A Month Out, A Path Through

Considerations as we prepare for a 2nd Trump Term

When Donald Trump was elected president for the 2nd time, this time also winning the popular vote, people reached out to me directly and in social media comments asking what the next steps forward were. When I said I saw a path forward, many asked me to share it. We are a month out from inauguration, so here’s my path forward; I’m hoping it is helpful to you.

Things to Consider

First, we have some quick, internal work to do over the next couple of weeks.

• You probably know what you’re fighting against, especially in the wake of this election. But it’s definitely good to know what about this election is bothering you the most, especially if it is something you anticipate happening. Be clear about what those things are.

• On the other hand, and more importantly, know what you’re working for. I recommend taking time to think about the world that reflects your values, the best things you can imagine for society. Write them down, draw them, and put them where you can see them often. Do this alone and with loved ones.

  • If there was nothing standing in the way, what would the world look like to you? Think about it in material conditions, the tangible. You can start with the big ideas like freedom, love, liberation, peace, and hope, but then get detailed. These are all great ideas, but what does it mean? What does life look like day-to-day when people have those things? These are our goal points - everything else is an obstacle, a step along the way.

• Consider what to do with the obstacles. We can’t move around the bad - in order to get past it, we must move through it. It’s important to understand whether the obstacles and bad things are places where we should interject some of our time, talent, and other resources or if they are traps where we will spend all of our capacity and get stuck, unable to move through it. Some things to consider are: are people being harmed? Are the material conditions going to get worse if we don’t intervene right now? Are you and the people you’re organizing with able to intervene, can you join existing efforts around the topic, or are your resources better used in another context?

  • Make yourself a brief strategy screen if it’s helpful. I like to write mine and journal about my thought process for decision-making. A strategy screen is a list of questions or criteria that help us evaluate decisions, opportunities, or options against our own priorities. I’ve used them primarily in organizing programs, but they also help with personal goals and - in the case - personal advocacy capacity.

    • A strategy screen compares the options to your personal goals, mission, values. It considers cost:benefit, resources, partnerships that can help us reach our goals, and more. La Piana offers their version, which they created for nonprofits and is the one I’ve seen cited most often in other sources. I created a worksheet for the work I do in organizations, breaking down the process into a step-by-step approach, and I will write more on the process here.

• Get used to practicing hope, not just expecting it to happen.

  • What gives you hope? When things have been difficult before, what light guided you forward? From where is your hope born? How can you access it when it’s running low?

  • Why do you hope? You could give up, but if you’re reading this, you haven’t yet. Why?

  • I was asking myself the above questions one day, and I thought about how hope is a muscle. I called it a “spiritual discipline.” It’s a practice interacting with things that are often not tangible in the moment. Hope is not passive. As someone who has survived attempts on my own life by my own hands; it is something that I require and must seek out if I’m not finding it on my own. Kelly Hayes and Mariame Kaba give us guidance on how to practice hope as a discipline. (This article is originally from their book Let This Radicalize You: Organizing and the Revolution of Reciprocal Care, which I highly recommend.)

• Understand and prepare for the fact that their strategy is to keep you unwell, overwhelmed, and confused.

  • Have a way to get the information you want and need without getting overwhelmed

  • Double-check information that you take-in and, especially, that you share out, to determine if it is misinformation, disinformation, or malinformation.

    • I’ll share more about how to spot AI and other “fake news” going forward.

  • Beware of fascist creep and the shifting overton window. This is where knowing your goals really is helpful. Already, I’ve seen people turn back on previously stated progressive values because they believe they are “unwinnable,” literally turning their backs on immigrants, disabled people, and trans folks.

• Have a plan for your safety and self-care. If you are a person who is at particular risk if the new administration targets you or your family, it is important to have a safety plan.

  • I will post more on this in the coming weeks, but in general:

    • determine who your emergency contacts are

    • build or buy a go-bag

    • have prescription refills ready and organize your medical information and supplies

    • make sure your important documents are safe and organized

    • know where you would go if you left your home or couldn’t return to your home

  • And make sure you have some self-care plans for those times that are overwhelming and stressful.

    • Know who your people are and who you can vent to and how they are available to you.

    • Have plans to nourish yourself with healthy food, water, and rest.

    • Do consistent physical activity.

    • Do things that make you laugh and bring you joy.

    • Have plans in case you become depressed, hopeless, or despondent.

In Part 2, I’ll share ideas about a path through, using organizing and resistance strategies, and how to get involved. For now, let me know if you have any questions or topics you’d like me to prioritize.