Boycotting is precisely what I have been shouting about until I am hoarse. I know we Americans do not like discomfort and deprivation, no matter how superficial it is. It is time to make them pay very close attention to the needs of ordinary American citizens. Cancel your Amazon subscriptions (we did), and remove and stop using ALL parts of META and X (Bluesky has been a breath of fresh air. It is moderated but not restrictive)—end subscriptions to Disney and anything associated with ABC. Stop using Google (this was the most challenging) and move to a more trustworthy provider; they do exist. Leave Apple behind as well. These corporations have all kowtowed to tRump and his tRumplodytes. We CANNOT sit and complain about these companies abusing us and not having our interests in mind while we continually throw money at them. That is blatantly permitting them and giving them the funds to do so. This is all about capitalist America. If you want them to pay attention, then take away the one and only thing they care about- Money. None of this is "easy," but it is far easier than trying to survive a fascist takeover of our home. We possess a power that is far stronger than our vote, and that is our dollar. STOP SPENDING on anything outside of essentials. Spring is upon us; plant a garden and grow your own food. None of it is permanent because once the funds begin to dry up, they will start to ask how they can earn our trust and become more productive participants in democracy! We can do this if we are willing to be uncomfortable for just a little bit, and it's not really that bad. We have rediscovered other, non-techie ways to entertain ourselves and reconnect with our humanity.
Katherine, can you explain how I can disengage with Google and what a better choice would be? I'm technically challenged. Old lady who learned to type on an Underwood typewriter.
I'm not 100% sure, but I'm going to try it today. Try this:
Go to your address line and type in the name of the search engine you prefer
Click on the link
In the address bar, type in the addresses of your bookmarks or preferred websites
Add them to your bookmarks list on that search engine
At least that's where this old lady is going to start. I'm not going to add any banking info into my computer anywhere. No password lists either. Print those out and then delete the file. Then go to your delete file and delete THAT.
I've been told that Proton (proton.me) is a less intrusive email account, but it is really hard to change all the places and people who have my gmail address, for 20 years. I'm planning to make the change, but I admit I won't just delete my gmail.
I just switched to Proton this weekend, and used their easy-switch tool to bring my Gmail over to the Proton mail platform. Unfortunately I blew away the size limit because I've been bad over the years about leaving things in my Gmail folders...but that's on me, not Proton. The VPN makes me feel more secure, also.
I am also getting OFF Goggle !!!!!! I can foresee them using AI to search emails...of course they will.....so anyone with any connections to anything OR just to feel safer should move...not a small job notifying everyone.... but you could reply to mail sent to friends easily with new address ...and businesses you have files for - that is OK...AND I would keep my gmail and NEVER USE IT...but have it forward wayward emails to my new email...that I had forgotten while changing my email address ! :)
Hi. We have been using Zoho. It is a fairly robust system and it is secure. We have been moving personal and business accounts from Google. MSN isn't an option for us either. Ahh, the growing pains of change for the greater good. Fun times!! Gooid luck Maryann!
Good grief you all have been sold a bill of goods and sadly have no idea what you’re talking about technologically. The only way to accomplish what you’re talking about is living off the grid.
I agree. Putin made a comment some time back about Americans losing their Democracy because they had grown complacent and wouldn't push back, and there is merit to this despite who said it. We have gradually either grown complacent or been lured into it by allowing ourselves to become distracted, and then exhausted, by all the competing messages from a myriad of sources ... or lured into spending our money because those with money buy sophisticated marketing professionals to create ads so seductive we can't resist. The planet rots, the unprincipled oligarchs are cheating us right and left, and we continue to buy crap that supports sleazy &@*#('s who could care less about our wellbeing. Selectively spend your pennies!
That’s so incredibly privileged. There’s a huge difference between saying what you’re doing vs telling others what to do. Do you know millions of people ONLY have Walmart as an option?
oh dear...effect their bottom line...money down not up...oh dear...they are going to be .... un happy - but not near as un happy as WE ARE ! :) = motivated to keep America, America ! :)
I have started with META after Zuck bent his knee, working my way to down the list. Amazon / Whole Foods is next... It's easy. Keep a eye out for Trump supporting companies, Boycott
I left the NY Times and Washington Post after they normalized Trump in 2024. I left "X" when Elon decided free speech was only MAGA speech and speech Elon liked. I left Threads after Zuckerberg bowed to the GOP House and Trump.
I joined as a member The Contrarian, Democracy Docket and Blue Sky in an attempt to save democracy, and stop Christian Nationalists (including the six Christian Nationalists on the Supreme Court) and the American oligarchs from making America an authoritarian theocracy.
In the gift shop at the wonderful Maltz Museum last evening (there for a lecture and tour of the excellent and important exhibit, “Degenerate Art”) was a card which said:
I THOUGHT I KNEW STRENGTH UNTIL I SAW YOUR POST ABOUT LEAVING FACEBOOK
nope. can't do that. my team is in the Super Bowl on Sunday 'GO BIRDS". why should trump be invited and yet I shouldn't watch my team win the SB because he's there? fuck that! THAT I will not give him. i'm going to enjoy the game. it's the only small pleasure that I get since this administration's destruction of my government.
Me too and I am an Eagles fan. The removal of "end Racism" in the end zone is not getting enough air time. NFL did that so as not to offend trump/musk. Disgusted
WELL I think that is WHERE the next LARGE PROTEST SHOULD BE...AT THE SUPER BOWL WITH TRUMP....let's see the Big news outlets try to keep that one a secret ! :)
Yes also boycott anything Musk, tesla, starlink... and also Amazon, Amazon Prime, Whole Foods, etc..... our money does have effect.. that is how they got to be billionaires in the first place... off of us!
Restack it so it reaches more people. Forward it to people you know who are not on Substack. Do whatever you can - all of us need to become activists at this critical juncture!
Ok I ReStacked it but to be clear if you’re an American you need to do it since my followers are Canadians and we’re focusing on tariffs up here. We’re behind your resistance totally.
Another tip: I’m reading Bandy Lee’s updated The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump. She started Duty to Warn ..Org. Yale trained forensic psychiatrist that I followed in his first term. I highly recommend you read it to understand what we’re dealing with. It’s written by her and 27 other professionals.
I can’t restack another article that is a must read for Americans because it’s for paid subscribers only. Research Curtis Yarvin. He’s the puppet master behind
As long a Elon Musk and his band of DOGE looters have possession of the Treasury financial system, blue state governors should authorize their state comptrollers to withhold all federal tax payments. It's time to act to protect our taxpayer money from those committing what amounts to bank robbery in broad daylight. It's time for Democrats to Stop the Big Steal!
THANK YOU!!! Why Blue states aren't withholding already is beyond me. Nothing is business as usual anymore, and Democrats have to start acting like it.
So, here's an idea. Right now, the House holds a 217-215 R majority. There are 3 seats vacant because they are running away to join the circus to be a clown (actually 2 are joining the circus- 1 resigned before he could get kicked out for a sex scandal- nothing new there for the R's). There is 1 seat in NY yet to be scheduled and 2 seats in Florida scheduled for 4/1. The D's should put every penny into the 2 FL seats. These are deep red seats and if somehow, we can win them, then it will be a 217-217 House. The policies the Orangeman are enacting hurts R's as much as us. We have to pound the disaster he is into them- commercials, podcasts, rallies, whatever it takes. With a tie in the house all bills die. It's not like the Senate where the VP can break the tie, as is the case with our drunken Dept of Defense Secretary. Spread the word.
I would like to add, please listen to this interview by Brian Tyler Cohen with Senator Brian Schatz. It helped lessen my fears. Congress is not sitting idly by.
Yeah, but Schumer needs to go. He's just the wrong person for the job-- he's too passive and doesn't have the backbone, guts, nor gonads to slug it out with the Administration.
We need to stop attacking other Democrats. Instead, suggest that another Senate Democrat would be a dynamic spokesperson--or even appoint a spokesperson who is NOT in the Senate., rather like presidents who have press secretaries. The spokesperson need not be the Democratic Minority Senate leader. It's about finding the person who can be most effective as spokesperson.
I dunno. I'd rather have someone who could work the Senate rules to thwart Don the Con at every turn! Mitch McConnell wasn't a particularly good spokesperson. He certainly wasn't likeable-- even by his constituents. He governed the caucus as much by fear as by anything else. But he had the power to clog up the pipes and he knew how to use it!
As it happens, the folks in the state house appear to be putting together a plan that's even better than the Mitch style maneuvering. He was a one-man show. What we need right now is something much more collaborative and strategic. And it may involve some things that we can't see or may misinterpret.
WE are the ones who need to speak up. WE also need to stand behind our Dem reps at all levels. Please quit pitting one Dem against another- that's playing into the right wing playbook. You are off track. Get back on track. Schumer is a brave man. I don't think you have a clue what goes on in the State House or how it works. Get busy, start doing something meaningful as a citizen. All you are doing right now is throwing sand in the wrong works, and hampering what can actually work.
I agree. I was all in to push Schumer out in favor of Klobuchar, but then I heard her tell Brian Tyler Cohen that they need to "pick their battles." Uh, NO. We need to fight every single one of their illegal power plays. Schumer is weak AF. Disappointed in Klobuchar. Who now?
Keep in mind that they're in a better position to fight, given the political makeup of their states. One of my senators, Patty Murray, is also in an excellent position to speak out, and she has been doing so vociferously.
When McConnell was Minority Leader it felt like *he* was in charge. I want someone who gives that vibe. They need to use procedural rules to shut the whole thing down. Glad to hear that some senators spoke all night to delay the Vought confirmation. That's a start.
There was a lot of buzz about protests in all 50 states happening yesterday. I was excited to go to the one in my state, until I started seeing posts about how wary we should be about protests that no group is claiming to be organizing. I did some Google searching, and could not find out for myself who was organizing these protests. I was reading warnings from trusted sources that there was the possibility that these protests were being planned in order for violent right wing counter protesters to show up and attack people to give Trump an excuse to declare martial law. Ultimately, I decided that I was no good to anybody if I was dead, and I stayed home. Then I started seeing posts about all of the peaceful protests, but how much smaller the protests were than the ones in 2017, and I was wondering if I had been deliberately manipulated to stay home so that the protests would look small on the news. I have no doubt that the warnings of potential violence were posted in good faith based on legitimate safety concerns, but I am frustrated. I hate feeling so powerless.
I even reactivated my Facebook to find out more about the protests, and we DID have local organizers and I decided not to let the bots and trolls scare me off. I believe that's where those fear posts originated. Our little protest in Lincoln, Nebraska, in freezing drizzle, was actually quite strong. I know some stayed home out of fear (and weather), but many turned out, and of all the protests I have attended, this one got the most supportive honks. I trust the 50501 organizers (look at their subreddit page) and will do more of these actions.
The most sober warning came from our local Indivisible chapter, and that’s who mainly influenced me to stay home. I trust them and so I aired on the side of caution this time.
It's not weak or an admission of powerlessness to say that you have to stay home--the threat of protesting in public is real because we have lunatics with guns everywhere. Some of us are restricted by caregiving responsibilities--our death or even a minor injury would be catastrophic to our families, which is reflection of the shit social safety net we are all living with. We need more ways to fight. Mass actions from home--boycott, work stoppages, payment stoppages, whatever, please give us some leadership!!
" Ultimately, I decided that I was no good to anybody if I was dead, and I stayed home."
So the fearmongering got to you. You're not going to die if you attend one of these peaceful protests. The only time (maybe) they will become less than peaceful is if Trump does have the nerve to declare martial law. People won't stand for it.
Looking at the comments here on rallying v. staying home: the more militant among us need to have respect for those who, for whatever reason, feel powerless or afraid. Say something like this, "No one will think any less of you if you sit this one out." It depends on the issue, of course. Cowardice is cowardice, and I'm not claiming to be exempt from it; consistent courage is a rare thing. But if I learned one thing from my younger days as a '70s and '80s protester it's to be a little slower to judge those who may not be as convinced as I am. Also, I took a lot of risks, which could have put others in unnecessary jeopardy. As far as I know, any damage was limited, but still. It's a fine line. Fight the good fight, but fight strategically- smarter, not harder.
I suggest getting involved in one of the grass-roots action groups, whose focus in on non-violent actions, including marches, and stand-ins, ralllies with speeches, writing and calling representatives at all levels, attending local government meetings (some are on Zoom) and putting in your 2 cents if you have something to say, I was put off by the 50501 text because it was so vague and had no contacts (and NOBODY should have my personal number!).
But I checked with local groups and learned that there was a peaceful protest meeting,in the capitol of my state, organized by several action groups and quite well-attended. Between the weather and my lack of transportation, I chose not to go. I am not normally a rally kind of person, but have come to believe that in the circumstances we are in now, it is important that we show up IN PERSON at peaceful rallies and stand-ins. The letters and calls are important too: NOT to lambast our reps, but to let them know we have their backs.
The local involvement is to inform ourselves about how what is going on in our communities is affected by what is going on at the federal and state levels. These are people we vote directly for and who make decisions that affect our communities. My town right now is trying to hammer out a budget in the face of the national chaos around funding, and some local issues in flux. You can bet your community is scrambling too.
No one of us is going to fix anything by ourselves. But by informing ourselves (instead of bloviating about things we know little about), we can find the small things that can begin to influence how things are done, and all of us together will be the answer to the very huge problem we are facing. There is no "savior" out there. It is us, working together and supporting the people we elect who are also working to turn things around.
Annie, I, too am put off the fact that any organization has my phone number, and many do have my email. That's only because when Trump was elected the first time, I signed more petitions in a week than I'd signed in my whole life previously. What I do not and will not do is give any of them a single penny, despite their nonstop pleas for money. First of all, I don't have it. I have, however, quadrupled down on these petitions and letters.
You make a good point about refraining from lambasting our reps, although I reserve the right to give them pointed and even occasionally harsh criticism, depending who it is, and probably which party, and the locale matters too. Still, that's a good check-and-balance.
And yes, being accurately informed first, then acting; none of us knows it all. More and more, too, I'm convinced of the value of starting with our own battles, the ones closest to home, most personal. A *certain* degree (not to an extreme, but in proper measure) of saying "it's not my fight" on any particular issue, is good...I hope I'm not unclear. I do NOT mean being unsupportive of battles where we're not and cannot be physically present, or that only indirectly affect us. Because, big picture, we are in this together. Pick our battles, but it's also the same battle. No contradiction in my mind.
(As for money, the Contrarian is the first online publication I have ever willingly subscribed to.)
I THINK we are in the Coliseum now...with the Lions ready to come in :( What about organizing UNIONS effected OR SUPPORTING unions for Rolling Shut Downs of well, Everything ??? .... a TERRIBLE illness with staff ! ?? = Rolling shut downs everywhere in each state !!! Red states would be most effective as FOX ( and even most main stream Media now disregard the latest outrage ) broadcast Trump/Musk are HERO'S and have very little insight to what we SEE = INSANITY yes :( .......... and what else can we shutter Peacefully ??? AND EFFECT THE STOCK MARKET....that TALKS directly to Trumps Billionaire friends and is MOST Effective of all !!!! Boycott the Super Bowl do NOT buy tickets = $$ money TALKS !! (not feeling hopeful here ) .....................white board ideas here ?????????
I need to point out the use of the "approval/disapproval" ratings you used to describe Musk, as if they somehow indicated something. They have NO MEANING, and I'm surprised you actually did that. If something is wrong, it's wrong, period. Even if a majority of the people polled actually thought Elon's actions were okay, they still would be illegal and unethical and WRONG. This is not an election, but here you are again descending to the same kind of meaningless comparisons that don't even work in eletions- and have absolutely NO place in evaluating the behavior of someone who is not elected, not appointed, not vetted, doing things he has no right to do. Please give this some thought. Polls are out of place here.
In this case, elected officials are the ones on the line. This is not an "opinion" kind of thing. This is a Constitutional crisis. Our democracy is on the line. Musk is acting outside the law. Polls are an inappropriate way to evaluate Musk's illegal actions.
I agree. Polls, depending on how they are structured, can confirm whatever the pollster wants. Few polls are actually meaningful, and they should only be used for general guidance.
I actually expected what is happening in the sane world to happen, and have been limiting my donations to CREW and ACLU. This war will be fought in court, and although Frump and his minions probably think they can just ignore any decision that goes against them, more than likely our lawyers are better than his, and even the most in the tank Supremes (4 really, no need to consider the obviously co-opted 2 and the liberal 3) might have a shred of loyalty to their constitution and some common sense too. I hope this doesn't end up with a mob with pitchforks in the streets of Washington hunting Muskrats, but the damage done already will be hard to reverse. Let's make sure our elected R officials know that they will soon have blood on their hands and will be held to account. Let us make sure the good guys out there with law degrees and no fear of Frump Musk have the financial support they need to kick some butt.
Great column Jennifer. I attended a webinar by Common Cause that had thousands of attendees, eager to have something to DO about this. there are petitions to sign, letters to write, call to make, letters to editors. I've done all of the above. I'm a retired military officer and I know what the oath says we should do with both foreign and domestic threats to the constitutional order. This is not politics. A war is being waged on the US right now.
Whatever we can do to show up, protest, but more importantly gum up the works with, boycotts and restraining orders -- literally helping to pile on the lawsuits the next year or so -- it will help. If Republicans have any cerebral matter left in that empty cultish space between their ears, they're already bound to be thinking of midterms, which are virtually guaranteed not to go well for them.
Unfortunately, there will be no penalty for Melon or his underlings because Pam Bondi, an early tRump fangirl, won't charge any of them and tRump will just pardon them so they can keep on doing it. The Orange Ogre has a lifetime of turning the legal system on its ear. And, it is one of the few lessons he has learned in life. Would that Roy Cohn had died much earlier... Call or write your congress critters. Democrats have to be a unified wall of opposition to tRump and the rethugs.
I am out of hope that tRump voters are seeing anything he or Musk is doing that would change their minds. It's too soon. Their lives have not been affected enough, and so far they are cheering their leaders on to use any tactics regardless of legal or constitutional standing to decapitate their perceived overreach of the federal government. They're still very much at the "we won, we won!" party.
Boycott the super bowl. the NFL has rolled over for tRump.
Boycotting is precisely what I have been shouting about until I am hoarse. I know we Americans do not like discomfort and deprivation, no matter how superficial it is. It is time to make them pay very close attention to the needs of ordinary American citizens. Cancel your Amazon subscriptions (we did), and remove and stop using ALL parts of META and X (Bluesky has been a breath of fresh air. It is moderated but not restrictive)—end subscriptions to Disney and anything associated with ABC. Stop using Google (this was the most challenging) and move to a more trustworthy provider; they do exist. Leave Apple behind as well. These corporations have all kowtowed to tRump and his tRumplodytes. We CANNOT sit and complain about these companies abusing us and not having our interests in mind while we continually throw money at them. That is blatantly permitting them and giving them the funds to do so. This is all about capitalist America. If you want them to pay attention, then take away the one and only thing they care about- Money. None of this is "easy," but it is far easier than trying to survive a fascist takeover of our home. We possess a power that is far stronger than our vote, and that is our dollar. STOP SPENDING on anything outside of essentials. Spring is upon us; plant a garden and grow your own food. None of it is permanent because once the funds begin to dry up, they will start to ask how they can earn our trust and become more productive participants in democracy! We can do this if we are willing to be uncomfortable for just a little bit, and it's not really that bad. We have rediscovered other, non-techie ways to entertain ourselves and reconnect with our humanity.
Katherine, can you explain how I can disengage with Google and what a better choice would be? I'm technically challenged. Old lady who learned to type on an Underwood typewriter.
I don't know about email, but I use Firefox and GoDuckGo as browsers. They protect my privacy.
I think you mean DuckDuckGo
Thanks Susan, sounds good
i do the same.. no googling nor using anything Amazon.
Neither of those browsers do that.
Replace Google with DuckDuckgo.com
Thanks Charles!
I'm not 100% sure, but I'm going to try it today. Try this:
Go to your address line and type in the name of the search engine you prefer
Click on the link
In the address bar, type in the addresses of your bookmarks or preferred websites
Add them to your bookmarks list on that search engine
At least that's where this old lady is going to start. I'm not going to add any banking info into my computer anywhere. No password lists either. Print those out and then delete the file. Then go to your delete file and delete THAT.
Thank you Leigh
I've been told that Proton (proton.me) is a less intrusive email account, but it is really hard to change all the places and people who have my gmail address, for 20 years. I'm planning to make the change, but I admit I won't just delete my gmail.
I use AOL. It's so laughable no one pays attention to it but spammers -- and the site has good spam controls.
I just switched to Proton this weekend, and used their easy-switch tool to bring my Gmail over to the Proton mail platform. Unfortunately I blew away the size limit because I've been bad over the years about leaving things in my Gmail folders...but that's on me, not Proton. The VPN makes me feel more secure, also.
I am also getting OFF Goggle !!!!!! I can foresee them using AI to search emails...of course they will.....so anyone with any connections to anything OR just to feel safer should move...not a small job notifying everyone.... but you could reply to mail sent to friends easily with new address ...and businesses you have files for - that is OK...AND I would keep my gmail and NEVER USE IT...but have it forward wayward emails to my new email...that I had forgotten while changing my email address ! :)
Thanks Jim!
Hi. We have been using Zoho. It is a fairly robust system and it is secure. We have been moving personal and business accounts from Google. MSN isn't an option for us either. Ahh, the growing pains of change for the greater good. Fun times!! Gooid luck Maryann!
Thank you Katherine
I know, I am getting OFF Goggle too !!!! It is a bit of WORK...but everything changes sooner or later lol ) I will take a look at Zoho too
Good grief you all have been sold a bill of goods and sadly have no idea what you’re talking about technologically. The only way to accomplish what you’re talking about is living off the grid.
I agree. Putin made a comment some time back about Americans losing their Democracy because they had grown complacent and wouldn't push back, and there is merit to this despite who said it. We have gradually either grown complacent or been lured into it by allowing ourselves to become distracted, and then exhausted, by all the competing messages from a myriad of sources ... or lured into spending our money because those with money buy sophisticated marketing professionals to create ads so seductive we can't resist. The planet rots, the unprincipled oligarchs are cheating us right and left, and we continue to buy crap that supports sleazy &@*#('s who could care less about our wellbeing. Selectively spend your pennies!
Plus, stop shopping at all national companies (Amazon, Walmart, Target, Home Depot, Lowe’s etc.) with the exception of Costco. Shop LOCAL.
That’s so incredibly privileged. There’s a huge difference between saying what you’re doing vs telling others what to do. Do you know millions of people ONLY have Walmart as an option?
Totally agree. I’ve been beating that same drum. Spread the word. Starve the beasts (oligarchs), it’s the only thing they’ll understand.
https://www.hks.harvard.edu/centers/mrcbg/programs/growthpolicy/organizing-successful-social-movement-erica-chenoweth
This short video covers the four essentials of successful anti autocratic movements.
Thank you, Ernest! I will blast this on Bluesky
oh dear...effect their bottom line...money down not up...oh dear...they are going to be .... un happy - but not near as un happy as WE ARE ! :) = motivated to keep America, America ! :)
I have started with META after Zuck bent his knee, working my way to down the list. Amazon / Whole Foods is next... It's easy. Keep a eye out for Trump supporting companies, Boycott
I left the NY Times and Washington Post after they normalized Trump in 2024. I left "X" when Elon decided free speech was only MAGA speech and speech Elon liked. I left Threads after Zuckerberg bowed to the GOP House and Trump.
I joined as a member The Contrarian, Democracy Docket and Blue Sky in an attempt to save democracy, and stop Christian Nationalists (including the six Christian Nationalists on the Supreme Court) and the American oligarchs from making America an authoritarian theocracy.
Thank You Nick! We all must stand up for what we believe to be true.
In the gift shop at the wonderful Maltz Museum last evening (there for a lecture and tour of the excellent and important exhibit, “Degenerate Art”) was a card which said:
I THOUGHT I KNEW STRENGTH UNTIL I SAW YOUR POST ABOUT LEAVING FACEBOOK
Protest the Super Bowl...Trump plans to attend and the players are NOT Happy about it !
nope. can't do that. my team is in the Super Bowl on Sunday 'GO BIRDS". why should trump be invited and yet I shouldn't watch my team win the SB because he's there? fuck that! THAT I will not give him. i'm going to enjoy the game. it's the only small pleasure that I get since this administration's destruction of my government.
Build up stockpiles of nonperishable food, medical goods, too.
Boycott everything as this is NOT BUSINESS AS USUAL - DO NOT BUY $$ A TICKET !!!!!! FOR THE ELITE - THEY WILL THEN CALL TRUMP !
Amen.
I decided I am not watching the super bowl the second I heard Trump is attending.
Me too and I am an Eagles fan. The removal of "end Racism" in the end zone is not getting enough air time. NFL did that so as not to offend trump/musk. Disgusted
Protest in PERSON !!! That is the ticket :) :)
WELL I think that is WHERE the next LARGE PROTEST SHOULD BE...AT THE SUPER BOWL WITH TRUMP....let's see the Big news outlets try to keep that one a secret ! :)
Boycott, my ass. Show up.
Not everyone is physically capable of that anymore. We do what we can.
Only watch the Clydesdales! They’re smarter than most of Congress!
Boycott everything non-essential.
Protest in New Orleans...Trump is slatted to BE THERE
Yes also boycott anything Musk, tesla, starlink... and also Amazon, Amazon Prime, Whole Foods, etc..... our money does have effect.. that is how they got to be billionaires in the first place... off of us!
PROTEST THE SUPERBOWL !!!!!!!! Trump plans to BE THERE !!!!!!!!! :) Perfect :) Enjoy the game T...:)
Tyrannosaurus Rump, the Tyrant King of all rumps!
Robert Reich has published on SubStack this morning an updated list of what citizens can do.
Restack it so it reaches more people. Forward it to people you know who are not on Substack. Do whatever you can - all of us need to become activists at this critical juncture!
Ok I ReStacked it but to be clear if you’re an American you need to do it since my followers are Canadians and we’re focusing on tariffs up here. We’re behind your resistance totally.
I’m Canadian but I did send it to American friends. Not sure yet how to Restack.
Reich posted it to FB if anyone is still using that vile site
Another tip: I’m reading Bandy Lee’s updated The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump. She started Duty to Warn ..Org. Yale trained forensic psychiatrist that I followed in his first term. I highly recommend you read it to understand what we’re dealing with. It’s written by her and 27 other professionals.
I can’t restack another article that is a must read for Americans because it’s for paid subscribers only. Research Curtis Yarvin. He’s the puppet master behind
Musk’s takeover.
Published on That’s Another Fine Mess
I can’t find it and want to. Can you include a link here? Thanks for letting us know!
I can’t share it but bits on my Substack page if you follow me.
As long a Elon Musk and his band of DOGE looters have possession of the Treasury financial system, blue state governors should authorize their state comptrollers to withhold all federal tax payments. It's time to act to protect our taxpayer money from those committing what amounts to bank robbery in broad daylight. It's time for Democrats to Stop the Big Steal!
THANK YOU!!! Why Blue states aren't withholding already is beyond me. Nothing is business as usual anymore, and Democrats have to start acting like it.
I wish. I live in Virginia. Are we the only state that voted for Harris and a blue legislature but also has a MAGA governor and AG?
Youngkin is a lame duck. Elect Abigail Spanberger in November as the new Governor, and whoever the Dem AG candidate will be.
We have blue congresspeople, went for Harris but another MAGA governor. Sadly, That's not unusual for NH.
So, here's an idea. Right now, the House holds a 217-215 R majority. There are 3 seats vacant because they are running away to join the circus to be a clown (actually 2 are joining the circus- 1 resigned before he could get kicked out for a sex scandal- nothing new there for the R's). There is 1 seat in NY yet to be scheduled and 2 seats in Florida scheduled for 4/1. The D's should put every penny into the 2 FL seats. These are deep red seats and if somehow, we can win them, then it will be a 217-217 House. The policies the Orangeman are enacting hurts R's as much as us. We have to pound the disaster he is into them- commercials, podcasts, rallies, whatever it takes. With a tie in the house all bills die. It's not like the Senate where the VP can break the tie, as is the case with our drunken Dept of Defense Secretary. Spread the word.
All three are deep red seats...and we ought to be pouring every penny into all three.
I would like to add, please listen to this interview by Brian Tyler Cohen with Senator Brian Schatz. It helped lessen my fears. Congress is not sitting idly by.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqEp3RbrqM4
Yeah, but Schumer needs to go. He's just the wrong person for the job-- he's too passive and doesn't have the backbone, guts, nor gonads to slug it out with the Administration.
We need to stop attacking other Democrats. Instead, suggest that another Senate Democrat would be a dynamic spokesperson--or even appoint a spokesperson who is NOT in the Senate., rather like presidents who have press secretaries. The spokesperson need not be the Democratic Minority Senate leader. It's about finding the person who can be most effective as spokesperson.
I dunno. I'd rather have someone who could work the Senate rules to thwart Don the Con at every turn! Mitch McConnell wasn't a particularly good spokesperson. He certainly wasn't likeable-- even by his constituents. He governed the caucus as much by fear as by anything else. But he had the power to clog up the pipes and he knew how to use it!
We need a Democratic answer to Moscow Mitch.
As it happens, the folks in the state house appear to be putting together a plan that's even better than the Mitch style maneuvering. He was a one-man show. What we need right now is something much more collaborative and strategic. And it may involve some things that we can't see or may misinterpret.
Brian Schatz. He's in line to succeed Schumer and I wish it would happen already...he's a good guy, and his staff is good, too.
Opening sentence should read "We need to stop attacking other Democrats."
You can edit: click on the 3 dots to the right and select "edit". (I have to do this a lot...)
Thanks! I fixed it.
WE are the ones who need to speak up. WE also need to stand behind our Dem reps at all levels. Please quit pitting one Dem against another- that's playing into the right wing playbook. You are off track. Get back on track. Schumer is a brave man. I don't think you have a clue what goes on in the State House or how it works. Get busy, start doing something meaningful as a citizen. All you are doing right now is throwing sand in the wrong works, and hampering what can actually work.
I agree. I was all in to push Schumer out in favor of Klobuchar, but then I heard her tell Brian Tyler Cohen that they need to "pick their battles." Uh, NO. We need to fight every single one of their illegal power plays. Schumer is weak AF. Disappointed in Klobuchar. Who now?
Liz Warren or Chris vanHollen. Both of them aren't afraid to fight.
Keep in mind that they're in a better position to fight, given the political makeup of their states. One of my senators, Patty Murray, is also in an excellent position to speak out, and she has been doing so vociferously.
Our Sen Murray is a national treasure.
She kicked off those tennis shoes and put on some steel-toed combat boots.
Rooting for her to start kicking some ****.
Chris VanHollen would be a far better, dynamic, and articulate spokesperson in the Senate. Schumer, as you note, is too much like a bowl of oatmeal.
He is also a terrible communicator. We need someone faster, smarter, more strategic and bold and articulate!
they are not but have very limited power what so ever :(
When McConnell was Minority Leader it felt like *he* was in charge. I want someone who gives that vibe. They need to use procedural rules to shut the whole thing down. Glad to hear that some senators spoke all night to delay the Vought confirmation. That's a start.
There was a lot of buzz about protests in all 50 states happening yesterday. I was excited to go to the one in my state, until I started seeing posts about how wary we should be about protests that no group is claiming to be organizing. I did some Google searching, and could not find out for myself who was organizing these protests. I was reading warnings from trusted sources that there was the possibility that these protests were being planned in order for violent right wing counter protesters to show up and attack people to give Trump an excuse to declare martial law. Ultimately, I decided that I was no good to anybody if I was dead, and I stayed home. Then I started seeing posts about all of the peaceful protests, but how much smaller the protests were than the ones in 2017, and I was wondering if I had been deliberately manipulated to stay home so that the protests would look small on the news. I have no doubt that the warnings of potential violence were posted in good faith based on legitimate safety concerns, but I am frustrated. I hate feeling so powerless.
I even reactivated my Facebook to find out more about the protests, and we DID have local organizers and I decided not to let the bots and trolls scare me off. I believe that's where those fear posts originated. Our little protest in Lincoln, Nebraska, in freezing drizzle, was actually quite strong. I know some stayed home out of fear (and weather), but many turned out, and of all the protests I have attended, this one got the most supportive honks. I trust the 50501 organizers (look at their subreddit page) and will do more of these actions.
The most sober warning came from our local Indivisible chapter, and that’s who mainly influenced me to stay home. I trust them and so I aired on the side of caution this time.
It's not weak or an admission of powerlessness to say that you have to stay home--the threat of protesting in public is real because we have lunatics with guns everywhere. Some of us are restricted by caregiving responsibilities--our death or even a minor injury would be catastrophic to our families, which is reflection of the shit social safety net we are all living with. We need more ways to fight. Mass actions from home--boycott, work stoppages, payment stoppages, whatever, please give us some leadership!!
That is true. I was very vigilant about gun lunatics, but that is no different from any protests in the last 30 years.
" Ultimately, I decided that I was no good to anybody if I was dead, and I stayed home."
So the fearmongering got to you. You're not going to die if you attend one of these peaceful protests. The only time (maybe) they will become less than peaceful is if Trump does have the nerve to declare martial law. People won't stand for it.
Looking at the comments here on rallying v. staying home: the more militant among us need to have respect for those who, for whatever reason, feel powerless or afraid. Say something like this, "No one will think any less of you if you sit this one out." It depends on the issue, of course. Cowardice is cowardice, and I'm not claiming to be exempt from it; consistent courage is a rare thing. But if I learned one thing from my younger days as a '70s and '80s protester it's to be a little slower to judge those who may not be as convinced as I am. Also, I took a lot of risks, which could have put others in unnecessary jeopardy. As far as I know, any damage was limited, but still. It's a fine line. Fight the good fight, but fight strategically- smarter, not harder.
Again, preaching to myself first.
I suggest getting involved in one of the grass-roots action groups, whose focus in on non-violent actions, including marches, and stand-ins, ralllies with speeches, writing and calling representatives at all levels, attending local government meetings (some are on Zoom) and putting in your 2 cents if you have something to say, I was put off by the 50501 text because it was so vague and had no contacts (and NOBODY should have my personal number!).
But I checked with local groups and learned that there was a peaceful protest meeting,in the capitol of my state, organized by several action groups and quite well-attended. Between the weather and my lack of transportation, I chose not to go. I am not normally a rally kind of person, but have come to believe that in the circumstances we are in now, it is important that we show up IN PERSON at peaceful rallies and stand-ins. The letters and calls are important too: NOT to lambast our reps, but to let them know we have their backs.
The local involvement is to inform ourselves about how what is going on in our communities is affected by what is going on at the federal and state levels. These are people we vote directly for and who make decisions that affect our communities. My town right now is trying to hammer out a budget in the face of the national chaos around funding, and some local issues in flux. You can bet your community is scrambling too.
No one of us is going to fix anything by ourselves. But by informing ourselves (instead of bloviating about things we know little about), we can find the small things that can begin to influence how things are done, and all of us together will be the answer to the very huge problem we are facing. There is no "savior" out there. It is us, working together and supporting the people we elect who are also working to turn things around.
Annie, I, too am put off the fact that any organization has my phone number, and many do have my email. That's only because when Trump was elected the first time, I signed more petitions in a week than I'd signed in my whole life previously. What I do not and will not do is give any of them a single penny, despite their nonstop pleas for money. First of all, I don't have it. I have, however, quadrupled down on these petitions and letters.
You make a good point about refraining from lambasting our reps, although I reserve the right to give them pointed and even occasionally harsh criticism, depending who it is, and probably which party, and the locale matters too. Still, that's a good check-and-balance.
And yes, being accurately informed first, then acting; none of us knows it all. More and more, too, I'm convinced of the value of starting with our own battles, the ones closest to home, most personal. A *certain* degree (not to an extreme, but in proper measure) of saying "it's not my fight" on any particular issue, is good...I hope I'm not unclear. I do NOT mean being unsupportive of battles where we're not and cannot be physically present, or that only indirectly affect us. Because, big picture, we are in this together. Pick our battles, but it's also the same battle. No contradiction in my mind.
(As for money, the Contrarian is the first online publication I have ever willingly subscribed to.)
I THINK we are in the Coliseum now...with the Lions ready to come in :( What about organizing UNIONS effected OR SUPPORTING unions for Rolling Shut Downs of well, Everything ??? .... a TERRIBLE illness with staff ! ?? = Rolling shut downs everywhere in each state !!! Red states would be most effective as FOX ( and even most main stream Media now disregard the latest outrage ) broadcast Trump/Musk are HERO'S and have very little insight to what we SEE = INSANITY yes :( .......... and what else can we shutter Peacefully ??? AND EFFECT THE STOCK MARKET....that TALKS directly to Trumps Billionaire friends and is MOST Effective of all !!!! Boycott the Super Bowl do NOT buy tickets = $$ money TALKS !! (not feeling hopeful here ) .....................white board ideas here ?????????
Terrific column. So much appreciated and so much better than an interview!
Well done, Jen! Keep it up! We need you!!!!✊
I need to point out the use of the "approval/disapproval" ratings you used to describe Musk, as if they somehow indicated something. They have NO MEANING, and I'm surprised you actually did that. If something is wrong, it's wrong, period. Even if a majority of the people polled actually thought Elon's actions were okay, they still would be illegal and unethical and WRONG. This is not an election, but here you are again descending to the same kind of meaningless comparisons that don't even work in eletions- and have absolutely NO place in evaluating the behavior of someone who is not elected, not appointed, not vetted, doing things he has no right to do. Please give this some thought. Polls are out of place here.
Of course you are very correct. But, it is worth mentioning such results since elected officials pay attention to them, and so does the press and 47.
In this case, elected officials are the ones on the line. This is not an "opinion" kind of thing. This is a Constitutional crisis. Our democracy is on the line. Musk is acting outside the law. Polls are an inappropriate way to evaluate Musk's illegal actions.
I agree. Polls, depending on how they are structured, can confirm whatever the pollster wants. Few polls are actually meaningful, and they should only be used for general guidance.
I actually expected what is happening in the sane world to happen, and have been limiting my donations to CREW and ACLU. This war will be fought in court, and although Frump and his minions probably think they can just ignore any decision that goes against them, more than likely our lawyers are better than his, and even the most in the tank Supremes (4 really, no need to consider the obviously co-opted 2 and the liberal 3) might have a shred of loyalty to their constitution and some common sense too. I hope this doesn't end up with a mob with pitchforks in the streets of Washington hunting Muskrats, but the damage done already will be hard to reverse. Let's make sure our elected R officials know that they will soon have blood on their hands and will be held to account. Let us make sure the good guys out there with law degrees and no fear of Frump Musk have the financial support they need to kick some butt.
Great column Jennifer. I attended a webinar by Common Cause that had thousands of attendees, eager to have something to DO about this. there are petitions to sign, letters to write, call to make, letters to editors. I've done all of the above. I'm a retired military officer and I know what the oath says we should do with both foreign and domestic threats to the constitutional order. This is not politics. A war is being waged on the US right now.
Whatever we can do to show up, protest, but more importantly gum up the works with, boycotts and restraining orders -- literally helping to pile on the lawsuits the next year or so -- it will help. If Republicans have any cerebral matter left in that empty cultish space between their ears, they're already bound to be thinking of midterms, which are virtually guaranteed not to go well for them.
Unfortunately, there will be no penalty for Melon or his underlings because Pam Bondi, an early tRump fangirl, won't charge any of them and tRump will just pardon them so they can keep on doing it. The Orange Ogre has a lifetime of turning the legal system on its ear. And, it is one of the few lessons he has learned in life. Would that Roy Cohn had died much earlier... Call or write your congress critters. Democrats have to be a unified wall of opposition to tRump and the rethugs.
Democrats repeatedly say, "We can't just vote against every nominee." YES YOU CAN!
I am out of hope that tRump voters are seeing anything he or Musk is doing that would change their minds. It's too soon. Their lives have not been affected enough, and so far they are cheering their leaders on to use any tactics regardless of legal or constitutional standing to decapitate their perceived overreach of the federal government. They're still very much at the "we won, we won!" party.