There’s so much going on right now that it’s impossible to keep track of it all, and that’s the point. They want us to be overwhelmed so we can’t keep up or fight back, but today, I want to give you 10 action steps you can take to stay engaged, make a difference, and protect your peace.
I spent four years covering the previous Trump administration as a political commentator for CNN, and it was exhausting. Nearly every day, there was a reckless tweet, an unvetted announcement, or a new law or norm broken. What I learned is that Trump is a chaos agent who needs as many distractions as possible to stay in power.
So here are 10 action steps we can take to stay focused, not just to survive the next four years, but to win the future.
1. Stay informed but not overwhelmed.
We cannot tune out and sleepwalk into fascism, but neither can we allow ourselves to become depressed by the enormity of the challenge. So don’t try to do everything. Start by following your expertise and interests. Focus on issues important to you.
2. Share truthful, factual information.
Part of the reason Trump is in office today is because the right wing built a media infrastructure to serve as an echo chamber of lies and misinformation. It’s your job not to recirculate that propaganda. Instead, seek out reliable truthtellers and factual posts. Share them regularly and widely with your friends, family, and social media followers.
3. Raise your voice to elected officials.
I know it’s old-fashioned but visit the offices of the people representing you or write a letter. A study by the OpenGov Foundation during the first Trump administration found that in-person visits, personal letters, and social media were the best tools for being heard by members of Congress. Share a personal story of how an issue affects you.
4. Run for office.
The people in Congress, your state legislature, and city council are no smarter than you. So launch your campaign. Talk about the issues that resonate with you and your community. Raise some money. And run for office.
5. Go to court.
If you’re a state attorney general or practicing attorney, you’ve probably already thought of this. But even if you’re a government worker, a federal contractor, or a private citizen adversely affected by right-wing MAGA policies, call a lawyer, and sue for your rights.
6. Reward the good.
We have economic power in where we spend our dollars. In the face of the current anti-Black assault, some companies, like Costco, Delta Airlines, Patagonia, Apple, Pinterest, and even JPMorganChase are standing behind their DEI programs. Support Black-owned businesses that are down for the cause and businesses that support you. And donate to nonprofits and organizations that work on issues important to you. If you’re not ready to boycott, try a “buycott” or a “buy-in.”
7. Punish the bad.
The list of companies capitulating to MAGA’s anti-DEI threats is long. Target, Walmart, Meta, McDonald’s, Ford, Coors, Amazon, Lowe’s, Harley-Davidson, and others are rolling back their DEI programs. Some are easy to quit, but others are integrated into our lives, making it difficult to cut them off completely.
8. Create a conscious culture.
Now more than ever, we need music, film, art, TV, culture, and institutions that reflect and protect us. If you have that platform, don’t be afraid to use it to tell our stories. And if you’re not an artist or a content creator, support those who are.
9. Organize for the short term.
We have special elections, gubernatorial elections, and mayoral elections taking place this year, midterm elections in 2026, and another presidential election in 2028. We can’t wait until the last minute to organize, so let’s get busy now with voter registration and education campaigns instead of scrambling to pull it together in the final few months of the next election.
10. Plan for the long game.
The crisis we’re in right now didn’t happen overnight. Right-wing conservatives have spent the past century slowly plotting to roll back the workers’ rights gains of the 1930s, the civil rights gains of the 1960s, the women’s rights gains of the 1970s, and the LGBT rights gains of the 2000s.
“Black Vote, Black Power,” a collaboration between St. Louis native Keith Boykin and Word In Black, examines the issues and what’s at stake for Black America.
This story originally appeared here.