The Final Countdown

Here’s what you need to know heading into Election Day

“I believe this guy Trump is a totalitarian and very much a fascist.” - Wisconsin Republican State Senator Rob Cowles.

The quote above fills me with hope. The last time I thought about Rob Cowles was when progressives in Wisconsin mounted a recall effort against him and his colleagues for their support of Scott Walker’s reign of terror against working people. In a lengthy interview, Cowles, who is retiring after a decades-long tenure serving in the State Senate, acknowledged the danger of blowback and potential threats for saying this publicly but thinks it’s still necessary, saying, “I really think this is one of the most important things I’ve done.”

I won’t lionize Republicans who are supporting Harris or call them heroes. Like Liz Cheney, Rob Cowles is someone whose career in politics has left a lot of red in his ledger. These folks supported a Republican Party that’s been long heading towards authoritarianism and tolerated white nationalism and conspiracy-mongering within their ranks for some time. But I do appreciate those Republicans who have realized who Donald Trump is, understand the danger to America, and are putting themselves out there anyway. We need them, and I’m happy to have them under the big tent right now. 

This is the last edition of the newsletter before Election Day. All week I’ve been thinking about how to make the best use of it because every one of you knows the stakes by now. Two key themes keep coming to mind: 

We can win this because most Americans don’t want to live in a fascist hellscape. Look, we’re in a coalition that includes Bernie Sanders and Dick Cheney. This is not a normal election. Yes, the polls are close, but I maintain that Trump doesn’t have the political operation needed to win the votes. I’ve long thought we would win, but if you’re still anxious or you disagree please know that we can win. Because we are in the majority.

Donald Trump hasn’t changed, but the discourse around him has. The media and politicians are now comfortable calling him a fascist, and voters (those who do and don’t support Trump) grasp it too. I’ve never seen so many people with such a diverse array of backgrounds, political views, and opinions agree this much on anything. But we all agree that Donald Trump is a fascist, and we do not want him and his allies to destroy and reshape America at their whim. 

You know who else seems to think we’re winning? Donald Trump. Every day, his behavior on the campaign trail gets more unhinged. Candidates who are winning don’t act like this. Tump is a man who knows the jig is up. He’s running scared.

No matter what happens, MAGA will attempt to seize power by any means necessary. Don’t be afraid. Be ready. We all know what happens next because Trunmp’s playbook doesn’t change, and he hasn’t bothered to hide his plans. He’s going to claim victory before the results are in, use the time before the election is called to rile up his base and create confusion, and if the race is called for Harris, attempt another coup. Trump has spent nearly a decade priming his supporters to violence, and the last few weeks of his campaign seem designed to do the same. He’s deployed these folks before, and he will again — this time with promises of pardons for their crimes. 

I don’t say this to scare you or depress you. I’ve always believed that the better you understand something, the less scary it is. Plus, we’re prepared. Every government agency you can think of, from local election offices up to the White House, every campaign and civil society group, and every one of you reading this newsletter knows their plan and that we can’t let them take power. If you want more information, I recommend Protect Democracy’s Guide to Election Subversion, an accessible blueprint of what MAGA will attempt, along with safeguards and remedies that have been put in place. We’re ready.

If you’re politically active, the last few days before an election are always tense. We’re feeling that anxiety tenfold this year. As I wrote last week, Donald Trump has taken a lot from us, and it’s important to acknowledge the collective trauma we’ve all experienced. My best advice for dealing with that anxiety is to do something about it. Make sure your family and friends have a plan to vote, and have any hard conversations with Republicans you know who might be considering Harris. Sign up as a volunteer and help get out the vote through canvassing or a phone bank. You can even still donate money to Harris or your favorite down-ballot race. Any of these actions will make you feel better and use up some of that nervous energy.

We can win this. Now, let’s get out and do it. 

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ICYMI

'We're a Fortress Now': The Militarization of US Elections Is Here (Wired)

A sobering article from Wired’s David Gilbert on the reality for election workers and voters in this year’s election. It’s insane that any of this is necessary and not something that should ever be necessary in a functioning democracy. But here we are.

Will Your Elected Officials in Congress Accept the Results of the Election? (Wired)

Wired is on fire this week with all things election coverage. Their reporters asked every member of Congress if they would respect the election results as called by the AP, and created an easy way for readers to find out if and how their Congressperson responded. 

How Social Media Video Clippers Have Become Some of the Most Powerful Outlets of the 2024 Campaign (CNN)

As someone who used to get paid to help campaigns and non-profits make video content go viral, I’ve enjoyed watching the rise of folks like Aaron Rupar, and Acyn, and how their work drives media coverage of politics. CNN’s Brian Stelter gives them their due here.

What TikTok Can Still Do to Safeguard The Election (Tech Policy Press)

All of these are reasonable suggestions. So, of course, they won’t get implemented.

Facebook Is Auto-Generating Militia Group Pages as Extremists Continue to Organize in Plain Sight (Wired)

We’ve known about Facebook auto-populating militia groups for some time. It’s maddening that this is still happening and that Meta doesn’t even pretend to care anymore.

Want even more links? Subscribers receive a special ICYMI edition of CARD on Fridays. 

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Coda

Inviolable Group has created a post-election resilience checklist for organizations doing electoral or civic engagement work. It’s free and available in English and Spanish. I hope you find it useful!

Download Inviolable Group’s post-election resilience checklist in English.

Download Inviolable Group’s post-election resilience checklist in Spanish.

Hang in there. No matter what happens, next week is going to be stressful. Please remember to take care of yourselves and check in on your loved ones. I believe in the power of connection and the importance of solidarity. We need one another and shouldn’t be afraid to lean on each other when things feel unsettled.

Thank you for reading CARD each week and supporting the newsletter. You are why I’m still writing; the newsletter wouldn’t exist without you. I’m grateful to be on this journey with you. Take care and we’ll talk again next Sunday.