Who is apathetic? Look at the number of protests in the streets. But what would you have us do? I'm not going to go to the ICE office and grab those kids and give them back to their fathers - and that wouldn't work anyway. I'm in my 60s - Even if I wanted a civil war (I don't) I can't go fight in one.
The ICE agents need to realize how cruel their jobs are. How they are being asked to do unconstitutional things. How can we shame them into quitting?
Otherwise - what the frack would you have us do beyond what we're doing? People are protesting. we're contacting our representatives. We're writing letters. We aren't apathetic. We are ineffective, not apathetic.
The only hope we have each day is to remember John Mitchell and other Nixon cohorts who went to prison because of their lawlessness. Patel, Noam and Bondi need to read history.
Too late for them to read history. They are too focused on obliterating it and overwriting it with their own. That’s what autocrats do. God help our children and grandchildren.
We were close to half way there with the “Hands Off” protest in April. There were 5.2 million protesters. When the weather gets warmer, more people will be in the streets.
I still see a lot of apathy and believe those of us truly taking notice of Trump's power grab may still be a minority. And with all due respect, (I'm 66) being in your 60's is not that old. I feel more alive now and healthier compared to my 40's. The fight is for all generations.
I’m also in my 60’s. I have more time available now and I have plenty of experience standing up against injustice. We have the life experiences to to educate, guide and encourage younger generations. I’m disappointed we’re still fighting for justice and equality, however I’m not angry. Anger and division is not the path to a better today for our children and grandchildren. Thank you W.J Gallo for fighting for the future of the country.
I think it is also the constant litany from the people who have money. All keep telling him he is going in the wrong direction on the economy. He wants the admiration of the wealthiest. First the auto industry, then the retail 3 CEOs and there was the biggly billionaire at the World Economic Forum.
Kenneth Griffin did not meet with him, he told the whole world that “Trump was ‘eroding’ US brand, has made the country 20% poorer“ (compared to EU). He roasted them. Investors pay attention to him. He supported trump wanting less regulation. Not tariffs & stupidity.
Anne, I don't think we are apathetic or ineffective. I believe that every act of resistance--whether contacting representatives, writing letters, deciding where to spend our money, or spreading the news of the continuing horrors of ICE--is significant. We won't dislodge Trump with one big action but through many people taking whatever actions that they could. If you follow Heather Cox Richardson's Letters from an American, the one she did about Paul Revere's ride is illuminating. It wasn't just Paul Revere. Three was an established network that had already been set up to pass news. There was the person who had keys to Old North Church, there was Dr. Samuel Prescott, who was heading home from courting a young woman and joined in spreading the news, and HE was the one who actually arrived in Concord, as Revere was intercepted by the British, and William Dawes later lost his horse. No one person was playing a key role, but they all came together to create a key event that became part of the chain that led to American independence. So, do what you can and know that your actions have an effect that you may never see.
Good point there. And I hope we can all try to understand that these writings and calls for action must be said in the hopes of spreading the word to people who are not already doing what they can. Also, I believe it helps to remind us that we need to get ready for a March on Washington, if at all possible and that will take resources to prep.
People become ICE agents BECAUSE they know they can let their urge to behave cruelly loose on people who are unable to defend themselves. Anyone with a conscience or the capacity for empathy left ICE a long time ago. Those remaining are beyond shame. They are the Gestapo.
Images. We need pictures of these kids being dragged away by jackbooted thugs on social media. Drawings, photo montages, cartoons, etc. I can't believe that that won't make a difference. I was even thinking of posting things on light poles. Thoughts?
It's a pity the corporate media won't help us here (aka, do their jobs) by broadcasting the videos and films taken by bystanders during these abductions. Our local news station (a Hearst affiliate) did broadcast the abduction of Ms. Ozturk and that seemed to raise awareness across the country pretty quickly. I think it led directly to the verbal pushback on Senator Grassley at his town hall a week or so ago. Unfortunately, Trump knew the truth of this and used lawfare to pre-emptively neuter the media. Is there an argument that can be used to rouse them from protecting their bottom line? Who do they think will be consuming their media after we're all incarcerated?
That's a good question. How do you get people to stop putting money first? Most people do just that. I guess it takes a few principled people to take a stand. We may be heading for a critical mass but I'm not sure. Look at all the journalists who are quitting msm and going independent. Maybe we'll all just transition to indies and the msm will fade away. It seems that we're at an inflection point. But I really don't know.
I think pictures on light posts is a very good idea. I remember eons ago, living in San Francisco, seeing posters of Steve Biko on virtually every available surface. Those posters kept his name and violent death at the hands of the South African police in the public eye, and helped to end apartheid.
I have “friends” from childhood who won’t lift a finger. All relatively liberal, one gay, all in 60’s…they seem to think protesting is beneath them or is stupid and ineffective. And they admit they are scared. How to get those standing on the sidelines to move their butts? Disgusted.
I understand concerns about going to protests. But contacting one's senators and representative is easy. They can at least do that. But what do I know?
Sally, I do too and it's frustrating. But there are many of us who are working hard to make a difference. Those people who are sitting on the sidelines are missing out on a lot, but you and I and all the people here are experiencing life in a full way, warts and all. That's my view anyway.
I suggest that in the next 18 months an experienced and thoughtful group of former deportation experts should draft a comprehensive report and directive which details the future complete remodeling rules for ICE which the newly elected Congress will enact on DAY ONE 2027! This is an imperative folks— let’s get it started NOW! They have gone far too far and they must be controlled! What do you say?
I am trying like you, to keep protesting, calling my representatives, getting into conversations with people, even if it’s just talking about the dearth of young people to volunteer with the local fire department. I believe we have to reach a critical mass and be willing to stand on the ramparts…
Thanks, but it's not that I need to be appreciated. I was just surprised by Beschloss' piece because I feel there is a lot of non-apathy right now and that a lot of us have felt the line was crossed a lot earlier. That's all. But he may be seeing things I'm not seeing and I admit my "irritation" bar is a lot lower than it used to be...
Unfortunately all true. We live among some racist, misogynistic citizenry both men and some women. In many ways our country is backward : healthcare,maternity care leave, child care, caregivers, elder care, so many -isms.
We certainly must elect a diverse and inclusive leadership in 2028,IF we last that long. Midterm elections are coming up in Pennsylvania and I will do what I must to help our future. I am still hoping for a courageous group of MPs to unite and March into the White House and cabinet members officesto remove these criminals so we can begin to reverse this catastrophe.
We’ve already crossed the Rubicon. The regime’s disregard of the Supreme Court’s direction to bring back an individual incorrectly deported was the last line of defense to be crossed. If they will not obey a court order, what’s left to stop their blatantly unconstitutional and illegal actions?
As for those who work for ICE, as a son of two late Holocaust survivors, they are no different than the Gestapo. They signed up to inflict the cruelty. They ought to remember that “just following orders” is not an acceptable legal defense for this criminal behavior
I deeply appreciate the constant efforts of everyone standing strong to let all of us know what the inhumane acts of this administration are. Thank you!
When are the officials and staff who ordered and implemented the unlawful removal and kidnapping of American citizens and those legally here (Kilmer Ábrego Garcia) going to be held accountable? We haven’t seen this step yet. Start with subpoenas, arrests, and trials of the people in the Trump administration who are responsible for these illegal and unconscionable removals. Looking at you, Noem.
"Have we crossed the Rubicon yet?" I'm sorry, my line was crossed when he sent the angry mob on Jan 6th. So very many lines have been crossed since, I just cannot understand how these people are "ruling" instead of in jail or prison. His whole administration should be impeached. What are we doing here? I do not recognize my country anymore.
Twice Americans tried to elect Captain Janeway but the Borg declared themself the winner. US needs a law which says only human beings may be US citizens. It should be our highest legislative priority.
Actor/Activist John Leguizamo just posted a reel explaining that to win we need to forget trying to go after the one who has immunity. Instead, lawyers courts need to pursue all the lackeys around him who are doing the actual work, from the pilots and airlines dropping innocents in El Salvador to all the maga politicians enabling this mess, Vance, Bondi, Rubio etc AND all the architects of Project 2025, such as Bannon and Miller. Once we cut off the enablers, the "strongman" falls. This is how other countries, most recently So Korea, have put down an attack on freedom.
Don’t forget the poisonous vipers who comprise the Heritage Foundation. They are the ones pulling all the strings. Shut the whole nest down, strip them of their personal assets and throw the whole lot of them in prison where they belong.
I don’t know the intricate mechanics of the process but I would imagine that the foundation is in the tax exempt category.That would be a place to start if the IRS can be convinced to remove that status. If that action can be brought about, it should extend to all the private and corporate individuals who support the foundation and claim deductions for their contributions.
But before any of this can be done, however the members of Congress that empower the current administration must be impeached and removed as the evil traitors that they are. This must be done with the cooperation of the courageous military police who will enter their offices and arrest them one by one to be frog marched to waiting security vans which will then transport them to confinement without the due process they so disdain.
You are right about anarchy, Ann. It does not have a good track record and I would not have implied that if we weren’t close to the breaking point with Trump and his minions. They embrace lawlessness and no matter what moral or legal restrictions we try to place on them is immediately neutralized and ignored. If a dog catcher stops to read a rabid animal its rights, the dog will either attack him or run away. Is there a difference?
There is no mechanism to impeach members of congress.
What you are asking for is to fight lawlessness with more lawlessness which is anarchy. Anarchy does not have a good track record. Neither do military police unleashed onto civilians. This is why military police authority is confined to military property.
The Orange Menace has suggested the military to shoot protesters. What you propose is the authoritarian wet dream.
Still trying to figure out why Bannon is not in prison for his scamming of donors to the “wall” project? I guess it is ok in America now to scam people and walk free with a plea deal!?!? 🤬
Some of this makes perfect sense. Although pilots & airlines would likely be excluded from consequences without docs showing they knew what was happening & it was illegal.
If you notice the Orange Menace has been pushing responsibility for his actions or lack of them to “my attorneys”. For instance regarding Abrego Garcia:
Q. … Are you facilitating a release?
A. I leave that to my lawyers. I give them no instructions. They feel that the order said something very much different from what you’re saying. But I leave that to my lawyers. If they want — and that would be the Attorney General of the United States and the people that represent the country. I don’t make that decision.
Q. Have you asked President Bukele to return him?
A. I haven’t, uh, he said he wouldn’t.
Q. Did you ask him?
A. But I haven’t asked him positively, but he said he wouldn’t.
Q. But if you haven’t asked him, then how are you facilitating his release?
Well, because I haven’t been asked to ask him by my attorneys. Nobody asked me to ask him that question, except you.
Project 2025 is identical but more verbose compared to the 1980 Libertarian Party Platform. The 1980 VP candidate was David Koch, now deceased but his brother Charles Koch is around. Their daddy was BFF with Stalin just like Trump tries to be buddies with Putin. Their daddy and Stalin opened Russian oil fields and today the GOP promotes fossil fuels.
Amen. While I respect Steven's opinion, I do not share it. "It's too much for me, I need a break..."???? Really? Tell that to the Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. Tell that to brown-skinned people all over the country who are terrified to leave their homes for fear of being rounded up and deported without even a chance to call a lawyer or say goodbye to their families. Tell that to the Civil Rights marchers who week after week after week showed up and faces fire hoses, attack dogs and bullets, or the mothers and fathers who have to teach their Black sons how to try to survive a traffic stop. I could go on (and on and on) but this much is clear to me as a 68 year old life-long leftist: the majority of white middle-class Americans are spoiled rotten by 80 years of prosperity and taken-for-granted expanding civil rights. "I'm overwhelmed" just doesn't cut it. Sorry. Not sorry.
I agree. I am 87. I’d love a break but though I can’t March or protest due to immobility issues I can call and write my legislators. I can comment. I can write letters to the editor. I need to and do keep informed mainly via Substack and the Bulwark. I have children and grandchildren to protect. Resist! persist!
I live in a “blue state” (Ct) with wonderful Senators, Chris Murphy & Richard Blumenthal. I’ve emailed to Senator Murphy about my outrage over trump and I did get a reply, though it seemed to be more of a mass mailing response just thanking me for writing. I guess I should call his office next time. I know they must get thousands of messages daily but it’s very important for us to let them know how we feel. Trump is trying to dismantle democracy at an expedient level, and soon there will be no more middle class, only the very rich and very poor. Someone needs to step up and start up impeachment proceedings against him.
Lately, I've been wondering about this a lot. Trump's dip in approval, especially on immigration, is marginal given the extent of his administration's transgressions—an approval dip not at all proportionate to the egregious disregard of the courts, due process, and human rights. I find this as disquieting as what the administration is doing. It seems that many on Substack are outraged and motivated, but when I look at other social spheres online, the majority of people, with few exceptions, are going about their lives with little thought about the unspooling menace. Some are even cheering on this horror show. I fear we have yet to see the limit of Americans' capacity to tolerate torture.
I have been ready to take to the streets daily at any time. I’m retired. But in a country where health insurance is tied to employment and paid leave is minimal, how can we get the sustained mass action that we need? I don’t see this ending without massive civil disobedience and would sincerely value your thoughts on this.
Protest where you can - if there is traffic nearby - go there, grab a friend or neighbor to go with you if you can. if not go by yourself, that will be one more person who did not just sit home saying what can I do?! Make some good signage, make some noise, just do it. Don't just be ready .....GO! My hubby has our car today so I cannot drive to a protest.. I plan on going to the busy street near us and pay it a visit, my neighbor is sick so today it is just me, but perhaps someone will see this and THINK about it! If you do this regularly enough maybe people will LOOK for you! ha! (.... and perhaps even join you?!)
Please be careful. While protests are necessary and effective, they do attract the hidden crazies among us. Keep your eyes and ears open and wave your sign!
yes, last weekend in a (PA) town square there was a pickup truck that veered over just enough to threaten us.. but he chickened out at the last minute....! There was a lot of revving engines from lots of pickup trucks belching black smoke for us to breathe their discontent with free speech for everyone...! My single person protest on our county road today (I don't have the use of our car today.. ) got many to slow down to read my signage, some honking, lots of waves even from neighbors and folks driving past who probably would not always agree! I think the single person directly greeting them was different enough to make them think (maybe, I hope?!) I am deaf so they would have to scream at me ..ha! I can see them talk, and hear the horns though! ~;0).
they are just wasting their money on fuel and energy .. they will eventually find out that this is not really a show of power.. I did not know that belching black smoke was called coal rolling! (you taught me some new words for today! ha!). ~;0).
And there lies the true threat to our democracy, Gretchen. Will there be enough civil disobedience and mass action? Through the past 30-40 years organized labor has been fairly well demolished. Without organized working class identity, too many are floundering about worrying about survival. Addiction to entertainment and social media is the new opiate of the masses. And that's how the oligarchs like it.
We need to have work stoppages and general strikes, grind everything to a halt until Trump backs down from deportation of any people without due process.
We could learn a few things from the Underground Railroad and the other ways in which Black people with assistance from whites enabled the enslaved to escape the clutches of the enslavers. Strange, isn't it -- or maybe not? -- how so many of us celebrate the Declaration of Independence, victory (with a lot of help from the French) in the Revolutionary War, the triumph of the Union in the Civil War (for a while, anyway), and the Allied victory over the Axis in World War II without apparently realizing what any of those conflicts were about.
I would phrase your question more crudely How much sh*t will people take? It seems better than my prior reaction, "how stupid ARE people?". People have been lied to, bullied and intimidated. Think back to your bosses. Trump is like the grocer who had my 16 year old self out on the floor working 15 minutes before clocking in then required 20 minutes of clean-up after clocking out. All for a 2-hour afterschool shift at $1.60 an hour.
I have never forgotten. Sometimes we have to burn a bridge. My personal wish is that your readers will begin to lose the authoritarians in their lives. Management by Intimidation is for the weak. Showing up at the May 1 demonstrations will be a start. We even had Mormons at our last rally! I have never been so glad to see them.
I liked this comment so much, I made a post about it with an AI graphic. Thanks for the prompt! Click dog to view.
The People, the protectors of Democracy, are out and about. What "people," out where, about what--and why? First, millions said "Hand Off"to Trump/Musk et al, then on the 19th via 50501" (50 protests, 5o states, 1 Movement) millions more protested the mess in WDC. Also on the 19th we celebrated the "the shot heard around the world at Lexington and Concord, starting the Revolution and our country. On the 22nd protectors of the environment cleaned up a different kind of mess on Earth Day.
As important as the participants in environmental mess cleanup and American history are, this post is dedicated to the named and unnamed protestors fighting the Trump/Musk Washington, DC, tyrannical mess. Or as Susan Grymes calls it: "Protectors" of democracy, and so shall I in this post.
Who are the Protectors of democracy on April 5, 19th, May 1st--or all the everydays in between and into the future?? We will never know the names of each individual marcher, sign holder (or just standing together in solidarity). But we do know by name some people, advocacy groups, judges and law firms, and other entities who have not been cowed, and have fought back publicly--sometimes under threat of death.. Some, such as Sen. Cory Booker, with his 25 hour righteous speech on ethics, morality, and American democracy,have become an inspiration. Here then, in no particular order of noteworthy (except the first three), are the names of many of the army of protectors of democracy--and remember Courage is Contagious:
(Of course, the list is imperfect, Additions are welcomed. Also re-posting is permitted and encouraged.
PROTECTORS OF DEMOCRACY (By pen, voice, sign, or act)
(Updated April 25, 2025 Individuals
Heather Cox Richardson/"Letters from an American,"
Jess Piper/"View from Rural Missouri,"
Joyce Vance/"Civil Discourse,"
Rep. AOC,
AGs, 23 Blue States,
Aaron Parnas,
Adam Kinzinger,
Sen. Adam Schiff,
Adam Smith,
Alex Wagner,
Alexander Vindman,
Ali Velshi,
Alison Gill
Alvin Bragg (and the unnamed Manhattan jurors),
Amb. Susan Rice,
Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzales/Democracy Now,
Anand Giridharadas,
Anat Shenker-Osario,
Andrew Weissmann,
Andy Borowitz,
Ann Telnaes,
Anne Applebaum,
Annie Laurie Gaylor, FFRF (Freedom from Religion Foundation),
Ari Melber,
August Flentje,
Ben Meiselas,
Beth Benike,
Brett Meiselas,
Brian Tyler Cohen,
Cassidy Hutchinson,
Charlotte Clymer,
Chris Hayes,
Chris Krebs,
Col. Susannah Meyers,
Congressman Jim Himes,
D. Earl Stevens,
Dan Barker, FFRF (Freedom from Religion Foundation)
Dan Pfeiffer,
Dan Rather,
Daniel Berulis,
Daniel Morton-Bentley,
David Hogg,
Dean Obeidallah,
Delia Ramirez,
Sen. Elizabeth Warren,
Sen. Elyssa Slotkin,
Erez Reuveni,
Rep. Eric Swalwell,
Francie Garber Pepper (1940-2025),
Garrison Keillor,
Garry Kasparov,
George Conway,
Glenn Kirschner,
Gov. Beshear,
Gov. Janet Mills,
Gov. Kathy Hochul,
Gov. Maura Healey (MA),
Gov. Tim Walz (MN),
Gov. Tony Evers (WI),
Greg Olear,
Harry Litman,
J.B. Pritzker,
Jake Auchincloss,
Rep. Jamie Raskin,
Rep. Jasmine Crockett,
Jay Kou,
Jeff Danziger,
Sen. Jeff Merkley,
Jeff Stein,
Jeff Tiedrich,
Jen Rubin And the Contrarians,
,Jeremy Seahill,
Jessica Craven,
Jessica Yellin,
Jim Acosta,
Jim Hightower,
Jimmy Kimmel,
J-L Cauvin,
John Cusack,
John Larson
Sen. Jon Ossoff,
Jonathan Bernstein,
Jordy Meiselas,
Josh Johnson (stand-up comedian),
Josh Marshall/TPM,
Joy Reid,
Judd Legum (Popular Information),
Julie Roginsky,
Katie Phang,
Ken Harbaugh,
Lawrence O'Donnell,
Liz Cheney,
Lucian Truscott IV,
Marianne Williamson,
Mark Fiore,
Marvin Kalb,
Mary L. Trump,
Maxwell Frost,
Mayor Michelle Wu,
Mehdi Hasan,
Melvin Gurai,
Michael Bennett,
Michael Cohn,
Michel Zeitgeist,
Miles Taylor,
Nicolle Wallllace,
Noel Casler (former and current staff of the Inter-American Foundation, a small but mighty federal agency for Latin America)
Olga Lautman,
Oliva Troye,
Paul Krugman,
Prof. Lawrence Tribe,
Qasim Rachid,
Rabbi Joshua Hammerman,
Rachel Cohen,
Rachel Maddow,
Rebecca Solnit,
Rep. Andrew Egger,
Rep. Emily Randall,
Rep. Jessica Denson,
Rep. Jonathan V. Last,
Rep. Noe Casler,
Rep. Pramila Jayapal,
Rep. Sarah Longwell,
Rep. Al Green,
Rep. Don Beyer,
Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde,
Rev. William J. Barber II,
Rez Reuveni (acting deputy director for the Office of Immigration Litigation, and his supervisor),
Rich Wilson,
Robert B. Hubbell,
Robert Reich,
Roger Parloff,
Ron Filipkowski,
Ruth Ben-Ghait,
Sarah Inama,
Scott Dworkin,
Sen. Amy Klobuchar,
Sen. Andy Kim,
Sen. Angus King,
Sen. Bernie Sanders,
Sen. Chris Murphy,
Sen. Chris Van Hollen,
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand,
Sen. Lisa Murkowski,
Sen. Maria Cantwell,
Sen. Patty Murray,
Sen. Raphael Warnock,
Sen. Ron Wyden,
Sharon McMahon,
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse,
Simon Rosenberg,
Stacey Abrams,
Stephanie Miller,
Stephen King,
Steve Brodner,
Steve Schmidt,
Sue Nethercott,
Sen. Tammy Duckworth,
Tennessee Brandon,
Thom Hartmann,
Tim Snyder,
Timothy Snyder
Tristan Snell,
Will Bunch,
Zev Shalev,
ADVOCACY GROUPS, MEDIA NETWORKS
ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union),
AICN (North Carolina),
American Oversight,
Bill Kristol/all NeverTrumpers,
Blue Future,
Blue Missouri,
Blue Wave,
Bluesky,
Bulwark Media,
CODEPINK,
CREW,
DemCast,
Democracy Forward,
Democracy Index,
DemocracyLabs,
Every State Blue,
Feathers of Hope,
Field Team 6 (North Carolina),
FiftyFifty one (50501),
Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF),
Fred Wellman/On Democracy,
"Hands Off,"
Indivisible,
Jessica Valenti/Abortion Everyday,
Lambda Legal,
League of Women Voters,
Marc Elias/Democracy Docket,
MeidasTouch Network,
MoveOn,
MSNBC (an exception to corporate news, and their suppressing news0,
No Kings,
Olivia Troye,
Protect Democracy,
Public Citizen/Co-president Robert Weissman,
Run for Something,
Seneca Project,
Substack,
Team Sunrise,
The 19th/Errin Haines,
The American Manifesto,
The Bulwark,
The Civic Center,
The Dean's List/ Dean Obeidallah,
The Dr. Martin Luther King Center
The Lincoln Project,
The Politics Girl,
The States Project (North Carolina),
The Union (North Carolina)
Third Act,,
Thomas Zimmer/Democracy Americana,
We the People Dissent,
Working Families Party,
LAW FIRMS/ORGANIZATIONS, LAWYERS, COURTS, ACADEMIA
American Bar Association,
Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer,
Big Ten Universities,
Brenna Trout Frey
David Pepper,
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher (representing the Amica Center for Immigrants Rights and others seeking to block funding cuts for immigrant legal services),
Harvard/President Alan M. Garber,
Hogan Lovells (seeking to block executive orders to end federal funding for gender-affirming medical care),
Jenner & Block (also seeking to block the orders on cuts to medical research funding),
Judge Hannah Dugan,
Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson III,
(former) Judge J. Michael Luttig,
Judge James Boasberg,
Judge Paula Xinis,
Judge Royce Lamberth,
Justice Elena Kagan,
Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson,
Justices Sonia Sotomayer,
Northwestern University,
Perkins Coie and Covington & Burling (have resisted Trump, fighting back with the help of other courageous firms like Williams& Connolly),
Presidents of 328 U.S. colleges and universities who have signed a letter condemning “government overreach" (including St. Louis University),
Ropes & Gray (seeking to block cuts to medical research funding), Susman Godfrey law firm,
UC Berkeley Law School Dean Erwin Chemerinsky,
Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr (per the ABA Journal, representing fired inspectors general),
Wilmer Hale Keker, Van Nest & Peters,
Southern Poverty Law Center,
Letter signed by 500 law firms joined a court brief supporting Perkins Coie lawsuit against the Trump Administration),
To paraphrase Churchill: We shall fight them in the streets, we shall fight them on the sidewalks, we shall fight them on the internet, we shall fight them in the courts, we shall fight them in the Congress, we shall fight them in the voting booth--We shall never surrender. YOU ARE NEVER ALONE. SOLIDARITY..
Good comments all! Yes, peaceful demonstrations needed week after week. “They” say 11 million (3.5% of population) people needed to get attention needed. Congress won’t help. Can’t wait for midterms. Act NOW!! All inclusive. Numbers matter. Goal is to remove DJT and all his henchmen.
It'll take economic hardship on a large scale before most Americans have had enough. Cruelty and death inflicted on "others" won't register. Hell, when our own children being continually massacred in their schools doesn't bother enough Americans to change gun laws, why would this bother them?
The Founders gave some guidance on how much is enough:
"...Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security."
We are all upset and we wanted to stop, but how can we do that? How do you propose to stop? What’s happening there have been protests several times in a month. That’s the only thing that people can do we all want Trump out. We all want him impeached and gone. How do you propose that we do that?
keep protesting, keep resisting, and let people know what you think after listening to them of course.. this is a long haul... they have prepared this coup for years and it i has been i the making for a LONG time... so it may take persistence to root it out! Do what you can where you can, and with what you have.... but DO it!
Thank you, Steven. So far, I think far too many Americans are oblivious to the lessons of Nazi Germany, especially the point that was famously driven home by Pastor Martin Niemöller. Instead of strategically focusing rage at injustices perpetrated against groups to which they don't belong (migrants, brown people, the poor), they're turning their eyes and ears away until the fascists come for their own group (college-educated white Democrats) when it will be too late. I believe this piece nails it: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/apr/26/us-egypt-authoritarian-dictatorship-donald-trump
Steve, I am encouraged to see that millions of people have been demonstrating but if it is mostly Democrats preaching to the choir, that really doesn't help. But I have heard of some demonstrations in red and purple states which is encouraging. To be fair, I think people don't know what we can do. But also too many people are complacent- they just focus on the price of eggs. I have been extremely disappointed and worried to realize that millions of Americans are too uninformed or too self- absorbed to care or realize what's at stake. I've been reading sub stacks of people who have left or are planning on leaving the country. I'm not going anywhere, but it is interesting to hear these peoples' thinking. One guy who has traveled extensively in Europe wrote that most Europeans he struck up conversations with were very clear of the danger that US democracy faces, likely because of the history of Europe. One of the reasons he wanted to leave the US was his disgust at being gas lit (his term) by his fellow Americans and constantly told that he was overreacting. The complacency of many Americans who should know better is very disheartening
“The price of apathy towards public affairs is to be ruled by evil men.” - Plato.
And here we are.
strong quote, Al. Too true.
We do not learn …
"Do one thing every day that scares you"--Ms.FDR
but we can learn... we must!
Who is apathetic? Look at the number of protests in the streets. But what would you have us do? I'm not going to go to the ICE office and grab those kids and give them back to their fathers - and that wouldn't work anyway. I'm in my 60s - Even if I wanted a civil war (I don't) I can't go fight in one.
The ICE agents need to realize how cruel their jobs are. How they are being asked to do unconstitutional things. How can we shame them into quitting?
Otherwise - what the frack would you have us do beyond what we're doing? People are protesting. we're contacting our representatives. We're writing letters. We aren't apathetic. We are ineffective, not apathetic.
The only hope we have each day is to remember John Mitchell and other Nixon cohorts who went to prison because of their lawlessness. Patel, Noam and Bondi need to read history.
Too late for them to read history. They are too focused on obliterating it and overwriting it with their own. That’s what autocrats do. God help our children and grandchildren.
Still way way too many are on the sidelines or enabling with their silence.
You need a grass-roots number of 3.5% of the population for change. We're not there yet.
We were close to half way there with the “Hands Off” protest in April. There were 5.2 million protesters. When the weather gets warmer, more people will be in the streets.
I hope people hit the streets.
And in HUGE numbers!
And betting none of those read this column.
If you see friends, neighbors, relatives on the sidelines - talk to them. Send them some actions to take.
I still see a lot of apathy and believe those of us truly taking notice of Trump's power grab may still be a minority. And with all due respect, (I'm 66) being in your 60's is not that old. I feel more alive now and healthier compared to my 40's. The fight is for all generations.
Yuo will feel the same way when you are 81. Trust me.
I’m also in my 60’s. I have more time available now and I have plenty of experience standing up against injustice. We have the life experiences to to educate, guide and encourage younger generations. I’m disappointed we’re still fighting for justice and equality, however I’m not angry. Anger and division is not the path to a better today for our children and grandchildren. Thank you W.J Gallo for fighting for the future of the country.
Thank you, Ann. We must gather all generations to oppose this threat. A fight of a lifetime, for sure.
I'm doing what I can. But I'm not going to go into the woods with guns and fight off ICE agents. Glad you're in better health.
If it came to that, I would, and I’m 86 with a bad back that prevents me from walking much.
You're a better person than I am.
If the worse came, I know you would join me.
"Activism targeting markets…a formula to remember." David Rothkopf https://davidrothkopf.substack.com/p/the-donald-j-trump-plan-to-stop-donald
The power of the purse, individually ineffective... collectively transformative.
sure, I moved from Target to Costco (not actually a great replacement for Target, but I'm making do and finding places to shop that support Dems) and greatly reduced my spend on Amazon. But how much did the felon-in-chief just rake in from $trump by offering dinner to the top 220 donors? https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/23/technology/trump-private-dinner-crypto-memecoin.html?unlocked_article_code=1.Ck8.yiQD.AMhzKnQ4Z5np&smid=url-share
He doesn't care about Target.
Yes, we have to keep doing these things. But don't call us apathetic.
He doesn't care about Target, but when his billionaire friends come crying to him because their businesses are going down the drain he might.
I think it is also the constant litany from the people who have money. All keep telling him he is going in the wrong direction on the economy. He wants the admiration of the wealthiest. First the auto industry, then the retail 3 CEOs and there was the biggly billionaire at the World Economic Forum.
Kenneth Griffin did not meet with him, he told the whole world that “Trump was ‘eroding’ US brand, has made the country 20% poorer“ (compared to EU). He roasted them. Investors pay attention to him. He supported trump wanting less regulation. Not tariffs & stupidity.
https://www.semafor.com/article/04/23/2025/citadel-ceo-ken-griffin-trump-is-eroding-us-brand-and-making-the-country-poorer
Too bad the rest of us have absolutely no say.
Targeted boycotts, like with Musk, work ...
especially if they are maintained over time.
so Elon may get the message that he needs to become more aware of the downsides of his "devilish" inclinations.
Anne, I don't think we are apathetic or ineffective. I believe that every act of resistance--whether contacting representatives, writing letters, deciding where to spend our money, or spreading the news of the continuing horrors of ICE--is significant. We won't dislodge Trump with one big action but through many people taking whatever actions that they could. If you follow Heather Cox Richardson's Letters from an American, the one she did about Paul Revere's ride is illuminating. It wasn't just Paul Revere. Three was an established network that had already been set up to pass news. There was the person who had keys to Old North Church, there was Dr. Samuel Prescott, who was heading home from courting a young woman and joined in spreading the news, and HE was the one who actually arrived in Concord, as Revere was intercepted by the British, and William Dawes later lost his horse. No one person was playing a key role, but they all came together to create a key event that became part of the chain that led to American independence. So, do what you can and know that your actions have an effect that you may never see.
Love this!
Good point there. And I hope we can all try to understand that these writings and calls for action must be said in the hopes of spreading the word to people who are not already doing what they can. Also, I believe it helps to remind us that we need to get ready for a March on Washington, if at all possible and that will take resources to prep.
People become ICE agents BECAUSE they know they can let their urge to behave cruelly loose on people who are unable to defend themselves. Anyone with a conscience or the capacity for empathy left ICE a long time ago. Those remaining are beyond shame. They are the Gestapo.
Thank you, Anne for continuing your important efforts in spite of how disheartening and overwhelming all of this is.
I too am trying to do something well anything to send messages that what is happening is unacceptable.
We need to hold each other up by constantly communicating the true facts far and wide and with encouraging words.
Anne,
I'm with you. But calling our representatives, protesting g is ALOT! They will feel heat soon enuf.
I'd love to see an updated report on how many calls they are getting weekly over time....
Images. We need pictures of these kids being dragged away by jackbooted thugs on social media. Drawings, photo montages, cartoons, etc. I can't believe that that won't make a difference. I was even thinking of posting things on light poles. Thoughts?
It's a pity the corporate media won't help us here (aka, do their jobs) by broadcasting the videos and films taken by bystanders during these abductions. Our local news station (a Hearst affiliate) did broadcast the abduction of Ms. Ozturk and that seemed to raise awareness across the country pretty quickly. I think it led directly to the verbal pushback on Senator Grassley at his town hall a week or so ago. Unfortunately, Trump knew the truth of this and used lawfare to pre-emptively neuter the media. Is there an argument that can be used to rouse them from protecting their bottom line? Who do they think will be consuming their media after we're all incarcerated?
That's a good question. How do you get people to stop putting money first? Most people do just that. I guess it takes a few principled people to take a stand. We may be heading for a critical mass but I'm not sure. Look at all the journalists who are quitting msm and going independent. Maybe we'll all just transition to indies and the msm will fade away. It seems that we're at an inflection point. But I really don't know.
I think pictures on light posts is a very good idea. I remember eons ago, living in San Francisco, seeing posters of Steve Biko on virtually every available surface. Those posters kept his name and violent death at the hands of the South African police in the public eye, and helped to end apartheid.
I like that! pictures everywhere.
I have “friends” from childhood who won’t lift a finger. All relatively liberal, one gay, all in 60’s…they seem to think protesting is beneath them or is stupid and ineffective. And they admit they are scared. How to get those standing on the sidelines to move their butts? Disgusted.
I understand concerns about going to protests. But contacting one's senators and representative is easy. They can at least do that. But what do I know?
You know a lot, Anne. That's obvious. 😀
Sally, I do too and it's frustrating. But there are many of us who are working hard to make a difference. Those people who are sitting on the sidelines are missing out on a lot, but you and I and all the people here are experiencing life in a full way, warts and all. That's my view anyway.
Forgive my typos. Why do we see those only after the message is sent? 😉
if computers were REALLY smart.... they would know what we meant!
Sod's Law. 😀
I suggest that in the next 18 months an experienced and thoughtful group of former deportation experts should draft a comprehensive report and directive which details the future complete remodeling rules for ICE which the newly elected Congress will enact on DAY ONE 2027! This is an imperative folks— let’s get it started NOW! They have gone far too far and they must be controlled! What do you say?
I am trying like you, to keep protesting, calling my representatives, getting into conversations with people, even if it’s just talking about the dearth of young people to volunteer with the local fire department. I believe we have to reach a critical mass and be willing to stand on the ramparts…
Hi Anne,
I feel your frustration, but know that you are doing your part and that it’s valuable and appreciated.
Thanks, but it's not that I need to be appreciated. I was just surprised by Beschloss' piece because I feel there is a lot of non-apathy right now and that a lot of us have felt the line was crossed a lot earlier. That's all. But he may be seeing things I'm not seeing and I admit my "irritation" bar is a lot lower than it used to be...
That is why women will save our sacred democracy. Evil white men are ushering fascism. We need to elect a diverse and inclusive AOC/Crockett ticket in 2028: https://democracydefender2025.substack.com/p/aoc-crockett-2028
If we elect them. Didn’t work last time around.
Unfortunately all true. We live among some racist, misogynistic citizenry both men and some women. In many ways our country is backward : healthcare,maternity care leave, child care, caregivers, elder care, so many -isms.
Too many racist Americans to vote for that ticket.
And misogynists.
Too many toxic men won't vote for a woman president, unfortunately. A Democratic woman.
We certainly must elect a diverse and inclusive leadership in 2028,IF we last that long. Midterm elections are coming up in Pennsylvania and I will do what I must to help our future. I am still hoping for a courageous group of MPs to unite and March into the White House and cabinet members officesto remove these criminals so we can begin to reverse this catastrophe.
There’s no time to wait. We must unite and march together. The world is watching we can not sit and wait. Resist now . Make your voice heard.
Yes!! Absolutely 💯!!!
Women have truly been the courageous ones at all levels!
We’ve already crossed the Rubicon. The regime’s disregard of the Supreme Court’s direction to bring back an individual incorrectly deported was the last line of defense to be crossed. If they will not obey a court order, what’s left to stop their blatantly unconstitutional and illegal actions?
As for those who work for ICE, as a son of two late Holocaust survivors, they are no different than the Gestapo. They signed up to inflict the cruelty. They ought to remember that “just following orders” is not an acceptable legal defense for this criminal behavior
I deeply appreciate the constant efforts of everyone standing strong to let all of us know what the inhumane acts of this administration are. Thank you!
When are the officials and staff who ordered and implemented the unlawful removal and kidnapping of American citizens and those legally here (Kilmer Ábrego Garcia) going to be held accountable? We haven’t seen this step yet. Start with subpoenas, arrests, and trials of the people in the Trump administration who are responsible for these illegal and unconscionable removals. Looking at you, Noem.
Currently, we’re choosing apathy.
I’m not!
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
His mortgage on his estate in Newfields is due. He needs a job!
I lived in NH for 30 years. I know the family well🤣🤣🤣.
Chris is pandering to get a place in the dick sucking line after bed g naughty.
A long line for such a small piece!
Even Blue States such as NH have pledged their State Police to support ICE.
We are now a dictatorship and police state.
So let’s keep saying thank you sir, may I have another?
Fight for God’s (?) Sakes!!!!
NH isn’t blue. Ask the Sununus.
"Have we crossed the Rubicon yet?" I'm sorry, my line was crossed when he sent the angry mob on Jan 6th. So very many lines have been crossed since, I just cannot understand how these people are "ruling" instead of in jail or prison. His whole administration should be impeached. What are we doing here? I do not recognize my country anymore.
Agree completely.
Twice Americans tried to elect Captain Janeway but the Borg declared themself the winner. US needs a law which says only human beings may be US citizens. It should be our highest legislative priority.
Actor/Activist John Leguizamo just posted a reel explaining that to win we need to forget trying to go after the one who has immunity. Instead, lawyers courts need to pursue all the lackeys around him who are doing the actual work, from the pilots and airlines dropping innocents in El Salvador to all the maga politicians enabling this mess, Vance, Bondi, Rubio etc AND all the architects of Project 2025, such as Bannon and Miller. Once we cut off the enablers, the "strongman" falls. This is how other countries, most recently So Korea, have put down an attack on freedom.
Don’t forget the poisonous vipers who comprise the Heritage Foundation. They are the ones pulling all the strings. Shut the whole nest down, strip them of their personal assets and throw the whole lot of them in prison where they belong.
This is a very interesting idea. How do we get them? Do they have businesses we can picket or boycott?
Yes!!!
I don’t know the intricate mechanics of the process but I would imagine that the foundation is in the tax exempt category.That would be a place to start if the IRS can be convinced to remove that status. If that action can be brought about, it should extend to all the private and corporate individuals who support the foundation and claim deductions for their contributions.
But before any of this can be done, however the members of Congress that empower the current administration must be impeached and removed as the evil traitors that they are. This must be done with the cooperation of the courageous military police who will enter their offices and arrest them one by one to be frog marched to waiting security vans which will then transport them to confinement without the due process they so disdain.
You are right about anarchy, Ann. It does not have a good track record and I would not have implied that if we weren’t close to the breaking point with Trump and his minions. They embrace lawlessness and no matter what moral or legal restrictions we try to place on them is immediately neutralized and ignored. If a dog catcher stops to read a rabid animal its rights, the dog will either attack him or run away. Is there a difference?
There is no mechanism to impeach members of congress.
What you are asking for is to fight lawlessness with more lawlessness which is anarchy. Anarchy does not have a good track record. Neither do military police unleashed onto civilians. This is why military police authority is confined to military property.
The Orange Menace has suggested the military to shoot protesters. What you propose is the authoritarian wet dream.
Still trying to figure out why Bannon is not in prison for his scamming of donors to the “wall” project? I guess it is ok in America now to scam people and walk free with a plea deal!?!? 🤬
I agree. Pick off the capacity of the flying monkeys.
Some of this makes perfect sense. Although pilots & airlines would likely be excluded from consequences without docs showing they knew what was happening & it was illegal.
If you notice the Orange Menace has been pushing responsibility for his actions or lack of them to “my attorneys”. For instance regarding Abrego Garcia:
Q. … Are you facilitating a release?
A. I leave that to my lawyers. I give them no instructions. They feel that the order said something very much different from what you’re saying. But I leave that to my lawyers. If they want — and that would be the Attorney General of the United States and the people that represent the country. I don’t make that decision.
Q. Have you asked President Bukele to return him?
A. I haven’t, uh, he said he wouldn’t.
Q. Did you ask him?
A. But I haven’t asked him positively, but he said he wouldn’t.
Q. But if you haven’t asked him, then how are you facilitating his release?
Well, because I haven’t been asked to ask him by my attorneys. Nobody asked me to ask him that question, except you.
— time limited free access to article.
https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/what-we-learned-from-trumps-secret-filled-time-interview.html
Project 2025 is identical but more verbose compared to the 1980 Libertarian Party Platform. The 1980 VP candidate was David Koch, now deceased but his brother Charles Koch is around. Their daddy was BFF with Stalin just like Trump tries to be buddies with Putin. Their daddy and Stalin opened Russian oil fields and today the GOP promotes fossil fuels.
Interesting. Didn't know that but did know the Kochs are truly bad.
"I’ve gotten messages from several readers who say they are struggling with overwhelming news and they need to take a break. I get it."
That people in America feel comfortable enough to say "this news is too overwhelming, I need a break," is, in no small part, why we are here.
That's just not how the world works.
Walter Sobchak put it best:
https://youtu.be/pqDhKFqDk34?si=z6HhJ8siR6hn5xmF
Amen. While I respect Steven's opinion, I do not share it. "It's too much for me, I need a break..."???? Really? Tell that to the Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. Tell that to brown-skinned people all over the country who are terrified to leave their homes for fear of being rounded up and deported without even a chance to call a lawyer or say goodbye to their families. Tell that to the Civil Rights marchers who week after week after week showed up and faces fire hoses, attack dogs and bullets, or the mothers and fathers who have to teach their Black sons how to try to survive a traffic stop. I could go on (and on and on) but this much is clear to me as a 68 year old life-long leftist: the majority of white middle-class Americans are spoiled rotten by 80 years of prosperity and taken-for-granted expanding civil rights. "I'm overwhelmed" just doesn't cut it. Sorry. Not sorry.
I agree. I am 87. I’d love a break but though I can’t March or protest due to immobility issues I can call and write my legislators. I can comment. I can write letters to the editor. I need to and do keep informed mainly via Substack and the Bulwark. I have children and grandchildren to protect. Resist! persist!
I live in a “blue state” (Ct) with wonderful Senators, Chris Murphy & Richard Blumenthal. I’ve emailed to Senator Murphy about my outrage over trump and I did get a reply, though it seemed to be more of a mass mailing response just thanking me for writing. I guess I should call his office next time. I know they must get thousands of messages daily but it’s very important for us to let them know how we feel. Trump is trying to dismantle democracy at an expedient level, and soon there will be no more middle class, only the very rich and very poor. Someone needs to step up and start up impeachment proceedings against him.
Lately, I've been wondering about this a lot. Trump's dip in approval, especially on immigration, is marginal given the extent of his administration's transgressions—an approval dip not at all proportionate to the egregious disregard of the courts, due process, and human rights. I find this as disquieting as what the administration is doing. It seems that many on Substack are outraged and motivated, but when I look at other social spheres online, the majority of people, with few exceptions, are going about their lives with little thought about the unspooling menace. Some are even cheering on this horror show. I fear we have yet to see the limit of Americans' capacity to tolerate torture.
I have been ready to take to the streets daily at any time. I’m retired. But in a country where health insurance is tied to employment and paid leave is minimal, how can we get the sustained mass action that we need? I don’t see this ending without massive civil disobedience and would sincerely value your thoughts on this.
Protest where you can - if there is traffic nearby - go there, grab a friend or neighbor to go with you if you can. if not go by yourself, that will be one more person who did not just sit home saying what can I do?! Make some good signage, make some noise, just do it. Don't just be ready .....GO! My hubby has our car today so I cannot drive to a protest.. I plan on going to the busy street near us and pay it a visit, my neighbor is sick so today it is just me, but perhaps someone will see this and THINK about it! If you do this regularly enough maybe people will LOOK for you! ha! (.... and perhaps even join you?!)
Please be careful. While protests are necessary and effective, they do attract the hidden crazies among us. Keep your eyes and ears open and wave your sign!
yes, last weekend in a (PA) town square there was a pickup truck that veered over just enough to threaten us.. but he chickened out at the last minute....! There was a lot of revving engines from lots of pickup trucks belching black smoke for us to breathe their discontent with free speech for everyone...! My single person protest on our county road today (I don't have the use of our car today.. ) got many to slow down to read my signage, some honking, lots of waves even from neighbors and folks driving past who probably would not always agree! I think the single person directly greeting them was different enough to make them think (maybe, I hope?!) I am deaf so they would have to scream at me ..ha! I can see them talk, and hear the horns though! ~;0).
That's discouraging. Coal rolling is illegal, but who's gonna stop them? Ugh.
they are just wasting their money on fuel and energy .. they will eventually find out that this is not really a show of power.. I did not know that belching black smoke was called coal rolling! (you taught me some new words for today! ha!). ~;0).
And there lies the true threat to our democracy, Gretchen. Will there be enough civil disobedience and mass action? Through the past 30-40 years organized labor has been fairly well demolished. Without organized working class identity, too many are floundering about worrying about survival. Addiction to entertainment and social media is the new opiate of the masses. And that's how the oligarchs like it.
They truly do not care if we live or die. Or maybe they do just want us gone.
We need to have work stoppages and general strikes, grind everything to a halt until Trump backs down from deportation of any people without due process.
I have been screaming this on Bluesky and Facebook!
We could learn a few things from the Underground Railroad and the other ways in which Black people with assistance from whites enabled the enslaved to escape the clutches of the enslavers. Strange, isn't it -- or maybe not? -- how so many of us celebrate the Declaration of Independence, victory (with a lot of help from the French) in the Revolutionary War, the triumph of the Union in the Civil War (for a while, anyway), and the Allied victory over the Axis in World War II without apparently realizing what any of those conflicts were about.
I would phrase your question more crudely How much sh*t will people take? It seems better than my prior reaction, "how stupid ARE people?". People have been lied to, bullied and intimidated. Think back to your bosses. Trump is like the grocer who had my 16 year old self out on the floor working 15 minutes before clocking in then required 20 minutes of clean-up after clocking out. All for a 2-hour afterschool shift at $1.60 an hour.
I have never forgotten. Sometimes we have to burn a bridge. My personal wish is that your readers will begin to lose the authoritarians in their lives. Management by Intimidation is for the weak. Showing up at the May 1 demonstrations will be a start. We even had Mormons at our last rally! I have never been so glad to see them.
I liked this comment so much, I made a post about it with an AI graphic. Thanks for the prompt! Click dog to view.
We the People at Work
The People, the protectors of Democracy, are out and about. What "people," out where, about what--and why? First, millions said "Hand Off"to Trump/Musk et al, then on the 19th via 50501" (50 protests, 5o states, 1 Movement) millions more protested the mess in WDC. Also on the 19th we celebrated the "the shot heard around the world at Lexington and Concord, starting the Revolution and our country. On the 22nd protectors of the environment cleaned up a different kind of mess on Earth Day.
As important as the participants in environmental mess cleanup and American history are, this post is dedicated to the named and unnamed protestors fighting the Trump/Musk Washington, DC, tyrannical mess. Or as Susan Grymes calls it: "Protectors" of democracy, and so shall I in this post.
Who are the Protectors of democracy on April 5, 19th, May 1st--or all the everydays in between and into the future?? We will never know the names of each individual marcher, sign holder (or just standing together in solidarity). But we do know by name some people, advocacy groups, judges and law firms, and other entities who have not been cowed, and have fought back publicly--sometimes under threat of death.. Some, such as Sen. Cory Booker, with his 25 hour righteous speech on ethics, morality, and American democracy,have become an inspiration. Here then, in no particular order of noteworthy (except the first three), are the names of many of the army of protectors of democracy--and remember Courage is Contagious:
(Of course, the list is imperfect, Additions are welcomed. Also re-posting is permitted and encouraged.
PROTECTORS OF DEMOCRACY (By pen, voice, sign, or act)
(Updated April 25, 2025 Individuals
Heather Cox Richardson/"Letters from an American,"
Jess Piper/"View from Rural Missouri,"
Joyce Vance/"Civil Discourse,"
Rep. AOC,
AGs, 23 Blue States,
Aaron Parnas,
Adam Kinzinger,
Sen. Adam Schiff,
Adam Smith,
Alex Wagner,
Alexander Vindman,
Ali Velshi,
Alison Gill
Alvin Bragg (and the unnamed Manhattan jurors),
Amb. Susan Rice,
Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzales/Democracy Now,
Anand Giridharadas,
Anat Shenker-Osario,
Andrew Weissmann,
Andy Borowitz,
Ann Telnaes,
Anne Applebaum,
Annie Laurie Gaylor, FFRF (Freedom from Religion Foundation),
Ari Melber,
August Flentje,
Ben Meiselas,
Beth Benike,
Brett Meiselas,
Brian Tyler Cohen,
Cassidy Hutchinson,
Charlotte Clymer,
Chris Hayes,
Chris Krebs,
Col. Susannah Meyers,
Congressman Jim Himes,
D. Earl Stevens,
Dan Barker, FFRF (Freedom from Religion Foundation)
Dan Pfeiffer,
Dan Rather,
Daniel Berulis,
Daniel Morton-Bentley,
David Hogg,
Dean Obeidallah,
Delia Ramirez,
Sen. Elizabeth Warren,
Sen. Elyssa Slotkin,
Erez Reuveni,
Rep. Eric Swalwell,
Francie Garber Pepper (1940-2025),
Garrison Keillor,
Garry Kasparov,
George Conway,
Glenn Kirschner,
Gov. Beshear,
Gov. Janet Mills,
Gov. Kathy Hochul,
Gov. Maura Healey (MA),
Gov. Tim Walz (MN),
Gov. Tony Evers (WI),
Greg Olear,
Harry Litman,
J.B. Pritzker,
Jake Auchincloss,
Rep. Jamie Raskin,
Rep. Jasmine Crockett,
Jay Kou,
Jeff Danziger,
Sen. Jeff Merkley,
Jeff Stein,
Jeff Tiedrich,
Jen Rubin And the Contrarians,
,Jeremy Seahill,
Jessica Craven,
Jessica Yellin,
Jim Acosta,
Jim Hightower,
Jimmy Kimmel,
J-L Cauvin,
John Cusack,
John Larson
Sen. Jon Ossoff,
Jonathan Bernstein,
Jordy Meiselas,
Josh Johnson (stand-up comedian),
Josh Marshall/TPM,
Joy Reid,
Judd Legum (Popular Information),
Julie Roginsky,
Katie Phang,
Ken Harbaugh,
Lawrence O'Donnell,
Liz Cheney,
Lucian Truscott IV,
Marianne Williamson,
Mark Fiore,
Marvin Kalb,
Mary L. Trump,
Maxwell Frost,
Mayor Michelle Wu,
Mehdi Hasan,
Melvin Gurai,
Michael Bennett,
Michael Cohn,
Michel Zeitgeist,
Miles Taylor,
Nicolle Wallllace,
Noel Casler (former and current staff of the Inter-American Foundation, a small but mighty federal agency for Latin America)
Olga Lautman,
Oliva Troye,
Paul Krugman,
Prof. Lawrence Tribe,
Qasim Rachid,
Rabbi Joshua Hammerman,
Rachel Cohen,
Rachel Maddow,
Rebecca Solnit,
Rep. Andrew Egger,
Rep. Emily Randall,
Rep. Jessica Denson,
Rep. Jonathan V. Last,
Rep. Noe Casler,
Rep. Pramila Jayapal,
Rep. Sarah Longwell,
Rep. Al Green,
Rep. Don Beyer,
Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde,
Rev. William J. Barber II,
Rez Reuveni (acting deputy director for the Office of Immigration Litigation, and his supervisor),
Rich Wilson,
Robert B. Hubbell,
Robert Reich,
Roger Parloff,
Ron Filipkowski,
Ruth Ben-Ghait,
Sarah Inama,
Scott Dworkin,
Sen. Amy Klobuchar,
Sen. Andy Kim,
Sen. Angus King,
Sen. Bernie Sanders,
Sen. Chris Murphy,
Sen. Chris Van Hollen,
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand,
Sen. Lisa Murkowski,
Sen. Maria Cantwell,
Sen. Patty Murray,
Sen. Raphael Warnock,
Sen. Ron Wyden,
Sharon McMahon,
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse,
Simon Rosenberg,
Stacey Abrams,
Stephanie Miller,
Stephen King,
Steve Brodner,
Steve Schmidt,
Sue Nethercott,
Sen. Tammy Duckworth,
Tennessee Brandon,
Thom Hartmann,
Tim Snyder,
Timothy Snyder
Tristan Snell,
Will Bunch,
Zev Shalev,
ADVOCACY GROUPS, MEDIA NETWORKS
ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union),
AICN (North Carolina),
American Oversight,
Bill Kristol/all NeverTrumpers,
Blue Future,
Blue Missouri,
Blue Wave,
Bluesky,
Bulwark Media,
CODEPINK,
CREW,
DemCast,
Democracy Forward,
Democracy Index,
DemocracyLabs,
Every State Blue,
Feathers of Hope,
Field Team 6 (North Carolina),
FiftyFifty one (50501),
Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF),
Fred Wellman/On Democracy,
"Hands Off,"
Indivisible,
Jessica Valenti/Abortion Everyday,
Lambda Legal,
League of Women Voters,
Marc Elias/Democracy Docket,
MeidasTouch Network,
MoveOn,
MSNBC (an exception to corporate news, and their suppressing news0,
No Kings,
Olivia Troye,
Protect Democracy,
Public Citizen/Co-president Robert Weissman,
Run for Something,
Seneca Project,
Substack,
Team Sunrise,
The 19th/Errin Haines,
The American Manifesto,
The Bulwark,
The Civic Center,
The Dean's List/ Dean Obeidallah,
The Dr. Martin Luther King Center
The Lincoln Project,
The Politics Girl,
The States Project (North Carolina),
The Union (North Carolina)
Third Act,,
Thomas Zimmer/Democracy Americana,
We the People Dissent,
Working Families Party,
LAW FIRMS/ORGANIZATIONS, LAWYERS, COURTS, ACADEMIA
American Bar Association,
Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer,
Big Ten Universities,
Brenna Trout Frey
David Pepper,
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher (representing the Amica Center for Immigrants Rights and others seeking to block funding cuts for immigrant legal services),
Harvard/President Alan M. Garber,
Hogan Lovells (seeking to block executive orders to end federal funding for gender-affirming medical care),
Jenner & Block (also seeking to block the orders on cuts to medical research funding),
Judge Hannah Dugan,
Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson III,
(former) Judge J. Michael Luttig,
Judge James Boasberg,
Judge Paula Xinis,
Judge Royce Lamberth,
Justice Elena Kagan,
Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson,
Justices Sonia Sotomayer,
Northwestern University,
Perkins Coie and Covington & Burling (have resisted Trump, fighting back with the help of other courageous firms like Williams& Connolly),
Presidents of 328 U.S. colleges and universities who have signed a letter condemning “government overreach" (including St. Louis University),
Ropes & Gray (seeking to block cuts to medical research funding), Susman Godfrey law firm,
UC Berkeley Law School Dean Erwin Chemerinsky,
Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr (per the ABA Journal, representing fired inspectors general),
Wilmer Hale Keker, Van Nest & Peters,
Southern Poverty Law Center,
Letter signed by 500 law firms joined a court brief supporting Perkins Coie lawsuit against the Trump Administration),
To paraphrase Churchill: We shall fight them in the streets, we shall fight them on the sidewalks, we shall fight them on the internet, we shall fight them in the courts, we shall fight them in the Congress, we shall fight them in the voting booth--We shall never surrender. YOU ARE NEVER ALONE. SOLIDARITY..
E pluribus unum ( "Out of many, one")
Thank you for this comprehensive information Larry
We crossed that line months ago.. We need ten million people on the streets today.
Good comments all! Yes, peaceful demonstrations needed week after week. “They” say 11 million (3.5% of population) people needed to get attention needed. Congress won’t help. Can’t wait for midterms. Act NOW!! All inclusive. Numbers matter. Goal is to remove DJT and all his henchmen.
It'll take economic hardship on a large scale before most Americans have had enough. Cruelty and death inflicted on "others" won't register. Hell, when our own children being continually massacred in their schools doesn't bother enough Americans to change gun laws, why would this bother them?
The Founders gave some guidance on how much is enough:
"...Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security."
We are all upset and we wanted to stop, but how can we do that? How do you propose to stop? What’s happening there have been protests several times in a month. That’s the only thing that people can do we all want Trump out. We all want him impeached and gone. How do you propose that we do that?
This will inevitably require ongoing demonstrations...not once in a while.
keep protesting, keep resisting, and let people know what you think after listening to them of course.. this is a long haul... they have prepared this coup for years and it i has been i the making for a LONG time... so it may take persistence to root it out! Do what you can where you can, and with what you have.... but DO it!
I am sickened and horrified.
Thank you, Steven. So far, I think far too many Americans are oblivious to the lessons of Nazi Germany, especially the point that was famously driven home by Pastor Martin Niemöller. Instead of strategically focusing rage at injustices perpetrated against groups to which they don't belong (migrants, brown people, the poor), they're turning their eyes and ears away until the fascists come for their own group (college-educated white Democrats) when it will be too late. I believe this piece nails it: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/apr/26/us-egypt-authoritarian-dictatorship-donald-trump
Steve, I am encouraged to see that millions of people have been demonstrating but if it is mostly Democrats preaching to the choir, that really doesn't help. But I have heard of some demonstrations in red and purple states which is encouraging. To be fair, I think people don't know what we can do. But also too many people are complacent- they just focus on the price of eggs. I have been extremely disappointed and worried to realize that millions of Americans are too uninformed or too self- absorbed to care or realize what's at stake. I've been reading sub stacks of people who have left or are planning on leaving the country. I'm not going anywhere, but it is interesting to hear these peoples' thinking. One guy who has traveled extensively in Europe wrote that most Europeans he struck up conversations with were very clear of the danger that US democracy faces, likely because of the history of Europe. One of the reasons he wanted to leave the US was his disgust at being gas lit (his term) by his fellow Americans and constantly told that he was overreacting. The complacency of many Americans who should know better is very disheartening