bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3ct7yv1

‪Peter Butts‬ ‪@pbutts61.bsky.social‬
Federalist Papers #47….yes, “47.”
As James Madison wrote in “Federalist No. 47”: “The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary in the same hands … may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny.”

yahoo.com/news/trump-showing-w…

From Liz Cheney

I need more from you.
You keep sending emails begging for $15,
while we’re watching fascism consolidate power in real time.
This administration is not simply “a different ideology.”
It is a coordinated, authoritarian machine — with the Supreme Court, the House, the Senate, and the executive pen all under its control.
And you?
You’re still asking for decorum and donations. WTF.
That won’t save us.
I don’t want to hear another polite floor speech.
I want strategy.
I want fire.
I want action so bold it shifts the damn news cycle — not fits inside one.
Every time I see something from the DNC, it’s asking me for funds.
Surprise.
Those of us who donate don’t want to keep sending money just to watch you stand frozen as the Constitution goes up in flames — shaking your heads and saying,
“Well, there’s not much we can do. He has the majority.”
I call bullshit.
If you don’t know how to think outside the box…
If you don’t know how to strategize…
If you don’t know how to fight fire with fire…
what the hell are we giving you money for?
Some of us have two or three advanced degrees.
Some of us have military training.
Some of us know what coordinated resistance looks like — and this ain’t it.
Yes, the tours around the country? Nice.
The speeches? Nice.
The clever congressional clapbacks? Nice.
That was great for giving hope.
Now we need action.
You have to stop acting like this is a normal presidency that will just time out in four years.
We’re not even at Day 90, and look at the chaos.
Look at the disappearances.
Look at the erosion of the judiciary, the press, and our rights.
If you do not stop this, we will not make it 1,460 days.
So here’s what I need from you — right now:
⸻
1. Form an independent, civilian-powered investigative coalition.
I’m talking experts. Veterans. Whistleblowers. Journalists. Watchdog orgs.
Deputize the resistance. Build a real-time archive of corruption, overreach, and executive abuse.
Make it public. Make it unshakable.
Let the people drag the rot into the light.
If you can’t hold formal hearings, hold public ones.
If Congress won’t act, let the country act.
This isn’t about optics — it’s about receipts.
Because at some point, these people will be held accountable.
And when that day comes, we’ll need every name, every signature, every illegal order, every act of silence—documented.
You’re not just preserving truth — you’re preparing evidence for prosecution.
The more they vanish people and weaponize data, the more we need truth in the sunlight.
⸻
2. Join the International Criminal Court.
Yes, I said it. Call their bluff.
You cannot control what the other side does.
But you can control your own integrity.
So prove it. Prove that your party is still grounded in law, human rights, and ethical leadership.
Join.
If you’ve got nothing to hide — join.
Show the world who’s hiding bodies, bribes, and buried bank accounts.
Force the GOP to explain why they’d rather protect a war criminal than sign a treaty.
And while you’re at it, publicly invite ICC observers into U.S. borders.
Make this administration explain — on camera — why they’re terrified of international oversight.
⸻
3. Fund state-level resistance infrastructure.
Don’t just send postcards. Send resources.
Channel DNC funds into rapid-response teams, legal defense coalitions, sanctuary networks, and digital security training.
If the federal government is hijacked, build power underneath it.
If the laws become tools of oppression, help people resist them legally, locally, and boldly.
This is not campaign season — this is an authoritarian purge.
Stop campaigning.
Act like this is the end of democracy, because it is.
We WILL REMEMBER the warriors come primaries.
Fighting this regime should be your marketing strategy.
And let’s be clear:
The reason the other side always seems three steps ahead is because they ARE.
They prepared for this.
They infiltrated school boards, courts, local legislatures, and police unions.
They built a machine while you wrote press releases.
We’re reacting — they’ve been executing a plan for years.
It’s time to shift from panic to blueprint.
You should already be working with strategists and military minds on PROJECT 2029 —
a coordinated, long-term plan to rebuild this country when the smoke clears.
You should be publicly laying out:
• The laws and amendments you’ll pass to ensure this never happens again
• The systems you’ll tear down and the safeguards you’ll enshrine
• The plan to hold perpetrators of human atrocities accountable
• The urgent commitment to immediately bring home those sold into slavery in El Salvador
You say you’re the party of the people?
Then show the people the plan.
⸻
4. Use your platform to educate the public on rights and resistance tactics.
If they’re going to strip us of rights and lie about it — arm the people with truth.
Text campaigns. Mass trainings. Downloadable “Know Your Rights” kits. Multilingual legal guides. Encrypted phone trees.
Give people tools, not soundbites.
We don’t need more slogans.
We need survival manuals.
⸻
5. Leverage international media and watchdogs.
Stop hoping U.S. cable news will wake up.
They’re too busy playing both sides of fascism.
Feed the real stories to BBC, Al Jazeera, The Guardian, Reuters, Der Spiegel — hell, leak them to anonymous dropboxes if you have to.
Make what’s happening in America a global scandal.
And stop relying on platforms that are actively suppressing truth.
Start leveraging Substack. Use Bluesky.
That’s where the resistance is migrating. That’s where censorship hasn’t caught up.
If the mainstream won’t carry the truth — outflank them.
Get creative. Go underground. Go global.
If our democracy is being dismantled in broad daylight, make sure the whole world sees it — and make sure we’re still able to say it.
⸻
6. Create a digital safe haven for whistleblowers and defectors.
Not everyone inside this regime is loyal.
Some are scared. Some want out.
Build the channels.
Encrypted. Anonymous. Protected.
Make it easy for the cracks in the system to become gaping holes.
And while you’re at it?
Stop ostracizing MAGA defectors.
Everyone makes mistakes — even glaring, critical ones.
We are not the bullies.
We are not the ones filled with hate.
And it is not your job to shame people who finally saw the fire and chose to step out of it.
They will have to deal with that internal struggle — the guilt of putting a very dangerous and callous regime in power.
But they’re already outnumbered. Don’t push them back into the crowd.
We don’t need purity.
We need numbers.
We need people willing to burn their red hats and testify against the machine they helped build.
⸻
7. Study the collapse—and the comeback.
You should be learning from South Korea and how they managed their brief rule under dictatorship.
They didn’t waste time chasing the one man with absolute immunity.
They went after the structure.
The aides. The enforcers. The loyalists. The architects.
They knocked out the foundation one pillar at a time —
until the “strongman” had no one left to stand on.
And his power crumbled beneath him.
You should be independently investigating every author of Project 2025,
every aide who defies court orders,
every communications director repeating lies,
every policy writer enabling cruelty,
every water boy who keeps this engine running.
You can’t stop a regime by asking the king to sit down.
You dismantle the throne he’s standing on — one coward at a time.
⸻
Stop being scared to fight dirty when the other side is fighting to erase the damn Constitution.
They are threatening to disappear AMERICANS.
A M E R I C A N S.
And your biggest move can’t be another strongly worded email.
We don’t want your urgently fundraising subject lines.
We want backbone.
We want action.
We want to know you’ll stand up before we’re all ordered to sit down — permanently.
We are watching.
And I don’t just mean your base.
I mean millions of us who see exactly what’s happening.
I’ve only got 6,000 followers — but the groups I’m in? The networks I touch? Over a quarter million.
Often when I speak, it echoes.
But when we ALL
speak, it ROARS with pressure that will cause change.
We need to be deafening.
You still have a chance to do something historic.
To be remembered for courage, not caution.
To go down as the party that didn’t just watch the fall — but fought the hell back with everything they had.
But the clock is ticking.
And the deportation buses are idling.

robertreich.substack.com/p/how…

1. Stop treating Trump’s excuses as his real concerns.

2. For the same reason, stop assuming that Trump is concerned about other nations’ “unfair” trade practices or illegal immigration.

3. Trump’s major interest is capitulation itself.

4. Each surrender feeds the public impression that Trump wants fed — that he is all-powerful, invincible, and able to get every person, institution, and country to cower to him.

5. Each capitulation encourages him and his goons to engage in even more bullying of more institutions and countries.

6. Most of these institutions and countries will cave to Trump because their leaders are mainly concerned about their own institution’s or country’s survival.

7. It’s vitally important, therefore, that institutions and countries join together to fight this systemic intimidation.

8. University faculties must join together under the umbrella of the American Association of University Professors.

9. Canada, Mexico, Japan, and the European Union must join together.

10. The media must not fan the flames of Trump’s madness.

10 rules for dealing with Trump’s demands for capitulation

Whether it’s universities, law firms, or entire countries, here are 10 basic rules for hitting back

^{Robert Reich}

El Consilio is a local non profit that provides educational, social service, and legal resources for the Kalamazoo community. In a presentation to Indivisible Kalamazoo's Wednesday meeting, Amberly Elementary (and WMU) alum Marysol Millar presented an overview of the organization's programs and how you can help:

- financial donations always appreciated
- volunteers for food distribution
- education volunteer opportunities
-Rapid Response Team training.

elconciliokzoo.org/

elconciliokzoo.org/

1. Keep making calls.
5calls.org/
2. Call Congress about the budget; email Huizenga.
3. Amazon Boycott through March 14.
4. March 13 & 27 phone banking for Susan Crawford for WI S Court indivisible.org/scowls2025
5. March 15: Mail #IdesofTrump postcards
(text me if you need some)
6. March 16: Rally for LGBT rights, 2-5 pm in Lansing
7. March 18 & 27: Imagine Kalamazoo 2035 environmental group
kalamazoocity.org/Government/P…
8. March 19: League of Conservation Voters Huizenga Protest
lcv.org/
9. March 19 & 26: non-partisan Vigil of Faith, noon at city hall
10. March 21-28 Nestle Boycott

The local action working group is also planning no on Friday protests at the Lovers Lane office of Bill Huizenga.

Here’s the list so far….

Restore CDC
restoredcdc.org/www.cdc.gov/in…

Internet Archive
archive.org/

Data Rescue Project
datarescueproject.org/about-da…

Centered America Misinformation Database
centeredamerica.substack.com/p…

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Indivisible (national)
indivisible.org/

Statewide Indivisible Michigan
statewideindivisiblemi.com/

Indivisible Greater Grand Rapids
indivisiblegrr.substack.com/

Indivisible Greater Kalamazoo
indivisiblekzoo.org/

Week of March 9 Action Items from Indivisible GRR:

Top 5 Things You Can Do This Week
The list may seem short this week, but we’re directing people to utilize the 5Calls app, which includes the current issues and is updated regularly. Also, there are definitely A LOT of events happening in the coming weeks, including a few outside opportunities so you can get some fresh air after you make those calls.

Call Senators Peters, 202.224.6221 and Slotkin, 202.224.4822 (see Resources for You for more contact info)

Sen. Slotkin: Thank her for her State of the Union speech response (even if you think she wasn't aggressive enough)

Hold town halls during the upcoming Congressional recess (March 15-23)

Oppose firing of 80,000 jobs at the VA, which is 15% of the VA workforce.

Oppose reduction of IRS workforce by 50%.

Oppose MAGA plan to stockpile taxpayer money in a crypto currency reserve scam

Demand that Trump disclose the identities of the donors to his transition team and how much they donated.

Call Rep. Scholten 202.225.3831

Sign up to receive Rep. Scholten’s newsletter. It’s actually quite informative.

Hold town halls during the upcoming Congressional recess (March 15-23)

Publically - loudly and often – fight and obstruct the Trump/Musk agenda with all possible congressional tools

Oppose firing of 80,000 jobs at the VA, which is 15% of the VA workforce.

Oppose reduction of IRS workforce by 50%.

Oppose MAGA plan to stockpile taxpayer money in a crypto currency reserve scam

Demand that Trump

Call your State Representative: Every single Michigan House Republican voted to cut $5 billion (25%!) from the education budget and to defund higher education. It didn’t even go through the committee process to allow people to read it (see contact info in Resources for You).

If you have a GOP Rep: Let them know how you feel about this lack of process and their vote

If you have a Dem Rep: Thank them for voting against this budget

Use apps to maximize and amplify your resistance!

Download the 5Calls app and start calling!

Check out the Everywhere Is Queer app to support local, LGBTQ+ owned businesses in your area

Educate Yourself

Read: Thirty lonely but beautiful actions you can take right now which probably won't magically catalyze a mass movement against Trump but that are still wildly important

Check out the A History of Racial Injustice from The Equal Justice Initiative. Founded in 1989 by Bryan Stevenson, a widely acclaimed public interest lawyer and bestselling author of Just Mercy, you can sign up for daily history lessons delivered right to your email inbox. Here is an overview of March that will give you an idea of the information they provide.

Subscribe to Letters from an American, Heather Cox Richardson’s column on Substack where she breaks down current events through the lens of history.

Attend any of the events listed below!

#6 for triple extra credit: Take care of yourself! Watch your favorite feel good movie(s) to take a break from the relentless chaos. Casablanca, Amelie, and School of Rock are good options. You probably have others on your own lists. Pop some corn, open a can of your favorite carbonated beverage, and settle in for a little vacation for your brain.

<img src="https://kalamazoopipeband.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/libby-2.jpg"/>

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1. Get a free card from your local public library.
2. Download the Libby App.
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Erin in the Morning
erininthemorning.com/?utm_sour…

Peter

2025-03-03 02:01:57

Substack: Legal Issues

Andrew Weissmann
https://substack.com/@weissmann

Democracy Docket
https://substack.com/@democracydocket

Law Dork
https://www.lawdork.com/

Andrew Weissmann
substack.com/@weissmann

Democracy Docket
substack.com/@democracydocket

Law Dork
lawdork.com/

American Pamphleteer
ladylibertie.substack.com/

Civil Discourse with Joyce Vance
substack.com/@joycevance

The Contrarian -Jen Rubin and Norm Eisen
contrarian.substack.com/

Heather Cox Richardson
substack.com/@heathercoxrichar…

Dworkin Report
dworkinsubstack.com/

Krassenstein
substack.com/profile/756622-kr…

Lincoln Project
substack.com/@lincolnproject62…

Meidas+
meidasplus.com/?utm_source=sub…

Paul Krugman
paulkrugman.substack.com/

Public Notice--Aaron Rupar
publicnotice.co/

Robert Reich
robertreich.substack.com/

Seth Abramson
substack.com/@sethabramson?utm…

The Warning with Steve Schmidt
steveschmidt.substack.com/

Couch Nap
substack.com/@takeacouchnap

Force of Infection--Caitlyn Rivers tracks seasonal disease outbreaks, vaccines, etc.
caitlinrivers.substack.com/

Your Local Epidemiologist--public health news
yourlocalepidemiologist.substa…

Christopher Rufo -anti-public education, anti-LGBTQ+, Florida New College "Board Member," City Journal
christopherrufo.com/?utm_sourc…

Curtis Yarvin -anti democracy guru with J D Vance in thrall
substack.com/@graymirror?utm_s…

> Economic/Consumer Issues
> Education Issues
> Food
Health Issues
> Legal Issues
> LGBTQ+
> Politics
> Scoundrels to Keep an Eye on

Peter

2025-03-03 01:29:33

Substack: Health News

Couch Nap
https://substack.com/@takeacouchnap

Force of Infection--Caitlyn Rivers tracks seasonal disease outbreaks, vaccines, etc.
https://caitlinrivers.substack.com/

Your Local Epidemiologist--public health news
https://yourlocalepidemiologist.substack.com/

youtube.com/watch?v=-4wsAmXnaE…

Help with profile settings, post settings and formatting, privacy issues, etc.

Friendica tutorial Pt 1 of 6: Explaining Friendica/Facebook comparisons and how to join. Ver 2023.12

Since the internet was severely lacking it, This is a comprehensive tutorial on how you can do pretty much anything in friendica that you can on facebook. T...

^YouTube

February 28th
Economic Blackout

March 7-14
Amazon Boycott

March 21-28
Nestle Boycott

April 18th
Economic Blackout 2

April 21-28
General Mills Boycott

May 6-12
Amazon Boycott 2

May 20-26
Walmart Boycott 2

June 3-9
Target Boycott

June 24-30
McDonalds Boycott

July 4th
Independence Day Boycott

ThePeoplesUnionUSA.com

Kalamazoo County
kalcounty.com/board/
First & Third Tuesdays 7:00 PM
Go to Meeting Dates, Agendas to watch live or later on YouTube

City of Kalamazoo
kalamazoocity.org/Government
First & Third Tuesdays 7:00 PM
YouTube Channel: youtube.com/channel/UCIgXSSXLS…
Kalamazoo Township
ktwp.org/
Second & Fourth Mondays 7:00 PM
Go to agenda for Zoom link

Oshtemo Township
oshtemo.org/Boards-Committees
Second & Fourth Tuesdays 5:30 PM

Kalamazoo Public Schools
kalamazoopublicschools.com/boa…
alternate Thursdays 7:00 PM
kalamazoopublicschools.com/boa…

Portage Public Schools
portageps.org/page/board-of-ed…

Second & Fourth Mondays 6:30 PM
YouTube Channel: youtube.com/channel/UCgP_TKfLi…

City of Kalamazoo

Find live and past meetings, features about projects and programs, and much more from the City of Kalamazoo!

^YouTube

Michigan Government
Gretchen Whitmer Governor
michigan.gov/Whitmer

Garlin Gilchrist, II Lt. Governor
michigan.gov/whitmer/ltgov

Jocelyn Benson Secretary of State
michigan.gov/sos

Dana Nessel Attorney General
michigan.gov/ag

House of Representatives
Matt Hall, Speaker 42
MattHall@house.mi.gov
(517) 373-1784

Matt Longjohn 40
MattLongjohn@house.mi.gov
(517) 373-8670
housedems.com/matt-longjohn/

Julie Rogers 41
JulieRogers@house.mi.gov
(517) 373-1783
housedems.com/Julie-Rogers/

Senate
Sean McCann 19
SenSMcCann@senate.michigan.gov
517-373-5100 h
ttps://senatedems.com/mccann/

Legislative Branch Lookup
michigan.gov/som/government/br…

House Livestream house.mi.gov/Index
Senate Livestream cloud.castus.tv/vod/misenate?p…

Agriculture
agriculture.house.gov/
202-225-2171
Chair: Glen Thompson, PA
Ranking D: Angie Craig, MN
Other notable members:
Jim McGovern, MA
Jasmine Crockett, TX

Appropriations
appropriations.house.gov/
(202) 225-2771
Chair: Tom Cole, OK
Ranking D: Rosa DeLauro, CT
Other notable members:
John Moolenaar, MI

Budget
budget.house.gov/
(202) 226-7270)
Chair: Jodey Arrington, TX
Ranking D: Bredan Boyle, PA
Jack Bergman, MI
Pramila Jayapal, WA

Education & Workforce
house.gov/committees#:~:text=E…
(202) 225-4527
Chair: Tim Walberg, MI
Ranking D:Robert Scott, VA
Other Notable Members:
Haley Stevens, MI

Energy & Commerce
energycommerce.house.gov/
(202) 225-3641
Chair: Morgan Griffith, VA
Ranking D: Frank Pallone, NJ
Diana DeGette, CO
Debbie Dingell, MI

Ethics
ethics.house.gov/
202-225-7103
Chair: Michael Guest, MS
Ranking D: Susan Wild, PA

Financial Services
financialservices.house.gov/
202-225-7502
Chair: French Hill, AR
Ranking D: Maxine Waters, CA
Bill Huizenga, MI
Rashida Tlaib, Mi

Foreign Affairs
foreignaffairs.house.gov/
(202) 225-5021
Chair: Brian Mast, FL
Ranking D: Gregory Meeks, NY
Bill Huizenga, MI

Homeland Security
homeland.house.gov/
(202) 226-8417
Chair: Mark Green, TN
Ranking D: Bennie Thompson, MS
Eric Swalwell, CA
Shri Thanedar, MI

House Administration Committee on House Administration
202-225-8281
Chair: Bryan Steil, WI
Ranking D: Joe Morelle, NY

Judiciary
judiciary.house.gov/
(202) 225-6906
Chair: Jim Jordan, OH
Ranking D: Jamie Raskin, MD
Dan Goldman, NY

Natural Resources
naturalresources.house.gov/
(202) 225-2761
Chair: Bruce Westerman, AR
Ranking D: Raul Grjalva, AZ
Debbie Dingell, MI

Oversight & Government Reform
oversight.house.gov/
(202) 225-5074
Chair: James Comer, KY
Ranking D: Gerald Connolly, VA
RAJA KRISHNAMOORTHI, IL
JASMINE CROCKETT, TX

Rules
rules.house.gov/
(202) 225-9191
Chair: Virginia Foxx, NC
Ranking D: Jim McGovern, MA

Science, Space & Technology
science.house.gov/
202-225-6371
Chair: Brian Babin, TX
Ranking D: Zoe Lofgren, CA
Maxwell Frost, FL
Sarah McBride, DE

Small Business
smallbusiness.house.gov/
202-225-5821
Chair: Roger Williams, TX
Ranking D: Nydia Velazquez, NY
Hillary Scholten, MI
Shri Thanedar, MI

Transportation & Infrastructure
transportation.house.gov/
(202) 225-9446
Chair: Sam Graves, MO
Ranking D: Rick Larsen, WA
Tom Barrett, MI
Hillary Scholten, MI

Veterans Affairs
veterans.house.gov/
(202) 225-3527
Chair: Mike Bost, IL
Ranking D: Mark Takano, CA
Tom Barrett, MI

Ways and Means
waysandmeans.house.gov/
(202) 225-3625
Chair: Jason Smith, MO
Ranking D: Richard Neal, MA

Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
intelligence.house.gov/
(202) 225-4121
Chair: Rick Crawford, AR
Ranking D; Jim Himes, CT

Select Committee ....CCP
selectcommitteeontheccp.house.…

Joint Economic Committee
jec.senate.gov/public/

Joint Committee on the Library
cha.house.gov/joint-committee-…

Joint Committee on Printing
cha.house.gov/joint-committee-…

Joint Committee on Taxation
jct.gov/

House Committee on Agriculture

^{agriculture.house.gov}

1st district
Jack Bergman
bergman.house.gov/
(202) 225-4735
(231) 944-7633
(906) 273-2227

2nd district
John Moolenaar
moolenaar.house.gov/
(202) 225-3561
(616) 528-7100
(989) 802-6040

3rd district
Hillary Scholten
scholten.house.gov/
(202) 225-3831
(616) 451-8383

4th district
Bill Huizenga
huizenga.house.gov/
(202) 225-4401
(616) 251-6741
(269) 569-8595

5th district
Tim Walberg
walberg.house.gov/
(202) 225-6276
(517) 780-9075
(269) 479-3115

6th district
Debbie Dingell
debbiedingell.house.gov/
(202) 225-4071
(734) 481-1100
(313) 278-2936

7th district
Tom Barrett
barrett.house.gov/
(202) 225-4872
(517) 993-0510

8th district
Kristen McDonald Rivet
mcdonaldrivet.house.gov/
(202) 225-3611
(810) 238-8627

9th district
Lisa McClain
mcclain.house.gov/
(202) 225-2106
(586) 697-9300
(586) 697-9300

10th district
John James
james.house.gov/
(202) 225-4961
(586) 498-7122

11th district
Haley Stevens
stevens.house.gov/
(202) 225-8171
(734) 853-3040

12th district
Rashida Tlaib
tlaib.house.gov/
(202) 225-5126
(313) 463-6220
(313) 203-7540
(313) 463-6220

13th district
Shri Thanedar
thanedar.house.gov/
(202) 225-5802
(313) 880-2400