September 10 was our six-month anniversary of weekly protests in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. We celebrated with a Wizard-of-Oz themed protest complete with costumes, great signs, custom music, and a jug band, with over 300 citizens! Resistance in the shadow of political violence is always more challenging but we were committed to standing together for democracy!
We did it the following day in a much redder county to the north. The weekly Chippewa County rallies are always more hostile and on the 11th, we got a lot more "half peace sign" but we waved and smiled and stood together! Chop Wood, Carry Water is a HUGE source of inspiration for us. Just wanted you to know that we hear you Jess and we keep up the positive action in the Midwest!
⬆️"... we got a lot more "half peace sign" but we waved and smiled and stood together!"
I hadn't heard that expression before. On the east coast it is often known as a "Bronx salute".
Since I moved to NC, I have adopted the use of the expression "Well Bless your heart!" It has long been the favorite of genteel southern ladies!😊 It is perfect for MAGA who yell insults out their car windows at protesters.
Thank you so much for this incredible update of good news. You know what excites me about your list? That Americans who love our country and our environment are continuing to do good things during this time of political upheaval. If all the good people of this country do something every day for the good of our country and our world, we will win this fight for democracy.
I always appreciate the more positive observations as a counter to the most disheartening.
I want to bring attention and celebrate Vermont's Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanas who has repeatedly rejected demands to release voter information from the Trump administration. Our Brave Little State stands firm against fascism.
Thank you Jess. I missed all the court decisions this week; such great news. I think my favorite non US win of the week can be summed up in one word : NEPAL! And I loved the anti racist protests in London this week and the anti fascist chants in the Paris metro. The whole world is fighting. We are truly not alone. The shredding flyers are 🔥🔥 ✊🏻 Time to get ready for week 34 of Lessons in Authoritarianism.
Organized by a huge coalition of non-profits from various fields, in the works since August 14th 2025, co-ordinated in part by the Workers Action Center of Toronto
🤷 "There's a kid who collects the shopping carts at my grocer's, and brings them back into the store."
🛒🛒🛒🛒
"One day I see him talking to all the customers. Prices are going up, and he's asking how everybody's experience is. I thought it a bit funny the store had their cart guy running the survey."
📝
"So, I ask him, and he stares at me like there's no survey. 'They're people I know,' he says."
🤦 "'Oh? It sounded like you guys were having one,' I appologized. 'Your job's just to get the buggies, right?' He then tells me he does it AS A FAVOR to help them out. 'What do you mean?' I was stunned, 'You don't work here?'"
🛒🛒
"'They ALLOW me to,' he says regarding the store's carts. 'They ALL KNOW ME in there,' he points at the store. 'I help them OUT - ITS OKAY.'"
🙆 "'They don't pay you? How long have you been doing this?' I ask confused."
🛒🛒🛒
"'Six to seven years ,' he thought hard, as he wasn't sure. 'Since I was sixteen.'"
🛒🛒🛒🛒🛒🛒🛒🛒🛒
"That meant he was 22 now. I was going to ask why he didn't apply there for a real job, but thought the better. Students were having a hard time getting any kind of work these days. I concluded nobody wanted him."
🙍
"He saw me go quiet. 'Haven't you tried to get a shopping cart yourself?' he asked defensively. 'You CANNOT because nobody brings them back. I FIX that!' he said defiantly."
🛒🛒🛒
"I nodded in agreement - even though I used a shopping basket myself. I thanked him and said he was doing a great job."
🧘
"He may not have understood things. His English was okay, but he kept forgetting what we talked about."
"He looked Asian. He lives with his parents. I guess he was told to get out of the house and do something with his life each day."
"It seems to me we throw away what we think are disposable people. He found a way to fit in when nobody would let him."
"He created a job for himself, packs a lunch, and clocks in 9 to 5 every single day as if he had one."
"That may sound crazy. But, it speaks of the resilence he had to push back, to say his life still counted over anyone."
As Jess dedicates herself everyday to the proposition that Liberalism in America is far from dead or even dying, we must stand up more vocally and proudly ourselves for the inclusive human values of freedom and equality for all. These are the foundational values in which we believe. DO NOT be intimidated by the zombie, right wing noise machine and it's maniacal leaders who will twist all truths in order to undermine basic human rights in America. And they do it with smug confidence. These people live in an alternative web of lies of their own spinning. This is our country and we will take back political power in 2026-2028. MAGA will be defanged and the oligarchs will be humbled.
🩵I saw your title and took a deep breath. Thank you. Thank you for the good news. Thank you for that miraculous poem. This week felt especially trying and yet, in our work at Donuts + Democracy - we were inspired in more ways than we can count by our youth organizers who are ALREADY working on college campuses all across the country to register, educate and mobilize young voters. Below is an IG link to our first event of the Fall 2025 election season on Friday and OMG - these student organizers came up with this brilliant idea to connect with students on what matters to them. Check it out - we almost wept - it was so moving. And if anyone wants to find out more, join us for our virtual house party next Sunday, 9/21 at 4:30 pm PSt/ 7:30pm EST!
I look forward to your good news every Sunday. Even though it’s been a terrible week, I have seen so much good news today from you and from other people that I have found renewed hope and joy! Thank you so very much. I hope you’re doing well!
I was scheduled to attend a protest on Friday at our local university. They were holding a job fair and our Indivisible chapter got wind that CBP (Customs and Border Patrol) were scheduled to be there recruiting for ICE.
At about 9 pm Thursday, we got word that CBP had cancelled out of the Job Fair. Yay! (I am pretty sure that it was the threat of student protests not us oldsters that caused the change of plans).
But after the horrific week we all had, we were all thrilled!
But: "Precedent exists for such a decision. In 1988, after the U.S. denied a visa to Palestinian Liberation Organization Chairman Yasser Arafat ahead of a General Assembly meeting to consider recognizing the State of Palestine, the U.N. voted 154-2 to relocate its General Assembly meeting to Geneva."
If you click the underlined part of the sentence it takes you to a fact checker. It is mostly true, they have voted to move to Geneva but other things need to be worked out.
Right I purposely linked to a fact check about it because it seems that it hasn’t actually happened yet, but it is going to. I should’ve made that more clear and can correct the online version.
You're right, though. They voted overwhelmingly to do so but then didn't. Confusing and I should have checked it more closely. I have removed it from the online version. Thanks!
September 10 was our six-month anniversary of weekly protests in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. We celebrated with a Wizard-of-Oz themed protest complete with costumes, great signs, custom music, and a jug band, with over 300 citizens! Resistance in the shadow of political violence is always more challenging but we were committed to standing together for democracy!
The press was there! https://www.wqow.com/eye-on-eau-claire/chippewa-valley-indivisible-celebrates-6-months-of-protests-with-wizard-of-oz-themed-protest/article_4ba0a627-1c9a-49ea-a545-41c9ff497c5d.html
We did it the following day in a much redder county to the north. The weekly Chippewa County rallies are always more hostile and on the 11th, we got a lot more "half peace sign" but we waved and smiled and stood together! Chop Wood, Carry Water is a HUGE source of inspiration for us. Just wanted you to know that we hear you Jess and we keep up the positive action in the Midwest!
Fantastic! Thank you!
⬆️"... we got a lot more "half peace sign" but we waved and smiled and stood together!"
I hadn't heard that expression before. On the east coast it is often known as a "Bronx salute".
Since I moved to NC, I have adopted the use of the expression "Well Bless your heart!" It has long been the favorite of genteel southern ladies!😊 It is perfect for MAGA who yell insults out their car windows at protesters.
Bravo to all of you!
Good over Evil
Thank you so much for this incredible update of good news. You know what excites me about your list? That Americans who love our country and our environment are continuing to do good things during this time of political upheaval. If all the good people of this country do something every day for the good of our country and our world, we will win this fight for democracy.
Agree, Joan! Thank you!
I always appreciate the more positive observations as a counter to the most disheartening.
I want to bring attention and celebrate Vermont's Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanas who has repeatedly rejected demands to release voter information from the Trump administration. Our Brave Little State stands firm against fascism.
Having Dems in these SoS seats is so critical!
Thank you Jess. I missed all the court decisions this week; such great news. I think my favorite non US win of the week can be summed up in one word : NEPAL! And I loved the anti racist protests in London this week and the anti fascist chants in the Paris metro. The whole world is fighting. We are truly not alone. The shredding flyers are 🔥🔥 ✊🏻 Time to get ready for week 34 of Lessons in Authoritarianism.
Yes, I definitely left some protests out. There’s just not room for everything.
You always pull the really good stuff for the good news ! 😊🫶🏻
The only news I’ve read today. It’s the only news I’m planning to read on Sundays from now on. Thank you.
Perfect!
Sorry didn’t finish my post… to keep us out of despair. I love your daily wins. It definitely keeps me going.
Yay!
Me too. It is really good to know that there is so much good news to counter the awful stuff.
👭👬👫👭👫👫👬👭👫👫👬👭👫👭👫👬
Draw the line_________🖍️
on Saturday September 20th
IN ONE BIG GLOBAL WORLD WIDE PROTEST
👩👩👦👨👨👧👧👨👨👦👨👦🤰6 DAYS FROM NOW !🚶🕴️👬🏃
👬👫👬👭👫👬👫👭👫👬👭👭👫👬👭👭
Organized by a huge coalition of non-profits from various fields, in the works since August 14th 2025, co-ordinated in part by the Workers Action Center of Toronto
🧱 Draw The Line
https://drawtheline.world
https://workersactioncentre.org/draw-the-line-mass-organizing-call/
Just when you thought it couldn't get any better
🤷 "There's a kid who collects the shopping carts at my grocer's, and brings them back into the store."
🛒🛒🛒🛒
"One day I see him talking to all the customers. Prices are going up, and he's asking how everybody's experience is. I thought it a bit funny the store had their cart guy running the survey."
📝
"So, I ask him, and he stares at me like there's no survey. 'They're people I know,' he says."
🤦 "'Oh? It sounded like you guys were having one,' I appologized. 'Your job's just to get the buggies, right?' He then tells me he does it AS A FAVOR to help them out. 'What do you mean?' I was stunned, 'You don't work here?'"
🛒🛒
"'They ALLOW me to,' he says regarding the store's carts. 'They ALL KNOW ME in there,' he points at the store. 'I help them OUT - ITS OKAY.'"
🙆 "'They don't pay you? How long have you been doing this?' I ask confused."
🛒🛒🛒
"'Six to seven years ,' he thought hard, as he wasn't sure. 'Since I was sixteen.'"
🛒🛒🛒🛒🛒🛒🛒🛒🛒
"That meant he was 22 now. I was going to ask why he didn't apply there for a real job, but thought the better. Students were having a hard time getting any kind of work these days. I concluded nobody wanted him."
🙍
"He saw me go quiet. 'Haven't you tried to get a shopping cart yourself?' he asked defensively. 'You CANNOT because nobody brings them back. I FIX that!' he said defiantly."
🛒🛒🛒
"I nodded in agreement - even though I used a shopping basket myself. I thanked him and said he was doing a great job."
🧘
"He may not have understood things. His English was okay, but he kept forgetting what we talked about."
"He looked Asian. He lives with his parents. I guess he was told to get out of the house and do something with his life each day."
"It seems to me we throw away what we think are disposable people. He found a way to fit in when nobody would let him."
"He created a job for himself, packs a lunch, and clocks in 9 to 5 every single day as if he had one."
"That may sound crazy. But, it speaks of the resilence he had to push back, to say his life still counted over anyone."
JOIN THE DEMOCRACY TRAIN.
🚂🇨🇦🇬🇧🇫🇷🇯🇵🇦🇺🇩🇪🇺🇦🇸🇳🇳🇱🇰🇷🇵🇱🏴🇻🇦
Elbows UP! Everybody 🏒
🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁
SKODEN - Digging Roots (Official Music Video)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjVdj1Gd2Iw
🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁
Keep protests peaceful.
Don't kill anyone.
They DO make a difference.
Here are some resistance related guides from around the world:
🇺🇸 Fundamentals of physical surveillance: a guide for uniformed and plainclothes personnel
https://archive.org/details/fundamentalsofph0000silj
The RCMP has its own publications including:
🇨🇦 GCPSG-022 (2025) - Threat and Risk Assessment Guide
GCPSG-010 (2022) - Operational Physical Security Guide
🇨🇦 GCPSG-019 (2023) - Protection, Detection, Response, and Recovery Guide
https://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/physec-secmat/pubs/index-eng.htm
The non-profit Electronic Frontier Foundation also has excellent guides on:
🇺🇸 Street Level Surveillance
https://sls.eff.org
🇺🇸 Surveillance Self-Defense
https://ssd.eff.org/
🇪🇺 🇸🇪⚠️ Resistance Operating Concept
https://jsou.edu/Press/PublicationDashboard/25
🇺🇦 🇺🇲 Radio Free Ukraine Resistance Manual
https://radiofreeukraine.com/3d-flip-book/resistance-manual/
⚠️ Assessing Revolutionary And Insurgent Strategies (ARIS) Studies
Small Wars Journal
Assessing Revolutionary and Insurgent Strategies (ARIS) Project
https://smallwarsjournal.com/2012/08/05/assessing-revolutionary-and-insurgent-strategies-aris-project/
Author's website:
On Resistance, Revolutions, and Insurgencies
https://zimmerer.typepad.com/resistance/
Free PDF download of the book from the original author:
Casebook on Insurgency and Revolutionary Warfare, Volume II 1962 - 2009
http://zimmerer.typepad.com/Documents/ARIS%20Casebook%20Vol%202%202012%20s.pdf
⚠️ Civilian-Based Defense: A Post-Military Weapons System
https://www.nonviolent-conflict.org/resource/civilian-based-defense-a-post-military-weapons-system/
🏁 Simple Sabotage Field Manual by United States Office of Strategic Services
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/26184?ref=404media.co
⚠️ Library of Congress
Revelations from the Russian archives: documents in English translation
https://www.loc.gov/item/96024752
🏁 Robert Reich/Resistance School
Communicating Across Difference
https://m.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaT8gjnOmQl3dguy0_E0vVCL5ZYEyCTzu
🏁 Bernie Sanders:
https://m.youtube.com/@BernieSanders
🏁 CPJ Committee to Protect Journalists:
Safety Kit
https://cpj.org/safety-kit/
🏁 Activist Handbook:
https://activisthandbook.org/introduction
(⚠️ These are USA sponsored websites. Some publications may have been removed by the Trump regime)
Love it!
As Jess dedicates herself everyday to the proposition that Liberalism in America is far from dead or even dying, we must stand up more vocally and proudly ourselves for the inclusive human values of freedom and equality for all. These are the foundational values in which we believe. DO NOT be intimidated by the zombie, right wing noise machine and it's maniacal leaders who will twist all truths in order to undermine basic human rights in America. And they do it with smug confidence. These people live in an alternative web of lies of their own spinning. This is our country and we will take back political power in 2026-2028. MAGA will be defanged and the oligarchs will be humbled.
Thanks, Merrill!
🩵I saw your title and took a deep breath. Thank you. Thank you for the good news. Thank you for that miraculous poem. This week felt especially trying and yet, in our work at Donuts + Democracy - we were inspired in more ways than we can count by our youth organizers who are ALREADY working on college campuses all across the country to register, educate and mobilize young voters. Below is an IG link to our first event of the Fall 2025 election season on Friday and OMG - these student organizers came up with this brilliant idea to connect with students on what matters to them. Check it out - we almost wept - it was so moving. And if anyone wants to find out more, join us for our virtual house party next Sunday, 9/21 at 4:30 pm PSt/ 7:30pm EST!
Sign up for house party: https://www.instagram.com/p/DOjfU9ikUAH/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==
Donuts + Democracy Event - University of PA: https://www.instagram.com/p/DOjfU9ikUAH/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==
Incredible thank you so much for the work you are doing!
I love reading all the wins that you compile every week! THANK YOU! So many just disappear...
They sure do that’s what happens when you’re drinking out of a fire hose all week.
I look forward to your good news every Sunday. Even though it’s been a terrible week, I have seen so much good news today from you and from other people that I have found renewed hope and joy! Thank you so very much. I hope you’re doing well!
Thank you, Micah! I’m so glad this helps you.
Lots of great news!
I was scheduled to attend a protest on Friday at our local university. They were holding a job fair and our Indivisible chapter got wind that CBP (Customs and Border Patrol) were scheduled to be there recruiting for ICE.
At about 9 pm Thursday, we got word that CBP had cancelled out of the Job Fair. Yay! (I am pretty sure that it was the threat of student protests not us oldsters that caused the change of plans).
But after the horrific week we all had, we were all thrilled!
Thanks for all you do. I did have to fact check one story: https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/nyc-un-general-assembly-moving-to-geneva/
Not this year.
But: "Precedent exists for such a decision. In 1988, after the U.S. denied a visa to Palestinian Liberation Organization Chairman Yasser Arafat ahead of a General Assembly meeting to consider recognizing the State of Palestine, the U.N. voted 154-2 to relocate its General Assembly meeting to Geneva."
If you click the underlined part of the sentence it takes you to a fact checker. It is mostly true, they have voted to move to Geneva but other things need to be worked out.
Right I purposely linked to a fact check about it because it seems that it hasn’t actually happened yet, but it is going to. I should’ve made that more clear and can correct the online version.
Just pointing that out for new people or maybe people don’t know how you link to articles. Great job Jess.
UNGA has not moved to Geneva as far as I can tell
You're right, though. They voted overwhelmingly to do so but then didn't. Confusing and I should have checked it more closely. I have removed it from the online version. Thanks!
Thank you for everything you do to keep us out