The Struggle for the Soul of America: It’s Up to Us, the American People

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Lately, it’s become even clearer that it’s up to us, the American People, to save our democracy. If you thought that the Congress or the Democrats or the Supreme Court would save us from Trump’s authoritarianism, think again.

As for the House of Representatives, the Republicans are in complete control. No way they were going to find common ground with the Democrats on anything of import. While I had some hope that Republican “moderates” in the Senate would save us from Trump’s horrendous budget bill, in the end Alaskan Republican Sen. Murkowski, who had hinted at again standing up to Trump, folded and became the crucial 50th vote to support the bill. Once she got what she wanted for Alaskans, which wasn’t all that much[1], Murkowski got on board. To hell with the needs of the rest of the country, including millions of low-income Republicans who will lose their healthcare coverage under this bill.

The Democrats in both chambers, on the other hand, were solid in their opposition to the bill. Still, there was little in the way of real outcry from the Blue Team. While they went through the motions—making Senate Republicans read the entire 887-page bill out loud and forcing votes on numerous amendments, all of which were defeated—to slow the process down somewhat, they did nothing to reduce the terrible impact the bill will have on most Americans. Low-income people who need government assistance, like Medicaid, the most, will be hit the hardest. Black Americans, students and those needing food assistance will also be negatively affected in a big way. Where is the Democrats’ outrage! What are they doing to mobilize all those opposed to Trump’s power grabs? And how are they going to make the Republicans accountable?

As for the Supreme Court, it’s recent ruling in the birthright citizenship case of Trump v. CASA siding with Trump puts all our rights at risk. Michael Waldman, President of the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law, noted that the CASA decision banning nationwide injunctions stripped federal judges of a key power used to stop illegal actions. The Court has handed Trump greater executive power at the expense of all Americans, just as its ruling on presidential immunity did last year.[2]

That means it’s up to us. We, the people, are the only ones who can save our democracy. But what can we do?

The national, grassroots organization, Indivisible, has a plan: One Million Rising, Strategic Non-cooperation to Fight Authoritarianism. One Million Rising is “a national effort to train one million people in the strategic logic and practice of non-cooperation, as well as the basics of community organizing and campaign design.”[3]  The three-part, online training begins on July 16. For more details and to sign up for the training, go to https://www.mobilize.us/nokings/event/803953/?utm_source=email&utm_medium=_20250702link4.

We can stop Trump. But it’ll take all of us — not just on single days of mass action, but through sustained organizing in our communities. I urge you to sign up and get involved. Like never before, our country needs all of us now!

Bruce Berlin, J.D.

A retired, public sector ethics attorney, Berlin is the author of Breaking Big Money’s Grip on America (See breakingbigmoneysgrip.com.), the founder of New Mexicans for Money Out of Politics, a former U.S. Institute of Peace fellow, and the founder and former executive director of The Trinity Forum for International Security and Conflict Resolution. He can be reached at breakingbigmoneysgrip@gmail.com.

Subscribe to this blog at https://breakingbigmoneysgrip.com/my-blog-3/. Join the movement to revive our democracy. Together we can save the soul of America.

[1] https://www.yahoo.com/news/carveouts-alaska-tax-breaks-whalers-210111943.html?fr=yhssrp_catchall; https://www.yahoo.com/news/senate-republicans-sneak-wild-rule-131807906.html

[2] https://www.commondreams.org/opinion/supreme-court-nationwide-injunction

[3] https://www.mobilize.us/nokings/event/803953/?utm_source=email&utm_medium=_20250702link4

The Struggle for the Soul of America: We Will Stop Trump

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Last Saturday’s No Kings protest provided some hope that the American people can, and will, stop Donald Trump’s rush toward authoritarianism. While millions of Americans marching in the streets sent a strong message, that alone will not be enough to deter Trump. More must be done.

Recently, the youth-led Sunrise Movement announced the “End the Oligarchy, Save Our Futures” initiative, which aims to mobilize millions of people against the Trump administration and its backers in the fossil fuel industry.[1] It seeks to make the U.S. environmental and labor movements into a powerful political force.

“We intend to make sure millions of students are ready to join workers in demanding an overhaul of our political and economic system so that it finally works for everyday people,” proclaimed Aru Shiney-Ajay, executive director of the Sunrise Movement.[2] Once again, it’s the people, not the politicians, who are leading the fight.

At the same time, Indivisible Santa Fe is lobbying for a bipartisan Senate caucus to save our democracy. This caucus would work to stop Trump from taking actions that would directly threaten our democracy, such as denying the right of habeas corpus or ignoring Supreme Court rulings and possibly preventing a war with Iran. This caucus could be a very effective antidote to Trump’s unethical and unlawful edicts.

Indivisible members from New Mexico will be meeting with staff from Sen. Ben Ray Lujan’s office on Thursday, June 26, on a number of matters, including the possible formation of a bipartisan Senate caucus to save our democracy. Specifically, we are asking Sen. Lujan to approach Alaskan Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski and suggest they co-chair the caucus together.

The greater the number of New Mexicans who call or email Lujan urging him to support our proposal, the more likely he will agree to forming the caucus and asking Sen. Murkowski to co-chair it with him. So, here’s something you can do right now to help stop Trump. Call (202-224-6621) or write (https://www.lujan.senate.gov/contact/contact-form/) to Ben Ray and urge him to reach out to Sen. Murkowski and ask her to co-chair a bipartisan Senate caucus to Save Our Democracy with him. Once you’ve done that, forward this email to all your friends and colleagues, and ask them to contact Lujan as well.

            Together, we will stop Trump.

Bruce Berlin J.D.

A retired, public sector ethics attorney, Berlin is the author of Breaking Big Money’s Grip on America (See breakingbigmoneysgrip.com.), the founder of New Mexicans for Money Out of Politics, a former U.S. Institute of Peace fellow, and the founder and former executive director of The Trinity Forum for International Security and Conflict Resolution. He can be reached at breakingbigmoneysgrip@gmail.com.

Subscribe to this blog at https://breakingbigmoneysgrip.com/my-blog-3/.

[1] https://www.commondreams.org/news/trump-climate-protest-oligarchy

[2] Ibid.

The Struggle for the Soul of America: Help Save Our Democracy Before It’s Too Late

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The Save Our Democracy Campaign, a project of Indivisible Santa Fe, is calling on New Mexican Sen. Ben Ray Lujan (D) to establish a bipartisan caucus to save our democracy. We are urging him to reach out to Alaskan senator Lisa Murkowski (R) and offer to co-chair this caucus. Indivisible members in Alaska have already approached Sen. Murkowski with this proposal.

President Trump is clearly attempting to destroy America’s democracy and create an autocracy with himself in total control of our country. We must stop him now, before it’s too late. A bipartisan senate caucus would work to prevent this from happening. The more Americans, especially New Mexicans, who lobby Sen. Lujan to join our campaign, the more likely he will get on board. You can help by writing him at https://www.lujan.senate.gov/contact/ with a message like this:

Dear Senator Lujan,

It is quite clear that President Trump is working to destroy American democracy and establish himself as an autocrat in total control of our nation. Indivisible Santa Fe has initiated a Save Our Democracy (SOD) campaign to stop him. I am writing to urge you to join in this effort.

As an independently minded Republican, Sen. Lisa Murkowski has demonstrated her willingness to oppose Pres. Trump’s corrupt, unlawful policies. Many Americans from around the country are calling on her to form a bipartisan caucus to block those policies and save our democracy. Most importantly, this effort is catching on with her Alaskan constituents.

I am writing to urge you to reach out to Sen. Murkowski in support of establishing this caucus and offering to co-chair it with her. The caucus would ideally have an equal number of members from both parties and deal with issues that clearly threaten our democracy, like Pres. Trump’s ignoring Supreme Court rulings or an attempt to suspend the right of habeas corpus.

Time is running out to stop President Trump and his MAGA cohorts from overthrowing our democracy and creating an autocracy. I believe that a bipartisan SOD caucus could be a very effective tool for preventing that from happening. I hope you agree and will move quickly to create this caucus to save our democracy. I guarantee that the vast majority of New Mexicans, as well as Americans across the country, will have your back and want to work with you.

Respectfully yours,

(Your name)

Help Save Our Democracy Now, Before It’s Too Late! Ask your friends, family, and others to contact Sen. Lujan as well.

Bruce Berlin, J.D.

Chair, Save Our Democracy Campaign

The Struggle for the Soul of America: Stop Trump from Destroying Our Democracy

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In an outrageous, blatant display of corruption, President Trump is selling access to the White House. He is using “his office for personal enrichment…selling face time to those who put money into his bank account by purchasing nearly $200 million worth of his branded souvenir crypto coins.”[1]

 In addition, his overreach is totally out of control. Two federal courts have now ruled that Trump does not have the authority to issue “emergency tariffs on imports from around the world…”[2] (However, a federal appeals court has just put a temporary stay on that ruling.[3])

 While this is par for the Trump we’ve come to know too well, some Senate Republicans are finally pushing back. Until recently, practically all Congressional Republicans either have been too afraid of retribution to cross him; or they refuse risking their potentially significant financial gains from his “big, beautiful budget” bill by challenging him.[4]

Even conservative Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) is voicing concerns about changes to Medicaid in Trump’s big budget bill that could lead to millions of people losing coverage. He warned colleagues in an op-ed published in The New York Times this month that cutting health care to pay for tax breaks would be “morally wrong and politically suicidal.”[5] GOP Sens. Susan Collins (Maine), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) and Thom Tillis (N.C.) are objecting to measures in the budget bill as well.[6]

The Santa Fe chapter of the national, grassroots organization Indivisible is leading an effort to harness this nascent Republican backlash against Trump’s unlawful and unethical measures. We have put out a call to Americans across the country to urge Sen. Murkowski to form a bipartisan caucus to save our democracy. Most importantly, this effort is catching on with her Alaskan constituents. See my April 30th post at https://breakingbigmoneysgrip.com/my-blog/ for a copy of the letter to the senator which you are free to copy or use in drafting your own letter.

Perhaps it’s time to broaden the appeal to these other Republican senators who don’t see eye-to-eye with Trump. If you believe your senators, Republican or Democratic, might be willing to help form a bipartisan caucus to save our democracy, write to them as well as to Senator Murkowski. And ask your friends and email connections to do the same.

Here in New Mexico, I’m writing to Sen. Ben Ray Lujan, a young, Hispanic Democrat requesting that he speak to Sen. Murkowski and offer to co-chair this bipartisan caucus to save our democracy with her. The two of them together would broaden the appeal for such an effort. If you live in New Mexico, I urge you to write to him as well. The more senators hear from their constituents that we want them to work together to save our democracy, the more likely they will do just that. Time is running out. We all need to get to work now!

Bruce Berlin J.D.

A retired, public sector ethics attorney, Berlin is the author of Breaking Big Money’s Grip on America (See breakingbigmoneysgrip.com.), the founder of New Mexicans for Money Out of Politics, a former U.S. Institute of Peace fellow, and the founder and former executive director of The Trinity Forum for International Security and Conflict Resolution. He can be reached at breakingbigmoneysgrip@gmail.com.

Subscribe to this blog at https://breakingbigmoneysgrip.com/my-blog-3/.

[1] https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-coin-dinner-corruption_n_682e52bae4b09130a584ec82?origin=top-ad-recirc

[2] https://www.politico.com/news/2025/05/29/second-federal-court-rules-against-trumps-tariffs-00374377

[3] https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-tariffs-back-now-fights-194416188.html?fr=yhssrp_catchall

[4] https://www.commondreams.org/news/big-beautiful-bill

[5] https://www.newsweek.com/senate-republicans-demands-trump-big-bill-2077055

[6] https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5320674-senate-republicans-trump-bill-debate/

The Struggle for the Soul of America: Together We Can Make a Difference

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Everyone I’ve talked to about a national letter writing campaign urging Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski to form a bipartisan caucus to save our democracy has been enthusiastically supportive of the idea. Now, it’s up to all of us to make it a reality.

If we roll up our sleeves and get to work, I envision this bipartisan caucus in the Senate in the next couple of months, maybe even sooner. Our country is spinning out of control. We all know who’s responsible. And the way things are going, we’ve got no time to waste.  

The latest Trump corrupt sleaze has him accepting a $400 million luxury Boing jet from Qatar to be used as Air Force One for as long as he’s president, which according to him, would then be turned over to his presidential library that he plans building after leaving office. In effect, Trump would then get to use it as his private jet.[1]

This is so despicable that even Senate Republicans are opposed to the “gift.” A strong Trump supporter, Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said accepting the plane would pose “significant espionage and surveillance problems.”[2] He’s quite right. All indications strongly suggest Qatar has supported Hamas. The gift is an outright bribe to get Trump to treat Qatar as a friend despite its support of radical and Islamist groups.

Ignoring security issues, Trump questions how the United States can turn down a ‘free’ gift.  He said, “Only a FOOL would not accept this gift on behalf of our Country.”[3] The fool that he is, doesn’t realize, or more likely just doesn’t care, that it’s going to cost American taxpayers millions and millions of dollars to tear the aircraft apart and rebuild it into a fully secure, presidential plane.

By the way, Trump’s accepting the plane without the consent of Congress also violates Article One, Section Nine of the Constitution.[4]

In response to Trump’s outrageous public corruption, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) forcefully opposed the deal: “Nothing says ‘America First’ like Air Force One, brought to you by Qatar. It’s not just bribery, it’s premium foreign influence with extra legroom.”[5] Or, as others have called it, “pure grift.”

It’s the latest evidence of how Trump views his presidency: It’s all about him. The hell with the rest of us and the country. Isn’t it time we take back our country?

Sen. Murkowski is as disgusted as we are with Trump and his attempt to destroy our democracy. I believe that a bipartisan caucus may be our best shot at saving it. Better yet, it could be the opening to rebuilding our country into a true democracy where all American citizens have the right to vote and have their vote counted, everyone pays their fair share, and the rule of law applies to everyone, including the president.

So, I hope you all will join this campaign. If you don’t have them already, the links to my last blog with a model letter, and to the Senator’s website where you can send your letter, are below. Ask all your friends, family and colleagues to get on board as well. Together we can make a difference.

Here’s what to do:

  1. Get an electronic copy of my blog which includes the letter to Sen. Murkowski at https://breakingbigmoneysgrip.com/my-blog/.
  2. Once you have the copy, go to https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/contact/email to email Sen. Murkowski the letter, or your own version of it urging her to form a bipartisan caucus to save our democracy.

It’s that easy.

Bruce Berlin, J.D.

A retired, public sector ethics attorney, Berlin is the author of Breaking Big Money’s Grip on America (See breakingbigmoneysgrip.com.), the founder of New Mexicans for Money Out of Politics, a former U.S. Institute of Peace fellow, and the founder and former executive director of The Trinity Forum for International Security and Conflict Resolution. He can be reached at breakingbigmoneysgrip@gmail.com.

Subscribe to this blog at https://breakingbigmoneysgrip.com/my-blog-3/.

[1] https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-qatar-air-force-one-2ef13d87b71185bde547abe6840b098c

[2] https://www.yahoo.com/news/trumps-critics-supporters-unite-against-223257726.html?fr=yhssrp_catchall

[3] https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/05/14/trump-airplane-deals-boeing-qatar/83625621007/

[4] https://constitution.congress.gov/constitution/article-1/

[5] https://www.firstpost.com/explainers/trump-qatar-jet-gift-air-force-one-ethics-controversy-13887697.html

The Struggle for the Soul of America: Will Sen. Murkowski Help Save Our Democracy?

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President Trump’s first 100 days clearly demonstrate how corrupt, autocratic, and self-serving he and his Republican lackeys are. But there is at least one Republican senator who’s not onboard Trump’s train to infamy.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, the four-term Republican from Alaska, recently admitted that “we are all afraid” of retaliation from President Trump if we, i.e. Republican officials, don’t go along with him. At the same time, the senator said she did not plan to stop speaking out. In fact, she explained that “I have to figure out how I can do my best to help the many who are so anxious and are so afraid.”[1]

I’m thinking we should all help her do just that. If she received a ton of letters from Americans all over the country suggesting how she could support her Republican colleagues who don’t like Trump’s efforts to destroy our democracy but are afraid to cross him. The letter might go something like this:

Dear Sen. Murkowski,

         I want to thank you for speaking out regarding the fear that most everyone, including yourself, is feeling. The fear of retaliation from President Trump for criticizing or opposing him and his administration is widespread. I applaud your courage in refusing to back down in the face of the president’s threats. You have proven to be a true American patriot in your efforts to thwart the president’s autocratic conduct.

         As president, Mr. Trump is violating Americans’ constitutional rights to free speech and assembly as well as our right to due process, among others. If we allow President Trump to continue his attacks on the rule of law and numerous other rights, the United States will soon become an autocratic state where no one will be safe from the president’s wrath.

         Sen. Murkowski, as an independent-minded Republican senator willing to speak your truth, you are in a unique position to help save American democracy. But, it will require other Republicans willing to risk their positions, and perhaps their safety, to overcome the president’s autocratic efforts to destroy our democracy. So, here are a few things I hope you will consider:

  1. Talk to your Republican colleagues in the Senate who feel as you do and urge them to speak out as well.
  2. Meet with senators of both parties who you believe would be willing to work in a bipartisan way to deter President Trump’s authoritarian policies.
  3. Organize a bipartisan caucus of Senate and House members to create a national campaign to save our democracy.

Time is running out to stop President Trump and his MAGA cohorts from overthrowing our democracy and creating an autocracy. I urge you to act quickly and do whatever you can to stop President Trump and save our democracy. I guarantee that the vast majority of Americans will have your back, and many of them will want to work with you.

Respectfully yours,

(Your name)

 Please let me know your response to my proposal and whether you are willing to write to Sen. Murkowski and help build a national letter writing campaign.

Bruce Berlin, J.D.

A retired, public sector ethics attorney, Berlin is a former U.S. Institute of Peace Fellow and the founder and former executive director of The Trinity Forum for International Security and Conflict Resolution. He is also the author of Breaking Big Money’s Grip on America.  (See breakingbigmoneysgrip.com.). Contact him at breakingbigmoneysgrip@gmail.com.

Subscribe to this blog at https://breakingbigmoneysgrip.com/my-blog-3/.

[1] https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/17/us/politics/lisa-murkowski-trump.html?campaign_id=190&emc=edit_ufn_20250419&instance_id=152901&nl=from-the-times&regi_id=72679230&segment_id=196312&user_id=51750e72d4988f5b891f2289251150c2

The Struggle for the Soul of America: Hands Off!

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On Saturday, April 5, a Mass Mobilization all across the country promises to be the biggest protest in US history.[1] Over six hundred events are planned in the US and across the globe.[2] Already, demonstrations are being organized in nine towns in New Mexico, from Taos to Silver City and Santa Fe to Las Cruces. (Plus Albuquerque, Elephant Butte, Gallup, Portales, and Socorro)

In Santa Fe, the Mobilization will begin at noon at the State Capitol.
 
The demonstrations are the latest effort to stop the brazen billionaire power grab by Trump, Musk and their cronies.
 
Its message is clear and strong:
 
Get your Hands Off our government, our economy, and our basic rights: freedom of speech, due process, self-governance, and more.
 
D. Earl Stephens, retired managing editor of the military’s daily newspaper, Stars and Stripes, urged all Americans to join the resistance now before it’s too late:
 
“We are in deep, deep trouble, and now would be a wonderful, necessary time to step in front of your favorite mirror and honestly ask yourself what you are willing to do to fight for our country’s survival… the damage he [Trump] and his party are causing are already at catastrophic levels.
Our air, water, earned benefits, peace, public safety, civil rights, and human rights are all under immediate threat…”[3]
 
What are you willing to do? Will you help spread the word and urge your friends, family, colleagues, even strangers, to get involved and join the Mobilization on April 5?  Put this notice on your Facebook page and send it to everyone you know.

Cut out the small handouts below and pass them out to people you meet on the street or in a store. Spread the word.

Bruce Berlin, J.D.

A retired, public sector ethics attorney, Berlin is a former U.S. Institute of Peace Fellow and the founder and former executive director of The Trinity Forum for International Security and Conflict Resolution. He is also the author of Breaking Big Money’s Grip on America.  (See breakingbigmoneysgrip.com.). Contact him at breakingbigmoneysgrip@gmail.com.  
Subscribe to this blog at https://breakingbigmoneysgrip.com/my-blog-3/.
 [1] https://handsoff2025.com/about[2] https://seattlemedium.com/global-protests-april-5-trump-musk/[3] https://www.counterpunch.org/2025/03/14/time-to-take-a-stand-in-the-streets-the-trump-regime-must-go/

The Struggle for the Soul of America: Democratic Leadership Failing

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What Can We Do?

Last Friday, nine Democratic senators (plus one Independent) voted to avert a filibuster, allowing the passage of a Republican bill to fund the government for six months till the end of the fiscal year. By announcing he would vote to invoke cloture and end debate on the bill, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer gave the other eight Democratic senators cover to follow his lead, preventing a government shutdown.

Schumer claimed, “Under a shutdown, Trump and Elon Musk would have carte blanche to destroy vital government services at a significantly faster rate than they can right now.”[1] Despite his assertion, the great majority of Democratic senators and all but one House Dem supported shutting down the government.

The Dems who opposed the bill and voted to shut down the government believed supporting the bill would give Trump and Musk greater power. “I cannot vote for the Republican plan to give unchecked power to Donald Trump and Elon Musk,” Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) said in a statement.[2]

One could argue that either way, the Republicans would be in a more powerful position, and the Democrats would have little or, more likely, no sway. Still, by providing support for the Republican bill, the Dems appear to be weak and unwilling to fight for the American people.

Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif) noted, “If we pass this continuing resolution for the next half year, we will own what the president does.”[3] That would mean the Dems would have at least some responsibility for the huge funding cuts, the elimination of numerous services, and the firing of thousands of government employees that the Republican bill authorizes.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) slammed Schumer’s caving to the Republicans to avoid a shutdown, calling it a “tremendous mistake” and indicating “there is a wide sense of betrayal.”[4] 

In addition, 91% of Indivisible leaders nationwide voted to call for Schumer to step aside as Senate Minority Leader.[5] And other grassroots activists concluded there is a “crisis of confidence in Chuck Schumer and Democratic leadership.” Another Democratic activist stated, “We need an opposition party, the Democrats are anything but!”[6]

The Democrats clearly don’t have their act together. Not only don’t they have a united strategy to oppose the Trump administration, but they also don’t agree on how forcefully to contest his policies. In addition, they have not offered the American people a positive alternative to Trump’s agenda that addresses the people’s everyday concerns. And, they lack strong leadership that can rally the troops and inspire the American people.

Time is running out before Trump becomes the autocrat he longs to be, and he can no longer be stopped. With the Democrats limping along, there’s only one thing that can still deter him. And that is us, the American people.

We can shut down the economy. We can boycott the giant corporations that support Trump. We can flood Congress with our messages and our bodies. We can elect strong representatives to overturn Trump’s agenda. We can expose Trump as the lying con artist he truly is. We can withdraw our money from the big banks that support Trump. And, much more.

Yes, we, the people, can take back our government from Trump and his billionaire lackeys. But it is going to take all of us. Here are just a few things you can do right now:

1. Join the boycotts and shutdowns and urge your friends and family to join as well.

2. Contact your Democratic senators and urge them to install more aggressive Senate leadership.

3. Contact your House representative and urge him/her to resist Trump’s policies.

4. Flood social media with how corrupt Trump is and how he is destroying our economy.

5. Organize town halls.

6. Write Letters to the Editor.

Join the resistance and help save our country from Trump and his self-serving Republican powermongers.

Bruce Berlin, J.D.

A retired, public sector ethics attorney, Berlin is a former U.S. Institute of Peace Fellow and the founder and former executive director of The Trinity Forum for International Security and Conflict Resolution. He is also the author of Breaking Big Money’s Grip on America.  (See breakingbigmoneysgrip.com.). Contact him at breakingbigmoneysgrip@gmail.com. Subscribe to this blog at https://breakingbigmoneysgrip.com/my-blog-3/

[1] https://www.huffpost.com/entry/shutdown-democrats-trump_n_67d33122e4b022e5d6b350f9?origin=related-recirc

[2] Ibid.

[3] https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/chuck-schumer-vote-advance-gop-funding-bill-democratic-divisions-rcna196306

[4] https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/03/15/aoc-schumer-republican-government-funding-bill/82440167007/

[5] https://indivisible.org/statements/indivisible-calls-schumer-step-aside

[6] https://www.commondreams.org/news/schumer-our-revolution-survey

 

The Struggle for the Soul of America: Time to Reach Out to All Decent Americans

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Actor Robert Di Nero has known former fellow New Yorker Donald Trump for many years. In the fall of 2023, when Trump was preparing to run for president for the third time, Di Nero said that Trump was not a bad man. Rather, he called the twice impeached, convicted felon an “evil man” who has no moral code.[1]

Di Nero warned Americans that our democracy “won’t overcome evil if we are divided.” He proposed a prudent plan to defeat Trump and restore our nation’s democratic traditions. Here’s what he urged all Americans who oppose the current occupant of the White House to do:

We have to reach out to the half of our country who have ignored the hazards of Trump and, for whatever reason, support(ed) elevating him back into the White House. They’re not stupid, and we must not condemn them for making a stupid choice. Our future doesn’t just depend on us. It depends on them.

Let’s reach out to Trump’s followers with respect. Let’s not talk about “democracy.” “Democracy” may be our holy grail, but to others, it is just a word, a concept, and in their embrace of Trump, they’ve already turned their backs on it. Let’s talk about right and wrong. Let’s talk about humanity. Let’s talk about kindness. Security for our world. Safety for our families. Decency. Let’s welcome them back. We won’t get them all, but we can get enough to end the nightmare of Trump,…[2]

Di Nero was advising us to find common ground with our fellow Americans who may have voted for Trump and may not believe in democracy anymore.  But who doesn’t believe in right and wrong or kindness or decency? Who could be against security and safety for their families?

         By aligning our country with Russia’s brutal dictator, Vladimir Putin, Trump has made our country weaker and less safe.

By firing thousands of federal employees, Trump has made many American families and local economies less secure.

By working to tear down the firewall that separates the Justice Department’s law enforcement from presidential influence, Trump is corrupting the government and promoting unlawful, self-serving policies.

Most Americans – Republicans, Democrats, and Independents – want a government that’s fair and just. We must reach out to them and ask them to join us in rebuilding a safe and decent America.  We need to come together to save our country from a corrupt president who only wants what’s good for himself and his billionaire friends.

We deserve a government that serves all the people, not just the very wealthy. It’s up to each of us to do whatever we can to stop Trump and make certain “that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”[3]

Bruce Berlin, J.D.

A retired, public sector ethics attorney, Berlin is a former U.S. Institute of Peace Fellow and the founder and former executive director of The Trinity Forum for International Security and Conflict Resolution. He is also the author of Breaking Big Money’s Grip on America.  (See breakingbigmoneysgrip.com.). Contact him at breakingbigmoneysgrip@gmail.com.

Subscribe to this blog at https://breakingbigmoneysgrip.com/my-blog-3/.

[1] https://newrepublic.com/post/176175/robert-de-niro-trump-isnt-just-bad-guy-hes-evil

[2] Ibid.

[3] https://www.owleyes.org/text/gettysburg-address/read/text-of-lincolns-speech

The Struggle for the Soul of America: We Are the Ones We’ve Been Waiting For

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American democracy is on life support. Trump, Musk and their Republican sycophants are doing everything they can to kill it and remake our country into an autocracy akin to Russia and Hungary. Trump is getting more cozy with Putin and now calls himself “the king.”[1]

In fact, there is newly revealed evidence that Trump has been a Russian asset since 1987. Reporter Craig Unger explains in his new book, American Kompromat, that Yuri Shvets, a former KGB spy confirmed on the record that Russian intelligence had been working Trump for decades. Shvets noted that Trump’s “most important characteristics (were) low intellect coupled with hyperinflated vanity.”[2]

While many Republicans will continue to stand by Trump, this latest revelation may be the tipping point for some GOP members of Congress, as well as many rank-and-file party supporters. They were already nervous about Trump’s siding with Putin over Ukraine’s President Zelensky. He has called Zelensky a dictator and accused him of starting the war with Russia, both of which are outright lies.[3]

Meanwhile, more and more Americans are finally realizing who Trump truly is and what he’s really about. The resistance to Trump’s unprecedented attack on our democracy is building. But it must grow into a massive democracy movement quickly before it’s too late. Nothing is more critical for thwarting Trump’s authoritarian coup than each of us getting involved in this movement now.

Last Monday on Presidents’ Day, an extensive national “Stop the Coup” rally brought a great number of Americans to each of the fifty state capitals to protest Trump’s efforts to wipe out our democracy.[4]

A series of boycotts are now being planned to demonstrate the power of the people and force large corporations and financial institutions to hopefully withdraw their support for Trump and his regime. (See https://www.yahoo.com/news/boycott-dates-upcoming-045900701.html?fr=yhssrp_catchall)

The first boycott, a national “24-hour Economic Blackout” on February 28th, calls for all Americans to buy nothing for 24 hours, except essentials from small, local merchants, if absolutely necessary.[5] This will hit corporations where it hurts the most – in their pocketbooks – and alert them to the power of the people. Longer boycotts of specific corporations will reinforce this message over the next few months.

As the resistance grows, so will the chances our nation’s democracy will prevail. Robert Reich, professor of Public Policy at UC Berkeley and former Secretary of Labor under President Bill Clinton, recently provided 10 reasons for modest hope for beating back Trump’s authoritarian takeover. Among them were such good news as “Musk’s popularity is plunging” and the “federal courts are hitting back.”(See https://robertreich.substack.com/p/ten-reasons-for-optimism?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=365422&post_id=157206451&utm_campaign=email-post title&isFreemail=true&r=2saap&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email)

We, the people have the power to stop Trump’s coup. But it will take all of us.

Join the resistance. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for.

(Note: I will only be publishing my blog occasionally for the next several months so that I can complete my memoir, From Camden to Kathmandu.)

Bruce Berlin, J.D.

A retired, public sector ethics attorney, Berlin is a former U.S. Institute of Peace Fellow and the founder and former executive director of The Trinity Forum for International Security and Conflict Resolution. He is also the author of Breaking Big Money’s Grip on America.  (See breakingbigmoneysgrip.com.). Contact him at breakingbigmoneysgrip@gmail.com.

Subscribe to this blog at https://breakingbigmoneysgrip.com/my-blog-3/.

[1] https://people.com/donald-trump-calls-himself-king-as-white-house-shares-fake-time-cover-11683451

[2] https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/ex-kgb-agent-trump-russian-asset-mueller-putin-kompromat-unger-book.html

[3] https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5158569-trump-zelensky-putin-ukraine-russia/

[4] https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/us-trump-protests-1.7450890

[5] https://www.newsweek.com/nationwide-economic-blackout-planned-boycott-dei-changes-2029548; and https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2025/02/12/national-no-spend-day-economic-blackout-amazon-walmart/78410711007/)