April 2025 has been a month when many new voices have been waking up and openly decrying the serious crisis facing U.S. democracy; and, at the same time we see Black Americans explaining why they are not surprised by the current authoritarian resurgence in the country. In the face of the multiple attacks on our institutions, the administration’s efforts to erase our racial history are uniquely dangerous; as the only way forward for our country is to be able to reckon with our past. While we grapple with the many impacts of federal cuts to programs around the country, you can continue to follow updates from this national mapping effort, and this interview gives an update on how the implementation of Project 2025 has been progressing and what we can expect next.
In April we also saw a surge of resistance and pro-democracy activism: from Cory Booker’s record-breaking 25-hour speech on the Senate floor, “I rise tonight with the intention of disrupting the normal business of the United States Senate for as long as I am physically able… These are not normal times in our nation. And they should not be treated as such in the United States Senate. The threats to the American people and American democracy are grave and urgent and we all must do more to stand against them.” And, the Hands Off! rallies were organized in all 50 states by more than 150 groups including civil rights organizations, labor unions, LBGTQ+ advocates, veterans and elections activists. Teachers and community members in New York are fighting back against illegal ICE detentions; in Ohio others are organizing positive campaigns around who belongs like ‘You Mean the World’. Transgender rights groups are demonstrating what it looks like not to obey in advance; and, universities are developing mutual defense compacts to stand up for academic freedoms.
We continue to be inspired by lessons from democracy defenders from across the globe, especially noting that at this phase of authoritarian breakthrough in the U.S. “early action is crucial.” At the same time, the solidarity networks and relational infrastructure we are building now must be for the long-haul. And there are new tools at our disposal. For example, you can learn more about How AI Can Support Democracy Movements. We were pleased to see the Horizons Project featured in the New Yorker’s article ‘So You Want to Be a Dissident? A practical guide to courage in Trump’s age of fear,’ and Chief Organizer, Maria Stephan’s research named in the recent article, ‘What’s Happening Is Not Normal. America Needs an Uprising That Is Not Normal.’ You may also be interested in The New Republic’s convening on America in Crisis on May 14th, there is an in-person option for those in DC as well as a livestream.
Below you will find additional resources we have been reading, watching and listening to this month:
READING
The rise of end times fascism
by Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor, The Guardian
“How do we break this apocalyptic fever? First, we help each other face the depth of the depravity that has gripped the hard right in all of our countries. To move forward with focus, we must first understand this simple fact: we are up against an ideology that has given up not only on the premise and promise of liberal democracy but on the livability of our shared world – on its beauty, on its people, on our children, on other species. The forces we are up against have made peace with mass death. They are treasonous to this world and its human and non-human inhabitants. Second, we counter their apocalyptic narratives with a far better story about how to survive the hard times ahead without leaving anyone behind. A story capable of draining end times fascism of its gothic power and galvanizing a movement ready to put it all on the line for our collective survival. A story not of end times, but of better times; not of separation and supremacy, but of interdependence and belonging; not of escaping, but staying put and staying faithful to the troubled earthly reality in which we are enmeshed and bound.”
The Faithful Fight: Toolkits for countering authoritarianism
Protect Democracy and the Horizons Project
“Authoritarian movements often use religious and racial identity to divide people in ways that are useful to gaining power…Such efforts run in direct contrast to religious communities which believe that every person has human dignity, that each human person is made in the image and likeness of God. There are many examples of faith leaders speaking truth to power and taking collective action to reject authoritarianism… The Faithful Fight toolkits offer strategies to bring us together, and help us to act.”
The series includes toolkits focused on: organizing and training, strategic advocacy, bridgebuilding, religious freedom, immigration, civil resistance and noncooperation, survival strategies, digital security, and more.
Action Over Dialogue: The Case for Prioritizing Local Civic Engagement
The Trust for Civic Life and the Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins University
“The Trust for Civic Life is committed to exploring who and what cultivates trust, agency, and belonging in the United States.” Their recent survey results show that trust is built locally and that trust-based initiatives are more effective when they center community interests and cohesion and focus on action, not just dialogue. “Simply discussing politics or civic issues is not enough—meaningful action is what builds social trust, agency, and belonging. Through action-based civic efforts, community leaders and their networks report high levels of social trust, agency, and belonging, feeling empowered to solve problems and collaborate on community issues.”
Because We Need Each Other: Conversations on Cancel Culture
by Celia Kutz, Erika Sasson, Kazu Haga and Shilpa Jain, Convergence Magazine
In this four-part series the authors “invite more people into conversations about how we work through tension and conflict in our movements, and to offer viable pathways for recognition, prevention, intervention, and healing. Given the profound political moment we are in—with the unraveling of many democratic rights and freedoms —it feels more important than ever to strengthen the ways in which we come together…” The series includes an initial exploration of the way a group of colleagues came together to discuss this sensitive topic; the contours of what cancel culture is and how it manifests; early warning signs, indicators, and conditions that usually show up before a public shaming or online campaign begins; and the last article “will explore more….on interventions for healing in the final article in this series. Ultimately, as we share in a collective responsibility for suffering, we hope we can also work together to foster growth and healing.”
WATCHING
20 Lessons on Tyranny
by Timothy Snyder / read by John Lithgow, Politics Girl
“Now, more than ever, we need the wisdom of our intellects, the patriotism of our citizens, and the passion and talents of those who still believe in the American experiment.” Timothy Snyder offers 20 lessons on countering modern tyranny: from defending democratic elections and institutions, to becoming active in civic life, practicing courage, building new friendships and putting oneself in unfamiliar spaces. He urges people to stay calm, believe in truth, investigate matters for themselves, and never pre-emptively obey a tyrant.
Jon Stewart & Heather McGhee discuss Anti-DEI Policies and Trump’s Autocracy
The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart
“As the Trump administration’s attacks on diversity initiatives intensify, we’re joined by Heather McGhee, author of ‘The Sum of Us.’ Together, they explore the myths fueling anti-DEI sentiment, examine how the Trump administration weaponizes racial grievance to protect powerful interests, and discuss how a truly inclusive society benefits everyone, not just those historically excluded.”
This Is What a Digital Coup Looks Like
Carole Cadwalladr, TED
“In a searing talk, [investigative journalist Carole Cadwalladr] decries the rise of the ‘broligarchy’ — the powerful tech executives who are using their global digital platforms to amass unprecedented geopolitical power, dismantling democracy and enabling authoritarian control across the world… ‘We are watching the collapse of the international order in real time, and this is just the start.’ Her rallying cry: resist data harvesting and mass surveillance, and support others in a groundswell of digital disobedience. ‘You have more power than you think,’ she says.”
LISTENING TO
Technology, Democracy, and Power: Journalism’s Role in a Time of Crisis
by Justin Hendrix and Ramsha Jahangir, Tech Policy Press
In this series of podcast discussions, the first session “explored the intersection of technology and the current political situation in the US.” It addresses questions about how tech journalists are covering the current situation, why their perspective is crucial, and what questions they are asking. The second session “delved into the global implications of these developments and key lessons from reporting in various political contexts.” It addresses questions about the global narratives arising from changes in US policy and how the rise of a tech oligarch is shaping tech coverage outside the US.
Adrian Röbke on Network Weaving
Making It Massive podcast
Adrian Röbke is “an expert in network weaving, the practice of connecting people, communities, and ideas to build stronger, more collaborative systems.” In this episode they “dive into the heart of network weaving—not as a trend, but as a vital shift from ego-centric networking to eco-centric community building. Adrian shares how unlearning dominant mindsets, embracing indigenous wisdom, and cultivating trust are key to weaving networks that can tackle our most complex challenges. He also announced the launch of the Network Weaver Game, a fun, quick, and interactive way to learn and grow your network weaving skills. This conversation is a call to build nourishing relationships, embrace collective intelligence, and reimagine what’s possible when we work as ecosystems, not silos.”
Trans Liberation in the Face of Fascism
The Fascism Barometer podcast
“In this episode…host Ejeris Dixon welcomes Shelby Chestnut, the Executive Director of the Transgender Law Center (TLC) and the first Native Trans leader to head a national LGBTQ organization. They dive into the current landscape of anti-trans legislation, and how Trans communities are organizing in the face of fascist tactics. Shelby shares how TLC is responding through litigation, safety planning, communications strategy, and sharing resources, while highlighting the strength, resilience, and solidarity at the heart of the fight for Trans liberation. This conversation is both a sobering reality check and a call to collective action.”
Combating the Rise of Extremism
In The Den with Mama Dragons podcast
“Today In the Den, we’re tackling a topic that’s both unsettling and urgent: the rise of extremism, and how it’s targeting our young people across the spectrum of identity. We’ll also talk about solutions; exploring how we can recognize the signs of radicalization along with tools and strategies we can use to counteract these harmful messages and foster empathy, critical thinking, and inclusivity in the next generation.”
Guests include Lydia Bates, from the Southern Poverty Law Center and Dr. Cynthia Miller-Idriss from the School of Public Affairs and the School of Education at American University.
FOR INSPIRATION
The Moments That Shape Our Beliefs
“The New York Times asked celebrities, faith leaders, writers and readers to tell us about a significant time in their religious and spiritual lives. In a divided country, Americans still have one thing in common: They believe. Almost all Americans — 92 percent of adults — say they experience some form of spiritual belief, whether in a god, human souls or spirits, an afterlife, or something “beyond the natural world,” according to a major report published recently by the Pew Research Center. But what does this widespread spirituality actually look like in practice? Experts have tried to answer the question in surveys and studies. By necessity, they have sorted millions of people into fixed identity categories, like Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist, agnostic, atheist and ‘nothing in particular.’ What these labels can sometimes miss, however, is the rich complexity of our inner worlds.”