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It has been hell, But These 10 Things Kept Me Going for the Last Six Months: GNR [1]
['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']
Date: 2025-07-26
There is no sugarcoating how very very bad the first six months of Trump 2.0 have been for America and for the world.
But keep in mind: they want you to feel hopeless. They want you to give up. They are joyful every time you post that democracy is over because they know you are obeying in advance and giving up.
For the love of all things beautiful, do not give up.
Yes this is awful. Yes there are many reasons for worry.
BUT there are also reasons to be hopeful for the future.
When I think back to the first six months of this, these are the 10 things that gave me hope and kept me going and that CONTINUE to do so!!
1. Democrats Doing Great things
When people trash the Democrats what they are usually doing is trashing the 1 or 2 people who they have decided are “the democrats.” For example, if you don’t like Schumer, it doesn’t mean you don’t like Democrats. Are you really telling me you don’t like Jasmine Crockett? Or Hakeem Jeffries? Maybe you like AOC and Bernie. ALL OF THOSE ARE DEMOCRATS. Maybe you love how Newsom has been taking on Trump. Democrats. All of them. You know who else is a democrat? Me. And you. Your friends. The people you protest with. Maybe you like ALL OF US and all the work we do to make America better. Because, my friends, we are the Democrats! We are the party. And we are awesome. Democrats. We get the job done. From Jennifer Rubin: It is time to stop berating House and Senate Democrats for not “doing enough.” They did everything humanly possible to oppose the bill, pressure and shame Republicans, educate the public, and unify their ranks. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), and their colleagues (not to mention their indefatigable staffers) challenged and knocked out one measure after another in the so-called Byrd Bath process. They delayed and debated so the full horror of the bill could be covered for days and debated in the light of day, for all Americans to behold. In the House, discipline in the ranks and truly eloquent rhetoric from Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) in a record-setting 8+ hours of debate on Thursday underscored Democrats’ devotion to ordinary Americans. Democrats lost this bill because they lost too many seats in 2024. Math is math. At the end of his inspiring, record-setting “magic minute” speech on the House floor on Jeffries (D-N.Y.) declared, “As I take my seat, I just want to say to the American people that no matter what the outcome is on this singular day, we’re going to press on.” He pledged that Democrats would “[p]ress on for the left behind. Press on for the rule of law. Press on for the American way of life. Press on for democracy. We’re going to press on until victory is won.” And so must all patriotic Americans.
Here is something from just this week:
Democrats use tariffs to turn inflation on Trump
Our colleagues Abha Bhattarai and Andrew Ackerman reported this month that inflation began to tick up in June, “a sign that President Donald Trump’s tariffs are beginning to push up costs of appliances, furniture, clothing and other everyday goods across the economy.” It’s a trend that Democrats are keenly aware of and prepared to use as one of their chief attacks against Republicans in next year’s midterm elections. “On tariffs, it’s prices,” Rep. Suzan DelBene, chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, told us on Monday. “It’s the prices of everyday goods that people are buying.” There is a nuance to Democratic messaging here. Yes, Democratic candidates will talk about tariffs, especially in states that are trade-dependent and whose business communities — be it manufacturing, agriculture or technology — rely on trade to operate. But the bulk of Democratic messaging on the issue will probably focus less directly on two aspects of the debate: How tariffs raise costs on goods families purchase every day and how the uncertainty surrounding Trump’s tariff plan has affected businesses.
and (also recently) Rep. Ro Khanna, who has been at the forefront of bringing a discharge petition to the floor of the House.
And this new news:
Democratic AGs are amazing
A group of more than 20 attorneys general are suing the Trump regime to “stop its unlawful attempt to gut … programs for low-income families,” a statement read. NY AG Letitia James declared: “This is a baseless attack on some of our country’s most effective and inclusive public programs, and we will not let it stand.”
Democrats: They’re Fighting For Us
Check out these recent New York Times headlines about the state of the Democratic Party: Many Americans Say the Democratic Party Does Not Share Their Priorities ‘The Damage to the Party Is Profound’: Three Opinion Writers on What Happened to the Democrats Trump Leaves Democrats Dazed and on the Defensive ‘We Have No Coherent Message’: Democrats Struggle to Oppose Trump Powerless, Democrats Debate Just How Deep in the Wilderness They Are Democratic Party is a Rotting Corpse Unworthy of a Decent Burial Okay, I made that last one up. But it’s only a matter of time before the Times prints it. Here’s a headline I’d propose: Democrats Across the US are Fighting Back That one might not be clickbait, but it has the benefit of being true. The corporate media’s “coverage” of the Democrats has chosen to overlook the party’s most spectacular asset: a roster packed with gifted politicians. In fact, I’d argue that the Democrats have more talent than they’ve had in a generation. And they’re fighting for us. Some reader nominations: JB Pritzker from Illinois. He is the best Governor we've had in a very long time My vote for the Democrat to lead the resistance is either AOC or Jasmine Crockett. Both of whom are easily able to overwhelm either Trump or Musk. Jamie Raskin, who said, "Given that I was marching at age three, you know I’m not letting any coup-plotting, election-denying, insurrection-supplying autocrat, kleptocrat, plutocrat or theocrat, or any techno-feudalist Silicon Valley broligarch aspiring dictator, turn me around now. I am going to honor and participate every day in this urgent national fight for strong constitutional democracy, personal freedom and social progress." Senator: Raphael Warnock. House: Sarah McBride (Del); Becca Balint (Vt). If you haven’t heard of them, find them. Brilliant minds and kick-ass attitude. Governor: Gretchen Whitmer. CT Sen. Chris Murphy – David Hogg. He lived through the hell of a Florida high school massacre as a student, and hasn't stopped since then.
You can find a deep dive into Democrats being awesome here.
2. Trump is Deeply Unpopular
Watching Trump’s popularity plummet has given me hope.
As Trump was inaugurated in January 2025, his net approval stood at +9
A new poll on Tuesday from the influential data guy G. Elliott Morris confirms just how much the country has rejected Trump and his early agenda:
Trump’s approval is a terrible 42%-57% (-15). In line with all the public, independent polls we saw last week. Remarkable harmony in current data.
This MATTERS. It matters to him (and makes him change behavior). It matters to other Rs who are slowly seeing that carrying his water is not going to benefit them. AND it matters for 2026...
3. Predictors of 2026 look good
This is going to be a hard election year and we are all going to have to chip in (in any way we can) in order to win, but we CAN win. There have been a number of signs in 2026 which are good for us.
First, the elephant in the room: will there be elections?
Yes. I don’t have a crystal ball but I do have the ability to see what is happening and I see Trump acting VERY MUCH like there will be elections. All reports indicate that he is obsessing about it and spending much of his time trying to talk Rs into not retiring from congress and trying to voter suppress and gerrymander wherever he can.
and this from Robert Hubbell:
I continue to receive daily emails from readers about the 2026 elections being canceled by Trump. If that happens (it won’t), there will be no House of Representatives (the terms of all representatives expire on January 3, 2027) and Democrats would assume control of the Senate with 34 Democrats and 31 Republicans. (The terms of 22 Republicans and 13 Democratic terms expiring on January 3, 2027.)
And how will those elections turn out? We can’t know for sure but we do know that we CAN win. Even with their shenanigans!
We are doing amazing in special elections.
In 2025, Democrats have been beating expectations pretty much everywhere — and it's not just because of turnout.
This got me thinking… Are the districts moving to Democrats in 2025 places that have already been trending toward them? That would be useful to know, since if so, that would make the swing to the left since 2024 somewhat less notable. Turns out: no!
What Democratic swings in special elections mean for 2026
Beyond what the historical record suggests, there is an additional warning sign for Trump allies who want to continue single-party GOP rule in Washington: Democrats have made big gains in special elections since Trump took office in January 2025. A Washington Post analysis of these races suggests Democrats might be on track for a very good 2026. Among all special elections this year, Democrats have outperformed Kamala Harris’s vote share in 2024 by 13 percentage points, based on Harris-Trump baselines calculated by the Downballot, an election data newsletter. That’s the largest shift toward any party in years. In fact, all but four of the 31 special elections have seen movement toward Democrats.
4. Words of Inspiration from wise people
A lot of really awesome people have kept me going. Here are some of the words that moved me:
They want us to quit. We won't.
I know it feels overwhelming right now, like the corruption and cruelty go so deep there’s no other side to them, but history shows us that even the most crooked and depraved governments can be brought down eventually, if the populace bands together and peacefully resists. The trick is to not give up, even though such governments try to make us do exactly that. Chop wood. Carry water. One day at a time we’ll keep doing this work. In time we will prevail. I promise.
Why I am optimistic about the long term.
I am optimistic about the long term. We will survive and recover from this challenging period. Although progress will be painful and hard fought, our nation will emerge as a more resilient, smarter, and more just democracy. Adversity makes us stronger. Although America is imperfect and deeply flawed, it is a great nation because its character has been chiseled by the repeated journey from defeat to victory, sorrow to joy, and enmity to charity. The foundation for our eventual success is being laid every day, brick by brick, with every protest, letter, postcard, call, text, and meeting in living rooms across the nation. The scale and distributed nature of our efforts to reclaim democracy ensures that the new foundation will be stronger than the buckling footings under siege by the president. We should take heart from the steadfast support of the judiciary during our nation’s hour of need. While expected and appropriate, the judiciary’s robust response was not guaranteed. Many (including me) have been surprised by the breadth and vigor of the judicial response.
Robert Hubbell
The good news is that there are tens of millions of us. No single person must carry the weight of the nation’s future on their shoulders alone. That is a collective burden shared by millions across many years. True, we must persevere even when we are sick of the “news.” In reality, our resistance is the “news.” Future historians will look back on this period and accurately report the most significant story of 2025 was that “millions of Americans rose up to save democracy.” That is the news from today. The rest is detail.
From Amanda’s Mild Takes The Democrats have a new party chair and he is great. he hit the ground running with a 50 state strategy. He’s made changes to the kinds of donations the party will accept. The house minority leader came out in support of legislation that would prohibit members of Congress from trading stocks. So I think the DNC is really starting to hear that we want a message that Republicans are for wall Street and Democrats are for working families. I am really optimistic about 2028. You know, in three years those primaries are going to be lit. The GOP have spent 10 years with its nose up Donald Trump’s rear. So it’ll be 14 of our best and brightest against JD Vance, who is the most charmless putz I’ve ever seen. From Liam Kerr As Jonathan Chait put it, “the good news is that it's harder to build an authoritarian system when the authoritarian leader is totally bonkers.” And MAGA incompetence does not just apply to governing. Having undisciplined leaders directing low-grade middle managers also matters for winning elections. Which brings us to the biggest news: We still have elections! And Republicans are faring very poorly in them. Everyone is focused on the stock market these days, but there’s another scoreboard: the betting markets. Democratic odds of winning the Senate jumped from 17% to 24% when I drafted this on Friday ... and went past 28% this morning. Odds of winning the House jumped from 67% to 80%. from David Brooks
In his book “Upheaval,” Jared Diamond looked at countries that endured crises and recovered. He points out that the nations that recover don’t catastrophize — they don’t say everything is screwed up and we need to burn it all down. They take a careful inventory of what is working well and what is working poorly. Leaders assume responsibility for their own share of society’s problems.
5. Historical perspectives help calm me down
It is easy to get lost in the awful of this moment and not realize that we have always struggled for good to win over bad and America has faced lots of tough moments before.
Realizing that this is a normal part of the human condition can help it from feeling overwhelming and it can remind us of all the times that good has won in the past.
It can remind us of our place in history.
It can keep us from catastrophizing.
from Robert Hubbell
History teaches us that those who fight to preserve their country will outlast those who capitulate in a futile attempt to preserve their wealth, power, and privilege. During World War II, the members of the Vichy regime sought to protect France (and themselves) by surrendering to and collaborating with Nazi Germany. Other French citizens resisted Hitler by organizing an underground armed resistance (the French Resistance), a government in exile (Free France), and an army in exile (the Free French Army).¹ History remembers the Vichy collaborators and capitulators as traitors to France. Members of Free France, the French Resistance, and the Free French Army are rightfully remembered as the saviors of France. They resisted in exile for four long years. Initially, the forces in exile lacked support from most French citizens and the country’s territories. Those in exile watched in horror as France’s political, social, and military elite collaborated with the Nazi regime, including the deportation of French Jews to Nazi concentration camps. Under the Vichy regime, collaborators continued to live lives of privilege, power, and affluence while those in exile lived in tent encampments for four years. Support for the French resistance grew over time as the resistance and the Allies made advances against German forces. Eventually, the French resistance prevailed because they were fighting for France while the Vichy regime fought to preserve their power, wealth, and privilege. There are parallels to our present position and that of France in World War II. The tide is shifting in our favor. Trump and the Republicans know and fear that truth. They are trying to inflict as much damage and extract as much profit as possible during their shrinking time in power.
From Mike Madrid
I want to offer some perspective. Every generation of Americans has been summoned to defend the promise of democracy. Some have stood in snow-covered camps with no shoes and no certainty of survival. Others have crossed oceans into fire, fighting for freedom not only for themselves but for the world. Some marched in the Deep South against the racist laws that have scarred us since our founding. And some have stood their ground at home, marching, organizing, speaking up, so that our institutions might endure and our ideals might live. Now, it is our turn. Our moment may not look like Valley Forge, Gettysburg, or Omaha Beach. We are not dodging bullets or charging trenches. But make no mistake, we too are in a war for democracy. It is a different kind of battle, fought not with muskets and bayonets, but with ballots and truth, with civic engagement and institutional defense. The stakes, while less visible than physical combat, are no less meaningful. If we fail to engage, if we lose faith in truth or drift into apathy, the American project, the promise that people can govern themselves, will erode from within. This bloodless war may be quieter than its predecessors, but defeat for our freedoms and our Constitution would be no less final. Let us be clear-eyed: we are not asked to cross icy rivers or charge into enemy fire. We are asked to vote, to speak, to organize, to protest, to resist authoritarianism not with muskets or tanks, but with conviction and clarity. It is not glory we are called to, but responsibility. To believe that our time is uniquely cursed is a form of arrogance. We are heirs to people who endured far worse and prevailed. But to believe that democracy will survive without our effort is a form of delusion. This nation has survived civil war, global war, economic collapse, racial injustice, and constitutional crisis. It has done so not by accident, but because enough people, sometimes just barely enough, rose to the challenge. We must do the same. This is a moment of choosing. Between fact and fiction. Between hope and fear. Between democracy and something much colder. Let us be worthy of the moment. Let us honor Washington's quiet plea for courage, Lincoln's call to finish the work, and Eisenhower's faith in ordinary people to do extraordinary things. Today, fear has gripped millions of Americans, but the moment must be met with catalyzing action, not paralysis. Turn fear into righteous anger. Do not let it leave you frozen. The cause of liberty has always depended on imperfect citizens rising to perfect occasions. Now it depends on us.
I don’t know about you, but I find some comfort in the knowledge that this is a not a completely new battle and that we have won it again and again and again.
6. The Epstein thing is real
from Robert Hubbell
I was initially skeptical that the Epstein scandal would be a political liability for Trump and a political advantage for Democrats. But Trump's reaction—shutting down Congress, accusing President Obama of being a traitor, and dangling a pardon for Ghislaine Maxwell—suggests that he believes it is a major political liability. Still, the primary focus should always be on the fact that the victims have never received justice. The perpetrators (including possibly Trump) have, so far, escaped accountability.
Think about how nuts this is:
the scandal has forced the House to grind to a halt. “Republicans on the House Rules Committee continue to oppose allowing any legislation to reach the House floor for a vote this week,” the Washington Post reported. “That’s because they fear Democrats will introduce amendments related to Epstein. Democrats on the panel did so twice last week, and Republicans faced blowback from constituents and the MAGA base for voting against releasing the files.” The GOP chair of the committee said it might not meet again until September, and the House is set to scurry out of town for recess on Wednesday.
and this:
Trump is in a frenzy. Republicans are no longer complacent about a coverup. The public overwhelmingly disapproves of his handling of the scandal. Social media continues to stay on the case. And now the spectacle of Maxwell’s testimony provides the opportunity for wall-to-wall coverage.
Why is this one sticking? Because it crosses party lines
House members on both sides of the aisle are irate with Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), who refused to move forward with a vote to compel release of the documents. Rep. Tom Massie (R-Ky.) earned the ire of the Speaker (and Trump) after he scolded Johnson: “Who’s he gonna pick? Is he going to stand with the pedophiles and underage sex traffickers? Or is he gonna pick the American people and justice for the victims? … It’s irrespective of what the president wants.”
7 The world isn’t following trump’s lead
By keeping our voices loud about how this isn’t good, we are teaching the rest of the world. The better other countries keep things, the easier it will be to right our own ship.
Maybe Trump isn’t actually leading a global populist revolt.
based on the probably-at-least-partly Trump-inspired drubbing inflicted on right-wing parties in Canada and Australia in recent elections, it’s not clear that being known as the “Trump of” your country really gets you all that much. Whatever his ultimate legacy for the United States and the world, he doesn’t seem likely to be remembered as the man who made global far-right populism great again.
8. Booker
That was one of the most amazing things I have ever seen. I watched the last few hours live. It was riveting. What a leader!
The Power of Standing Up
Sen. Cory Booker stood on the floor of the U.S. Senate for 25 hours and 5 minutes, speaking about the threat Donald Trump poses to our democracy. To avoid needing to use the restroom, Booker went without food and water for days in advance. To give his voice an occasional rest, other Democratic senators engaged in colloquies with him. Through it all — from evening to the middle of the night, to the next day and evening again — Booker stood and delivered his message with force, grace and eloquence. When he was done, he limped off the floor having made history. Over the course of his speech, many observers grew excited that a Democratic politician was taking action to disrupt the Senate. Others noted the symbolism of a Black senator breaking Strom Thurmond’s record for the longest speech in Senate history. While these aspects may offer satisfaction, they miss the deeper significance of what Booker accomplished. His actions were not merely symbolic or performative; they were substantive. Booker did not read the phone book, as other senators have done. He did not simply read state laws into the Congressional Record, as Thurmond did to pass the time. He did not read children’s books, like Ted Cruz. Instead, Booker used his time to argue that what we are witnessing in our country is not only abnormal, but fundamentally wrong. He connected his argument to the U.S. Constitution, the Bible and our shared sense of right and wrong. He explained how the moment we live in fits into the broader context of history while also being unique. Seamlessly, he wove references to literature, religion, law and politics. Booker was not killing time merely to inconvenience others; he was using the time to persuade an audience. That is why his speech became so captivating and why millions tuned in to watch. He was not wasting our time or his. He was using it efficiently and effectively to sound an alarm that too few have heard.
One could marvel not only at New Jersey Senator Cory Booker’s endurance during his 25+ hours on the Senate floor, but at his coherence, joyful demeanor, and superb timing (coming as Democrats anxiously awaited the results from Wisconsin). Moreover, students of history, lovers of democracy, and American patriots had the chance to relish the symbolism of a Black man supplanting the record set by an embittered segregationist Strom Thurmond. Booker said about Thurmond: “I’m here despite his speech. I’m here because as powerful as he was, the people were more powerful.” Booker aimed to jolt his fellow Americans out of their lethargy, defeatism, and cynicism. Beginning Monday night at 7 p.m., he declared, “I rise with the intention of disrupting the normal business of the United States Senate for as long as I am physically able.” He added: “I rise tonight because I believe sincerely that our nation is in crisis.” He proceeded to explain precisely why and how Donald Trump and Elon Musk have brutalized the most vulnerable Americans, savaged functional government, assaulted the courts, shredded the Constitution, and betrayed our deepest held values. On issues like healthcare, he shared individual stories of the people who already have been harmed; he castigated Trump and Musk for taking away benefits from the elderly and poor to pay for giant tax cuts. “They’re stealing from your grandchildren so that the wealthiest amongst us can get bigger tax cuts, and at the same time taking away medical coverage from the most vulnerable. What is that? It's not who we are. It's not who we are, America,” he thundered. But Booker’s central message—“More Americans need to stand up and say enough is enough”—was the sort of call to arms Democrats have been waiting for since Trump took office. He made clear the effort must come both from elected leaders: “We should be stepping up and saying we accept a lot of responsibility for this moment, but we also have a lot of responsibility for meeting this moment.” And also from ordinary Americans: “Don’t let this be another normal day in America…But what is more needed from now is less people sitting on sidelines less people being witnesses of American history and more people determined to make it.” Cory Booker’s Long Speech: By the Numbers U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) held the Senate floor with a marathon speech that began at 7pm ET Monday evening and lasted until Tuesday night. After 25 hours and 5 minutes speaking directly to the American people, Senator Booker broke the record for longest individual floor speech ever delivered, surpassing the previous record set by Strom Thurmond of South Carolina, who filibustered for 24 hours and 18 minutes against the Civil Rights Act of 1957. Here’s a look at Booker’s speech, by the numbers: 25 hours and 5 minutes: total length of Booker’s speech
1164 pages of prepared material
More than 200 stories from New Jerseyans and Americans across the country shared in the speech
350 million-plus likes on @SenatorBooker’s TikTok livestream of the speech
More than 28,000 voicemails of encouragement left on Senator Booker’s main office line
300 thousand-plus: largest number of people viewing Senator Booker’s Live Stream across just his platforms at once 9. Musk and Tesla — the losingest Our biggest foe from day one (Musk) is no longer on team trump his is actively anti-trump. Don’t get me wrong — this doesn’t make Musk our friend. He is awful awful awful. But it is great news that they are no longer united in being awful and instead are harming one another (and thus hampering their abilities to harm America). And a lot of this was due TO US. Our voices and economic power did a lot of this! Oh lord things are bad for Musk and his companies! Let’s enjoy ‘Drag on Donald Trump’: CNN Data Guru Highlights Musk’s Plummeting Popularity It looks like laying off thousands of workers and slashing funding for several programs hasn’t helped Elon Musk curry favor with the public. CNN’s senior data reporter Harry Enten noted Thursday that the DOGE chief’s popularity has tanked in just three months. “The more people get to know about Musk and the job he’s doing, the less they like it,” Enten told Erin Burnett OutFront. “They want Musk ‘Adios, amigo.‘” “He is a drag on Donald Trump. And the question is, how many more [Anthony] Scaramuccis can he last there?” the CNN data guru said, referencing a former White House communications director who had a high-profile falling-out with Trump. Tesla sales tumble 13% as Musk backlash, competition and aging lineup turn off buyers Tesla sales fell 13% in the first three months of the year, another sign that Elon Musk’s once high-flying car company is struggling to attract buyers. The leading electric vehicle maker has faced a growing backlash from Musk’s embrace of right-wing politics and his role in the Trump administration. Opponents have staged protests at Tesla showrooms in the U.S. and in Europe, where the sales declines have been steeper. NYC to sue Tesla over Elon Musk’s alleged breach of fiduciary duties New York City Comptroller Brad Lander has asked the city, which is a major Tesla shareholder, to sue Tesla and CEO Elon Musk over alleged breaches of fiduciary duties. Lander asked the New York City Law Department to pursue securities litigation against Tesla on behalf of the New York City pension systems, which owns 3 million shares in Tesla. Elon Musk to Tesla Cybertruck buyers: No take-backs. It’s a lemon Elon Musk’s Tesla woes are continuing to pile up. With Tesla having issues selling new Cybertrucks, the automaker is reportedly not taking any as trade-ins. Many Cybertruck owners reported trying to trade-in the truck for a new vehicle and they were told that the automaker currently doesn’t accept its own vehicle as a trade-in. Some owners who have had their trucks in service for extended periods of time are also trying to get Tesla to take the truck back, but the company is forcing them to go through the Lemon Law process. It’s not surprising to see Tesla not wanting to take back used Cybertrucks as their prices are falling fast. Tesla Semi suffers more delays and ‘dramatic’ price increase According to a Tesla Semi customer, the electric truck program is suffering more delays and a price increase that is described as “dramatic.” Tesla Semi has seen many delays, more than any other vehicle program at Tesla. It was initially unveiled in 2017, and CEO Elon Musk claimed that it would go into production in 2019. In late 2022, Tesla held an event where it unveiled the “production version” of the Tesla Semi and delivered the first few units to a “customer-partner”: PepsiCo. More than 3 years later, the vehicle never went into volume production. Instead, Tesla only ran a very low volume pilot production at a factory in Nevada and only delivered a few dozen trucks to customers as part of test programs. But Tesla promised that things would finally happen for the Tesla Semi this year.
9. YOU are amazing
Lots of whining about how no one is fighting this time around. UNTRUE
Contrary to conventional wisdom, the size and scale of anti-Trump protests this year have dwarfed those in 2017, and they have been extraordinarily peaceful.
protests against ICE raids have been intensifying around the country for months, alongside protests opposing perceived power-grabs by the Trump administration. And we know that the movement’s tactics have been extraordinarily peaceful. In fact, as we discussed in March, protests in the U.S. have been quite robust since Trump took office the second time. Our ongoing research on protests in the United States reveals that within the first two weeks of the second Trump administration, protest activity surpassed that of 2017. By the end of March 2025, there had been three times as many protests as had taken place in 2017. Protest has been surging since, with large boosts coming from major, multi-location actions in April and May. Two notable surges of protest came on the nationwide Hands Offs protests on April 5 and No Kings protests on April 19. To date, we have tallied 1,145 protests on April 5, with events occurring in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Significantly, protest activity occurred throughout the country, including in rural and GOP-leaning towns. For April 19, we tallied 928 protests also occurring in all 50 states and D.C. And on May 1 and May 3, we tallied over 1,000 anti-Trump May Day protests. These are significant showings. If we look back to the first Trump administration, in April 2017 the most prominent multi-location protest was the March for Science on April 22, which occurred in 390 locations including most major cities. In 2017, we tallied 80 May Day protests nationwide, compared to over 1,000 this year. Overall, 2017’s numbers pale in comparison to the scale and scope of mobilization in 2025 — a fact often unnoticed in the public discourse about the response to Trump’s actions.
and —
Mote than half of the country’s largest protests have happened while Trump was president or president-elect.
It turns out that when you attack Americans and American institutions from inside, Americans fight back.
We are showing up
The real problem, for the Trump regime in the making, is that Americans are turning out in large numbers to defend the vulnerable by exercising their right to free assembly and protest. Authoritarianism depends on breaking the horizontal bonds of solidarity and empathy that lead people to risk their safety to protest injustices against others. The massive and exaggerated deployment of state security personnel and the display of arms and uniforms is designed to frighten people into hiding. There is nothing stronger than solidarity shown publicly, which is why the state responds with outsized threat and violent acts. Weak authoritarians fear empathy, a sense of justice and morality, love for others, and collective action. All they have is force and lies. They may feel immensely empowered right now, but those protesting them are on the right side of history. A reckoning will come for the aggressors as more Americans open their eyes to the criminal nature of this administration.
Volunteers flock to immigration courts to support migrants arrested in the hallways
After a Seattle immigration judge dismissed the deportation case against a Colombian man — exposing him to expedited removal — three people sat with him in the back of the courtroom, taking his car keys for safe-keeping, helping him memorize phone numbers and gathering the names of family members who needed to be notified. When Judge Brett Parchert asked why they were doing that in court, the volunteers said Immigration and Custom Enforcement officers were outside the door, waiting to take the man into custody, so this was their only chance to help him get his things in order. "ICE is in the waiting room?" the judge asked. As the mass deportation campaign of President Donald Trump focuses on cities and states led by Democrats and unleashes fear among asylum-seekers and immigrants, their legal defenders sued this week, seeking class-action protections against the arrests outside immigration court hearings. Meanwhile, these volunteers are taking action. A diverse group — faith leaders, college students, grandmothers, retired lawyers and professors — has been showing up at immigration courts across the nation to escort immigrants at risk of being detained for deportation by masked ICE officials. They're giving families moral and logistical support, and bearing witness as the people are taken away. The Northwest Immigrant Rights Project was inundated by so many community members wanting to help that they made a volunteer training video, created “Know Your Rights” sheets in several languages and started a Google sheet where people sign up for shifts, said Stephanie Gai, a staff attorney with the Seattle-based legal services non-profit.
I hope at least a few of those help all of you as well!!
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