This week, Ezra addresses a sneaky-important question that keeps popping up
lately. After that, we have ways to fight the map-rigging coup, stand up to
ICE, and show solidarity with immigrant communities in this week’s to-dos.

Hey folks,

What’s a distraction? I’ve often heard some version of “Trump is just
doing X to distract from Y.” This is a smart political take in certain
political circles. The strategic gist of it is: “Don’t fall for Trump’s
trap! Keep your eye on the prize.”

But taken too far, this anti-distraction impulse… distracts us from the
real, live fight for our democracy.

Is everything distracting from Epstein? In recent weeks, the argument has
been that, whatever Trump is doing, he is doing it to distract from the
Epstein Files. I think there’s some truth to this.

Trump has an insatiable appetite for attention, but he wants that
attention focused on his strength and power. He’s OK being portrayed as
cruel or unreasonable, but he’s not OK being portrayed as weak,
ridiculous, or weird.

So, yes, the Epstein Files are damaging to Trump, and Democrats should not
let them go. But unfortunately, scheming to hide the Epstein Files isn’t
the only, or even the worst, thing Trump and his MAGA footsoldiers are
doing.

Epstein is bad. So is our descent into authoritarianism. In just the last
week, we’ve seen [ [link removed] ]Trump occupy DC, terrorizing local residents as MAGA
governors [ [link removed] ]pledge to send even more troops and James Comer, the top
Republican on the House Oversight Committee, [ [link removed] ]promises they’ll do the
same thing to other cities.

Meanwhile, as backlash to Trump's agenda grows and we near the midterm
campaign season, Republicans across the country are [ [link removed] ]rigging the maps to
steal seats in 2026. And unsatisfied by gerrymandering alone, Trump just
[ [link removed] ]let loose a tirade against our voting system and issued a meaningless,
but threatening, executive order.

Fighting for our democracy is not a distraction. The occupation of our
capital city is not “a distraction.” It’s part of the dictator’s playbook.
The attempt to rig the rules of the next election is not “a distraction.”
It’s a direct threat to the will of the voters.

Some will argue that we should only focus on the issues where we have an
advantage, but that ignores the role of conflict in shaping how the public
understands an issue. There were people arguing that we should ignore
Kilmar Abrego Garcia and the deployment of the National Guard to Los
Angeles for exactly the same reasons. Does that logic look better now?

Can you imagine if we said:

* “Residents of DC, don’t organize to fight back against your city’s
occupation -- you’ll only distract from the Epstein Files.”
* “Texas Dems, don’t break quorum to fight back against the gerrymander
-- you’ll only distract from the Epstein Files.” 
* “Pro-democracy advocates, don’t indulge Trump’s bombast about mail
voting and voting machines -- you’ll only distract from the Epstein
Files.”

We must learn to walk, chew gum, fight for democracy, and talk about the
Epstein Files all at the same time. Our descent into authoritarianism
demands a response.

So I celebrate Indivisible Danville, in Kentucky, [ [link removed] ]rallying outside of
James Comer’s office demanding this proponent of DC occupation face his
own constituents. I celebrate [ [link removed] ]the more than 300 rapid response events
this weekend in support of the Texas Dems who broke quorum to resist the
GOP gerrymander. I celebrate every Indivisible who’s called into their
federal representatives’ offices to demand that they support DC. And I
celebrate every Indivisible group leader who’s preparing for the next big
mobilization (stay tuned)!

Trump is weak on Epstein. But he’s also weak on militarizing American
cities, corrupting our voting systems, Ukraine, his blind support for
Netanyahu, the economy, jobs, inflation, Medicaid, and healthcare.

By all means, we should keep our eyes on the prize, but that prize is a
democracy where we’re all safe and we all have a voice. When we fight back
against federal encroachment of our rights, that’s not a distraction --
it’s necessary, strategic, patriotic action.

And if you’re looking for those kinds of actions, read on to this week’s
to-dos.

In solidarity,
Ezra Levin
Co-Executive Director, Indivisible

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Your weekly to-dos

 1. [ [link removed] ]Fight the Trump-MAGA Redistricting Coup from any state with our new
toolkit. Trump’s trying to steal the midterms by making his red-state
minions rig the House maps. We all have a role to play in the fight
for fair 2026 elections; visit our toolkit or scroll down for more
info.
 2. [ [link removed] ]Join a mass call with AG Keith Ellison about ways states and cities
can defend the rule of law. We're joining AG Ellison, a coalition of
partner organizations, and brave officials from across the US to lay
out how state/local leaders can fight Trump’s takeover -- touching on
redistricting, unmasking ICE, and more.
 3. [ [link removed] ]Watch tonight’s Solidarity in Action session (7pm ET / 4pm PT) for
an expert’s guide to building coalitions. Cristina Jimenez co-founded
United We Dream and wrote a bestselling memoir on her experiences as
an immigrant and organizer. She’ll share what she’s learned along the
way -- and how you can build powerful coalitions.
 4. [ [link removed] ]Join our campaign to make Avelo Airlines’ deportation flights too
costly to continue. Avelo Airlines profits off Trump’s terror tactics
by running secretive (often illegal) deportation flights. We’re
organizing to ground “ICE Air” by undermining the pillars that prop up
Avelo’s business.
 5. [ [link removed] ]Sign up for Thursday’s What’s the Plan? call to ask Leah and Ezra
your questions on the news and upcoming work. Every Thursday at 3pm
ET, our co-founders go live to break down our key initiatives and
answer your questions directly! Be part of an interactive chat about
what’s next in our fight for democracy.

P.S. As too many institutions kiss the ring, Indivisible’s leading the
fight to ensure Trump’s enablers pay a price. We’re training one million
people in strategic non-cooperation and rolling out campaigns to weaken
Trump’s power at its foundations. [ [link removed] ]Please consider donating to fund
Indivisibles' nationwide disruption and defiance of the Trump regime.

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Slow down ICE with Signs of Solidarity

On our [ [link removed] ]last One Million Rising training, we introduced [ [link removed] ]Signs of
Solidarity -- a new campaign that anyone can join to oppose authoritarian
ICE raids and stand in solidarity with immigrant workers and communities.

[ [link removed] ]Two posters proclaiming solidarity with immigrant workers designed for
Indivisible's Signs of Solidarity project -- click for more information

We’re asking Indivisibles to engage in visible non-cooperation with ICE’s
raids on businesses and workplaces. Participants will disrupt Trump’s
terror raids by visiting local businesses, speaking to the
owners/managers, and distributing signs that achieve two key things:

 1. Clearly mark "Staff Only" areas to create safe zones ICE can’t legally
enter without a signed judicial warrant
 2. Unequivocally show they stand WITH immigrant workers and clientele and
AGAINST Trump’s secret police tactics

Once you’ve signed on below, we’ll give you everything you need to
succeed, like guidelines for speaking to businesses, tools to track
progress/success, and the signs you’ll help businesses post.

[ [link removed] ]Protect your community from fascist ICE raids by signing up to
complete a Signs of Solidarity canvass!

[ [link removed] ]Get started >>

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Fight against Trump’s map-rigging coup

Trump’s seat-stealing scheme isn’t stopping in Texas. Republican
legislators in Florida, Ohio, Missouri, and beyond are already lining up
to rig their maps and cement House Republicans into permanent power.

So we’re rolling out plans to fight back with everything we’ve got -- not
just in Texas, but all across America. Whether your state is bright blue,
deep red, or in between, you can do something today to combat the coup and
keep the midterm playing field fair:

[ [link removed] ]Redistrictable* Blue States: Call on your Democratic governor and
legislators to redraw your state’s maps to counter Trump. If you live
🔵 in a large blue state with a Democratic trifecta, contact your
governor today to demand they fight fire with fire by readying new
congressional maps.

[ [link removed] ]Red States: RAISE HELL on the local level by connecting with a
local Indivisible group. Indivisible groups in red states are on the
🔴 front lines of this fight: mobilizing neighbors against this
power-grab, defending Dem legislators targeted for fighting back, and
holding craven GOP officials accountable.

[ [link removed] ]Solidarity States: Urge your governor to take the COME & TAKE IT
pledge and lead in this fight. Some Dem governors can’t redraw maps
🟣 because they’re blocked by GOP legislatures or their state's share of
blue seats is “maxed out.” But they still have power. Send them our
pledge to defend red-state Dems and take action against Trump's
election overreach.

*Not every state with a Democratic trifecta can or should redraw its maps --
often because their US House delegation is already fully Democratic. If you
live in one of those states (CT, DE, HI, ME, MA, NM, RI), please see the
“Solidarity States” section to [ [link removed] ]send your governor the Come & Take It
Pledge!

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IndivisiWIN of the week

[24]A Ukranian flag and the words ALASKA STANDS WITH UKRAINE projected in lights
on a building in Anchorage, AK

As Donald Trump rolled out a literal red carpet for his murderous dictator
buddy, Indivisibles across Alaska mobilized to show Trump and Putin:
Alaskans stand with Ukraine and against tyrannical regimes.

Dozens of protests and non-cooperation actions across Alaska culminated in
a powerful light show by Stand UP Alaska in downtown Anchorage, minutes
from where the summit was held.

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