Fight Back Against the Authoritarian /Fascist Coup

What’s a distraction? I’ve often heard some version of “Trump is just doing X to distract from Y.” This is a smart political take in certain political circles. The strategic gist of it is: “Don’t fall for Trump’s trap! Keep your eye on the prize.”

But taken too far, this anti-distraction impulse… distracts us from the real, live fight for our democracy.

Is everything distracting from Epstein? In recent weeks, the argument has been that, whatever Trump is doing, he is doing it to distract from the Epstein Files. I think there’s some truth to this.

Trump has an insatiable appetite for attention, but he wants that attention focused on his strength and power. He’s OK being portrayed as cruel or unreasonable, but he’s not OK being portrayed as weak, ridiculous, or weird.

So, yes, the Epstein Files are damaging to Trump, and Democrats should not let them go. But unfortunately, scheming to hide the Epstein Files isn’t the only, or even the worst, thing Trump and his MAGA footsoldiers are doing.

Epstein is bad. So is our descent into authoritarianism. In just the last week, we’ve seen Trump occupy DC, terrorizing local residents as MAGA governors pledge to send even more troops and James Comer, the top Republican on the House Oversight Committee, promises they’ll do the same thing to other cities.

Meanwhile, as backlash to Trump's agenda grows and we near the midterm campaign season, Republicans across the country are rigging the maps to steal seats in 2026. And unsatisfied by gerrymandering alone, Trump just let loose a tirade against our voting system and issued a meaningless, but threatening, executive order.

Fighting for our democracy is not a distraction. The occupation of our capital city is not “a distraction.” It’s part of the dictator’s playbook. The attempt to rig the rules of the next election is not “a distraction.” It’s a direct threat to the will of the voters.

Some will argue that we should only focus on the issues where we have an advantage, but that ignores the role of conflict in shaping how the public understands an issue. There were people arguing that we should ignore Kilmar Abrego Garcia and the deployment of the National Guard to Los Angeles for exactly the same reasons. Does that logic look better now?

Can you imagine if we said:

• “Residents of DC, don’t organize to fight back against your city’s occupation -- you’ll only distract from the Epstein Files.”
• “Texas Dems, don’t break quorum to fight back against the gerrymander -- you’ll only distract from the Epstein Files.” 
• “Pro-democracy advocates, don’t indulge Trump’s bombast about mail voting and voting machines -- you’ll only distract from the Epstein Files.”

We must learn to walk, chew gum, fight for democracy, and talk about the Epstein Files all at the same time. Our descent into authoritarianism demands a response.

So I celebrate Indivisible Danville, in Kentucky, rallying outside of James Comer’s office demanding this proponent of DC occupation face his own constituents. I celebrate the more than 300 rapid response events this weekend in support of the Texas Dems who broke quorum to resist the GOP gerrymander. I celebrate every Indivisible who’s called into their federal representatives’ offices to demand that they support DC. And I celebrate every Indivisible group leader who’s preparing for the next big mobilization (stay tuned)!

Trump is weak on Epstein. But he’s also weak on militarizing American cities, corrupting our voting systems, Ukraine, his blind support for Netanyahu, the economy, jobs, inflation, Medicaid, and healthcare.

By all means, we should keep our eyes on the prize, but that prize is a democracy where we’re all safe and we all have a voice. When we fight back against federal encroachment of our rights, that’s not a distraction -- it’s necessary, strategic, patriotic action.

And if you’re looking for those kinds of actions, read on to this week’s to-dos.

In solidarity,
Ezra Levin
Co-Executive Director, Indivisible

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Your weekly to-dos

1. Fight the Trump-MAGA Redistricting Coup from any state with our new toolkit. Trump’s trying to steal the midterms by making his red-state minions rig the House maps. We all have a role to play in the fight for fair 2026 elections; visit our toolkit or scroll down for more info.
2. Join a mass call with AG Keith Ellison about ways states and cities can defend the rule of law. We're joining AG Ellison, a coalition of partner organizations, and brave officials from across the US to lay out how state/local leaders can fight Trump’s takeover -- touching on redistricting, unmasking ICE, and more.
3. Watch tonight’s Solidarity in Action session (7pm ET / 4pm PT) for an expert’s guide to building coalitions. Cristina Jimenez co-founded United We Dream and wrote a bestselling memoir on her experiences as an immigrant and organizer. She’ll share what she’s learned along the way -- and how you can build powerful coalitions.

A Win for Public Education

Democracy Forward. We just secured a HUGE win for public schools, educators, and universities, friend:

A federal court has rejected the Trump-Vance administration’s assault on public education as unconstitutional.

The White House had sought to rewrite civil rights law and require school districts throughout the nation to censor lessons and abandon student support programs – but last week, a judge permanently barred those orders from going into effect.

As kids are beginning to head back to school, this is a huge victory for the future of their guaranteed public education – but there’s plenty more to fight for: Will you invest in the work ahead by donating $5 or more right now?

The orders – issued in February and April by the Department of Education – threatened that federal funding would be withheld from education institutions that teach students critical history, sociology, and other lessons that may reference race, provide support to students in the form of diversity, equity, or inclusion programming, or attempt to foster inclusive school environments for students of all backgrounds, among other efforts.

This decision in our case proves what we've long known: The administration's attempt to weaponize federal funding and require compliance with their flawed interpretation of civil rights laws is unlawful.

Threatening teachers and sowing chaos in schools throughout America is part of the administration’s war on education. And while the fight to protect public education is far from over, this ruling is an important victory.

We won’t stop fighting to defend our democracy from attacks just like this one: You can support that work by donating $5 or more right now.

 

Working to End the Trump/Fascist Power Grab.

 https://youtube.com/shorts/dpttuH5ooj8?si=QTQjSIk-TmI32YGu

End of Trump

Laying Siege to Sanctuary Cities

Laying Siege to Sanctuary Cities: Team Trump is fighting another losing battle in the courts, this time over sanctuary jurisdictions. Its argument neglects that cooperation with immigration authorities is optional.

We are not giving up on American Democracy

We're Not Giving Up On This Democracy

In times of moral crisis, true faith offers courage to stand for what's right

   

 https://open.substack.com/pub/ourmoralmoment/p/were-not-giving-up-on-this-democracy?

 

“These are the times that try men’s souls: The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly.”

-Thomas Paine

December 23, 1776.  

Trump Administration Returns to Family Separation Policies

 

Federal agents at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Newark, N.J., in June. Victor J. Blue for The New York Times

‘Interior separation is approved’

	by Jess Bidgood and Hamed Aleaziz

It was one of the most explosive policies of President Trump’s first term: the systematic separation of migrant children from their parents as the families crossed into the United States from Mexico.

Now, a more targeted version of that practice is back, far from the border.

My colleague Hamed Aleaziz, who covers immigration, found at least nine casesin which migrant parents already in the country were separated from their children after they refused to comply with deportation orders. “Interior separation is approved,” officials with Immigration and Customs Enforcement wrote in one case.

Officials denied that there was any new policy on family separations. They told Hamed that parents had the option of staying with their children by leaving the country with them.

Today, I called Hamed, who told me the effort represented a new front in the administration’s effort to persuade as many people as it could to leave the country.

JB: You spoke with several parents who have been separated from their children in recent months, all of whom were in ICE custody. What did they tell you?

HA: They expressed anguish, first and foremost, at being separated from their kids. They were still coming to grips with this idea that they were not with their children — and that there weren’t any prospects of being with their children anytime soon.

One thing that stuck with me was a father who told me he blamed himself for being separated from his child. He said that he’d had a nice life in Russia, and that he’d ruined it by being a dissident. He said that he had brought his family to the United States, and that, ultimately, the reason he wasn’t with his child was because of his decisions.

Education Funds Released

On Friday, July 25, the Trump administration announced it was releasing funds for education that it had been illegally withholding from schools and students. Our collective activism, which included AFT members and leaders coming to Washington, D.C., last week to lobby their members of Congress about this and other key priorities, put enough pressure on President Donald Trump and Education Secretary Linda McMahon to reverse course and no longer hold these funds as ransom. 

It was fitting that the reversal happened just as I was about to give a speech at our biennial TEACH conference in D.C. When I announced it to the attendees, teachers and school staff from around the country cheered and celebrated the news.

But TEACH was more than that. It was about not just what we’re fighting against, but what we’re fighting for: safe, welcoming, engaging and relevant public schools. From discussing how the AFT is leading the way on artificial intelligence and reading instruction, to focusing on how to make learning engaging and relevant, educators came away from the TEACH conference empowered and energized to continue teaching and supporting all students. 

In my speech I discussed the core challenges facing educators and school staff. I examined how we must fight back but also fight forward for a better life, as educators, workers, trade unionists and Americans. And why we must be beacons for our communities, as never before. Because we are in a moment like never before. 

I addressed the attacks on educators and schools for teaching critical thinking, honest history, pluralism. Those attacks are a key reason I wrote my upcoming book, Why Fascists Fear Teachers.

So many Americans are anxious and struggling to get by. We need an agenda of affordability, opportunity and dignity, a pathway to a better life for everyone. Our members are going to keep fighting, the way we fought for Trump to release the funds our students need, against the terrible cuts to education, healthcare and good jobs in his big, ugly bill. That’s who we are in the AFT—we care, fight, show up and vote for our values and our priorities. Thank you for all you do. 

As always, I’d love to hear from you. You can email me at AFTpresident@aft.orgwith feedback or ideas anytime. 

See prior message on how we organize to fight against the fascist menace. 

All hands on deck 

“These are the times that try men’s souls: The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly.”

-Thomas Paine

December 23, 1776.