I’ve been getting a version of the same question from a lot of people lately: “When is it time to break the emergency glass?”
And maybe more importantly: What does that even mean?
I get it. I feel the same fear and frustration watching Trump and his allies openly defy court orders, rewrite the rules of accountability, and erode the foundations of our democracy.
This isn’t normal. It is a constitutional crisis. And it’s getting worse.
Before I came to Congress, I worked on post-coup transitions and conflict stabilization around the world. What we’re seeing in the U.S. is textbook democratic backsliding — and it’s dangerous.
Here’s what I’ve learned from those experiences:
We have to stay in community.
That’s how we protect democracy.
In Congress, we’re using every tool in our toolbox: introducing legislation, pushing oversight, supporting allies in the courts, and talking directly with Republicans behind closed doors to get them to treat this moment with the seriousness it deserves.
We also need the courts — all the way up to the Supreme Court — to stand firm against Trump’s efforts to bypass the Constitution.
And beyond government, we need something even bigger: A broad-based, pro-democracy (small “d”!) coalition of Americans who are paying attention, speaking up, and standing together.
Trump is counting on apathy. He’s counting on us to be too tired or too overwhelmed or too distracted to push back. So we have to do the opposite.
Join a group. (Indivisible has great local options.) Talk to your neighbors, friends, and family. Post online — not just about what we’re against, but what we believe in. Studies show one of the best ways to push back on disinformation is by having real conversations with people you trust.
Our politics becoming increasingly polarized and fragmented has given Trump an opportunity to test the bounds of his power — so pushing back has to include pushing against that splintering and isolation.
Even if you don’t agree with someone on every issue, you might agree on defending democracy! That’s enough to start a conversation, and those conversations are how we hold the line.
I’ll keep fighting in Congress and sharing what I’m seeing behind the scenes, and I also want to hear from you about how things are going in your community.
I’m with you.
-Sara
