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Why subscribe? One of my annual subscribers, Pete, says it best: “Just upgraded to paid, Joe — because I believe in your message and mission. Your latest post was more than cathartic; it was a call to action.” Thanks, Pete! Glad you’re on board.
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I promised you last week that I wouldn’t waste too much of your time in this newsletter ranting about Donald Trump. Why? Because we have to start focusing now on what comes after him. He won’t be president forever. We’re 100 days of bullshit in. There are roughly 1,361 days left (that is, assuming he makes it through a full term without finally being convicted of high crimes and misdemeanors). 1,361 days. That’s all. Say it with me: that’s all. We the People will make sure of it. We will not allow him to violate our Constitution and run for an illegal third term, nor will we let him deny us our sacred right to vote. Period.
That’s why I’m out on the road as you read this, actively helping to build what comes next. You, me, all Americans will decide what our post-Trump country looks like. But first it is absolutely vital that we begin to talk to one another again. I am using everything I’ve learned on my journey from Tea Party congressman to MAGA gangbanger to woke independent to facilitate the conversations we must have in order to mend our social contract and rebuild our republic. In these times, just talking to one another has become a radical and courageous act. I love it.
You asked, we answered!
Last month, thousands of you responded to our reader survey and gave us some extremely valuable feedback. We have tried our best to tailor our offerings to what you said you want—more suggestions about what you can do, more tips on how to talk to MAGA about specific issues, and more opportunities to engage with us.
You also asked us to make all of our content free, and we have! I hope you are enjoying it. Thank you for being a part of this community. I am so grateful for you and am humbled by your faith in me and my team.
And now for the part I hate but must do. For us to continue this work, both on Substack and out on the road, we rely entirely on the generosity and commitment of people like you. I understand not everyone is in a position to help out financially, and that’s okay. I get it. But if you have some extra to spare—and you believe that what we are doing is important—I hope you will consider supporting us.
This week, we’re focusing on my recent visit to Los Angeles. Check it out in our Social Spotlight today!
In Today’s Issue
The Social Briefing (skip this if you don’t want to read about Trump)
What Can You Do?
The Social Spotlight: What do LA liberals really think of MAGA?
The Social Calendar
This Week
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Thursday, 6pm ET
Friday, 1pm ET
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AMAZ-ON AND OFF. For a hot second, we thought we might have to make Amazon one of our Heroes of the Week. Alas, that was short-lived. The company was planning to display how much Trump’s tariffs would increase the cost of the products on its massive shopping site. But after getting called out by Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, Jeff Bezos folded. No surprises there. Take note that the White House doesn’t believe raising prices on you is “hostile and political”—only letting you know about it is. Telling that.
TRUMP EXPECTS A BIG INCREASE IN CRIME. Crime went up the last time Trump was President, when the murder rate saw its largest single-year increase on record, so I guess it’s a safe bet that it will happen again. But still…the provisions of one of his latest executive orders sound particularly ominous. Check it out:
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Trump is salivating at the thought of declaring martial law at some point. Not declaring it in 2020 was one of his biggest disappointments from his first term.
AUTHORITARIAN AMERICA. Here are some stories you may have missed…the FBI and national security agencies are polygraphing their own agents to search for ‘leakers’…a couple of teenage girls visiting from Germany were strip-searched, detained, and deported because they didn’t have a hotel reservation…ICE scared the hell out of a family in Oklahoma City, when it raided the home of completely innocent U.S. citizens…the Post Office is now helping the Department of Homeland Security crack down on immigration...and an immigration attorney and U.S. citizen received a letter from DHS telling her to “leave immediately.” Don’t look away.
STILL THE BIGGEST CRYBABY OF THEM ALL. For someone who claims to “run the country and the world”—and who certainly behaves as though he does—Trump still complains with the best of them. His 100-day polls have been brutal, so of course they have to be fake.
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LET’S GO, SESAME STREET. Some media are fighting back. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) is suing Trump over his attempt to replace three of its five board directors. CPB lawyers asked a judge this afternoon to grant a temporary restraining order preventing Trump’s decree from being implemented. Good to see Kermit bringing his A game.
So what can you do?
THIS THURSDAY! GET OUT AND MARCH! May Day Strong events are happening all over the country. Visit maydaystrong.org to find one near you!
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WANT TO ORGANIZE IN YOUR COMMUNITY? Action Network has everything you need to get started. Visit actionnetwork.org to get started.
GET YOUR #NOKINGS MERCH! If you’re going to protest, you might as well have the right gear. Click here for our new online store!
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Spotlight on Los Angeles
So you think you know Los Angeles? Of course you do. I mean, it’s the second-largest city in the country and the home of Hollywood. Everyone knows LA, right? Don’t be so sure.
Yes, it’s a cultural, economic, and technological juggernaut that famously leans strongly liberal and Democratic. Yes, it’s one of the coastal urban laboratories where progressive initiatives that eventually spread across the state and nation are incubated. And yes, depending on your political outlook, it’s a leader on issues like climate policy, labor rights, and immigration.
I went into my LA conversation with the same priors. I thought I knew exactly what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised.
Before we get into it, here’s a quick primer on Los Angeles…
DEMOGRAPHICS: Los Angeles is one of the most ethnically diverse cities in the world. It has a large Hispanic and Latino population (around 49%), followed by significant White (non-Hispanic), Asian, and African American communities. The city is also home to a vast number of immigrants, with substantial populations from Mexico, El Salvador, the Philippines, Korea, Armenia, and more.
INDUSTRY: The economy of Los Angeles is diverse and robust. It's globally recognized as the global epicenter of entertainment—specifically, film, television, and music production—though in recent years, it has seen some decline due to high costs and competition from other regions. LA is a major center for international trade (threatened by Trump’s tariffs), technology, aerospace, fashion, and tourism.
ENVIRONMENT: Situated between the Pacific Ocean and the mountains, LA offers a highly desirable mix of beaches, valleys, and hills. It has a Mediterranean climate with warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters. Environmental issues include air pollution, drought, wildfires, and the threat of earthquakes due to its location near major fault lines. However, the city has made strides in sustainability, including expanding public transportation, investing in renewable energy, and aiming for carbon neutrality.
POLITICS: Los Angeles is a stronghold of the Democratic Party. In the 2024 presidential election, LA County awarded 65% of its vote to Kamala Harris, while Donald Trump earned 32%, and 3% went to others.
I asked a group of self-identified progressive liberals from LA, “Why do you think people voted for Donald Trump?” Here’s what they had to say:
My takeaway from this is that these folks are not MAGA’s enemies. They genuinely want to understand their fellow Americans, and I was impressed by their thoughtful responses. If I could drop into one of the bluest areas of the country and find open-mindedness and even compassion toward red America, that contradicts what we’ve been told, doesn’t it? It suggests that we’re not just living, breathing stereotypes defined by how we vote but real human beings. This conversation, like all of them, made me realize there’s hope for all of us.
What do you think? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Send them our way.
Stay tuned. We’ll upload the entire Los Angeles conversation at the end of the week.
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I got to talk to one of my favorite people, Brian Karem, on his excellent show, Reporter’s Notebook.
I also joined David Wheeler and Colonel Moe Davis for Muck You! Love that name.
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HEY, LOUDOUN COUNTY! Join me for this event next month, if you can!
THIS WEEK’S QUOTES…
I want to hear from you!
What do you think of The Social Contract with Joe Walsh? What are your thoughts about what’s happening this week? How can we fix the political mess we’ve created in our country? How do we mend our frayed social fabric and rebuild an America that works?
Tell us your story and share your ideas with us. Email our editor at [email protected]. We look forward to hearing from you.
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