Wins of the Resistance

The fight is difficult. Some battles we will lose. But - we can win, have already won, and will still win!

The key is realizing it. If we believe they are invincible, they will be. If we believe we can defeat them, we will.

I want to highlight the ways we are winning, and all the ways that we can each help - peacefully, productively, and with joy. (Fascists hate joy!)

Fascists and those that support them (including doomerism, defeatism, etc.) will be blocked.

Why We Have Hope (thread): https://mstdn.social/@resistancewins/114218736514509643
How to Help (thread): https://mstdn.social/@resistancewins/114218775975032807

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Last Notes

2025-11-10 21:42:43 GMT

On the #shutdown and recent #Elections ...
These election victories were huge. They spurred stories all over about how the #Democrats have strength and #Republicans are starting to more publicly break with #Trump on things. This is just what we need! We don't win this in a day; we win it with a series of changes in a positive direction, and last week's election represented part of it.
More importantly, it gives the power-hungry another reason to break from Trump. 1/

2025-10-19 13:22:40 GMT

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He is afraid of us. Afraid of YOU.
I don't think it would be a stretch to say yesterday was the most important moment of Trump's second term so far. We've seen institutions from the Washington Post to Columbia University and CBS cower in front of Trump.
But not Americans.
I plan to call my GOP congresspeople and complain about their rhetoric about #NoKings. We can all keep up pressure in our own ways. Highlight how they lose in the courts, elections, and public opinion.
7/

2025-10-19 13:19:59 GMT

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Some people say "follow the money". Right now is a moment to "follow the fear".
Trump & GOP have a huge tell. You can easily see what they are afraid of because they attack it out of all proportion. Universities, the media, and -- #NoKings . CNN reports that American's didn't buy their description of NoKings, and anybody with eyes can see it wasn't the violent mob they said it would be.
When we know what they're afraid of, that's where we can apply pressure. 6/

2025-10-19 13:18:01 GMT

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So what does all this #NoKings stuff MEAN?
Well first, that it MATTERS. We are not helpless. We can have hope. Because we know that we are changing the conversation and the tone. I am so proud of our friends, holding nonviolent protests, even in costume, which the media is picking up on and reporting positively.
In short, we have credibility now - even with the increasingly-cowed media.
5/

2025-10-19 13:16:27 GMT

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Across Reddit, #NoKings photos and videos are everywhere. My favorite was a post saying "Does this look like an 'I Hate America' rally do you?" from Texas. https://old.reddit.com/r/FortWorth/comments/1oa4xzf/does_this_look_like_an_i_hate_america_rally_to_you/
Even NY Times has an article https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/18/opinion/no-kings-protests-republicans-trump.html saying "Republicans Know How Vulnerable Trump Is. The Attacks on No Kings Prove It." Even Fox News wrote "The rally was peaceful" and quoted a protestor from NYC positively.
You can find many, many more articles about it. 4/

2025-10-19 13:09:18 GMT

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The States Newsroom, a nonprofit organization supporting local news in every state, has multiple articles about #NoKings. For instance, Montana https://dailymontanan.com/2025/10/18/small-towns-in-montana-rally-for-no-kings/ and Kansas https://kansasreflector.com/2025/10/18/small-no-kings-event-puts-love-ahead-of-politics-in-rural-kansas-town-where-immigrants-are-detained/ . The latter story is headlined "Small No Kings event puts love ahead of politics in rural Kansas town where immigrants are detained". One of the most inspirational stories I've read.
3/

2025-10-19 13:04:31 GMT

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In an article about GOP rhetoric https://www.cnn.com/2025/10/18/politics/gop-rhetoric-no-kings-protests-analysis , they also noted that left-wing violence "pales to decades of right-wing violence". It is unusually on-point for CNN, calling out the extreme and unjustified Republican rhetoric about the protests.
CNN is also reporting on "small pockets" of protests around the country: https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/no-kings-protests-trump-news-10-18-25?post-id=cmgwn6m6v004r3b6pdcf9yla3 Again, this time with credulity. This ties in with what @npub1cy9…zg9s is saying at https://mstdn.social/@MaryAustinBooks/115400907698478159 - fewer counter-protestors. 2/

2025-10-19 13:00:01 GMT

Folks, there's an interesting change in the tenor of the media coverage for yesterday's #NoKings. It's no longer "sure, there are lots of people, but will it matter?" Now it's "Wow, look at all the people. Something important is happening."
Let's take a little tour.
First, CNN's article at https://www.cnn.com/2025/10/19/us/protestors-voices-no-kings-trump highlights that nearly 7 million people showed up -- 2 million more than the protests in June. They highlighted "largely peaceful".
1/

2025-06-29 00:11:56 GMT

I live in a rural deep red county in a deep red state. Recently a small local Hispanic church invited people from other local churches. They said they wanted support from the local community as many of their members are scared.
I went. In fact, so many people showed up that guests by far outnumbered regulars.
This has never happened here before.
Religious or not, red state or blue state, there are people everywhere that care. Even in the deepest of red places.

2025-06-15 12:31:05 GMT

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writes, "Grab a beverage of your choice, give a toast to the over 2000 successful #NoKings events, then rest up to resume the hard work on Monday."
Yes indeed!
Tomorrow, we spread the word. We make sure these photos and videos are everywhere. That people see how massive, peaceful, and beautiful these protests were. That they understand they are not alone.
4/

2025-06-15 12:28:35 GMT

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As @npub13dw…htcj writes, " that's what today was about. Helping so many of us understand that we are not alone. We are the majority."
3/

2025-06-15 12:23:56 GMT

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This footage from NYC is incredible. https://fediscience.org/@gwagner/114685189486363044
Estimates range from about 5 to 11 million people turned out to protest, and these are likely underestimating. According to https://www.gelliottmorris.com/p/no-kings-day-protests-turn-out-millions , several hundred thousand in New York, around a MILLION in Boston (which held a dual No Kings and Pride protest).
That same article says this is "dramatically more protest activity than in 2017" and may have been nearly 2% of Americans.
I can't say enough how HUGE this is.
2/
https://media.mstdn.social/media_attachments/files/114/687/355/680/504/434/original/74a81a3dadfe9d04.jpg

2025-06-15 12:18:29 GMT

Good morning and happy Sunday, everyone! So much good news today, and a great start to the week.
Let's start with the #NoKings protests. Compare this New York scene with Trump's parade in DC (the latter via @npub13xz…qgua ).
Or, as [@Free_Press](https://mstdn.social/@Free_Press ) put it, "Literally tens of people showed up in Washington for Trump's birthday military parade. Fewer people than who normally show up on a Summer Saturday afternoon in Washington DC."
1/
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2025-06-09 21:53:13 GMT

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Here's a pretty good maxim: "Those that are always demonstrating their strength are usually weak or insecure."
From the schoolyard bully to Trump, this holds. Obama didn't need to stage an elaborate parade for a birthday party; he was secure in who he was and where he was, despite outlandish Republican attacks (even about the color of his suit).
Trump's entire story is a con. He's not smart, he's not really liked, and the only people he has nearby are as villanous as he is.
Insecure.
3/

2025-06-09 21:50:46 GMT

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What's been going wrong for #Trump? Coverage of the #tariffs has been overwhelmingly negative. He's backed down on several deportation cases, bringing at least two people back to the US (including Abrego Garcia!) The #budget bill passed the House but is wildly unpopular among the public, and a few Republican senators are starting to defy him on it. He's mad at the Supreme Court. He's mad about the #TACO meme. And a spat with Musk. To name just a FEW things.
2/

2025-06-09 21:48:10 GMT

With all the news of the #protest in #LosAngeles, you might be thinking this is a moment of strength for #Trump.
It's not. It's a time of weakness.
He's coming off a string of bad news for him that's about to get worse, and he's doing what he always does: distract.
Let's dive in.
1/

2025-04-18 00:37:58 GMT

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[replying to deleted post about Murkowski] Friends, this isn't the way.
First, it's false.
And second, we have to build a big tent. We need AOC, we need Bernie, we need Liz Cheney, we need Murkowski. If somebody is taking a stand against fascism, we need them, and they need our support for that.
It doesn't mean they get our support for anything else. But greeting someone that is on the national Republican party, taking the first steps towards anti-fascism, should be met with welcome. 1/

2025-04-17 20:14:46 GMT

A Republican US Senator just said:
"We are all afraid."
Then paused, and added:
"I'm often times very anxious myself, about using my voice, because retaliation is real."
Also she asked people to keep protesting at her offices. "It's going to sound crazy coming from an elected official, but I'm going to continue to urge you to raise your voices."
https://alaskapublic.org/news/politics/washington-d-c/2025-04-14/protesting-the-trump-administration-murkowski-says-keep-at-it
I can't overstate how important this is. A Republican senator naming the elephant in the room, and encouraging protest!

2025-04-17 03:44:40 GMT

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You've gotta understand: what Sen. Van Hollen did wasn't just about Garcia.
Garcia is the most egregious example we have of an evil regime; they admitted it was a mistake to deport him, but they aren't fixing it.
So it is the first place we fight.
Sen Van Hollen was there to help Garcia, yes, but the bigger picture: he was there to help democracy.
Are you going to do nothing but heckle, saying he can't do it by himself?
Or are you going to do your part and inflict a papercut? 8/

2025-04-17 03:38:44 GMT

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This is the first moment when the Trump administration is really feeling heat. So of course they are afraid, of course they are deploying the bots, of course they are using every scare tactic they have, of course the press secretary is telling us it's hopeless: because they know what many of us don't:
The only way they win is by convincing enough of us that it is hopeless.
But we know better. You've seen all the wins I've chronicled here. A fight remains, but it's winnable! 7/

2025-04-17 03:36:34 GMT

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He may soon lose control of the narrative in the Garcia case also. Every action like this helps.
Look at the photo at https://www.news-herald.com/2025/04/16/chris-van-hollen-el-salvador/?preview_id=1717466&noamp=mobile . All that media attention wouldn't be there if Van Hollen hadn't gone.
6/

2025-04-17 03:35:06 GMT

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Why now for the doomerist bots?
It's because the fascists are afraid.
When I started Wins of the Resistance, I pointed to Ezra Klein's piece saying presidents get about 100 days of controlling the narrative, and then it controls them.
Here we are, just a bit ahead of schedule, and the #tariff wars have dealt Trump a blow. His credibility, especially on the economy, is tanking. Day after day the story is about economic problems, and people blame him.
5/

2025-04-17 03:33:01 GMT

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Let me tell you why today's news was so important.
Sen Van Hollen didn't get Garcia home. But what he did get was something critical to Garcia's case: that he is still there because the Trump administration is still paying them to hold him.
This is evidence that will surely come up in court.
Some say, "well we won't prevail in court." Well, you don't know that, but even if so, this is a pretty big papercut. It wakes people up, including judges. It moves the needle on the story. 4/

2025-04-17 03:30:36 GMT

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If everybody believes it's hopeless, then people just capitulate and give in. That gives them power.
Every senator that gives a marathon speech or goes to El Salvador, every federal worker that exposes wrongdoing, every citizen that protests or calls reps or aids those targeted or laughs in the face or does any of the hundred other things I've mentioned here -- every one is inflicting a papercut. AND shows others they aren't alone and they too can do it. 3/

2025-04-17 03:28:25 GMT

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I am here not because things are great. I am here because Trump is doing bad things, and critically:
We can stop him. We will stop him.
UNLESS we are convinced of the biggest lie: that we can't.
I've seen bot and troll accounts spreading this nonsense for years. I know some people saying it are real humans, but know that many aren't.
Folks, it's not going to be one hero somewhere that stops #Fascism .
It'll be a thousand papercuts, building over time.
2/

2025-04-17 03:26:24 GMT

Today was a very good news day. Two federal judges moving towards holding administration people in contempt. A senator goes to #ElSalvador and learns information helpful to the #Garcia case.
And a friend of mine reports that #doomerism is all over Facebook. People saying it's all hopeless, none of this matters.
And one of my heroes here in the Fediverse, @npub16el…n8vf , has been getting the same.
This is like snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. 1/

2025-04-14 22:02:23 GMT

#Harvard University stands up to Trump!
https://www.npr.org/2025/04/14/nx-s1-5364829/harvard-rejects-trump-demands-on-dei-and-admissions
"No government — regardless of which party is in power — should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue," Harvard President Alan Garber wrote in a letter
Somebody has to stand up first - they help blaze a path for others. Way to go, Harvard.
Makes #Columbia look mighty small, doesn't it?

2025-03-24 18:17:54 GMT

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Maybe you'd like to #protest. As @npub16el…n8vf says, protest works, often in ways you don't expect. https://mstdn.social/@GottaLaff/114031288896853181 This article https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-psychology-of-intergroup-conflict-and-reconciliation/202011/what-kinds-of-protests talks about what are effective protests. Find other like-minded folks, join a protest, etc. You can make a difference in this way, too! 5/

2025-03-24 18:17:30 GMT

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You can use the script at 5calls if you like, but if you have a more personal story, even better. Does the education department closing threaten your student loan? Does the Park Service firings threaten your vacation? Are your parents impacted by Medicare cuts? Mention that!
Also, appeal to what they campaigned on. Did they campaign for liberty and justice? Push them to take action. Campaign on a Christian platform? Push them to care for the poor and foreigner. 4/

2025-03-24 18:17:19 GMT

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There's SO MUCH that is not great today, so here's what I'm doing:
I've made a list of the things I want to discuss. Every day, I pick one topic and call all three of my electeds (two senators and one house member) about it. https://5calls.org/ can help, and they have some tips for calling at https://5calls.org/getting-started/ .
3/

2025-03-24 18:17:07 GMT

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I can see the objection now: "My rep is [strong left/hard right], what does it matter?" It does. For instance, see this article about Republicans objecting to DOGE: https://apnews.com/article/trump-musk-doge-republicans-mike-johnson-26ba7e32fb2bc1c054bf20d911aa5a8f Would they do that if their constituents were calling in with thunderous support of DOGE? Of course not.
You can also read this article on Why Calling Works: https://5calls.org/why-calling-works/ .
2/

2025-03-24 18:16:49 GMT

Now let's talk about what we can all do to help in this moment.
I for one want to be able to tell my kids what I did.
The options are vast and run the gamut from phone calls to political volunteering to protest.
Let's start with how we think about elected representatives.
Over at https://indivisible.org/resource/guide, look at Chapter 2: A Quick Primer on Constituent Power. It notes that reps pay a lot of attention to local press, tally phone calls, etc.
1/