I call the bill the “Big Billionaire Bill”. Trump has had merchandise to unify the fascists since Day 1. Wouldn’t it be helpful to have a slogan that every single true American can get behind? LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. It’s what we were founded on. It speaks to the moment we’re in and why we are fighting this ugly regime. Can the DNC or some influential group merchandise this so we have hats, shirts, bumper stickers, flags with this message? We need to own patriotism again. We need to own the Fourth. Let the cultists cringe every time they hear the Pledge of Allegiance.
YES, Victoria. You nailed it. The regime weaponized merchandise and we mocked it - big mistake. “Liberty and Justice for All” isn’t just a slogan. It’s a reclaiming of what they hijacked.
I’ve been pushing this same message, about taking back the Fourth, the flag, and the fight for the soul of this country. We need hats, shirts, movement colors, street gear, veteran outreach.
Let them cringe every time they hear the anthem - because they know we mean it.
We could do messaging like this on a list of topics. Shit, i have even posted some of them.
Let’s talk more. This kind of energy changes culture.
I agree with you, Victoria. But that would take the DNC and its consultants actually caring about that kind of messaging. Right now, they don’t. It’s very frustrating.
Every time the DNC emails me for $$ I tell them I won't donate till they do exactly as you and Anthony have described, adding that if necessary, hire some marketing hotshot from Wall St. to help. Many of us have been saying this for years!! Just watch how the gop has done it (short, sweet, repeat; short sweet repeat...). It's like they have a morning meeting (I've always thought it was trump calling in to faux, where they determine the day's campaign then get the word out so everyone, from top dogs down to street level is pushing the same concept and basically the same way), but the DNC simply does . not . get . it. They are CLUELESS!!!
I like it. A lot. But the problem is (and I'm definitely not criticizing you here because we all feel this way) everybody wants 'the DNC or some influential group' to do something, and no one is coming to save us; we have to do it ourselves. We have to become that 'influential group' (and replace the DNC). Just like the tea party and then maga did Republicans. It's the only way. Start a fire, I guess.
I agree. That's why I decided to invite more people who have messaging ideas to speak in this space. Those messengers will become the "influential group." We cannot depend on the DNC for anything...except more requests for money in our inboxes.
Thank you for this conversation. My sign at weekly protests is "Block MAGA Murder Budget" and it is personal to me because I worked with severe special needs children for over 30 years. They all rely on Medicaid for lots of things like wheelchairs, medical supplies, g-tube feeds, communication devices etc. Families who are already stressed would have to supply these things and they are all very expensive. Only the wealthy could handle it. Pro-life my ass!
I agree that Democrats fail at messaging. As horrible as the Republican/Maga cohort is, many disenchanted voters are not leaning towards the Democratic party. One statement that I've frequently heard is that the "Democratic Party left me. I didn't leave the Democratic party."
What does that mean exactly? I suppose it depends on the individual.
I think this gets to the heart of our conversation. The DNC is top-down. They don't listen to their grassroots or really even use us effectively. Like Anthony said, they come to us to "approve of" what they, their donors, and their consultants have already decided. That comes across to people, and it is off-putting.
Republicans don't treat their grassroots this way.
Not long ago I googled the DNC -- wanting to understand how it is organized, how those running for membership are elected, etc....... WHAT A DAMNED MESS!! I was unable to even find a simple "organization chart" showing all members and how to reach them, esp at the local level; it's like a secret club!! (There's no single site that explains it all so just google away to get all kinds of possible stuff to read.) Toss in the state DNC, then also US Senate and House Democratic committees whose job is to identify then support up-and-comers, etc. VERY CONFUSING. Hard to tell how (or if) it is all coordinated. Maybe someone like David Hogg would consider guesting with you to explain it. Could be interesting, esp since he recently caused a ruckus by stating that the DNC needs to eliminate "lazy" democrats on all levels because they're in easy districts and can just coast along, not fighting against today's evils.....and for various reasons is getting the cold shoulder mainly because the DNC doesn't want to risk losing ANY Dem seat. I get the sense David's frustrated the way we are and might be open to working with groups like this in order to turn it all around.
The Bernie/AOC rallies have been effective because they focus on giving attendees opportunities to TELL THEM WHAT THEY NEED AND WHY THEY FEEL NOBODY HAS LISTENED. When people feel like NOBODY hears them or is fixing the problems, they turn to ANYBODY who sounds like THEY can FIX stuff. Remember how (years ago) trump began stating, "Only I can fix this"..... he was setting everything up way back then and it has worked. The problem now is that he makes huge promises but doesn't / cannot honor them. We have to start by helping people see where he is REALLY taking us & why it will make things EVEN WORSE FOR ALL OF US. (Which then begs the question of how do we describe a better outcome that DOES ACTUALLY help all of us? ...)
Spot on. At least a dozen working journalists here in D.C. who cover politics whimper to me that religion is a third rail they won't touch. While they say they fear backlash, they don't mention how ignorant they are about religion and the sects, factions and movements therein. I've insulted long-time journalist-friends over this. I've given up hope.
I guess living in a Christo-fascist dictatorship will teach them a few things...not that I want that to happen. But when the militant Muslims took over Iran, it was a very different country than it is today. Christian Nationalists have the same religious zealotry, the same radicalization. Different religion.
Great conversation with Anthony. I agree that “MAGA murder bill” is appropriate messaging. We just cannot continue to bring an etiquette book to a knife fight.
We have to make Peter Thiel, Palantir, and Russ Vought as hated as Elon.
My elevator speech on why we need to pay attention to this billion dollar contract Trump awarded Palantir is “Peter Thiel’s Palantir is taking our personal data, that Elon Musk stole from us, to create a file on every American, so Project 2025’s mastermind Russ Vought can weaponize our personal data against us. This could include everything from gun registrations, medical records, and IRS records just to name a few.
Thiel is a right wing tech fascist, like Elon, and Vought is a radical christian nationalist. They have all had the long term goal of replacing our democracy with a theocracy/plutocracy. Sounds like a bad script for a dystopian film but it is not. Google these guys. It is even worse than what I have described.”
Thiel is also an Opus Dei Catholic Christian Nationalist. Though I don’t classify him as a true believer like Vought since Thiel is gay. But he understands how to use religion to control people.
Thanks for your work educating and informing, Andra, based on your lived experience. It’s interesting the overlap and boundary between “Christ Jesus” and “Cruel Judgment.” I look forward to speaking to you next week!
This is off topic about the Democratic Party, but important. I read this morning in Democracy Docket that Russell Voght is now leading DOGE. Elon and his frat boys were both awful and unlawful, rude, and disgusting.
Vought, however, could be more dangerous. He operates behind the scenes, knows how the government actually works, and is everything Project 2025.
Ruth Ben-Ghiat's newsletter is spot-on today. While corporate media calls DOGE a failure, it is entrenched in every government department, now being overseen by Vought. While Vought is a radicalized Christian Nationalist fanatic, he is also very intelligent, ruthlessly strategic, and effective. His goal is to transform the government into a Christo-fascist dictatorship. He is on the record as saying only Christian Nationalists should serve in government (including as elected officials.) He is working ruthlessly to make that happen, while James Fettig's journalist friends cry that they can't write about it. Sigh.
I don't think DOGE was EVER all about "fraud, waste and abuse". They only used that as a cover excuse. I mean, almost the very first thing they did was to fire nearly all the Inspector Generals (who HAD been entirely successful at their jobs in analyzing exactly what DOGE claimed to be doing -- IF anyone had taken a minute to look at their results.) I think all they REALLY wanted was access to ALL the federal data bases containing all the private information on all of us. (You want to easily find "fraud, waste and abuse" ??? Go straight to the DOD, where they perpetually fail financial audits THAT NOBODY FOLLOWS UPON. But did DOGE dive into the DOD? Of course, not. His (private) goal was to obtain all the juicy contracts trump is now threatening to take away. And he didn't close or cripple certain depts and agencies because DOGE found "fraud", etc. He did it because his companies were under investigation by the SEC, FAA, FDA, FTC, EPA, NHTSA, NLRB, etc. NOPE. IT WAS ALLLLL ABOUT THE DATA BASES, PERIOD. Data bases that can be merged and used all kinds of seriously detrimental ways by him; data bases that can be used by vought & co. to monitor and control ALL OF US.
Vought is a radicalized person. He has every right to believe his Bible says whatever he wants, but he believes he has a right to force it on everyone. He truly believes he is doing God's will. I don't think he's pretending for power and money. He believes in this cause enough to die for it. That's my take on him.
Well that would be a just outcome (your penultimate sentence). No point in mincing words. They've been very clear they're intent on killing us. Across human history those situations don't always resolve peacefully. Not that I'm advocating violence. But only because I don't see it working out for our side.
In my conversation with Marcel Dirsus (and in his book) he talks about how unwilling trained military soldiers are to fire on their own people. I don’t know how that translates to paramilitary groups, militarized police (many of whom seem thrilled to kill people), and militias. William Finnegan has also written about this…that if the military was ordered to shoot Americans, some would, and others would turn on their fellow soldiers.
In my familial experience with gun nuts, they don’t really understand a gun’s power. In the Army, shooters trained on AR-15s can’t take them home. They must keep them locked up on base, because that gun’s only job is to kill as many people as possible quickly. Soldiers trained to use that gun know that. Militias likely don’t…or part of their training has been how to turn them on their fellow Americans without conscience.
This is the scariest part (on top of the deportation of anyone and without due cause).... martial law is definitely in our very near future -- VERY worrisome.
Yes. They're going to be the ones that start the violence (they already have with ICE and with pregnant women dying), and it's a question of what happens next, what decisions millions of individual Americans make. Hopefully everybody stops. But if not, you can't just let them go on killing you. Ukraine would be a good example.
I caught the replay as I was working. I’m lucky I have a local group that I am very involved with. I do postcards every week and we are supporting our local democrats running for office
I call the bill the “Big Billionaire Bill”. Trump has had merchandise to unify the fascists since Day 1. Wouldn’t it be helpful to have a slogan that every single true American can get behind? LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. It’s what we were founded on. It speaks to the moment we’re in and why we are fighting this ugly regime. Can the DNC or some influential group merchandise this so we have hats, shirts, bumper stickers, flags with this message? We need to own patriotism again. We need to own the Fourth. Let the cultists cringe every time they hear the Pledge of Allegiance.
YES, Victoria. You nailed it. The regime weaponized merchandise and we mocked it - big mistake. “Liberty and Justice for All” isn’t just a slogan. It’s a reclaiming of what they hijacked.
I’ve been pushing this same message, about taking back the Fourth, the flag, and the fight for the soul of this country. We need hats, shirts, movement colors, street gear, veteran outreach.
Let them cringe every time they hear the anthem - because they know we mean it.
We could do messaging like this on a list of topics. Shit, i have even posted some of them.
Let’s talk more. This kind of energy changes culture.
I agree with you, Victoria. But that would take the DNC and its consultants actually caring about that kind of messaging. Right now, they don’t. It’s very frustrating.
Every time the DNC emails me for $$ I tell them I won't donate till they do exactly as you and Anthony have described, adding that if necessary, hire some marketing hotshot from Wall St. to help. Many of us have been saying this for years!! Just watch how the gop has done it (short, sweet, repeat; short sweet repeat...). It's like they have a morning meeting (I've always thought it was trump calling in to faux, where they determine the day's campaign then get the word out so everyone, from top dogs down to street level is pushing the same concept and basically the same way), but the DNC simply does . not . get . it. They are CLUELESS!!!
I’m going to try to reach them. Is there anyone over there that I should focus on?
If you know anyone within the national organization, start there.
I like it. A lot. But the problem is (and I'm definitely not criticizing you here because we all feel this way) everybody wants 'the DNC or some influential group' to do something, and no one is coming to save us; we have to do it ourselves. We have to become that 'influential group' (and replace the DNC). Just like the tea party and then maga did Republicans. It's the only way. Start a fire, I guess.
I agree. That's why I decided to invite more people who have messaging ideas to speak in this space. Those messengers will become the "influential group." We cannot depend on the DNC for anything...except more requests for money in our inboxes.
Thank you for this conversation. My sign at weekly protests is "Block MAGA Murder Budget" and it is personal to me because I worked with severe special needs children for over 30 years. They all rely on Medicaid for lots of things like wheelchairs, medical supplies, g-tube feeds, communication devices etc. Families who are already stressed would have to supply these things and they are all very expensive. Only the wealthy could handle it. Pro-life my ass!
Thanks for using the term MAGA Murder Budget. It needs to be everywhere.
I agree that Democrats fail at messaging. As horrible as the Republican/Maga cohort is, many disenchanted voters are not leaning towards the Democratic party. One statement that I've frequently heard is that the "Democratic Party left me. I didn't leave the Democratic party."
What does that mean exactly? I suppose it depends on the individual.
I think this gets to the heart of our conversation. The DNC is top-down. They don't listen to their grassroots or really even use us effectively. Like Anthony said, they come to us to "approve of" what they, their donors, and their consultants have already decided. That comes across to people, and it is off-putting.
Republicans don't treat their grassroots this way.
Not long ago I googled the DNC -- wanting to understand how it is organized, how those running for membership are elected, etc....... WHAT A DAMNED MESS!! I was unable to even find a simple "organization chart" showing all members and how to reach them, esp at the local level; it's like a secret club!! (There's no single site that explains it all so just google away to get all kinds of possible stuff to read.) Toss in the state DNC, then also US Senate and House Democratic committees whose job is to identify then support up-and-comers, etc. VERY CONFUSING. Hard to tell how (or if) it is all coordinated. Maybe someone like David Hogg would consider guesting with you to explain it. Could be interesting, esp since he recently caused a ruckus by stating that the DNC needs to eliminate "lazy" democrats on all levels because they're in easy districts and can just coast along, not fighting against today's evils.....and for various reasons is getting the cold shoulder mainly because the DNC doesn't want to risk losing ANY Dem seat. I get the sense David's frustrated the way we are and might be open to working with groups like this in order to turn it all around.
The Bernie/AOC rallies have been effective because they focus on giving attendees opportunities to TELL THEM WHAT THEY NEED AND WHY THEY FEEL NOBODY HAS LISTENED. When people feel like NOBODY hears them or is fixing the problems, they turn to ANYBODY who sounds like THEY can FIX stuff. Remember how (years ago) trump began stating, "Only I can fix this"..... he was setting everything up way back then and it has worked. The problem now is that he makes huge promises but doesn't / cannot honor them. We have to start by helping people see where he is REALLY taking us & why it will make things EVEN WORSE FOR ALL OF US. (Which then begs the question of how do we describe a better outcome that DOES ACTUALLY help all of us? ...)
Spot on. At least a dozen working journalists here in D.C. who cover politics whimper to me that religion is a third rail they won't touch. While they say they fear backlash, they don't mention how ignorant they are about religion and the sects, factions and movements therein. I've insulted long-time journalist-friends over this. I've given up hope.
Don’t give up hope man, but holy shit, do I get it.
My husband says Heather Cox Richardson went there in her newsletter today.
What your journalist friends are really saying is, "I don't know how to cover it, and I don't want to learn."
Exactly. In some cases, editors fear management backlash.
I guess living in a Christo-fascist dictatorship will teach them a few things...not that I want that to happen. But when the militant Muslims took over Iran, it was a very different country than it is today. Christian Nationalists have the same religious zealotry, the same radicalization. Different religion.
That highly potential future is why I’m paying for this Substack. The enemy is us, said Pogo.
Great conversation with Anthony. I agree that “MAGA murder bill” is appropriate messaging. We just cannot continue to bring an etiquette book to a knife fight.
We have to make Peter Thiel, Palantir, and Russ Vought as hated as Elon.
My elevator speech on why we need to pay attention to this billion dollar contract Trump awarded Palantir is “Peter Thiel’s Palantir is taking our personal data, that Elon Musk stole from us, to create a file on every American, so Project 2025’s mastermind Russ Vought can weaponize our personal data against us. This could include everything from gun registrations, medical records, and IRS records just to name a few.
Thiel is a right wing tech fascist, like Elon, and Vought is a radical christian nationalist. They have all had the long term goal of replacing our democracy with a theocracy/plutocracy. Sounds like a bad script for a dystopian film but it is not. Google these guys. It is even worse than what I have described.”
Thiel is also an Opus Dei Catholic Christian Nationalist. Though I don’t classify him as a true believer like Vought since Thiel is gay. But he understands how to use religion to control people.
I knew he was an Opus Dei Catholic, but I thought his main motivation was the tech bro king of the world stuff.
Thiel’s is, in my opinion.
Thanks for your work educating and informing, Andra, based on your lived experience. It’s interesting the overlap and boundary between “Christ Jesus” and “Cruel Judgment.” I look forward to speaking to you next week!
I'm glad my internet issues seem to be resolved. I'm looking forward to talking with you.
This is off topic about the Democratic Party, but important. I read this morning in Democracy Docket that Russell Voght is now leading DOGE. Elon and his frat boys were both awful and unlawful, rude, and disgusting.
Vought, however, could be more dangerous. He operates behind the scenes, knows how the government actually works, and is everything Project 2025.
Ruth Ben-Ghiat's newsletter is spot-on today. While corporate media calls DOGE a failure, it is entrenched in every government department, now being overseen by Vought. While Vought is a radicalized Christian Nationalist fanatic, he is also very intelligent, ruthlessly strategic, and effective. His goal is to transform the government into a Christo-fascist dictatorship. He is on the record as saying only Christian Nationalists should serve in government (including as elected officials.) He is working ruthlessly to make that happen, while James Fettig's journalist friends cry that they can't write about it. Sigh.
I don't think DOGE was EVER all about "fraud, waste and abuse". They only used that as a cover excuse. I mean, almost the very first thing they did was to fire nearly all the Inspector Generals (who HAD been entirely successful at their jobs in analyzing exactly what DOGE claimed to be doing -- IF anyone had taken a minute to look at their results.) I think all they REALLY wanted was access to ALL the federal data bases containing all the private information on all of us. (You want to easily find "fraud, waste and abuse" ??? Go straight to the DOD, where they perpetually fail financial audits THAT NOBODY FOLLOWS UPON. But did DOGE dive into the DOD? Of course, not. His (private) goal was to obtain all the juicy contracts trump is now threatening to take away. And he didn't close or cripple certain depts and agencies because DOGE found "fraud", etc. He did it because his companies were under investigation by the SEC, FAA, FDA, FTC, EPA, NHTSA, NLRB, etc. NOPE. IT WAS ALLLLL ABOUT THE DATA BASES, PERIOD. Data bases that can be merged and used all kinds of seriously detrimental ways by him; data bases that can be used by vought & co. to monitor and control ALL OF US.
Vought is possibly the most evil man in America (not that there's not competition).
Vought is a radicalized person. He has every right to believe his Bible says whatever he wants, but he believes he has a right to force it on everyone. He truly believes he is doing God's will. I don't think he's pretending for power and money. He believes in this cause enough to die for it. That's my take on him.
Well that would be a just outcome (your penultimate sentence). No point in mincing words. They've been very clear they're intent on killing us. Across human history those situations don't always resolve peacefully. Not that I'm advocating violence. But only because I don't see it working out for our side.
In my conversation with Marcel Dirsus (and in his book) he talks about how unwilling trained military soldiers are to fire on their own people. I don’t know how that translates to paramilitary groups, militarized police (many of whom seem thrilled to kill people), and militias. William Finnegan has also written about this…that if the military was ordered to shoot Americans, some would, and others would turn on their fellow soldiers.
In my familial experience with gun nuts, they don’t really understand a gun’s power. In the Army, shooters trained on AR-15s can’t take them home. They must keep them locked up on base, because that gun’s only job is to kill as many people as possible quickly. Soldiers trained to use that gun know that. Militias likely don’t…or part of their training has been how to turn them on their fellow Americans without conscience.
This is the scariest part (on top of the deportation of anyone and without due cause).... martial law is definitely in our very near future -- VERY worrisome.
Yes. They're going to be the ones that start the violence (they already have with ICE and with pregnant women dying), and it's a question of what happens next, what decisions millions of individual Americans make. Hopefully everybody stops. But if not, you can't just let them go on killing you. Ukraine would be a good example.
I agree.
hmm..... miller .....
Yeah, that would be one of his top competitors. Leonard Leo too.
You’re right, Andra, all those “moral values” they want to force on us violate the constitutional separation of church and state.
But we don’t frame them that way.
Maga murder budget. Oh my goodness that is so on point.
Yes.
I caught the replay as I was working. I’m lucky I have a local group that I am very involved with. I do postcards every week and we are supporting our local democrats running for office