Dear MoveOn member,
On Friday, news broke that Donald Trump's Department of Justice had indicted James Comey, the former director of the FBI.1 Then, on Sunday, Trump said he "would think" that his Department of Justice is investigating another FBI director, Christopher Wray.2
This comes on the heels of the Trump administration's threats to target liberal groups, and Trump's personal pressure campaign that got ABC to suspend Jimmy Kimmel and is now trying to get NBC to fire Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers.3,4
Around the world, autocrats follow the same playbook to seize power; the steps include expanding executive authority, silencing critics, scapegoating vulnerable communities, and eventually ending democracy itself.5 Trump is running through those steps now at breakneck speed.
But there's another playbook—to beat back authoritarianism. One of its most powerful steps is mass mobilization. Research shows that, throughout history, when just 3.5% of a country's population mobilizes in sustained, nonviolent opposition to a tyrant, they can stop the tyrant in his tracks.6
The powerful truth is: When we unite, we win. That’s why MoveOn is working around the clock along with organizations across the movement, like Indivisible and the ACLU, to organize No Kings Day on October 18.
And with less than three weeks left, we need your help to make No Kings Day the largest nonviolent mobilization in American history. Millions of us will rise up in peaceful, powerful action to declare that America doesn’t have kings and stop Trump’s corrupt power grab.
Will you donate $5 a month to help make No Kings Day so big and powerful that it serves as a turning point to end Trump's tyranny—and to keep building momentum after?
Yes, I'll chip in $5 a month. (If you've saved your payment information with ActBlue Express, your donation will go through immediately.)
No, I'm sorry, I can't make a monthly donation.
The MoveOn team is hard at work coordinating peaceful and powerful events in every community nationwide. Your support now is critical to making sure that we:
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Empower thousands of grassroots leaders with the skills and resources to lead safe, successful events. Each of the rallies, marches, and demonstrations will be led by a local volunteer, who is stepping up to host the event in their community. MoveOn is organizing virtual trainings for these hosts, providing detailed written guides, and offering on-demand one-on-one support.
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Provide materials and logistical support. From rally signs and banners to coordinating stages, sound systems, megaphones and other equipment in key locations, MoveOn is helping supply events with the materials they need to be accessible, safe, and powerful. We're also going to assist with safety and de-escalation planning, in partnership with groups like the ACLU, because a core principle of No Kings is that it be nonviolent and lawful.
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Provide massive technology and IT resources. MoveOn is one of the most effective groups out there, when it comes to using technology to organize. We're contributing our expertise to make sure that thousands of people can organize events from coast to coast that will be attended by millions of people.
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Pull out all the stops to ensure a huge participant turnout. MoveOn is running digital ads, sending tens of millions of emails and text messages, launching attention-grabbing social media campaigns, and helping local organizers reach out to community leaders and local press.
MoveOn is a grassroots organization, funded by members like you. Can you chip in $5 a month to support our efforts to mobilize against Trump?
Yes, I'll chip in $5 a month. (If you've saved your payment information with ActBlue Express, your donation will go through immediately.)
No, I'm sorry, I can't make a monthly donation.
With each day, Trump's behaving more and more like a monarch, emboldened by cronies and sycophants in his administration and Congress.
He seized control of our nation's capital, Washington D.C.7 He's threatening to take over other cities.8,9,10 He's wielding the power of the federal government against those he sees as personal enemies, including Comey and potentially others.11 He's attacking the American people from every possible angle.12,13
But the American people do not bow to kings. We have made that clear from the early days of our republic.
And on October 18, we will mobilize with allies in huge numbers to make that unmistakably clear to Trump.
If you've had enough, and if you reject Trump's cruel, corrupt, and power-mad regime, then join us.
The power is in our hands. Can you chip in $5 a month help make October 18 a turning point in our fight against Trump—and keep building momentum after?
Yes, I'll chip in $5 a month. (If you've saved your payment information with ActBlue Express, your donation will go through immediately.)
No, I'm sorry, I can't make a monthly donation.
The truth is Trump is much weaker than it seems, and we've already seen what happens when we join together. When Trump tried to cancel Kimmel's late-night talk show, millions of us pushed back and demanded ABC put him back on the air.
Instead of silencing Kimmel, Trump only amplified his voice, giving him his highest ratings in decades—more 6 million people watched his Tuesday night monologue assailing Trump's attempted censorship, and another 26 million watched it on social media. (For context, Kimmel's usual TV audience is normally about 1.4 million.)14,15,16,17
In Kimmel's own words, Trump "tried his best to cancel me … instead he forced millions of people to watch the show. That backfired bigly."18 It was an inspiring reminder that when we stand up together, we win.
And it's not just about defending free speech. All across the country, people are pushing back against Trump's authoritarian agenda, such as communities joining together in brave solidarity during immigration raids.19
In June, more than 5 million Americans turned out for the first No Kings Day of action—one of the largest protest days in modern U.S. history.
That's incredible, but it's still only about 1.5% of our population.
Now, with October 18 fast approaching, we need to multiply that number to reach the tipping point that can finally topple Trump's ruthless and tyrannical regime. This is our chance to make history—and we can't afford to hold anything back.
If you've already signed up to host or attend an event, thank you. We truly need every one of us participating in this powerful, history-making day of action. If you haven't yet, please save the date.
Waiting until the 2026 election is too late to stop Trump from tearing our communities apart and stripping away our remaining freedoms. We need to stand up to tyranny NOW. Can you chip in $5 a month?
Yes, I'll chip in $5 a month. (If you've saved your payment information with ActBlue Express, your donation will go through immediately.)
No, I'm sorry, I can't make a monthly donation.
Thanks for all you do.
–Emma, Allison, Chris, Kelly, and the rest of the team
Sources:
1. "Inside the Trump Administration’s Push to Prosecute James Comey," The New York Times, September 27, 2025
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/27/us/politics/trump-comey-justice-department.html
2. "Trump says he 'would think' DOJ is investigating former FBI Director Christopher Wray," NBC News, September 28, 2025
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-weighs-whether-doj-investigate-former-fbi-director-christopher-w-rcna234225
3. "White House plans to take action targeting left-wing groups as early as this month," NBC News, September 17, 2025
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/white-house-plans-take-action-targeting-left-wing-groups-early-month-rcna231998
4. "After Kimmel suspension, Trump sets sights on Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers: 'Do It NBC!'" USA Today, September 19, 2025
https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2025/09/18/jimmy-kimmel-suspension-trump-reaction/86214366007/
5. "The 10 Steps to Autocracy and Authoritarianism," 10 Steps, accessed September 29, 2025
https://10stepscampaign.org/
6. "The '3.5% rule': How a small minority can change the world," BBC, May 13, 2019
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20190513-it-only-takes-35-of-people-to-change-the-world
7. "How long can Trump's D.C. takeover last? Here's what to know," NPR, August 20, 2025
https://www.npr.org/2025/08/20/nx-s1-5505987/trump-dc-takeover-timing-national-guard-police
8. "New Orleans could be the first city in a Republican-led state where Trump militarizes police," CNN, September 4, 2025
https://www.cnn.com/2025/09/04/us/new-orleans-trump-national-guard
9. "Trump ordering National Guard to fight crime in Baltimore, calls city 'a hellhole,'" CBS News, September 3, 2025
https://www.cbsnews.com/baltimore/news/president-trump-baltimore-national-guard-maryland-crime-moore-scott/
10. "Trump Again Focuses on Portland as an Avatar of the Left," The New York Times, September 28, 2025
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/28/us/portland-trump-ice-protests.html
11. "Trump, Comey had years of turmoil before former FBI director's indictment," ABC News, September 26, 2025
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/back-decade-turmoil-trump-comey/story?id=125970714
12. "Trump’s new detention policy targets millions of immigrants. Judges keep saying it’s illegal." Politico, September 20, 2025
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/09/20/ice-detention-immigration-policy-00573850
13. "As Trump seeks death penalty in DC, Bondi says administration also wants it across the country," CNN, September 25, 2025
https://www.cnn.com/2025/09/25/politics/death-penalty-trump-dc
14. "Jimmy Kimmel, Somber but Defiant, Defends Free Speech in Return to ABC," The New York Times, September 23, 2025
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/23/business/media/jimmy-kimmel-return-monologue.html
15. "Kimmel’s return to late night nets host’s biggest ratings haul in a decade," The Hill, September 25, 2025
https://thehill.com/homenews/media/5521100-kimmel-return-ratings-high-abc/
16. "Jimmy Kimmel nabs highest ratings in over a decade with post-suspension episode," NBC News, September 24, 2025
https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/pop-culture-news/jimmy-kimmel-live-abc-ratings-post-suspension-youtube-records-rcna233566
17. "'Jimmy Kimmel Live' Returns With 6.3 Million Viewers, Its Most-Watched Regular Episode Ever," Variety, September 24, 2025
https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/jimmy-kimmel-live-ratings-viewers-abc-1236528577/
18. "Jimmy Kimmel slams Trump for trying to 'cancel me': 'We have to speak out,'" USA Today, September 24, 2025
https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2025/09/24/jimmy-kimmel-return-monologue-donald-trump/86324518007/
19. "Washington's immigrant neighborhoods push back against ICE arrests," Reuters, September 20, 2025
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/washingtons-immigrant-neighborhoods-push-back-against-ice-arrests-with-protests-2025-09-19/
Want to support MoveOn's work? Donald Trump’s authoritarian takeover intensifies every day. But we must remember that authoritarian governments worldwide have not withstood a challenge by 3.5% or more of its people. MoveOn can reach, train, organize, and support at a scale unparalleled in the progressive movement—which we need now more than ever. Will you make a monthly donation today to power this urgent and critical organizing?
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