The blog I published last week, “WHAT WILL HAPPEN NOW?” got the fewest responses I’ve ever received: five instead of twenty or so. I think the reason was because I painted a very depressing picture of Trump overturning the Constitution without having an equally forceful view of it not happening. That’s what I want to do now. I will present a number of powerful proposals from a lot of different people to demonstrate how widespread the opposition to Trump and his minions has become.
To give one recent example, Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s recent speaking tour “Against Oligarchy” attracted immense positive crowds, numbering in the tens of thousands -- 34,000 people turned out in Denver alone. Stephanie Gerber Wilson’s podcast, “Freedom Over Fascism,” is broadcast on many platforms and has gained thousands of listeners. Chris Bower’s News Media and broadcast with Matt Kerbel, “Wolves vs. Sheep,” is equally popular. Their recent program on resilience argued that Trump’s approval rate is sinking, that Republicans are backing away from the safety net, that courts are deciding against their policies, that the Democratic vote is now paramount and well-funded. They conclude that there will be free and fair elections in ’26 and that Democrats will win big, since the party out of power tends to win mid-term elections.
Another group that has impressed me and others was formed by six West Coast Democrats, primarily from the Daudon family. They’ve recommended that the Democratic party take the following actions “to enable all of us to help save our country.” Their measures include the following:
1. Create a war room and a shadow cabinet of senior party and elected Democrats, to craft the opposition strategy, advance bold policies, spearhead the party's legal strategy and coordinate party communications -- forcefully responding to Trump's actions through the news cycle. They should identify actions that congressional and senate democrats will do; that states can do; and that rank-and-file party members and those opposed to Trump can perform.
2. Put forward bold, concrete policies that people can easily and directly connect to their lives. Create an overarching narrative that defines what the democratic party is for. This narrative should acknowledge that the system/government has not been working for many people, should include a plan that is new, positive, honest, and simple--understandable by all and that can be communicated in short statements. For instance, we are for working families, not billionaires. We are for the constitutional order and the rule of law. We are for good health care, education, and social security.
3. Communicate, Communicate, Communicate! Disseminate key messages and stories of those affected by Trump's actions consistently and repeatedly through multiple channels. Be very clear about what impacts are and will be felt by everyday Americans because of Trump's policies. Radically ramp up the use of social media -- cultivate & activate influencers, flood the internet with memes and short videos telling our story, and create instant response capabilities to counter White House propaganda. Engage community and local news outlets to both learn what is happening on the ground and share key messages.
4. Reach out and listen to engage and energize both activists and the broader public. Hold town halls, constituent meetings, and go door-to-door to learn what people care most about and let them know what they can do to make their voices heard. Develop and communicate stories about how Trump and Musk’s actions have harmed real people. Hire a team of Gen Z folks and AI experts to share messages via social media.
5. Revamp the Party's fundraising strategy. Democrats are turned off by the barrage of messages from multiple Democratic groups asked for funds. Please no more asks without a clear strategy and communication as to how the funds will be used. Inspire people to give because they are aligned and on board with what the party stands for and what we are doing now to make things better for their lives and for our country.
I think their recommendations and policies are excellent and the best way we can fight back against Trump, Musk, and their horrible associates.
There are also other groups conveying similar messages. People Power United now has 250,000 members provides a space to speak out for Democratic values without raising funds. They host a “20 Minutes A Day Activism” challenge and aid people with “everyday guides to resistance, how to fight fascism with facts, and why your voice online and offline matters more than ever.” I continue to admire Heather Cox Richardson, who publishes her “Letters from an American” six days a week. Recently, she recounted how Republican congress people and senators were “greeted” by dismayed constituents when they returned to their home districts. Many Republicans cancelled meetings; others declared falsely that they were met only by hostile democrats. My favorite example was the folks who greeted them dressed up as chickens.
Finally, I and others have been thinking about possible presidential candidates for 2028. I’d like to recommend two Andys. First, Andy Kim, the senator from New Jersey, who has repeatedly voiced his opposition to Trump and his deplorable nominees. Second, Andy Beshear, the Democratic governor who won a second term in a red state that went big for Trump –- Kentucky. He explained that he concentrated “on what matters most in his constituents’ daily lives.” “The focus of the Democratic Party must return to creating better jobs, more affordable and accessible health care, safer roads and bridges, the best education for our children and communities where people aren’t just safe but also feel safer.” There are many more people and groups like these in the opposition. They and their policies give me hope for a better future.