The most important shout out must go to the citizens of Wisconsin who turned out to defeat a super MAGA candidate and to show Elon and Trump who’s the boss in a democracy.
That's a valid question as the Attorney General who should speak for the people now heads the president's legal team and won't prosecute a clearly illegal act.
Legal moves are important. But we must go to the root of the problem: Right-wing media brainwashing.
We can stop it. Here’s how.
Contact advertisers who support right-wing hate-stoking and let them know that you don't approve of the lies and mean-spirited distortions these media serve up. Tell them that you object to the support of racism, xenophobia, misogyny, homophobia, and corrupt, fascist cronyism. Be polite, respectful, and business-like but be clear.
As a life-long advertising professional, I can tell you with certainty that the marketing people at these companies really do pay attention to these kinds of complaints – and they are quite often responsive, and in some cases, even over-react to negative feedback from consumers.
I have gotten advertisers to take real action with my communications with them. I have gotten expensive ads pulled and had marketing directors apologize for unwittingly supporting hateful trash in media.
Advertisers got Glenn Beck off the air. Advertisers dropped X in droves because of Musk. Major advertisers also dropped Laura Ingraham's show for her crackpot comments. But we can do much, more with a broad-scale, focused, and relentless effort.
Here's a great place to get good contact info for major marketers:
And, if you're in a restaurant or bar and they have the TV tuned to that rubbish, let them know you don't approve. You don't have to sit and eat and watch this dreck. You can leave – and let them know why.
These media companies are the fuel of Trumpism and right-wing derangement. We need to shut down this supply of lies and hate. And you can really help make that happen.
Protest Fox. Newsmax. Protest their local outlets. Protest their newspapers. Protest thjeir talking heads. A few thousand protesters daily is news worth millions in advertising..
Fox et al are exposed to lawsuits. The $787 million settlement is accountability. Expoosed to $2.7 billion (with a B) to Smartmatic.
Fox also faces a shareholder derivitive suit brought by New York City’s five pension funds and the State of Oregon, by and through the Oregon State Treasurer and the Oregon Department of Justice, on behalf of the Oregon Investment Council and the Oregon Public Employee Retirement Fund, against various directors and officers of Fox Corporation, the corporate parent of Fox News Network, LLC. Plaintiffs allege that Fox News’ leadership breached its fiduciary duties by adopting a business model that promoted or endorsed defamation by failing to establish systems or practices to minimize defamation risk despite the known risk of liability, including broadcasting false claims about election technology companies Dominion Voting Systems and Smartmatic USA.
Montitor Fox and Newsmax for defamation. Every time they repeat Trum/Musk lies they have to disclaim them or face further exposure.
It was wonderful to see so many hundreds of thousands of people in so many different communities, spanning so many ages, races, backgrounds, so much energy and anger, so much humor and intelligence, so much energy coalescing.
But we're about to find out something deadly serious. Will the renegade Justice Department get held in contempt of court, and if so, how will courts enforce their judgement should Trump Barbie Pam Bondi decide she 'doesn't need no stinkin' courts'? Our judicial branch has never been tested like this before.
For those who have been following Feathers of Hope, Jerry Weiss has stage 4 cancer.....in his honor (and to save our country) please protest to Congressional Republicans, and their donors and constituents.. https://jerryweiss.substack.com/p/democrats-unite-we-have-a-coup-to
(Note: Names in Roundup will be added to following]. The story behind the story, Sat. was a tremendous success in any manner of determination or description: size, geography, enthusiasm, sign cleverness, age range, etc. How did it happen? How did it come about? Of course, there were Indivisible and "Hands Off" doing great work, but there was more. [Here is a quote from the Guardian about the"Hands Off" rallies around the world. "Protesters rallied in Frankfurt, Berlin, Paris, London and Lisbon, all in a united show of opposition against Trump’s policies." ]Much more. Who were some of the people that have been working, fighting, in one manner or another, to bring about this national day of protest--and all the days to follow--needed to win this war against Trump/Musk et al and save our democracy. With the millions of heroic protestors out with signs (or just standing in solidarity) , this April 5th (actually any and all days of protesting Trump/Musk, Tesla or any other issue), here's an updated partial list of those fighting back, foreign and domestic, every day [as of 4-6--25] I'm also adding courageous law firms who haven't caved. Besides upstanding lawyers (e.g. Brenna Trout Frey, and law-abiding honorable (present and former) judges (including James Boasberg, chief judge, D.C. District Ct.), here's a growing list of Profiles in Courage men, women, and advocacy groups who refuse to be cowed or kneel to the force of Trump/Musk/MAGA/Fox "News" intimidation:I'll begin (again) with Missouri's own indomitable Jess[ica] (à la John Lewis's "get in good trouble") Piper/"The View from Rural Missouri," then, in no particular order, Francie Garber Pepper (1940-2025), Heather Cox Richardson/"Letters from an American," Joyce Vance/"Civil Discourse," Bernie Sanders, AOC, Rep. Maxwell Frost,, Gov. Tim walz, Sarah Inama, Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, Rev. William J. Barber II, Jasmine Crockett, Adam Smith, Jamie Raskin, Ken Harbaugh. Ruth Ben-Ghait, Rachel Maddow, Lawrence O'Donnell, Chris Hayes, Ali Velshi, Prof. Lawrence Tribe, Stephanie Miller, Gov. Janet Mills, Gov. Beshear, Gov. JB.Pritzker, Gov. Kathy Hochul, Amb. Susan Rice, Mayor Michelle Wu, Jim Acosta, Jen Rubin And the Contrarians, Dan Rather, Robert Reich, Jay Kou, Steve Brodner, Rachel Cohen, Brian TylerCohen, Jessica Craven, Scott Dworkin, Brett Meiselas, Joy Reid, D. Earl Stevens, Melvin Gurai, Dan Pfeiffer, Anand Giridharadas Anne Applebaum, Lucian Truscott IV, Chris Murphy, Cory Booker, Jeff Merkley, Michael Bennett, Elizabeth Warren, Tammy Duckworth, Sheldon Whitehouse, Adam Schiff, Jon Ossoff, Elyssa Slotkin, Tristan Snell, Delia Ramirez,Tim Snyder, Robert B. Hubbell, Ben Meiseilas, Rich wilson, Ron Filpkowski, Jeremy Seahill, Thom Hartmann, Jonathan Bernstein, Simon Rosenberg, Marianne Williamson, Mark Fiore, Jamie Raskin, Rebecca Solnit, Steve Schmidt, Josh Marshall, Paul Krugman, Andy Borowitz, Jeff Danziger, Ann Telnaes,͏ ͏Will Bunch, Jim Hightower, Dan Pfeifer, Dean Obeidallah, Michel Zeitgeist, Liz Cheney, Adam Kimzinger, Cassidy Hutchinson, John Cusack, Judd Legum (Popular Information) Qasim Rachid, Sue Nethercott, Mary L. trump, Rep. Pramila Jayapal, Jonathan V Last, Sarah Longwell, Andrew Egger, Aaron Parnas, Rep.Don Beyer, Greg OlearAmerican Bar Association, 23 blue state Attorney Generals, Indivisible. FiftyFifty one, MoveOn, DemCast, Blue Missouri, Third Act, Democracy Forward, Public Citizen, Democracy Index, Protect Democracy, DemocracyLabs, Fred Wellman/On Democracy, Hands Off, Marc Elias/Democracy Docket, Public Citizen, League of Women Voters, Lambda Legal, CREW, CODEPINK, ACLU, The 19th/Errin Haines, Working Families Party, American Oversight, Every State Blue, Run for Something, Jessica Valenti/Abortion Everyday, The American Manifesto, The Dr. Martin Luther King Center, Bulwark Media, Bill Kristol/all NeverTrumpers, The States Project, Field Team 6, The Union,AICN ( last 4 all from North Carolina) The Lincoln Project,Blue Wave, Blue Future, The Civic Center, Olivia Troy,The Politics Girl, The Dean's List/ Dean Obeidallah,And, as Joyce Vance says, "We're in this together"--or via Jess Piper, from rural Missouri: "Solidarity." FIGHT BACK! WE ARE NOT ALONE! (Latest addition h/t , Robert B. Hubbell: Law firms, see below). All suggestions are welcome.* Perkins Coie and Covington & Burling have resisted Trump, fighting back with the help of other courageous firms like Williams & Connolly. Per The ABA Journal, Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr, representing fired inspectors general. (Law.com)Hogan Lovells, seeking to block executive orders to end federal funding for gender-affirming medical care. (Law.com)Jenner & Block, also seeking to block the orders on cuts to medical research funding. (Law.com, Reuters)Ropes & Gray, also seeking to block cuts to medical research funding. (Law.com)Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, representing the Amica Center for Immigrants Rights and others seeking to block funding cuts for immigrant legal services. (Law.com)Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer.Wilmer HaleKeker, Van Nest & PetersSouthern Poverty Law CenterPerhaps I should add our nation's motto--and on our Great Seal--the phrase "E pluribus unum" (out of many, One ). Ii's 13 letters makes its use symbolic of the original 13 Colonies which rebelled against the rule of the Kingdom of George III . . .And now we protest together against King Donald. As my rural MO. indomitable Jess Piper always says: "Solidarity."P.S. I have misplaced several suggested additions. Pls provide names again if you don't see them listed. My bad. Thanks.
I'm still holding out hope that Princeton, Brown and Harvard will fight this regime in the courts instead of caving in to the threats made against them (all based on specious claims) out of fear of losing federal funding for research.
The 504 law firms that signed onto the Perkins Coie amicus brief, some of which are listed here, but none of which are in the top 20 so-called "big law firms" in terms of revenue, also deserve kudos and our thanks, as do the law school deans and bar associations who have publicly spoken up against this regime's attacks against law firms, judges, the rule of law and our democracy itself.
Yes. I think the confusion is here - you probably came across the farm (?) rather than the political activism of the woman who apparently runs it. Example - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8J39uYd9HMQ
Someone on another Substack column pointed out the egregious lack of coverage of the millions of people who came out yesterday. New York Times barely mentioned it. What does it take to get them to cover what is the significant movement?
The mainstream media isn't interested in millions of Americans peacefully organizing, congregating, and asserting their First Amendment rights. They are conditioned to react to negativity and tragedy because it gets more clicks. Adverse events are the lifeblood of the MSM because they make their corporations money. The darker and more tragic the story, the more revenue it generates. In a capitalistic society, money does all the talking. This is so messed up.
I was so dismayed by the NYT coverage. Not only didn't they write any kind of advancer (unless I missed it), but on my digital edition this a.m., the placement of the headline was pretty far down on that "front" page (below numerous stories about Trump), and it was not accompanied by an image, so you could easily miss it. There was a video once you clicked through - and then, by late this afternoon, the editors had taken the headline off the "front page" lineup and moved it to the inside, and placement was pretty far down on the list of U.S. stories.
You noted that too, eh? In the online version of the Washington Post (Headlines, Opinions and Politics sections) there was no mention at all. To find an article, it was necessary to go to the website of their print version to find anything. The Guardian, did and had a good spread on it. Didn't Jeff Bezos and William Lewis think it newsworthy?
My further comment went astray. I was saying that I quit the Post although it has good writers still, because I could not tolerate Bezos and his dictatorial methods. This should have been a Watergate/Pentagon Papers moment.
It doesn't have as many good writers as it used to. Gene Robinson has joined Jennifer Rubin in departing. We're left with E J Dionne, Dana Milbank and Max Boot for major contributors. Even Hugh Hewitt cashed in his chips. Apparently the Bezos policies implemented by William Lewis (a Murdoch castaway) are tinkering with what news they consider to be fit to print.
We were subscribed to the WAPO daily paper since 1978. Stopped it altogether a month ago. I miss a lot about that physical paper spread out on the table, but I am getting news from better sources now.
Norm, love your energy but the losing hasn’t seemed to stop the efforts of this administration to break everything. Personally, as a physician, the breaking of public health troubles me deeply. Another child died of measles today.
I also attended a large rally and it felt validating— but the pain of this administration and the damage are also present.
I hope the tide is turning and the damage will slow down, but I never expected the US to break so easily and quickly.
I protested in Stockton CA. Hundreds stood with signs double that honked horns. I felt proud to be there and that I could do something beside write letters. We need to keep this up on a regular basis!!!
While shopping in my local Trader Joe’s grocery today. My wonderful and helpful cashier mentioned that “40 % of all TJ ‘s produce is imported from Canada and Mexico, thus the price increases already!
I imagine that the owner of Trader Joe’s might be available for a press conference. Trump lies when he tells us Americans that the Canadians and Mexicans are exploiting our citizens, while the reverse is more likely accurate.
In addition, who does Mr. Trump think is going to do the planting and harvesting of all of the produce.
I just returned from a month in Mexico. Every single citizen there I met was hard-working, kind, and helpful to me who barely speaks Spanish.
Does the man and his primary donor ever look in the mirror?
I moved from a kind of desperate pessimism about the fight against Trump and fascism succeeding to a kind of modified limited hung-out semi-pessimism after going to our nearby HandsOff! demonstration in my Portland, Oregon suburb. This morning I wrote "I am an old radical gratified to welcome a new generation of radicals.HandsOff! proved that if it comes to it we won't hang alone." https://halbrown.substack.com/p/i-am-an-old-radical-gratified-to Like many posting online I included a number of photos.
My conclusion:
Even though I live in a retirement community where 99% of the residents are anti-Trump, being part of the protest with people who felt strongly enough to get out there with their signs and stand for two hours or more made me feel less alone. I knew intellectually that my friends and I were not alone, but yesterday gave me a feeling. I experienced it viscerally, inside. It was like being part of an army carrying signs armed with passion and camaraderie. We were charging a well fortified enemy beachhead which, while not literally there shooting at us, very much wanted us to destroy us.
HandsOff! proved that if and when it comes to the final battle to save democracy we won’t hang alone. Let Trump try to hang us together. This will will ultimately be his downfall because of our passionate commitment to democracy. There are just too many of us.
We gathered at a “Hands Off” protest in the small city of Claremont, CA with 1500+ demonstrating against PINO, DOGE and the egregious attacks against our democracy. Lots of people driving by honking in support. Friendly people with great energy. We made 'good trouble'!
My husband and daughter protested in Rochester, NY, along with an estimate of approximately four thousand other citizens. “We the People” were heard loud and clear.”
Is anyone, like you guys, going to have Gene Robinson on and maybe even have him and Ruth Marcus contribute? I know the mainstream press didn't mention that Jen Rubin has left the Washington Post also ... but they are the people who I read. We don't have anything definitive about why Gene Robinson left ... and it would be nice to know.
While he did have a memo that had been seen, it was surprising in that he had assured his chat participants the last time he did one (only a few weeks ago) that we'd all know if he decided to leave and that we'd know where to find him. He did not sound as though he thought he needed to leave and that makes me wonder what precipitated it.
Talking about the next to leave per the previous comment - David Ignatius, Dana Milbank, Farid Zaccharia? (Forgive my spelling)
I suspect Milbank and EJ Dionne will be the next two to abandon WAPO. Bezos has utterly demolished one of the crown jewels of American journalism. It will be his eternal shame.
Hear hear! It's no longer the paper of the Graham family. As a kid living in D.C. I read and delivered the Washington Post (now 76, admittedly). There is no question that it hasn't the journalistic stature that it did. Personally, The Contrarian and The Guardian are now my go-to sources for print media and NPR/PBS and the BBC for TV delivered news.
I should add that I have a copy of the movie the Post which is mostly about how Mrs. Graham became an independent women running the Post but also how she and Bradlee went to court to stand up for the independence of the press ... and how they won.
I think Eugene Robinson made his reasons very clear:
In a memo to colleagues reported by The New York Times on Thursday, Robinson said the “significant shift” in the opinion section’s mission had encouraged him that it was time to move on. (from AP reporting).
I was at a Hands Off! protest in Montpelier, VT. I was inspired by the speeches, the poems, and the music, and was especially inspired by our Republican Lt. Governor John Rodgers whose speech showed clearly this is not about partisan politics but about standing for The Constitution and the rule of law.
The most important shout out must go to the citizens of Wisconsin who turned out to defeat a super MAGA candidate and to show Elon and Trump who’s the boss in a democracy.
Yes, because it produced a real result. But for litigations, if Trump ignores judges' orders,, what can we do?
That's a valid question as the Attorney General who should speak for the people now heads the president's legal team and won't prosecute a clearly illegal act.
Legal moves are important. But we must go to the root of the problem: Right-wing media brainwashing.
We can stop it. Here’s how.
Contact advertisers who support right-wing hate-stoking and let them know that you don't approve of the lies and mean-spirited distortions these media serve up. Tell them that you object to the support of racism, xenophobia, misogyny, homophobia, and corrupt, fascist cronyism. Be polite, respectful, and business-like but be clear.
As a life-long advertising professional, I can tell you with certainty that the marketing people at these companies really do pay attention to these kinds of complaints – and they are quite often responsive, and in some cases, even over-react to negative feedback from consumers.
I have gotten advertisers to take real action with my communications with them. I have gotten expensive ads pulled and had marketing directors apologize for unwittingly supporting hateful trash in media.
Advertisers got Glenn Beck off the air. Advertisers dropped X in droves because of Musk. Major advertisers also dropped Laura Ingraham's show for her crackpot comments. But we can do much, more with a broad-scale, focused, and relentless effort.
Here's a great place to get good contact info for major marketers:
https://www.elliott.org/company-contacts/?fbclid=IwY2xjawIskmJleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHcYr2QJ81N8zZEvkU7fy0JonXAka_As9Y2YMOYJ78gsmfU2J0NdWNwEKiA_aem_jOiQ58qJE4h_JEQmfJ-JVA
Here’s where you can find out who advertises where: https://whoadvertiseson.org/
And, if you're in a restaurant or bar and they have the TV tuned to that rubbish, let them know you don't approve. You don't have to sit and eat and watch this dreck. You can leave – and let them know why.
These media companies are the fuel of Trumpism and right-wing derangement. We need to shut down this supply of lies and hate. And you can really help make that happen.
Protest Fox. Newsmax. Protest their local outlets. Protest their newspapers. Protest thjeir talking heads. A few thousand protesters daily is news worth millions in advertising..
Fox et al are exposed to lawsuits. The $787 million settlement is accountability. Expoosed to $2.7 billion (with a B) to Smartmatic.
Fox also faces a shareholder derivitive suit brought by New York City’s five pension funds and the State of Oregon, by and through the Oregon State Treasurer and the Oregon Department of Justice, on behalf of the Oregon Investment Council and the Oregon Public Employee Retirement Fund, against various directors and officers of Fox Corporation, the corporate parent of Fox News Network, LLC. Plaintiffs allege that Fox News’ leadership breached its fiduciary duties by adopting a business model that promoted or endorsed defamation by failing to establish systems or practices to minimize defamation risk despite the known risk of liability, including broadcasting false claims about election technology companies Dominion Voting Systems and Smartmatic USA.
Montitor Fox and Newsmax for defamation. Every time they repeat Trum/Musk lies they have to disclaim them or face further exposure.
Thank you so much for your excellent advice. It is something this 82 year old woman can do to help our country. I am spreading your word.
So helpful. Thank you. Rita Green Salt Lake City, Utah
May I share this information on other platforms? It seems like an incredible valuable contribution - thank you!!
Please do
Thanks!
This is awesome! Thank you for sharing.
Thank you, Arthur!
It was wonderful to see so many hundreds of thousands of people in so many different communities, spanning so many ages, races, backgrounds, so much energy and anger, so much humor and intelligence, so much energy coalescing.
But we're about to find out something deadly serious. Will the renegade Justice Department get held in contempt of court, and if so, how will courts enforce their judgement should Trump Barbie Pam Bondi decide she 'doesn't need no stinkin' courts'? Our judicial branch has never been tested like this before.
For those who have been following Feathers of Hope, Jerry Weiss has stage 4 cancer.....in his honor (and to save our country) please protest to Congressional Republicans, and their donors and constituents.. https://jerryweiss.substack.com/p/democrats-unite-we-have-a-coup-to
(Note: Names in Roundup will be added to following]. The story behind the story, Sat. was a tremendous success in any manner of determination or description: size, geography, enthusiasm, sign cleverness, age range, etc. How did it happen? How did it come about? Of course, there were Indivisible and "Hands Off" doing great work, but there was more. [Here is a quote from the Guardian about the"Hands Off" rallies around the world. "Protesters rallied in Frankfurt, Berlin, Paris, London and Lisbon, all in a united show of opposition against Trump’s policies." ]Much more. Who were some of the people that have been working, fighting, in one manner or another, to bring about this national day of protest--and all the days to follow--needed to win this war against Trump/Musk et al and save our democracy. With the millions of heroic protestors out with signs (or just standing in solidarity) , this April 5th (actually any and all days of protesting Trump/Musk, Tesla or any other issue), here's an updated partial list of those fighting back, foreign and domestic, every day [as of 4-6--25] I'm also adding courageous law firms who haven't caved. Besides upstanding lawyers (e.g. Brenna Trout Frey, and law-abiding honorable (present and former) judges (including James Boasberg, chief judge, D.C. District Ct.), here's a growing list of Profiles in Courage men, women, and advocacy groups who refuse to be cowed or kneel to the force of Trump/Musk/MAGA/Fox "News" intimidation:I'll begin (again) with Missouri's own indomitable Jess[ica] (à la John Lewis's "get in good trouble") Piper/"The View from Rural Missouri," then, in no particular order, Francie Garber Pepper (1940-2025), Heather Cox Richardson/"Letters from an American," Joyce Vance/"Civil Discourse," Bernie Sanders, AOC, Rep. Maxwell Frost,, Gov. Tim walz, Sarah Inama, Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, Rev. William J. Barber II, Jasmine Crockett, Adam Smith, Jamie Raskin, Ken Harbaugh. Ruth Ben-Ghait, Rachel Maddow, Lawrence O'Donnell, Chris Hayes, Ali Velshi, Prof. Lawrence Tribe, Stephanie Miller, Gov. Janet Mills, Gov. Beshear, Gov. JB.Pritzker, Gov. Kathy Hochul, Amb. Susan Rice, Mayor Michelle Wu, Jim Acosta, Jen Rubin And the Contrarians, Dan Rather, Robert Reich, Jay Kou, Steve Brodner, Rachel Cohen, Brian TylerCohen, Jessica Craven, Scott Dworkin, Brett Meiselas, Joy Reid, D. Earl Stevens, Melvin Gurai, Dan Pfeiffer, Anand Giridharadas Anne Applebaum, Lucian Truscott IV, Chris Murphy, Cory Booker, Jeff Merkley, Michael Bennett, Elizabeth Warren, Tammy Duckworth, Sheldon Whitehouse, Adam Schiff, Jon Ossoff, Elyssa Slotkin, Tristan Snell, Delia Ramirez,Tim Snyder, Robert B. Hubbell, Ben Meiseilas, Rich wilson, Ron Filpkowski, Jeremy Seahill, Thom Hartmann, Jonathan Bernstein, Simon Rosenberg, Marianne Williamson, Mark Fiore, Jamie Raskin, Rebecca Solnit, Steve Schmidt, Josh Marshall, Paul Krugman, Andy Borowitz, Jeff Danziger, Ann Telnaes,͏ ͏Will Bunch, Jim Hightower, Dan Pfeifer, Dean Obeidallah, Michel Zeitgeist, Liz Cheney, Adam Kimzinger, Cassidy Hutchinson, John Cusack, Judd Legum (Popular Information) Qasim Rachid, Sue Nethercott, Mary L. trump, Rep. Pramila Jayapal, Jonathan V Last, Sarah Longwell, Andrew Egger, Aaron Parnas, Rep.Don Beyer, Greg OlearAmerican Bar Association, 23 blue state Attorney Generals, Indivisible. FiftyFifty one, MoveOn, DemCast, Blue Missouri, Third Act, Democracy Forward, Public Citizen, Democracy Index, Protect Democracy, DemocracyLabs, Fred Wellman/On Democracy, Hands Off, Marc Elias/Democracy Docket, Public Citizen, League of Women Voters, Lambda Legal, CREW, CODEPINK, ACLU, The 19th/Errin Haines, Working Families Party, American Oversight, Every State Blue, Run for Something, Jessica Valenti/Abortion Everyday, The American Manifesto, The Dr. Martin Luther King Center, Bulwark Media, Bill Kristol/all NeverTrumpers, The States Project, Field Team 6, The Union,AICN ( last 4 all from North Carolina) The Lincoln Project,Blue Wave, Blue Future, The Civic Center, Olivia Troy,The Politics Girl, The Dean's List/ Dean Obeidallah,And, as Joyce Vance says, "We're in this together"--or via Jess Piper, from rural Missouri: "Solidarity." FIGHT BACK! WE ARE NOT ALONE! (Latest addition h/t , Robert B. Hubbell: Law firms, see below). All suggestions are welcome.* Perkins Coie and Covington & Burling have resisted Trump, fighting back with the help of other courageous firms like Williams & Connolly. Per The ABA Journal, Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr, representing fired inspectors general. (Law.com)Hogan Lovells, seeking to block executive orders to end federal funding for gender-affirming medical care. (Law.com)Jenner & Block, also seeking to block the orders on cuts to medical research funding. (Law.com, Reuters)Ropes & Gray, also seeking to block cuts to medical research funding. (Law.com)Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, representing the Amica Center for Immigrants Rights and others seeking to block funding cuts for immigrant legal services. (Law.com)Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer.Wilmer HaleKeker, Van Nest & PetersSouthern Poverty Law CenterPerhaps I should add our nation's motto--and on our Great Seal--the phrase "E pluribus unum" (out of many, One ). Ii's 13 letters makes its use symbolic of the original 13 Colonies which rebelled against the rule of the Kingdom of George III . . .And now we protest together against King Donald. As my rural MO. indomitable Jess Piper always says: "Solidarity."P.S. I have misplaced several suggested additions. Pls provide names again if you don't see them listed. My bad. Thanks.
I would add Garry Kasparov, Marvin Kalb, Jake Auchincloss, Alexander Vindman, Danielle Sassoon, Kirsten Gillibrand.
secondary to others in my opinion except Sassoon who's on already but will add. Thanks
Jessica Denson and Cliff Cash.
Gil Duran, whose column, The Nerd Reich, I recommend.
And I for one am very grateful for Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel. Comedians can be warriors for democracy, too! And, Andy Borowitz!
all to be added plus American Opposition, Andy already on
Do you have Cong. Al Green? Alvin Bragg? And how about those Manhattan jurors?
Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzales/Democracy Now?
I really appreciate the list!
Will add thanks (adding sealed names jurors ?) (Do have Democracy Now already, will add name)
Andy already on
I'm still holding out hope that Princeton, Brown and Harvard will fight this regime in the courts instead of caving in to the threats made against them (all based on specious claims) out of fear of losing federal funding for research.
The 504 law firms that signed onto the Perkins Coie amicus brief, some of which are listed here, but none of which are in the top 20 so-called "big law firms" in terms of revenue, also deserve kudos and our thanks, as do the law school deans and bar associations who have publicly spoken up against this regime's attacks against law firms, judges, the rule of law and our democracy itself.
Parkrose Permaculture, in Oregon.
Googled so now know the good work it does, but how does it battle specfically Trump/Musk?
Yes. I think the confusion is here - you probably came across the farm (?) rather than the political activism of the woman who apparently runs it. Example - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8J39uYd9HMQ
Not familarr why? add thanks
Someone on another Substack column pointed out the egregious lack of coverage of the millions of people who came out yesterday. New York Times barely mentioned it. What does it take to get them to cover what is the significant movement?
The mainstream media isn't interested in millions of Americans peacefully organizing, congregating, and asserting their First Amendment rights. They are conditioned to react to negativity and tragedy because it gets more clicks. Adverse events are the lifeblood of the MSM because they make their corporations money. The darker and more tragic the story, the more revenue it generates. In a capitalistic society, money does all the talking. This is so messed up.
Protest MSM.
First, protest in letters to the editor and follow that if necessary by cancelling the subscription. We don't have a lot of other options.
I was so dismayed by the NYT coverage. Not only didn't they write any kind of advancer (unless I missed it), but on my digital edition this a.m., the placement of the headline was pretty far down on that "front" page (below numerous stories about Trump), and it was not accompanied by an image, so you could easily miss it. There was a video once you clicked through - and then, by late this afternoon, the editors had taken the headline off the "front page" lineup and moved it to the inside, and placement was pretty far down on the list of U.S. stories.
You noted that too, eh? In the online version of the Washington Post (Headlines, Opinions and Politics sections) there was no mention at all. To find an article, it was necessary to go to the website of their print version to find anything. The Guardian, did and had a good spread on it. Didn't Jeff Bezos and William Lewis think it newsworthy?
My further comment went astray. I was saying that I quit the Post although it has good writers still, because I could not tolerate Bezos and his dictatorial methods. This should have been a Watergate/Pentagon Papers moment.
It doesn't have as many good writers as it used to. Gene Robinson has joined Jennifer Rubin in departing. We're left with E J Dionne, Dana Milbank and Max Boot for major contributors. Even Hugh Hewitt cashed in his chips. Apparently the Bezos policies implemented by William Lewis (a Murdoch castaway) are tinkering with what news they consider to be fit to print.
We were subscribed to the WAPO daily paper since 1978. Stopped it altogether a month ago. I miss a lot about that physical paper spread out on the table, but I am getting news from better sources now.
Nope!
I protested in Santa Cruz, CA. Local news reported 8000 people in attendance!
Norm, love your energy but the losing hasn’t seemed to stop the efforts of this administration to break everything. Personally, as a physician, the breaking of public health troubles me deeply. Another child died of measles today.
I also attended a large rally and it felt validating— but the pain of this administration and the damage are also present.
I hope the tide is turning and the damage will slow down, but I never expected the US to break so easily and quickly.
I protested in Stockton CA. Hundreds stood with signs double that honked horns. I felt proud to be there and that I could do something beside write letters. We need to keep this up on a regular basis!!!
While shopping in my local Trader Joe’s grocery today. My wonderful and helpful cashier mentioned that “40 % of all TJ ‘s produce is imported from Canada and Mexico, thus the price increases already!
I imagine that the owner of Trader Joe’s might be available for a press conference. Trump lies when he tells us Americans that the Canadians and Mexicans are exploiting our citizens, while the reverse is more likely accurate.
In addition, who does Mr. Trump think is going to do the planting and harvesting of all of the produce.
I just returned from a month in Mexico. Every single citizen there I met was hard-working, kind, and helpful to me who barely speaks Spanish.
Does the man and his primary donor ever look in the mirror?
Actually, I was there too. At times, it was hard not to cry at the sight of so many, seeming as one in their message.
I moved from a kind of desperate pessimism about the fight against Trump and fascism succeeding to a kind of modified limited hung-out semi-pessimism after going to our nearby HandsOff! demonstration in my Portland, Oregon suburb. This morning I wrote "I am an old radical gratified to welcome a new generation of radicals.HandsOff! proved that if it comes to it we won't hang alone." https://halbrown.substack.com/p/i-am-an-old-radical-gratified-to Like many posting online I included a number of photos.
My conclusion:
Even though I live in a retirement community where 99% of the residents are anti-Trump, being part of the protest with people who felt strongly enough to get out there with their signs and stand for two hours or more made me feel less alone. I knew intellectually that my friends and I were not alone, but yesterday gave me a feeling. I experienced it viscerally, inside. It was like being part of an army carrying signs armed with passion and camaraderie. We were charging a well fortified enemy beachhead which, while not literally there shooting at us, very much wanted us to destroy us.
HandsOff! proved that if and when it comes to the final battle to save democracy we won’t hang alone. Let Trump try to hang us together. This will will ultimately be his downfall because of our passionate commitment to democracy. There are just too many of us.
We gathered at a “Hands Off” protest in the small city of Claremont, CA with 1500+ demonstrating against PINO, DOGE and the egregious attacks against our democracy. Lots of people driving by honking in support. Friendly people with great energy. We made 'good trouble'!
My husband and daughter protested in Rochester, NY, along with an estimate of approximately four thousand other citizens. “We the People” were heard loud and clear.”
Thank you for including Florida. We did not “win” but we did by changing the margins. Thank you for not forgetting us
Is anyone, like you guys, going to have Gene Robinson on and maybe even have him and Ruth Marcus contribute? I know the mainstream press didn't mention that Jen Rubin has left the Washington Post also ... but they are the people who I read. We don't have anything definitive about why Gene Robinson left ... and it would be nice to know.
He left because of Bezos's opinions policy changes. He's already on Substack, I expect we'll get the scoop -- and more -- from him directly.
I didn't know he is on Substack. Thank you.
While he did have a memo that had been seen, it was surprising in that he had assured his chat participants the last time he did one (only a few weeks ago) that we'd all know if he decided to leave and that we'd know where to find him. He did not sound as though he thought he needed to leave and that makes me wonder what precipitated it.
Talking about the next to leave per the previous comment - David Ignatius, Dana Milbank, Farid Zaccharia? (Forgive my spelling)
I suspect Milbank and EJ Dionne will be the next two to abandon WAPO. Bezos has utterly demolished one of the crown jewels of American journalism. It will be his eternal shame.
Hear hear! It's no longer the paper of the Graham family. As a kid living in D.C. I read and delivered the Washington Post (now 76, admittedly). There is no question that it hasn't the journalistic stature that it did. Personally, The Contrarian and The Guardian are now my go-to sources for print media and NPR/PBS and the BBC for TV delivered news.
Excellent point about EJ Dionne a wonderful and very liberal writer who makes one think.
Mrs. Graham and Ben Bradlee must be turning in their graves.
I should add that I have a copy of the movie the Post which is mostly about how Mrs. Graham became an independent women running the Post but also how she and Bradlee went to court to stand up for the independence of the press ... and how they won.
I think Eugene Robinson made his reasons very clear:
In a memo to colleagues reported by The New York Times on Thursday, Robinson said the “significant shift” in the opinion section’s mission had encouraged him that it was time to move on. (from AP reporting).
Waiting for the next to exit. Dana Millbank?
I was at a Hands Off! protest in Montpelier, VT. I was inspired by the speeches, the poems, and the music, and was especially inspired by our Republican Lt. Governor John Rodgers whose speech showed clearly this is not about partisan politics but about standing for The Constitution and the rule of law.