"Protecting American Democracy Will be An All-Hands Approach--Mobilizing at Every Level"
Efforts need to reflect the multi-faceted approach involving public pressure, state leadership, legislative innovation, and emerging political voices.
Steven Beschloss, in his recent substack, America, America, wrote of "a clear, fearless opposition"...that will require elected officials refusing to work with Trump.
But it will take more than federal elected officials. We cannot wait for political parties, the media, or existing advocacy groups, either, but many of us suspect that and are saying it out loud.
It Will Take Multi-Level Engagement
Public Pressure: Citizens must maintain constant pressure on federal officials, refusing to let resistance fade into complacency.
State Leadership: Governors like Pritzker and state legislators must keep everyday Americans informed about how policies from Washington threaten democratic norms.
Legislative Creativity: State lawmakers must lead and show constituents what they are ‘made of’ by proposing bills and amendments to:
Use state resources to fill gaps created by federal cuts (veterans services, cancer research, student loan programs, senior assistance, refugee support)
Address policy voids created by federal abandonment of responsibilities (environmental protections, disability rights)
Emerging Voices: Congressional candidates like Rebecca Cooke (WI) and Ryan Melton (IA) must leverage their platforms now—holding town halls and speaking out before elections. These candidates shouldn't worry about appearing "too political"—people desperately want to be heard and to see that someone cares.
And there are examples of State-Level Leadership:
State Senator Sarah Trone-Garriott's work filling program gaps
State Representative Wessel-Kroeschell's Medicaid protection initiatives in Iowa