Yes, we must go ahead. Haven't we waited long enough since 1865?

I'd argue it started with Colorado and Washington state legalizing cannabis. Canada saw the future and legalized it nationally.

This is so informative and makes me feel hopeful. Thank you!!

📌

If we stopped paying our share of federal taxes they’d instantly realize they need us a hell of a lot more than we need them.

👏 👏 👏

Resist!

Let’s do this…, we can govern ourselves. Our tax dollars should stay in our Blue States!!!!!

I keep saying this. Why tf are our blue states not idoing this. Think outside the box blue states.

We’re in a low boil Civil War. But the playing field is shifting. Many who live in Red States will be forced to abandon the cult, if they want healthcare, hospitals, and more affordable groceries.

Yeah what about those of us who aren’t in the cult but are stuck with those who are? I agree that harsh measures need to be taken to break the back of MAGA but part of that fight has to be about restoring constitutional protections to all Americans.

I think it’s well time

One of the few hopeful things I’ve read is a while.

I’d be happy to be a Cascadian!

Not directly related, but along the same vein of “make them pay”: Canadian tariffs are specifically targeting red states.

Powers not delegated to the federal government are reserved for the states or the people, as stated in the 10th Amendment. Black letter law.

Not with President Trump.

I wish we could withhold that money!

Why don't they just call what they're doing States' Rights. Isn't that what the conservative right wants? What's good for the goose, is good for the goose-steppers! 😁

This gives me a little hope!

The 19th century is back baby!

Thank you.

Very encouraging to see that this level of planning is happening in blue states. I only wish blue dots, like where I live, had a prayer. I suppose one day I'll have to move if we cant break through the MAGA tribalism.

35 years in coming. Sad, but some of us won’t accept fascism racism slavery and poverty as new old normals .

THIS is what people mean when they say Dems need to fight. I am elated to hear this planning by Dem govenors. Best part? Conservatives laid the groundwork to allow this to happen.

Well the majority of white voters voted for this regime in 2016, 2020 AND 2024 when the majority of Black voters and people of color did NOT.

Thank you, Antonin Scalia

Same. I wondered why more wasn't being done, but here it is!

This one article has given me more hope than anything else to date!

Same for me. 😊

Glad to hear that something is being done behind the scenes to push back on this criminal cartel passing as an administration. Thank you for sharing.

Yes

I love it!

This is brilliant! Thank you for sharing and giving us some hope!

I Absolutely agree. I didn't know the blue state AG's,/ Governors were even doing this. Great idea. The rest of the blue states need to get on board and save their states as well. I know there's more blue states then just these few. The rest better jump on b4 djt takes over your states as well.

Thank you

I was thinking about moving toone of the three blue states just west /north of where I live. They’d make an awesome new country.

I hope they are studying ways we can deposit our federal tax payments into an escrow account to be used when federal dollars are withheld from our State.

I've been saying this for months

Me too! I'm embarrassed to say I've spent a nutty amount of time designing workable details. Maybe the Dem brain trust is taking it seriously too.

Or to pay for our own version of FEMA, Department of Education and DOD.

Can we also include the animals that would be hunted to extinction for rehoming to a blue state? Clear the shelters so dogs will no longer be in fighting rings, wolvez, bears?

This is a very important read!

📌

This is basically what @indivisible.org is putting into motion, but from grassroots.

Yup, we could do that easily here in California. Maybe also form a coalition with Washington and Oregon in order to combine our resources to manage whatever we lose (for example; federal disaster assistance, food and education programs, etc) and focus most of our interstate trade with each other.

I am glad I live in one of these states. Hopefully people who want or need to escape can afford to reach us.

. Someone needs to declare war so we can save American Democracy.

Right on and keep the blue state tax dollars in blue states.

Check out the Volstead Act and the Maryland Free State.

Wow, who knew? This is incredibly interesting and informative. I highly recommend everyone read it.

I also think that some sort of split is inevitable.

Let's talk more about this strategy.

Many people other than just myself have been saying to secede. I don't see any reason why the Blue States can't join forces and take action. Doing everything from stopping the funding of America, we are the only reason America runs, to threatening Secession. We have the power, they're just leeches.

What will happen to seniors on SS & SSD, & it’s healthcare. What about schools, roads, etc?

SSI is not a tax. It's your personal money paid into with every hour you work. Not paying our federal tax dollars would have 0 impact on SSI. They're already getting Healthcare from the federal level. Your state picks up the majority and if we joined with other blues we could fund it better.

It’s not my point so I probably wasn’t clear. If blue states like us in California pull our funds, I do worry about innocent people in “red states” who rely on federally funded programs. Also, if we were to separate, there is nothing stopping 47 from freezing benefits to “blue” states’ residents.

If they are maga.. who cares? 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️

I hope that states that value democracy are looking at hard secession in the event it becomes necessary. We aren’t the United States of America, we are the blue and red states of America.

Do it

Stop sending tax revenue to Washington. There has to be a way to intercept or embargo that money and use that as leverage.

Enlightening and informative.

Thank you for this glimmer of hope. Being blue in a State with a corrupt Red Governor, I'm not sure how I and my family will benefit within this outline. That said, it may be time to relocate. Thank you again for this information and as always, your insight. 🤜⚖️🤛

I don’t think the point of this is to leave you all behind. We have to start winning somewhere. And when we succeed in getting rid of this monstrous regime we will come back for you.

I 👍 🤝 agree!!

Go go go!

Beautiful article Laurence.

Never do so in a way the fed can get a hold of. This kind of movement needs to stay under the table until its time for the secessions to begin.

VERY encouraging!!

Now we’re talking! There appears to be a lot going on behind the scenes, which I’m glad to hear. We need to know that the Dems AGs and governors are fighting back at the state level. This is war.

Sign me up Frump doesn’t deserve Blue States

I do believe the only way to defeat Trump is to remain collectively defiant of his unlawful demands. We must come together as one voice or be silenced on our own.

At what point does fed govt essentially declare war on a state? This all sounds so deviously loophole legal on paper...but when the feds come rolling into your state, who's stopping them? Most blue state law enforcement sympathizes with trumpism. As rational and legal as this all sounds....beware!

Red state brain-drain started years ago.

Great read. But I do question this, if the regime decides to resort to force to take back control from a states that soft secessed. In case of it going south. How can that be countered? Each state will also need to have a State Security Force that will not secceed to fed forces.

📌

So swift!

Hard succession would be better. Its the only way out I can see.

Come back to the real world.

Is that the one where we write strongly worded letters and throw sandwiches?

Yes. Actual secession isn't in the cards. You can limit yourself to sandwiches but since the world is run by lawyers, strongly worded letters, i.e. legal briefs & motions, are highly effective.

Good luck with that. Trump just ordered his DC army to arm themselves and declared "citizens" can now carry rifles in DC. Maybe you can get a lawyer to write him a letter about it.

www.huffpost.com/entry/pentag...

The Schumer Jeffries Show!

From civil rights to reproductive rights, the New Confederacy has been shelling the Ft. Sumter of human progress for 50+ years Non-Violent Responses 1. Economic blockade & boycott, get global support 2. Organize & fund general strike 3. Fund refugees & resistance 4. Lawfare- tie up their courts 5?

California is acting in a soft secessionist way. As a resident of the Golden State, I approve!

When Prof Tribe is promoting soft Secession, I’m pleased. Let’s go!

PTL!! Couldn't be happier to see this. It gives me hope!

What if hoards of folks move to blue states - overpopulation brings it's own pile o probs?

Thank you for sharing this Laurence. My Republican PA state AG is out of the loop, but my Governor Shapiro sure isn’t. I also read the Andrew Callahan piece on the NYT.

Time to declare Trump a traitor and oust his entire administration.

Most countries have their capitol in a large financial city, which Washington is not. Chicago is the obvious choice.

The Disunited states of Agolf Shitler.

Finally.

No more red state welfare! Cut them off and let them dissolve into dust

They'll be bloodletting and burning witches at the stake in 5 years

Yep.

Previews of coming attractions...🙂

...and follow the money...🤪

Blue state leaders are pioneering efforts to safeguard our rights, assure the rule of law, protect our institutions and save some semblance of democracy. This is Enlightenment rationalism in action. An informed citizenry must support these efforts to shape our democracy's future. #SelfDetermination

While I get the idea of not riling up their “base,” we’re well beyond that point. Democrats are STILL trying to give their “base” a soft landing when there is none. We’re well beyond a soft landing. We need to be talking about hard secession; the very real act of breaking up the United States.

Since the Constitution no longer binds us, the United States exists no longer. We are now simply a collection of states held together by nothing. Democrats believe in the Constitution still, but MAGA does not. It’s time for everybody to get on the same page.

Wasn't that what the Neo-Conservatives of the Reagan acolyte set aimed to accomplish: smaller government and handing more power back to the States? If the red states desire to be the prime example of "shithole countries", how do we stop them? Thank you for sharing this.

I love to read this but it’s a Substack

My gov looks like a steel worker, who could twist pedo-ones head like an old style

Thanks for posting this. It is a very good read and shows that we can help and can resist.

@justjarvtm.bsky.social here you go

??

This article is about what we were discussing

Yes.

In my opinion, we need to stop getting distracted by their stupidity and start hitting them back where it hurts. After all, this is the "UNITED" STATES OF AMERICA. If we unite, we can win. It's been done before, and we can do it again.

@uw-fl-lelone.bsky.social @sufa-indivisible.bsky.social @indivisible.org @50501movement.bsky.social

Let it be so.

Except for Texas and Florida (sorry, but you guys aren't really what we're looking for) would the green states like to join Canada? After all, Canadians love it here, what with universal healthcare, great public schools, DEI values, and our friendly and caring citizens. JOIN US!

Yes, please

Texas and Florida are the model of reverse Robinhood Capitalism. No income taxes, but sky-high property, sales taxes, shitty worker protections, and toll roads up the wazoo. Screwing poor and middle class families.

Oh man, come North! Lots of income tax (on high earners) but low-income people receive certain sales taxes (e.g. the GST, which applies to all Goods & Services) back in the form of quarterly cheques or deposits. It's not much money, but it helps.

The best thing about it is the recognition, by social scientists and the government, that many taxes penalize the poor unfairly, and they try to lessen the burden for people in or on the edge of poverty. (I realize this is probably controversial among Canucks. I live in poverty, so bring it on!)

We’ll defeat the Texas Traitors. We own the cities. America’s diseased cock, aka Florida, will be isolated and forced to surrender. The fucking reactionary republican Cuban assholes can flee back to the mother island.

The one issue we should be able to unite with the Right on is no federal taxes. The breakup is coming. We need to diminish the power of the federal government.

If the blue states just stop paying federal tax, the federal government will collapse. It even rhymes.

Better do it quick then before they take control via martial law! 🤔

The red hat monkeys will Attack! Y'all evaders watch y'back

Great poem 👍

YES YES YES!

You know that this is a huge step towards the dissolution of the Union. On the other hand, it tickles me pink to think about sending those podunk, inbred, mouth breathing MAGATS, packing, and establishing the free Confederation of North America after merging the departing blue states with Canada.

Yeah, over a million people voted against this in Missouri last tear. Are we all “podunk, inbred, mouth breathing MAGATS”? Are we to be cast out as well? What’s your plan for additional housing for refugees? Or do we not count because there are fewer of us here? And do your MAGA get to stay?

Tough titty. You can always migrate.

Well you’re really rolling out the welcome mat.

There will be population exchanges. No problem receiving Blue persons left behind enemy lines. It has always happened after wars that implicate changes in real estate ownership.

What about this guy? Podunk inbred magat? bsky.app/profile/wash...

State AGs have been stars during this mess.

Thank you. This gives me hope and I haven't had much of that lately.

Lol!! Go for it!! You're all in deficit situations, and succeeding.. you've not considered the associated costs (defense, admin, infrastructure, social programs). The small group of progressive/socialists are running the dnc.. keep it up so MAGA can continue to WIN!!!

Imagine tho' if all the blue states pack up, form their own country and leave, the red states will get on with living their best lives, all the wokes, the gays, the equal-rights stuff, environmental protection, education, and science will, once and for all, be gone forever! How is that a bad thing?

Go for it.

If their intent is extra / post - Constitutional then there’s nothing that binds us together. We’re back to individual states and commonwealths.

#softsecession

Red states have been trying to secede since 1865. It’s time to burn them out. And then salt earth where those oligarchs were standing.

Blue States are going to need to build A LOT more housing.

This is the most hopeful thing I've read in months. Thank you. 🙏

There's no question that secession is long overdue for California.

👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

Great article. I hope fired FBI have formed a shadow government.

Omg I've been hoping and praying someone or some general is forming a legal shadow govt. One that can somehow stand up to the system and djt. A soft coup so to speak. Find something in legal archives. We have awesome lawyers. Like L. Tribe

Interesting and worth the read

I am becoming a fan

This is a great read. I’m glad to see Democrats uniting against the tyranny of minority rule. Red States will run out of money fast. It’ll be quite a spectacle to see.

Must Read and then don’t tell me democrats aren’t doing anything

Without state cooperation, much of the federal government’s agenda becomes unenforceable.

This is exactly why my husband and I are moving to a blue state for retirement. We need to live under a government that will protect our rights.

If we can’t leave the country, at least we can find a new state that is doable

Followed you💙

What happens if Trump imposes martial law & tanks start rolling through neighborhoods

I've been wondering about this. I've learned recently that States have a state guard of some sort. Washington State has a State Guard that is volunteer and non-combat, but they are bound to State Constitution, U.S. Constitution, & competent orders from the governor. Not to be federalized.

We can learn from other democracies that fell to authoritarian regimes & we know how it's done & what happens There are play by play instructions & Trump's not meeting with Putin & Lukashenko to make a "peace deal", they're his mentors in authoritarian tactics

@jlgittinger.bsky.social Interesting...

Bring it on! (Meanwhile I need to get out of this red state)

Vladimir’s dream, watch the US fall to pieces.

California, itself, has one of the largest economies in the world, and could very well function, sans, any help from the fed, especially if it kept the revenue it sends to Washington, spending the money it generated within the state. Imagine, if Illinois, New York State, et al., joined California.

That was refreshing. I had no idea that there was such a coordinated plan in existence among the “good guys.”

Thank you!!!!!!

This is the ray of hope we all need right now. Thank you. 💙

This is the most urgent, relevant, and hopeful view of how to fight back that I’ve read since the election. More of this!

This also highlights a somewhat uncomfortable truth: increasingly, it matters where you live, if you value strength of civic society as much as cost of living. Not everyone may have the luxury of such weighting. I say that as a guy who lives in a blue bubble in a Red state (Georgia).

Then it will be up to folks in those red states to stand up and say enough is enough.

They are continuing to push their agenda to see what they can get away with.Succession may be the only route. Blue states will have the financial capabilities to pull it off but if they gather red state militia to attack will the blue states stand up? Where does the federal military stand in this?

My exact thought. When feds come driving into Massachusetts, who's stopping them? Mass law enforcement and National Guard likely sympathize with Trump. It will be ugly

All questions that need to be answered.

Excellent - something positive is going on! Keep it going! I still say - keep your tax dollars in your state - collect it put it in a separate account, but don’t send it to Washington and help your own state if they can break the law why can’t blues break the law until the law gets back in order?

If it works for those fuckers’ confederate heroes like John Calhoun, it can work for us.

Excellent Article. This gives me hope.

A ray of hope. Thanks, Laurence. I needed that.

I think we’re headed toward a partition in the style of India/Pakistan.

Famously well handled and not generationally traumatic.

Awful, for sure. Better than a hot civil war? Maybe.

Time for States to institute and clawback monies for state social security and medicaid.

Not seeing Michigan mentioned... @jocelynbenson.bsky.social are you working to protect us?

Or

Go! Just do it!

CA WA OR secede, cutting off the west coast from Trumpfuckistan. Colorado and New Mexico join them. The Northeast quickly falls in line. Residents of the large blue cities swiftly align with the Coastal Alliance. A pincer movement against rural red state traitors follows.

A must read!!

Dream on. As blue communities in states like Indiana or Tennessee try to pass good local laws, the statehouse then bans those efforts. The federal government already does this when states try to pass reasonable gun safety laws. The solution is taking on fascism, not accommodating it.

-Federal income tax deductions intercepted by the state to be used within the state till we return to normal -Governors activate National Guard to help solve "any" pressing issues within their state. -Intercepted funds used to cover programs defunded by Fed. -Willing states cooperate.

State governments are not involved in collecting the Federal Income Tax.

If the rules are being changed at the whim of a Wanna-Be dictator, states should feel free to change the rules they operate on as well. If the Constitution does not really apply anymore then each state becomes sovereign. If we are not all playing by the same rules then we make our own rules.

That is the point. Intercept that outflow of money generated inside each state, by that states citizens, before it leaves. Use that money to continue to fund programs within the state that have traditionally been supported by Federal dollars and have been stopped by the Trump dictatorship.

Nullification is the way.

Russia’s dream is being realized… Divide and conquer

Soft Secession is a big step towards civil war. Get your guns and ammunition ready America

This is actually good to know. It gives me hope. And contrary to what many of us believe the dems are doing something. They’re just doing it quietly in the background. This is good news

I am debating leaving the country or moving back to California.

C’mon back to CA if you can afford it. We’ll be happy to see you! 👏🏻👏🏻

I should never have moved.

#calexit. california, or, wa, should align with vancouver and create the largest economy i the west. time to stop paying for red states.

It started awhile back: pacificcoastcollaborative.org/about/

Governor Gavin Newsom 👏👏👏💙💙💙

I suspect Trump and his cronies are planning for when the blue states start withholding, which is why they have started stakes in private companies, which is essentially the taxes that they needed to pay in the first place

And we’re fucking sick of subsidizing MAGA Land.

Fantastic! 🧚‍♀️🎶🌊😃🤟💯

Don’t back down to this fascist dick & his little trolls. A best defense is a good offense.

Great article!!!!

I’m all for a hard secession personally.

Also, no traveling to red states. Keep your $ blue. And choose what you buy carefully. Maines produces potatoes for example. Leave out Idaho.

📌

What I’m wondering is if the jerk in the White House sends national guard troops to a blue state against the wishes of its governor, can the governor of that state call in her/his troops to push back?

Yes, that's called civil war

What about California and L.A. Why were the Guard and Marines even allowed to do that?

Doesn’t seem as though they should have. Newsom won the first court case hopefully he’ll be victorious in the appeal case.

Another type of Resistance - being practiced by Democratic States Attorneys General and Governors of Blue States. This is still America - where the spirit of opposition against tyrants runs deep and collective action for defending the continued existence of Democracy will prevail in the end.

If every state had the Colorado voting system in place . Trump would not be president.

That was a great read and a very important one too!

Is this like quiet quitting?

It’s like ghosting your-ex. Blue states to the Fed: “I’m just not into you anymore.” 🤷🏻‍♀️