What Can We Do?
Everywhere I have gone this week, the farmers market, our local bar, our kids’ schools… one question is ringing again and again: “What can we do?”
The mere fact that people are still asking gives me tremendous hope. Despite the fear, the sadness, and the despair we are all feeling right now there remains a spark of light, an insistent belief that we can still act, that things can change.
I am also hearing from people who find it nearly impossible to feel hope right now. Real fear pervades for those who find themselves as targets. Others are grieving the loss of work and the impact they had as public servants. Some are almost frozen by the threat of opportunities disappearing before their eyes.
I feel your anger most of all. Anger at the direction this country is taking, as all norms are broken, as compassion gives way to hatred, as corruption and grift take hold. Yet it is also anger that drives people to action, to the question of “What can we do?”
The emotions behind the question require an emotional response. The response of courage. Our nation has been through dark times before, and perhaps you, like me, have even wondered what role you would have played in those times. While this moment will test us, I believe our country will find us worthy if we have the courage to act.
So, what can we do?
Continue to care. One of the central tenants of the new regime is to prioritize self over others. But the United States has a long history of altruistic service, and the Democratic party is a party of care. Every action of care ensures that tradition stays true. Feeding an unemployed friend, volunteering with a refugee resettlement program, and donating to support international aid are all now acts of resistance. And they will lift your spirits.
Stay engaged. It can be tempting right now to want to tune out, The news is just too relentless, too absurd, too painful. But those who have lived through authoritarian regimes tell us that is exactly what these leaders want. They are preying on our exhaustion and apathy. We need to stay engaged, keep forging connections with our communities and lay the groundwork for the next era of political organizing. In addition, wherever you see effective leadership developing, invest in it, share it, and reward people for taking the risk to lead in scary times. Even if they wore a hat you don’t like once upon a time, we should welcome anyone who can bring powerful messages and new visions for progress.
Push your legislators. Right now it might feel like GOP majorities in both the United States Congress and the North Carolina General Assembly are simply falling in line. That will not continue if the public pressure mounts. The pain that is being felt around the country is going to quickly change the minds of those in power as they hear from disgruntled constituents. Keep calling your elected officials and tell them the stories of how real lives are being impacted by the thoughtless, unplanned federal actions. They cannot hear from you enough. And, never hesitate to remind them there are elections coming in two years.
And just as you push those in power, you need to encourage elected democrats to stand strong. Congressional Democrats will soon have the chance to channel their power through the filibuster and budget negotiations. Here in North Carolina, my colleagues and I have to make clear connections that NCGOP actions extend Trump’s chaos and harm - as I did last week in a video where I explain the bill they filed to make Trump a king. We need your help to amplify effective legislative messaging and action - especially to all of your annoying friends who are saying Democrats aren’t doing anything. In response to the media’s all-to-complacent coverage, we have to lift up our own messages and messengers.
Lift up our courts. Litigation is the single most important thing happening right now to stem the tide of abuses. If you can, send donations to Democracy Forward, who are leading the charge. Or, more importantly to any local organization that needs to cover their own legal expenses to fight Trump in court. Special shoutout to my wife Kym, who is working around the clock on this through her job as litigation director at Southern Environmental Law Center. And while you are supporting our litigators, please keep faith in our courts. We are not yet in a full constitutional crisis. Our courts are doing their jobs. Amplify the important rulings and keep faith that this important check on executive power can remain strong.
Search for joy. Remember the Spring of 2020? In the midst of pandemic terror we had one of the most beautiful springtimes anyone can remember. To this day I still don’t know, was the weather actually better than other years? Or did we all just find time to really focus on the beauty of the dogwoods in the sunshine, the scent of honeysuckle on our long pandemic walks. We can find those joys again and they can sustain us. Every year we add to the bank of daffodils along the side of our yard that faces the road. Their little heads are already poking up. Drive by and find a moment of joy.
Three Things NOT To Do
Do Not Comply in Advance. Across our state and our country we are seeing both private and government leaders bring their institutions into voluntary compliance with little regard to the impact on the people within their sphere. It’s infuriating. But there is a less visible form of voluntary compliance that may ultimately be more dangerous. That is the self-censorship that is seeping into hearts and minds across the country. Groups who would rather not speak up in fear of retribution. Individuals who change the language they use or the choices they make to avoid becoming targets or to avoid conflict. Little by little these actions mean we all fall slowly in line.
To counter the chill, we must build networks of support for those who have moral clarity and strength enough to stand tall. We can broaden the network of resistance by using the power that we have and supporting the strength of those who are brave enough to lead. If you’re a leader, board member, donor, or volunteer with any organization feeling the heat, use your relationship with others in that community to stand tall and do not comply! (Shoutout to Chapel Hill’s own Hampton Dellinger for standing strong!)
Don’t Believe Them. Ezra Klein’s widely circulated commentary with this title might be the best piece of advice in the last three weeks. Much of what Trump and Musk claim they can and should do are lies. They lie because their power is actually so fragile. Strengthen your “They’re full of shit!” muscle to resist giving them more power. Similarly, don’t spend energy on things that we reasonably know won’t happen. For instance, I have heard from people who are understandably concerned about Congress’s voter-suppression-on-steroides bill, “The SAVE Act.” But don’t believe them! They can’t get that bill through the filibuster and they probably can’t even get a majority of Republicans to support it. Tell everyone they’re full of shit on this one and move your attention and energy elsewhere.
Don’t Use Their Language. Please. Just stop. Don’t ever, ever, ever-ever use the rhetorical frames that they create to control the debate. One current example is that we should absolutely not call Musk’s actions an “Audit” like MAGA does. And if your mind starts to respond with a long explanation of why it’s not an actual audit, then you’ve already lost. If you’re arguing the term, they have controlled the debate. Argue on our terms. Elon Musk is an illegal, unconstitutional actor who bought Trump so that he can rip us all off. DOGE is Destruction of Government by Elon.
Eventually this chaotic period is going to end. I’m not saying it’s going to get better quickly, but every presidency’s transition has to settle into governance in a world full of pressures and unexpected challenges. Tomorrow will not be the same as today. Every bit of community building and care that we engage in today will set us up for success in those moments to come.
Onward,
Graig