The most effective resistance right now will be applying pressure to Republicans in Congress and pursuing remedies in the courts. The latter will often be led by states and orgs, not the minority party in Congress, which has among other things questionable standing in an inter-branch federal lawsuit - ThreadSky

fritschner.bsky.social • 21 days ago

The most effective resistance right now will be applying pressure to Republicans in Congress and pursuing remedies in the courts. The latter will often be led by states and orgs, not the minority party in Congress, which has among other things questionable standing in an inter-branch federal lawsuit

Comments

clio.bsky.social•21 days ago

This is why we need to target any giving to the groups who are taking these cases to court. FOCUS and track the cases.

noodlemama.bsky.social•20 days ago

👆🏻

outsidevoice.bsky.social•20 days ago

I appreciate you and your candor. I think a lot of the frustration folks are feeling is with the fact that WE ALL KNEW THIS WAS COMING. Most/all of the EOs are sh t that they told us they would do. Why weren’t there coordinated canned responses and game plans for every single one of these issues?

widgett.bsky.social•20 days ago

This. Especially when you had, what, 70 days of a POTUS with immunity before Darth Kumquat returned?

thewaddler.bsky.social•21 days ago

Does the DCCC have any plans? For example, Republican David Valadao won CA 22 by 3,000 votes. He represents the area that Trump just dumped millions of gallons of water that is needed by ag in the summer
The dems should be tying him to that Trump move right now and build some anger

noodlemama.bsky.social•20 days ago

Agree about the court cases. And agree that Congress should exercise its power to pass laws to constrain the impact of these mashugana Executive Orders. An Executive cannot delegate powers that he does not have.

adistantdream.bsky.social•21 days ago

The way to be "effective" in creating pressure is to turn Trump's purge of the security services into a 24/7 news that alarms even Republican constituents. Right-wing rabble-rousers express rage that is both cathartic and effective. Democrats think only hand-wringing and begging Republicans is.

fritschner.bsky.social•21 days ago

I a NOT telling you there's nothing you can do. I am telling you things that are effective may be less cathartic. Your donations to orgs, your contacting your Members of Congress especially in purple states/districts, your support of candidates (we have elections in Virginia in 2025) do matter

aaroncollom.bsky.social•21 days ago

I disagree. I dont think either effective or cathartic strategie are being executed. And I dont think consenting to helping this fascist government piecemeal because you think rfk is uniquely bad is actually saving anything.

tinybronto.bsky.social•21 days ago

try reading the thread

aaroncollom.bsky.social•21 days ago

You mean the thread with stuff like this where he admits inspiration over effectiveness puts the opposing party in power but we really need /effectiveness/?

shoutingboy.bsky.social•21 days ago

My congressman is maybe the last surviving GOP who voted for Impeachment II. I just called about the DOGE/impoundment stuff and put on my 2009 Tea Party voice. “I believe in the Constitution, and the Constitution says Congress is in charge of spending! Stop this unconstitutional power grab!”

fritschner.bsky.social•21 days ago

This is great, thank you for doing it

tulliuscicero43.bsky.social•21 days ago

If you got voice mail rather than a staffer, be sure to call back tomorrow to try to follow up w/a real person.

shoutingboy.bsky.social•21 days ago

Yes, I got voice mail, and will do!

tulliuscicero43.bsky.social•21 days ago

My Representative was in-district this week so I called her in-state office and got a live staffer. I call DC when I know she’s there & have gotten live staffers there too. So calling where the rep is might increase the chance of getting a staffer on the phone (or maybe not)

tulliuscicero43.bsky.social•21 days ago

Don’t leave a second voice mail, though—they *will* log the first one.
Btw here’s a useful guide: https://act.represent.us/sign/does-calling-congress-really-work/

shoutingboy.bsky.social•20 days ago

I just downloaded the “five calls” app, which tracks what I called about and when. I’ll call tomorrow and if I get voice mail I’ll leave a message about something else. There’s a lot to choose from!

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/5-calls-contact-your-congress/id1202558609

tulliuscicero43.bsky.social•20 days ago

Thanks! I didn't know about this app.

fritschner.bsky.social•21 days ago

Also for all the hate of the political resistance, we were pretty damn effective in helping stop that freeze. Federal, state, local, grassroots, orgs, institutions- everyone was on it, we maximized the uproar, the lawsuits were in quickly, and we beat the bastards. We didn't capitulate, far from it

dennisyedwab.bsky.social•21 days ago

I really appreciate this thread. I'd want to add a couple of things - and my experience is as a career oppo guy for D's (So, let's chat offline :-). The way I read actions is "what are you responding to". I believe enough of the D communications is not conveying the urgency of the problem

dennisyedwab.bsky.social•21 days ago

More specifically, and this is especially true for the Senate, before leaping to a "we have to work in a bipartisan manner," there needs to be a specific acknowledgement of the larger problem, not just on the specific issue they are commenting about.

dennisyedwab.bsky.social•21 days ago

There are two ways to "tune out the noise". One is to focus on each individual issue. The other is to take each issue as part of a democracy-destroying adminstration trying to turn over the government to its billionaire benefactors.

fritschner.bsky.social•21 days ago

Trump is the most chaotic force America has ever seen. An effective resistance cannot possibly respond to every single thing he does, we have to tell a story and make it stick. IMO an effective story of how Trump is harming the country will have a relentless focus on corruption and costs/prices

blandphilosophy.bsky.social•21 days ago

I get all that, but from where I'm sitting I haven't heard an inkling of a plan from Democratic leadership. So as far as I know, they're just sleepwalking us into a full-blown dictatorship because fighting it would be too hard.

Is that unfair? Probably. But this response is demoralizing.

lfcgarrett.bsky.social•21 days ago

How about corruption and real harm to people?

fritschner.bsky.social•21 days ago

Most elected Dems feel the same way you do about what is happening. If you look, they are saying so in the press, on tv, on social, etc., though you may not see it. But we can't stop this shit outright by ourselves, we were denied that power in the election, and that really sucks.

carenloathing.bsky.social•20 days ago

Congressional Republicans caused alot of problems without being the winning party. They exercised the power they had. Granted they have more because they're willing to be shady, but it's not nothing.

strikenowhere.bsky.social•21 days ago

I mean, they could at least drop the bi-partisan bullshit talk they have been putting out. That would be a start. I dont want to hear how we should "come together/reach across the aisle/etc" at this particular point in time with people taking a fucking sledgehammer to the government.

vigneron.bsky.social•21 days ago

If you want to have a chance to defeat any of Trump’s cabinet nominees then you need at least four Republican votes. That means “reaching across the aisle”.

I am more concerned with the practical effort to defeat Gabbard or RFK Jr. then “what you want to hear” as are, I assume, Democratic Senators

darjeelingltd.bsky.social•21 days ago

It’s the mind of a child, who thinks their parents are some sort of god and not just human beings. They don’t understand that their elected officials are humans with human emotions and challenges. Biden was a human being when he was being asked to step down.

fritschner.bsky.social•21 days ago

But we can fight, and many are, though you may not always hear about it. Breaking through is a real challenge rn but we will.

For those asking what you can do, effective remedies are 1) courts 2) pressuring Republicans and 3) elections. If you are looking to do something, that's where to look.

jeanieonline.bsky.social•21 days ago

I'm calling my two maga senators daily. I told Cassidy his own party hates him, so he might as well have some integrity and vote NO on RFK as he coasts into his retirement.

interpellateme.bsky.social•21 days ago

“Musk has taken control of your Social Security checks” — hammer that message. That’ll break through!

cogenteur.bsky.social•21 days ago

Bravo, Aaron.

Will post later re fervency vs strategy, but a key re "pressuring Republicans".

"Pressure" implies we can PUSH 'em into line. While there's still time, best hope is to PULL a few R's (in either body) into alignment. Tractor beams, not photon torpedoes. Courtship, not combat.

shermanpatrick3.bsky.social•21 days ago

You did a good job explaining this, may god have mercy in your replies.

fritschner.bsky.social•21 days ago

Consider the above the end of thread and the next few a postscript to answer questions and rebuttals I've gotten a few times.

One is the strategy I call "going to the place," eg when we went to airports or detention centers in 17-18. I'm here for it, but OPM for example presents unique challenges:

jung-gt.bsky.social•21 days ago

*We* and I mean the electorate who are appalled, have to do something because it was our (broad electorate) votes that created the problem. Our votes in 2026 can help limit the damage, so priorities are to organize and prepare for 2026 while rendering aid to the most affected communities.

shitdisfuck.bsky.social•19 days ago

God damn this is some lib shit. Get out in the street and actually fucking help people you droll, boring fascist.

Meet the others in your community. Feed the homeless. Impede the cops and ICE. Buy a gun. Practice with it. Read:
https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/26184/pg26184-images.html
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6e/TM_31-210_Improvised_Munitions_Handbook_-_1969_%28v3.0%29.pdf

tathompsonks.bsky.social•21 days ago

As a former intern over in the Senate for a Republican: you are exactly correct. And I do think action will come from the Senate - it has to.

And I think there might be just enough adults left to do it. Their key constituencies are *pissed* right now.

dmhfreeatlast.bsky.social•21 days ago

Pressing Rs is very important. They will ignore you if you let them. I have R state and Federal reps here in NC. I have made it a point every day to call all of them. Takes 10 minutes tops. Don’t act like you are helpless. Don’t just press Dems. Don’t give in.

djb11.bsky.social•21 days ago

Obama on video laughing with Trump gave a lot of us the impression that there’s a big group, but we’re not in it

mmorgenschoen.bsky.social•21 days ago

“Dems vote for noms like Duffy, saying 'we're reasonable, but RFK/Tulsi are uniquely bad.' Does it raise odds they go down? Yes!”
actually, voting for people like duffy is not at all reasonable, and I don’t see reps coming around. you’re behaving like charlie brown trying to play ball with lucy.

theshawnmorris.bsky.social•19 days ago

They can’t stop it outright but they don’t have to make it any easier than humanly possible. Use every tool to delay, disrupt, and deny.

We want to see Dems fight and resist and not save Republicans from themselves.

Trump even being President shows how effective just delaying can be.

edino.bsky.social•21 days ago

Unfortunately a lot of people on bluesky hold it as an unshakable article of faith that accomplishing progressive objectives is trivial, regardless of who is in congress. No amount of evidence will ever change their minds.

mulledwine.bsky.social•21 days ago

Appreciate this. Would like to see Members engage with newer media channels more, though. I get that an indy source may not have the reach of an MSNBC, but there are so many of us that just don’t watch cable anymore. Get on podcasts, YouTube, etc. more. Reach people where they now are

stephmu00mls.bsky.social•20 days ago

About the election:

https://electiontruthalliance.org/eta

mcwyrm.bsky.social•20 days ago

... and yet they keep voting for his cabinet nominees. Curious, that.

mcwyrm.bsky.social•20 days ago

The democrats as an organization are complicit in a great deal of this.

https://www.newsweek.com/full-list-democrats-voted-pass-laken-riley-act-2019432

josephgruber.com•21 days ago

While I don’t agree with a lot of this thread, I do understand and appreciate the insight.

I will say however, I do believe it’s a lot less D v R and more American People (mostly left/center ATM) v the Oligarchy. That’s what we want to see fire under folks for. But what do I know…

phxflyer.bsky.social•21 days ago

Spot on.

ladiaz.bsky.social•21 days ago

an effective resistance is the french underground in WWII, is Lech Walesa Solidarity in Poland, is Mandela in S Africa.
telling stories without massive protest and public turnout is not gonna do it...

joeyjojo-shabadoo.bsky.social•21 days ago

USAID was burned to the ground this week. An entire federal agency eliminated without congressional input, and I truly don't think congressional Democrats realize the agency doesn't exist anymore. This is coming for every federal agency.

jben1990.bsky.social•21 days ago

Sorry for shouting earlier. But the problem is not all of the funds are actually unfrozen, despite the court order, because the administration isn't obeying it.

jben1990.bsky.social•21 days ago

They're still freezing some of the money!

b12vn.bsky.social•21 days ago

I thought they they were defying the court order, claiming that the court order only blocked the memo and they withdrew the memo but the EO stayed in effect. People were still not getting paid and having grants cancelled after the court order, correct? They also said the freeze remains in effect

b12vn.bsky.social•21 days ago

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/01/29/white-house-rescinds-federal-funds-freeze-memo.html

jerseydude282.bsky.social•21 days ago

And New Jersey!

zgoldberg.bsky.social•21 days ago

Honest question. Are there actually four Republicans who will stand up to Trump in the Senate and the necessary number in the House? I’m extremely dubious.

fritschner.bsky.social•21 days ago

Matt Gaetz is not the Attorney General

azureriver.bsky.social•21 days ago

OK, all very reasonable, but then who do we talk to to assemble crack teams--people familiar with agencies and their tech functioning, knowledge of X operations, to re-infiltrate, block, at least monitor the chaos monkeys, and then take them back for the people, of course when Courts say they can?

azureriver.bsky.social•21 days ago

Figured that was because they all knew him to some degree personally and he was just universally disliked.

cuddlessmash.bsky.social•21 days ago

Based on what you said, my sense is that it's up to "us" the public to provide the catharsis and the political wing to provide the effect.

That's honestly a core tenet of movements, having a mass mobilized wing and a political wing. I think we need an apparatus for the former.

nathasquestions.bsky.social•21 days ago

Don't you think some catharsis is important though? I see ur point on eg not blanketly opposing every nominee because it solidifies GOP support. But if part of the answer is elections, then you need a base who is willing to vote. If people don't get any catharsis, they'll conclude votes don't matter

robinaubrecht.bsky.social•21 days ago

The problem of course is that the Dems haven’t been especially good at picking strategies that are *Actually* Effective. “Trust Us Bro” whilst we continue to be Disappointed by the Results just isn’t gonna get you elected anymore. It SHOULDN’T.

robinaubrecht.bsky.social•21 days ago

The MOST effective thing Dems can do right now is to Get Ahold of The Narrative. Instead of letting it be controlled by the GOP all the time. DRIVE the Narrative. Instead of just (haplessly) Responding to whatever BS the GOP puts out.

realbenisons.bsky.social•21 days ago

Applying pressure to Senate Republicans includes send it Democrats being willing to Place the responsibility clearly on Senate Republicans

Senate Ds have hesitated to do that
Courtesy and cooling saucers aren’t all bad, as you convey

Senate Ds need not be rude or vicious
Just clearer

realbenisons.bsky.social•21 days ago

Send it > senate

hunnybun100.bsky.social•20 days ago

It’s right to pursue legal options for relief and clarity right now. But the barriers of state/fed don’t matter as far as getting the best minds together to determine best available legal pathways. We have been terrible at that v Republicans. This is an organization problem, too disbursed/divided

annehanna.bsky.social•21 days ago

I agree that not all demands for "catharsis" actions are productive. But I think it would help to recognize that some of us (PA!) are seeing our supposed Dems do shit like going down to MAL to kiss the ring, and coming back excusing threats against Greenland.

That's not effective, it's undermining.

fritschner.bsky.social•21 days ago

I do recognize that but also you have seven strong Reps in PA also and a number of vulnerable Rs some of whom are susceptible to political pressure. The former can use support and the latter pressure. If you live in Scott Perry’s district I’m sorry and have no answers

pjconway.bsky.social•20 days ago

Late to this thread but thank you Aaron. Your breakdown was informative. Seems like the perfect mom advice situation: it is what it is - we’re out of power. Pick your battles - catharsis and effectiveness often is mutually exclusive.

pjconway.bsky.social•20 days ago

This war is a marathon not a sprint and victories will be fewer and less impactful over the short term. But like it or not, we have been the party operating for effectiveness over catharsis and being held to that standard - not fair? Get used to it (more mom advice).

pjconway.bsky.social•20 days ago

Eventually the maga base will be hit hard & they will not be able to sell it was O’Bama or Biden or Hillary’s fault. We must be ready to capitalize on their every misstep and build from the ground up because they are tearing it all down. Think of it as national service we owe to the next generation.

annehanna.bsky.social•20 days ago

This is all true. But the fake-neutral media will only write stories as "Rs say X, Ds say Y". So we desperately need Ds out there saying Y loudly and frequently, or Y will not be reported at all. Absent that, the public do not know who to blame for the fuckery, and do not know who fights it. 1/

annehanna.bsky.social•21 days ago

Obviously it's not hopeless. Plenty of us are calling these folks every chance we get, as well as McCormick, with appropriate messages for each. And we've all done our GOTV to exhaustion every election & etc. 1/2

annehanna.bsky.social•21 days ago

But when all that work nets us a heel turn like Fetterman's, it severely damages the brand, and demoralizes the shit out of even the most dedicated foot soldiers. We need his peers to help hold him to account too. 2/2

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