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The Nexus of PrivacyHere's a few specific questions I have ... very interested in hearing people's thoughts! If you'd prefer to respond anonymously, <a href="https://cryptpad.fr/form/#/2/form/view/d9Ag8SlOHFrBLdVG9+M00bAilHuQLjqQL27OdmuVD-s/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">here's a CryptPad form</a> (it takes a few seconds to load, so don't panic; and it's kind of long, but all the questions are optional).<ul><li>What examples have you seen of successfully leveraging social networks for organizing and mutual aid? (It's fine to include examples from centralized commercial social networks as well as alternative and/or decentralized social networks) </li><li>How could social networks better support organizing and mutual aid?</li><li>What do you see as the most promising and/or urgent short-term opportunities?</li><li>Are there relevant studies, articles, papers, books, videos, and/or podcasts?</li></ul>And if you'd like to get involved, you can leave your contact info in the form and we'll follow up with you once there are some concrete next steps in place. (Although you're also welcome to fill out the form anonymously!)<a href="https://infosec.exchange/tags/organizing" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#organizing</a> <a href="https://infosec.exchange/tags/fediverse" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#fediverse</a> <a href="https://infosec.exchange/tags/ATmosphere" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#ATmosphere</a>

The Nexus of PrivacyMore notes on Organizing, Mutual Aid, and Activism on decentralized social networks <a href="https://privacy.thenexus.today/more-notes-on-organizing/" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank">https://privacy.thenexus.today/more-notes-on-organizing/</a> This was originally going to be a <a href="https://infosec.exchange/tags/FediForum" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#FediForum</a> session ... oh well. But why let the FediForum organizers' screwups sabotage a worthwhile conversation? We decided to go ahead with the discussion anyhow. Here's the notes.Feedback welcome! There are some specific questions in the reply, or here's <a href="https://cryptpad.fr/form/#/2/form/view/d9Ag8SlOHFrBLdVG9+M00bAilHuQLjqQL27OdmuVD-s/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">a CryptPad form</a> if you'd rather give feedback anonymously, but I'm also interested in reactions to topics we discussed in the meeting -- and thoughts in general!<a href="https://infosec.exchange/tags/organizing" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#organizing</a> <a href="https://infosec.exchange/tags/fediverse" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#fediverse</a> <a href="https://infosec.exchange/tags/ATmosphere" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#ATmosphere</a>

frank :anarchy_bi: (he / they)i'm thinking maybe something like <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/EATBRUNcH" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#EATBRUNcH</a> ?Everyday Acts To Be Ready for Uncertainty Now and on the Horizonin combination with <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/30DaysOfReadiness" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#30DaysOfReadiness</a> ?<a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/tariffs" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#tariffs</a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/tariff" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#tariff</a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/TradeWar" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#TradeWar</a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Trump" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#Trump</a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/readiness" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#readiness</a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/preparedness" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#preparedness</a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/economy" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#economy</a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/US" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#US</a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/recession" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#recession</a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/degrowth" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#degrowth</a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/solarpunk" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#solarpunk</a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/ClimateCrisis" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#ClimateCrisis</a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/immigration" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#immigration</a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Musk" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#Musk</a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/DOGE" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#DOGE</a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/TeslaTakedown" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#TeslaTakedown</a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/activism" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#activism</a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/organizing" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#organizing</a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/community" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#community</a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/CommunityOrganizing" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#CommunityOrganizing</a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/COVID" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#COVID</a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/COVID19" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#COVID19</a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/resistance" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#resistance</a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/resist" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#resist</a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/AntiFa" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#AntiFa</a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/protest" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#protest</a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/prefigurativePolitics" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#prefigurativePolitics</a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/socialism" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#socialism</a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/capitalism" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#capitalism</a>

frank :anarchy_bi: (he / they)in light of the recent tariff announcements and the economic impact it's going to have on,,,, literally all of us, how about we kick off a little <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/30DaysOfReadiness" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#30DaysOfReadiness</a> series where we share ('share' not as in 'posting' but rather 'freely exchanging a resource we have—like knowledge—that someone else might not') a tip a day about ways to prepare for the changes we're inevitably going to encounter in the coming weeks, months, and years?<a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/tariffs" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#tariffs</a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/tariff" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#tariff</a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/TradeWar" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#TradeWar</a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Trump" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#Trump</a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/readiness" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#readiness</a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/preparedness" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#preparedness</a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/economy" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#economy</a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/US" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#US</a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/recession" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#recession</a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/degrowth" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#degrowth</a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/solarpunk" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#solarpunk</a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/ClimateCrisis" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#ClimateCrisis</a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/immigration" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#immigration</a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Musk" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#Musk</a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/DOGE" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#DOGE</a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/TeslaTakedown" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#TeslaTakedown</a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/activism" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#activism</a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/organizing" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#organizing</a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/community" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#community</a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/CommunityOrganizing" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#CommunityOrganizing</a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/COVID" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#COVID</a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/COVID19" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#COVID19</a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/resistance" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#resistance</a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/resist" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#resist</a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/AntiFa" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#AntiFa</a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/protest" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#protest</a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/prefigurativePolitics" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#prefigurativePolitics</a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/socialism" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#socialism</a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/capitalism" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#capitalism</a>

MineEyesDazzleUS Politics | Local protest

Steve Dustcircle 🌹Survival of the <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/Organized" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#Organized</a>: Critical Reflections on <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/Organizing" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#Organizing</a> and <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/MutualAid" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#MutualAid</a> <a href="https://itsgoingdown.org/survival-of-the-organized-critical-reflections-on-organizing-and-mutual-aid/" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank">https://itsgoingdown.org/survival-of-the-organized-critical-reflections-on-organizing-and-mutual-aid/</a>

René Merced :vm: 🇵🇷West Virginia Mine Wars Museum:Camp Solidarity 2025 – Don’t Miss Out!With early bird pricing available until April 30, there’s no better time to secure your place at our three-day conference on labor history and organizing. Save $50 on Standard admission and be part of a dynamic community of labor champions.Register here: wvminewars.org/campsolidarity2025<a href="https://mas.to/tags/WestVirginia" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#WestVirginia</a> <a href="https://mas.to/tags/labor" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#labor</a> <a href="https://mas.to/tags/history" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#history</a> <a href="https://mas.to/tags/organizing" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#organizing</a>

René Merced :vm: 🇵🇷Harford County Democratic Central Committee will be at it again in Bel Air on April 5! Learn more and sign up here:<a href="https://mobilize.us/s/dJ6SCa" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank">https://mobilize.us/s/dJ6SCa</a> <a href="https://mas.to/tags/Maryland" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#Maryland</a> <a href="https://mas.to/tags/HarfordCounty" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#HarfordCounty</a> <a href="https://mas.to/tags/protest" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#protest</a> <a href="https://mas.to/tags/organizing" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#organizing</a> <a href="https://mas.to/tags/AndyHarris" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#AndyHarris</a> <a href="https://mas.to/tags/BelAir" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#BelAir</a> <a href="https://mas.to/tags/DOGE" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#DOGE</a> <a href="https://mas.to/tags/Medicaid" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#Medicaid</a> <a href="https://mas.to/tags/Medicare" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#Medicare</a>

Alexandradal👀 Things are happening in Serbia, people mobilizing and organizing to resist a corrupt authoritarian government. No leaders, cooperation, solidarity, respect for differences. One student explains (very well and in excellent English) how they're doing. The most interesting and HOPEFUL thing I've watched all week.<a href="https://youtu.be/ENPIkFRJ4Ss?feature=shared" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/ENPIkFRJ4Ss?feature=shared</a><a href="https://mas.to/tags/Serbia" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#Serbia</a> <a href="https://mas.to/tags/authoritarianism" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#authoritarianism</a> <a href="https://mas.to/tags/organizing" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#organizing</a> <a href="https://mas.to/tags/demonstrations" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#demonstrations</a> <a href="https://mas.to/tags/Politics" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#Politics</a> <a href="https://mas.to/tags/PoliticNews" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#PoliticNews</a> <a href="https://mas.to/tags/UE" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#UE</a> <a href="https://mas.to/tags/EU" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#EU</a> <a href="https://mas.to/tags/Europe" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#Europe</a> <a href="https://mas.to/tags/resistance" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#resistance</a>

Darren Nevares :vm:The disparity of progressive <a href="https://mas.to/tags/organizing" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#organizing</a> jobs is such a different outlook compared to conservative organizing jobs because there aren't too many <a href="https://mas.to/tags/organizers" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#organizers</a>, in terms of numbers, on the national scale that can compete with organizations like <a href="https://mas.to/tags/TPUSA" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#TPUSA</a> who have high school and college organizers usually year round. The Center for American Progress came out with a study showing the investment of <a href="https://mas.to/tags/progressive" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#progressive</a> versus <a href="https://mas.to/tags/conservative" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#conservative</a> student organizers in 2012

Charlie McHenry2/ 🧵What is needed in these times is more <a href="https://connectop.us/tags/Radicals" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#Radicals</a> - As the late Saul Alinsky said: “The Radical believes that all peoples should have a high standard of food, housing, and health … The Radical places human rights far above property rights. He is for universal, free public education and recognizes this as fundamental to the democratic way of life … The Radical believes completely in real equality of opportunity for all peoples regardless of race, color, or creed. He insists on full employment for economic security but is just as insistent that man's work should not only provide economic security but also be such as to satisfy the creative desires within all men.” For those looking to begin their resistance, this book is a great place to start 💯. <a href="https://connectop.us/tags/resistance" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#resistance</a> <a href="https://connectop.us/tags/USPol" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#USPol</a> <a href="https://connectop.us/tags/politics" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#politics</a> <a href="https://connectop.us/tags/organizing" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#organizing</a> <a href="https://connectop.us/tags/books" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#books</a> <a href="https://connectop.us/tags/coup" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#coup</a> <a href="https://connectop.us/tags/AmericanCoup" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#AmericanCoup</a>

J. Ellsworth𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗽𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗱, 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗹𝗱—𝙗𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙣𝙚𝙬.Independent media. Community schools. Worker co-ops. Public banks. Mutual aid networks. Tech commons.These aren’t utopian dreams—𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺’𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘭𝘶𝘦𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧-𝘨𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦.<a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/CommunityPower" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#CommunityPower</a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/Cooperatives" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#Cooperatives</a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/MutualAid" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#MutualAid</a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/IndependentMedia" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#IndependentMedia</a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/SolidarityEconomy" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#SolidarityEconomy</a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/Organizing" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#Organizing</a>

J. EllsworthSuccessful movements don’t depend on heroes. They build systems that outlast any one person. That’s how you create real change—not just moments, but movements. <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/Organizing" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#Organizing</a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/Leadership" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#Leadership</a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/MovementBuilding" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#MovementBuilding</a>

Matt NoyesGetting excited about this: <a href="https://www.labornotes.org/events/2025/secrets-successful-organizer-colorado-springs-co" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank">https://www.labornotes.org/events/2025/secrets-successful-organizer-colorado-springs-co</a><a href="https://social.coop/tags/Labor_Notes" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#Labor_Notes</a> <a href="https://social.coop/tags/Organizing" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#Organizing</a>

Todd ChretienThe method to Trump’s Medicaid Cut MadnessMaine unions are speaking up for their members and their communities in the face of Trump’s attacks. Just this week <a href="https://maineaflcio.org/news/postal-workers-community-supporters-rally-against-usps-privatization-bangor" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">postal workers organized</a> multiple protests in Bangor and Portland, <a href="https://www.pressherald.com/2025/03/19/portland-teachers-parents-join-national-protests-against-trumps-cuts-to-education/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">teachers rallied</a> at Deering High School and Rowe Elementary for full funding of public education, <a href="https://mainebeacon.com/mainers-speak-out-against-federal-cuts-threatening-jobs-healthcare-and-fisheries/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">federal workers spoke out</a> against mass firings in Brewer, Social Security workers denounced layoffs that could paralyze the system, and <a href="https://maineaflcio.org/news/maine-nurses-protest-proposed-mainecare-cubcare-cuts-sen-collins-office" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">nurses marched</a> on Sen. Susan Collins office, calling on Mainers to defend Medicaid. After two months of MAGA blitzkrieg, it’s encouraging to see Maine labor taking to the streets. We’ll need to raise our organizing efforts another order of magnitude to begin to limit the damage Trump and Musk are inflicting on public education, health care, federal workers, and workers in general. But this was the first week where it felt like there were two sides to this fight and marked a stark contrast with the pathetic spectacle of 3 out of 4 (Golden, King, and Collins) of Maine’s congressional delegation <a href="https://pineandroses.org/opinion/jared-golden-leads-schumer-follows-trump-wins/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">voting for Trump’s budget</a> the week before. As unions ramp up the fight, it’s worth thinking through what Trump hopes to achieve in the coming year and what drives him. First, there’s his obvious thirst for revenge against enemies, real and imagined. It would be a mistake to underestimate his uniquely self-centered vision of politics. This means there is not always a larger objective at play. He might well strip Maine of tens of millions of public education money just because he’s enraged that Gov. <a href="https://pineandroses.org/opinion/well-need-popular-resistance-to-defend-trans-rights-in-maine/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Mills had the gall</a> to stand up to him in public. Even if that were to ruin Laura Libby’s run for the Blaine House. [Read next: <a href="https://pineandroses.org/opinion/well-need-popular-resistance-to-defend-trans-rights-in-maine/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">We’ll need popular resistance to defend trans rights in Maine</a>]Second, Trump’s journey from apolitical playboy to <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/steve-bannon-attacks-far-right-leader-after-nazi-salute-accusation-2034798" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">MAGA fascist</a> began when he realized his path to power passed through the right-wing evangelical church and white nationalist movements. Now that he has united and empowered these forces for his own gain, he must feed the monster. Trump’s campaign against immigrant workers will disrupt tourism, construction and agriculture in Maine and most likely lead to higher inflation, but he will reap political power from the fear it instills. Third, what is Trump’s economic game plan? This is a big question, including tariffs, foreign investment, AI, and a lot more. But I will focus on just one part of it here: the federal budget and taxation. Trump wants to extend tax cuts for corporations and the richest 1 percent. Trump’s <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/andrewleahey/2025/03/17/trump-tax-cuts-explained-what-provisions-of-the-tcja-expire-in-2025/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">2017 tax cuts</a> reduced corporate taxes from 35 to 21 percent and cut individual income taxes on the wealthiest from 39.6 to 37 percent. Those cuts cost the government approximately $2 trillion in revenue between 2018 and 2025. Extending the cuts to 2034 will <a href="https://www.cbpp.org/research/federal-budget/house-republican-budgets-45-trillion-tax-cut-doubles-down-on-costly" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">cost another $4 trillion in revenue</a>. The 2017 tax cuts (and COVID spending) ballooned the deficit, and this cannot be done again without threatening the value of the dollar as the global reserve currency—the secret power to the American financial system. So, this time around, Trump has to slash the federal budget in order to pay for his tax cuts. When the infamous gangster Sonnie Hutton was asked why he robbed banks, he replied, “Because that’s where the money is.” Where will Trump find $500 billion per year to hand over to his rich pals in the<a href="https://www.cbpp.org/research/federal-budget/where-do-our-federal-tax-dollars-go" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"> federal budget</a>?Not all parts of the budget are equally vulnerable, nor equally lucrative. Take Trump’s decree abolishing the Department of Education. Firing the few thousand federal education workers might save about $250 million. That’s not even a rounding error in the $6.9 trillion federal budget. In fact, if Trump succeeds in firing, let’s say, 20 percent of the roughly 3 million current federal employees, that would save approximately $60 billion per year. That sounds like a lot of money, but it’s just 8 percent of the Pentagon budget. Eliminating the Department of Education, USAID—he can cross that off his list—and the FBI would free up about $100 billion. Eliminating bigger targets like the Departments of Transportation and Agriculture would cut around $300 billion from the budget, but there’s virtually no chance Trump will cut what are effectively huge subsidies to Big Ag and the auto industry. That leaves the big ticket items like paying the interest on the national debt ($892 billion), the Department of Defense ($872 billion… and rising), and veterans benefits and federal pensions ($500 billion). Trump either can’t, or won’t want to, strip significant funds from these pools. [Read Next: <a href="https://pineandroses.org/opinion/www-pineandroses-org/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Tax the rich, it’s a decent start</a>]What does that leave? Social Security accounts for 21 percent of the federal budget ($1.5 trillion) and Medicare is about 15 percent ($912 billion). Trump has promised—promised!—not to touch those popular programs, even if his billionaire Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnik might well be more<a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/retirement/billionaire-commerce-secretary-says-seniors-wouldnt-mind-missing-social-security-checks/ar-AA1Bq7vH?ocid=BingNewsSerp" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"> eager to pick seniors’ pockets</a>. It would be foolish to pretend Trump won’t eventually try to cut these programs, but he’s most likely to look for an easier target. Which brings us to Medicaid and the associated Children’s Health Insurance Program, which account for about 8 percent ($626 billion) of the federal budget. Medicaid disproportionately serves economically vulnerable portions of the working class, providing subsidized prenatal care, medications, nursing homes and elder care, and serving as a critical safety net for people with disabilities. At the same time, Medicaid reimbursements to hospitals and health care facilities deliver much needed resources to every county in the country. Without Medicaid, rural health care will suffer quickly and drastically. The<a href="https://www.wabi.tv/2025/03/13/northern-light-inland-hospital-waterville-closing/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"> closure of Northern Lights hospital</a> in Waterville is a canary in a coal mine. Cutting Medicaid by 25 or 50 percent would devastate health care in Maine. Be that as it may, $626 billion must look awfully tempting to Trump.At the rally to defend Medicaid organized by the Maine State Nurses Association last week, Julianna Hansen, an RN in the neurosurgical and trauma unit at Maine Med asked, “<a href="https://www.nationalnursesunited.org/press/portland-nurses-to-protest-proposed-cuts-to-mainecare-and-cubcare" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Our seniors, those with disabilities, and our young people</a> are the ones who would most be hurt by cuts to MaineCare [Medicaid in Maine] and CubCare. How can Sen. Collins and our elected representatives even consider taking away this life-saving care?”It’s a good question. Sonnie Hutton had an answer. Unfortunately, we know what Trump’s will be. If we want a different one from Sen. Collins—or whoever replaces her in 2026—we’ll have to build on what we did this week in the months and years to come.[Read next: <a href="https://pineandroses.org/opinion/jared-golden-leads-schumer-follows-trump-wins/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Jared Golden leads, Schumer follows, Trumps wins</a>]<a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://pineandroses.org/tag/labor/" target="_blank">#Labor</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://pineandroses.org/tag/life-in-maine/" target="_blank">#LifeInMaine</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://pineandroses.org/tag/organizing/" target="_blank">#organizing</a>

Paul Houle✊ We Can Organize Amazon, but Only If We Understand It<a href="https://jacobin.com/2025/03/amazon-organizing-disruption-union-strategy/" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank">https://jacobin.com/2025/03/amazon-organizing-disruption-union-strategy/</a><a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/amazon" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#amazon</a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/business" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#business</a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/labour" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#labour</a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/union" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#union</a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/activism" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#activism</a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/organizing" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#organizing</a>

MineEyesDazzleTX Politics

Operation Resuscitation: DemocracyStarts in 45 minutes! <a class="hashtag" href="https://bsky.app/search?q=%23training" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#training</a> <a class="hashtag" href="https://bsky.app/search?q=%23resist" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#resist</a> <a class="hashtag" href="https://bsky.app/search?q=%23democracy" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#democracy</a> <a class="hashtag" href="https://bsky.app/search?q=%23organizing" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#organizing</a> <a href="https://www.mobilize.us/surj/event/759508/?utm_source=20250317_nod_319webtxt_text" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.mobilize.us/surj/event/7...</a>

A.Stringer"In fact, <a href="https://mstdn.social/tags/popularresistance" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#popularresistance</a> in <a href="https://mstdn.social/tags/Trump" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#Trump</a>’s first term accomplished more than many observers realize; it’s just that most wins happened outside the spotlight. In my view, the most visible tactics – <a href="https://mstdn.social/tags/petitions" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#petitions</a>, hashtags, occasional <a href="https://mstdn.social/tags/marches" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#marches</a> in Washington – had less impact than the quieter work of <a href="https://mstdn.social/tags/organizing" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#organizing</a> in communities and workplaces.<a href="https://mstdn.social/tags/activism" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#activism</a> <a href="https://mstdn.social/tags/localactivism" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#localactivism</a> <a href="https://mstdn.social/tags/progressivemovements" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#progressivemovements</a>Social movements constrained Trump in his first term – more than people realize <a href="https://theconversation.com/social-movements-constrained-trump-in-his-first-term-more-than-people-realize-248843" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank">https://theconversation.com/social-movements-constrained-trump-in-his-first-term-more-than-people-realize-248843</a>

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