Meaningful Action

Readers of this newsletter already know we’re in a bad — maybe irrevocably bad — moment in American history.

Today, on Labor Day, Donald Trump’s “strongman” image looms over Washington, DC, including on the Department of Labor building — just like the dictator he promised to be and is in the process of becoming.

The historian Garrett Graff makes a compelling case that, just in the past few weeks, the U.S. tipped over into authoritarianism. His post is here, and it’s well worth reading.

It’s maddening, frustrating, scary. Many of us feel powerless, and so we become what one professor has called “political hobbyists.” Tufts scholar Eitan Hersh writes in his 2020 book that well-intentioned Americans may spend hours a day on politics — listening to podcasts, watching the news, reading newsletters, texting memes and clever observations to our friends — and it may feel as if we’re doing something.

Granted, staying engaged is better than tuning out altogether. But many are really not using their time or energy in a way that could create change or make a difference. And as most of you agree, based on your comments to the question in my most recent post, the elections in 2026 and 2028, are crucially important if there’s a chance of turning things around and reclaiming our democracy. That’s where the focus must be.

So with the help of my brother David, a longtime voting rights lawyer and organizer (check out his Bluesky banner photo in which he scrutinizes a ballot in the hotly contested aftermath of the 2000 presidential election), I’ve assembled some resources for those who want to move beyond hobbyism and into citizen action. (After this list, I’ll tell you my media travesties of the past week.)

Some of these organizations are non-partisan. Some are progressive and overtly political; I think it’s pretty obvious that, if Trump and his minions are to be vanquished, there needs to be a “blue wave” in these elections.

Grassroots groups, which organize locally, put on rallies, and generally get people together:

• Indivisible

• Swing Left

• 50501

Important membership organizations to join or donate to:

• Common Cause

• League of Women Voters

• VoPro Pros (for voter protection)

• Third Act (for Americans over 60; climate and democracy-protection activism)

Organizers (you can donate to these):

• Movement Voter Project

• Field Team 6 (voter reg)

• Voters of Tomorrow (youth vote)

Litigation (for donations, rather than direct volunteer work):

• ACLU

• Democracy Forward

It’s also extremely important to support and engage with media organizations and independent journalists that are performing their public service mission (even if imperfectly) rather than cowering or trying to maximize revenue for corporate shareholders. Readers, please let me know of the ways that you are focusing on these all-important elections or helping to reclaim our democracy.