I've seen a lot in my 60 years in and around politics

It's clear: The sleeping giant of America is up and roaring.

Dear MoveOn member, I've been in and around politics for 60 years. And here's what's clear to me: Donald Trump's grip on power is slipping. Zohran Mamdani took New York City by storm, winning the mayoral race with over 50% of the vote—despite a torrent of corporate money for Andrew Cuomo.1 Mikie Sherrill won New Jersey's governor's race by double digits. Abigail Spanberger swept Virginia by 14 points. Democrats won big in Georgia and Maine and Pennsylvania. All told, voters shifted toward Democrats in 99.8% of counties that held partisan elections.2 And in California, Proposition 50—which will help counteract Trump's effort to steal the 2026 election through gerrymandering in Texas and other red states—passed by a landslide!3 It's clear: The sleeping giant of America is up and roaring. We also saw it on No Kings Day in October, when more than 7 million Americans flooded the streets, unequivocally rejecting Trump's authoritarianism. It was the largest single-day protest in U.S. history, with roughly 2% of the nation's adult population taking part. That's a very big deal because studies throughout history show that it takes just 3.5% of a nation's population engaging in sustained nonviolent resistance to topple even a brutal dictatorship. MoveOn is one of the most effective groups out there when it comes to leading the resistance during dark times—and paving the way for electoral victories in the future. During the first Trump administration, MoveOn was an instrumental leader of the resistance—and played a key role in winning back control of the House of Representatives. Now, as Democrats gain momentum, we need MoveOn more than ever. Can you start a $5 monthly donation right now to help MoveOn seize this momentum, expand its efforts, and stop Trump's authoritarian takeover? Yes, I'll chip in $5 a month. (If you've saved your payment information with ActBlue Express, your donation will go through immediately.) No, I'm sorry, I can't make a monthly donation. And it's not just this week's incredible electoral victories that give me hope. All around us, every day, individuals and institutions are fighting back in ever more powerful ways. Universities are rebelling. Seven of the nine universities that Trump tried to harass into his higher-ed compact––the extortion scheme offering preferential federal funding in exchange for pledging loyalty to his agenda––have rejected the deal, and not a single college has agreed to sign on.4 The free press is starting to stand firm. Virtually every major news outlet in America has refused to sign Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's media loyalty oath that would restrict journalists to reporting only officially approved information.5 Some conservative outlets also said no. Major airports are rejecting Trump's propaganda. Airports across the country—including many of the busiest hubs—have refused to play Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's propaganda video that blames Democrats for the government shutdown.6 I know in my bones, from more than 60 years of experience, that these victories can multiply as we build an increasingly powerful mass movement against Trump's cruel authoritarianism—if we all put in the work. MoveOn is an absolutely essential part of this work. And it's crucial that we turbocharge our efforts right now to keep building momentum. We must stand up to Trump's abuses every single day. And we must also build momentum for more electoral victories. Already, thanks to so many of you and MoveOn's tireless efforts, our movement is growing more powerful every single day. Can you chip in $5 a month to help MoveOn bring even more people into this fight, strengthen our organizing infrastructure, and help stop Trump's authoritarian agenda once and for all? Yes, I'll chip in $5 a month. (If you've saved your payment information with ActBlue Express, your donation will go through immediately.) No, I'm sorry, I can't make a monthly donation. I'm old enough to have witnessed the great sleeping giant of America awaken before. When Senator Joe McCarthy's communist witch hunt destroyed countless careers, the giant roared. McCarthy's national popularity evaporated, and he melted almost as quickly as the Wicked Witch of the West. The giant roared again a decade later, after civil rights marchers getting clobbered by white supremacists were shown on television. Then Congress passed the Civil Rights Act. After tens of thousands of young Americans were killed in the jungles of Vietnam, the giant roared again, finally bringing to an end a deadly, costly, and stupid war. It roared again at Richard Nixon after he was recorded plotting the cover-up of Watergate. He was forced to leave the White House. Speaking of Nixon, the Trump approval rating that I mentioned earlier? It's at a level so low that it has not been seen since Nixon.7 And now, stirred by the energy from the millions of ordinary people rising up against Trump and his cruel and selfish agenda, the American giant has awakened once again. But make no mistake: This is still a very dangerous moment. Our country's democracy is still hanging by a thread, and Trump and his extremist MAGA loyalists will only grow more desperate and lash out, like the bullies that they are. MoveOn is one of the most effective groups out there, and every dollar you give will help them fight back against the Trump administration's attacks, fuel the pro-democracy movement, and equip everyday Americans with the tools to mobilize their communities against authoritarianism. Can you chip in $5 a month? Yes, I'll chip in $5 a month. (If you've saved your payment information with ActBlue Express, your donation will go through immediately.) No, I'm sorry, I can't make a monthly donation. Thanks for all you do. –Robert Reich P.S. As challenging as things seem right now, history has shown us that when we unite and fight—with smarts and determination—we can turn even the darkest tides. I believe that as long as we hold our resolve and refuse to give up on the America we believe in, we will overcome. So, please, if you can, chip in $5 a month. Yes, I'll chip in $5 a month. (If you've saved your payment information with ActBlue Express, your donation will go through immediately.) No, I'm sorry, I can't make a monthly donation. Sources: 1. "New York City Mayoral Election Results," The New York Times, November 7, 2025 https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/11/04/us/elections/results-new-york-city-mayor.html 2. "Seven data-driven lessons from the 2025 elections," Strength In Numbers, November 5, 2025 https://www.gelliottmorris.com/p/seven-data-driven-takeaways-from 3. "California voters OK new congressional lines, boosting Democrats ahead of midterms," NPR, November 4, 2025 https://www.npr.org/2025/11/04/nx-s1-5587742/election-results-california-proposition-50-redistricting 4. "All but 2 Universities Decline a Trump Offer of Preferential Funding," The New York Times, October 20, 2025 https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/20/us/politics/universities-funding-compact.html 5. "Major media outlets, including Hegseth's former employer Fox News, decline to sign new Pentagon reporting rules," Politico, October 14, 2025 https://www.politico.com/news/2025/10/14/fox-news-pentagon-press-restrictions-00608019 6. "Major airports refuse to show DHS Secretary Kristi Noem's video blaming Democrats for the government shutdown," ABC News, October 14, 2025 https://abcnews.go.com/US/major-airports-refuse-show-dhs-secretary-kristi-noems/story?id=126532056 7. "Fact check: Trump's false claims about his poll numbers," CNN, October 31, 2025 https://www.cnn.com/2025/10/31/politics/poll-numbers-trump-fact-check Want to support MoveOn's work? The Democratic Party needs big change. That's why MoveOn is partnering with Run For Something to recruit, train, and support young, progressive, diverse candidates—including MoveOn members—to run for local and state office all across the country. From town council to mayor's offices to state legislatures and more, our partnership will support candidates who are fighting for a living wage, combatting climate change, investing in affordable housing, and so much more. Will you make a monthly donation to elect young, progressive, and diverse candidates across the country? 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