It's really hard to manage action and emotions right now. I saw a friend of mine share this a few days ago- I don't know the original poster but his name is here for credit.
Thanks for sharing Jeff Berry.
Your focus is resistance. Feel free to share -
Wise and important words from sociologist Jennifer Walter about what is happening in our country right now and what to do about it:
1/ The flood of 200+ executive orders in Trump's first days exemplifies Naomi Klein's "shock doctrine" - using chaos and crisis to push through radical changes while people are too disoriented to effectively resist. This isn't just politics as usual - it's a strategic exploitation of cognitive limits.
2/ Media theorist McLuhan predicted this: When humans face information overload, they become passive and disengaged. The rapid-fire executive orders create a cognitive bottleneck, making it nearly impossible for citizens and media to thoroughly analyze any single policy.
3/ Agenda-setting theory explains the strategy: When multiple major policies compete for attention simultaneously, it fragments public discourse. Traditional media can't keep up with the pace, leading to superficial coverage.
The result? Weakened democratic oversight and reduced public engagement.
What now?
1/ Set boundaries: Pick 2-3 key issues you deeply care about and focus your attention there. You can't track everything - that's by design. Impact comes from sustained focus, not scattered awareness.
2/ Use aggregators & experts: Find trusted analysts who do the heavy lifting of synthesis. Look for those explaining patterns, not just events.
3/ Remember: Feeling overwhelmed is the point. When you recognize this, you regain some power. Take breaks. Process. This is a marathon.
4/ Practice going slow: Wait 48hrs before reacting to new policies. The urgent clouds the important. Initial reporting often misses context
5/ Build community: Share the cognitive load. Different people track different issues. Network intelligence beats individual overload.
Remember: They want you scattered. Your focus is resistance.
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Action:
Email your state Department of Education and ask them to publicly reject
President Trump's illegal executive order entitled "Ending Radical
Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling."
This executive order, among other things, seeks to punish schools for any lessons that involve race, gender or politics the that administration deems inappropriate by withholding federal funding. The order goes on to instruct the US Attorney General to instruct state attorneys general to file "appropriate actions" against K-12 teachers and school officials who "facilitate the social transition of a minor student." This means teachers would face legal ramifications for using a transgender, non-binary, or gender-fluid student's chosen name and appropriate pronouns. You can read the full EO HERE. www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/ending-radical-indoctrination-in-k-12-schooling/
Script:
My name is (NAME) and I live in (TOWN), (STATE) (ZIP CODE). I am writing to ask you to publicly reject President Trump's illegal and harmful executive order entitled "Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling." Our students are entitled to an education free from fear, bias, and historical revisionism, and our teachers and individual districts must feel the protection and full support of the (STATE) Department of Education. Thank you, (NAME)
**These are the states of people in the mailing list, if you want your state added, lmk and I can reach out to the mom running this!**
NJ stateboardoffice@doe.nj.gov
MA www.doe.mass.edu/contact/qanda.aspx
drop down "Commissioners Department"
CT Charlene.russell-tucker@ct.gov (Commissioner)
TX TEAfeedback@tea.texas.gov.
NY NYSEDCommunications@nysed.gov
GA askdoe@gadoe.org
PA ra-pde@pa.gov
FL Commissioner@fldoe.org
RI angelica.infantegreen@ride.ri.gov (Commissioner)
This executive order, among other things, seeks to punish schools for any lessons that involve race, gender or politics the that administration deems inappropriate by withholding federal funding. The order goes on to instruct the US Attorney General to instruct state attorneys general to file "appropriate actions" against K-12 teachers and school officials who "facilitate the social transition of a minor student." This means teachers would face legal ramifications for using a transgender, non-binary, or gender-fluid student's chosen name and appropriate pronouns. You can read the full EO HERE. www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/ending-radical-indoctrination-in-k-12-schooling/
Script:
My name is (NAME) and I live in (TOWN), (STATE) (ZIP CODE). I am writing to ask you to publicly reject President Trump's illegal and harmful executive order entitled "Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling." Our students are entitled to an education free from fear, bias, and historical revisionism, and our teachers and individual districts must feel the protection and full support of the (STATE) Department of Education. Thank you, (NAME)
**These are the states of people in the mailing list, if you want your state added, lmk and I can reach out to the mom running this!**
NJ stateboardoffice@doe.nj.gov
MA www.doe.mass.edu/contact/qanda.aspx
drop down "Commissioners Department"
CT Charlene.russell-tucker@ct.gov (Commissioner)
TX TEAfeedback@tea.texas.gov.
NY NYSEDCommunications@nysed.gov
GA askdoe@gadoe.org
PA ra-pde@pa.gov
FL Commissioner@fldoe.org
RI angelica.infantegreen@ride.ri.gov (Commissioner)
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For these- all you need to do is literally click a button. It's that easy.
