5 Signs of Hope in the Fight Against Trump & Musk’s Coup
30-hour filibusters, storming offices, and digital warfare. Here’s what’s working (and what’s missing).
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
If you notice you aren’t getting the Substack e-mails you think you should, it’s probably not your fault! Substack wants you to use their app, go into your Substack settings and check your “notifications” settings, this post explains how.
Find ALL your reps up and down the ballot on your social media of choice. You can use this tool to find who all your reps are.
Follow them and comment one thing (kind or constructive!) on their feed.
If they aren’t on socials, and you want them to be - call their office and tell them you want to see them step up!
If you want to get more targeted actions like this in your inbox, and support my work, please subscribe AND share with your friends!
These are bad times. It is impossible to overstate my level of concern at this moment. I actually think that Musk’s goal is world domination, and not in a metaphorical sense. I wish, like me and Hank Green, he could just get jazzed about the new version of Civilization coming out next week instead of ruining the country. I think the coalition of people who have come together to create the Trump Regime want to break the federal government and enact a biblical authoritarian regime that lines their pockets. And they are backed by massive amounts of money and infrastructure.
But I also think the only way out is through. We need to find new ways to suppress this totalitarian regime and we need to keep fixing the Democratic party so that it is up to the task of the opposition party.
I have spent many years ringing the bell on my criticisms about Dem messaging in particular. About a lack of urgency and an inability to connect with voters on their values. We saw that in the election and the previous two weeks made it all come to an unbearable head. I am in shock (though I shouldn’t be) that so many Dem lawmakers still think reason will eventually prevail or that they should continue to be the party of decorum. That ship has sailed and the sooner they all realize it the better.
But, I have a puppy and I know that the best way to get her to do more tricks is to praise her when she does a good job. So we have to recognize when the Dems do good work as much as we criticize them when it feels like they are failing us. Too much of this gets buried because of Trump and Musk dominating the headlines. Even mainstream, left-leaning sources aren’t highlighting enough of the things that might be effective and positive and that is a mistake. Because when people only read the negative headlines they check out.
Here are five good things I saw this week:
1. The Schatz Filibuster: Dems are doing a 30 hour filibuster to protest the nomination of Russell Vought for OMB director, led by Hawaii Senator Brian Schatz
Read more about the dangers of Vought being nominated here.
2. A New Volume of Social Content: Congressional Dems finally entered the Internet era and there is a growing group posting regular video content online. Go find your reps IG and see what they are up to (often they have 2 profiles, one official that starts with “Rep” or “Sen” and one for the campaign).
While most Dems have entered the information age kicking and screaming - they are now trying to do the thing. If your rep isn’t doing it - call them and tell them you want them posting on a daily basis. Tell them you want to SEE what they are doing.
David Miles Hogg and Malcom Kenyatta are newly elected Vice Chairs of the DNC - they got elected in part on a platform of changing Dems approach to digital. It seems they are jumping in. It’s a great first step now it just needs to be done 100 more times.
Part of talking to people not press is actually explaining things to the American people, not through soundbites but through conversations. Senator Mark Warner of Virginia has amped up his content on Instagram. I liked this one about USAID.
3. AOC & Murphy IG lives: Every member should not be doing an IG live, BUT we have a few who have the skills and rizz to do so. A live is apex talking to people not press. These two did it excellently.
4. The Treasury Protest: People want to see the leadership of the party doing things. Momentum begets momentum, leaders must lead.
A large protest took place outside the U.S. Department of the Treasury on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, organized by liberal advocacy groups including Indivisible, MoveOn, and the Working Families Party. The protest, which drew over 1,000 participants, was part of a nationwide series of demonstrations to oppose Elon Musk's role as director of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and his alleged access to sensitive financial and government payment data. Several prominent Democratic lawmakers participated in the rally, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Representative Jasmine Crockett of Texas, Representative Seth Magaziner of Rhode Island, Representative Maxwell Frost of Florida and Representative Jamie Raskin of Maryland. Prior to the protest, some of these lawmakers attempted to enter the Treasury building but were denied access.
5. Barging the door: Representative Judy Chu of California and Representative Gwen Moore of Wisconsin barged into House Speaker Mike Johnson’s office unscheduled on Wednesday and challenged him about Elon Musk's team gaining access to a sensitive payment system at the Treasury Department.
Another group of House and Senate Democrats, led by Ed Markey tried to go into the Environmental Protection Agency's headquarters. Another group tried to go into USAID. Veronica Escobar went to the Department of Education.
When it comes to talking to people not press - getting out of the press briefing room is key!!
Bonus good thing:
People don’t like Elon Musk: Favorability ratings (ie: vibes) are a huge predictor of electoral outcomes. According to a new poll, 53% of registered voters do not approve of Elon’s leadership in the Trump admin. In 2019 his favorability was +29, now it is -11.