[View Email in Browser]
Friends,
Disney had a decision to make. Do we accede to Trump's pressure? Apparently, it wasn't an easy decision. But they made the wrong one. They bowed to government pressure and censored Kimmel.
And then a slew of people pushed back.
After the pushback, Disney assessed its options. They could have joined the ranks of other capitulating institutions. But they looked at the strength of the people — specifically the tens of thousands closing up wallets — and said: we'll pick the stronger side.
They're bringing Kimmel back.
Disney didn’t bring Kimmel back because they suddenly grew a backbone. You were the backbone. They did it because you canceled subscriptions, made noise, organized boycotts, and refused to be silent. Your noncooperation gives other people backbones against Trump's threats. Courage breeds courage.
On this night of celebration (and a happy Rosh Hashanah!), we just wanted to make some quick notes:
1. Multiple pillars moved.
This was the strongest example yet of the resistance not being siloed—it was multi-sector, fast, and loud.
The FCC commissioner (!) Anna Gomez called this a "campaign of censorship and control." Hollywood stars spoke up. Everyday people organized boycotts. National groups jumped in within hours.
We, of course, saw labor right at the front of this. Writers Guild of America led the way: "If free speech applied only to ideas we like, we needn't have bothered to write it into the Constitution."
A few notable Republican political leaders along with many more pro-free speech Republicans came out against the censorship.
Historians will later help us analyze the multiple pillars that just moved — businesses and consumers, unions, community groups, celebrities, and more… but it worked because many sectors were primed and ready to act.
2. Networks are (more) ready.
Six months ago this wouldn’t have happened — we were still in too much isolation and shock. Yes, we are still in some shock and the level of loss remains tremendous. But a lot of behind-the-scenes organizing has built up new infrastructure.
When Kimmel was yanked off air, a boycott campaign launched within hours. Those initial organizers were connected and moved other networks. Unselfishly, those networks (some who have previously creaked slowly) rapidly amplified. Take how the ACLU managed to organize over 400 artists to defend free speech. The echo effect turned sparks into wildfire.
3. Overreach creates openings.
Trump's syndicate thought silencing a mainstream late-night host would intimidate us. For many of us, it did — at least for a while. But our response exposed his authoritarian weakness. Their overreach united millions. A friend reminded us, "Once folks are awakened to what's happening, it's harder and harder to go back to sleep." More people are catching the flavor of this authoritarian takeover.
Take some hope. Disney's assessment is we were more powerful than Trump.
Showing we can stop one bad thing is important to fuel our fire for more. So our opening isn't just "Trump and his billionaire buddies are trying to control your life" — but also "we, the people, can resist." Let's keep it going.
4. No one person can organize a movement
In many circles we've heard a hope for a singular leader or organization to take the reins and direct us — tell us what to do. AND, a democracy means we're all educating ourselves, we're all teaching, we're all advocating, and we're all participating.
As Stacey Abrams says, "I think we're looking for leaders, and what we need is leadership."
Leadership was abounding. Before any boycott page was set up, Reddit and X threads exploded with people saying they're quitting Disney or ABC. WGA and other unions moved fast. Parents in school, many who hadn't known what to do, suddenly were sitting down with their kids explaining why Bluey wouldn't be available anymore.
Movements never live entirely in neat lines. Helpful for us to appreciate that sometimes we have clear marching orders — and sometimes we just have to stand up and see who is with us.
5. Wins are partial, but they are wins.
So far Sinclair is refusing to carry Kimmel, and (as of writing) Nexstar might not. This has some serious repercussions and means the fight isn’t over. The fast runners are already on it with Phase 2 — a toolkit to help us boycott Sinclair affiliates and target their top advertisers, including Allstate, AT&T, Marshall's.
Get this phase 2 of the boycott: bit.ly/wehavefriendseverywhere
Victories don’t have to be total to be transformative. Kimmel is back on the air. Disney, with a lot of pressure, didn't fold. Trump lost this round. That’s worth naming and celebrating.
Expect Trump to double-down because that's what he does. Expect them to try to come harder and at other targets. Note the changing landscape, congratulate your team, and keep moving — but celebrate enough so the team knows it can advance its lines.
Remember that Kimmel is just one tiny firefight. Honor to all those fighting the many tentacles of this authoritarian takeover: people fighting ICE's kidnappings, people holding firm on science and teaching our kids kindness to all people, people resisting in the quiet places that feel isolated from this campaign… all are important fronts in this struggle.
And for tonight, as one of the fast running organizers, Nelini, says, "Organizing gets the goods." Boycotts can work. Noncooperation works.
And it works when we're working together. Not just declaring a boycott in isolation, but echoing each other, building networks that can move fast.
This is what it looks like to make Trump pay for his overreach. This is what it looks like to bend the future in the present.
The censors wanted silence. Instead, they got a chorus.
Warmly,
- Choose Democracy
Like this article?
Had this email forwarded and want more like it?
Want to learn more about how you can fight the coup?
