A masterclass from political sage Anat Shenker-Osorio on how you can fight back against Trump II, create "social proof," mobilize your community, stop waiting for Democrats, and start getting it DONE
Loved this so much I took reams of notes, and then you posted yours! argh. But seriously, Anat is soooo on point. Happily, a couple weeks ago some similar ideas re What can we do? came to me out of the blue. Like: let others know who you are as that empowers them, eg paint a message on the side of a barn. Well, I don't have a barn, but I do have a flagpole which is flying a Resistance flag. and a T-shirt that says Tax the Rich. Now I'm not saying this is the reason for the change, but my neighbor, who sees my flag daily on the way to the record shop he owns, is now posting messages that he will no longer be selling LPs by artists known to have played at Trump rallies. I mean, stuff really does catch on. I also have a Democracy not Autocracy sticker on my car, and so far, I haven't been keyed. More, please!
I love, love, LOVE Anat! She is a balm in these chaotic times, because she calls it like it is.
Since Jan 6, this is my mantra -- tune out the noise, but don't drop the signal.
The signal is that a (mostly white) wealthy, well-connected few billionaires and price gouging corporations don't want to pay what they owe or be accountable for polluting our land, water and air for their personal profit. And now, they are trying to turn a government of, by and for their people, into their personal feeding trough.
Project 2025, like all of the attacks by Tr*mp/F'Elon/MAGA on our fundamental freedoms needs to be framed in the harm to everyday AMERICANS—not our democratic institutions.
We have to talk about what they are doing in terms of the ways it hurts us, so that the average low-information voter/non-voter doesn't need to spend time deciphering words like "oligarchy" or "unitary executive theory".
Of course, I understand The Ink readers are far removed from the segment of Americans who don't/can't vote regularly, but it would be extremely helpful for each of us to internalize the importance of effective framing (as Anat has spent so much time researching and focus group-testing), as we share this with less engaged people in our networks (because we are trusted messengers in our own social circles and now, more than ever, need to get louder).
What MAGA is trying to do is remove any/all checks on presidential power, allowing Tr*mp (and his unelected billionaire crony/accomplice/puppetmaster, F'Elon) to rule over us completely unrestrained:
- MAGA wants to take away our freedoms, including deciding when, if or how to start or grow our families.
- MAGA wants government to monitor our periods and pregnancies, going so far as turning miscarriages into crimes they'd prosecute
- MAGA wants to nationally ban or severely restrict access to abortion, fertility services, and contraception
- MAGA wants take away our ability to thrive economically, by making massive cuts to our earned benefits in Social Security and Medicare, all to give price-gouging corporations even more money and control over our lives
At the end of the day, they want to rule us, not represent us.
Project 2025 is the recipe for turning presidential power into a dictator's power—you have only to look at GOP-controlled trifectas to see how red states have already been beta testing Project 2025 since 2010 when redmap gerrymandered 1,000 seats away from voters (I only know this because I've been a volunteer/organizer since 2017 with Sister District Project).
Project 2025 is their blueprint to control our families and decide our futures for us (30% of which they've enacted per Anat).
But by standing in opposition, whether individually, together publicly, or via support for lawfare—as we have in the past, we can reject this attack and protect our freedoms.
In particular, take note of the so-called SAVE (I call it the Stop Americans from Voting Equally) Act. It is a bill that will disenfranchise millions of us by requiring a valid passport or a paper copy of our birth certificate to register or re-register to vote. This legislation is likely to be voted on in the House of Representatives by Feb 24.
Here’s a link to the SAVE ACT 5 Calls application script:
Trying not to freak out, now in Delaware, mostly in Maryland. If only the rest of Congress could perform like Rep. Raskin and many other of my representatives
I’m an American living permanently in France and I’m totally obsessed with this fast-moving coup orchestrated by Trump and his little Nazi rent-boy. I have the luxury of being semi-retired so have the time to keep up with the latest fresh hell from the US. No normalcy bias for me - every day is a new shock. Anat is right - most people want their lives to be predictable, but we can’t afford to be complacent while the coup destroys our democracy and our Constitution.
Totally agree with Anat's action recommendations. Take a stand YOURSELF. If you don't wear the shirt, paint your barn, or stand up to the bully at the bar, why should your "representative"? If you demand and end to the coup - then DOT. Do One Thing. Not just one day but EVERYDAY. We have become watchers and whiners instead of players. Get in the game - it is OUR life, our money, our government!! Thank your for crystalizing OUR responsibility.
What about two great ideas that are circulating now: set up a Democratic shadow cabinet of experts in each federal agency to act as a rapid response team for the press, and identify a shadow Democratic Press Secretary for the same purpose? Assuming they are skilled in effective messaging!
If you can watch Anand’s talk with Chris Murphy, the subject of the shadow cabinet came up. Murphy blasted it because he believes it would just create a lot of infighting among Dems who wanted the various roles. So more time-wasting nonsense instead of any real progress against the fascists.
I heard him dismiss it, too… Doth protesting too much, I feel. There are very few who have the direct experience with autocracies as Tim Snyder, so I’m not dismissing his proposal (although, as he suggested, the name should be changed).
The problem with the Democratic party is there's too many factions that want their issues front and center. While the GOP/MAGA have multiple people on social media, podcasts, networks that push out specific messages.
The Democrats have a 1k different people talking about 1k different issues. We need a few concise and simple messages that everyone will get behind.
You’re spot on. In my own tiny corner of the internets, I clamor for less doomscrolling and more clear articulation of a new Common Good vision inclusive of everybody rather than the previous status quo interest-based (and negligibly successful) piecemeal approaches to create a thriving nation for all.
Our messaging (in words and actions) has to be uplifting to others, crafting a new vision of what can be.
I REALLY enjoyed this conversation, and would love to see more of her. There is too much doom and gloom out there and this conversation left me feeling refreshed and ready to go. Thank you for all you do.
Pierogi and polka. Those mediocre elected dems ARE to blame, they did risk the republic when they served us up Trump on a silver platter with their cozying up to corporate donors and abandoning working people. Anat is excellent, bring her back often. If you can find a local grassroots organization mobilizing resistance actions join them, you don’t have to go out on your own if you’re not sure how. One thing groups used to do is recruit elected legislators to introduce bills that most people would be in favor of knowing their right wing colleagues would oppose. This can get news (you have to do it in a way that will make reporters want to cover it) and with help from a good communications pro can be framed as: see, it’s bullies for billionaires. Thanks Anand for your openness and curiosity and for having Anat on.
I was so inspired by the discussion I created my own post to circulate to family, friends and post on social media. (See below) I plan to create similar posts to address compelling issues for average person and not focus on constitutional crisis.
🏦Did you know Musk has plans to create a digital X bank targeting you and your money?
💳He just launched a Visa card offering.
🚨Musk and his tech monkeys have free rein of our tax records and SSI records.
🗂️Why did Trump turn over our financial records to Musk?
🥷What is Musk going to do with our money and our records?
This interview is the most enlightened and encouraging revelation that I’ve heard! It clears the fog and worry about the confusion within the Democratic Party…what a relief to hear Show,
Not tell. I do wonder why she panned Amy Klobechar and Hakeem Jeffries. But I’m no longer going to worry that the Party is not leading. Thank you…more interviews with Anat will be welcome, especially her sharing her experience and facts about our resistance.
Loved this so much I took reams of notes, and then you posted yours! argh. But seriously, Anat is soooo on point. Happily, a couple weeks ago some similar ideas re What can we do? came to me out of the blue. Like: let others know who you are as that empowers them, eg paint a message on the side of a barn. Well, I don't have a barn, but I do have a flagpole which is flying a Resistance flag. and a T-shirt that says Tax the Rich. Now I'm not saying this is the reason for the change, but my neighbor, who sees my flag daily on the way to the record shop he owns, is now posting messages that he will no longer be selling LPs by artists known to have played at Trump rallies. I mean, stuff really does catch on. I also have a Democracy not Autocracy sticker on my car, and so far, I haven't been keyed. More, please!
I love, love, LOVE Anat! She is a balm in these chaotic times, because she calls it like it is.
Since Jan 6, this is my mantra -- tune out the noise, but don't drop the signal.
The signal is that a (mostly white) wealthy, well-connected few billionaires and price gouging corporations don't want to pay what they owe or be accountable for polluting our land, water and air for their personal profit. And now, they are trying to turn a government of, by and for their people, into their personal feeding trough.
Project 2025, like all of the attacks by Tr*mp/F'Elon/MAGA on our fundamental freedoms needs to be framed in the harm to everyday AMERICANS—not our democratic institutions.
We have to talk about what they are doing in terms of the ways it hurts us, so that the average low-information voter/non-voter doesn't need to spend time deciphering words like "oligarchy" or "unitary executive theory".
Of course, I understand The Ink readers are far removed from the segment of Americans who don't/can't vote regularly, but it would be extremely helpful for each of us to internalize the importance of effective framing (as Anat has spent so much time researching and focus group-testing), as we share this with less engaged people in our networks (because we are trusted messengers in our own social circles and now, more than ever, need to get louder).
What MAGA is trying to do is remove any/all checks on presidential power, allowing Tr*mp (and his unelected billionaire crony/accomplice/puppetmaster, F'Elon) to rule over us completely unrestrained:
- MAGA wants to take away our freedoms, including deciding when, if or how to start or grow our families.
- MAGA wants government to monitor our periods and pregnancies, going so far as turning miscarriages into crimes they'd prosecute
- MAGA wants to nationally ban or severely restrict access to abortion, fertility services, and contraception
- MAGA wants take away our ability to thrive economically, by making massive cuts to our earned benefits in Social Security and Medicare, all to give price-gouging corporations even more money and control over our lives
At the end of the day, they want to rule us, not represent us.
Project 2025 is the recipe for turning presidential power into a dictator's power—you have only to look at GOP-controlled trifectas to see how red states have already been beta testing Project 2025 since 2010 when redmap gerrymandered 1,000 seats away from voters (I only know this because I've been a volunteer/organizer since 2017 with Sister District Project).
Project 2025 is their blueprint to control our families and decide our futures for us (30% of which they've enacted per Anat).
But by standing in opposition, whether individually, together publicly, or via support for lawfare—as we have in the past, we can reject this attack and protect our freedoms.
And people ARE standing in opposition:
Here for an update:
https://statuskuo.substack.com/p/is-somebody-doing-something?r=1zr8b
and here for how YOU can too:
https://www.theframelab.org/the-people-vs-the-wannabe-dictators-2/
In particular, take note of the so-called SAVE (I call it the Stop Americans from Voting Equally) Act. It is a bill that will disenfranchise millions of us by requiring a valid passport or a paper copy of our birth certificate to register or re-register to vote. This legislation is likely to be voted on in the House of Representatives by Feb 24.
Here’s a link to the SAVE ACT 5 Calls application script:
https://5calls.org/issue/save-act-voter-suppression/
And to paraphrase Anat: be the social proof you want to see in the world...!
Trying not to freak out, now in Delaware, mostly in Maryland. If only the rest of Congress could perform like Rep. Raskin and many other of my representatives
I’m an American living permanently in France and I’m totally obsessed with this fast-moving coup orchestrated by Trump and his little Nazi rent-boy. I have the luxury of being semi-retired so have the time to keep up with the latest fresh hell from the US. No normalcy bias for me - every day is a new shock. Anat is right - most people want their lives to be predictable, but we can’t afford to be complacent while the coup destroys our democracy and our Constitution.
You are SO LUCKY to be there and not here, it's a horror show now every hour of every day :(
Totally agree with Anat's action recommendations. Take a stand YOURSELF. If you don't wear the shirt, paint your barn, or stand up to the bully at the bar, why should your "representative"? If you demand and end to the coup - then DOT. Do One Thing. Not just one day but EVERYDAY. We have become watchers and whiners instead of players. Get in the game - it is OUR life, our money, our government!! Thank your for crystalizing OUR responsibility.
What about two great ideas that are circulating now: set up a Democratic shadow cabinet of experts in each federal agency to act as a rapid response team for the press, and identify a shadow Democratic Press Secretary for the same purpose? Assuming they are skilled in effective messaging!
If you can watch Anand’s talk with Chris Murphy, the subject of the shadow cabinet came up. Murphy blasted it because he believes it would just create a lot of infighting among Dems who wanted the various roles. So more time-wasting nonsense instead of any real progress against the fascists.
He interviewed Sen Murphy this week and it was clear that those ideas are dead on arrival. I love them, but internal dem politics says nope.
I heard him dismiss it, too… Doth protesting too much, I feel. There are very few who have the direct experience with autocracies as Tim Snyder, so I’m not dismissing his proposal (although, as he suggested, the name should be changed).
The problem with the Democratic party is there's too many factions that want their issues front and center. While the GOP/MAGA have multiple people on social media, podcasts, networks that push out specific messages.
The Democrats have a 1k different people talking about 1k different issues. We need a few concise and simple messages that everyone will get behind.
You’re spot on. In my own tiny corner of the internets, I clamor for less doomscrolling and more clear articulation of a new Common Good vision inclusive of everybody rather than the previous status quo interest-based (and negligibly successful) piecemeal approaches to create a thriving nation for all.
Our messaging (in words and actions) has to be uplifting to others, crafting a new vision of what can be.
I’m not sure we want our priorities “front and center”, but that we don’t want to leave anyone out.
I REALLY enjoyed this conversation, and would love to see more of her. There is too much doom and gloom out there and this conversation left me feeling refreshed and ready to go. Thank you for all you do.
Pierogi and polka. Those mediocre elected dems ARE to blame, they did risk the republic when they served us up Trump on a silver platter with their cozying up to corporate donors and abandoning working people. Anat is excellent, bring her back often. If you can find a local grassroots organization mobilizing resistance actions join them, you don’t have to go out on your own if you’re not sure how. One thing groups used to do is recruit elected legislators to introduce bills that most people would be in favor of knowing their right wing colleagues would oppose. This can get news (you have to do it in a way that will make reporters want to cover it) and with help from a good communications pro can be framed as: see, it’s bullies for billionaires. Thanks Anand for your openness and curiosity and for having Anat on.
Furious in Atlanta.
Can we use language to deminish them and use the language of loss?
Like
baby killers
Hospital crushers
Sore llosers
Chicken wierdos
Hord of masked people removing DOG-E teams from the building?
Dump the tea into the bay.
I was so inspired by the discussion I created my own post to circulate to family, friends and post on social media. (See below) I plan to create similar posts to address compelling issues for average person and not focus on constitutional crisis.
🏦Did you know Musk has plans to create a digital X bank targeting you and your money?
💳He just launched a Visa card offering.
🚨Musk and his tech monkeys have free rein of our tax records and SSI records.
🗂️Why did Trump turn over our financial records to Musk?
🥷What is Musk going to do with our money and our records?
🗳️I did not vote for this, did you?
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2024-06-21/elon-musk-wants-x-to-be-your-banking-shopping-everything-app
Love Anat’s idea of 10,000 food trucks descending on Washington. Reminiscent of the farm tractors gathering in Paris to protest government cuts.
This interview is the most enlightened and encouraging revelation that I’ve heard! It clears the fog and worry about the confusion within the Democratic Party…what a relief to hear Show,
Not tell. I do wonder why she panned Amy Klobechar and Hakeem Jeffries. But I’m no longer going to worry that the Party is not leading. Thank you…more interviews with Anat will be welcome, especially her sharing her experience and facts about our resistance.
Great interview. Love this.
"Put up a billboard that shows people — even in the middle of nowhere — how you feel and why you’re having a better time. Show, not tell."
Take our hats and slogans to the grocery store?