetterman blocking her would probably have backfired... . The same goes for all traditional "blue dogs". We actually NEED them because when push comes to shove, they DO caucus with the Democrats, but they will inevitably water down a compromise bill because that's what they have to do. This is not "the Democratic party" being "divided", this is exactly how a democracy is supposed to work.
And then again, Democrats came together SEVERAL times, under Biden, to pass landmark legislation (Infrastructure bill, Inflation Reduction Act etc), which is VERY difficult to accomplish and yet, once again, they did it. For DECADES now, the GOP is unable to do something similar, they only come together around ONE issue: tax cuts for the wealthiest. That's why they need such a massive propaganda machine in the first place...
Finally, WE remain THE most important factor here. If each time Trump does something, citizens call their Senators and reps (Democratic or GOP), they can SHOW Trump that no matter how much money he'll put into financing a primary challenger, they will WIN the next elections if they do the right thing and oppose Trump. So we actually do have a lot of power, we just tend to not know it. Perhaps now, many more citizens will finally discover this fact and get involved... also because constant outrage is just not viable in the long run... :-)
Okay, okay, I give up, already. You’ve encouraged me, damn you. All your points are good, and I should have added I’m far from checked out. I do call and write, I never miss an opportunity to share well reasoned thoughtful commentary that makes the case for progressive policy. Probably I need to be more thoughtful when I comment. It’s just been so hard — uh oh, now I’m winging —- just a bit. My background was in non-profit communications and I had the wonderful and rare privilege of writing about scientists from several disciplines ranging from astrobiology to marine sciences, to health research, always mindful of how amazing life on this planet is and how fragile. As a boomer, I remember the rise of the environmental movement. We knew—-we KNEW, and yet …. heavy sigh and over it. I appreciate your thoughtful outreach. And I was quite sincere about feeling encouraged. For the last week and a half I’ve been marinating in the worst political news of my life — a life that includes Nixon. I told a friend I. need to either cut myself off from social media or at least micro-dose. Political and science literacy are important, and so is differentiating between the things you can change and the things you can’t — you know. Have a great evening!
All best- Diane
I understand perfectly. It's only normal to feel what you feel (who with still a beating heart in his/her chest does NOT feel what you feel, today... ?). And yes, sometimes it feels as if we, who are fortunate enough to be "educated", KNOW what won't work, that SHOULD be enough. But sometimes it isn't. And with the income gap only increasing, especially for the "uneducated"... in hindsight, how could we even EXPECT people to know... ?
So yes, first and foremost, let's acknowledge that this IS hard. That's precisely why it's a spiritual practice and not just a political act (as Audre Lorde said, self-care is political warfare too). And it's also why there's nothing wrong with venting, in and of itself. We NEED it, as a first step. As long as we remember that we can do more than that, it's fine to vent.
At the same time, making the opposition SO exhausted and desperate that we give up is precisely the goal of fascism and THE reason why it destroys so many things we care about. It WANTS us to give up.
That's where MLK and the art of being a joyful warrior comes in. First, we can just take the time to study how it (the art of being a joyful warrior) works, the way we study science... . And then you could argue that it's actually all about learning how to approach Trump voters ("the enemy") with the same sense of curiosity and wonder we cultivate when studying science rather than coming from a place of despair (and, let's be honest, HATRED for how they vote and currently think). Imho, being a democrat (a believer in the democratic process - and what else IS there to believe in in the first place?) means deciding to do exactly that, again and again, knowing that each generation has to fight the same fight because that IS the inherent fragility of all democracies. But if we can learn how to fight with joy, and in a way that strengthens our values and commitment... then why not? What do we have to lose (once our batteries are charged, that is)?
All the best to you too. YES WE CAN!! :-)
Some sleep will help too. Woke up at 4am thinking about something I wanted to write about Google in the wake of their changing names on maps — got up, made coffee before I lost it and for that blog I’ve slacked on:
Years ago, Google worked with researchers at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) to add undersea topography to their maps. MBARI had the data they needed, but there was a problem. The software could only add height to existing terrain. In other words, they could build mountains but not carve canyons.
So what did they do? The engineers changed the base size of the planet from sea level to that of the ocean floor at its known most extreme depth. They proudly informed theorists MBARI partners “We shrank the Earth.”
I now realize that all along they actually meant to write this slogan
Don’t be level
But, the Dems have to be out there in our faces like the R's. That is how you get the people to learn about you and to, hopefully, become voters. Most people these days are so tied to their social media that they do not know about many things going on especially lawsuits and such to try to slow the snowball rolling down the hill. The people of today who we need to vote, given the opportunity, need to have messaging at all times. That is exactly what T and team did and look what happened. We can't fight in the background and expect a change. Doing the same thing as always will get us the same results. The world has changed and the Dems have to change with it.
It's not that easy... . Today's MSM are only interested in what immediately increases revenue for them. That means: clickbait headlines and short slogans. We will NEVER save democracy with outrage and short slogans only. Those who truly want to govern by and for the people need a media climate that focuses on real debates about the issues in all their complexity and history. You cannot make people understand important things in under two minutes. You CAN sell them outrage and fake news in under two minutes though. THAT is why it's so much easier for fascist middle finger politicians to be "good at messaging".
And then again, the only reason why Republicans can tweet 24/7 (apart from the insomnia caused by their rotting souls...) is precisely because they couldn't care less about governing. REAL governing is a full-time job! That's why a democracy vitally needs a thriving media landscape with real journalism. It's the job of journalists to inform people, NOT the job of politicians. And that's yet another reason why criticizing the Democrats right now is not realistic and not helpful, I'm afraid...
Finally, they ARE out there. I see them on TV and on YouTube every day!
Latest example: Tim Walz talking with Rachel Maddow:
https://youtu.be/9UdHdjuodPg?si=oKqVIGMzZhpmKh8B
I feel it's the reason we lost the election.
It's not! We should stop the constant self-blame. Corporate MSM no longer inform people of the most relevant facts, and the GOP has become a truly fascist party, these last four years, with a perfectly oiled propaganda machine. That is utterly unprecedented in the US. No one knew how effective the combination of the demise of the legacy media and the rise of a truly fascist American party would be, so no one was truly prepared for it. NOW we know. Usually, when you have a presidency that is as successful as what Biden/Harris achieved, your record is enough to win the next election. From now on, that's no longer the case. People are being massively brainwashed AND they no longer even watch MSM. So how do we change things around by 2026? That's a real question, with no clear answer yet.
I put the Fox News app on my phone to see how THEY are writing about what Trump is doing. It’s like a freaking pep rally. Lots of “winning” language and hand clapping but low in facts and any real insight into the chaos these EOs are creating. No wonder their readers/listeners don’t know anything. Lots of ‘outrage’ and they are writing about some stuff I didn’t even know about. Adam spoke about that with his 2 guests on a previous post….the MAGA echo chamber.
Yes, exactly. I'm "following" the Heritage Foundation and conservative media on FB, as well as the WH, Vance and Trump etc. At least in that way, they still hear different voices. But it's BAD indeed, and almost all of it is either distorted, taken out of context or outright false... . Now imagine that all your family members, friends, colleagues, people in church etc listen to the same stuff... before you know, it will all begin to feel true. THAT's how they grabbed power and finished the violent coup started on Jan. 6. The good news? Trump voters are not "bad people". They did NOT vote for an insurrectionist rapist and immoral, failed businessman. They think they're voting for a highly moral businessman who was thrown out of the WH by evil, corrupt, immoral Democrats... and they voted to RESTORE democracy. So at least, they do want democracy and moral leadership. THAT's what we have in common and can learn to build on, IMHO. Because only when we citizens reach out to them, restore trust, and see them for who they are, can we gradually begin to talk politics with them again. If we all do it, we CAN beat fascism, especially knowing that it's still very early...
Same here
Spineless people on both sides of the aisle. Lawlessness unleashed. Frightening. Even CNN put Acosta in a late night position. He quit. Feels like CNN cowered to the autocratic oligarch. Free press…please give the message of lawlessness before democracy is fully exploded. Adam…your passion for country first is respected. I agree with your message tonight. Democrats…and gop leaders with spine…please push back.
Looks like Jim is joining independent media (yay!) and his message was that we will get through this. Hang tough
Watch CNN viewership skyrocket. Nope. The ones they want to draw already have FOX. Why would they move to CNN -makes no sense.
This is why the democrats lost! They need to find their core again! Stop pandering to the fringe. Remember who they are. Step up and speak out!!
The only democrats who have been speaking out are the so-called “fringe democrats”. The “middle of the road democrats”, are who is being silent.
Sorry but that’s why the dems lost. That and they don’t speak with one voice to all democrats but different messages for different groups.
I AGREE 1,000%!!!. I don't understand why almost no one is saying anything when Trump is forging ahead with a clear intention to destroy democracy. As a (unaffiliated) random voter. I find it maddening to fire off emails to my senators and rep., and get, at most, a form email response. As an old guy, I can remember when such actions would lead to near-instantaneous mass protests. Doesn't anybody care?
My House Rep was an R, but she was just voted out. I emailed the shit out of her and only ever got form letters. I now have a D Rep and both D's as Senators who are fighting back. So what am I supposed to do? I knew we were screwed when Roe was overturned and barely any protests happened. I attended one rally in the big city I live near but that was the last of the marches. We need George Floyd level protests with people out in the streets, on the House, Senate, and Supreme Court steps. I don't think it has to be our elected leaders who step forward to motivate us, but someone with a large following could start the fire. Until an event that truly shocks the consciousness occurs, I don't see any real organized protests or resistance happening. It's sad and disappointing.
The lack of protests this time around follows a historical pattern. I think it played out in Orban’s subversion of Hungarian democracy. Autocratic leader’s first term, a lot of protests in response (think back to 2017—the women’s march, climate protests, etc.) Autocrat gets voted out, but perpetuates the claim that election was rigged, all legal actions against him are political and unfounded, etc. Autocrat manages to get elected to second term—people feel beat down, feeling that everything they did the first time around has come to naught. Very few if any protests, etc. I listened to an interview of some of the women who spearheaded the women’s march in 2017; many said they would not repeat, since it seems to have had no long-term effect. I agree we need SOME initiative to get things moving; that being said, I don’t know how to make it happen in the current mindset of people.
This Democrat is just disgusted with our Party!!!
Like us or not, we will need to work together to fight this. It is easy to blame Democrats, but truth is the Republicans put him into power AGAIN and are caving to every demand he has had so far.
Lifelong Democrat that admires y'all for not bowing to tRump and is just sick our leadership evidently doesn't know how to fight.
That's not the problem. Democrats clearly know how to GOVERN, as Biden/Harris and the Dem Congress just proved, and in normal times, that IS their core job. It's just that we now learned that normal times are over and that a fascist GOP grabbed power through massive lying and voter suppression. How to fight back against it? With lawsuits, AS they're doing already (= VERY fast), and by taking the time to THINK and see what an effective strategy in the long run can and should be. For now, no one knows. Even Adam not... :-)
We need a D and R to share a ticket. True populism for the people by the people
Freedom and Responsibility Party led by strongest leaders of both parties ! Totally agree Jean! Take the hard road before there’s no road to take.
We need a D and R to share a ticket. True progressive populism for the people by the people
100%
Agree! It's terrifying. I feel like today was the first day some kind of fire was lit with the federal freeze. It's been a horrifying week.
Each day wasted is another day Trump gains more power, Dems needed to fight back starting day 1 - Trumps minions are operating at a quick pace and Dems need to be quicker else they never will catch up.
Unfortunatly my view is this will only stop when people feel the negative impacts of these changes in their daily lives - until then Dems need to carry the message against this and eventually people’s reality will catch up.