Millions of Americans are in an uproar over the “chainsaw” that the Trump Administration has taken not only to federal departments and employees but also to the Constitution and the rule of law. 
Lawmakers all over the country are fielding thousands of calls asking their Senators and Representatives to “do something” to stop the carnage.
In our two-party democratic system, unfortunately, it is very difficult for the party in the minority – the Democrats and Independents since the November election – to accomplish much. Democrats cannot block President Trump’s Cabinet and other nominees, they can’t schedule hearings and they cannot block Republican bills.
Democrats do have some leverage, and many Democrats are finding ways of slowing things down and pushing back. We should note that, when Democrats have had power in the past, the Republicans – led in many instances in recent memory by powerful Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell, who is finally retiring – have used incredible leverage, and loopholes, to thwart Democratic initiatives. 
Moira Donegan in the Guardian summarizes McConnell’s strategy: “As Senate Republican leader during the Obama years, McConnell pursued a strategy of maximal procedural obstructionism. His mandate was that no Republican in the Senate would vote for any Obama agenda item – that there would be no compromise, no negotiation, no horse trading, no debate, but only a stonewalled total rejection of all Democratic initiatives.”
In addition to the Democrats’ current minority status, there is another significant impediment to pushing back against Trump’s extremism: the fear felt by GOP officials. Republican Senators, for instance, are reporting that they are fielding threats and offers of federal projects in their states to secure their support. Alarmingly, they are also experiencing violence by Trump supporters. To be clear, however, many members of the Democracy Coalition – which includes judges, elected officials, and election workers just doing their jobs – have also had death threats, been swatted, etc. but are standing up bravely. Sadly, many silent, cowardly GOP lawmakers who admit to their colleagues that what Trump and Company are doing is wrong, wrong, wrong are not speaking up.
This is a tragic commentary on a trend in the US that has accelerated during the past 10 years or so: political violence, especially from the right, has increased in large part due to Trump’s rhetoric. Most Americans do not want this. 
It is doubtful that citizens, voters and members of the Democracy Coalition in general want leaders to get as “down and dirty” as McConnell (and Newt Gingrich in the Clinton era) did. However, the outrage building up throughout the country is an indication that we want them to do something. And succumbing to despair, paralysis, and fear, one can reasonably argue, lets the perpetrators win.
Here, then, in the interests of action on behalf of saving our democracy is some of what has been going on since Trump’s Inauguration:
- Legislators will try to extract important concessions from Republicans in exchange for helping to pass important appropriations and other bills.
- Republican constituents who do not like what they’re seeing are making their opinions known to their Republican representatives. Officials often respond to public pressure.
- Some Democrats are reminding Republicans that they “have made their own bed;” this should be a word to the wise when another election is upon us. As pointed out by Washington Rep. Kim Schrier, Republicans in DC stood by Trump through the “Access Hollywood tape,” in which he bragged about groping women, and through two impeachments.
It must never be forgotten that Trump incited the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021, and lawmakers from both parties fled in fear for their lives. - Americans – citizens as well as elected officials – can and must find effective, strategic ways to communicate facts and important messages on behalf of the American people “outside of left-wing bubbles.” The DNC has launched @FactPostNews on most social media platforms “to combat online misinformation and respond to Trump administration actions by pushing out memes, videos and graphics.”
- We can remind ourselves – and those in office – of Trump’s campaign promises that he is decidedly not keeping: lowering prices, deporting dangerous immigrants, “making America great again”?!
- Many, if not most, of Trump’s actions are illegal and are being fought in the courts. Democrats can file amicus briefs in judicial actions and “try to add ourselves as a party to a case if we have distinctive interests that are not being adequately represented by the existing parties,” according to Maryland Representative Jamie Raskin, House Judiciary Ranking Member.
- Leaders across the country, who have their own bullhorns and other public platforms, can follow the lead of Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, who gave a rousing pro-democracy, anti-Trump speech during a budget meeting on February 19, 2025.
- Other courageous elected officials have also stood up directly to Trump. Maine Gov. Janet Mills fended off personal jabs by Trump at the White House on February 21, 2025, in a discussion of transgender athletes.
In addition, it will become more important as time goes on to remind Americans – especially in GOP-controlled areas – that infrastructure and other large-scale projects that will start to come online or ramp up will be direct results of Biden-Harris-era initiatives and laws! As we have noted in the past, Republicans will often take credit for positive initiatives in their communities even when they have opposed and did not vote for them. Americans need to keep being reminded that it is generally Democrats and Independents that caucus with them who are historically much more willing to use federal funds and programs to invest in vital projects than Republicans have been.
What Citizens Can Do
Autocrats love it when the people from whom they are trying to steal power – and money, and influence, and freedom – succumb to fear, despair and inaction. 
While it is tempting, in our current fear, to go to our “comfort zones,” turn off the news, and try to wait out the next four years, we should resist those urges as much as possible, while simultaneously pacing and taking care of ourselves and those we love. As Gov. Pritzker chillingly noted, “ It took the Nazis one month, three weeks, two days, eight hours and 40 minutes to dismantle a constitutional republic.” That is an extremely short amount of time.
Humble suggestions for action:
- Pay attention to local, state and federal races in our area and the candidates. Give financial support, if possible, to candidates who strive to protect our democracy, fight disinformation, speak the truth, and truly work for us and not themselves or the very wealthy.
- Combat disinformation in our own social media platforms. Do not forward or otherwise amplify conspiracy theories, lies, or statements that unfairly target our vulnerable neighbors.
- Communicate with elected representatives, State Attorneys General, and other officials who are taking a stand on behalf of democracy and the truth. Let them know we support their efforts.
- Support nonprofit organizations that aid those harmed by the Trump Administration’s unlawful and unconstitutional actions. Some of these include:
- State Democracy Defenders Fund: works in conjunction with law firms to file lawsuits and amicus briefs against Trump et al.
- Whistleblower Aid: a nonprofit organization run by DC attorney Mark Zaid (who has received death threats).
- Mark S. Zaid, PC, law firm: Mr. Zaid posted this on Bluesky on January 27, 2025: “My firm is willing to represent pro bono those fired in this unlawful and vindictive purge. These dedicated civil servants were performing their jobs and upholding the rule of law.”
- Democracy Forward: provides free legal representation to victims of extremism and anti-democratic initiatives. Democracy Forward has recently filed lawsuits, in conjunction with others, on behalf of USAID and the Consumer Financial Protection Agency and against DOGE in its efforts to steal taxpayer and business information from the IRS. Some of these actions have had positive results, at least temporarily.
- Mark Elias’ Democracy Docket: the “leading digital news platform dedicated to information, analysis and opinion about voting rights and elections in the courts.”
- Southern Poverty Law Center: “The SPLC is a catalyst for racial justice in the South and beyond, working in partnership with communities to dismantle white supremacy, strengthen intersectional movements, and advance the human rights of all people.”
- Take part in protests, demonstrations and Town Hall meetings and work in collaboration with others.
Bullies often back down when people push back, and sometimes there is more safety in numbers. - Find ways to assure our long-time international allies – friends, relatives and colleagues whom we know in our sister nations – that we, like them, are on the side of democracy, truth and the rule of law.
In short, we need to be courageous – but also wise, careful, well-informed, and smart. We need to choose our battles, use our energy and financial resources strategically, practice self-care, take breaks from the news, refrain from “doomscrolling,” commune with Nature and animals, listen to music, give hugs, be part of supportive communities, and think positively. Millions of us believe with all our beings that saving our democracy is worth it.