my comment for today all day everywhere: There is a group that knew Executive Orders would destroy Democracy and salivated at the idea... shall I say Heritage Foundation? Between EO's & Citizens United we had a Trojan Horse come in to take our country away and hand it to the oligarchs. They plopped a guy in the saddle that only responds to green shiny objects but their hands are on the wheel... We cannot stop, it will be hard work and we must build the wall they can't break down to get what they want. I am tired , scared and will do what I can...as my sign states "I can't believe I still have to protest this F**KING SH*T" your 78 yo hippie here..still standing.
The Heritage Foundation ducked on the issue of tariffs. Project 2025 went with 2 contradictory scenarios. One pushing ‘free trade’ etc. by Kent Lassman of the Competitive Enterprise Institute. The other from Navarro going all in on the route the Orange Menace chose decades ago.
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, Jjonathan V Last, Sarah Longwell, Andrew Egger, Aaron Parnas, Rep.Don Beyer, Greg Olear
American 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 Hale
Keker, Van Nest & Peters
Southern Poverty Law Center
500 law firms joined a court brief supporting Perkins Coie lawsuit against the Trump Administration.
Perhaps 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
The coverage by digital journalists on Substack and other platforms overshadowed and spotlighted the failure of the MSM and its complicity with the regime. Well done peeps…we are planting a bountiful harvest.
At my local protest, I talked with an older man who said, "I am frightened, I am angry, and I was tired of doing nothing. I want to do more." We laughed at a sign that said, "Dear Canada: We Hate Him, Too."
There is conspiracy in the air. Trump dumped stock before the tariffs were defined. Pam Bondi continues to debase herself. She is complicit in Signalgate as a Signal user and too corrupt to recuse herself. Until we have the House, we cannot impeach. We will have job growth because of the CHIPS Act and the Infrastructure bill. But the jobs shipped overseas are not coming home. https://hotbuttons.substack.com/p/jobs-wont-come-back?r=3m1bs
Yes, the Biden bills were much more thoughtful in their approach. But only if you want to see American growth and not be the quintessential Ugly American.
The Ford plant here planned a major model change-over to begin in December. The plan was to close for 10 months. That’s with an facility, workforce and a supply chain that may now have holes in it. The costs were planned well in advance. No one knows how the current situation will affect it because no one knows how to predict the changes.
Now imagine moving manufacturing, trying to put all the pieces together and pay for them in this climate. It is exactly the unstable situation most businesses try to avoid.
I felt very uplifted to attend my first protest as an actual participant in a march. In the past I attended as only an observer. I must say the only pause in the momentum, from my viewpoint, was when about 5 of what must have been the organizers spoke before we started. The messages were varied, muffled by scarves covering mouths, and a bit off target for the majority of the crowd. But the day, overall, went very well...especially for Trump loving Miami.
We need everyone who lives in a red district to take the protest to those R representatives and demand that they stop the insanity! Our top priorities need to be (1) eliminate Musk & DOGE; (2) restore our federal agencies; (3) protect Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid; (4) take control of tariffs and stop the assault on trade and our investments. If every marcher started sending these specific messages to their representatives, ESPECIALLY Republicans, we can continue our activism and make a difference.
I would add ‘protect our rights’. For instance, voting rights.
A bill that passed the House last year was supposed to be voted on again last week. (Vote was canceled over Johnson losing a battle on another topic & he sent the House home.)
The so-called “SAVE Act” would require states to have voters prove they are citizens. It is dangerous in several ways. For instance, naturalized citizens, about 1/2 of Americans who may have current passports and a few people in states where Real ID indicates citizenship could more easily meet that vague standard. Men would have a better chance because their names usually match their birth certificates.
No, this is not a joke or a scam. Multiple groups revived their warnings.
• Also: When We All Vote (a group started by Michelle Obama); ACLU; Center for American Progress; Brookings and the Brennan Institute are just a few more.
Trump mis-represented himself during his campaign…therefore he lied to get the job and has since proven himself vindictive, and dangerously incompetent.
He has violated his sworn Oath of Office!
He appointed Cabinet heads that are also dangerously incompetent, threatening the well being (safety and security) of the American Citizens their Departments are supposed to represent. It also brings into question the competency of those who confirmed the appointments
He has purposely initiated the destruction of the American Government threatening the well being of American citizens (even the F**kging sycophants/dupes that voted for him).
He initiated actions that knowingly are threatening the financial stability of a majority of the entire World, all the while making suggestively intimidating threats to other nations.
He represents an administration that is a clear and present danger to America and the World’s overall stability.
He (and those who willingly support him) must be removed from office and held responsible for his/their actions that may have already caused irreparable harm to millions!
The SCOTUS bears responsibility as well for enabling him without precedent!
Do we have any other alternative than to remove him et al from office. If possible…have them face charges??? His behavior/actions have been without precedent…then perhaps ours must be as well!!!!
I had assumed, with over 1200 protests in all 50 states on a single day, that there would have been banner headlines on the front pages of every newspaper in the country along with prolonged, live coverage on local and national news channels. But I was wrong. The mainstream media and news channels greeted the protests with a collective yawn.
Margaret Sullivan has posted one of her typically excellent essays on the subject today: https://substack.com/home/post/p-160711968. The media, essentially, are running scared of rightwing wrath, or are looking to preserve the status quo so as not to alienate a sizeable section of their readers and viewers.
And yet... Marching with thousands of other protesters in downtown Los Angeles, my friends and I could feel the sense of solidarity that swept over us all. Now wouldn't it be grand if we had a unified, national leadership that could bring cohesion to all the different groups across the country in order to amplify our voices into a collective roar?
We must demand to be heard, or no one will listen.
I think a benefit of having local protests is people know about them without the press coverage in their own communities. The actions of their neighbors may carry more weight & encourage spur participation. People are sharing long streams of photos and videos. Rachel Maddow had asked for them & did she ever get tons!
We have terrible flooding. Some parts of the state had 15” of rain last week. The rivers are at record highs so of course streets were closing. 3 organizations worked together to organize & coordinate. The rallies were wet events. In spite of that, people came out in 3 cities in larger numbers than before.
I don’t think we’d be seeing Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul both on the same page if they weren’t feeling it. RP made no secret of what history says will be the reaction to the economic policies of this administration.
“Given the extreme pace and the breadth of destruction since Trump was inaugurated, it surely made sense to organize protests that were maximally inclusive. Yet as uplifting and useful as this weekend’s demonstrations were, they were defuse in their messaging and demands, making it easier for Trump and his henchmen to ignore the people.
But the coming phases of mass protest will require being more precise.”
Excellent point. It will be easier to organize quickly protests around the particular issues that resonate with people, and to stage these more frequently. What I want to see is far more extensive media coverage of our work. We need to pressure the Fourth Estate to do their job. Surely these massive public events are more noteworthy than Trump’s rigged up golf scores.
We need to keep on keeping on. Keep the momentum and energy flowing. The rallies and protests have helped us clarify our voices and messages. Let’s not fall into the trap of letting the abuser manipulate us by playing with our hopes. We can be smarter and more consistent than the WH or even the market gurus.
This morning the Dow Jones down more than 1,400 points after opening. Fake news on the X machine claimed tariffs would ease for 90 days. It drove the Dow hundreds of points into positive territory. Then it fell again and chaos ensued as buyers & sellers chase hope.
We can be change makers if we don’t get distracted. It is not time to let up. Legislators have the power to rein in the Cabinet and the WH. We can give them the incentive to do it.
"Yet as uplifting and useful as this weekend’s demonstrations were, they were defuse in their messaging and demands, making it easier for Trump and his henchmen to ignore the people." It's not just about being diffuse; it's about sending the better message. I'm convinced that the coalition of the sane (us) must bring those who were First-time-Trump and Biden-to-Trump voters, and those who didn't vote (I'm looking at you Gen Z) into the fray. Of the three "demands" mentioned in your article, I worry that the message is too far Left. THAT ISN'T WHERE THE COUNTRY IS! And if you want 12M-plus people in the streets, you have to speak to where they are, not where you'd like them to be. I spent 40 years in the hard scrabble politics of California's Legislature, strategized, managed campaigns, walked precincts, phone banked, the lot. We need those tactics to awaken the sleepy Americans who will be more motivated than ever after the tariffs bite them in the ass. They may have passed on April 5, but I'm convinced they'll join up when things get as unfair, undemocratic, and unbearable as I fear they will.
I'm a long-time Dem who doesn't need convincing, but many do. I always voted Dem and leaned left on the important issues. BUT..I can absolutely see where many progressives do not speak to many who really don't have strong political affiliations. Perhaps they can be swayed by common sense populist economics designed to clearly help the middle class. How about Medicare at 62? Many early retirees would love that. Along with something...anything...to help small businesses. Bottom line, the message must not wander, but stay clearly defined.
I haven’t a clue how you reached that conclusion. If this is too radical for Americans in the 21st Century we are on the wrong planet.
“But the coming phases of mass protest will require being more precise. Elon Musk must be removed, for example. We will not permit the demolition of Social Security and Medicare, for another example, a demand that will likely crystalize if the current efforts to break the system lead to millions of recipients failing to receive their payments.”
Now is not the time to trumpet our support of trans and lbgq folks. There's plenty of time AFTER we're in power to cement liberties for them. That message killed Kamala; let's not repeat a losing proposition. As for the demolition of Medicare, Social Security, the military, education, etc. those are fighting words and everyone gets it.
1st of all, that was not one of the items I saw mentioned in the article.
But ‘trust us, they’ll be time to support those rights later’ does not win over anyone. It isn’t a choice between “trumpeting” or silencing. The Harris campaign’s error was not swatting down the trans issue attacks. Ex: Policies used in the attacks were in place during the trump administration. The campaign allowed attacks to continue with no effective response.
It is not necessary to hide support for trans & LGBTQ folks to win elections - even in red states. I live in KY. We have a 2nd term Dem governor who ran on a platform that included strong support for women making their own health care decisions & he vetoed anti-trans legislation. The GOP tried to make both issues election problems and failed miserably.
Beshear is a governor who voters saw working for them; listening to their concerns & responding. Through Covid, with jobs & during disasters. Exit polling showed even when voters didn’t agree with him on everything, he had their trust.
To be “in power” I think the Dems need to listen and regain trust. Not all ages are motivated by threats to Medicare & Social Security etc. But the damage Musk is doing transcends age groups and geography = a universal threat. The beauty of people bringing their voices to the table is the energy, engagement and buy-in. Folks want representation and change.
You make really good sense. I appreciate your views and analyses. I guess I'm too eager to find a way forward and not seeing the forest through the trees.
I disagree with the notion to spend time and select a top 3 or 5 protest items. Doing so risks stifling the organic energy and broad appeal that fueled the successful April 5 protest. The very diversity of signs and issues we witnessed on April 5th was a significant factor in its impact and reach.
Instead of narrowing our focus and potentially alienating supporters, our energy should be directed towards sustaining consistent pressure on political leaders across the spectrum and at all levels of governance. Just as infrequent protests lose their impact, we need to establish a regular and enduring rhythm of protest – whether it's every other week or another sustainable timeframe – to maintain pressure over the long haul, be it the next 18 months or even the remainder of this political cycle.
TRump’s Cabinet Heads have sworn to perform the assigned duties of their respective Departments. If the Dereliction of said agreed upon duties results in the death or injury of just one American Citizen. The Cabinet Head of the Department responsible for the prevention of such injuries and/or death should be ultimately held personally responsible, with tRump being complicit as having knowingly put forward a grossly incompetent candidate. Their acceptance of the position serves as a testament of their claimed bona fides to guarantee their ability to perform the sworn tasks required of them, especially where disregard can negatively impact the safety, security and or, well being of Americans. Two cases of such derelictions 1. A recent major security incident and, 2. The death of two children possibly as the result of not being vaccinated in the midst of a serious Measles epidemic left to run unchecked as a result of Kennedy’s apparent negligence and/or ignorance. With many more incidents probable.
Keep talking about how great the protests were and they'll snowball. I didn't go but I kind of wish I had because they sound so energizing. I'm sure I'm not alone in that.
When we protest we must also protest the people who built Trump’s power. Trump couldn’t have done this without mobilizing the haters. What do they hate? They hate all the corruption Democrats and Republicans have allowed - in particular the corruption that turned our schools close to useless and quite unsafe. Even now as democracy is disintegrating no one is fessing up about our schools - the institution that was to uphold democracy. Listen to the teacher whistleblowers at WhiteChalkCrime.com Give them a voice. This mess all started because fascists took over our schools and will only end when we restore authentic schools, an impossibility if everyone continues to ignore the root cause for the loss of democracy.
my comment for today all day everywhere: There is a group that knew Executive Orders would destroy Democracy and salivated at the idea... shall I say Heritage Foundation? Between EO's & Citizens United we had a Trojan Horse come in to take our country away and hand it to the oligarchs. They plopped a guy in the saddle that only responds to green shiny objects but their hands are on the wheel... We cannot stop, it will be hard work and we must build the wall they can't break down to get what they want. I am tired , scared and will do what I can...as my sign states "I can't believe I still have to protest this F**KING SH*T" your 78 yo hippie here..still standing.
The Heritage Foundation ducked on the issue of tariffs. Project 2025 went with 2 contradictory scenarios. One pushing ‘free trade’ etc. by Kent Lassman of the Competitive Enterprise Institute. The other from Navarro going all in on the route the Orange Menace chose decades ago.
(The document begins on P. 765 with Navarro’s / trump approach and 32 pages later Lassman’s approach.) https://static.project2025.org/2025_MandateForLeadership_CHAPTER-26.pdf
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, Jjonathan V Last, Sarah Longwell, Andrew Egger, Aaron Parnas, Rep.Don Beyer, Greg Olear
American 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 Hale
Keker, Van Nest & Peters
Southern Poverty Law Center
500 law firms joined a court brief supporting Perkins Coie lawsuit against the Trump Administration.
Perhaps 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
Read them all. Nicole Wallace seems to be missing, but I may have missed. Cheers!
Did I miss the ACLU, also an essential and valiant fighter in these times.
Yes, one of the first advocacy groups I listed. And thanks for reading in entirety to ask the question. Much appreciated
Thanks for this list of great leaders and resisters!
3 organizations coordinated here with our Congressman.
The coverage by digital journalists on Substack and other platforms overshadowed and spotlighted the failure of the MSM and its complicity with the regime. Well done peeps…we are planting a bountiful harvest.
Main Stream Media is no longer watched or read by most people. I like the term Legacy Media.
At my local protest, I talked with an older man who said, "I am frightened, I am angry, and I was tired of doing nothing. I want to do more." We laughed at a sign that said, "Dear Canada: We Hate Him, Too."
There is conspiracy in the air. Trump dumped stock before the tariffs were defined. Pam Bondi continues to debase herself. She is complicit in Signalgate as a Signal user and too corrupt to recuse herself. Until we have the House, we cannot impeach. We will have job growth because of the CHIPS Act and the Infrastructure bill. But the jobs shipped overseas are not coming home. https://hotbuttons.substack.com/p/jobs-wont-come-back?r=3m1bs
Yes, the Biden bills were much more thoughtful in their approach. But only if you want to see American growth and not be the quintessential Ugly American.
The Ford plant here planned a major model change-over to begin in December. The plan was to close for 10 months. That’s with an facility, workforce and a supply chain that may now have holes in it. The costs were planned well in advance. No one knows how the current situation will affect it because no one knows how to predict the changes.
Now imagine moving manufacturing, trying to put all the pieces together and pay for them in this climate. It is exactly the unstable situation most businesses try to avoid.
I felt very uplifted to attend my first protest as an actual participant in a march. In the past I attended as only an observer. I must say the only pause in the momentum, from my viewpoint, was when about 5 of what must have been the organizers spoke before we started. The messages were varied, muffled by scarves covering mouths, and a bit off target for the majority of the crowd. But the day, overall, went very well...especially for Trump loving Miami.
We need everyone who lives in a red district to take the protest to those R representatives and demand that they stop the insanity! Our top priorities need to be (1) eliminate Musk & DOGE; (2) restore our federal agencies; (3) protect Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid; (4) take control of tariffs and stop the assault on trade and our investments. If every marcher started sending these specific messages to their representatives, ESPECIALLY Republicans, we can continue our activism and make a difference.
I would add ‘protect our rights’. For instance, voting rights.
A bill that passed the House last year was supposed to be voted on again last week. (Vote was canceled over Johnson losing a battle on another topic & he sent the House home.)
The so-called “SAVE Act” would require states to have voters prove they are citizens. It is dangerous in several ways. For instance, naturalized citizens, about 1/2 of Americans who may have current passports and a few people in states where Real ID indicates citizenship could more easily meet that vague standard. Men would have a better chance because their names usually match their birth certificates.
No, this is not a joke or a scam. Multiple groups revived their warnings.
• US News & World Report - The SAVE Act Could Stop You From Voting https://www.usnews.com/opinion/articles/2025-03-31/save-act-voting-rights-republicans
• League of Women Voters - The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act is a Trick https://www.lwv.org/blog/safeguard-american-voter-eligibility-save-act-trick
• Also: When We All Vote (a group started by Michelle Obama); ACLU; Center for American Progress; Brookings and the Brennan Institute are just a few more.
Agree!
In my opinion:
Trump mis-represented himself during his campaign…therefore he lied to get the job and has since proven himself vindictive, and dangerously incompetent.
He has violated his sworn Oath of Office!
He appointed Cabinet heads that are also dangerously incompetent, threatening the well being (safety and security) of the American Citizens their Departments are supposed to represent. It also brings into question the competency of those who confirmed the appointments
He has purposely initiated the destruction of the American Government threatening the well being of American citizens (even the F**kging sycophants/dupes that voted for him).
He initiated actions that knowingly are threatening the financial stability of a majority of the entire World, all the while making suggestively intimidating threats to other nations.
He represents an administration that is a clear and present danger to America and the World’s overall stability.
He (and those who willingly support him) must be removed from office and held responsible for his/their actions that may have already caused irreparable harm to millions!
The SCOTUS bears responsibility as well for enabling him without precedent!
Do we have any other alternative than to remove him et al from office. If possible…have them face charges??? His behavior/actions have been without precedent…then perhaps ours must be as well!!!!
I had assumed, with over 1200 protests in all 50 states on a single day, that there would have been banner headlines on the front pages of every newspaper in the country along with prolonged, live coverage on local and national news channels. But I was wrong. The mainstream media and news channels greeted the protests with a collective yawn.
Margaret Sullivan has posted one of her typically excellent essays on the subject today: https://substack.com/home/post/p-160711968. The media, essentially, are running scared of rightwing wrath, or are looking to preserve the status quo so as not to alienate a sizeable section of their readers and viewers.
And yet... Marching with thousands of other protesters in downtown Los Angeles, my friends and I could feel the sense of solidarity that swept over us all. Now wouldn't it be grand if we had a unified, national leadership that could bring cohesion to all the different groups across the country in order to amplify our voices into a collective roar?
We must demand to be heard, or no one will listen.
I think a benefit of having local protests is people know about them without the press coverage in their own communities. The actions of their neighbors may carry more weight & encourage spur participation. People are sharing long streams of photos and videos. Rachel Maddow had asked for them & did she ever get tons!
We have terrible flooding. Some parts of the state had 15” of rain last week. The rivers are at record highs so of course streets were closing. 3 organizations worked together to organize & coordinate. The rallies were wet events. In spite of that, people came out in 3 cities in larger numbers than before.
I don’t think we’d be seeing Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul both on the same page if they weren’t feeling it. RP made no secret of what history says will be the reaction to the economic policies of this administration.
“Given the extreme pace and the breadth of destruction since Trump was inaugurated, it surely made sense to organize protests that were maximally inclusive. Yet as uplifting and useful as this weekend’s demonstrations were, they were defuse in their messaging and demands, making it easier for Trump and his henchmen to ignore the people.
But the coming phases of mass protest will require being more precise.”
Excellent point. It will be easier to organize quickly protests around the particular issues that resonate with people, and to stage these more frequently. What I want to see is far more extensive media coverage of our work. We need to pressure the Fourth Estate to do their job. Surely these massive public events are more noteworthy than Trump’s rigged up golf scores.
We need to keep on keeping on. Keep the momentum and energy flowing. The rallies and protests have helped us clarify our voices and messages. Let’s not fall into the trap of letting the abuser manipulate us by playing with our hopes. We can be smarter and more consistent than the WH or even the market gurus.
This morning the Dow Jones down more than 1,400 points after opening. Fake news on the X machine claimed tariffs would ease for 90 days. It drove the Dow hundreds of points into positive territory. Then it fell again and chaos ensued as buyers & sellers chase hope.
We can be change makers if we don’t get distracted. It is not time to let up. Legislators have the power to rein in the Cabinet and the WH. We can give them the incentive to do it.
"Yet as uplifting and useful as this weekend’s demonstrations were, they were defuse in their messaging and demands, making it easier for Trump and his henchmen to ignore the people." It's not just about being diffuse; it's about sending the better message. I'm convinced that the coalition of the sane (us) must bring those who were First-time-Trump and Biden-to-Trump voters, and those who didn't vote (I'm looking at you Gen Z) into the fray. Of the three "demands" mentioned in your article, I worry that the message is too far Left. THAT ISN'T WHERE THE COUNTRY IS! And if you want 12M-plus people in the streets, you have to speak to where they are, not where you'd like them to be. I spent 40 years in the hard scrabble politics of California's Legislature, strategized, managed campaigns, walked precincts, phone banked, the lot. We need those tactics to awaken the sleepy Americans who will be more motivated than ever after the tariffs bite them in the ass. They may have passed on April 5, but I'm convinced they'll join up when things get as unfair, undemocratic, and unbearable as I fear they will.
I'm a long-time Dem who doesn't need convincing, but many do. I always voted Dem and leaned left on the important issues. BUT..I can absolutely see where many progressives do not speak to many who really don't have strong political affiliations. Perhaps they can be swayed by common sense populist economics designed to clearly help the middle class. How about Medicare at 62? Many early retirees would love that. Along with something...anything...to help small businesses. Bottom line, the message must not wander, but stay clearly defined.
I haven’t a clue how you reached that conclusion. If this is too radical for Americans in the 21st Century we are on the wrong planet.
“But the coming phases of mass protest will require being more precise. Elon Musk must be removed, for example. We will not permit the demolition of Social Security and Medicare, for another example, a demand that will likely crystalize if the current efforts to break the system lead to millions of recipients failing to receive their payments.”
Now is not the time to trumpet our support of trans and lbgq folks. There's plenty of time AFTER we're in power to cement liberties for them. That message killed Kamala; let's not repeat a losing proposition. As for the demolition of Medicare, Social Security, the military, education, etc. those are fighting words and everyone gets it.
1st of all, that was not one of the items I saw mentioned in the article.
But ‘trust us, they’ll be time to support those rights later’ does not win over anyone. It isn’t a choice between “trumpeting” or silencing. The Harris campaign’s error was not swatting down the trans issue attacks. Ex: Policies used in the attacks were in place during the trump administration. The campaign allowed attacks to continue with no effective response.
It is not necessary to hide support for trans & LGBTQ folks to win elections - even in red states. I live in KY. We have a 2nd term Dem governor who ran on a platform that included strong support for women making their own health care decisions & he vetoed anti-trans legislation. The GOP tried to make both issues election problems and failed miserably.
Beshear is a governor who voters saw working for them; listening to their concerns & responding. Through Covid, with jobs & during disasters. Exit polling showed even when voters didn’t agree with him on everything, he had their trust.
To be “in power” I think the Dems need to listen and regain trust. Not all ages are motivated by threats to Medicare & Social Security etc. But the damage Musk is doing transcends age groups and geography = a universal threat. The beauty of people bringing their voices to the table is the energy, engagement and buy-in. Folks want representation and change.
You make really good sense. I appreciate your views and analyses. I guess I'm too eager to find a way forward and not seeing the forest through the trees.
I think we’re all a bit on edge and anxious.
I disagree with the notion to spend time and select a top 3 or 5 protest items. Doing so risks stifling the organic energy and broad appeal that fueled the successful April 5 protest. The very diversity of signs and issues we witnessed on April 5th was a significant factor in its impact and reach.
Instead of narrowing our focus and potentially alienating supporters, our energy should be directed towards sustaining consistent pressure on political leaders across the spectrum and at all levels of governance. Just as infrequent protests lose their impact, we need to establish a regular and enduring rhythm of protest – whether it's every other week or another sustainable timeframe – to maintain pressure over the long haul, be it the next 18 months or even the remainder of this political cycle.
TRump’s Cabinet Heads have sworn to perform the assigned duties of their respective Departments. If the Dereliction of said agreed upon duties results in the death or injury of just one American Citizen. The Cabinet Head of the Department responsible for the prevention of such injuries and/or death should be ultimately held personally responsible, with tRump being complicit as having knowingly put forward a grossly incompetent candidate. Their acceptance of the position serves as a testament of their claimed bona fides to guarantee their ability to perform the sworn tasks required of them, especially where disregard can negatively impact the safety, security and or, well being of Americans. Two cases of such derelictions 1. A recent major security incident and, 2. The death of two children possibly as the result of not being vaccinated in the midst of a serious Measles epidemic left to run unchecked as a result of Kennedy’s apparent negligence and/or ignorance. With many more incidents probable.
How do we get to 12 million? And how quickly can we get there?
Keep talking about how great the protests were and they'll snowball. I didn't go but I kind of wish I had because they sound so energizing. I'm sure I'm not alone in that.
When we protest we must also protest the people who built Trump’s power. Trump couldn’t have done this without mobilizing the haters. What do they hate? They hate all the corruption Democrats and Republicans have allowed - in particular the corruption that turned our schools close to useless and quite unsafe. Even now as democracy is disintegrating no one is fessing up about our schools - the institution that was to uphold democracy. Listen to the teacher whistleblowers at WhiteChalkCrime.com Give them a voice. This mess all started because fascists took over our schools and will only end when we restore authentic schools, an impossibility if everyone continues to ignore the root cause for the loss of democracy.