Two Things to Know About What’s Happening in the U.S.
How are you feeling? The news cycle feels like a tornado that’s sweeping us all up. But here are two things I’m keeping front of mind about what’s happening in the U.S. right now (and please share your thoughts in the comments)…
1. Stay steady, stay focused. The Trump administration created a specific plan for kicking off his second term: shock and awe. They figured they’d flood the media and overwhelm the public, so that we’d get so muddled we wouldn’t know what to do and then just…freeze.
“If you overwhelm the media — if you give it too many places it needs to look, all at once, if you keep it moving from one thing to the next — no coherent opposition can emerge,” explained Ezra Klein on his podcast last Sunday.
But don’t believe what Trump says, Klein urges. Trump makes wild, horrifying proclamations, but, as much as he may want to, the President cannot rewrite the Constitution, and many of his proposals are being stopped out of the gate. “Within days, the birthright citizenship order was frozen by a judge,” writes Klein. “A judge froze the spending freeze before it was even scheduled to go into effect, and shortly thereafter, the Trump administration rescinded the order, in part to avoid the court case.”
This is not to say that things are not bad — they are. I don’t want to minimize the wreckage. People are living in immense fear, and many are being harmed, including trans folks, immigrants, federal workers, the list goes on. Even the threats Trump makes and the language he uses make people less safe by promoting racism, sexism and “us vs. them” thinking.
Instead of freezing in shock, however, we can act together. “The pace and frequency of these offenses is meant to flood the zone with shit, as Steve Bannon put it; to confuse, bamboozle, and immobilize us,” writes Jay Michaelson, a rabbi, activist, and former professor, in his newsletter Both/And. “They promised that they’d do ‘Shock and Awe’ and that’s what they’ve done. Nothing here should be surprising. Do not lose your composure.” We will stand firm.
2. Get the 5 Calls app, which makes it very easy to call your reps. You can make five calls in five minutes; they give you the phone numbers and tell you exactly what to say about major issues (like protecting the Department of Education or fighting against Elon Musk’s government takeover or opposing RFK Jr. for Secretary of Health and Human Services). It’s simple and straightforward, and these calls make a difference.
Also, consider reading Indivisible: A Practical Guide to Democracy on the Brink, which offers crystal clear strategies for fighting back over the next four years. Written by two very smart, funny people, this guide felt bolstering to read.
Please share your thoughts below — these are extremely difficult times, but we have a lot of good people in this country and a lot of energy and bandwidth. Sending big hugs and solidarity.
P.S. Poetry, if you need some right now.
(Photo by Jess Woodhouse/Stocksy.)
Tags: news
Comments
153 commentsI feel I just recent very good common sense advice. I do feel overwhelmed and helpless when I comes to the state of the Union and Trump administration. I can’t believe he has gotten this far. I will send the letters if we ban together we can make a difference.
It’s exhausting watching everything unfold and trying to stay hopeful, especially when it feels like history is repeating itself in real time. But something about the way this was written — calm, clear, and deeply human — made me pause and actually breathe for a minute. I love that it doesn’t scream “panic” but instead whispers “act.” It’s practical without being overwhelming. Vote, volunteer, donate — yes, yes, yes. And I appreciated the reminder that there’s still time to do something. That matters. Sometimes I get paralyzed thinking I should’ve started months ago, but here’s this post saying “start now, that’s okay.” That’s powerful. Also, the part about talking to people — not yelling or debating, but actually talking — really resonated. I’ve been guilty of assuming everyone I disagree with is unreachable, but maybe they’re not. Maybe they’re scared or confused or tired too.
I just wanted to shout out another resource, if it hasn’t already been mentioned – the Americans of Conscience checklist (https://americansofconscience.com/). I started feeling really hopeless and helpless yesterday. I have been making my calls to my representatives a few times a week but I just don’t know where to focus my attention anymore. There are so many actions taken by this administration that I object to. I found myself googling – does calling your reps really make a difference? From there, I stumbled upon the Americans of Conscience checklist. They send an email twice a month with a list of actionable items. Plus (and this was a big mood boost for me) they include good news. They also have letters you can sign to thank various representatives for doing good things, like advocating for transgender children’s rights to live with supportive guardians. Seeing some of the good really helped my mental health today.
I feel hopeless! I have never been a political person. I don’t have a clue as to how to fight this mess. I’ve heard pick an issue, how? Everything they are doing is so wrong! I need someone to take me by the hand and say do this it will help stop them. I have called my representative no answer. I have written by email no response, I even called the congressional switch board I got voice mail than no reply. What do I do now?
I appreciated this post, thank you. I have often relied on your product recommendations to inform my purchases. No regrets, but given the current political crisis, I would like to challenge this community to not recommend products that redirected us to purchase on platforms like Amazon. Thank you!
I would like that too!
I have been working on backing off from Amazon. Instead of trying to do it in one-fell-swoop though I look at my shopping card and immediately look for the same items basically anywhere else (preferably Bookshop.org – I order lots of books, and any independent company I can find). If I can manage to order even 1/2 from other places now, I imagine it will become easier to do more in time. I am also trying to stop and shop at at least 1-2 more places locally per week (rather than order online). It may seemingly cost a couple bucks more in the stores, but it’s worth it to me mentally to break free from lining Bezos’ slimy pockets.
I can’t understand why -if they want to go after fraud and abuse, why they don’t they do it strategically. They are hurting innocents and threatening democracy. Young families with mortgages are losing their jobs, immigrants are afraid to go to work, people living in poverty in our country are losing food and housing assistance, and poor and starving people in other countries are losing help with food and medical assistance. It’s much collateral damage and doesn’t even seem legal!
Thank you so much, Joanna. <3
Thank you for your artticle and thank all the readers for wonderfl resources. I am so devastated by what has already happened to our country and out system of govenment. Here to say there is a nationwide demonstration on February 17. Google 50501 Movement, which stands for “50 states, 50 protests, one day,” plans forr nationwide demonstration on Monday, Feb. 17, coinciding with Presidents’ Day or National Day of Protest’ to see where demonstrations are happening in your state on February 17. We are stronger together.
Joyce again. Demonstration in New York City is iat Union Square at 1 o’clock .
I discovered this blog because my normally optomistic personality has been completely overwhelmed by the devastation these last few weeks, and I want to scream “How did is get so bad so fast!?” Your writing is both realistic, and practical. Thanks from the bottom of my traumatized lil heart.
I feel the exact same!
I’m right there with you. It’s like a train wreck I don’t want to watch but I can’t look away. I don’t know how our leadership are allowing this one man to do so much damage. He is just one narsacistic old man. He has broken so many laws hurt so many people told so many lies. He still gets to keep going.
If you know a Federal employee or rely on Federal services, please show your support. Give an encouraging word, call your representatives. We’re not ok right now.
Thank you for the 5 Calls recommendation. I’m using it!
An excellent 5 minute summary of current events — Elon Musk & Silicon Valley’s Plan to Dismantle Democracy: Step 1: The CEO Dictator Takeover Step 2: Government Purge (RAGE – Retire All Government Employees now rebranded as DOGE) Step 3: Dismantle Democratic Institutions Step 4: Control Information and Narratives “Undermine credibility of the federal government / defy legal oversight / concentrate power with a small group of foreign born billionaires” “It’s not chaos, it’s a plan. And it’s working exactly as designed.” https://youtu.be/OC629l-wZBQ?feature=shared
Thank you for this link. I have been following NerdReich for several weeks after it was mentioned in the comments on Kevin Drum’s blog. (A blog I highly recommend. A very lively commenting community, very different from Cup of Jo. I believe there is room for both.) I’m afraid this has the potential to be much, much worse than many people want to believe. Remember that many people voted for this and others didn’t care enough to vote. I worry that we won’t be able to put the country back together again after they are done breaking it. Thank you for giving me a safe place to vent. I’m going to go take some deep breaths now. Love you all.
Thank you so much for sharing the 5 calls resource. As someone recently naturalized and had not had the opportunity to share my voice in the political space, this was extremely helpful. Also I loved this Instagram Live recording by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and her advice to pick a lane. We can’t fight against everything that is happening as much as we would like to but let’s focus on being effective in our chosen lane. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4hRJDYh1Ss
I don’t understand people who voted for Trump. We have been doing great; these last 4 years especially. Kamala would have made things even better. We need to fight against change in the dept of education; to protect it. Why do people care about how our students are performing in school anyways? It’s the standardized tests that are failing us, not the department of education.
I love this call to action for this post and I am keeping my fingers crossed that we can create the right kind of balance to the crazy that’s happening. I’d like to take a minute to be honest about something myself and I hope this is the space to do it. Speaking as a lifelong Democrat, I’ve found myself feeling politically homeless at times. There have been tensions within the party for a while, and many of my Democratic friends feel the same way. This recent election loss, while devastating, feels like it was about more than just racism and misogyny. If we don’t take a hard look at ourselves—our messaging, our priorities, and how we connect—we risk failing to be the real antidote to what’s happening in Washington. I absolutely detest 47, I did not vote for him, and everything about the way he wields power—leading by divisive and often petty executive orders is not leadership. But if we can’t have honest, nuanced conversations about why so many people continue to vote for this, we’re missing something crucial. For example, the idea that women and girls should have the right to single-sex spaces shouldn’t automatically be labeled as ‘transphobic.’ Women fought tirelessly for generations to have basic rights, including the right to compete in sports—Katherine Switzer became the first woman to officially run the Boston Marathon in 1967, and even then, she was physically attacked for it. While inclusion matters, many women feel erased. Why does supporting one marginalized group have to come at the cost of another? Shouldn’t we find ways to uplift all people without diminishing anyone in the process? Why aren’t we talking about that? Similarly, comprehensive immigration reform has been desperately needed for decades—the last major policy change was in 1986 with the Immigration Reform and Control Act. Why aren’t we talking about how we got here? These are deeply personal issues for many well-meaning, conscientious people who don’t deserve to be dismissed as bigots, racists, or Fox News consumers. If we can’t figure out where we agree, we’ll never figure out how to move forward.
Thank you, Monica.
I am sorry you feel that women’s hard earned rights are under assault by trans women. I am curious about why this is the first example that comes to mind when you write about your concerns with democrats. Has this affected you directly? It is so odd to me that trans girls are such a tiny percentage of the population and are so deeply feared (symbolically or otherwise). While I understand there are some potentially thorny issues around trans women’s inclusion, it is baffling to me that it ranks higher for so many people than crime (including rape), corruption, the economy, in terms of their political dissatisfaction with political alternatives to Trump. As the parent of a trans daughter, I don’t actually see any “ordinary” people rushing to the defense of these girls, and democrats are generally abandoning the protection of their rights. Trans women’s infringement on women’s rights seems to largely be a (very effective) Republican narrative. When I hear it raised I always wonder what actual impact these girls and women are having that is harmful, or is it just manufactured fear I apologize if this feels aggressive but I am genuinely asking because I feel very very frightened for my child and I am trying to understand why people fear people like her participating in society so deeply.
Believing that women should have single-sex spaces isn’t transphobic – believing that transwomen should be excluded from those spaces is. Trans women are women.
Anon I don’t feel you ever have to apologize for standing up for your beautiful daughter. I feel your response was quite measured actually. I stand by your daughter and all trans individuals. I am horrified and heartbroken about what is happening. I’m with you and will always be with you. Just wanted you to know. <3
Monica, I had to read your post several times. Paused myself. Paused some more. Read again. 1. Human rights are non-negotiable, full stop! We aren’t gonna have a discourse rooted in illogical demands were certain members of our society need to justify their existence! 2. Conservatives tanked bipartisan Immigration reform because Trump demanded it. All for the Marquess of Queensberry rules, but only the Democrats seem to be engaging in fair play!
This is what will kill the Democratic Party – people not being able to have open debate and other opinions! Completely agree with you Monica! Amen 🙏🏼
Hi Nam, I really appreciate you taking the time to read my post so thoughtfully. I completely agree that human rights are non-negotiable—everyone deserves dignity, respect, and the ability to live freely without having to justify their existence. My concern isn’t about denying anyone’s rights but about how we, as Democrats, navigate difficult conversations within our own party without shutting each other down. On immigration, I absolutely agree that conservatives have repeatedly blocked meaningful reform. My frustration is that we, as Democrats, still don’t seem to have a clear, compelling way of talking about it—one that acknowledges people’s concerns without ceding ground to bad-faith actors. I’m not here to play by the right’s rules—I just want to make sure we aren’t losing people who might otherwise stand with us because they feel like their concerns are being dismissed. I appreciate your perspective, and I hope we can keep having these discussions in a way that moves us forward. Also, I put a lot of thought into a reply to Anon’s comment about her daughter a few days ago, but it was never posted. I can’t help but wonder if its absence has contributed to how my initial comment is being interpreted.
Monica. I am actually an Independent! That said, I concur that the Democrats have abysmal messaging. We can have meaningful policy driven conversations on immigration, if we are brutally honest about the racially charged, dehumanizing language coming from the conservative right. The Right wants white, not Chicano immigrants. Monica, when offensive, racially charged language is being used to demonize our fellow humans, this Independence cannot find common ground with a convicted felon’s party. As an aside, no one wants to be an immigrant! I would strongly encourage you to spend sometime at a shelter for immigrants. The fear and sadness is palpable.
Nam, I really appreciate your perspective, and I completely agree that Republican rhetoric around immigration has been dehumanizing and racially charged. There’s no common ground to be found with a party that uses fear and xenophobia to rally support. My frustration is that Democrats haven’t been able to communicate a clear, compelling alternative—not just morally, but in terms of policy that reassures people who might be vulnerable to that fear-based messaging. I don’t for a second take lightly the suffering of immigrants. I know that no one leaves their home and everything they know unless they have no other choice. These are real human beings, and we owe them better than a political system that treats them as pawns in an endless fight. At the end of the day, and what my original post was trying to convey, is that we need more—and more productive—conversations about all of it. The thorny stuff too. In good faith. Because if we don’t, we’re ceding the conversation to bad actors, and we’ll never build the kind of movement that can truly challenge the nonsense that’s happening in Washington.
Monica, I truly hope the left hears this message. It is spot on.
I agree in essence, not in detail. To move someone from one place to another you need to either inspire or create fear. Though fear often times results in stagnation and retreat; ie conservatism. It might feel unfair but the playbook for progression CAN ONLY be inspiration. We cannot move the needle on climate change with doom, we have to say “imagine a world in a hundred years where your descendants will have everything you have and more” “imagine the skies are free from smog” “imagine everyone has enough food”. People are losing their stamina to move forward because both progressives and conservatives are screaming fear, but fear equals fight, flight or freeze. I believe Obama won on inspiration. We need to channel that if we have any hope of moving people into action. FWIW I think this blog does a good job at that.
I understand many here make a living online and a vital part of this is a social media presence. But the very powerful supporters of the current administration are tech giants who own and use their social media platforms to misinform and divide. Please consider leaving the platfoms and stop buying from Amazon. I know it’s inconvenient but I believe that together we can make an impoact this way. And all things considered, an inconvenience is a small price to pay… Also, there are alternatives such as “Bluesky” instead of “X”.
I agree BRF. I went off all socials in 2016 when I discovered 1/2 of my “friends” were racist bigots (is that redundant?). Anyway, I have never looked back, am busier and happier than ever, literally do not give social media a thought in any of my days (and, in fact, think it’s rather strange for people to spend so much time looking at other people’s lives online?). I knew I needed to create a meaningful, purposeful, interesting life for myself to feel fulfilled. And that’s what I have done over these past 8 years. And I’m quite proud of myself for it. If I need information about events, I look it up online, if I need to reach a REAL friend, I text them (or even email or call them!). Thankfully I don’t have kids. If I did, they’d be miserable. I would not allow them to have phones or social. For the record, I am a mental health therapist and have these conversations all day long, with my clients – kids and adults. Also, thankfully, I grew up in the 70s and 80s where we had rich, full lives without phones. So I guess I learned how to live from that experience. I just don’t buy the “but social also bring so much to my life!” Argument. I honestly have not heard one person who can truly justify socials bringing joy. Maybe it helps market businesses now, and possibly connects people who wouldn’t otherwise “meet”, but I don’t know… I have a full calendar of events and activities with actual humans (hobbies/interests) and didn’t use social to figure it out… it’s complex, and yet it’s not…? Working hard at eliminating Amazon from my life. Taking it one phase at a time…
Dear Jo and CoJ Team, thank you for your bold positioning yourselves clear of the fascist line in the current emotional but also factual (this most likely will have a financial impact for everyone but first up also in the influencing business:-/) chaos!!!…and these pointers for not just trying to stay self reliant but really DO SOMETHING. Here in Germany very likely similar to many of the European countries we can just about hope, that our systems withstand further against this influence against and degradation of democratic and humane accomplishments of the last 80 years. I sickly feel almost thankful, for my early loss of my elders, who hardly grasped the Ukraine Situation let alone would understand the reelection in the US, or what is looming here in our own backyard in 2 weeks (possibly a blocking minority for the Musk promoted open and by our own constituational protection functions in parts proven fascist AfD party, who an established party (in Government for more then half of Federal Germany’s History) is atm ok to use mandats of for an openly populistic “re-migration” politics. I am sorry to see that the division is obvious even here in your community which I enjoyed for almost half my life. PLEASE EVERYONE, look into the Nazi Germany time line, similarities are obvisously wanted, not even hidden anymore. And bullying is wrong on the playground as it is everywhere else. I have placed value in neutrality for a long time and I still do when it comes to military conflict but as you hear here everywhere for some time: NEVER AGAIN IS NOW! And there is no being neutral (or just having some business interests helped through) when it comes to Nzs… there is just stupidity and worse ignorance and a lot of suffering!!!
Now he wants to bring back plastic straws. As if that was our biggest problem… OMG, he is not a leader, he is just plain crazy!
Yeah he wants to ” ban ” paper straws in all federal places …. I guess ???? Crazy is right. Like there is nothing else pressing. And as an aside my husband and I used paper straws for years growing up… That’s all there was. Good grief.
Hi! I really appreciated this article. I had not seen this sort of “let’s take this clear action” in the million other things I have read recently. Also, really appreciate the Ezra Klein video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8QLgLfqh6s And for meal ideas check out my newsletter here: https://open.substack.com/pub/gourmanddinner/p/14-dinner-ideas-winter-february-10?r=foc7o&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
Canadian reader here again. There’s a growing movement for an Economic Boycott, ie no spending (apart from small, independent businesses) in the US on February 28. A quick search showed it mentioned on many social media platforms (which I don’t use) so not sure how many already know about it.
I’m watching in horror from London – I’m appalled that Trump was re-elected, appalled by his inauguration speech and appalled by his behaviour since taking office three weeks ago. And don’t even get me started on Musk … To quote Dr King, “We need leaders not in love with money but in love with justice. Not in love with publicity but in love with humanity.”
I highly recommend listening to this discussion between Scottish comedian, Frankie Boyle, and English journalist, author, and political activist, George Monbiot. https://podcasts.apple.com/lu/podcast/how-to-academy-podcast/id1298460455?i=1000688852158
Thank you for this. ❤️ Brought some light in what seems a dark start to 2025. I plan to download the app soon and start making my own calls. I also found this article helpful because I do was thinking, “But what’s being done to stop him?”. https://open.substack.com/pub/statuskuo/p/my-most-widely-read-and-shared-piece?r=1alboi&utm_medium=ios
*too was thinking
Thank you Jo for not staying silent. Please continue to speak up about these issues and know that so many of us are so grateful and appreciative – during this terrifying time I am so relieved that your blog continues to be a safe space and one that is brave enough to speak up about these important issues. Also HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who is calling their representatives, donating, and volunteering. Let’s all keep doing that! And keep it up (adjusting frequency/monetary amounts etc. if needed to make it sustainable but not giving up!!!) Sincerely, Worried teacher
Thank you for this Joanna. As a neighbour to your north I have felt such sadness & fear by what is going on. The disregard for the rule of law is terrifying. I’m happy that this space is still a place of respect and hope.
Please read ‘On Tyranny’ by Timothy Snyder. https://www.google.nl/books/edition/On_Tyranny/7WjYDQAAQBAJ?hl=nl&gbpv=1&dq=on+tyranny&printsec=frontcover
I just can’t figure out or come to terms with who women can vote for a man who raped another women……..can someone give me advice on this? I know the violence men can put on a woman in the most uglist way as I have suffer that and work daily to have a peaceful life filled with good things, yet this terrifies me what is happening to our country. Why is the Media not calling Trump out for this, why is there so much unspoken words not being said? What happened to our freedom of speech and Constitution? Why is Trump not being called out for NOT putting his hand on the Bible when being sworn in the Presidency, he is NOT loyal to our country. He has already said he will always be President as he is taking a clue from Franklin D. Roosevelt who was president for 12 years. Is this what we want for our future and our children’s future?
Re: the hand on the bible part, this is not a requirement for oath taking! Thomas Jefferson, Calvin Coolidge, Theodore Roosevelt, and John Quincy Adams also did not use the Bible. *not a Trump fan by any means, just sharing a fact.
I also felt disbelief at the fact so many women voted for a convicted rapist. How??? I don’t like anything about Trump at all but let’s imagine he had all my dream policies, I’d still never vote for him on those grounds alone (and every other despicable thing he has done and said – on camera!!!!! No denying it!) anyways I asked a female Trump voter to explain how she felt Ok voting for him. She said she doesn’t believe he assaulted any women. Even the conviction, she doesn’t believe it happened. That all the women (MANY) who have accused him are lying and just want money or power. Absolutely unreal to hear her say that. Curious if anyone else has more insight???
AMW, I completely hear you. I thought I had no Trumpsters in my feed until a grad school friend posted pictures of her AT THE INAUGURATION. I reached out to clarify and she finally got back to me and her “reasons” are all garbage propaganda. Like, unbelievably. Here I thought we were going to have a calm, smart discussion about the economy, the borders or even abortion. Nope! What is even worse, is that we had to participate in group therapy together in our grad school psych program, and I know that she herself has been sexually assaulted!!! I’m afraid it’s a cult and I refuse to spend any more time trying to “figure out why” when I have my family, my kids, work, and life to attend to. All my energy will go into those categories AND resisting this insanity. I will focus on the two words that are guiding me right now- Clarity and Community. I have to be done with all the other madness.
Can we kindly stop saying that women voted for Trump?!? Black women didn’t not vote for this. However, a statistically significant number of white women (45%) voted for Trump! There is a solid reason why many Black women have said: Nah! Y’all voted for this. We can get to a place of solidarity without accountability. I have had white female “friends” reach out and tell me they are so sorry for voting for Trump! I have ended those friendships! I can’t get back 25 years of my life, but I will not be giving any more .
I love the 5 calls App. It works so well. Definitely a good thing to be as focused on whatever your issue is.
I’ve been finding ways to get involved in local politics, support local candidates, write testimony for important local issues (maybe gather up the courage to testify in person!). It feels hopeful and I’m meeting all these inspiring people.
Thank you Jo for this post!
Canadian here. For a message of solidarity. We will never be annexed, and it’s been hard thinking so many of our neighbors thought it okay to start a trade war (I include anyone who voted for the orange guy here), but we are equally horrified your government could be so exclusionary and authoritarian in tone and policy, and that it could all happen so quickly. Sending love and light and support to all the trans folks, women, people of colour and all those trying to immigrate to the US for a better life. I won’t let him divide us, and there are thousands of us who stand with you. Love you for posting this, Jo.
I read through all 510 (and counting) comments and put together this google doc compiling all the resources people shared. I’m calling it the “Anti-Paralysis Playbook”. I’m planning to share it with every single person I know, in the hopes that they’ll share it as well. Here’s the link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pupJ3Ep_8C9DAsqxIzWrj3bTlVHAS6YPFQibCX6u9K0/edit?usp=sharing
Thank you for compiling this. Making calls gives me anxiety – though I’m trying to push through that and just make the calls anyway. However, I am committing to make donations each month toward organizations that help people who are being targeted or that fight for democracy. I feel a little less stuck now.
Thank you so much for taking the time to compile this, Hannah!
So appreciated, THANK YOU!
Thank you!!!!!
This is an amazing resource. Thank you for taking the time to put this together.
Thank you for this post. I love all the resources in the comments. I think this was mentioned already but I love Emily Amick for political info. Her instagram is Emily in Your Phone and she is on Substack also. Also Stacey Abraham’s podcast is informative. And if you can, find an indivisible group. I found one (Bull City Indivisible my area (Durham, NC) and it’s been so helpful to be in community with others with the same concerns. Thank you again for this post and I appreciate everyone’s comments. I always learn so much in the comments section :)
Correction – Stacey Abrams podcast is great! I misspelled her name above. Here’s the link: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/assembly-required-with-stacey-abrams/id1760004996
Watching from the UK with absolute horror 😪
Same!
A lot of energy? I hear crickets.
Trump also just took a huge swing at medical and basic science research. NIH just capped overhead on grants at 15% on Friday. This will be devastating to universities all over the country. But more importantly it will be devastating to all of us who benefit from the advances in science and medicine that comes from NIH grants.
Just wanted to say thank you, Jo. I know it’s got to be hard to put things like this up when the world is full of trolls and people are keen to spew ugly things your way. I really appreciate this post and the space you have created here. <3
I just made a recurring donation to Democracy Forward, a great organization who’s fighting the Trump administration in the courts: https://democracyforward.org/
Thank you for this post. Also, I love reading the comments — all the tips for coping with this chaos and ways to stand up for education, our environment and marginalized people.
Thank you for sharing!! Long time follower and love your blog. Emily in your Phone (on instagram) compared participating in our democracy like eating vegetables. As someone who never cared for politics/thinking about government this made me realize the importance of participating even if it’s only a phone call to my representatives. Highly recommend Emily in Your Phone on instagram and Sub stack if you want to stay up to date and get action items based on what’s going on in politics. The link for her substack: https://emilyinyourphone.substack.com/
As someone who comes here mostly as an escape from politics and hard stuff, I appreciate this SO MUCH. A lot of things covered on this site that seem apolotical – physical health, thriving kids, strong relationships – are specifically threatened by this administration. Any writer with an audience who sees what’s going on and says nothing because they’re worried about losing subscribers or looking cringe for caring has lost my respect.
You are all nice people but the vast majority out there who voted for the current administration live in another reality. I’m in a state where the city is blue in an ocean of red and the state is very blue BUT let me tell you people are thrilled about the current administration. They want this hammer to everything built. All this logic and reason doesn’t get to them. It doesn’t matter, we can switch off and be good kind people to each other and the planet but unless we fix the media and social media, none of this will change. We will live on the margins with one party following different rules from the other. Shocking really and exposes what people really seem to value – money.
Yep. I’m afraid you’re right. People are loving this. It’s truly unimaginable, the state in which we find ourselves. Not likely to change social media. I’m afraid that ship has sailed. I feel so sad for people younger than me who are in the prime of their lives and have to live with this. At least most of us have a ” before time ” for comparison. I feel sad for young people who will be living with this for, I’m afraid, a very long time. I hope I’m wrong. But I feel you are right. People value money and also what they deem as safe for their little corner. I do appreciate all the hope displayed here and the work everyone is doing. Thank you Hannah for reading 510 comments and compiling resources !!! W.O.W. Last Wednesday I did go to the protest at my state’s Capitol building. And passed this blogs’ resources to my friends. Thank you all !
Just a simple thank you for posting this and always being willing to bat back at the logical fallacies. I respect this blog more each time you hold the line and model this.
Thank you so much for posting this! I’ve been distraught that my some of favorite bloggers haven’t acknowledged what’s happening, and I can now take COJ off that list!
I’m all for increasing cosmic consciousness and non-binary thinking. Work hard Joanna! God bless; may our sincerest efforts be alchemized for the benefit of ALL sentience. Distributed cognition is a real thing and all life my family <3
Okay, here is something I believe that is forgotten, Trump, as many people say will be around for 4 years, WRONG, HE is taking a clue from Franklin D. Roosvelt who was President for 12 years and after that is when Congress enacted the 2 term for new incoming Presidents, Trump as already made a statement about being in the WH for longer then this term. Trump is NOT leaving when this term is up period as he has got in the WH and is NOT leaving unless he is dead by natural causes. He did NOT put his hand on the BIBLE when being sworn into the office of the Presidentcy. His wife held the Bible and he did not swear to take care of our country so doesn’t the tell you something about what he is doing now. He loves war, drama, being in front of the camera, he hates anyone who disagrees with him, he is NOT afraid to use our Army to murder us or destroy us like he is trying to do now……..He has NO FEAR of our gov as he once said he could murder someone on 5th ave in broadday light and get away with it, and he is right about that now. This man hates America, he hates freedom and anyone who is not like him. And tell me why is it that women of America voted for a *RAPIST/CRIMINAL* to be our President? I have been there and that is hell on earth for a woman yet women voted for him…………………….WHY?
Thank you so so much for this! I have felt directionless and this post gave me direction! You amazing people have given me direction. 5 calls downloaded and done! Goods united us, hell yes! Thank you for this. I’ve deleted Facebook, Instagram, and am working to stop ordering from Amazon. These are the people helping to destroy our country. They aren’t going to get a cent more from me if I can help it. This has been a hard time, and I feel hopeless in many ways. But look at us! This is something to be so proud of. Thank you!
I work on a government contract at a university and was asked (by the Feds) to remove the pronouns in my email signature. It was such a gut punch. I identify within the community and also strongly advocate for trans people (I once took the stand in court for a beloved trans person in my life who was brutally murdered) but I also didn’t want to be the person who drew unwanted attention to the safe-for-now agency. Obviously I feel like complete complicit shit about it.
I think we’re way too far gone to be about calling and emailing reps, signing petitions, etc. The wholesale takeover of our government – aka coup – is well underway, and there’s no longer any checks and balances. What exactly do you think Congress is going to do?! None of the established rules of law and order apply anymore, it seems. I’m looking at the military and us as citizens – I think we have to literally rise up to take back our country.
Okay, I feel compelled to say to some commenters–if your main takeaway from this post is that it doesn’t cater enough to your sensibilitie, that is a very self-oriented approach that you might want to rethink. This is not a personal attack–we know that narcissism is hugely increased and empathy similarly decreased in recent times (See the work of Susan Konrath if interested). Many of the things that are going on are right out of the fascist handbook, which should worry democratic citizens of all political parties.
I feel compelled to add that these types of comments may be from a particular type of troll trying to convince women to back down, be “nice” and respect “both sides” and stop creating “divisiveness,” instead of standing up and taking action. The patronizing “lots of people want this so take a listen” messages are probably not from “real” people, and not the grievances of actual butthurt CoJ readers. but just a lame effort to try to make you think resistance is wrong.
But if it DOES cater to your senibilitie then it’s NOT a self centered approach? And it’s NOT a personal attack to call a person with an opposing viewpoint a narcissist? I think that’s how we got here tbh.
Thank you
Jessica, I think we can all agree we would like to see immigration reform. However rounding terrorizing and arresting often innocent people is not the way to go about it. Yes, we would like to see accountability for our tax dollars and that is not what is happening. In fact Trump is dismantling the government institutions that keep us safe. Why do you think Elon Musk is a trusted person to do this. He has shown like Trump that he cares only for himself. When a new administration makes changes they must do it within the laws of the land and the constitution.
Guys my mom reads this dumb blog so it’s always up on our family computer that I do my homework on… But as a teen girl, godddffffffffhfdbjg I hate trump and am so happy you all are here
hahahahah hi jemma!!!!! glad to have you here, even if just for a moment :)
A big CoJ welcome, Jemma!!!!! Come because it’s randomly on your mom’s computer, stay for the comments. And for pro tips on supporting the resistance.
This is the best thing I’ve seen in a long time- thanks, Jemma!
Jemma this comment is bringing me so much joy I love it! Your generation is so awesome, we are working to protect your future. Hugs!!!!!!
This may be in my top 5 favorite COJ comments of all time.
This needs to be on a tote bag or framed as a print
As a mom, I absolutely love this! I’m going to start leaving tabs open for my kids to find!
See you back here in ten years Jemma, you’ll be one of us soon :)
The odd thing about this post is that the rhetoric you use does put down “them” and you are directly criticizing an us vs them mentality in your post. Therefore, perpetuating the division that is really the biggest issue of all. Until we have bipartisanship in government and create spaces where both sides can come together we won’t proceed anywhere. Comments in this section like “sending my Republican family only progressive news sources” is the exact problem. How about we create a space that isn’t the lies of nbc or fox, maybe we’d get somewhere. This post misses the mark big time.
strongly disagree. look up the paradox of tolerance.
when are “you” people going to realize that we don’t want to associate with you? we are not a community. you are not welcome here. if you bristle at this remark, ask yourself why that is… i am done trying to convey my humanity to both people who voted for trump or people who think we aught to work with people who voted for trump.
Agree with you, Amanda. I posted something yesterday that was respectful but pointed out some of the inconsistencies and it was never approved. This is the second time of comment of mine has been censored on this site.
we let comments through as long as they are respectful and factual.
Look at who talks about “them vs us”, Amanda. Please go on youtube and watch “President Trump Holds Press Briefing on Aviation Disaster” , the whole 35 minutes of it. HE is the one in power right now. He literally can not even help himself talk in this way. And then insult a reporter’s question. And that’s just the latest one I allowed myself to listen to because he’s so hateful, he fills everything with vitrol. You are the one missing the mark. Don’t gaslight us, we aren’t buying what you’re selling.
If “them” wants to cast out, dehumanize, and marginalize trans/nonbinary people, f*** them. If “them” wants to jail refugees at the border, tearing children from their parents, f*** them. If “them” wants to stop funding scientific research, f*** them. If “them” wants to rip away the progress people of color have made in this country, f*** them. If “them” wants to decide when and if my inviable pregnancy can be terminated, f*** them. If “them” cares more about their access to AR15s and other weapons than protecting the lives of school children, f*** them. And f*** you if you’re with them.
Sorry Amanda…it IS us against them. I see nothing that will work for us to “come together”…in order for that to be possible, 47 needs to stop trying to dismantle the government and get Musk out of the White House…Musk did not run for office and win. I’m not saying things don’t need to change, but this is throwing the baby out with the bath water. He will be in office for 4 years…what about taking time to make measured changes?
Hey that’s me and I specifically said it’s a neutral news source. Doesn’t seem like you’re able to hold on to facts to make your argument, I’m sorry for that. There is no middle ground to speak of when you’re not using reality :( Ps. It’s 1440 (the newsletter) you’re welcome to check it out for yourself, it’s entirely free. I’m not associated with it at all, just a happy user.
The really “odd” thing is the trump administration has directed NASA to remove the words “women in leadership” from all of their public facing sites? Amanda, they do not want bipartisanship.
Trump called Maxine Waters a ” low life” today. Just one bad thing out of many that he’s done. I thought he would be out when he mocked and imitated the journalist at his rally podium in 2014. I never thought people would stand for that. But I was wrong. But here’s the thing…. You don’t call people names, you don’t make fun of people, you don’t pardon violent criminals, you don’t re-write the constitution ! Ya just don’t !!!! If you think these things are ok that’s really sad. It’s kindergarten stuff. Who can “come together” over this ?
Thank you, Joanna, for this encouraging post and actionable advice. It’s been a surprising couple of weeks and I was heartened to read this.
There is no bipartisanship with Facism.
Yas Amanda thank you!!! 100% agree
Jess, your comment is terrifying. Nothing is scarier to me than how easily both sides are dehumanizing each other.
Some may say you missed the mark “big time”. Isn’t Democracy great!?!
How about we create a space that isn’t the lies of nbc or fox, maybe we’d get somewhere. Yes to that but afraid it won’t be this blog. My recent comment on a COJ political post was never published. Namely the one simply asking “if Fauci didn’t comment any crimes, why did he get pardoned?” This comment prob won’t see the light of day either.
we publish almost every comment, you can see our moderation policy in our FAQ section. thank you!
Elizabeth, what a perfect response that I will be paraphrasing many, many times in my daily life. Thank you!
Amanda, the “us” in this situation can be wide and could include you. Because Trump and Musk are engaging in a coup and the benefits of it will go to a select few — and I’d bet you aren’t part of that select few.
I cannot thank you enough for your comment , Amanda!!
Thank you, COJ for using this platform to speak truth and goodness into the world. This is truly one of the only places where I feel seen on a regular basis.
Here! Here! To this!
Thank you.
It is important to not assume that we now have an oligarchy/fascist government regardless of the tech coup. Support our nation – the largest democratic nation in the world. The point of democracy is public participation – it is literally our civic duty to help run the government – on a local level, as citizens. When was the last time you wrote a letter or went to a town hall meeting? Our government functions as a Democracy. Believe in that and participate in it as citizens of a democracy MUST do. That is how the government stays healthy. So far it’s working to curb the tech coup. Keep participation levels on a high level.
The largest democracy in the world is India. It is nearly a BILLION people largest than the second largest, which is the US.
Omygosh, you are right, lol, thank you! But my point still stands – Americans need to get it together and start participating in the management of their own governance. That is how democracy functions.
I was active in the resistance the first time around and live in a blue area of a blue state. I feel like one of the best things people in this situation can do is donate. I ask myself, would I rather call my senator every day this month, or donate an extra $20? I recommend considering setting up a recurring donation (any size) to an organization like the Movement Voter Project https://movement.vote/#how-do-we-fight-back If you live in a purple state or even congressional district one thing you could do that would be very very helpful is to get involved with how your elections are administered. Volunteer to be a poll worker or to help in some other capacity. This will be important when election time comes. I love reading all of these comments. And thank you Joanna for being a steady voice in these difficult times.
THANK YOU 👏👏👏 So so so important.
Thank you, Joanna, for the 5Calls recommendation! I will definitely be downloading that tonight. For those who are looking for more ways to get involved, I’d also recommend connecting with local Democratic or progressive organizations in your area. I attended a meeting of my town’s Democratic club last night, and being in a room with so many dedicated, passionate, caring people really helped me refocus my energy onto productive things we can be doing. When times get dark, it’s always helpful to be in a community full of good people who are taking collective action to address the harm. In addition to phone calls and actions at the federal level, there’s often so much work to be done in our local community. My state will be electing a new governor this year, and we’re already taking steps to make sure we elect a Democratic governor who’s going to stand up to Trump and his policies. There are also plenty of ways to address issues in your local community: we are trying to start a composting program in our town, working to support our community’s food bank, and partnering with local organizations that support immigrants. My goal for the coming years is to convert my worries into productive anxiety, and there is nothing that helps me do that as effectively as working alongside the activists in my own community. Isolation is a breeding ground for paralysis and despair; when we find a community to stand with, we are not only more effective, but more hopeful. Sometimes there’s no better antidote for terror than looking around at a room full of good and dedicated people who are determined to fight back against the madness. Plus, it’s a good way to make friends! PS–If you can’t find an organization like this in your area, consider starting one! You might be surprised by how many people are willing to show up and volunteer if they can find a group to do it with.
Yes Katie! This is perfect advice
Thank you for your words, Joanna. It has been indeed overwhelming and scary. I am happy to have this space to share so many important things in a community of brave and bright women. Best wishes to all from Mexico.
I sat in the same American Government class as Russ Vought. We were friends. I can’t believe the gulf of politics that separates us now. It was in that class in a Christian college that my professor challenged us on the notion that America was founded as a Christian nation. I listened to that wisdom–Russ went the other direction. The texts were flying this morning between alumni friends–“How can this be???” His confirmation really discouraged me today. So I decided to do what I could. I went to a local bookshop and bought things because they are good people and not Amazon oligarchs. I went to a local card shop and bought funny Valentine’s Day cards for my boys because my boys will be good men who respect women. And now I’m writing my feelings on Cup of Jo because this is a good community that always makes me feel better about the world, and makes me a better person in the world. We will change things. We will. And now
🤍🤍🤍🤍
Holly, I didn’t go to Wheaton but my husband did. So many of our friends are Wheaties, and like you it’s hard to believe how many alums are serving in this Admin. My husband and I are also Feds which adds to the horror of this political moment. Love your advice to just do what we can. Beauty still abounds.
Thank you for these resources Joanna. Much appreciated.
I was listening to the Normal Gossip podcast the other day and I love love loved this bit from host Rachelle Hampton: “If there’s anything I learned from the first Trump administration is that a lot of people will spend a lot of time spinning theories that don’t happen, and the things that actually happen will be entirely surprising and devastating in ways that we couldn’t have guessed. And I don’t really want to listen to pundits or people on Twitter who are just spiraling and scared and trying to control their fear by trying to control their fear by trying to guess what’s coming next. I get it. I also try to control my fear by predicting the future, but unfortunately, I don’t have that ability, and neither does Ezra Klein. So, I don’t want to pay attention to those people. I want to respond to the moment that we’re in… If I’m gonna give fucks about anything, I’m gonna give fucks about my community.” This is exactly where I’m at right now. I’m not reading or watching the news, I’m reading lovely novels and listening to gossip podcasts so that I can show up and bring muffins to my daughter’s teachers when they’re on strike, or help my neighbor walk her dog when she’s sick. Those are the things I can control and show up for.
Very much agree!
Yes! Same over here. And getting involved in our kid’s school and school district. I followed up with our local school and was so pleased to learn that a parent group is already organizing a Know Your Rights seminar for our (largely Latino) school community.
So agree with you all! It’s a both/and for me. I used to be a news hound, reading every alert and getting outraged at every little thing, but we have to stay calm and steady and be able to calm our neurological states if we’re going to be in the resistance for the long haul. Instead, I am trying to stay informed on top-line themes of the day, listen to The Guardian (British news podcast) to get some global/less-ethnocentric perspectives, and then use my extra time and energy to attend PTA meetings, volunteer in my kids’ classrooms, watch kids for friends who are having tough times or whose kids need extra care, have friends over, plan community dinners, not cross the picket line at my local grocery store, bake bread and give it away to neighbors, donate a few extra canned goods to the food bank and just as many other small acts of kindness and love as we can spread. It’s not that we don’t give any F’s about what Dump/Musk and Co are doing, but we have to give THE MOST F’s about our communities because the love, care and upkeep we do together is what binds us together as people. United we stand indeed.
Being able to take a step back from the news is a privilege. The immigration headlines are directly affecting my family’s future and I need to pay attention so that I can make plans: financial, with lawyers, attempting relocation in my job. There’s no notice sent out to people with pending USCIS (immigration) cases, just a banner added to the website and news headlines. Many of the hypotheticals explored by these podcasts have become true for my family. It is exhausting.
Thank you for this post, and for addressing what’s going on. I just got the 5 calls app this week and it really is easy to use.
Something I did was sign my (unfortunately) MAGA relatives up for a neutral daily news email newsletter covering the big topics, without telling them I signed them up ;) I hope it’ll undo some of the Fox News they insist on blasting 24/7. They won’t listen to me, but if it’s popping up in their inbox and giving them unbiased facts… maybe it’ll start to move the needle a bit. A girl can dream!! WORST case they can click unsubscribe and undo my sign up. My plan has been to wait a while, then sign them up for emails from slightly more and more progressive news sources :)
oh I love this idea. My parents are not tech savey and big Trumpers. They were so progressive when I was young and we lived in a Blue state but now in our Red state they’ve been brainwashed and won’t listen to me. Please share the email you signed them up for so I can try it!
Great idea! What neutral newsletter did you sign them up for?
Katie – it’s 1440 (the name of the newsletter)! It’s free and I’m really happy with it, I feel like it keeps me up to date and is so fact based with plenty of links for background. I’m in no way associated with it, just a happy user! Hope it helps you!
Love this and am going to sign up my maga family as well!
Try News Not Noise!
USA Facts is also another great data heavy newsletter.
Funny that you say this – I’m 90% sure my aunt signed me up for a far-right email newsletter last year (I immediately unsubscribed, as I lean left up here in Canada). I have eight aunts and therefore countless extended family members who lean that direction, but I still have a solid hunch as to who did it and it wasn’t a great feeling.
A plea to other Iowans: please call Iowa reps! I used 5calls.org to phone numerous reps about issues today. Everyone picked up with the exception of the Attorney General, who received a VM. My point is that they had plenty of time to field calls- Grassley’s rep even spent a significant amount of time fighting the points in the Elon Musk script rather than agreeing to pass along my POV to the Senator. Let’s flood their offices with calls and raise their level of concern. Please help!
Yes!!!! Fellow Iowan here. I can’t believe what’s happened in our state in the past few years. I have a kiddo who’s LGBTQ, and the fear and worry I feel for her is enormous.
President Trump has ordered his administration to prepare to house as many as 30,000 migrants at the Guantanamo base (NYTIMES).!0,000 people lost jobs at ICDDRB, Bangladesh because USAID was stopped. And Gaza and prime real estate are mentioned in the same sentence.
I’m currently interviewing for a federal position that is miraculously not on the chopping block (nor is the one office at this particular agency being made to scrub words from internal materials, although I doubt the whole agency is so lucky). It’s an agency that pivoted to public-private partnerships a while ago, which is odd to see up close but I think it also means the agency had more say in how this unfolded because it was ahead of the jump. It also partners closely with all branches of the military. It’s been eye opening for me to see that those moves (bringing in private sector partners and military partners) have actually allowed the agency to be MORE progressive and more immune to Elon’s takeover than the agencies we would have considered progressive or inclined to resist something like this. Food for thought on how we can move forward in the long term. It’s a path to resilience as a federal agency that I frankly would have thought of as selling out. I can’t give details of the interview, but I do want to assure everyone that it was the real deal in resisting this hostile takeover. This office was not bowing to any of the demands we’ve heard about.
Ditto on this as a natl lab employee. I am in no way interested in the privatization of our public services nor do I think “P3s” are the answer. But, moving forward, access to the Death Star is being granted through private sector partners and aligning ourselves to gain access will be important.
Hello loves, Thank you for all these amazing ideas and resources. I took some time to compile everyone’s suggestion into a Survival Document. I am having a neighborhood game night and fondue party this weekend and we are going to spend time doing some positive actions. I am going to propose monthly gatherings to gather, eat, laugh, be in community, and take action against the atrocities that are happening in our country. Maybe you all can gather your communities and do the same. Here is the document: file:///Users/katieprice/Downloads/Survival%20Plan.pdf
Hi, Katie, I was scrolling the comments putting together my own document in the same vein! I can’t seem to open your pdf. Can you try a different way to share it? Thanks so much!
Katie, I too cannot open your document. On another note, on the Hidden Brain program recently, they had a professor talk about the Climate dispair that young people are feeling, and Sarah Jaquette Ray addressed how to become less paralized from the feeling of the impossibility of fixing anything… I listened to find hope in our current political situation as it does feel almost unfixable. Her biggest take home message from her research was that working on solving the problem IN COMMUNITY was the most effective, just like the gatherings Katie suggests above. Here is the podcast if anyone is interested. And by the way, most Hidden Brain episodes are much more upbeat… this ones ratio of problem to solution is on the heavy site, but that is to be expected with this topic. https://hiddenbrain.org/podcast/wellness-2-0-when-its-all-too-much/