Inspired by the incredible Anat/Anand sessions, I've organized a Tesla Takedown Dance Party in my city! Anat always says, if we want people to join our party then we need to throw a better party. So with a couple I met at last week's standard TT, we decided to organize our own event but as a dance party!!!
If you happen to live in the DC area, join us! And, if you have access to a large boombox, organize your own!
This is a trial if it goes well we’ll be doing it every Saturday. Little nervous of Georgetown because it’s so tight there, but I’ll let you know. And thank you!
Loved his point about focusing on things we can control. I moved to a new community recently— one of the best things I’ve done is join my local indivisible group and volunteer to lead a subteam on an issue I care about.
I am a Canadian. One provincial Premier, Premier Ford of Ontario with a very reciprocal economic relationship with nearby USA states has temporarily rolled back his plan to retaliate the 25% tariffs on Ontario steel, with 25% tariffs on steel products sold to these states, after which Trump put 50% tariffs on Canada. This was US Commerce Secretary Lutnick’s response, “ As for the sudden announcement of the 50% tariffs on Canada Tuesday morning, Lutnick said, "He needed to break some guy in Ontario who said he was going to tax American energy 25%. The president of the United States, in the White House says, 'Oh no, you won't,' and breaks him. Breaks him … by a tweet and a truth (social post). And you think that's chaotic?" "Let the dealmaker make his deals," Lutnick said, adding that "within a short period of time," any country negotiating with the U.S. will come to "realize it doesn't need to do it this way." He is enforcing extreme bullying by this USA government.
A few Substacks ago, Anand talked about how most current democrats in office were not prepared or up to the task of meeting the moment. “Meeting the moment” really resonates with me. A few, and we know who they are, are meeting this moment (aoc, bernie, jasmine crockett, warren, etc). Maybe others will soon realize they need to meet the moment. But as discussed with Klein, we all must meet the moment, too. Oceanographer, Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, is a leader in the environmental movement (I hope we have one of those again soon😬). In terms of environmental hands on deck, she talks about bringing your “super power” to the table and running in that lane. For me, my environmental superpower is very clear. I’m still trying to figure out what my superpower is in regard to “combating autocracy.” It is not stopping me from doing things in the meantime. I will definitely know it when I see it. So, meet the moment. And put your superpower to work.
Great interview with so much inspiration! Thanks so much for all you do!!
Anand, you are asking about what is causing Democrats to be a non-resistance. I am not an expert, but here is my frame-work I am thinking of just based on some personal experience (that in full disclosure I may be projecting on to the situation, so take it with a grain of salt :) )
Donald Trump is a narcissistic abuser. Trauma responses to this include fight, flee, freeze, and fawn. Republicans in Congress are fawning/appeasing. (See NY Times article yesterday about how Trump manipulates them with Honey and Vinegar). Congressional Democrats on the whole are freezing I think. They are the ones that directly have to deal with Donald Trump for their work, so they are just freezing because it is directly on their shoulders to come up with a response. Just like a spouse in an abusive marriage cannot always see clearly how to deal with this like maybe friends/families/therapists see because the spouse is so wrapped up with having to deal with this abuser directly and figure out how to manage the abuser/threats constantly coming directly at them needing a response. It is their job to respond and I think some of them are responding with a common response of victims of narcissistic abuse - freeze. To boot, narcissistic abusers are really good at destroying their victims identity. Democrat party seems lost without a solid identity these days, right?
Narcissistic abuse victims can go to therapy and a key element that they get is a reality check. That what is happening is not normal and the therapist works with them to find more effective responses than freeze/fawn. Since we can’t send Congressional Democrats to therapy, we have to be the reality check for them. That gets them to wake up and see a path forward to deal with the abuse. We are going to have to be that third-party voice of wisdom. That helps them figure out their identity. Abuse victims need help. I think this is going to have to be through organising and protests as discussed in this great interview.
Through organising and protests we also have to be the reality check for the Congressional Republicans who have drank the cultish kool-laid so we can start to de-program them, if at all possible.
Just a note on the deprogramming, if we are able to deprogram any Congress members or regretful MAGA, the message cannot be an angry I told you so. That just sends the abused back into the arms of the abuser who will say, see, I told you they are out to get you. We need to tell them they were lied to and show them some empathy.
Link to NY Times article is below. Also I put an article that describes the freezing response well in these types of authoritarian contexts.
Yes, the abuser/abused analogy is apt. Watching how Trump treated Zelensky in the Oval Office was classic abuse--belittle, blame, threaten..."You're nothing without me!" etc. Zelensky did NOT perform as abused victims do, which I believe is part of what incensed Trump. Getting past the "fight flight flee fawn" responses usually involves setting boundaries (say NO!), distancing emotionally, responding not reacting, and sometimes leaving the relationship. But how do we do that with a President who is omnipresent in our lives and whom we can't escape? Or at least Congress can't escape him and neither can foreign leaders. They have to deal with him. Europe is starting to set boundaries; Congress is stuck in fawning. The media is still largely in reaction mode vs detached reporting and, yes, setting some boundaries of their own. The whole country needs therapy!
Yes! I believe it absolutely involves setting boundaries! I totally agree the whole country needs therapy too.
I love your Zelensky analogy. Because he stood up and it showed the Emperor had no clothes to the world. I don’t know the answer to what we can do when we can’t leave the abuser, but I did find the following article inspirational, that 3.5% of a population engaged in non-violent protests (aka standing up to bully and letting everyone know a boundary has been crossed) can make a difference and in some cases stop the madness.
Brussels, Belgium here... "I am living testimony that with enough willpower, freedom can be dragged out of the blackest of black holes." (Gabrielius Landsbergis, Lithuania’s minister for foreign affairs from 2020 to 2024). If Lithuania managed to kick occupying Russia out, Americans must rally to kick Trump/Musk out. Yes you can!
Thank you, Ink and Indivisible. This was very inspiring AND practical. Just what I needed to hear in the moment to get me moving. I'm going to Indivisible right now!
Thank you for this inspiring and motivating interview! I'm going to an Indivisible meeting tomorrow and am talking to folks about organizing a resistance / dance party. So many people are feeling powerless, overwhelmed, and down. We all need the fun and uplift. Maybe we call this dance party "Elevate US" - and provide information for people to join their local Indivisible groups.
Indivisible seems to be the best way forward. They have a history of success, leadership, a guidebook that lays out the strategies, and nationwide presence. Here is a 10 minute video of Rachel Maddow explaining Indivisible's history, https://indivisible.org/rachel-maddow-show-indivisible-offense
Inspired by the incredible Anat/Anand sessions, I've organized a Tesla Takedown Dance Party in my city! Anat always says, if we want people to join our party then we need to throw a better party. So with a couple I met at last week's standard TT, we decided to organize our own event but as a dance party!!!
If you happen to live in the DC area, join us! And, if you have access to a large boombox, organize your own!
https://actionnetwork.org/events/tesla-takedown-dance-party
I love this! I live in NOVA but probably can’t make it on Saturday. If you organize another, let me know. I’ll bring friends.
This is a trial if it goes well we’ll be doing it every Saturday. Little nervous of Georgetown because it’s so tight there, but I’ll let you know. And thank you!
Loved his point about focusing on things we can control. I moved to a new community recently— one of the best things I’ve done is join my local indivisible group and volunteer to lead a subteam on an issue I care about.
I am a Canadian. One provincial Premier, Premier Ford of Ontario with a very reciprocal economic relationship with nearby USA states has temporarily rolled back his plan to retaliate the 25% tariffs on Ontario steel, with 25% tariffs on steel products sold to these states, after which Trump put 50% tariffs on Canada. This was US Commerce Secretary Lutnick’s response, “ As for the sudden announcement of the 50% tariffs on Canada Tuesday morning, Lutnick said, "He needed to break some guy in Ontario who said he was going to tax American energy 25%. The president of the United States, in the White House says, 'Oh no, you won't,' and breaks him. Breaks him … by a tweet and a truth (social post). And you think that's chaotic?" "Let the dealmaker make his deals," Lutnick said, adding that "within a short period of time," any country negotiating with the U.S. will come to "realize it doesn't need to do it this way." He is enforcing extreme bullying by this USA government.
A few Substacks ago, Anand talked about how most current democrats in office were not prepared or up to the task of meeting the moment. “Meeting the moment” really resonates with me. A few, and we know who they are, are meeting this moment (aoc, bernie, jasmine crockett, warren, etc). Maybe others will soon realize they need to meet the moment. But as discussed with Klein, we all must meet the moment, too. Oceanographer, Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, is a leader in the environmental movement (I hope we have one of those again soon😬). In terms of environmental hands on deck, she talks about bringing your “super power” to the table and running in that lane. For me, my environmental superpower is very clear. I’m still trying to figure out what my superpower is in regard to “combating autocracy.” It is not stopping me from doing things in the meantime. I will definitely know it when I see it. So, meet the moment. And put your superpower to work.
Absolutely: I concur there must be a very large crossover in loyal participation within The.Ink and Indivisible.
Great interview with so much inspiration! Thanks so much for all you do!!
Anand, you are asking about what is causing Democrats to be a non-resistance. I am not an expert, but here is my frame-work I am thinking of just based on some personal experience (that in full disclosure I may be projecting on to the situation, so take it with a grain of salt :) )
Donald Trump is a narcissistic abuser. Trauma responses to this include fight, flee, freeze, and fawn. Republicans in Congress are fawning/appeasing. (See NY Times article yesterday about how Trump manipulates them with Honey and Vinegar). Congressional Democrats on the whole are freezing I think. They are the ones that directly have to deal with Donald Trump for their work, so they are just freezing because it is directly on their shoulders to come up with a response. Just like a spouse in an abusive marriage cannot always see clearly how to deal with this like maybe friends/families/therapists see because the spouse is so wrapped up with having to deal with this abuser directly and figure out how to manage the abuser/threats constantly coming directly at them needing a response. It is their job to respond and I think some of them are responding with a common response of victims of narcissistic abuse - freeze. To boot, narcissistic abusers are really good at destroying their victims identity. Democrat party seems lost without a solid identity these days, right?
Narcissistic abuse victims can go to therapy and a key element that they get is a reality check. That what is happening is not normal and the therapist works with them to find more effective responses than freeze/fawn. Since we can’t send Congressional Democrats to therapy, we have to be the reality check for them. That gets them to wake up and see a path forward to deal with the abuse. We are going to have to be that third-party voice of wisdom. That helps them figure out their identity. Abuse victims need help. I think this is going to have to be through organising and protests as discussed in this great interview.
Through organising and protests we also have to be the reality check for the Congressional Republicans who have drank the cultish kool-laid so we can start to de-program them, if at all possible.
Just a note on the deprogramming, if we are able to deprogram any Congress members or regretful MAGA, the message cannot be an angry I told you so. That just sends the abused back into the arms of the abuser who will say, see, I told you they are out to get you. We need to tell them they were lied to and show them some empathy.
Link to NY Times article is below. Also I put an article that describes the freezing response well in these types of authoritarian contexts.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/10/us/politics/trump-republicans-congress.html
https://open.substack.com/pub/loricorbetmann/p/when-the-world-shifts-beneath-you?r=5ahrm2&utm_medium=ios
Yes, the abuser/abused analogy is apt. Watching how Trump treated Zelensky in the Oval Office was classic abuse--belittle, blame, threaten..."You're nothing without me!" etc. Zelensky did NOT perform as abused victims do, which I believe is part of what incensed Trump. Getting past the "fight flight flee fawn" responses usually involves setting boundaries (say NO!), distancing emotionally, responding not reacting, and sometimes leaving the relationship. But how do we do that with a President who is omnipresent in our lives and whom we can't escape? Or at least Congress can't escape him and neither can foreign leaders. They have to deal with him. Europe is starting to set boundaries; Congress is stuck in fawning. The media is still largely in reaction mode vs detached reporting and, yes, setting some boundaries of their own. The whole country needs therapy!
Yes! I believe it absolutely involves setting boundaries! I totally agree the whole country needs therapy too.
I love your Zelensky analogy. Because he stood up and it showed the Emperor had no clothes to the world. I don’t know the answer to what we can do when we can’t leave the abuser, but I did find the following article inspirational, that 3.5% of a population engaged in non-violent protests (aka standing up to bully and letting everyone know a boundary has been crossed) can make a difference and in some cases stop the madness.
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20190513-it-only-takes-35-of-people-to-change-the-world
This was just great! Very practical and inspiring. I love the note it ended on, "I just want a democracy. I'm a simple guy..."
Brussels, Belgium here... "I am living testimony that with enough willpower, freedom can be dragged out of the blackest of black holes." (Gabrielius Landsbergis, Lithuania’s minister for foreign affairs from 2020 to 2024). If Lithuania managed to kick occupying Russia out, Americans must rally to kick Trump/Musk out. Yes you can!
Thank you, Ink and Indivisible. This was very inspiring AND practical. Just what I needed to hear in the moment to get me moving. I'm going to Indivisible right now!
I found it quite interesting what Ezra said about the Dems waiting for the Rs to become unpopular before they take action. How depressing!
Comes a time when you go on offense. https://hotbuttons.substack.com/p/comes-a-time?r=3m1bs
I live in a red town, I know there's a person who I see when voting that may be an organizer. I'll try to find her.
Read the book, "Twilight of Democracy" by Anne Applebaum. It's written from Europe and all the Chaos continuing decades after the fall of Democracy.
DC remember on the 14th there is a march, the 15th a march and the 16th a march!! Try to make one or all!!!
🌉 In the shadow of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge, where liberty was born, a new battle begins. ⚖ A clash of AI titans, and human ingenuity 📜. From cobblestone streets to courtrooms, history meets the future. 🏛. https://doctorsofcourage.org/rebellion-in-the-heart-of-enlightenment-william-blake-roy-batty-and-the-battle-for-autonomy-in-the-city-of-benjamin-franklin/
Thank you for this inspiring and motivating interview! I'm going to an Indivisible meeting tomorrow and am talking to folks about organizing a resistance / dance party. So many people are feeling powerless, overwhelmed, and down. We all need the fun and uplift. Maybe we call this dance party "Elevate US" - and provide information for people to join their local Indivisible groups.
Indivisible seems to be the best way forward. They have a history of success, leadership, a guidebook that lays out the strategies, and nationwide presence. Here is a 10 minute video of Rachel Maddow explaining Indivisible's history, https://indivisible.org/rachel-maddow-show-indivisible-offense