September has been a particularly frenetic month for all of us as the fight for democracy continues to be waged on several fronts. As Nonprofit AF reminds us, Let’s Try to be Nicer to Ourselves and One Another While We Fight Against Fascism. Some helpful resources if you’re trying to keep up with the onslaught: this Trump Action Tracker is documenting all the things the administration is doing and saying that may pose a threat to American democracy; and, this weekly roundup of ‘Democracy in the States’ provides updates on campaigns, policy changes, obstacles and successes for democracy renovation at the state level. This one-page summary from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation provides a helpful timeline for all the upcoming cuts and their impacts as the ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ goes into effect in the coming years. “If you’ve felt overwhelmed, it’s not accidental and you’re certainly not alone” writes Michael Braithwaite in this insightful article on Three Patterns Behind Trump’s Policy Flood: a Narrative Strategist’s Guide to the Agenda Behind the Chaos.
With the murder of Charlie Kirk this month, we’ve seen a flood of analysis from political violence experts; and we’ve also heard many Christian leaders denouncing both the killing and the escalation of violent Christian Nationalist rhetoric, such as this piece by Rev. William Barber III, The Danger of Retribution in God’s Name. In addition, some historians are making linkages between the modern-day calls for “civility” to the creation of the White Civility Councils during the 1960’s civil rights struggles, which “likewise hid ugly actions behind a mask of civility.” Bridging Divides Initiative released a new paper that maps the vast field of community safety and de-escalation approaches to countering political violence, helping to identify gaps and opportunities for better collaboration in the field.
When Jimmy Kimmel was taken off the air for a comment in the aftermath of the Kirk assassination, the widespread outcry around the country was swift; and this article lays out how his reinstatement shows the power of noncooperation. There have been many lesser-known targets who have also been fired or silenced after expressing their views, and as this overview by the ACLU explains, we all need to pay attention to protecting free speech in the face of government retaliation. It can also be helpful to understand the human psychology behind the reasons many continue to stay silent; and on the other hand how we can push current organizing efforts from a Spark to a Sustained Fire.
Insights from around the world continue to resonate, and you may want to check out IDEA’s 2025 Global State of Democracy report that was released this month. Also this academic paper on The Myth of Democratic Resilience is a warning for all democracy organizers to understand what a lasting “U-turn” will actually take after a period of prolonged autocracy. And definitely take a look at the new Democracy Champions Pocket Guide from Keseb with ‘bite-sized’ products covering: (1) Understanding Global Dynamics for Local, National, or Transnational Strategic Planning; (2) Cultivating Pro-democracy Civil Society Coalitions; (3) Navigating and Countering Closing Civic Space; and (4) Reimagining and Innovating for Inclusive Democracy.
Finally, from the Horizons’ team: you can read Chief Organizer Maria Stephan’s article on the Six Superpowers that Faith Communities Bring to Nonviolent Struggle; rewatch the online training offered recently nationally on Harnessing Our Power To End Political Violence and Repression; read our newest case study on Lessons on Broad Based Organizing from the Utah Compromise; enjoy all the resources included in this new compilation of Arts, Culture, and Inclusive Democracy; and finally, you can hear Chief Network Weaver, Julia Roig’s most recent interview “Why Are We So Bad at Working Together?” on the Nonprofit Futures podcast.
📚 READING
Our Discourse on Political Discourse is Broken
by Kana Hammon
“The conversation about healthy political discourse feels icky for so many reasons, many of which are rooted in the disconnection and de-valuing of people in our society by those in power. The purpose should be to truly see others, and to connect, not pontificate. … Through all this, we are told to “agree to disagree,” a mantra that sounds straight out of a white picket fence fantasy in which people of color did not exist. We are encouraged to push for centrist solutions that won’t actually fix systemic problems. We are expected to celebrate bigots with the audacity to speak up, and shame those who call them out. None of this will work because it doesn’t actually address what people are seeking right now…”
How Islands of Coherence in a Sea of Chaos Changes Social Change
by Louise Marra, Laura Calderon de la Barca, Lian Zeitz and John Kania at Collective Change Lab
This meaty article is more of an experience than a simple read. “The big movements of life are made of countless small movements, including ours. What humanity needs now is conscious “systeming” or “eco-systeming” to evolve our future. Not by trying to change the future but changing the energy now that always creates the future. … It is easy for us to continue the patterns of the past. But that doesn’t create new futures. The busy highway many of us travel, is a kind of drug — numbing our power to see the many moments we have to exit it and create a new future possibility. Instead, we keep going on the highway, passing on the same patterns. It might seem like a small thing, but it is so important to realize that at any moment we can pause. We can metabolise or harmonise what is arising in ourselves, our teams, our organisations, our families, our systems. In doing so, we shift that energy and create a new patterning for the future.”
Governing Together
Dark Matter Labs
“Governing Together reimagines governance as something built with and for relationships – an approach that shifts how we understand our place in the world, how we relate to one another, and how we design, decide, and act across divides. … Today’s problems aren’t just technical – they’re deeply social, psychological, cultural, ethical, and relational. Tackling climate transitions, housing shortages, or public health crises requires us to work together across departments, sectors, industries, and communities. But that kind of collaboration doesn’t happen without trust, humility, shared understanding, and the belief that change is both necessary and possible. … It has never been more important to understand what drives our support for – or resistance to – collective action, and to rebuild trust as a critical infrastructure.”
We Pray Freedom
by Liz Theoharis (Editor) and Charon Hribar (Editor)
“Prayer has long sustained movements for social change. Ritual gives shape to our desire for justice, and liturgy lends power to our work. In We Pray Freedom, we learn from organizers and movement builders the songs, stories, and ritual practices that keep them going for the long haul … this book guides readers through a journey of remembering, healing, mourning, action, and celebration. It is a collection of prayers, resources, and stories from the communities in which they arose. And don’t miss the companion website, where you can explore powerful music and additional resources that extend the life of the book.”
📺 WATCHING
You Can Ramp It Up or Ramp It Down
The Focus Group Podcast
“The murder of Charlie Kirk was the culmination of Americans’ long-brewing fear of political violence. First, political violence expert Rachel Kleinfeld joins Sarah Longwell to discuss the ramifications of Kirk’s death on the American body politic, and then Sarah discusses voters’ fears of political violence that [they’ve] heard through the years.”
2025 Report for the ABA Task Force for American Democracy
PBS Newshour
“A task force from the American Bar Association is urging attorneys to defend democracy against authoritarianism in the country by getting involved in election efforts.” You can hear more about the substance of the newly released ABA report in this recent segment from PBS Newshour where Amna Nawaz discusses the task force’s work with its co-chairs, Jeh Johnson, former Homeland Security Secretary under President Obama, and J. Michael Luttig, a former appeals court judge and a leading conservative legal voice. You can read the full report here.
(En)Gendering Authoritarianism launch event
Othering & Belonging Institute and Over Zero
You can rewatch the recording of the launch of (En)Gendering Authoritarianism: A Six-Strategy Framework Examining How Political and Cultural Leaders Weaponize Gender in Ways that Advance Authoritarianism. “This report explores how political and cultural leaders weaponize gender to advance authoritarianism. It illustrates that attacks on women’s rights, feminism, and LGBTQ communities are neither random nor organic, but part of a larger strategy to manufacture division, distract from policy failures and corruption, and create a permission structure for power consolidation and violence.”
Crackdown: Deported Under Trump – Fault Lines Documentary
Al Jazeera English
“President Donald Trump’s return to the White House has unleashed one of the most sweeping immigration crackdowns in modern United States history. Critics say the administration’s tactics violate due process and stretch the limits of US law. Fault Lines investigates the case of Venezuelan asylum seeker Franco Caraballo, who was accused without evidence of gang ties and, under a wartime law, transferred to a notorious prison in El Salvador. Carmen Herrera, a mother of six who has lived most of her life in the US, was among the 180,000 people deported in the first seven months of Trump’s presidency. In May, she was arrested at her immigration hearing despite having multiple avenues to legal status. Across the country, immigrants are being detained in courts, workplaces, and during routine check-ins. Fault Lines exposes how a campaign billed as targeting “the worst of the worst” is tearing families apart and spreading fear in immigrant communities.”
🎧 LISTENING TO
Preventing violent extremism: What a public health approach looks like
Minnesota Public Radio
“A team of researchers at American University has shifted their approach to look at domestic extremism as a public health problem. The researchers work with the Polarization and Extremism Research and Innovation Lab, or PERIL. Minnesota is no stranger to these types of incidents, with the shooting of two lawmakers and their spouses in June and the recent mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church and School. Hala Furst, PERIL’s director of strategic partnerships and Rabbi Seth Limmer, director of public affairs, join MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about their work.”
What Time Is It on the Clock of Fascism?
The Fascism Barometer podcast
“In part one of this wide-ranging two-part episode, Ejeris Dixon welcomes Tarso Ramos … a seasoned researcher of fascist, authoritarian, and supremacist movements. He draws chilling parallels between past regimes and today’s U.S. political landscape, breaking down the accelerating pace of authoritarian consolidation and the critical 12–18 month window to resist it. In the second half of this vital conversation, [they] go beyond diagnosing the rise of fascism—they map out what we must do to resist it. From learning lessons of South Africa’s Freedom Charter and United Democratic Front to organizing a “bigger we” capable of defeating fascism and authoritarianism, Ramos shares both cautionary tales and hopeful strategies.”
Investing in Freedom: How Democracy Shapes Long-Term Value
Future of Finance podcast
“In this episode, Georges Dyer hosts a powerful conversation with Philippe Bolopion (Managing Director at TOBAM) and Lauren Kaplan (Director of Governance and Risk Integration at Third Side Strategies) on why investors must pay attention to political risk and threats to democracy. They explore the global trend of democratic backsliding, the clear links between democracy and economic growth, and how exposure to autocratic regimes creates long-term risks for investors. Philippe shares TOBAM’s “Liberty” strategy, designed to reduce exposure to autocratic countries, while Lauren highlights how investors and companies can strengthen governance practices and mitigate systemic risks through better oversight, due diligence, and corporate political responsibility.”
⏸️ PAUSE FOR POETRY
All These People
by Pádraig Ó Tuama
Poet Pádraig Ó Tuama reflects on the anniversary of 9/11 this month, the murder of Charlie Kirk and lessons from the historic peace agreement in Ireland, “Our Peace Agreement’s lasting legacy is that it recognises that peace is not built on agreement, but rather on a way of living—democratically, amidst deep divisions—with profound disagreements. It proposes parity of esteem between ideologically opposed political viewpoints, provided those viewpoints do not propose or condone threat to any community or persons.” And then he asks his reader to reflect on this poem by Michael Longley:
All of These People
Who was it who suggested that the opposite of war
Is not so much peace as civilisation? He knew
Our assassinated Catholic greengrocer who died
At Christmas in the arms of our Methodist minister,
And our ice-cream man whose continuing requiem
Is the twenty-one flavours children have by heart.
Our cobbler mends shoes for everybody; our butcher
Blends into his best sausages leeks, garlic, honey;
Our cornershop sells everything from bread to kindling.
Who can bring peace to people who are not civilised?
All of these people, alive or dead, are civilised.