I often avoid P&E because I’m know going to see something depressing. So rather than curse the darkness, I’m going to light a little candle (to coin a phrase).
I just came across this quote from author Rebecca Solnit, and it was too good not to share here:
Hope does not mean saying this is not bad, and it does not mean saying that we can defeat it. It just means saying we will keep showing up. That we will not give up… we do not know how it will unfold, and neither do those we oppose.
In other threads in P&E, I’ve tried to urge people who are feeling hopeless or discouraged to take some form of action – attend a rally, join a political group, even just donate some money. Because the authoritarians want you to believe that it is useless to resist. And if you do, they’ve won. Pessimism is self-fulfilling.
Solnit encapsulates the opposite view beautifully.
Another quote I saw recently:
Don’t do nothing just because you can’t do everything.
I’ll add that fighting back feels good, and puts you in touch with others who feel the same, which is itself reassuring. And you won’t have to be ashamed when your grandchildren ask you what you did to stop Trump.
So this thread can be your place to share positive news from the world of politics, to share what thoughts and ideas have encouraged you, and to tell us how you have decided to do your part to save the world.
As Rick said, “Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful thread.” Or something like that.
@Wesley_Clark, I get the cynicism, but especially as the first reply in a thread that explicitly asks for “positive news from the world of politics” your post is hard to see as anything other than a threadshit. Especially since you have multiple warnings (some very recent) about hijacking threads. I am giving the benefit of the doubt in not issuing a Warning at this time.
Basically Orban was defeated - and that’s very good for European co-operation.
From the Wiki link:
In the lead up to the election, analysts described the election as the most important one in the European Union in 2026 and a referendum on whether Hungary would continue to drift towards authoritarianism and Russia or change course towards liberal democracy and the EU.
Trump opinion polling net approval averages have declined by about seven points this year according to the site for this stuff I trust the most, Silver Bulletin.
Then I went to RealClearPolitics to find how Trump’s approval average compares to the same point in his first term, using the same methodology. Trump is now 7.5 points below where he was on May 7, 2018.
I love that phrase “designed with American values in mind.” So if ever released, not only will it be manufactured outside the U.S., it also will be, I gather, mostly designed outside the U.S. – but with American values. I’m wonder how those values could be manifested. A discount coupon for an AR-15 with every phone?
But don’t worry. The message of hope is that the Trump phone remains vaporware.
It’s a fight. The heroes of Minnesota and Hungary showed the way. Sure some will fold. But some will fight: it’s a matter of character.
Those with excess time between Labor Day and Election Day should research volunteer opportunities now. Those with ample funds should donate yesterday. This website -which is not a PAC - lists various swingy jurisdictions to donate to at the state, federal and local level:
It’s run by Charles Gaba who is also the webmaster of acasignups.net, covering the Affordable Care Act beat. Another hero.
Trump’s trendline approval rating is at 36.8%; the floor during Trump I was about 39%. He is an historically unpopular President. Personality cultists will cheer him on regardless of his policies. The stalwart will act accordingly.
To add to this, the new prime minister of Hungary has said that they aren’t going to use public funds to promote CPAC anymore.
Also US lawmakers are looking for investigations into this too. So this is a win for the rule of law.
In a press conference on 13 April, Péter Magyar, the incoming Prime Minister of Hungary, asserted that Orbán’s administration financed the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), a significant networking event for Republican candidates.
Magyar indicated that his government will cease this use of public funds and condemned the alleged financial transactions. He emphasised the importance of conducting a thorough investigation into these claims, while noting that although CPAC is welcome in Hungary, its financing will no longer be supported by the government. Reports suggest that part of this funding was directed towards influential figures in Congress and conservative media in the United States.
“Under U.S. law, that is not just a Hungarian problem,” noted Rep. Mike Levin in a post on X today.
“Foreign governments are barred from spending money in American elections, and Americans are forbidden from soliciting or accepting it. If these allegations are true, this is a direct attack on the integrity of American democracy,” Levin emphasised.
“We need a full investigation by Congress, the FEC, and the DOJ. The American people deserve to know exactly what flowed from Orbán’s government into this country’s political ecosystem, who was on the receiving end, and what it bought,” highlighted Levin.
Indeed. Especially in the context of climate change, I often point out partial solutions. And sometimes, if you can get enough partial solutions, they might even add up to a full solution.
Let’s respect the intentions of the OP of this thread and reserve the negativity for the many, many other such cynical and sad threads started about Trump here in P&E and/or the Pit:
Comments such as the two of you posted are far from in keeping with the spirit of this thread.
BEIJING (The Borowitz Report)—Calling it a landmark deal, on Monday Presidents Xi Jinping of China and Vladimir Putin of Russia inked an agreement to jointly own Donald J. Trump.
According to sources familiar with the deal, the two leaders crafted a timeshare arrangement under which each will have the right to use Trump when the other is not.
Putin and Xi scooped up Trump at a bargain price since they acquired him in distressed or “as is” condition, sources said.
Both presidents were reportedly offered joint ownership of Eric Trump but passed.
(For the humor-impaired, this is satire. I highly recommend The Borowitz Report.)
With nearly unanimous support in both houses, Hawaii has passed a law that takes away corporations’ power to make political contributions, effectively undercutting the Citizens United decision. Several other states are working on similar laws.
