From Urban Village Church in the Chicago area. Photographer unknown but found in this post.
Hi, all, and happy Tuesday.
As a friend said to me last week, “if you’re feeling heavy it’s because this IS heavy.”
Yes. It is.
People were disappeared out of my neighborhood yesterday.
A girlfriend called and told me she didn’t think she could afford Christmas presents for her kids because her husband still can’t find work—he’s been looking for a year.
Another friend is panicked about her ACA premiums, which are set to explode. She’s a single mom, and a substitute teacher.
Utilities are increasing prices for customers across the country. Small businesses are getting crushed by Trump’s tarrifs. Republicans have no plan on healthcare—or they have one, but it’s moronic. Layoffs are on track to be the worst recorded since the Great Depression and costs are higher than ever as the holiday season approaches.
There is panic everywhere. And for good reason.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump gave his economy an “A +++++” rating in a Politico interview this morning. He is not delusional. The economy is A+++++…if you’re him. Trump has made over 1.8B in cash and gifts over the last 400 days. His net worth has increased 7.5B. His family has done famously. And his donors? They’re making out like bandits. For him—and for them—the economy is firing on all cylinders.
As for the rest of us?
Trump couldn’t care less.
Should this make us despair? No. It should make us angry. It should fire our determination. And it should remind us to look out for anyone less fortunate than ourselves. If we, ourselves, are suffering it should provide proof that we are not at fault. This is not an economy set up to help working Americans. It’s an economy designed to enrich the already rich, and hang the rest of us out to dry.
So let us all continue to work, day after day after day, to create an economy, and a country, geared towards working Americans. It’s possible. We know universal healthcare works. We know raising the minimum wage would work. We know Social Security can be expanded and made solvent by taxing the wealthiest. We know how to clean our air and water while making utilities more affordable. We know how to help small businesses thrive.
Our current government is simply choosing not to.
It’s infuriating, but we can and will make different choices. We must simply survive, resist, and engage in mass mutual aid until we are able to regain power.
There is a future in which Trumpism plays no part—in which selfishness is replaced with selflessness and greed is replaced with compassion. It feels impossible, but remember, everything worth having does…until it happens. Just ask Zohran Mamdani!
So let’s do a bit more work right now. This is tough. We’re tougher.
Sending hugs, friends.
Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I’m a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
I’m calling because I know there’s a vote this week on the ACA premium tax credit extensions. I want the Senator to vote yes on Democrats’ proposal to extend them for three years. Republicans’ plan to give Americans an HSA account with $1500 dollars in it is like offering someone a bandaid for a gunshot wound. It will do nothing. Privatizing healthcare is not the way. Medicare for all—or some version of single payer—IS the way, but until we get there Congress must extend those subsidies.
Also, Congress need to release the footage of the double tap incident in the Caribbean. Voters must see the evidence for themselves. This is supposed to be the most transparent administration in history. They need to prove it. Release the tapes. Thanks.
Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I’m a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
First, I’m calling in support of Ukraine and to ask the Congressmember to oppose the Trump administration’s pro-Russia peace plan. No peace deal should bow to Putin’s agenda or require Ukraine to make unreasonable concessions. [H/T]
Second, Congress needs to release the footage of the double tap incident in the Caribbean. Voters must see the evidence for themselves. This is supposed to be the most transparent administration in history. They need to prove it. Release the tapes. Thanks.
Extra Credit ✅
Reader Sadhna wrote in the comments yesterday:
With regard to Hilton-branded hotels housing ICE agents, I sent an email to esg@hilton.com expressing my disgust with this practice. Just wanted to share this way of contacting corporate headquarters.
Great idea! And reader Mindy took the ball and ran with it. She wrote to that address and shared her email with us in the comments section. Feel free to adapt and use!
Hilton Hotels in the Minneapolis area are housing ICE agents. I have been appalled at scenes of masked men in tactical gear breaking windows, forcibly removing innocents and tearing parents away from their children. Hilton’s statement on human trafficking says, “As a business of people serving people, respecting human rights is a core part of our mission.” That is one reason I have chosen Hilton in the past [and am a Hilton Honors member] However, given Hilton’s welcoming of ICE, I plan to no longer do so. I hope Hilton Hotels reconsiders.
Beautifully said! Let’s deluge them with emails!
Get Smart! 📚
Activate America is doing a 2026 election preview webinar tomorrow, and, if past is precedent, it’s going to be great.
It’s taking place Wednesday, December 10th, at 5:30 PM Pacific / 8:30 PM Eastern.
They’ll examine the critical races that will determine control of Congress, take a deep dive on the impact of redistricting efforts across the country, and look at some recent polls and exit polls that give us a sense of where the country is at right now. Highly recommend.
Messaging! Messaging! Messaging! 📣
Yesterday in my Live I talked about the importance of sharing footage of ICE raids, as well as any posts showing Americans resisting Trump’s authoritarianism. Where can you get such material to amplify? From ! This thrice-weekly newsletter is put out by the two women who gave the “How to Beat Authoritarianism” webinar a few weeks back. They make it easy to find information and images that need to be spread; the more of us that spread them the better!
So please check out today’s Defiance Dispatch, and if you like it consider subscribing!
Grab your Wallet! 💳
It’s official. Target is allowing ICE to use its parking lots to stage raids. Please continue to boycott. In fact please consider extending your boycott of Target, Amazon, and Home Depot indefinitely! Small businesses need us; these Trump-enabling corporations definitely do not.
Shop Blue! 🛒
From reader Alyssa H:
The Minocqua Marketplace is a pro-democracy alternative to Amazon and other corporations that has hundreds of items (including lots of beer) that could make awesome holiday gifts! There are some themed gifts for the progressives in your life, but also lots of other gifts that support small businesses, women, etc. that you could give to anyone (including your MAGA aunt and uncle and they would never know!). Your purchases also help support the Wisconsin resistance.
Win Races! 🗳
Today’s the final day of voting for the Miami mayoral runoff! If you know anyone who lives there please, please shoot them a text and remind them to vote for Eileen Higgins! This race is going to be close and we can win it!
Resistbot Letter (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.) 💻
[To: all 3 reps] [H/T ] [Text SIGN PODPRK to 50409, or to @Resistbot on Apple Messages, Messenger, Instagram, or Telegram]
(Note that for the most effective RESISTBOT it’s best to personalize this text. More about how to do this here. But if you’re short on time just send it as is using the above code.)
The Trump Regime has released a National Security Strategy that is not a strategy at all, but a racist, authoritarian manifesto—and the most dangerous official document issued by an American administration in generations. It openly embraces white supremacy, attacks our democratic allies, aligns with the Kremlin’s worldview, and lays the groundwork for domestic repression reminiscent of the autumn of 1938.The NSS warns that Europe faces “civilizational erasure” because several NATO countries may become “majority non-European.” This is not coded language. It is the Great Replacement conspiracy theory written into U.S. national policy. It applauds “patriotic European parties,” meaning extremist, neo-fascist movements like Germany’s AfD. It calls for the U.S. to “cultivate resistance” inside allied democracies—an explicit program for regime change in Europe.
[It’s a long letter. Read the rest of it here.]
OK, you did it again! You’re helping to save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk soon.
Jess
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