Some thoughts on yesterday

And how we move forward in solidarity.

I’m running out of things to say about political violence. Yesterday, I awoke to the news that two Minnesota elected officials and their spouses had been shot in their own homes, and that State Rep. and former Majority Leader Melissa Hortman and her husband were murdered. I listened to Governor Walz’s initial press conference in shock. Even though I’ve known for years that this is where things were headed, known that things would only continue to get worse in America; it was still a stunning act of terror and violence.

My view on political violence and America’s tolerance of it is relatively broad. Everything from mass school shootings, terrorizing local communities, the attack on Paul Pelosi (which was itself an assassination attempt on his wife), the attempted kidnapping of Governor Gretchen Whitmer, and countless threats to elected officials, judges, and public servants. The violence that the MAGA Regime is currently inflicting on immigrants, families, and entire communities, and of course, the January 6 insurrection.

American discourse tends to view these acts of terror and violence in a vacuum. Or we put some of them in the same category but not others. But it all stems from the same networked incitement that radicalizes the perpetrators, dehumanizes the victims, and allows a political movement to rewrite the truth of what happened almost in real time. Americans live under a constant threat of political violence, and are then gaslit about what actually transpired as the MAGA disinformation engine kicks into gear. It makes each and every one of us less safe. But still it endures.

A few things I’m thinking about right now:

The violence is a feature, not a bug. The GOP incites it and suffers no consequences for its actions. We know who is to blame here. The same right-wing politicians and influencers who continually engage in incitement disguised as political rhetoric. It’s been an ongoing problem for years, and it’s gotten worse. As a culture, we’ve failed to hold those responsible for the incitement accountable in any way. So it continues.

We’re all traumatized by political violence. It’s a collective trauma that has torn America apart at the seams. We’re all living in a state of heightened fear and making the best choices we can, but often it doesn’t feel like there are any good choices to be made in the first place.

Silence and complicity won’t protect you. One thing that’s clear to me is that many Americans initially made the determination that they could ride another four years of Trump out by retreating or capitulating to the Regime’s demands. But of course, that doesn’t work. Even Trump’s closest allies eventually realize there’s a shelf life on compliance, and eventually they become the target of MAGA’s wrath as well. No matter who you are or what you do, you’re vulnerable to political violence in America.

We deserve better, and we should demand better. The best way to do that is to show up, bear witness, and collectively say enough. No one is coming to save us, and if you’re sick and tired of living like this, the only way out is to show up and stand up to the bullies. In whatever form you’re able to do so.

I was heartened by yesterday’s massive #NoKings demonstrations. My family and I attended one in the Seattle suburbs with multi-generational families singing protest songs and waving cheeky signs while kids played on a nearby playground. On the drive home, we passed a large swath of protesters holding signs along a portion of Highway 99. The events in Minnesota were officially, and understandably, canceled, given that the shooter was still at large, but thousands of citizens still showed up to make their voices heard. I was moved by all of the photos from yesterday, but especially the image from the Twin Cities.

Crowdsourced data suggests that yesterday’s events were attended by “somewhere in the 4-6 million people range. That means roughly 1.2-1.8% of the U.S. population.” That’s a massive turnout, especially on the heels of research out this week showing that protest numbers in 2025 are substantially larger than numbers during a similar period in 2017.

I don’t want to be too rosy about the situation we’re in, especially because I think the violence will continue to escalate. If we have any hope of stopping the Trump Regime and the terror they want us all to live under, more of us need to turn out in greater numbers with increasing velocity. We’re not there yet. But yesterday’s demonstrations -- especially in contrast to the sparse crowds at Donald Trump’s fascist parade-themed birthday party -- gave me hope that we can get there.

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ICYMI

Tech Moguls Want to Build a Crypto Paradise on a Native American Reservation (Mother Jones)

This article is as wild as the headline suggests.

They’re Not Your Typical ‘Preppers,’ But Thousands Look To Them For Survival Tips (The 19th)

I’ve seen a lot more women talk about prepping online since the election. This piece from the 19th on Black women survivalists does a deep dive into one of those emerging communities.

People Are Becoming Obsessed with ChatGPT and Spiraling Into Severe Delusions (Futurism)

I remain fascinated by the personal relationships some people seem to develop with AI. Some of the examples here are terrifying but I think also real insight into how this happens in the first place.

There Are No 'Distractions' In A War, Only Fronts (Oliver Willis Explains)

Sage advice from Oliver Willis: “That means war on multiple fronts. Sometimes that means pushing legislation and investigation. Sometimes that means a press conference or media briefing. And yes, sometimes that means childish insults, memes, and trash talk.”

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Coda

Reminder that Netroots Nation is coming up, August 7-9, in New Orleans.

CARD readers receive a 10% discount on registration using this link. Discount code: CARDNN25.

I’m proud to serve as Board Chair for Netroots Nation, and I hope you’ll join us at this year’s conference.

The last two weeks have been so heavy. I do my best to keep busy, show up, take care of the kids, etc. But whenever I have even a moment to reflect, my body feels the weight of it all. I know we’re all feeling it in various ways. Take care of yourselves and one another.

That’s all for now. We’ll talk again next Sunday.