From Moment to Movement
There is no going back! What to Expect Next
Flag Day 2025
Wow. What a spectacle.
The marching, the patriotism, the pride.
And yes, I’m talking about the MASSIVE and overwhelming number of people that turned out for the No Kings Day protest this past Saturday—not the sad, taxpayer-funded birthday “parade” for the President, which drew only a small fraction of the crowd.
Since January, we have watched with mouths agape as a procession of bad policies and cruel cuts has emanated from the White House. Without even recounting the ever-growing list of unconscionable acts against citizens, immigrants, judges, legislators and others, the result has been clear: people feel scared and powerless.
But that is changing.
The No Kings Day protest on 14 June was a tipping point.
Devastatingly and exquisitely juxtaposed against Trump’s birthday flop parade, 10-11 million people spent their day off and took to the streets to share their dissent and demand a return to constitutional democracy.
The balance has tipped.
There is no longer ANY doubt that Americans are mad and are not going to take it anymore.
The polls confirm it.
Trump’s numbers are underwater across the board, losing ground even amongst the loyal. His blindly loyal base is only a quarter of the Republican party, but the majority middle-ground voters are questioning his tactics and failures. Slowly Trump flags on houses are coming down, yard signs are fewer.
So……what’s next?
More of the same - A 320m-person ship does not turn around overnight. Trump will continue pushing the legal envelope and targeting blue cities and states. BUT citizens have changed—we are no longer passive observers. Our numbers are growing, and our voices are louder. A first impact will be a slow straightening of spines among some Republican legislators too fearful to speak up until now. This movement was born out of their inaction—on both sides of the aisle.
Desperate attempts to win back voters - Trump will lean into the two issues he feels got him elected: immigration and economy. Expect more ICE “theatre” with scenes of law-abiding would-be citizens getting nabbed publicly near courts or at workplaces. He enjoys seeing Democratic legislators getting caught up in the havoc, as does his base. This will continue, and spread. He will quietly continue to TACO on tariffs and related unpopular initiatives to claw back better economic numbers (e.g. NBC poll today - 60% disapprove of the economy). He is betting big on his budget bill passing to make good on cutting a bloated government and giving his billionaire buddies a break.
Distractions, big and small - These can be small flights of fancy like renaming the Gulf of Mexico, to more serious threats like singling out companies such as Apple to illegally apply tariffs.
What can you do? Three challenges.
Keep paying attention - It’s hard! We all want to hide under a blanket these days. So if the totality of the situation is too overwhelming then pick one or two issues to follow. You don’t have to care about everything to be part of the movement. Stay informed and spread the word.
Channel your angst - Feeling empowered by Saturday and this new wave of hope? Keep it going! Join a citizen action group like Indivisible, 50501, Democracy Now, ACLU or organize locally. Pick your level —> local, state, federal. Local politics are just as important as what is happening in Washington.
Prepare yourself - Take a deep breath. Clear your mind. And gird those loins…it’s gonna be quite a ride! Prepare for the unexpected and to act quickly. This does NOT mean that reacting to every provocation, but that we choose in advance where we want to put our energy. Being prepared includes, knowing your own thoughts and red lines, having a network or group for support, being grounded in your family and community, keeping joy alive, and staying alert for your moment to act.
All of this is how we go from Moment to Movement. You can do it. We will all do it together.