Happy June. I hope everyone is taking some time this month to celebrate Pride & Juneteenth. We need all the joy we can get.
This weekend demonstrated the stark contrast between the politics of authoritarianism and the politics of the people. We saw our own government send troops to Los Angeles to quell peaceful protests, a United States Senator wrestled to the ground and handcuffed, and our military used as a prop for a birthday parade. And we saw political violence take the life of a beloved state legislator, as the assassin targeted other politicians and abortion rights advocates. But we also saw millions of people peacefully take to the streets to say, No Kings! and denounce the current administration.
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I am sure by now we have all seen the amazing video of Maine Gov. Janet Mills standing up to President Trump. This was the first time in many weeks I felt an inkling of hope. The Trump Administration’s slow coup has been awful in its own right but our elected “leaders” have left me dispirited (with Gov. Mills, Sens. Chris Murphy, Brian Schatz, Tina Smith, Elizabeth Warren and the evergreen AOC among notable exceptions). I even went on the record with The New York Times to express my displeasure and that of nearly every person I have spoken with since January 20 -- whether a donor or a fellow school bus stop Mom -- over the business as usual response.
Democrats are in the minority in both the House and the Senate. But they can still DO SOMETHING to demonstrate that this moment is unprecedented, unlawful, and unacceptable. Too many leaders are relying on litigation and Trump’s likely implosion to save us. That is an insufficient response, to say the least. I have heard, “Oh, not everything is a five-alarm fire” and “We have to pick our battles and not respond to everything” or that “Democrats should roll over and play dead.” NO. That is WRONG.
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