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Over the past week, we’ve seen aggressive abuses of power from the Trump Administration, but we’ve also seen acts of defiance.
We have to remember that President Trump is seeking to claim power that he does not yet have. Each time a corporation, journalist, or everyday American stands up and defies him, his power is lessened.
Disney's decision, after pushback from the people, to bring Jimmy Kimmel back on the air was an example of a line being drawn. Disney’s capitulation could’ve sparked a contagion of other networks also taking their hosts of the air that Trump doesn’t like, but instead, the effort was stopped in its tracks and even drew criticism from conservatives.
In Trump’s effort to target his perceived political opponents, former U.S. Prosecutor in the Eastern District of Virginia Erik Siebert defied those demands and resigned. While Trump is still pursuing a prosecution of James Comey, the effort is tainted. It is being seen clearly as a political prosecution, with even AG Pam Bondi reportedly having concerns about bringing the case.
The more acts of defiance we see, the better. I agree with
. The sleeping giant is indeed awakening. The American people aren’t taking these acts of authoritarianism on the chin. They’re pushing back in meaningful ways.President Trump’s poll numbers are continuing to see second-term lows while he’s underwater on all key issues and demographic groups he made gains with in 2024. His fears of losing the midterms are warranted. The more we do in the short term to defy his authoritarian demands, the weaker Trump will be as he heads towards lame duck status after 2026.
Keep the faith.
