Giving Thanks for Journalists
Top Story: Thank the New Resistance
Last week, when former Florida Congressman and election-denier extraordinaire Matt Gaetz withdraw his name from Trump’s cabinet-in-waiting, the press had reason to celebrate.
Gaetz has sought violence against protestors, supported the “Great Replacement Theory,” and been the subject of an internal sex-trafficking investigation by the same department he sought to lead.
But the credit for disqualifying the under-qualified former rep does not go to journalists alone.
A host of other concerned citizens helped to remove Gaetz from consideration.
Welcome to the new resistance.
Journalists who can push out stories, dig up documents and shine a light on the absurdity — and dangers — of Trump’s plans.
Citizen activists who can help them.
Electeds (even GOP ones) who can use that pile-on of bad press to persuade colleagues and constituents to do the right thing: protect democracy.
Being part of this coalition of resisters is now your most important role.
TIPS FOR JOINING THE RESISTANCE ON YOUR BEAT
Indentify unlikely sources on your beat who know MAGA is a threat, even if they don’t want to say so publicly.
Keep lines of communication open and let them know that preserving democratic norms is an unabashed goal of yours.
Seek common ground when it comes to dangerous appointments, policies, and state and local laws.
Share intel. Let them know what you know about MAGA efforts to pollute democracy. And always tell them when you plan to publish...so, they can get ahead of your stories and make them more impactful.
Be open to off-the-record conversations that permit them to share things they may not want to go on the record saying about MAGA plans/people.
Reward good behavior. Shine a light on the work other resistance members are doing, making sure your readers know why it matters and why it’s admirable.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING
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See You Next Week!
Our Staff
Executive Editor Kyle Spencer
Managing Editor Christen Gall
Our Board of Advisors
Alex Aronson, executive director of Court Accountability
David Armiak, research director for the Center for Media and Democracy
Connor Gibson, founder of Grassrootbeer Investigations
Maurice Cunningham, retired associate professor of political science at the University of Massachusetts at Boston and author of Dark Money and The Politics of School Privatization.
Isaac Kamola, associate professor of political science at Trinity College, founder of Faculty First Responders and co-author of Free Speech and Koch Money, Manufacturing a Campus Culture War
Nancy MacLean, William H. Chafe distinguished professor of history and public policy at Duke University and author of Democracy in Chains: The Deep History of the Radical Right’s Stealth Plan for America
Ralph Wilson, founder of the Corporate Genome Project and co-author of Free Speech and Koch Money, Manufacturing a Campus Culture War
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