Making good trouble.

July 14, 2025

On July 17, 2025, all Americans are called to “Make Good Trouble” in a national show of support for democracy. The timing couldn’t be better. The “No Kings Day” rallies were (likely) the largest one-day protests in our nation’s history. But those protests were followed by nearly three weeks of frustrating efforts to stop passage of the GOP reconciliation bill. The passage of the bill felt like a gut punch to many Americans who were surprised (again) to find that there is no bottom to the cruelty of MAGA extremists. And for understandable reasons, the nation’s attention has been focused on the disaster in Texas, the chaotic, unlawful tariffs imposed by Trump, and ongoing political scandals, including the internal MAGA war over the non-disclosure of the Epstein client list.

The Make Good Trouble rallies will be an opportunity to demonstrate once again that a strong majority of Americans support democracy and oppose Trump's anti-democratic agenda. Considering the uneven performance by Congress, the Supreme Court, and the media in restraining Trump, massive national protests by concerned Americans are one of the two remaining bulwarks of democracy. (The other being the judges of the US district courts, who continue to distinguish themselves in applying the law and Constitution to impede Trump's rampage of lawlessness.)

In addition to the fortuitous timing, the occasion is apt. We will be honoring the legacy of John Lewis, who taught us that refusing to obey in advance, refusing to surrender, and resolving to march forward despite our fears is the only path to saving democracy. John Lewis and his fellow civil rights marchers “failed” to make it across the Edmund Pettus Bridge on Bloody Sunday, but they touched the hearts and minds of a nation in turmoil in their effort. We are called to do nothing less.

Our presence at a Make Good Trouble rally has the same ambitious goal—to touch the hearts and minds of tens of millions of Americans who are ready to say, “Enough! Not on our watch! We will not let democracy slip away!”

Millions will be watching, anxiously looking for signs that Americans have not given up on democracy. We must be the standard bearers who raise the flag high, signaling that democracy is alive and will endure so long as we refuse to let it die.

There is an understandable and laudable impulse to protest against the unlawful, corrupt, and heinous actions of the Trump administration. We should do so with all the passion and creativity we can muster. But first, we must rally in support of democracy! The Make Good Trouble events should be seen as pro-democracy rallies! Our messages must embrace the Constitution, equality, due process, liberty, fairness, decency, compassion, and the common good.

If possible, every sign should be accompanied by the US flag—the symbol of the democracy we are trying to protect and preserve. So, too, with signs. Pro-democracy slogans write themselves because they need only quote our Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and its amendments, and the great speeches and court decisions that have refined our understanding of what democracy is in America—Abraham Lincoln, Susan B. Anthony, Martin Luther King, Brown v. Board of Education, Roe v. Wade, and Obergefell (among many others).

Democrats are often falsely accused of not having a “message.” Not true! Our message is clear: We stand for democracy at a time when the opposing party is doing everything in its power to end democracy as we know it.

It was fashionable in the run-up to the 2024 election for commentators to say “defending democracy” was “too vague” to speak to voters. We now know that the pro-democracy message was prescient—and those who mocked and dismissed the message were aiding Trump.

The American people now understand what it means for democracy to be under attack: Masked gangs roving the streets to arrest people based on their skin color or accent. A president is trying to deny birthright citizenship guaranteed in the Constitution. Executive orders that purport to sweep away acts of Congress appropriating funds. Immigrants whisked away to war-torn countries--without due process. Billionaires and foreign nationals are ensuring access to the president by purchasing his personal cryptocurrency that has no value other than its ability to corrupt.

We stand for democracy at a time when it is under attack. If we don’t, who will?

Do everything you can to show up at a Make Good Trouble event: Sign up here.

I look forward to seeing you at the foot of the bride, looking upward at the rise, not knowing what lies beyond but filled with certainty that the path forward lies on the other side of the bridge.

Together, there is nothing we cannot do. And the more of us who show up, the more quickly we will achieve our ultimate objective—the redemption of democracy.

Coda:

A few readers are already sharpening their pens to post comments or send emails that say, “Trump doesn’t care about protests.” That is 100% true. We are not seeking to change Trump's mind. We are seeking to change the hearts and minds of enough people in a closely divided electorate to flip control of Congress, to give pause to Trump's corporate overlords with worry that they will be the subject of the next boycott, and to signal to the courts that the people have not given up on democracy.

But most importantly, we show up at pro-democracy rallies to lift up one another to ensure that we will not quit or surrender. John Lewis and his fellow civil rights activists walked up the incline of the Edmund Pettus Bridge with no assurance that their actions would change the course of history. But they knew that if they didn’t try, they eliminated all possibility of doing so. We march without any assurance that these rallies will be the tipping point, but if we fail to march, we eliminate all possibility of bending the arc of the universe toward justice. The stakes are too great for us not to try.

But no need to believe me. Read John Lewis’s parting remarks before his death, Together, You Can Redeem the Soul of the Nation.

Lewis wrote:

When you see something that is not right, you must say something. You must do something. Democracy is not a state. It is an act, and each generation must do its part to help build what we called the Beloved Community, a nation and world society at peace with itself. Ordinary people with extraordinary vision can redeem the soul of America by getting in what I call good trouble, necessary trouble.

Note: the link to John Lewis’s farewell letter was behind a paywall. Here is a free link to a letter that is an absolute must-read before Making Good Trouble events: Together-You-Can-Redeem-The-Soul.pdf

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Trump threatens to impose 30% tariffs on EU goods

Continuing his wanton lawlessness, Trump announced on Friday that he would impose 30% tariffs on EU goods. CNBC, World leaders respond to latest Trump tariff threats against the EU and Mexico.

Trump may change his mind before August 1 (or extend the deadline again), so the announcements are literally the ravings of a madman.

Trump has no authority to impose worldwide reciprocal tariffs. It is both unconstitutional and illegal. The fact that he continues to do so without objection from Congress does not make it lawful.

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The non-disclosure of the Epstein files continues to roil Trump's MAGA base.

Trump's promise to release the “Epstein files” was a significant undertaking that engaged the “conspiracy theory caucus” of white males. It overlapped with QAnon beliefs of a cabal of pedophiles who allegedly controlled the world government. Trump's followers firmly believed that the release of the files would expose prominent Democrats as pedophiles.

Trump and Epstein were friends and partied together in the 1990s. The likelihood is that Trump's name figures prominently in the “Epstein files.” When the moment of truth arrived to release Epstein’s client list, Attorney General Pam Bondi released a memo saying that there was no “client list.” Trump's base exploded in disbelief.

We don’t know what is in the Epstein file. We do know that when Trump was asked about it at a cabinet meeting last week, he exploded in anger at the reporter and told people to stop asking questions “about that creep.” Thereafter, Trump began claiming that the Epstein files were “fake” and had been fabricated by President Obama and Hillary Clinton—a sure sign that Trump is guarding against bad facts in the Epstein files whenever they are released.

It seems unlikely that the Epstein scandal will bring down Trump, but it is inflicting damage and costing Trump support among the “white male conspiracy theory caucus”—a not insignificant portion of his base. See NBC News, Trump faces a revolt from his MAGA base over the Epstein files. I acknowledge that reputable commentators believe that the scandal has the potential to inflict severe damage on Trump, AG Pam Bondi, and FBI Director Kash Patel.

But regardless of whether the scandal will bring Trump down, he is in damage control mode—i.e., he will create distractions to draw attention away from the two unacceptable outcomes: the Epstein files are a “nothing-burger” or are liberally sprinkled with his name.

Either way, Trump's base will see him for the liar he is. Trump will increase the chaos to unprecedented levels to deflect the blame from himself. That fact will explain much of the drama preceding the inevitable release of the Epstein files.

No part of our plan going forward should depend on the MAGA base taking Trump down. We must proceed with dispatch to bring tens of millions of Americans into the street so that we can convince enough Americans to end Trump’s reign of lawlessness at the ballot box.

Opportunity for Reader Engagement.

.On Wednesday, July 16th at 7:00PM ET, BigTentUSA is honored to host former Congressman Adam Kinzinger – a leading voice in the fight to protect democracy, and co-founder of The Lincoln Project and President of The Union, Reed Galen. As Trump and his allies push forward with Project 2025—threatening to dismantle democratic norms, purge civil servants, and consolidate power—the urgency for collective action has never been greater. On the eve of a nationwide protest against the authoritarian threats facing our country, join us for this timely conversation.

Our speakers will explore the vision behind collective action and how it’s helping build long-term civic muscle across the country. More importantly they will address how everyday Americans can take meaningful action to strengthen democracy in their communities.

This isn’t just a conversation. It’s a call to action. Please use this link to register.

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Concluding Thoughts.

We must regain momentum on July 17 by taking control of the political narrative. The political environment will be a circus. Remain focused on taking to the streets in peaceful, pro-democracy rallies. We do not know whether July 17 will be the tipping point, but we will never know unless we follow John Lewis up the incline to the top of the bridge. The path forward lies on the other side. Let’s cause some good trouble! Our democracy deserves nothing less from us.

Talk to you tomorrow!

Daily Dose of Perspective

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