John,
We’re now a little over three weeks into the second Trump administration, and if you’re like me, it feels like their attacks have been non-stop.
I want to take a few minutes to recap some of the most dangerous proposals and tactics I’m seeing from Trump and Musk so far. And also to share some thoughts about what I feel should be our core vision and focus at this moment.
First, the recap. Over the last few weeks we have been witnessing a hostile takeover of government at virtually every level. Billionaires are now running the federal government, and they are trying to loot, plunder, and pillage as much and as quickly as they can, no matter how many working families get hurt:
- The hijacking of the Treasury Department and other key agencies in an effort to gut federal funding for things like Medicaid, school lunches, family farm subsidies, veterans benefits, and cancer research.
- The attempted dismantling of the Department of Education.
- Opening the gates for rampant corruption by firing the head of the Office of Government Ethics, firing nearly every U.S. Inspector General, and halting the enforcement of anti-bribery acts.
- High-profile deportations and ICE raids nationwide.
- The theft of our personal information, with Musk’s staff gaining access to the social security numbers, taxpayer info, and other personal data of every single person in the country.
- Deleting thousands of webpages that previously provided crucial public health resources and FAQs.
It’s a blitzkrieg. And it is understandable to feel disoriented or afraid. But know that we are not powerless — not by a longshot.
Not only have we ALREADY forced Trump and Musk to back down from some of their plans, but our opposition can grow even fiercer from here, as long as we stay grounded, focused, and vigilant.
It’s been said before — but this truly is going to be a marathon, not a sprint. I know how overwhelming it feels to see attack after attack every day. But we need to remember that when we come together, we have the power. And that retreating to cynicism, or taking the bait when negative messages come raining down, won’t help.
This is why I have not joined the “FAFO” crowd. I do not scold or belittle working people, including Trump voters. At the end of the day, no working-class person is my enemy, even the ones I disagree with, especially at a time when the billionaire class seeks to do so much harm to so many, including those they conned to root them on. So we need to respond to the attacks from Trump, the GOP, and the billionaires they’ve literally walked into the White House by shedding a light on their true motive: trying to turn us against one another while they laugh all the way to the bank.
At the same time, let’s also affirm that the status quo before this was not working for our families either. That’s why we are ultimately working to end a two-party system that has never worked for any of us. We know it’s possible, because we’ve already broken through in some cities and states.
We believe that working people should govern. We know billionaires like Elon Musk did not “earn” their wealth, that they inherited some and stole the rest. So if we want to address climate change or make the economy work for everyone, or take on any big challenge, that means WE need to take the wheel.
And to GAIN that power, we need to widen our tent.
Our nation is going to be facing a series of crises. At each of them, there will be opportunities for us to recruit more people to this movement. And that’s where our focus needs to be.
If a Trump voter says “I didn’t vote for this,” that’s our chance to welcome them into an irresistible, compassionate, and strategic solidarity movement that has a lot more to offer them than the “broligarchy.”
And if you know people who stayed home on election day last year, don’t throw the blame at their feet either — find out the source of their disillusionment, and invite them to join us in building something better. Remember, it’s never too late to join the fight.
That’s how I am viewing this moment and our path ahead right now. But I’d love to hear your thoughts, reactions, and feedback too. Feel free to share your thoughts here, or just reply to this email.
With love and solidarity,
Maurice Mitchell
National Director
Working Families Party
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