Life During Coup-Time

Vol. 58

In This Issue: ESSAY | NOW READ THIS | TAKE ACTION | FINAL FRAME

How’s everyone doing? Getting enough sleep? Enough to eat? Taking deep breaths? Freaking out (my government is trying to erase me and my community! Super great and normal and not at all terrifying)!? I know I’m trying hard to keep up with my basic needs in the midst of what feels like an epically difficult and scary time.

I hope you’re all able to as well. We’re going to need all our strength, stamina, and willpower to see ourselves through what’s coming.

There’s just a lot to process. Too much, really, which is the point, I think. Shock and awe. Throw so much at us that it’s difficult to muster the kind of unified and consistent response that’s needed to counteract all the fuckery. 

I refuse to let Trump and Musk and their minions overwhelm me and mine into inaction, though. I despise them and their snowflake, greedy, reactionary idiocy too much to let them get away with this coup without putting up a fight. More importantly, I love us too much to give in to despair. 

Make no mistake: This is a coup. Trump and Musk have effectively taken over the government, run roughshod over the separation of powers, and violated security protocols and civil rights laws, all with startling speed and abandon.

Turns out, the previous Trump Administration–and much of the Republican nonsense of the past several years–was all a test to see how far they could go, what norms-smashing they could get away with, without any meaningful pushback, guardrails, or accountability. Biden threw the “rules-based international order” out the window by continuing to support Israel’s genocide in Gaza. Meanwhile, just about everyone in D.C. circles of power colluded, actively and passively, to throw out the rules-based domestic order at the same time.

As I see it, the moment Trump was allowed to get away with inciting an insurrection against the peaceful transfer of power in January 2021, the events of January 2025 became almost inevitable.

The old systems–and the people who cling to them–have failed us. 

So what now? 

Now, as I mentioned before, we fight like hell. And we fight to build something better than what came before. 

We fight for each other, in our communities, because that’s where we have the most impact and the most power. We call our representatives every damn day to let them know what we want them–expect them–to do in D.C., yes, and we also plug into the groups and organizations in our hometowns doing the day-to-day work of making life more livable for us and our neighbors.

We share resources, skills, ideas, dreams, hopes and fears. We do this until we die. There is no other choice.

I’m still feeling furious and sick. None of this needed to happen and a lot of real people are suffering right now thanks to the utter fecklessness of old-school Democratic leadership, the decimation of mainstream media by vulture capitalism and both-sides-ism, and the ghoulishness of the modern Republican party, among other things.

In the coming days, weeks, months, I’ll be looking for yet more ways to connect and build community and join the movement needed to claw back our democracy–and I’ll do what I can to share those resources, ideas, and connections with you all. Please share what you’re finding, too!

In these truly dark times, I encourage us all to reach out more than ever, rather than retreating into our fears.

Queer and trans people, Black and Brown and Indigenous people, have been here before. And are still here. Which is to say, there is always a way forward. We can draw courage and inspiration from those who came before, while remaining steadfast in our commitment to a more just and loving future for all.

My mantra now is: Focus. Breathe. Keep going.

Me, Elsewhere.

Dan Shafer over at The Recombolution Area has kindly invited me to contribute a monthly column, which will be published there and at Civic Media. Part of the deal is that I also sometimes get invited on-air to talk about the column topic. I do love radio!

My first piece, published last week, tackled the subject of oil pipelines in Wisconsin. You can read it here, and then take a listen to my appearance on the Matenaer On Air (92.7 WMDX FM) over here. Many thanks to Dan and Jane for having me on!

Now Read This.

“Wading into 2025: How to Begin” [Kelly Hayes at Organizing My Thoughts]

It’s difficult to acknowledge that, while our knowledge, experience and indignation have value, we do not know what it will actually take to win, and that many of our best efforts have failed. It’s scary to admit that what we have been doing is not working, and that we may not know what to do next. Rather than grappling honestly with their feelings of powerlessness, many people simply double down, insisting that if everyone adopted their strategy, and assumed their perspective, without questions, doubts or deviations, we would all get free. Banding behind such people, and crusading against the politically imperfect (or politically different) will not help us–even if it feels satisfying to punch a target who actually finds our putdowns upsetting.

“Donald Trump’s Executive Orders Aim to Create Jim Crow for Trans People” [Scott Skinner-Thompson for Slate]

Viewing these laws collectively not only sheds light on their motivation, it also underscores the breadth of the harms. If a person cannot obtain an accurate identification document, use a public restroom, gain access to public buildings, travel, obtain medical care, serve in the military, then they cannot participate in public life or our democracy. In other words, transgender people are being fully disenfranchised from society on a scale not seen since Jim Crow.

“The enduring power of copaganda” [Alec Karakatsanis at Alec’s Copaganda Newsletter]

It's important for all people of good will to understand the Laken Riley Act... It’s unconstitutional. It’s horrific in every word and clause. But there is a deeper, more imminent violence lurking beneath its hate-filled text.

“Shock & Awful” [Kevin Kruse at Campaign Trails]

Call your representative and both your senators. No matter where you live, no matter who they are. Call them. Demand that Senate Democrats use the tools at their disposal to make demands on the administration and delay as much as possible. 

“You can have pleasure but no freedom” [Lyz Lenz at Men Yell At Me]

Our political oppression and our sexual liberation can’t coexist. As long as women pay for desire with the possible risk of their lives and livelihoods, that desire will always be tinged with taboo.

Take Action.

Once again: CALL your reps. Calls make the difference (far more than emails or texts). Call after hours and leave a voicemail if you don’t like talking to people on the phone. But call! Here’s a great resource for how to do it and what to say.

Do you live in the Madison area and want to support tenant’s having some actual rights in the face of the housing crisis and crappy landlords? Sign the Madison Tenant’s Bill of Rights.

(Read more about Madison’s housing crisis and some ways to fight back in this excellent article at Tone)

Centro Hispano has some really helpful family safety planning forms, know-your-rights sheets, and other checklists to help you prepare for emergencies.

Listen Up.

I recorded a DJ mix of progressive/melodic trance music last month and you can listen and/or download it for free. It’s nice. I hope you enjoy it.

If you’re looking for in-person dancing fun-times, this is my plug for the monthly early party that I host at the Cardinal Bar in Madison, every first Friday from 7-9:30 p.m., called “Hot Flash!” It is, truly, the best dance floor in town and it’s FREE. Come on by! I’ll be joined this Friday by the incredible DJ Femme Noir.

Final Frame.

I had the incredible good fortune to visit with dear friends in Puerto Rico in January. I’d never been before and I am definitely hoping to return many times. This was our view from where we stayed in Luquillo.

‘Til Next Time.

Get some rest, drink water, and take care of each other.