Friend, 

Ever since one of the authoritarian mob’s cheerleaders went on a weeklong love-fest with a dictator, their playbook is becoming increasingly open. 

Look at the major stories right now and let’s unpack how each of them are being used to the Trump mob’s advantage. In every case, we are fighting back -- and we can win -- but the bottom line is they are counting on our and your inaction. Not every one of these may be a knockout blow for either side. But if we are not careful this will be death by a thousand cuts.

As the US continues its withdrawal from Afghanistan, the far right never misses an opportunity to stoke fear. They’re scaring people about Afghans (many of whom helped American soldiers at great personal risk) seeking freedom saying that we are letting the enemy in. It is typical fear mongering that obscures the real truth: The enemy is already here. The terrorists in this country right now aren’t the Afghans seeking freedom. They look a lot more like the people spreading the lies and fear.

If we let them distract us from the real threat, we are going to lose. We have been doing everything we can to call them out, spread the truth, and make sure they don’t win next year. Please help keep us in the fight if you can.

Speaking of the real threat. Biden’s approval took a hit this week but it’s clear that voters are much more focused on domestic issues -- COVID is still dominating. Biden’s approval is essentially meaningless right now but it is something to watch -- consider that the two times an incumbent party gained seats in the midterms since WWII had Presidents with approval ratings over 60. We may not need that this time but the sooner Biden can get COVID under control and get infrastructure done the more ammo we have against the MAGA mob.

Speaking of the mob, they’re still sacrificing lives to hold on to power. As Delta particularly ravages the states with Trumpist governors they are playing to the MAGA power center of the party rather than helping people. 

We are stepping up our efforts to call DeSantis out and make sure he doesn’t win re-election or the nomination. Help us sustain our efforts in Florida today. 

Other governors’ races are really going to matter next year too. They are going to have serious control over certification of 2024 results. Texas, Arizona, Georgia, and others will be crucial. We are already going up against Abbott and his cronies in Texas over mask mandates and more is coming. 

We are working in Arizona against Doug Ducey as well. Kelli Ward, the Trumpist GOP chair in Arizona (who censured Jeff Flake and John McCain’s widow, remember) claims that the Cyber Ninjas sham audit is a “domino” for the rest of the country. We all laugh at their bumbling efforts but tens of millions of dollars are coming in from shadowy foundations around the country to support their work. And Ducey is right there with them because he knows what his only chance to keep power is. We’re already putting Ducey on notice. 

We asked you this week what you think the Lincoln Project’s top priorities for 2020 should be. Tens of thousands of you have already responded. (If you have not, click here to take the survey.) Overwhelmingly you said we need to hold everyone suppressing votes and rigging the playing field accountable. We hear you, and we are waking up every day planning new asymmetric strategies to take them on. Stay tuned for our work in some of these battleground states.

If we let them take control of the elections process, we are going to lose. We won’t let it happen. 

It’s not just the hopefuls for the presidency that have been going full autocrat. When last week’s attempted Capitol bomber -- who threatened to detonate multiple bombs around DC unless Biden et al resigned and claimed he was “the South fighting back”, what was the reaction? A sitting Congressman and frontrunner for the mob’s Senate nomination put out a statement that amounted to a pat on the head and a wink to the next guy that tries something. Mo Brooks made it clear: he has their backs. And he is not alone.

But if you look at the Facebook pages the Capitol bomber liked you will notice this is not the work of one crazy radical. He was indoctrinated and ultimately induced to drive a truck full of explosives to our seat of government. “US Patriot News. Defense of Freedom. Trump World News.” and on and on. They are actively encouraging behavior like this. It is a trend that has gone on long before January 6th or even last November. But there is an alternate reality out there that the authoritarian mob has invested in, promoted, and is now starting to weaponize.

This is why we are building a powerful pro-democracy coalition to fight back. No longer can this be about anything other than beating the mob and restoring our democracy. Anyone who is not with us is a threat to democracy. Including corporations who have started to act like nothing ever happened and resume contributions to seditionists. Including Boeing, Lockheed Martin, GM, and many more. We already beat Toyota and more is coming.

If we let them go back to business as usual, we lose. 

Afghanistan, COVID, and the Capitol bombing are all interconnected. None of this can be viewed in a vacuum anymore. We have to fight on all fronts.

I am excited to share some of our upcoming work with you in the next few weeks. We are gearing up because we must.

Thank you for keeping us in this fight.

-Steve