We are a nonpartisan, nonprofit group working to prevent authoritarianism. This account is owned and operated by Protect Democracy United. Follow us on other platforms ➡️ https://protdem.org/m/stay-connected
123,792 followers 1,068 following 1,060 posts
view profile on Bluesky
“Pritzker and Johnson’s proactive defense of Chicago and of democratic principles writ large is an example of how the broad pro-democracy coalition can use one of the few remaining levers of power to push back against the administration’s overreach — our federalist system.”
BREAKING: A federal appeals court just denied the Trump administration’s emergency motion to block Commissioner Rebecca Slaughter’s reinstatement to the FTC. This is a win for accountability, transparency, and the rule of law, but the fight isn’t over. Follow the case: https://protdem.org/4mKJ9zy
If you’re reading this, you feel it. We’re fighting “the long defeat.” Ian Bassin offers some inspiration for our dark moments, to bolster each other and endure in defense of our democracy. https://www.ifyoucankeepit.org/p/the-hard-won-hope-of-the-long-defeat
Federal agencies are seeking more access to state-run administrative data. What does that mean for privacy, civil liberties, & civil rights? Join CDT, @civilrightsorg.bsky.social, & @protectdemocracy.org for a webinar digging in 🗓 Sept 10 | 1–2pm ET RSVP: cdt.org/event/federa...
In our latest edition of the Democracy Atlas, we look to Cambodia’s pursuit of a restored democracy for guidance and find that courageous leaders emerge from all backgrounds to drive change. Leadership lives in everyone. https://www.ifyoucankeepit.org/p/rule-4-leadership-lives-in-everyone
“If this termination is allowed to stand, the Federal Reserve will no longer have any insulation from presidential control, and that means the death of the Federal Reserve as an independent agency,” Special Counsel Amit Agarwal told the New York Times.
It's being reported that the Pentagon is authorizing military lawyers to serve as immigration judges. This is a threat to the Constitution. Don't say we didn't warn you. From the archives:
The U.S. military is not a civilian law enforcement agency. This is dangerous. John Hutson, Steven Lepper, and Andrew Turley @thebulwark.com: www.thebulwark.com/p/dangerous-...
JAG leaders warn: the risk of militarizing society and politicizing the military pose a direct threat to our democracy, as armed troops are deployed to our streets and plans are underway to divert more National Guard JAG officers to immigration enforcement. www.thebulwark.com/p/dangerous-...
🎵 Songs in the Key of Resistance (from @kairoscenter.org ):
📖 Our case studies & analysis on faith and resistance: horizonsproject.us/tag/faith/
She also lifted up tools for action: 🧰 Our Faithful Fight Toolkits (in collab with @protectdemocracy.org): protectdemocracy.org/work/the-fai...
Some key insights: 📌 Faith communities are essential to organizing - providing sanctuary, holding symbolic power, & building bridges across movements. ⛪️ Authoritarianism thrives on co-opting religion. Faith leaders must reclaim moral clarity & resist scapegoating and nationalist frames.
🕊️ What does nonviolence look like in the face of authoritarianism? At the @paxchristiusa.bsky.social Annual Conference, The Horizons Project's Co-Lead Maria J. Stephan delivered a powerful keynote on reclaiming the strategic and moral power of nonviolence in this moment.
“If this termination is allowed to stand, the Federal Reserve will no longer have any insulation from presidential control, and that means the death of the Federal Reserve as an independent agency,” Special Counsel Amit Agarwal told the @nytimes.com.
NEW Democracy Atlas: Leadership isn’t confined to the political sphere — it can stem from anyone working to make a change. In our latest, we learn endurance from Cambodia’s unexpected pro-democracy leaders: https://www.ifyoucankeepit.org/p/rule-4-leadership-lives-in-everyone
"'The stakes could not be higher, for the Federal Reserve and for our system of separation of powers, and also for the American economy,' said Amit Agarwal" an attorney at @protectdemocracy.org: www.nytimes.com/2025/08/29/u...
TY, Anna!
NEW: Northern resistance to the Fugitive Slave Act provides a template for how current leaders should respond to the Trump administration’s takeover of American cities writes Ansley Skipper. https://www.ifyoucankeepit.org/p/the-long-history-behind-trumps-war
#CollectiveCourage: Hundreds of economists from across the country have signed an open letter calling on Congress to uphold Federal Reserve independence. If you’re an economist, you can still sign on: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1oGrUv-_CoeulsLZDt_lyNTPbm9wYCAfiTLm7KMiwgzA/edit?tab=t.0
It’s a legacy defining moment for the courts to push back on executive overreach & protect the independence of institutions like the Fed & FTC. "The stakes could not be higher...for our system of separation of powers, and also for the American economy," Special Counsel Amit Agarwal told @nytimes.com
The pro-democracy playbook might look a lot like labor organizing — navigating and overcoming an asymmetry of power between a large diffuse, less-powerful group of individuals and one central authority. NEW: Lessons from labor ⬇️ https://www.ifyoucankeepit.org/p/to-fight-an-authoritarian-think-like
Weekend Action: Know your rights and help others know them too. The AFL-CIO created excellent bilingual KYR resources for interacting with law enforcement and immigration officials. Print out a stack, pass them out and make sure everyone has a copy for themselves and others. http://bit.ly/4mOzRCv
Cambodia's pro-democracy movement teaches us a powerful lesson of how it’s often ordinary citizens who become unexpected leaders, with every act of resistance helping in the fight to restore democracy. https://www.ifyoucankeepit.org/p/rule-4-leadership-lives-in-everyone
As President Trump threatens to expand his takeover of American cities to Chicago, local leaders there — and around the country — should look to the country’s long history of local resistance to federal overreach. https://www.ifyoucankeepit.org/p/the-long-history-behind-trumps-war
#CollectiveCourage by the numbers — Erica Chenoweth notes that empirically “no government has withstood a challenge of 3.5% of their population mobilizing against it during a peak event.” Sustained protest movements work because they are impossible to ignore.
NEW Ansley Skipper explains: JB Pritzker, Brandon Johnson, Gavin Newsom, and other state and city leaders are tapping into a centuries long tradition of pro-democracy resistance as they stand up to the Trump administration https://www.ifyoucankeepit.org/p/the-long-history-behind-trumps-war
#CollectiveCourage, when one action leads to more: A whistle-blower’s accounting of how DOGE put critical Social Security data at risk helped lead to lawsuits aiming to block DOGE from having access to more confidential government data.
It’s no coincidence that Trump tried to fire Lisa Cook the same week he openly mused about being a dictator. "The stakes could not be higher, for the Federal Reserve and for our system of separation of powers, and also for the American economy,” Special Counsel Amit Agarwal told @nytimes.com
Regardless of where you sit in our democracy, unions are important allies in the fight for democracy. Ahead of Labor Day weekend, here’s what we can learn about combatting authoritarianism from the history of labor movements. https://www.ifyoucankeepit.org/p/to-fight-an-authoritarian-think-like
“Rather than serving the laws, the American people, or the constitution to which they swore allegiance, our nation’s military and federal law enforcement are slowly being cast into the role of political henchmen for the president,” new from @jonsteinman.bsky.social for @starsandstripes.bsky.social
Help prevent an occupation of your city. Focus your energy on local leaders, especially your mayor and governor. Here are 5 steps to take action: https://www.ifyoucankeepit.org/p/how-to-stop-trumps-national-guard
Democracy Atlas Rule 4 - Cambodia’s civic leaders embody the virtues of active and engaged citizens by harnessing leadership from all backgrounds to continue driving change, even in the face of continued repression. https://www.ifyoucankeepit.org/p/rule-4-leadership-lives-in-everyone
The US has the widest age gap between lawmakers and citizens of any OECD country. In a new report with @dustinwahl.bsky.social we explore how winner-take-all elections fuel this divide & how proportional representation could help bring young people into politics www.newamerica.org/political-re...
For an autocrat, despair is a political weapon. But for the pro-democracy coalition—incl. you reading this with us—upholding the truth & each other are the keys to enduring. A framework for dark times from @ianbassin.bsky.social https://www.ifyoucankeepit.org/p/the-hard-won-hope-of-the-long-defeat
New edition of Democracy Atlas incoming! Catch up on lessons from others around the world who have navigated authoritarian threats: https://protdem.org/3JFcoVA Help us spread the word! Share these pro-democracy strategies & challenges with your networks using this link: https://protdem.org/dematlas
#CollectiveCourage action! ⬇️
Young Americans have been turning away from our democratic system because they’re unsure it cares about them. Lara Hicks stresses the importance of an intergenerational pro-democracy movement that includes younger voices. https://protectdemocracy.org/work/how-does-gen-z-really-feel-about-democracy/
This is a dark moment for our democracy, but it is far from the first. I've been reflecting on how we need not only strategies for this moment, but mindsets. I offer four ideas for those here, and hopefully some inspiration from those who came before. www.ifyoucankeepit.org/p/the-hard-w...
There is no question we are being tested but moments of seeming hopelessness can be the prelude to a breakthrough. @ianbassin.bsky.social offers a framework for how to situate ourselves and endure in defense of our democracy. www.ifyoucankeepit.org/p/the-hard-w...
The Trump administration’s latest attempt to strong-arm the Fed by illegally firing Lisa Cook is a classic authoritarian tactic, and such power grabs come at the expense of their country’s economy and people. Special Counsel Amit Agarwal had this to say: protectdemocracy.org/work/trump-a...
“Dan, how do we legalize fusion voting?” OK, maybe no one actually asks me that on the street—but here’s the answer: Litigation. Citizens in KS, NJ, and WI are suing for their right to nominate candidates under their own party label. It’s about freedom of association. Let voters choose and be heard.
"[T]here are resources for those in the military and national law enforcement agencies, as well as citizens, for defending our constitutional order." Read more from our own @jonsteinman.bsky.social
RESOURCE: offers best practices for responding to politicized gov investigations so that orgs can keep doing lawful, mission-based work. https://protdem.org/NonprofitInvestigationsToolkit
Young Americans have been turning away from our democratic system because they’re unsure it cares about them. Lara Hicks stresses the importance of an intergenerational pro-democracy movement that includes younger voices. https://protectdemocracy.org/work/how-does-gen-z-really-feel-about-democracy/
“Rather than serving the laws, the American people, or the constitution to which they swore allegiance, our nation’s military and federal law enforcement are slowly being cast into the role of political henchmen for the president” My latest on the armed threat ahead www.stripes.com/opinion/2025...
To learn more, check out our latest Dear Civil Servant on politicized hiring practices and more. www.ifyoucankeepit.org/p/the-call-i...
2️⃣ If you have information about how the essay questions are being used in the hiring process, please let us know that too by filling out this survey. protdem.org/47RYcT8
Politically-coded essay questions are showing up on applications for federal jobs and we need your help to understand more about them! Follow below ⬇️ for 2 actions: 1️⃣ If you’re interested in applying but have concerns about the questions, let us know by filling out this survey: protdem.org/3HryASE
Becoming involved with collective decision-making and action is a crucial part of sustaining our sense of agency and combatting our isolation that authoritarians rely on to gain power. Here are some ideas on how to start: https://protectdemocracy.org/how-to-protect-democracy/#build-community
#CollectiveCourage by the numbers — Erica Chenoweth notes that empirically “no government has withstood a challenge of 3.5% of their population mobilizing against it during a peak event.” Sustained protest movements work because they are impossible to ignore. Read more:
Should meat cutters, dental hygienists, or crane operators have to answer Qs about their favorite Trump executive orders in their application to work for the federal gov? We cover politicized hiring practices, plus, 2 things we need your help with to fight back against the politicization.
We created a hub for federal workers about what they need to know and do to protect themselves amid attacks on their livelihoods from the Trump Administration. Bookmark and share widely >> https://protdem.org/federal-worker-resources
2️⃣ If you have information about how the essay questions are being used in the hiring process, please let us know that too by filling out this survey. protdem.org/47RYcT8
Politically-coded essay questions are showing up on applications for federal jobs and we need your help to understand more about them! Follow below ⬇️ for 2 actions: 1️⃣ If you’re interested in applying but have concerns about the questions, let us know by filling out this survey: protdem.org/3HryASE
How do recent changes to hiring and retention policies for federal employees erode our merit-based civil service? Read our newest Dear Civil Servant briefing to find out. https://www.ifyoucankeepit.org/p/the-call-is-coming-from-inside-the
#CollectiveCourage - After you make a plan to take action, encourage others to do the same using this link: protdem.org/natguardaction
State and local leaders can stop President Trump’s militarized intimidation tactic from expanding into more communities — but they need to hear from you. Here are 5 ways to start. Read and share: https://www.ifyoucankeepit.org/p/how-to-stop-trumps-national-guard
How’s your media diet? Now more than ever, it’s challenging to know if we are consuming trustworthy or accurate information. We put together some guidance to help you evaluate your media diet. https://www.ifyoucankeepit.org/p/are-reporters-doing-a-good-job-covering
To learn more about the Authoritarian Playbook for 2025, and what to do about it, visit: 🔗 authoritarianplaybook2025.org
Take Action 🗣️ Call your mayor, write a letter to the editor, @ tag your governor, and stand up for your National Guard and your city. It’s going to take all of us to stop President Trump from taking his militarized intimidation tactics nationwide. protdem.org/natguardaction
Spotting the Authoritarian Playbook — corrupting elections. Bob Bauer explains Trump's plan to subvert the midterm elections, “he is preparing a partisan loyalty test for election officials around the country.” https://executivefunctions.substack.com/p/donald-trumps-plan-for-honest-mid
Reports of ICE plans to double immigrant detention space is an autocratic entrenchment move Ansley Skipper warned about, "this may all end with a massive and parallel prison system," accountable primarily to the president alone. https://www.ifyoucankeepit.org/p/ice-may-be-building-a-parallel-prison
State and local leaders can stop President Trump’s militarized intimidation tactic from expanding into more communities — but they need to hear from you. Here are 5 ways to start. Read and share: https://www.ifyoucankeepit.org/p/how-to-stop-trumps-national-guard
Young voters are often left on the margins of U.S. politics. Could winner-take-all elections be part of the reason? @oscarp.bsky.social and @dustinwahl.bsky.social examine the system’s impact in a new @protectdemocracy.org report. protectdemocracy.org/work/age-div...
We've also debunked the examples used to claim presidents had this power before the Impoundment Control Act was passed. Read our deep dive into the historical record that makes clear OMB Director Russ Vought and Trump are wrong on the history and the law protectdemocracy.org/work/the-myt...
After our win in court, we’re slowly seeing what the Trump administration and OMB have been hiding. To be clear, POTUS doesn’t have the power to pocket rescind funds without Congressional approval. www.lawfaremedia.org/article/past...
Attn: Nonprofit leaders – What if your organization is subject to politicized executive actions? Our resource center outlines how to prepare before something happens. Know your rights. Build your plan. https://protdem.org/NonprofitInvestigationsToolkit
In an increasingly hostile environment, nonprofits need to understand the threats facing them and start preparing before they become targets. Visit our hub for orgs to equip themselves against political intimidation. Explore the resources → https://protdem.org/NonprofitInvestigationsToolkit
“Supporters of democracy must offer a compelling vision to compete with the lure of autocratic populism. Because democracy cannot be defended — or restored — if only the autocrat captures the hearts and minds of the people.” https://protdem.org/3JnLx0h
USA had a thriving minor party scene until the early 1900s—w/ fusion voting at the core. From local to national efforts, parties like Liberty & Free Soil used fusion to build coalitions, win races, & shape policy. We’ve done it before—let's do it again. @jrdresden.bsky.social @protectdemocracy.org
A good explainer from @protectdemocracy.org on how to end gerrymandering: - No perfect maps with single-winner-take-all elections - Need multi-member districts and proportional rules protectdemocracy.org/work/how-to-...
New in The Democracy Atlas, @michaelangeloni.bsky.social shares a lesson from Mexico: Legal tactics alone are not enough to stop a would-be autocrat. Pro-democracy forces must also respond with a political movement that can win. www.ifyoucankeepit.org/p/rule-3-win...
#CollectiveCourage reading from @wagingnonviolence.org "Fantasy stories remind us that it was never about the numbers; it was about the networks. Dumbledore’s Army. The Fellowship. The Resistance." https://wagingnonviolence.org/2025/07/what-fantasy-stories-teach-us-about-defeating-authoritarianism/
Data You Can Use: The Trump admin's refusal to spend allocated funds for critical programs hurts all of our communities. Check out the Impact Map to explore the details of federal workforce, funding, and policy decisions and cuts in your neighborhood. https://theimpactproject.org/the-impact-map/
Help us spread the word! Share these pro-democracy strategies and challenges with your networks using this link: share.protectdemocracy.org/toolkit/42fb...
NEW Democracy Atlas from Mexico. Rule 3: Winning lawsuits can help slow the authoritarian slide, but it takes winning hearts and minds to stop it. https://www.ifyoucankeepit.org/p/rule-3-win-lawsuits-and-hearts-and
We'll have a brand new edition of the Democracy Atlas today! Catch up on lessons from others around the world who have navigated authoritarian threats at the link below, subscribe for more and share with other democracy defenders. https://www.ifyoucankeepit.org/p/eight-rules-of-antiauthoritarianism
Our site OpenOMB.org makes it easier for Congress and the public to assess whether the executive branch is following federal spending laws or potentially flouting them.
WATCH: @amandacarpenter.bsky.social on the common sense case governors should be making to #KeepTheGuardHome. “Some of these governors need to take responsibility for their own state, and say: I cannot in good faith send these troops to D.C., away from our own citizens meant to serve our people.”
WATCH: @amandacarpenter.bsky.social on the common sense case governors should be making to #KeepTheGuardHome. “Some of these governors need to take responsibility for their own state, and say: I cannot in good faith send these troops to D.C., away from our own citizens meant to serve our people.”
Now that access to info about what the admin has been doing with our tax dollars has been restored, explore it for yourself. Our site OpenOMB.org makes it easier for Congress and the public to assess whether the executive branch is following federal spending laws or potentially flouting them.
BREAKING: After we beat them in court, Trump's OMB has restored the apportionment website that it removed in March. This is a huge win for transparency! The public deserves to know how their taxpayer money is being spent—and now they can.
TL;DR quick action: The @amlibraryassoc.bsky.social needs our help to get critical funds restored that they need to continue providing programs, services, and resources. We know a multi-pronged strategy is essential. Join us in doing our part: www.ala.org/advocacy/sho...
The WH tried to freeze $6.2b in vital education funds, but communities across the U.S. organized, fought back, and thawed the funding freeze! Here's how we can take those lessons to restore critical funding for libraries and beyond. https://www.ifyoucankeepit.org/p/how-communities-are-stopping-the
"Because civil society organizations exist outside government, we rely on them to fight official abuses of power. That, of course, is exactly why they make such a fine target for the president," former DoJ official Vanita Gupta. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/27/opinion/trump-executive-order.html
The Trump admin is trying to normalize soldiers and checkpoints on American streets. They want us all to accept this as a new normal. We don’t think they’ll succeed. Here's what you need to know about the National Guard in D.C. https://www.ifyoucankeepit.org/p/eight-things-to-know-about-the-national
Every settlement dollar paid to Trump — Harvard, ABC News, Paramount etc— greenlights the next round of terms. By paying a political ransom, America's elite institutions are funding the authoritarian operation. Here’s how to stop it. https://www.ifyoucankeepit.org/p/trumps-ransomware-model
Protect Democracy created OpenOMB.org, a searchable database to make apportionments easy to find and track. Public access to federal spending decisions is critical to the health of our democracy. Explore it for yourself ⬇️
The law is clear: Congress and the public have a right to see how the President is spending taxpayer dollars. This is about more than spending transparency: it’s about protecting the Constitution’s separation of powers. Learn more about our suit here: protdem.org/4ijKGJV
Protect Democracy created OpenOMB.org, a searchable database to make apportionments easy to find and track. Public access to federal spending decisions is critical to the health of our democracy. Explore it for yourself ⬇️
“Apportionments” can show how OMB is either implementing federal spending laws or impounding (i.e., withholding) funds in violation of the law. In 2022, Congress acted on a bipartisan basis to require OMB to disclose this crucial info on a public website.
VICTORY: The apportionment website is back online after a federal court ordered OMB to make apportionment info public. For 5 months, OMB Dir. Vought has been hiding important spending decisions. We may finally see what the admin has been doing with our tax dollars. protdem.org/45Ksq8b
The problem is not a lack of term limits – Even new Representatives are disproportionately old. Rather, the root of our age divide is in our electoral system. Winner-take-all hurts young voters and candidates; proportional representation would bring them out. protectdemocracy.org/age-divide
Comparing Congress to the legislatures of other countries shows how abnormal the U.S. is in this regard. We have by far the largest number of representatives over the age of 60 across the 37 countries surveyed.
“American leadership is older today than at any other time in history.” Oscar Pocasangre and @dustinwahl.bsky.social explore the depth of the age divide in a NEW REPORT co-published by @protectdemocracy.org and @newamerica.org protectdemocracy.org/age-divide
Why is a healthy civil society fostered in-part by nonprofits such a threat to authoritarian rule? Learn more in today’s newsletter. Read and share: https://www.ifyoucankeepit.org/p/why-protecting-democracy-means-protecting
![“A citizenry that is able to take collective action, advocate for itself, and hold its leaders accountable [is threatening to an autocrat]. Far better to turn neighbors against each other, to keep people isolated and in need, to silence through fear. That’s how you eliminate checks on your own power.”](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:4fvbdr5zqt7b74qllyg2vdit/bafkreibaegf5kidvhey6hojwh2wkvvytl6iguvlg2qjh6j7ofh7onf2joe@jpeg "Click to view full size")
The solution to our country’s forever redistricting wars is simple, but many still don't know about it. Join us in spreading the word: https://www.ifyoucankeepit.org/p/how-to-end-the-forever-redistricting
ICYMI: A federal judge largely *denied* VA’s bid to toss out our case, VACIR v. Beals. Our claims — that Gov. Youngkin’s error-prone voter purge program violates the National Voting Rights Act, and risks removing eligible voters — can proceed. Stay tuned: https://protdem.org/defend-voter-rights
Today in observance of #NationalNonprofitDay, our latest newsletter explains why nonprofits are so important for a healthy democracy (and what you can do to support them!) Read and share: https://www.ifyoucankeepit.org/p/why-protecting-democracy-means-protecting