I called my 2 Rep senators right after the Oval Office shit show earlier. The white hot rage I feel right now. The despair of screaming into the void. Trying to get ONE PERSON outside my immediate household to give a damn and most of the people in my orbit are Christians.
HARVARD REFUSED TO COMPLY with administration demands! FINALLY an educational institution is standing up to the hate, power grab, and pure fascism of this current administration. I am hopeful this is the beginning of other schools being able to step up and join together in pushing back.
I also called my Governor today (a Republican) to ask why he hadn't condemned the attack on his fellow governor in PA. His staff member acknowledged that no statement had been released.
Love this. The moral exhaustion is real—but so is our ability to act.
If it’s helpful to anyone here, I put together a list: “Stay Human: 80 Tiny Moves for Everyday Resistance in the Authoritarian Harm Complex”. It’s been viewed & shared over 7,000 times in the past couple of days—clearly hitting a nerve. These are small, values-rooted actions to help us stay present, aligned, and in motion.
Something I recently learned is how to activate my parasympathetic nerve system. This system really helps you to relax and do things like lower your blood pressure. It is really easy. Try one or more of the following: yawn a few times, or inhale slowly, like to the count of 4, and exhale even more slowly, like to the count of 6, for several breaths. Or hum. Find tunes you like and hum one, even quietly under your breath. All of these can be done without drawing attention to yourself, and if you do the yawning one, those around you will also yawn, so you will be helping them to relax as well 😊
Hey Jessica I'm not tired or overwhelmed or dispirited. I'M ANGRY!!! And that fires me up to do whatever I can to make the small difference that becomes the HUGE difference when enough of us do these small actions on a regular. I thank you so much for supplying us a to-do list and keeping us informed.
On a side note, I wrote the NYTs last week regarding their abysmal coverage of the peaceful demonstrations all over this country and the world. I didn't think I'd hear back, but I received a VERY LONG email response (several paragraphs!) which was incredibly detailed, had a defensive tone throughout, and had the whiff of "methinks thou dost protest too much" to it. I think they must have received lots of angry letters and they had to put something together to smooth it over with readers. I don't know if I should copy and paste it here or try to email it to you...it's pretty interesting and several of my activist friends looked at it and said I must have really touched a nerve to get that kind of a response.
Yes thank you Jessica for clarify what is a priority, with so much going on- I get confused about what to do.
I did send a long letter to my Democratic Senator this morning about the Red line being crossed and the constitutional crises with attacking Chris Krebs etc... and the immigrant issue-it was long and with many issues. I hope he reads it.
Have you seen this post? In it, Bill Kristol and Sarah Longwell from The Bulwark discuss ways to fight Trump. One of the most powerful ones was to "flood the zone" with personal stories about how Trump's crazy, disastrous actions and policies are affecting us personally. Sarah recommended just making a video of yourself and posting it to whatever social media you use.
Jessica, thanks so much for keeping us informed with this crucial newsletter. I've been a regular reader and responder since the last election--which now seems like many years ago. You have me calling RoJo, Wisconsin's spineless senator on a regular basis, leaving never answered messages. Calling Senator Baldwin. You sent the script, I call. Gracias.
I've emailed my reps and yacked head off at dance class about the wonders of Substack. I am so sick of MAGA/Trump/Billionaires I could puke. I have an art show the weekend after this, and I managed to finish glazing, loading, and programming the kiln so that I have work for the show. I resent like hell how Donald Trump just sucks the joy out of everyday life. He is like some hulking nothing burger casting doom and gloom on everyone. We have to defeat him and his equally repugnant backers and bloodthirsty supporters. We must, but my god, we could have had the politics of hope, joy, and possibility. What is wrong with people? Rant over for the moment.
I’m calling, emailing and using the amazing Resistbot . I’m also with Alison-feeling white hot rage. I thank Jess for working so hard (Chop Wood Carry Water) to help us to contact those who supposedly represent us. I’ve joined Indivisible to keep on top of where Protests are being held in my community
Demonstrations are good, but they can only take it so far. We need to have a general strike: labor, veterans, fired federal workers, all of them already organized.
Perfect timing with this script! — called my Senators and Rep. I agree with @alison - the Oval Office press conference and hot mic conversations were infuriating.
Hi! I've called my 2 Republican senators (Kansas!) and one staffer was very nice and calm...the one for Roger Marshall was not that interested. But of note, the line to leave comments was not functioning, so I made sure to speak to the uninterested staffer...charming...
I called my 2 Rep senators right after the Oval Office shit show earlier. The white hot rage I feel right now. The despair of screaming into the void. Trying to get ONE PERSON outside my immediate household to give a damn and most of the people in my orbit are Christians.
Is America even America anymore??
The Salvadoran president was not wearing a collar and tie. Just saying
That’s because he’s the “coolest” dictator alive. 🙄😑
GOOD NEWS!
HARVARD REFUSED TO COMPLY with administration demands! FINALLY an educational institution is standing up to the hate, power grab, and pure fascism of this current administration. I am hopeful this is the beginning of other schools being able to step up and join together in pushing back.
I also called my Governor today (a Republican) to ask why he hadn't condemned the attack on his fellow governor in PA. His staff member acknowledged that no statement had been released.
Love this. The moral exhaustion is real—but so is our ability to act.
If it’s helpful to anyone here, I put together a list: “Stay Human: 80 Tiny Moves for Everyday Resistance in the Authoritarian Harm Complex”. It’s been viewed & shared over 7,000 times in the past couple of days—clearly hitting a nerve. These are small, values-rooted actions to help us stay present, aligned, and in motion.
https://paultshattuck.substack.com/p/stay-human-80-tiny-moves-for-everyday
🙏🏼☮️
Something I recently learned is how to activate my parasympathetic nerve system. This system really helps you to relax and do things like lower your blood pressure. It is really easy. Try one or more of the following: yawn a few times, or inhale slowly, like to the count of 4, and exhale even more slowly, like to the count of 6, for several breaths. Or hum. Find tunes you like and hum one, even quietly under your breath. All of these can be done without drawing attention to yourself, and if you do the yawning one, those around you will also yawn, so you will be helping them to relax as well 😊
Maybe that's why I find myself humming Let It Go all day everyday.
Thank you! I am so outraged it is affecting me physically, mentally & emotionally. This will help.
I soooooo need this! Thank you.
Hey Jessica I'm not tired or overwhelmed or dispirited. I'M ANGRY!!! And that fires me up to do whatever I can to make the small difference that becomes the HUGE difference when enough of us do these small actions on a regular. I thank you so much for supplying us a to-do list and keeping us informed.
On a side note, I wrote the NYTs last week regarding their abysmal coverage of the peaceful demonstrations all over this country and the world. I didn't think I'd hear back, but I received a VERY LONG email response (several paragraphs!) which was incredibly detailed, had a defensive tone throughout, and had the whiff of "methinks thou dost protest too much" to it. I think they must have received lots of angry letters and they had to put something together to smooth it over with readers. I don't know if I should copy and paste it here or try to email it to you...it's pretty interesting and several of my activist friends looked at it and said I must have really touched a nerve to get that kind of a response.
I'd say, copy and paste it here so we can all see it. No one has to read it. Edit for brevity, using...
Yes thank you Jessica for clarify what is a priority, with so much going on- I get confused about what to do.
I did send a long letter to my Democratic Senator this morning about the Red line being crossed and the constitutional crises with attacking Chris Krebs etc... and the immigrant issue-it was long and with many issues. I hope he reads it.
Have you seen this post? In it, Bill Kristol and Sarah Longwell from The Bulwark discuss ways to fight Trump. One of the most powerful ones was to "flood the zone" with personal stories about how Trump's crazy, disastrous actions and policies are affecting us personally. Sarah recommended just making a video of yourself and posting it to whatever social media you use.
Listen to the whole thing here:
https://open.substack.com/pub/thebulwark/p/trump-can-be-stopped-heres-how-bulwark?r=1mgos&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email
Thank you Jessica for the call scripts. I’m getting better at these calls. I wish I didn’t have to.
Jessica, thanks so much for keeping us informed with this crucial newsletter. I've been a regular reader and responder since the last election--which now seems like many years ago. You have me calling RoJo, Wisconsin's spineless senator on a regular basis, leaving never answered messages. Calling Senator Baldwin. You sent the script, I call. Gracias.
I've emailed my reps and yacked head off at dance class about the wonders of Substack. I am so sick of MAGA/Trump/Billionaires I could puke. I have an art show the weekend after this, and I managed to finish glazing, loading, and programming the kiln so that I have work for the show. I resent like hell how Donald Trump just sucks the joy out of everyday life. He is like some hulking nothing burger casting doom and gloom on everyone. We have to defeat him and his equally repugnant backers and bloodthirsty supporters. We must, but my god, we could have had the politics of hope, joy, and possibility. What is wrong with people? Rant over for the moment.
I’m calling, emailing and using the amazing Resistbot . I’m also with Alison-feeling white hot rage. I thank Jess for working so hard (Chop Wood Carry Water) to help us to contact those who supposedly represent us. I’ve joined Indivisible to keep on top of where Protests are being held in my community
Demonstrations are good, but they can only take it so far. We need to have a general strike: labor, veterans, fired federal workers, all of them already organized.
Thank you, Jessica! You always make me feel better......
To keep hope alive
plant a seed and help it grow.
First step is taken.
https://www.dailyhaikuforyou.com
Please sign up....it helps me feel more connected to all of you....
Perfect timing with this script! — called my Senators and Rep. I agree with @alison - the Oval Office press conference and hot mic conversations were infuriating.
Hi! I've called my 2 Republican senators (Kansas!) and one staffer was very nice and calm...the one for Roger Marshall was not that interested. But of note, the line to leave comments was not functioning, so I made sure to speak to the uninterested staffer...charming...