Can we be real for a minute? The old playbook isn't working. And if we don't get more creative—and yes, more disruptive—we're just watching our democracy die in real time.
The Cold Hard Truth About Power (Or Lack Thereof)
I'll never forget sitting in my home on election night, watching the results roll in, aghast and shocked in a way much different than 2016 when I volunteered at planned parenthood and stood together at their watch party.
Rather than panicked texts … it was he realization that something had truly altered — and we were all waking up in a new timeline authored by Putin.
The realization hitting all of us at once: we had lost. And not just a little—we had lost it all — integrity, justice, verifiable truth. The election which seemed to have momentum, long time R turning D, hard core enemies like Cheney rallying for harris, even lists of retired Generals breaking the norm to declare Trump was threat to democracy and National Security
But then… like a candle being snuffd — the narrative changed — like we all forced to swallow the red pill and wake up in Bizarro land where Trum won every swing state by a margin that was too great for automatic recounts.
Like waking up dead after dedicating your life to civil service… and no one is remains to solve the case.
Fast forward 90 days later and the carnage is 10x worse than imagined. And yet House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has summed up our situation perfectly (for him, and him alone) : "What leverage do we have? Republicans have repeatedly lectured America — they control the House, the Senate and the presidency. It's their government."
But here's the thing—it's not their government. It's ours. And it's time we started acting like it.
Look, I grew up watching 1980’s movies where the rebels always found a way to fight the system. My parents told stories about protest movements that actually changed the world.
And now here I am, wondering why our Democratic leaders seem to think strongly worded emails and careful statements are going to save us from a man who's literally dismantling our government piece by piece.
The New Rules for a New Fight
When someone breaks all the norms, you can't fight them by following the old rulebook that got us into this trap.
That’s like bringing a strongly worded letter to a chainsaw fight.
To fight the Army of Darkness we need to channel the courage to say "This... is my BOOMSTICK!"
1. Visualize the Power You Already Have
Do you realize Senate Democrats hold the key to a complete government shutdown? Current Senate rules require 60 votes to pass most legislation—not just a simple majority. With Republicans holding only 52 seats, they literally cannot function without Democratic consent or votes. That's not just a procedural detail—that's leverage.
I want you to close your eyes and imagine Democratic senators standing together, unmovable, refusing to budge on anything — nothing happens without us saying "Gimme some sugar, baby." and pouring a pound into the gas tank to gum up the works.
2. Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable
We've seen glimpses of what Democratic resistance can look like. During Trump's recent address to Congress, Rep. Al Green stood up and repeatedly shouted that the president did not have a mandate, refusing to stop until he was physically removed from the chamber by the sergeant-at-arms. Was it disruptive? Yes. Did it get attention? Absolutely.
Or look at how Rep. Greg Casar put it: "After the election, a lot of Democrats needed some time to soul search and breathe. And now that time is over. The richest billionaire in the world can now take all of our taxpayer money and data and is getting richer off of it. So it's time for us to get off the mat and get back into the ring."
The first step to reclaiming your power is being willing to use it, even when it feels uncomfortable.
3. Reframe Your Language, Reframe the Narrative
Have you noticed how Republicans talk about their agenda? They don't "suggest policies"—they "defend freedom." They don't "cut budgets"—they "end government waste."
Meanwhile, Democrats are stuck in policy-speak that puts everyone to sleep. We need to reframe our language to tap into deeper values:
Instead of saying: "We oppose cuts to Medicaid."
Say: "THEY ARE KILLING AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE!"
Instead of saying: "We disagree with changes to retirement benefits."
Say: "THEY STEALING YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY CHECKS”
Instead of saying: "We question the President's ties to Russia."
Say: "WHY DOES TRUMP BOW TO PUTIN WHILE BETRAYING AMERICA?"
This isn't just semantics—this is how you win the narrative war. By anchoring our language in universal values, we make the fight relatable to everyone.
Tactical Blueprints from Democracy's Front Lines
Let's get specific about what strategic resistance actually looks like:
1. Strategic Shutdown Leverage
Rep. Ro Khanna has proposed one of the boldest strategies: Democrats should refuse to vote for a debt ceiling increase unless Trump commits to spending every dollar Congress appropriates. "That's pretty simple, and that is Congress asserting our power," Khanna stated.
So...yeah… the old guard D — sold their party to Russia and DOGE on this one — the treasonous scum — Schumer must be primaried. He’s dead to all D. There is no forgiveness — learn how quickly R could ruin McCarthy — we should send up a measure to remove Schumer from power today.
2. Courts + Congress + Public Protest = Pressure Cooker
Democrats have already found success tracking legal efforts to block federal actions. Democratic attorneys general and advocacy groups have won preliminary court battles on preserving birthright citizenship, unfreezing billions in grants, and protecting federal workers' jobs.
Now imagine coordinating this legal strategy with:
- Congressional hearings featuring fired federal workers telling their stories
- Rallies outside the agencies being gutted
- Viral social media campaigns humanizing the impacts
- Strategic leaks exposing the chaos inside these agencies
When these tactics work together, they create a pressure cooker that forces media coverage and public attention.
3. The Russia Connection: Make It Stick Every Day
Every committee hearing. Every press release. Every floor speech. One question: "What does Putin get out of this policy?" Force Republicans to constantly deny Russian influence, making them look more suspicious each time.
Demand a special committee on Russian interference in the 2024 election. When Republicans block it, that's the headline: "GOP BLOCKS INVESTIGATION INTO RUSSIAN INFLUENCE—WHAT ARE THEY HIDING?"
4. Force Vulnerable Republicans to Take Painful Votes
In the House, Democrats can use the "Motion to Recommit" procedure to force votes on their proposals. While these motions are rarely adopted, they create on-the-record votes that can be politically damaging for vulnerable Republican members.
For example, imagine forcing every Republican to vote on:
- Whether Elon Musk should have access to Americans' private financial data
- Whether cuts to Social Security violate promises made to seniors
- Whether Congress should investigate Trump's business conflicts of interest
These votes become dangerous liabilities in swing districts—perfect for viral videos, targeted ads, and local media coverage.
The Old Guard Failed Us. We Need New Energy.
Let's be brutally honest: the current Democratic leadership has been outmaneuvered at every turn. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi counseled younger lawmakers to avoid making themselves "the story" and to let Trump "stew in his own juice," this passive approach has failed to energize the base or shift public narratives.
She’s WRONG — She failed us — I have much respect for how she ran the house 20 years ago — but that was a different reality — and her advice is toxic now.
This isn't just my opinion. You can see the energy gap everywhere:
Democratic senators scrambling to learn from online influencers. House Democrats introduced to 40 content creators who could help them grow their audience. Progressive Rep. Ro Khanna declaring that "Democrats need better, bolder tactics."
Old-school politicians think disruption is improper. Gen X understood that sometimes disruption is necessary. And my generation knows that in a crowded information environment, being proper often means being invisible.
We need leaders who understand that protest isn't just about making noise—it's about making people question the status quo.
This Is Personal. This Is About Our Future.
Look, I don't write this from some abstract political position. I write this as someone who:
- Is watching countless friends lose healthcare and deal with the mindf*ck that is COBRA (what twisted boomer crafted that name by the way!?)
- Wonders how anyone under 40 will ever be able to afford a home
- Is genuinely scared about what America becomes a fascist theocracy like if Trump and Heritage Confederacy gets their curse list filled.
Project 2025 isn't just politics as usual—it's a 1,000-page agenda that includes deploying the National Guard to crack down on protests, rigging the Census to rob us of fair representation, and dramatically increasing presidential power to act without Congressional oversight.
This isn't about "winning politics"—it's about whether we'll have a functioning democracy 3 years from now.
We need Democrats who aren't afraid to be ungovernable when the alternative is watching our country become unrecognizable.
The future is watching. What will you do?
