Democratic Reform
First, democracy does not defend itself, nor can we expect politicians to save us from autocrats’ clutches. The decision to capitulate or to resist rests with each of us. One can refuse to lie and/or lower moral and professional standards. The sum of all those decisions will determine if Trump’s attempted authoritarian coup from within succeeds or fails.
-Jennifer Rubin, Contrarian
Make Democracy Great Again
We have an obligation to not just fight against authoritarianism, but to fight to protect the system of democracy itself. In trying to build a better future, we must implement the following strategies
Create pro-democracy coalitions before the crisis arrives: Don't wait to organize until a problem arises. You need support and power from so many different areas of government and law. Building coalitions is time-consuming and requires legwork to establish respect and develop alignment. This also includes following pro-democracy media and news sources instead of large media companies that capitulate to the administration.
Take the opposition seriously: Frame the issues as important and impacting to everyone. Let voters know exactly what is at stake and how it will impact them specficially. Do not treat this as a simple "left v. right" political arguement. This needs to be framed less as a compeition and more as a threat.
Bigger-coalitions tend to succeed: Cross ideological and cross-sectoral groups tend to do better in resisting or outing autocrats because they tell voters how everything relates back to the bigger strategy - protecting democracy. Try to partner with groups that support the larger picture even if they're not typically related (e.g. pro-environmentalism and unions can both argue against lack of AI regulations). We are stronger together than separated.
Be welcoming: There's nothing we'd love more than to stick it to most ex-trumpers with a big I told you so, and there are definitely spaces for that. But when organizing the more important focus is helping people to realize the harm they're now experiencing and understanding comes from autocracy and that they need to work with us to restore democracy. You cannot neglect support for republicans who choose to stand up for democracy. Make it clear that this movement is not about pety rivalry and that you will fight against tyrany not simply those who don't think like you. That's the strategy of the autocrats.
Focus on a messsage of reform: Rather than just focusing on what is going wrong, coalitions need to give supporters hope in a new future. A positive vision of not just surviving the administration but flourishing afterwards is key. Talk about political reforms like eliminating the two-party system in favor of other election systems like fusion voting or proportional represenation is the way to go.
[read more about democracy system reform](/blog/twopartyend.md)Encourage involvement and competition: Different groups will be able to serve different needs and purposes. And democracy is all about diversity of thought and ideas. Don't be afraid to support independent or non-partison public servants. In able to create a pro-democracy society groups should remember it is important to encourage other groups to succeed so long as we are all working towards the larger picture.
Voter Reform
“[The legislature] should be in miniature, an exact portrait of the people at large. It should think, feel, reason, and act like them.”
John Adams, 1776
The current priority in voter reform is protecting free and fair elections in 2026 and 2028. The administration will be seeking out ways to surpress the right to vote, undermine confidence in the system and find ways to nullify votes for opposing candidates.
Strategies
- Invest in promoting pro-democracy coalitions and candidates.
- Strengthening the system of checks and balances
- Enable and encourage democratic participation - especially for those who have historically been excluded from civil engagement
- Stay united on the message of pro-democracy and avoid the temptation to engage in Trump's "pop-up" issues used to distract and divide.
Steps for Officials
- Get accessible communication - pro democracy candidates need to have a strong social media presence on all media outlets, especially BlueSky which is intended to be the pro-democracy alternative to twitter. Be aware that other platforms such as Twitter (you mean X? No I don't), are heavily botted and controled by the owner.
- Respond quickly and forcefully against illegal actions, do not just play lip service. Leaders must be on the front lines protecting the constitution and explaining the stakes.
- Have clear disciplined messaging to the public. Get news out efficiently to all platforms and plan for regular press conferences to respond to Trump's illegal actions.
- Do not capitulate to the regime just to protect your area, even if you believe it is to the benefit of your constituents. Trump doesn't value loyalty beyond the last 10 seconds. See what he did to his favorite news station Fox News in July 2025. When you suck up to Trump, you only buy yourself a little time and lose the respect of your voter base.
- Go beyond traditional media. Millennials are no longer those avocado eating teens - they're now avocado eating middle aged adults. The median voter lives online and doesn't consume regular cable and radio programming. They live on Youtube, TikTok, Instagram, and podcasts. And that's even less compared to the younger demographic of voters. If officials want to reach their constituents it's time to realize where they are.
<h4>Sources</h4>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.authoritarianplaybook2025.org/what-we-can-do#recommendations">The Authoritarian Playbook for 2025: What We Can Do