In my latest, I argue against the despair I see rising among pro-democracy activists. The Supreme Court's Callais decision is a disaster, but the truth about mass movements for change is they often don't see how they're affecting things until years later. And there are lots of signs that Trump's base of hard-core supporters is shrinking. (link in bio)
It’s time for a fresh approach that will not only free us from the gerrymander wars but also produce fair representation and an end to the artificial binary of the two-party system. (link in bio)
This Friday, May 1, we'll get our first real sense of how much the people opposed to authoritarianism and oligarchy in America can go on offense. (link in bio)
While the recent election in Hungary can't be mapped directly to what we're facing here in the US, there are lots of lessons to ponder as we gear up for 2026, 2028 and beyond. Here's what I've gleaned so far. (link in bio)
While Dems warn about the SAVE Act and voter suppression, they’re ignoring how their own voter engagement tools make them miss many voters and waste resources. While nearly everyone wants an upgrade, so far the money to pay for it is absent. (link in bio)
If you read any Substack newsletters that cover democracy, you’ll be interested in seeing how your favorite sites stack up, and whether they’re serving you with a lot of doom-and-gloom content or ways to organize and who’s doing the work. Check out my new post (link in bio).
If the goal of the No Kings movement is to match the depth of the Minnesota mobilization against ICE, it’s got a long way to go. There are signs it may be leveling off, and the key challenges is growing past its predominantly older, well-educated base. More in my latest post. (link in bio)
I took a look at how some of the biggest name pro-democracy authors on Substack treat topics like the upcoming No Kings 3 protests (many have said nothing about them!) and how much they tend to talk to each other rather than actual organizers. While this isn't a comprehensive study of everyone you could think of, the results are indicative. Link in bio.
March 28 is less than three weeks away. If you are serious about organizing to built the power to protect our democracy and stop Trump, now is the time to be planning for how you will bring new people in, welcome them and involve them in ongoing local efforts. As the man sang, "This ain't no party, this ain't no disco, this ain't no foolin' around." (link in bio)
I'm back from a week of vacation with a report on the next wave of the Defiance: The Singing Resistance. It's easy to join; it's addictive once you do it; and it converts rage into loving action. (link in bio)
