I can understand that many are scared, and with good reason. I can also imagine that there are situations where fear would make me yield.
But, in the long run, and often in the short run, cowardice does not pay. Yielding only make tRump and his regime stronger and richer. Besides, it’s not as if they will respect you later. There’s even — if you’re a billionaire and the current regime follows the authoritarian playbook — the chance of future defenestration.
Of course, cowardice pays off for some, at least in the short term. Sometimes there’s a cost to courage as well. Kinzinger and Cheney ended up having to leave the GOP.
But there are also many, many examples of courageous stands making a difference.
Jump below the fold to read some of what I have seen, and then, in the comments, add your own.
Examples where courage is paying off:
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Law firm decides to use the law
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Harvard standing up to tRump’s threats Rafi Schwartz The Week
Even within the elite Ivy League, Harvard University stands out as the country's premier institution of higher education. As such, the Trump administration has targeted Harvard in its assault on collegiate infrastructure. But the university has positioned itself to fight back, both in the courts, where it is suing the administration over frozen federal funds, and in the court of public opinion. President Donald Trump's effort to revoke the school's tax-exempt status has "no legal basis," a university spokesperson said, and could have "grave consequences for the future of higher education."
Trump's online invectives and Harvard's equally staunch response belie the fact that it is "not immediately clear" whether the IRS is moving forward with revoking the school's tax-exempt status, said
The New York Times. Not only does such revocation "typically occur only after a lengthy process," but presidents are legally barred from "directing the IRS to conduct tax investigations" to begin with. The government agency will "not allow itself to be weaponized," said former IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig, who served under Trump and President
Joe Biden, in a statement to
Bloomberg. Absent some "appropriate examination" of Harvard's finances and tax status, the IRS "does not and should not conduct a 'fishing expedition' designed to hopefully uncover a relevant issue."
Legally, the president does not have the right to do this.
🐔🐔🐔 Columbia University is suffering, even though it caved to demands. Because it will never be enough. My IndMaker
Columbia University announced on Tuesday that it will be laying off nearly 180 employees due to President Donald Trump's decision to cut $400 million in funding. This decision was made after the university's handling of student protests related to the Gaza war.
Around 20% of the staff affected by the funding cuts, who were supported by federal grants, received non-renewal or termination notices. "We have had to make deliberate, considered decisions about the allocation of our financial resources," the university said. Those decisions also impact our greatest resource, our people. We understand this news will be hard. Columbia University spokesperson Jessica Murphy did not confirm if more layoffs are expected but mentioned that the university is taking various steps to improve financial flexibility. These steps include keeping current salary levels and offering voluntary retirement incentives. Research at the university will be reduced, with some departments ending projects and others continuing research with alternative funding.
Some of the impacted research includes a project to develop an antiviral nasal spray for infectious diseases, as well as studies on maternal mortality, long Covid treatments, newborn care for opioid withdrawal, and colorectal cancer screenings. The recent layoffs, though anticipated, have been disheartening for the faculty, according to Marcel Agueros, the secretary of Columbia University's chapter of the American Association of University Professors. This group has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, claiming the cuts are unlawful. University officials are trying to work with the Trump administration to get the funding back. However, Agueros, who is an astronomy professor, believes it will take years to recover from the damage already done. When funding is interrupted, it leads to people losing their jobs, prevents new hires, puts some projects on hold, and even causes others to be cancelled, which slows down research progress, he explained. The funding was pulled by the Trump administration in March due to the university's alleged failure to address antisemitism on campus during the Israel-Hamas conflict that started in October 2023.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Governor Janet Mills defends the kids
More on the story from the link in the flutter.
AUGUSTA, Maine — Maine leaders declared victory Friday after a high-profile legal clash with the Trump administration ended in a settlement that restores vital school lunch funding to the state.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture agreed to stop efforts to freeze nutrition funds over a Title IX dispute with Maine over President Donald Trump's enforcement of an executive order involving transgender athletes.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ States finding ways to work with other countries
x
My administration has strengthened our relationships with our international partners and allies.
Illinois is a reliable and experienced trade partner, and we’re excited to continue working with cities and countries around the world. chicagocrusader.com/gov-pritzker...
— JB Pritzker (@jbpritzker.bsky.social) 2025-04-14T15:31:21.017Z
⭐️ ⭐️⭐️ Keeping up the fight when the GOP is trying to steal an election. (Griffin finally conceded)
I also admit I admire all the people in other countries standing up to tRump. Zelenskyy is the one who has had to stand up most — and if he had caved, think how much more Ukraine would have suffered — but we have seen others stand up as well.
Here’s Japan pushing back:
And Canada. Prime Minister Carney owes tRump a bit, though, because he helped him win.
Just for fun, because we all need more fun.
This diary has been sponsored by the letter C.
Please, add more examples if you have them!
🐦 I do a lot of other writing. Newest offerings: Messing with the Myths — two books so far in this series. Older offerings: the Crow Nickels (chronicles), about crows who want to save birdkind from extinction (Hunters of the Feather). Mysteries based on Jane Austen’s novels, such as The Meryton Murders. Others based on history and Greek mythology, e.g., Jocasta: The Mother-Wife of Oedipus. All titles also available through Kindle Unlimited.
