Current Political Landscape
Mike Doughty, February ‘25 Newsletter
Most of my articles for the newsletter pull inspiration from things I’ve heard during a training at work, conversations I’ve had with friends, or my own experiences or the experiences from folks in the community. Today’s is no different, but I will be talking about the current state of the country and things I’ve seen or have picked up on and hopefully it can help you as the reader find some kind of footing in this chaos. If nothing else, the main takeaways I want to have from this are to stay safe as much as you can, whatever that means for you, and to take action in whatever way you are able to do so. I know many queer and trans folks in my circles have been renegotiating with themselves about what they feel able to do versus what will keep them safe and when they should change from one plan to another. You also may have already seen or read or been aware of the things I am going to mention below, but please pass this along if you think it could help someone.
A lot of people have talked to me about feeling overwhelmed, scared, confused, and a plethora of other emotions that make it hard to think. If you feel that way, remember that it is by design. The plan behind what the current administration is doing is to overwhelm and force people into decision fatigue. If you are feeling this way, take some time to disconnect, do something that helps calm you and grounds you. It might feel like you are giving up if you do that, but no one is able to keep up with this all at once, so let yourself recharge and come back after a few hours or a day or more if you need. Once you come back and dive back in, do what you can to focus on ONE problem. Maybe it’s a problem you have expertise or a job with, or it speaks to you on a social or family level, but have that be the main thing you focus on and see if you can find other ways to keep informed on the other things without letting those things pull you in a million directions.
Once you have your main focus, work with your networks to see who else is working on similar issues and to split the stress. Now more than ever communities need to come together to protect the marginalized folks (allies this is where you can step up!) but also for marginalized groups to link up and work together. Check in on your community, keep each other safe and informed, and when you can push back on dis or misinformation and invite others in to be curious and recognize that they are most likely at risk as well. For those of you who do this work, realize that it is work. You need to take breaks and delegate tasks as needed so that you don’t burnout.
Another way to take action is to pushback in any way you can. Call your representatives in Congress (5calls.org is one site out of many that can help connect you with who to call, there are also scripts and templates online as well). Attend protests if you are able, share information about the latest news in digestible ways, and connect with local resources and agencies to build skills and networks. For anyone who is an ally to any community, now is the time to use your voice. Call out discriminatory language when you can, don’t let silence make you complacent. For folks in the LGBTQ+ community, if you are able to keep being yourselves, find community and be proud and remember our history. The first Pride was a riot, a protest against injustice towards our community. If they are going to change the rules and make the rules garbage, then we shouldn’t follow those rules. Use malicious compliance, do what you can in your power to delay or distract those that would break our community apart.
Those of you out there that feel like this is all too much and feel it is better to go somewhere else; that is also an option. Keeping safe is always the top of my priorities when I am addressing anyone, and it is no different now. Whatever is coming with the administration will not be easy, but there are people out there that want to help and want to stand together. Even if you do go elsewhere you can still advocate, connect, and join in and possibly influence from there.
No you aren’t being selfish going on with your day to day. Yes, it feels like we’re going crazy. Yes everything about this sucks. Do what you can to see what feels most important to you but DO something. Be loud, be disruptive, be proud, be community.