We are sliding faster into a dictatorship than I ever thought possible

Despite the decades of research I've done on governments and economic systems, it's hard for me to find the words to describe what is happening in America right now.

Dear MoveOn member, Despite the decades of research I've done on governments and economic systems, it's hard for me to find the words to describe what is happening in America right now. We no longer have a left that wants more social services and government supports and a right that wants smaller government and more business control. Instead, we have Donald Trump, who wants sole control over both business and government. I don't know the proper term for this. State capitalism? Fascist capitalism? Whatever it is, it is proving a grave risk to the 2026 midterm elections. Trump ordered Texas Governor Greg Abbott to find five additional Republican congressional seats by gerrymandering the state even more wildly than it was already gerrymandered, and Gov. Abbott has now signed those maps into law. Now he is putting pressure on other red states to do the same. The only solution to defending our elections—and a free democracy—is to organize a counteroffensive, now. MoveOn has the data and the plan to reach, train, support, organize, and communicate in the most necessary districts at a scale that is unparalleled in the progressive movement. It won't be easy, but for the sake of our country's future, it must happen. Time is of the essence. Will you join me in supporting MoveOn's work to stop Trump's takeover of Congress with a monthly $5 donation? 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. The gerrymandered takeover of the House is just one part of Trump's plot to steal the midterms in 2026. He's attacking mail-in ballots. Asked about his effort to end mail-in voting and rid the election process of voting machines, Trump told reporters, "We're going to start with an executive order that's being written right now by the best lawyers in the country to end mail-in ballots because they're corrupt."1 Rubbish. He wants to end mail-in ballots because they give people more flexibility and options to express their preference—and the more people who vote, the less chance Trump has for his unpopular policies to win at the ballot box. And the third part of his plan is perhaps the most horrifying: occupy major cities, mostly led by Democratic mayors, which are centers of Democratic voting. He probably figures that militarizing these cities will intimidate voters into staying away from the polls. He's doing a trial run now in his occupation of Washington, D.C.—deploying ICE agents, National Guard troops, and the Army. He has targeted Chicago next. Meanwhile, he is trying to control the economy by removing Federal Reserve Board Governor Lisa Cook from her position.2 He's imposing his will on key industries, from semiconductors to steel. He converted nearly $11 billion of grants that the government had given Intel (part of the Biden administration's CHIPS and Science Act) into a 10% stake in the company, giving control to Trump.3 His White House has even created a scorecard that rates American corporations on how loyal they are to him.4 This kind of control is unprecedented. And if allowed to continue unfettered, it will be impossible to rein in. We do not have time to wait. Will you donate $5 a month to MoveOn? 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. However, there is good news: Trump is giving us the path to defeat him. His arbitrary and mercurial decisions are making the private sector nervous about investing in the U.S. economy, causing global lenders to demand a higher risk premium for lending to the U.S. and pushing the economy toward both inflation and recession—so-called "stagflation." That pain is reaching the people. Moreover, the more people who hear about the impact of Trump's budget bill passed in July, the more they don't like it. It's incredibly unpopular, with only one-third of the public approving of the vast cuts to Medicaid and other programs.5 And the majority of people are against Trump's military urban takeovers.6 We have to mobilize that dissent into action. That's why MoveOn's work right now is critical—they are informing people in the most flippable districts about the impacts of Trump's policies and are organizing thousands of people to push back. Please, chip in $5 a month to help MoveOn make good trouble by ensuring that Trump's plot is widely known and that we will continue to resist it. 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 Sources: 1. "Trump wants to stop states from voting by mail and using voting machines," NPR, August 19, 2025 https://www.npr.org/2025/08/18/nx-s1-5506210/trump-mail-in-ballots-ban 2. "Trump tells Fed's Lisa Cook she's fired; she says 'he has no authority to do so,'" CNBC, August 26, 2025 https://www.cnbc.com/2025/08/25/trump-fires-lisa-cook-fed-powell.html 3. "U.S. government takes 10% stake in Intel, as Trump expands control over private sector," CNBC, August 25, 2025 https://www.cnbc.com/2025/08/22/intel-goverment-equity-stake.html 4. "Scoop: White House loyalty rating for companies," Axios, August 15, 2025 https://www.axios.com/2025/08/15/white-house-rating-big-beautiful-bill 5. "Trump's Tariffs and 'One Big Beautiful Bill' Face More Opposition Than Support as His Job Rating Slips," Pew Research Center, August 14, 2025 https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2025/08/14/trumps-tariffs-and-one-big-beautiful-bill-face-more-opposition-than-support-as-his-job-rating-slips/ 6. "Voters split on Trump's DC police takeover, National Guard deployment, new poll," USA Today, August 20, 2025 https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/08/20/trump-takeover-national-guard-washington-dc-voters-split/85739056007/ 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? If you've saved your payment information with ActBlue Express, your donation will go through immediately: Donate: $5 monthly Donate: $15 monthly Donate: $50 monthly Donate another amount monthly Or make a one-time gift PAID FOR BY MOVEON POLITICAL ACTION, https://pol.moveon.org/. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. MoveOn Political Action - PO Box 96142, Washington, D.C. 20090-6142. This email was sent to Andra Patterson on September 01, 2025. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. MoveOn's privacy policy was recently updated. To read our new privacy policy, click here. 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