Doc, I get it. The choir has heard the note, the Preacher has preached. Now what in the Holy Hell do we do??? I cannot read another 'this is it, folks' article without marching orders. Do we buy guns and ammo? Do we tear up paving bricks? Do we dig a bomb shelter in the backyard? Hell, tell us to start saving bottle caps and we will do it!!! But we can't just rally our way out of this and waiting is obviously an effing bad idea.
How do you counter Bannon's strategy of flooding the zone with BS? DemLabs is a nonprofit that innovates free/affordable ways to counter it.
How do you help people connect Trump actions, how it impacts them and who to hold responsible. The key element is to move FAST - ideally within 4 hours of a headline breaking. Responding quickly within the newscycle before that story is overtaken by the next crisis. The fast turnaround leverages past content that can be repurposed easily and connected to the new headline.
We keep it short and visual. Maps and infographics help personalize the search, so people can see how Trump's decision impacts their community. The maps are overlaid with the elected official for that area so people know who to hold responsible. The call to action is streamlined so people can call/email/donate with one click.
We share all the content freely with others who want to re-use maps and infographics for their own purpose. There are over 2,600 case studies with dozens of maps on issues like healthcare, Veterans, Student Loans, abortion rights, pollution, gerrymandering etc. Search on the DemLabs website under ARCHIVES by keyword. https://thedemlabs.org/blog/
Here is a recent example on how the approach works. I also list the apps and resources used to create the content and how people can get it directly. 95% of all the apps I recommend are free or very affordable and come from different software companies.
Will your rural hospital be closed by the Republican cuts to Medicaid? Check this map!
Where are the cancelled endorsements (e.g. LA Times and Washington Post) of VP Harris? They would make for interesting reading - now. Once again, the MSM is falling down on the job. [8-19-25, Edit: typo]
THE ATTACHED LINK IS ESSENTIAL VIEWING FOR THOSE ATTEMPTING TO UNDERSTAND SWING VOTER BEHAVIOR (no timestamps, if needed, reference the transcript): https://greattransformation.substack.com/p/swing-voters-what-are-focus-groups . Mike Madrid (a former Republican operative) and Rich Thau (an independent researcher) are highly competent political professionals. Once again, CIVICS EDUCATION is crucial for citizens to understand the VALUE OF POLICY (i.e. politics).
We had a major BIRTHDAY last week, and the DEMOCRATS forgot to have a party (“see what I did there”). Last week was the 90th Anniversary of Social Security (I think it will be impacted by the BIG BAD BILL): https://www.nirsonline.org/2025/08/statement-on-the-90th-anniversary-of-social-security/ . So, Democrats need to have celebrations throughout the Union until the end of the year to help build back their greatly diminished brand and to build bridges with some (realistically, a minority) on the other side.
Authoritarians are really bad at providing social services. REMEMBER WHEN THE PARTY COULD DO BIG THINGS. YES?
Swing voters seem to think of all politicians as basically corrupt operators (i.e. always disappointing). This information provided in their discussion seems to jibe very closely to the research of Dr. Rachel Bitecofer (and found in her book, “Hit ‘Em Where It Hurts, How to Save Democracy By Beating Republicans At Their Own Game”). Also, here is another great interview about the specific form of nihilism overtaking many voters with another biographer of Dolos (timestamp - 1:08:00): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ut2czRt7gxE . The entire interview is worth a listen - with unfortunate statistics about income inequality toward the end of the video.
CARTHAGO DELENDA EST (via nonviolence).
P.S.: Do the following now! FIRST, TEACH CIVICS. Second, register voters. THIRD, TEACH CIVICS. Rinse. Repeat.
Rachel, may I bring something else to your attention? Mersault's recent Open Letter is an indictment of what he calls the 'Party of Predators.' He created a 'registry' of Republican sex offenders. It's totally disgusting. Hard to read through it, but it's so important that we do. Let's share that truth widely. And thank you, Mersault, for your excellent work.
Doc, I get it. The choir has heard the note, the Preacher has preached. Now what in the Holy Hell do we do??? I cannot read another 'this is it, folks' article without marching orders. Do we buy guns and ammo? Do we tear up paving bricks? Do we dig a bomb shelter in the backyard? Hell, tell us to start saving bottle caps and we will do it!!! But we can't just rally our way out of this and waiting is obviously an effing bad idea.
Churches like the Methodists are organizing in DC. Resist with a group.
We used to wonder if "it" could happen here. Now we're wondering how bad "it" will be.
How do you counter Bannon's strategy of flooding the zone with BS? DemLabs is a nonprofit that innovates free/affordable ways to counter it.
How do you help people connect Trump actions, how it impacts them and who to hold responsible. The key element is to move FAST - ideally within 4 hours of a headline breaking. Responding quickly within the newscycle before that story is overtaken by the next crisis. The fast turnaround leverages past content that can be repurposed easily and connected to the new headline.
We keep it short and visual. Maps and infographics help personalize the search, so people can see how Trump's decision impacts their community. The maps are overlaid with the elected official for that area so people know who to hold responsible. The call to action is streamlined so people can call/email/donate with one click.
We share all the content freely with others who want to re-use maps and infographics for their own purpose. There are over 2,600 case studies with dozens of maps on issues like healthcare, Veterans, Student Loans, abortion rights, pollution, gerrymandering etc. Search on the DemLabs website under ARCHIVES by keyword. https://thedemlabs.org/blog/
Here is a recent example on how the approach works. I also list the apps and resources used to create the content and how people can get it directly. 95% of all the apps I recommend are free or very affordable and come from different software companies.
Will your rural hospital be closed by the Republican cuts to Medicaid? Check this map!
https://thedemlabs.org/2025/05/14/republican-medicaid-cuts-to-close-rural-hospitals/
Great info, but you need to do it with a group, like progressive churches.
Great idea. Practical. Effective. Interesting that - so far - if only has one like.
HURRICANE ERIN!! FEMA??
Where is Jill Stein?
“…Queens not Brooklyn…”
- Hakeem Jeffries (D), House Minority Leader
Where are the cancelled endorsements (e.g. LA Times and Washington Post) of VP Harris? They would make for interesting reading - now. Once again, the MSM is falling down on the job. [8-19-25, Edit: typo]
EPSTEIN, EPSTEIN, EPSTEIN. There were a thousand-plus victims (timestamp - 16:20): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11xrXoI7Ckg&list=TLPQMTYwODIwMjXOjpKb1lfTwQ . If the citations from a new UK tell-all are true, that FLOTUS and Epstein had a relationship prior to her meeting Dolos, then there is a national security risk: https://unpresidented.substack.com/p/trump-biographer-drops-major-bombshell. If Epstein or a former law enforcement official passed on information about Dolos like the UK intelligence services believe might have happened relative to Prince Andrew, then there is a national security risk: https://www.thetimes.com/uk/royal-family/article/mi6-fears-russia-can-link-prince-andrew-to-jeffrey-epstein-abuse-wc995nj7x . The world is watching how the country manages the Epstein scandal: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMIP4RIoCHc&list=TLPQMTcwODIwMjWYx6tpqy6QPA .
Here are Professor Barbara Walter’s five suggestions for fighting authoritarianism:
https://barbarafwalter.substack.com/p/the-hidden-battle-that-decides-whether .
https://barbarafwalter.substack.com/p/authoritarian-power-is-mostly-performance .
https://barbarafwalter.substack.com/p/how-dictators-lose-control-of-the .
https://barbarafwalter.substack.com/p/4-storms-and-streets-break-regimes .
https://barbarafwalter.substack.com/p/5-how-to-break-a-tyrant .
She also provides a warning about not so secret police: https://barbarafwalter.substack.com/p/the-thing-that-scares-me-the-most .
The NETWORK STATE - For the best synopsis of the objectives of the “Tech Lords”, please listen to this 45-minute podcast and share widely (these folks are going to leave a huge blast radius - if we let them): https://www.thenerdreich.com/the-nerd-reich-podcast-episode-1-the-network-state-2/.
Project 2025 Trackers:
https://www.project2025.observer .
https://substack.com/@project2025progress .
https://substack.com/@ahmedbaba/p-158109308 .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPElaGebGPc (timestamps 13:10 and 55:07).
Folks (AND DEMOCRATIC OFFICIALS):
THE ATTACHED LINK IS ESSENTIAL VIEWING FOR THOSE ATTEMPTING TO UNDERSTAND SWING VOTER BEHAVIOR (no timestamps, if needed, reference the transcript): https://greattransformation.substack.com/p/swing-voters-what-are-focus-groups . Mike Madrid (a former Republican operative) and Rich Thau (an independent researcher) are highly competent political professionals. Once again, CIVICS EDUCATION is crucial for citizens to understand the VALUE OF POLICY (i.e. politics).
We had a major BIRTHDAY last week, and the DEMOCRATS forgot to have a party (“see what I did there”). Last week was the 90th Anniversary of Social Security (I think it will be impacted by the BIG BAD BILL): https://www.nirsonline.org/2025/08/statement-on-the-90th-anniversary-of-social-security/ . So, Democrats need to have celebrations throughout the Union until the end of the year to help build back their greatly diminished brand and to build bridges with some (realistically, a minority) on the other side.
Authoritarians are really bad at providing social services. REMEMBER WHEN THE PARTY COULD DO BIG THINGS. YES?
Swing voters seem to think of all politicians as basically corrupt operators (i.e. always disappointing). This information provided in their discussion seems to jibe very closely to the research of Dr. Rachel Bitecofer (and found in her book, “Hit ‘Em Where It Hurts, How to Save Democracy By Beating Republicans At Their Own Game”). Also, here is another great interview about the specific form of nihilism overtaking many voters with another biographer of Dolos (timestamp - 1:08:00): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ut2czRt7gxE . The entire interview is worth a listen - with unfortunate statistics about income inequality toward the end of the video.
CARTHAGO DELENDA EST (via nonviolence).
P.S.: Do the following now! FIRST, TEACH CIVICS. Second, register voters. THIRD, TEACH CIVICS. Rinse. Repeat.
Real resistance is being organized by churches. They are organizing, not bathing in doom.
Rachel, may I bring something else to your attention? Mersault's recent Open Letter is an indictment of what he calls the 'Party of Predators.' He created a 'registry' of Republican sex offenders. It's totally disgusting. Hard to read through it, but it's so important that we do. Let's share that truth widely. And thank you, Mersault, for your excellent work.
https://open.substack.com/pub/patricemersault/p/indicting-the-party-of-predators?r=h0feb&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email