There’s No Substitute for Public Opinion

Insights and warnings from the last time a demagogue upended the organs of US democracy unchecked. “What will it take to make the public see Trump’s anti-democratic strategies as wrong, distasteful, and not something they want to associate themselves with?” Kleinfeld suggest two steps, first: “create a ‘vibe’ in which disagreement and dislike can surface in socially acceptable ways. For example: ‘I like Trump but I wish he hadn’t done that.’ Such vibes allow people to feel they won’t be pariahs for their opinions;” and then: “impede a realignment if the Republican Party proves willing to enable widespread anti-democratic actions.” To achieve this, “there is no substitute for a ground game of mass organizing”, as MAGA have proved. “One key lesson is building more fun into such work: a little less MSNBC and spinach, a little more YouTube and funnel cakes.” Ultimately, “if history is any guide, the democracy field needs a vast increase in its communications infrastructure and acumen, from AI and influencers to local connections and camaraderie. And it needs it now.”