The basic truth: They’re going to get away with as much as they can, until the people stop them. So that’s our job: Get in the gears, slow it down, build pressure to stop them.
It can feel daunting. They have started in high gear and are plowing through policy and people. It’s painful to watch Trump’s reckless assault hurting so many people and things we care about. There is phenomenal lurking danger as Musk gains untold access to the government’s backends. (For those who find details helpful, Heather Cox does a very informative substack with the latest twists and turns.)
But if you were on team Trump, you’d be also aware of the many road bumps and resistance. It has not been smooth sailing: rescinded memos, poorly written orders, and government workers that are digging in their heels. Their policies are losing support and allies — “Beyond betrayed. They used us.”
They are committed to a strategy of constant motion, floating ridiculous ideas alongside escalating policy — and they need to spin nothing but wins.
AOC is correct that Trump is very much like the Wizard Oz — a great deal of his power is in the myth. Ezra Klein says for Trump to be the King he wants to be — he needs us to believe he has that power. Ezra’s encouragement: Don’t believe him. (The Irish Prime Minister said it another way, in response to Trump’s floating the atrocious idea of seizing Gaza, “I always adopt the approach when it comes to the U.S. administration of: judge them based on what they do and not what they say.”)
This doesn’t stop the pain, but it’s some good news for us: our attention and acquiescence is needed. And we will not give it. We’ll remain a free people.
So what to do? No single answer will get us out of this situation. It’s a deep crisis, at multiple levels. And so it will need multiple levels to fix it. None of us can carry it all.
It’s helpful to recall that there are different paths that contribute to fighting an authoritarian. The different strategies are all important — disobeying and disrupting (many protests today!), defending civic institutions, protecting folks getting harmed, and the slower burn work of alternative vision, culture and crafting new institutions.
Let’s resist the temptation to fall into hierarchy of which is most needed. All successful overthrows involve art and action, protest and prayer, defense and offense, calm heads and angry shouts!
Get as grounded as you can. Find your next step. Do it.
If you’ve been frozen (and we can understand why), we need you to shake it off and get into some motion. We’re inviting everyone — whether at one of the protests or workplace or school — to join with us today at 12:53pm for a one-minute moment of silence to catch our breath and honor the hurt and suffering due to the current administration and the damage they are causing to this country and around the globe. Our grief will make us stronger. Our reflections make us wiser.
Then find the one step in front of you that you see and do it.
If you are stuck, folks are offering many different ways to plug in. Just a few:
- Indivisible and friends just put together an excellent guide for pressuring elected officials.
- Today there are self-organized emerging protests across the country with 50501 and union and worker-led protests in DC against the Musk takeover of DOL, OPM, and USAID. We encourage folks to go with a crew (and if they feel comfortable with the organizers). The massive, peaceful uprising they represent will be spun by the mainstream press and right-wing media. Do not take the bait. On social media and elsewhere, echo the images of our fellow residents fighting against Musk and cronies!
- Complain to officials (Here’s a sample letter about Musk’s data theft or make calls via 5 Calls)
- Find something in this humble guidebook of Some Actions to Stop Authoritarianism.
Give gratitude for folks doing a different role than you.
Now is a great moment to appreciate the many roles. Send a quick note of appreciation to someone playing another role than you. We all will need that sense of connection and appreciation for the long struggle ahead.
Thanks for whatever roles you’ve been playing.
Warmly,
– Choose Democracy