Yesterday, I wrote to my US representative, Rob Wittman (R-Virginia 1st District). I expressed my concerns about federal health organizations being forbidden to give US citizens information. He wrote back to my husband. What you are expressing, Brian, is exactly what’s happening right now. I appreciate your noting the progression of this cultural move toward removing platforms of anyone without white male privilege. I have written him back, asking for an explanation of how he chose to respond to my husband and not to me.
This column is why I subscribe to your work. People have to actively strive for the ideal knowing that perfection is unattainable. It's impossible for me to think that citizens are ready to give up on democracy just because the liars, propagandists, unbalanced religionists, and domineering oligarchs are storming the gates.
Haha, we Democrats can always talk ourselves into giving up, and never more so than now.
I think part of the problem is the narrative that has taken root; namely, that in 2024 Trump won some kind of resounding victory, and that the reason for that victory was too much wokeness, or Lia Thomas, or expensive eggs. I just don't think any of that is true. Yes, DEI programs are annoying, and sure, people have strong feelings about women's sports, but to act as though those were determinative in the election means that Americans by and large felt the opposite way in 2022, and in 2020. I don't think voters whipsaw that way.
I think a more helpful way to view the election is that Trump ran as a change agent, as he did in 2016, and Americans were susceptible to that. It's not that Trump is well liked--his approvals suck, and most of his proposals are viewed negatively--but that he was able to be in the right place at the right time. It's scary to think that anyone can become president given the right atmosphere, but it's also true.
Instead of buying these narratives, we should remember that Trump is an unpopular guy who wants to do unpopular things, and that will start to show--hell, it already has. He is eminently corrupt and his incompetence is rivaled only by that of the cranks, swindlers and self-seekers with which he surrounds himself. He's already digging his own political grave, just as he did in his first time, and we need to be ready to give him the shove.
I really appreciate the passion and clarity in your essay—it’s an important reminder of why democracy, anti-corruption, and equality should remain at the heart of our politics. However, I’d like to gently challenge some of your arguments and encourage you to consider a few inconvenient truths about the current political landscape.
First, while your emphasis on defending democracy is admirable, voters don’t always prioritize abstract principles like democracy or equality. Research consistently shows that emotional and tribal loyalties often outweigh rational, issue-based decision-making. Many voters gravitate toward surface-level concerns, like economic anxiety, as justifications for deeper identity-driven preferences. This poses a challenge for arguments rooted in democratic ideals alone.
Second, the dominance of right-wing media creates a significant barrier to effectively communicating these principles. Disinformation portraying Democrats as elitist or disconnected often overshadows even their most popular policies. This reality complicates efforts to rally voters around ideas like anti-corruption, as those narratives are frequently distorted or dismissed by powerful media ecosystems.
Finally, there’s the widespread voter apathy toward democracy itself. Many Americans see democratic principles as abstract or distant from their daily struggles, making it difficult to mobilize them around these ideals. As much as we value democracy’s moral and practical superiority, we’re operating in an environment where immediate, tangible concerns often carry more weight than abstract ideals.
Your call for Democrats to lead with values like democracy, ethics, and equality is compelling, but I wonder if these realities might complicate the strategy. How can Democrats connect these principles to voters’ emotional and identity-driven motivations in a way that cuts through the noise? How do we reframe these ideals to make them feel urgent and personally relevant?
I’d love to hear your thoughts on how to address these challenges while staying true to the principles you so powerfully defend. Thanks for sparking such an important conversation!
Trump's top two priorities: End American democracy and end the rule of law. Once those are accomplished (with an assist from the MAGA Justices and Senators), Trump can do anything he wants and face no consequences. WTF are national Dem politicians so afraid to stand up and scream this to the rooftops?
There are elements of the resistance that are still effective--much more effective than visual appealing but of transient effectiveness such as marching, rallies, etc.
--Run for Something (if you're so inclined to take on such a commitment.)
--There will be a number of local and state elections between now and the 2026 and 2028 national contests. Try to elect good candidates to local and state offices. They will be an important line of defense against Trumompian abuses.
--Support reliable sources of hews and analysis:Brian's work here as well as Talking Points Memo, Democracy Docket, Aaron Rupar, etc. Be a paid supporter. Tell your friends about them. They will soldier on no matter how hard the times and they will not both sides everything or "normalize" them like you know who.....
--Support the ACLU, Marc Elias, and other groups equipped to fight in the courts. They win more than you might suspect with all the noise about the bad court decisions such as the presidential immunity one.Not all the courts are Trumpified. State courts are especially crucial for fending off much evil--e.g. voter suppression, gerrymandering. State's are important regulators of businesses and corporations. Support the people who can win such battles.
Marc Elias, Robert Reich and others are putting opt lists of things still possible and still valuable. I'm sure there are others. One thing they have in common is doing things that can be done NOW, not sitting back and waiting for another Obama or FDR to somehow come along and save us all.
And we should not forget that, in 2016, Republicans had a 40-seat majority in the House, and much more power at the state level. That is most certainly NOT the case now. Democrats have much more leverage in 2025, but, for now, Republicans have the "vibes."
The larger question, why did so many people stay home? Why did so many fewer people decide not to vote? Until we understand that, we will be unsuccessful in rallying the people we need to end the enshitification.
What if those who stayed home actually voted correctly this time? To deal with a bully, stay out of the way and let them win until they lose the tacit support of the back-turners.
We don't know why we lost. No amount of navel gazing will answer it.
We see things that are making it hard to get the message through. We don't know how to fix that yet.
Do we have any sense of who among Dems is cutting through to those who aren't "high-information" voters? AOC? Jamie Raskin? Chris Murphy? Sheldon Whitehouse? Pete?
In the meantime, even while I love this kind of deep thinking, shouldn't Democrats at least show some outrage against the obvious -- the January 6 pardons, for example -- instead of "playing nice"? I think Democrat and Never-Trump voters want to see this. I know I do.
All this analysis paralysis is demoralizing. People are angry and feeling helpless and panicky. I keep thinking of that scene from the movie War Games, where the giant computer is finding the code for the nuclear missile launch and the general says, "I'd piss on a spark plug if I thought it would do any good."
Listen to Keith Olbermann's Countdown podcast from yesterday (1-23) about those Jan. 6 pardons. He's very persuasive about how they should trigger a move to impeach Trump NOW. The numbers he cites, especially of how Republican voters say they disapprove of the pardons, are compelling. The pardon is a major bluner that could hand the Dems the House in two years IF THEY MAKE USE OF IT.
Excellent piece Brian, great writing, compelling rhetoric. Pro-democracy, anti-corruption politics, which the Democrats could very easily adopt, has the distinct advantage of countering the fundamental meanness of politics in the Trump era, which yammering on about the price of eggs does not. If anything, reducing everything to material concerns, while safe ground for Democrats, reinforces that meanness, because it implicitly characterizes - and probably helps create! - the electorate as a bunch of selfish simps who will betray everything that should be important to them if milk can be made to cost a buck less. It’s degrading and insulting.
But pro-democracy, anti-corruption politics is great for Dems, because you can still make appeals to material concerns, like they always want to, but grounded instead in terms of fairness and equality, and in contrast to the all-consuming corruption and self-dealing of despots like Trump. You’re paying more for groceries because Trump is incompetent and morally depraved, and he’s rigging the economy in favor of his rich and powerful buddies, in violation of everything America is supposed to stand for. Not just because he broke a campaign promise. The “why?” really matters, the narrative, as so many others have said, and it’s high time Dems started figuring this out.
Anyone got a few tangible things we can DO at the moment to best defend democracy? I have been an organizer for many years, and I must admit I’m struggling a bit to find a group/specific action that feels like it will get us anywhere. Thank you.
I was at my daughter’s workplace yesterday, City Harvest in NYC (https://www.cityharvest.org/) - a massive food reclamation and food justice non-profit, and it really was heartening to see so many people and so many funders supporting and furthering this good work. I think donating to, or volunteering/working at these sorts of organizations is a very meaningful way to DO something productive and advance the causes we care about.
This is why I think the rebellion can’t come from within or from any current political figure. They are actually not built or programmed for it. And especially the ones who have to get re-elected won’t have an appetite for it.
But also, reading what you wrote, it is exactly the upside down of what the other side is saying. It’s just that the line cutters are immigrants, the cheaters are people of color, the manipulators are their neighbors who strive for equity. No clue how to deshittify that or if it’s even possible.
But love what you’ve said about Dems licking their wounds and moaning about a fate they feel was unfairly inflicted on them and that they can’t change. Especially in re: the media landscape. Why aren’t we studying how that all happened and then trying to replicate?
Out of sheer frustration, I have moved from Democrat to Independent more times than I can count.
I feel like we don't even have an opposition party. Why did 6 Dems vote to confirm Kristi Noem?She didn't need Dem votes to be confirmed. Dems have not figured out that not only are there new rules, but there's even a new game. And they're on the sidelines.
Yesterday, I wrote to my US representative, Rob Wittman (R-Virginia 1st District). I expressed my concerns about federal health organizations being forbidden to give US citizens information. He wrote back to my husband. What you are expressing, Brian, is exactly what’s happening right now. I appreciate your noting the progression of this cultural move toward removing platforms of anyone without white male privilege. I have written him back, asking for an explanation of how he chose to respond to my husband and not to me.
If you want an answer, look up the book written by Ruth Ben-Ghiat “Strongmen”. It’s all in the book. It’s a great read.
This column is why I subscribe to your work. People have to actively strive for the ideal knowing that perfection is unattainable. It's impossible for me to think that citizens are ready to give up on democracy just because the liars, propagandists, unbalanced religionists, and domineering oligarchs are storming the gates.
Haha, we Democrats can always talk ourselves into giving up, and never more so than now.
I think part of the problem is the narrative that has taken root; namely, that in 2024 Trump won some kind of resounding victory, and that the reason for that victory was too much wokeness, or Lia Thomas, or expensive eggs. I just don't think any of that is true. Yes, DEI programs are annoying, and sure, people have strong feelings about women's sports, but to act as though those were determinative in the election means that Americans by and large felt the opposite way in 2022, and in 2020. I don't think voters whipsaw that way.
I think a more helpful way to view the election is that Trump ran as a change agent, as he did in 2016, and Americans were susceptible to that. It's not that Trump is well liked--his approvals suck, and most of his proposals are viewed negatively--but that he was able to be in the right place at the right time. It's scary to think that anyone can become president given the right atmosphere, but it's also true.
Instead of buying these narratives, we should remember that Trump is an unpopular guy who wants to do unpopular things, and that will start to show--hell, it already has. He is eminently corrupt and his incompetence is rivaled only by that of the cranks, swindlers and self-seekers with which he surrounds himself. He's already digging his own political grave, just as he did in his first time, and we need to be ready to give him the shove.
I think the reason he won was just as he told us, 'Elon knows machines.' (And even his "winning" is by razorthin margins. He has no mandate.)
Thank you, Excellent- On Point
I really appreciate the passion and clarity in your essay—it’s an important reminder of why democracy, anti-corruption, and equality should remain at the heart of our politics. However, I’d like to gently challenge some of your arguments and encourage you to consider a few inconvenient truths about the current political landscape.
First, while your emphasis on defending democracy is admirable, voters don’t always prioritize abstract principles like democracy or equality. Research consistently shows that emotional and tribal loyalties often outweigh rational, issue-based decision-making. Many voters gravitate toward surface-level concerns, like economic anxiety, as justifications for deeper identity-driven preferences. This poses a challenge for arguments rooted in democratic ideals alone.
Second, the dominance of right-wing media creates a significant barrier to effectively communicating these principles. Disinformation portraying Democrats as elitist or disconnected often overshadows even their most popular policies. This reality complicates efforts to rally voters around ideas like anti-corruption, as those narratives are frequently distorted or dismissed by powerful media ecosystems.
Finally, there’s the widespread voter apathy toward democracy itself. Many Americans see democratic principles as abstract or distant from their daily struggles, making it difficult to mobilize them around these ideals. As much as we value democracy’s moral and practical superiority, we’re operating in an environment where immediate, tangible concerns often carry more weight than abstract ideals.
Your call for Democrats to lead with values like democracy, ethics, and equality is compelling, but I wonder if these realities might complicate the strategy. How can Democrats connect these principles to voters’ emotional and identity-driven motivations in a way that cuts through the noise? How do we reframe these ideals to make them feel urgent and personally relevant?
I’d love to hear your thoughts on how to address these challenges while staying true to the principles you so powerfully defend. Thanks for sparking such an important conversation!
Trump's top two priorities: End American democracy and end the rule of law. Once those are accomplished (with an assist from the MAGA Justices and Senators), Trump can do anything he wants and face no consequences. WTF are national Dem politicians so afraid to stand up and scream this to the rooftops?
Democrats screamed this plenty in 2024 and voters didn't respond.
There are elements of the resistance that are still effective--much more effective than visual appealing but of transient effectiveness such as marching, rallies, etc.
--Run for Something (if you're so inclined to take on such a commitment.)
--There will be a number of local and state elections between now and the 2026 and 2028 national contests. Try to elect good candidates to local and state offices. They will be an important line of defense against Trumompian abuses.
--Support reliable sources of hews and analysis:Brian's work here as well as Talking Points Memo, Democracy Docket, Aaron Rupar, etc. Be a paid supporter. Tell your friends about them. They will soldier on no matter how hard the times and they will not both sides everything or "normalize" them like you know who.....
--Support the ACLU, Marc Elias, and other groups equipped to fight in the courts. They win more than you might suspect with all the noise about the bad court decisions such as the presidential immunity one.Not all the courts are Trumpified. State courts are especially crucial for fending off much evil--e.g. voter suppression, gerrymandering. State's are important regulators of businesses and corporations. Support the people who can win such battles.
Marc Elias, Robert Reich and others are putting opt lists of things still possible and still valuable. I'm sure there are others. One thing they have in common is doing things that can be done NOW, not sitting back and waiting for another Obama or FDR to somehow come along and save us all.
And we should not forget that, in 2016, Republicans had a 40-seat majority in the House, and much more power at the state level. That is most certainly NOT the case now. Democrats have much more leverage in 2025, but, for now, Republicans have the "vibes."
The larger question, why did so many people stay home? Why did so many fewer people decide not to vote? Until we understand that, we will be unsuccessful in rallying the people we need to end the enshitification.
What if those who stayed home actually voted correctly this time? To deal with a bully, stay out of the way and let them win until they lose the tacit support of the back-turners.
We don't know why we lost. No amount of navel gazing will answer it.
We see things that are making it hard to get the message through. We don't know how to fix that yet.
Do we have any sense of who among Dems is cutting through to those who aren't "high-information" voters? AOC? Jamie Raskin? Chris Murphy? Sheldon Whitehouse? Pete?
In the meantime, even while I love this kind of deep thinking, shouldn't Democrats at least show some outrage against the obvious -- the January 6 pardons, for example -- instead of "playing nice"? I think Democrat and Never-Trump voters want to see this. I know I do.
All this analysis paralysis is demoralizing. People are angry and feeling helpless and panicky. I keep thinking of that scene from the movie War Games, where the giant computer is finding the code for the nuclear missile launch and the general says, "I'd piss on a spark plug if I thought it would do any good."
Do SOMETHING!
Listen to Keith Olbermann's Countdown podcast from yesterday (1-23) about those Jan. 6 pardons. He's very persuasive about how they should trigger a move to impeach Trump NOW. The numbers he cites, especially of how Republican voters say they disapprove of the pardons, are compelling. The pardon is a major bluner that could hand the Dems the House in two years IF THEY MAKE USE OF IT.
Excellent piece Brian, great writing, compelling rhetoric. Pro-democracy, anti-corruption politics, which the Democrats could very easily adopt, has the distinct advantage of countering the fundamental meanness of politics in the Trump era, which yammering on about the price of eggs does not. If anything, reducing everything to material concerns, while safe ground for Democrats, reinforces that meanness, because it implicitly characterizes - and probably helps create! - the electorate as a bunch of selfish simps who will betray everything that should be important to them if milk can be made to cost a buck less. It’s degrading and insulting.
But pro-democracy, anti-corruption politics is great for Dems, because you can still make appeals to material concerns, like they always want to, but grounded instead in terms of fairness and equality, and in contrast to the all-consuming corruption and self-dealing of despots like Trump. You’re paying more for groceries because Trump is incompetent and morally depraved, and he’s rigging the economy in favor of his rich and powerful buddies, in violation of everything America is supposed to stand for. Not just because he broke a campaign promise. The “why?” really matters, the narrative, as so many others have said, and it’s high time Dems started figuring this out.
Anyone got a few tangible things we can DO at the moment to best defend democracy? I have been an organizer for many years, and I must admit I’m struggling a bit to find a group/specific action that feels like it will get us anywhere. Thank you.
I was at my daughter’s workplace yesterday, City Harvest in NYC (https://www.cityharvest.org/) - a massive food reclamation and food justice non-profit, and it really was heartening to see so many people and so many funders supporting and furthering this good work. I think donating to, or volunteering/working at these sorts of organizations is a very meaningful way to DO something productive and advance the causes we care about.
This is why I think the rebellion can’t come from within or from any current political figure. They are actually not built or programmed for it. And especially the ones who have to get re-elected won’t have an appetite for it.
But also, reading what you wrote, it is exactly the upside down of what the other side is saying. It’s just that the line cutters are immigrants, the cheaters are people of color, the manipulators are their neighbors who strive for equity. No clue how to deshittify that or if it’s even possible.
But love what you’ve said about Dems licking their wounds and moaning about a fate they feel was unfairly inflicted on them and that they can’t change. Especially in re: the media landscape. Why aren’t we studying how that all happened and then trying to replicate?
I really enjoyed this, because we need to be having conversations about why democracy matters in a big picture way.
Thank you, Brian. You cut through the haze and got to the point. Excellent essay.
I wonder how and when the rebellion will take place. I will keep my eyes open.
Out of sheer frustration, I have moved from Democrat to Independent more times than I can count.
I feel like we don't even have an opposition party. Why did 6 Dems vote to confirm Kristi Noem?She didn't need Dem votes to be confirmed. Dems have not figured out that not only are there new rules, but there's even a new game. And they're on the sidelines.