In less than 90,000 minutes our MAGA Nightmare Can be Over
In less than 90,000 minutes our MAGA Nightmare Can be Over
That’s only 12,700 Bluey Episodes. Or binge-watching the entire Bridgerton series (including Queen Charlotte because of course) 51 times (without breaking to sleep). That’s nothing.
This isn’t any old election day countdown, this is the countdown to THE END OF DONALD TRUMP’S MAGA MOVEMENT. THE END OF LARA TRUMP’S MUSIC CAREER (God willing).
We are closing in on nearly ten years (ten!) since Trump rode down the escalator and declared his candidacy for President. The end of this ten-year nightmare is within reach. And unlike literal nightmares, we have the power to end this one on our own terms.
If this doesn’t motivate you to get off the sidelines in ways you never imagined you would, I don’t know what will. So stop doom-scrolling, stop obsessing over the polls, stop retweeting funny memes and videos (just kidding, keep doing that, as long as you are also doing actual work), and GET TO WORK.
Not sure how? Good. You have come to the right place. I love teaching people new things. No matter your experience level, no matter your social anxiety level, there are many ways to meaningfully get involved over the next 60 days.
Trust me. I am a full-blown introvert with very real social anxiety. I also hate small talk and hate talking on the phone and hate asking people for money.
Yet in 2018, I was a regular phone-banker, in 2020 I phone-banked and text-banked EVERY weekend between Labor Day and Election Day. And in 2022 I raised $2.3M for my own campaign, mostly by calling strangers and convincing them I was worth investing in, I knocked MANY MANY doors, I forced myself to get comfortable with small talk and I put in the work to become an effective public speaker.
So if I can do that, you can DO SOMETHING. But if you don’t want to listen to me, listen to Michelle Obama. She also thinks you should DO SOMETHING.
Here is what you can do:
Donate. Give to the Harris/Walz campaign. Every dollar counts. Maybe you can give $47 for the 47th President. Maybe you can give $470. Maybe you can give $4,700. Give what you can. There is no such thing as too much money in politics. And as Jaime Harrison announced earlier this week, the Harris/Walz campaign sent $25M to down-ballot candidates. A rising tide lifts all boats. Or give directly to down-ballot candidates. Your money will go further in local races. Remember, the goal is to wake up on November 6th with ZERO regrets.
Volunteer. Sign up to volunteer for the Harris/Walz campaign. If you are in Charleston County, sign up to volunteer for local candidates here. No matter where you are, you can find online or in-person events near you. Go to your favorite candidate’s website and sign up to volunteer. For example, if you felt compelled to help either of the two pediatricians in Congress get re-elected, you could do that for Kim Schrier here or for Yadira Caraveo here.
Do you still feel nervous about volunteering? Let me break it down for you. Get over yourself. What is worse? Having uncomfortable feelings talking to strangers on the phone or getting a phone call that your sister-in-law is in the ICU after almost dying from postpartum hemorrhage because the GOP thinks they know more about reproductive healthcare than actual doctors? The campaign staff will train you before they put you on the phones or send you out to canvass. And if you are really truly adamantly opposed to volunteering, go back to #1 above and donate again. If you can’t give your time, give more of your money.
Do relational organizing. Not sure what that is? It’s a fancy way of saying talk to your family, friends, and neighbors about the election. About who you are voting for and why. This is especially critical work if you know people who live in swing states or swing districts. Or if you are a white woman. If you have been here for a while, you know about the problem with white women. As white women, we have access to other white women. These white women are more likely to listen to us than be swayed by an ad they see 2 weeks before the election. 47% of us voted for Donald Trump in 2016. Which means we were the problem then, and we can be the solution now. So tap into your social network and help us solve the white women problem. Because the outcome of this election is in our hands. Not sure what to say? Speak from the heart. Be authentic. Still need help? Use these talking points.
Check your voter registration status here. Make a voting plan. Put it on your calendar. Vote early if you can. Find an accountability partner. Get it done. No excuses.
Whatever you do, DO SOMETHING. And then on November 6th we can all celebrate and also enjoy a nightmare-free nap while our kids re-watch Bluey episodes and eat snacks on the couch.