Do you fight for our veterans or our federal workers? Do you fight to protect immigrants’ rights or trans’ rights? Do you fight for our public education system or our public lands? Do you fight for public health or our planet? Do you fight back against the federal government or your state and local governments (especially in red states)? How are you supposed to choose between what feels like impossible choices?

Here’s the hard truth. You do have to choose. Your time and energy are incredible resources that you must use intentionally.

It’s time to choose your fight

I know it feels like it’s been a lifetime, but we’re only about 8 weeks into this administration. BAM, I know, I know, that one hurts to hear. Now unclench your jaw and take a deep breath. Have you been overwhelmed for 8 weeks? Anxious? Sad? Spiraling in your thoughts and thinking about the worst-case scenarios and what ifs? Are you feeling burned out or like you’re close to it? If so, here is your reminder that feeling however it is you’re feeling now is unsustainable. Stress, anxiety, etc. all play a toll on your life, health, and relationships. It also might lead you to throw in the towel - which is exactly what they want!

Cool, cool, cool… this is all unsustainable and so I should just chill out? Turn my overwhelm off? Stop despairing? Well, no. I know that’s easier said than done, and that’s not what I’m getting at. It’s inevitable that we will feel this way at least some of the time. The point I’m trying to make is that being overwhelmed all the time is only hurting you, and possibly your community, while doing nothing to help. It’s not productive or enabling you to take meaningful action.

All that to say, we’ve had our time to wallow in our overwhelm and some despair. If you haven’t yet, it’s time to pick your fight (or fights). You don’t necessarily have to pick just one issue or one area, but you do have to narrow the list down. To help narrow down where to focus, you could ask yourself what are you most passionate about? What are you most knowledgeable about? Do you have specific skills that would help a certain issue? How much time do you really have to give?

Now, it’s time to take real, meaningful action

I’m going to give you a little harder truth now. Once you pick your fight, you need to take real meaningful action to move that issue forward. By narrowing down what you are going to fight for, it enables you to determine actionable steps to take for that specific fight. And you know what they say about action? It is the antidote to despair. By choosing your fight, you are taking a step towards moving out of despair and overwhelm.

Okay, so you’re ready to take action, but what does that mean? What actions should you take? Getting informed is so important and sharing accurate information online is helpful. I don’t want to downplay those things. Obviously, we spend a good amount of time doing both of those here at United SHE Stands, but NOTHING beats building community in person.

After you choose your fight, I want to challenge you to join an organization as one of your first action items, even if it’s out of your comfort zone. Actually, especially if it’s out of your comfort zone. Before you shy away from this, hear me out. Joining an organization doesn’t mean you have to make every single event or meeting. In reality, it doesn’t mean anyone has any expectations from you at all actually. You could sign up for their newsletter to stay informed and never attend a single meeting. You could go to one event a year (although we hope you’ll do more).

The point is, joining an organization is a great action to take for your fight and it should feel exciting. It’s not just one more commitment or thing to do on your calendar. It’s a step that opens up so many opportunities and avenues to get you closer to your goal. It gives you the opportunity to meet like-minded people and find others who want to help so you aren’t going it alone. It gives you a safe place to learn about issues and things going on in your community. It gives you a structure and actions for how to make meaningful change. And maybe most importantly, because we know it’s a marathon and not a sprint, it keeps you motivated. It’s something you can work into your life however best suits you.

So, what about all those other issues I’m not focusing on?

If I’m only fighting for one or two issues, what about all the other important things that matter too? I’ve given you some hard truths today, so I’ll give you some good news now. The burden is not yours alone to carry. Someone out there will choose differently than you. Maybe you choose federal workers while your neighbor chooses veterans. Maybe one of your friends chooses public lands while another friend chooses public education. Maybe one neighbor chooses immigrants and another chooses trans people.

You can focus and fight for your issues while supporting your friends, neighbors, and community members who are doing the work for other issues that matter. It is not our burden to carry alone. Collectively, we can and will make so much more progress. It will take all of us to protect each other and our country.

Let’s change the world together

I’ll leave you with this. There is no wrong answer when choosing what to fight for. Every issue and organization needs folks to help. The only wrong thing you can do at this time is be paralyzed by overwhelm and indecision. Choose your fight and start taking action today to fight for the country we all want and deserve.

Not sure how to find organizations to join for your cause? Reach out to us. We’re more than happy to help!

We need to be normal, relatable people and not the educated elite

Gone are the days of politicians feeling distant, stuffy, or formal. In the last decade things have changed. Between social media and Donald Trump throwing many norms out the window, voters want to feel like they not only know who they are voting for, but also that the person they are voting for is someone like them.

When friends would share Kamala memes or videos with me, it was almost always when she was doing something normal - talking about how to cook a Turkey, dancing with people around her, laughing loudly, etc. Her professional appearances and moments were not as often shared, and there is a reason for that. Those videos of her doing something normal feels super relatable and like she is just one of us. We need to lean into this. Instead of snagging clips here or there where we can find them, we need to intentionally create these moments that are not perfectly polished or uber professional.

This approach is important for our Democratic candidates, but it also is important for all of us - the advocates, organizers, influencers, and normal everyday Americans who support progressive ideas and policies. We need to talk like normal people. We need to get off the proverbial high horse. We need to stop lecturing our friends and family online about morality. We need to stop attacking a party and candidates that for some reason folks still support. I know, I know… easier said than done, and I’m definitely guilty of rage posting a bit here and there. There have been more than one shares recently that included something along the lines of: “IS THIS WHAT YOU VOTED FOR!?”

But we have done this for the past almost decade and where has it gotten us? You know what they say about doing the same thing over and over again. Why would we keep doing this and expect different results the next time? It would be a huge waste of time and energy to continue to take this approach. The right waged a culture war, and not only did we play directly into their hand over the last several years, but we lost a really big battle.

We need to infiltrate normal spaces, and it has to be fun and sometimes a bit aspirational

Many folks don’t want to make the effort to stay informed or get involved. People are busy and no matter how we feel about it, some will never have any real interest in politics. Instead of trying to bring them into spaces where we exist, we need to show up in places where they are already living their lives, and we need to do so in an entertaining way.

MAGA has done this and, unfortunately, done it very well. Trump and Musk went on huge entertainment podcasts like Joe Rogan where they talked about more than just politics. On another podcast, Andrew Schulz and Akaash Singh laughed out loud as Trump went through his nicknames for political rivals — like “Comrade Kamala” Harris. He entered non-political spaces, and even if we don’t approve of his rhetoric, he was entertaining while occupying those spaces.

The rights’ infiltration goes well beyond the places Donald Trump shows up. MAGA tapped into wellness influencers, not political accounts, who were touting messages in support of RFK Jr. while selling an aspirational wellness lifestyle to suburban women. Turning Point USA is making being conservative cool and edgy on high school and college campuses. Rogan has even said, “The rebels are Republicans now. You want to be a rebel, you want to be punk rock, you want to like buck the system, you’re a conservative now.”

Unfortunately, perception is that he is correct. Over the last decade, MAGA has not only infiltrated spaces rural and suburban folks are already in, but they have also been entertaining, relatable and at times aspirational - selling an American dream, even if it’s not one based totally in reality. Whether we like it or not, we need to learn from them. We need to intentionally enter these spaces and find a way to do it that is authentic to us.

Where do we start?

We don’t pretend to have all the answers here, but we do have a few ideas. First and foremost, we need to get out from behind our screens and hang out with people. We know we say it all the time, but if you haven’t done so yet, join a local organization. You’ll instantly meet so many likeminded people, and action truly is the antidote to despair. You’ll feel better once you get involved.

Second, we need to do fun shit, and we need our local pro-democracy and progressive organizations to be included in that fun shit. If there is nothing in your community to do in a group setting, create something. Start a hiking club, organize a night out for drinks, do whatever interests you and get others with those same interests involved. If you’re part of an organization, see if they will host an event like that or invite them to your event. As an example, United SHE Stands is hosting our first in-person event in Northeast Ohio (more detail at the bottom of this post). We are hosting trivia and intentionally doing this at a brewery and bringing local organizations with us so we can hopefully reach new folks.

You can be the fun. You can build the community. You can make folks look at what you’re doing and say, “I want to be part of that!” You can help be part of the movement that will fight for progressive policies and put Democrats on the path to winning elections again in 2026 and beyond.

Northeast Ohio Friends - Save the Date: March 27th

HiHO Brewing in Cuyahoga Falls has graciously agreed to host us. United SHE Stands, along with other local pro-democracy and progressive organizations, will be hosting a fun trivia night with topics focused on civics and democracy.

We’d love for you to come out and meet other people and hear from local Summit County organizations on the work they are doing and how you can support them.

You can RSVP at this link - RSVP HERE. By RSVPing, you will receive a raffle ticket for small prize drawings we’ll be doing throughout the night. Bring some friends for additional entries. But most of all, be ready to have some fun!

Be sure to head over to Abortion Forward’s website to learn more about them and give them some love. They’re doing AMAZING work!

What is abortion stigma?

Abortion stigma can be defined as a set of negative beliefs and attitudes about abortion that can cause shame, isolation, and discomfort. It can affect people who have had abortions, people who provide abortions, and others associated with abortion.

Abortion stigma can be hidden in everyday language. Specially, it can show up in language that’s used to justify someone’s abortion. For example:

• “I’m against abortion after the first trimester, unless it’s for the health and/or safety of the mother.”

• “I’m pro-choice, but I think abortion should be safe, legal, and rare.”

Someone else’s abortion is none of your business. It doesn’t need to be justified. This type of language suggests that abortion is only acceptable under extreme circumstances, which can discredit the choices of those who seek abortions for other personal or financial reasons. As a reminder, if you don’t support abortion, don’t get one AND keep your mouth shut about other’s decisions.

The stigma also shows up when people characterize abortion as a tragic and life-dooming experience. For example:

• “Abortion is the hardest decision someone can make.”

• “No one wants to have an abortion. They wouldn’t choose it if they had more support from their partner, family, friends, church, community, government, etc.”

Characterizing abortion as such is actually a main tactic used by anti-abortion lobbyists. This framing reinforces the idea that abortion is inherently painful, shameful, or regrettable, which isn’t true for everyone. In reality, many people feel relief, confidence, and even empowerment after having an abortion.

5 Key Things to Remember When Talking About Abortion

1. Avoid language that separates abortions by “bad” versus “good”.

All abortions are valid, and people make the decision to have one for a variety of reasons - none of which should be judged as more or less deserving. Instead of reinforcing a hierarchy of “good” versus “bad” abortions, we should acknowledge that every person has the right to make decisions about their own body and future, without needing to justify their reasons to others. Using neutral and affirming language helps ensure that all abortion experiences are respected and free from stigma.

2. Women are not the only people who get abortions.

Inclusive language isn’t just about being politically correct - it’s about acknowledging reality and ensuring that everyone has equal access to reproductive healthcare without unnecessary barriers or stigma. When we assume that only women need abortion care, we risk erasing the experiences of trans and non-binary people, who already face higher levels of discrimination in healthcare settings.

Using gender-neutral language, such as “people who have abortions” instead of just “women who have abortions”, helps ensure that all individuals seeking this care feel seen, respected, and included. So, let’s remember to be inclusive with our language, okay?

3. Abortion is hard for some people and very easy for others.

It’s important to recognize that much of the distress some people feel about abortion comes not from the procedure itself, but from the stigma and judgment imposed by society. Harmful messaging, misinformation, and external pressures can make an otherwise straightforward medical decision feel filled with guilt or shame. As one participant in the training shared, “The only scary/worrying thing about my experience was the crowd of protestors outside the clinic.” This highlights how external factors, like judgment from others, often create the biggest barriers to a smooth and stress-free experience. The goal should always be to create an environment where individuals can make decisions about their own bodies without fear, shame, or unnecessary obstacles.

4. Abortion storytelling helps end stigma.

The movement is always looking for people to tell their stories. The whole reason I became open and accepting of abortion is because of these storytellers. I grew up in the Catholic church and was taught early on that abortion was simply “killing babies”. On top of that, I avidly avoided the topic. But, I had a friend in high school who told me her abortion story and it gave me a perspective I never heard before. I’m so grateful for her strength and her trust in me, because in that moment, I became pro-abortion. If you live in Ohio, have had an abortion, and are interested in becoming a ~formalized~ abortion storyteller, check out Patients to Advocates.

*Here’s me dropping our most recent episode where our guest, Allie Phillips, shares her gut-wrenching abortion story*

United SHE Stands

From Personal Tragedy to Public Advocacy: Allie Phillips’ Fight for Change

In this episode, we sit down with Allie Phillips, a 29-year-old mother, advocate and Tennessee native who recently ran for the TN State House. She walks us through her tragic abortion story and how her experience led her to run for state legislature. Her priorities include ensuring that other women in Tennessee did not have to go through the experience …

Listen now

a year ago · Sara Petrie and Ashley Kindsvatter

5. Say abortion when you mean abortion!

Ahhhh. I love this one. It was really hard for me when I started my journey of being a reproductive rights and abortion advocate. I always defaulted to “pro-choice” and if I ever had to say the word “abortion” out loud, I would literally lower my voice like it was a bad word and I was in front of young children.

But as pro-choice advocates, we actually have to say the word “abortion” out loud. We are pro-choice AND pro-abortion. There are many reproductive choices people can make, therefore we are pro-choice. We support abortion and believe in people’s access to abortion, therefore we are pro-abortion. Say abortion when you mean abortion. It’s not a scary word. It’s not a bad word. In fact, anti-abortion extremists use the word “abortion” more than pro-choice advocates do. How much more? FOUR TIMES MORE. Thanks to this, they have been able to stigmatize abortion so deeply that even supporters feel awkward or ashamed when talking about it. Let’s take the word “abortion” back from them and not let them use it to weaken our cause and passion.

*Here’s me dropping a relevant and incredible podcast episode from one of my new favorite podcasts, Diabolical Lies*

Diabolical Lies

Abortion: Say It With Your Chest

In this conversation…

Listen now

a year ago · 48 likes · 35 comments · caro claire burke and Katie Gatti Tassin

How can you help bust abortion stigma?

Great question! The best way to bust abortion stigma is to talk to people about abortion. (As I was typing this, in my head I was like, “The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear” #iykyk). Yes, this can and will be awkward. Don’t expect you or anyone in the conversation to be completely comfortable with it, especially the first time. But don’t worry! Practice makes perfect.

Here are some tips to help make these conversations go as smoothly as possible:

• Find common ground. Try to find something you all agree on to ease into the conversation. Do you agree there should be more comprehensive sex education in schools? Do you agree everyone should have easy access to contraceptives?

• Ask questions. Repeat what you think they’re saying back to them in different words. Make sure you understand their viewpoint. The conversation won’t last long and may not be civil if there’s misunderstanding on either end.

• Actively listen. Truly hear them out by respectfully listening with the intent to understand rather than to respond. If you are actively listening and not trying to form a response as they’re talking, you’ll be better able to tailor your response to fit the conversation. Ensuring the other person feels heard is crucial to having a productive conversation.

• Don’t be defensive. This one is hard for me, because I so badly want people to see and understand my perspective. But it’s important to not get defensive. If you feel yourself getting defensive, take a deep breath and/or walk away and try to engage in the conversation later.

• Meet people where they’re at. Not everyone starts from the same place in conversations about abortion. Some may have deeply ingrained beliefs shaped by religion, culture, or personal experience. Instead of dismissing or confronting them aggressively, approach conversations with curiosity and empathy.

• Understand your own values. Take time to reflect on your own beliefs and where they come from before engaging in these conversations. What experiences have shaped your perspective? What biases might you hold?

• Consider your audience. There are some people out there who will not change their mind on abortion. Don’t burnout on those conversations. Put up boundaries to protect your peace so you can continue to have productive conversations about abortion.

• Build trust. People are more open to meaningful conversations when they feel safe and respected. Avoid shame or judgment, and instead, foster a sense of understanding. When people know they won’t be attacked for their views, they’re more likely to reconsider them.

• Speak honestly. Listen honestly. Authentic conversations require both courage and humility. A genuine dialogue means allowing space for complexity, nuance, and even discomfort - that’s where real change happens.

Busting abortion stigma isn’t always easy, but it’s necessary. The more we talk about abortion openly, without shame or hesitation, the more we push back against the harmful narratives that keep people misinformed and isolated. Whether it’s correcting stigmatizing language, sharing stories, or simply saying the word “abortion” with confidence, every conversation matters. So, let’s keep talking, keep learning, and keep fighting for a future where abortion is seen for what it truly is—healthcare, a human right, and a personal decision that deserves respect and protection!

Resources

• Abortion Stigma Resources

  • Let’s Talk About Abortion Toolkit - Avow

  • So You Want To Talk About Abortion? - Planned Parenthood

• Abortion Storyteller Information & Resources

  • Patients to Advocates

  • Abortion Forward - Share Your Story

  • IRL RN: Protecting Choice - A Personal Story and Ohio's Reproductive Rights (Abortion Story)

• Up-to-date list of Ohio abortion clinics, abortion funds, practical support, and trans resources

  • Abortion Forward - Resources

• Progressive Ohio Organizations

  • Reproductive Rights & Justice

    • Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio

    • Ohio Women’s Alliance

    • ACLU Ohio

    • Ohio Center for Sex Education

    • The Collaborative for Health Equity and Learning

    • New Voices for Reproductive Justice

    • Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity (URGE)

  • Abortion Funds & Practical Support

    • Just Choice

    • Abortion Fund of Ohio

    • Preterm

    • Jubilee Fund

  • Other Allies

    • Gem City Action

    • TransOhio

    • Equality Ohio

    • Ohio Families United Against Police Brutality (OFUPAC)

    • Innovation Ohio

    • Red Wine and Blue

• Follow Abortion Forward! (@abortionforward on everything)

  • Facebook

  • Bluesky

  • Instagram

  • YouTube

  • TikTok

I grew up in a very small town in middle-of-nowhere Ohio. I even lived on a farm for the first nine years of my life. I didn’t realize it when I was a kid, but the town was very conservative. Like had-two-Trump-parades-leading-up-to-the-2020-election type of conservative. I also grew up in the Catholic church - Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation… I went through it all. As a kid, I spent most Sunday mornings at church and/or CCD (Catholic Sunday school). I also spent most Sunday mornings trying to get out of church and/or CCD, but that’s a different story for another day.

I don’t remember my parents talking about politics a lot, but there was not a day that Fox News wasn’t on in the house, both in the mornings and evenings. Whether my parents were actively watching or just had it on in the background, if the TV was on, there was a 95% chance the channel was set to Fox 8 News.

There are two times in my childhood that I really remember talking about politics. The first was when former President Bush was elected to his second term. I was in second grade and I was close to a girl whose father loved Bush. After the election, I remember my friend coming to school and telling me how excited she was that Bush won. I immediately felt intimated because I didn’t know much about politics (I mean, I was literally seven years old) and I didn’t want her to think I was dumb. So, obviously, I was quick to agree with her and told her my parents voted for him too. I had no idea who they voted for or if they voted at all, but I wanted to avoid all the political shame, even as a second grader.

The other time I remember talking about politics is when Barack Obama was president. Specifically, when Michelle Obama (love you, Queen) started her Let’s Move! campaign and wanted schools to provide healthier lunches for their students. When a potato-based side was replaced with fruit or the school pizza changed to something less greasy, I remember everyone saying how Michelle Obama was ruining our lunches. It turned into a joke among the students and I, of course, hopped on the bandwagon of hating her initiative. It was classic peer pressure - I was in high school and I wanted to be cool and fit in. I didn’t know anything else about the Let’s Move! campaign, but it was easy for me to adopt the beliefs of those around me without seeking further information, especially when it came to politics.

I was a doormat. A doormat that would rather lay down on the ground and let people walk all over me than rock the boat in any shape or form. I was very much so this way until after college. I was an avid people-pleaser, yes-woman, and avoided confrontation like the plague.

I also hated history and social studies classes. I studied to do well on tests, then proceeded to forget most-to-all of the information I learned in these classes. I didn’t find the topics nearly as interesting as I did math and science.

To summarize: I hated hard conversations and upsetting people (still do but, ya know, I’m working on it). I didn’t care to actually absorb the information I was taught about politics and history. And, on top of all that, I was scared to talk about things I didn’t know much about because I didn’t want to look or sound dumb. Soooo, does it make sense why I never wanted to talk about politics?

This really came to light in the 2016 election. I was a sophomore in college and my roommate was really into politics and was a proud Republican. So proud that she hung a Trump yard-sign in our dorm room. At the time, I didn’t really care… I kind of thought it was funny. I didn’t have strong feelings about the 2016 election (I know I know, I’m not proud of this, especially with it being the first election a woman was on the ticket for the main two parties) because I was so uninformed on politics at that time, and so scared to get informed that I avoided talking about it as much as possible.

I planned to vote in the 2016 election, I really did. I went to the student center in between classes to vote, and I immediately bailed when I saw the line was out the door. I literally remember thinking, “Oh well, it’s not a big deal” as I turned and walked away. I was a busy college student!!! I didn’t have time to wait in line to vote for the next President of the United States!!!

YIKES. I know. I can’t even express how much shame I have for not voting in the 2016 election. I try not to yell it from the rooftops, but I think it’s an important piece of my political journey, which is why I’m sharing it with you. To be honest, I have no idea if I was even registered to vote at the time. I knew I had to be registered to vote in general, but I don’t think I knew I’d either need an absentee ballot for my hometown district or that I needed to update my registration to my college address. If I decided to stand in line and vote that day, I have no idea if I actually would’ve been able to. Yeah… that’s how out of touch I was.

During Trump’s first term, I’d hear snippets of the ridiculous things he was doing and saying. I quickly realized I didn’t like Trump and that I aligned way more with the Democratic party. During the 2020 election season, I did not hold back on sharing pro-Biden and pro-democrat posts. This was a HUGE step out of my comfort zone for me. I didn’t want people to judge me based on the political things I was sharing, but expressing my support for Biden and the Democratic party started to become more and more important to me. Thankfully, I started not to care as much about what my followers thought about the posts as the 2020 election inched closer and closer.

I was SO relieved when Biden won. I remember I was in the car with my friend when they finally announced he won enough electoral votes - we were screaming and cheering and dancing. Even then, in the pure happiness of knowing the candidate I favored won, I didn’t know much about politics. I still didn’t love talking about it. I planned on going back to avoiding it now that Trump was going to be gone.

Then, January 6th, 2021 happened. Trump and his supporters refused to believe the 2020 election was fair and that Trump lost. They believed this so deeply that they staged a coup on the U.S. government. I was appalled at all that happened that day. That’s when I realized some really bad things could happen to our government and our country. I started to wonder how I could help beyond just posting things on my Instagram story. I had no idea where to begin because, up until then, I mostly stayed as far away as possible from politics.

I was able to avoid politics for most of my life due to my privilege. I’m a white, straight, cis female. I had a parent who was able and willing to co-sign my student loans so I could go to college and further my education to set me up for a successful career and life. Back then, I didn’t realize this was privilege. Politics didn’t affect me all that much, thanks to my privilege. Therefore, I didn’t feel the need to engage in politics, thanks to my privilege. I didn’t realize I had all this privilege until the government told me I didn’t have the right to make decisions about my own body.

Roe v. Wade was overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization case on June 24th, 2022. Truthfully, I didn’t learn about what Roe v. Wade actually did and what rights it protected until May 2022, when the Dobbs decision was leaked. I was angry. I was FURIOUS. I could not believe the SCOTUS was about to take away the federal right to an abortion and tell me and SO MANY OTHERS what they can and can’t do with their bodies.

This was my tipping point. The point of no return. The moment I realized I couldn’t just sit back and not participate in politics any longer. Still, I wasn’t quite sure what to do and what it meant to “participate” in politics.

Then, in July 2022, Ashley approached me about starting this podcast with her to educate and empower women to get involved in politics. The timing couldn’t have been better - I was just starting to think about how I can get more involved and make a positive impact in the political landscape. But, I immediately had imposter syndrome and thought “oh I’m SO not qualified to do this”. Ashley quickly told me that was the point. The vision was to create a space where we could start from where we were and all learn together - the hosts and the listeners. Then we would all collectively feel more comfortable to engage in politics. It was obvious to us from the beginning that more women need to have a seat at the table. Our literal rights are being stripped away because there aren’t enough women engaged in politics. Once I realized how important educating myself and other women about politics was, I told Ash, “sign me up!”.

Now here we are, over two-and-a-half years and 100 episodes later. I talk about politics all the time, with and without a mic in front of me, and I couldn’t be more proud of myself. I went from being extremely intimated by politics to constantly sharing my thoughts and opinions on the topic on a freaking podcast for anyone to hear. Talk about a 180!

I wanted to share my political journey because I think many people can relate to it. Especially being scared of politics, hard conversations, confrontation, speaking up for what you believe in, etc. It’s totally valid and understandable! Please know that.

But what I also want you to take away from my journey is these barriers are really just perceived barriers. There’s nothing stopping you from learning about politics and the systems within, how to navigate difficult conversations with people you don’t agree with, or how to become an activist. I’m here to tell you that you can do it. You can get informed. You can engage. You can stand up for your beliefs. You can make a difference. You don’t have to be a political expert since birth or even since college to do it. You can start at any age, under any circumstances. Take my word for it, I did it myself!

First, we want to remind you that our democracy does not end on January 20th. Autocrats always face hurdles in their attempt to grab power, and Donald Trump is not going to be immune to these hurdles. In fact, he will face many. It’s important to take a breath and remember that the United States has a decentralized system of governance. We have states with governors and local legislatures who have their own specific powers, hundreds of federal judges with lifetime appointments, a constitution that through Supreme Court precedent has strongly protected first amendment rights including the freedom of the press and speech.

Yes, you could argue that each of these things is under attack by the incoming administration and the MAGA movement, and that is true. While they have had plenty of wins chipping away at our institutions and freedoms, the fact is there is so much still standing in Donald Trump’s way. The truth is our democracy offers an incredible amount of resilience in the face of authoritarianism.

We’re not reminding you of this to tell you we don’t have to fight for our democracy - we absolutely do. We’re reminding you of this to tell you not to panic.

5 Things We're Doing Before Inauguration Day

With all that said we are still taking steps to prepare and would encourage you to do the same. We are intentionally taking an approach that does not overwhelm us or have us trying to do too many things all at once. Sara and I purposely chose a small list of things to tackle before Inauguration Day.

With just under two weeks until Trump takes office, these are 5 things we have done that you also have time to do before January 20th.

1. Ensure you have access to birth control, Plan B & abortion medication.

The fact is we don’t know what will happen when it comes to reproductive health under this administration. It’s an area Trump does not seem to care much about this go around, but we know the Christian Nationalist and far-right extremists he has surrounded himself with and appointed absolutely do. In fact, it’s likely at the top of many of their agendas. Because we can’t be sure what will happen on this front, we both have purchased Plan B and abortion medication to have on hand just in case. Plan B can be purchased over the counter (or online, we both ordered ours from Amazon). You can find where to purchase abortion medication online at plancpills.org by entering the state you live in.

We’d also encourage you to true up your birth control options. We know this is something Republicans are attacking and there is just no guarantee they will not take steps to limit access. Obviously, you should talk with your healthcare providers, but it’s also important to note that as of 2024, birth control is available over the counter.

2. Check, and if necessary, update your passport and identifying documents.

We would encourage you to make sure federal IDs like passports and social security cards are up to date. This is especially true for folks in the LGBTQ+ community. We know trans rights are already hugely under attack and this administration has made it clear they will continue to come after them. We also don’t know what the future holds for same sex couples. If you need to change your gender marker on an identifying document or change your name if you’re recently married, do that as soon as possible.

In addition to this, we would encourage all Americans to ensure they have a passport, and their passport does not need renewed in the near future. This feels extra doomy to tell you to make sure you have a passport on hand, but wouldn’t you rather be safe than sorry? Donald Trump has repeatedly said he will go after political opponents. Obviously, no one reading this is likely at the top of his list. While we don’t think it’ll be necessary, if things really hit the fan in any type of way, isn’t it just a huge peace of mind to know you can legally enter another country for a little while if you need to?

3. Schedule regular doctor appointments as soon as possible & ensure immunizations are up to date.

If you’re paying attention to politics at all, you know Robert Kennedy Jr. and the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement will have power in this administration. Unlike their tagline, they will likely have a significant negative impact on public health. They built their movement on undermining experts and science and will continue to do so. Among other things, they are largely anti-vaxxers and we can expect vaccines to be under attack. Be sure you’re up to date on your immunizations.

Apart from the attack on expertise and science, Republicans will likely do what they can to cut components of the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid, and Medicare. Make appointments with your doctors now even though it’s unlikely you’ll get in right away. The sooner you can have your yearly appointments scheduled, the less likely they will have time to impact your healthcare coverage for this year.

4. Review your finances and build up your emergency fund if possible.

If Trump goes through with all his tariff and mass deportation plans, we know the cost of most things will be going up. Now is a good time to review your finances. It’s a good idea to understand if there are areas where you can save a little more each month in the event groceries or gas eat up more of your budget than before. Obviously, everyone’s situation is different but now is also a good time to reevaluate how much you have in your emergency fund. If a pipe breaks or you need a new part for your car, those emergency situations will likely cost more than they did before. Having a little more in your emergency fund may be something to think about.

While we know it’s not possible for everyone, another thing you may want to consider is making a large purpose now versus later. We knew we had to purchase a new refrigerator sometime in 2025. We pulled the trigger once Trump was elected knowing if he went through with his tariffs the cost of appliances was likely to jump 19% according to Business Insider. Other large items that will likely be impacted are electronics, cars, and furniture according to U.S. News.

5. Join an organization of like-minded people and build community.

Lastly, we HIGHLY encourage you to join a local organization. Sara and I both knocked doors for Ohio Dems during the campaign. With the election over we knew we had to find new ways to stay involved and have both joined local organizations to do just that. I joined Crooked River Action which is a local Indivisible chapter. There are so many options out there so you can find something that you’re passionate about. Many of them are free to join and usually can be low on time commitment, if that is a concern.

Surrounding yourself with like-minded people and being aware of and part of a group of folks taking action will go such a long way for your moral over the next four years. These organizations need folks now more than ever. It’s going to take all of us to stand up and do our part in our communities to preserve democracy and make progress on issues we care about.

We’ve Got This

We hope these 5 action items (oh hey, silly Corporate America lingo) give you a good idea on what you can do before Trump officially takes office, without overwhelming you too much. As always, we’re here for you. This community is here for you. Let’s all take a deep breath and hold hands (or fingers… Ariana, please!?!?) as we walk into the next presidential term together.

In the wake of the election, I’m seeing rhetoric in regard to division and unity from those on the left dialed up in two ways.  There are those calling for unity, bridge building, and encouraging discourse with the other side to understand how we got here.  Then there are others who are done being tolerant to people in their lives that voted for Trump for various reasons.

I am one of the people who have felt more compelled lately to not necessarily cut ties, but to definitely pay attention to, and be more selective of who is allowed near or around my child. This contemplation is based on what I view as a difference in morals, values, and what type of behavior and people I am willing to let my child be around, experience, and be influenced by. I do not want to be tolerant of unacceptable behavior or condoning unacceptable behavior from adults in his life.

With that said, I’ve been going back and forth on whether it’s the right thing to do. Most of us have friends and family who have voted for Trump in past elections. So, why does it feel different this time? I had been pondering this for a few days after the election. When a friend shared a post about the paradox of tolerance, it finally hit me. It helped me put into words why I’m feeling this way and what I am going to do about it. 

Philosopher Karl Popper first discussed the paradox of tolerance in 1945 in his book, The Open Society and Its Enemies. Karl Popper states, “In order to maintain a tolerant society, the society must be intolerant of intolerance.” He explains that a tolerant society should not have unlimited tolerance, as it would allow the intolerant to thrive and ultimately destroy tolerance itself.

Popper believed intolerance should first be combatted with rational argument and civil, public discourse. If that ultimately fails, Popper states that intolerance can and should be silenced because doing nothing when hatred and intolerance is spewed could allow those harmful ideas to take hold. 

Philosopher John Rawls expanded on Popper’s idea. He explains that if intolerance would infringe on the liberties of other people, then the tolerant can refuse to tolerate the intolerant. Hence the paradox, or self-contradiction, of tolerance.

So, if we step away from philosophical theory and back to the reality at hand, I believe this is exactly what we are seeing today. Let’s look at an example. 

Schools across America have anti-bullying policies. The sentiment behind such policies is that schools are inclusive where all are welcome, but there is no tolerance for harassment. Students have a right to feel safe. Would anyone argue that anti-bullying policies are bad? Should kids be allowed to be bullied in school in the name of tolerance? I doubt you can find many who would make this argument.

Let’s apply this to politics. If a politician attacks a group of Americans by describing them as vermin and scum, or suggests someone who disagrees with him should face a firing squad, should we accept that? If they incite violence or even call for political violence, should we be tolerant of that in a democratic society?

Until recently, I believe most people would have said no. Which leads me to wonder, have we been tolerant of Donald Trump, his rhetoric, and his supporters for the past almost ten years to our own detriment? How have we gotten to a place where not only do folks not condone this type of behavior, but the majority vote for it? Have we seen Popper’s theory play out, and Trump and MAGA’s harmful ideas take hold?

This election and time in American politics feels different and that’s because it is. Folks can no longer say or pretend that they don’t know exactly the type of person Trump is or the types of things he represents.  In 2016, he was new on the scene, and even though I didn’t like it, I can understand how he won and why people would vote for him. In 2020, while I think his true colors showed throughout his Presidency, I can still understand that most people who don’t pay attention regularly could think he did a decent job prior to COVID, and vote for him then. 

Post 2020, we all know what’s happened. The list is enormous – denying the results of a free and fair election, never conceding or helping with any transition for the next administration, inciting a failed insurrection on January 6^th, stealing classified documents, his many many legal battles, and none of that even covers his campaign rhetoric this time around which was definitely more unhinged, racist, misogynistic, xenophobic, etc. 

Which leads us to the here and now. Are people completely oblivious and truly living in a silo where they don’t have any information, or do folks know about at least some of these transgressions and voted for him anyway?  The majority of Americans decided that felonies, sexual assault convictions, and his threatening and hateful rhetoric were not deal breakers for someone seeking the highest office in the land, someone who is supposed to be a leader, and someone whose job it is to protect and fight for all Americans.

All that to say, people know this man has no morals and a complete lack of ethics. That’s what this comes down to this time and why it’s not just politics. A vote is an endorsement, and over 75 million people endorsed this behavior. What does it say about our country when we are not only tolerant to that type of behavior, but we willingly elevate it? 

I think Trump is still around and this MAGA movement hasn’t been crushed because we have tried to be tolerant of folks supporting and endorsing his behavior for the past ten years.  While we’ve spoken out against him, we haven’t all stood up to family or friends and told them his behavior is completely unacceptable, and therefore it is completely unacceptable for someone to support him and vote for him to be President.

While I would love nothing more than unity and everyone to get along, I think we must ask ourselves some hard questions. Should we be tolerant towards supporters of a President when that President asks to shoot protestors? Should we be tolerant towards supporters of a President when that President threatens the free press? Should we be tolerant towards supporters of a President when that President calls for retribution and violence against his political enemies?

Many of us have been tolerant of those that have been intolerant of others for the past ten years. Should we continue to be? Should we continue to be tolerant of those persecuting others? Can we stamp out Trumpism and MAGA by being tolerant of their behavior and actions? Unfortunately, I don’t think we can.

So, where does this leave us? Should we all dump our Trump supporting friends and family?  

No, I don’t think you should cut ties with all your family and friends that voted for Trump. While it may be tempting some days, we know we can’t heal division by doing so. What I believe we really must do is be intolerant of him and intolerant of any support those around you show to him. 

Will this be enough? Probably not. We’ll need to not only be intolerant when it’s brought up, but we also need to intentionally bring up his actions and explain why we won’t tolerate them, and why no one else should either, no matter their political beliefs or affiliations. 

You can start with the nomination for Attorney General, Matt Gaetz, who is someone that has been accused of having sex with a minor and sought a pardon for sex trafficking minors. Bring up the topic next time you’re around Trump voters and hold your ground on why it’s unacceptable. Don’t let them cry “all politicians are the same” or “this is how politics is”.  These are excuses and justifications for your tolerance that we can no longer afford to accept.

We must stop those in our lives from making Donald Trump and his MAGA chums the new normal or we may end up living in a country where we’ve lost tolerance altogether.

1. J.D. Vance’s Senate seat will be filled through an appointment by Governor Mike DeWine.

J.D. Vance will be the next Vice President of the United States, leaving a vacant U.S. Senate seat in Ohio. As governor, Mike DeWine will appoint someone to this seat.

Whoever gets appointed will serve until 2026, when they can choose to run in a special election to keep the seat through 2028 which is Vance’s original term. This means Ohio will elect a Senator in a special election in 2026, and then the same seat will be up for election again in 2028 for the normal end of term election.

Governor DeWine has been tight lipped about potential appointments, but of course rumors are out there. Among the names floating around are former Ohio Republican Party chair Jane Timken, Secretary of State Frank LaRose, and state Senator Matt Dolan.

2. The defeat of Issue 1 means Ohioans will continue to vote with unconstitutional maps.

Issue 1 would have removed politicians from the map drawing process & replaced them with a 15-member Citizens Redistricting Commission made up of 5 Republicans, 5 Independents, & 5 Democrats.

Congressional & state legislative maps, which were found to be unconstitutional by the Ohio Supreme Court for unfairly favoring Ohio’s GOP, were used in the 2022 & 2024 elections.

The Ohio congressional map will be redrawn for the 2026 election. The congressional map draws districts for the 15 seats apportioned to Ohio in the U.S. House of Representatives.  Ohio’s constitution states that maps must be redrawn every 4 years versus 10 years with the census if 1/2 of the minority party members did not approve the maps. The congressional map currently being used was approved with a 5-2 vote along party lines, meaning no one from the minority party approved it.

Although the congressional map will be redrawn, the same redistricting process is in place that was used to draw maps after the 2020 census. Because of this, it is unlikely Ohio will see fair maps this time around either.

Ohio’s congressional map is drawn by the Ohio Redistricting Commission which is made up of elected officials. With the stranglehold Republicans have on Ohio government, there will once again be 5 republicans and only 2 democrats on the commission. The commission is made up of one individual appointed by the Senate President, one individual appointed by the Speaker of the House, one individual appointed by the Senate Minority Leader, one individual appointed by the House Minority Leader, the Governor, the Auditor, and the Secretary of State.

The state legislative maps, which are different than the congressional map, will not be redrawn until 2032. State legislative maps draw districts for the Ohio State Senate which has 33 seats or districts as well as for the Ohio House of Representatives which has 99 seats or districts.

3. Reproductive rights, among other things, are at risk with the GOP holding a 6-1 super-majority on the Ohio Supreme Court.

The state’s highest court has been under Republican control since 1986. Republicans currently have a 4-3 majority that will increase to 6-1 starting in 2025 because all three Supreme Court seats this election went to the Republican justices.

The Ohio Supreme Court will rule on a variety of issues that affect the daily lives of Ohioans including but not limited to education, the environment, gerrymandering, elections, and reproductive rights. All three of the justices elected in this election were endorsed by Ohio Right to Life, an anti-abortion, pro-life organization.

Abortion Forward Executive Director Kellie Copeland said in a statement. “The Ohio Reproductive Freedom Amendment established a clear framework protecting everyone’s right to access abortion, but it is up to our court system to make sure that this amendment doesn’t just become a meaningless piece of paper. We need justices that will enforce and not ignore it.”

There is litigation from the state in Ohio state courts seeking to uphold the old pre-Dobbs laws, like those requiring state-mandated delay, information requirements, and fetal tissue bills. Despite being a burden on the right to an abortion, Ohio’s Republican attorney general David Yost’s office is arguing that these laws do not violate the constitutional amendment. These cases will likely find their way up to the Ohio Supreme Court who will get to interpret the Reproductive Freedom amendment.

The seven justices on the Ohio Supreme Court will have the final say on how abortion access may be restricted despite 57% of Ohioans voting in favor of the amendment last fall.

Sources

• https://www.citizensnotpoliticians.org/petition/

• https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/timeline-ohios-gerrymandered-maps-how-ohio-politicians-defied-court

• https://ballotpedia.org/Redistricting_in_Ohio

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/who-will-replace-jd-vance-in-the-us-senate-ohio-gov-mike-dewine-mulling-pick/ar-AA1tIgjr?ocid=BingNewsSerp

• https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/vice-president-elect-jd-vances-senate-seat-filled/story?id=115615124

• https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2024/11/05/republicans-win-all-three-ohio-supreme-court-races-increasing-hold-over-court-to-6-1-ap-projects/

• https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2024/09/19/result-of-ohio-supreme-court-races-will-affect-states-abortion-laws/

It's been a few days and as people's initial emotional reactions fade, a lot of folks are left asking how the hell did this happen? How did we get here? How could an extremely qualified, well spoken, intelligent woman spreading a message of hope lose to a man that was convicted of fraud, found liable for sexual assault, convicted of 34 felonies, tried to stage a coup when he lost an election, stole national secrets when he did leave office, and ran a campaign based on racism, sexism, xenophobia, and hate.

Well, I'm not going to pretend I have all the answers for you, but I do have an informed opinion to share.

It is not Kamala Harris’s fault

First, and foremost, I want to start by saying this is not Kamala Harris's fault. That woman stepped up to the plate knowing she would have to pull off a miracle. The campaign she ran was nothing short of incredible. In just a little over 100 days, she moved the needle so far in polling and gave the democratic ticket a shot they would have never had under Biden. The enthusiasm for her, and the ground game across the country was palpable. She broke the norm in attempts to reach voters by joining hosts on various podcasts and flooding social media like we’ve never seen with just the right amount of fun memes to get folks engaged and excited, but still remain professional and not disrespectful. 

Maybe most importantly, women in America watched her walk the perfect line, a line any woman who has held or vied for any type of authority or leadership position understands. She was poised and a consummate professional. She was confident, but not so much that she would come off arrogant. She showed she could be tough and assertive without coming off aggressive. She showed passion, but not so much that she could be called emotional or crazy. She was constantly held to a higher standard than her opponent and she never once complained or uttered a word about it. She lifted her head up, and told us that hard work is good work, and to keep fighting.

 I could go on about what I think she did incredibly well, but I'll leave you with this. This was not a Kamala problem; this was and is an America problem. We must hold up the mirror and look at our country to understand how Kamala Harris lost this election to Donald Trump.

We have an education and information problem largely exacerbated by social media

There are several opinions flying around democrat circles and media outlets at the moment on what went wrong. These include Biden dropped out too late, the democrats didn’t primary, she only had 100 days, she was too moderate and lost her base, the protest vote for Palestine kept her from winning, and the list continues on like this. I’m not going to dive into any of that today.  Like I said, I don’t think it’s anything she did as a candidate and while yes, I do think the Democratic party needs a postmortem, it’s not what I think is the biggest issue. 

I believe America is the issue and it all comes down to the fact that we have an education and information problem. I'm not talking about the attack on public education or postsecondary institutions, although that is a huge problem.

I’m talking about the majority of Americans being extremely uninformed having no idea how government, economics, or science actually work. Combine that with the ability for social media to rapidly spread information, and it's no wonder we are in the midst of a disinformation and misinformation crisis. When you don’t know how something works, it’s easy to believe anything, especially when you see it over and over again thanks to an algorithm.

The social media game has changed since the 2020 election for the worse. Donald Trump creating Truth social in February of 2022 and Elon Musk's purchase of Twitter (now X) in April of 2022 drastically changed the social media game for Trump and his allies. When Trump spread dangerous lies about January 6th and the results of the election, Twitter banned him. With him and his buddy now owning platforms, there was nothing standing in their way this go around.

For the last two years Trump and Musk have not only done nothing to stop the spread of dangerous disinformation, but they’ve also purposely amplified it. Musk has used AI to boost election conspiracy theories and false stories about Kamala Harris on X. Him and Donald Trump have, of course, also shared these types of post themselves and repeated them at rallies and in-person events. As if that is not disconcerting enough, Russia paid right wing influencers to spread false information to impact U.S. politics ultimately meaning we also have national security concerns.

Take the onslaught of this madness, and combine it with an uninformed populace, and we have folks acting out of manufactured fear and complete ignorance. Some are living in an alternate reality where objective truth, data, science, and experts don't exist. The worst part about it all is that they are also casting their vote based on this alternate reality.

Another outcome of the massive disinformation campaign is the radicalization of young white men, which definitely makes my top ten list of most concerning trends in America. This group of men are doing things like calling for the elimination of the 19th amendment (a woman's right to vote), making posts after the election like "your body, my choice" and "men win again, we will never have a woman President", and protesting on college campuses with signs saying women are property (the photo above is from a college campus in Texas just one day after Trump won the election). And I know what you’re thinking, this group is fringe and small and without any political power. Well, I’m here to unfortunately remind you that we know the internet enables movements, even radical ones to grow. 

Let’s just look at the Make America Healthy Again movement from white suburban women. Maybe you wouldn’t call this movement radical, although I would argue abandoning science and medicine is radical. Radical or not, the internet has enabled this movement to grow legs and sprint. What started decades ago as a small group of anti-vaxxers has grown into a full-blown movement that quite possibly helped sway an entire election cycle.

If you're unaware of this movement, RFK Jr. has become its’ leader. Millions of white women voted for Trump with the hopes of RFK Jr. being given a position to ban certain substances from foods, remove vaccine mandates, and make raw milk legal.  Yes, this is all a real movement that include millions of white women, and if you've never seen or heard much about it, thank your social media algorithm.  I went searching for them and have unfortunately now seen so many white women proudly making pro-Trump content touting pseudo-science and misinformation as the basis for making their kids and America healthy again.

From the wellness influencers to the radicalized college men, social media has played an enormous role in the outcome of this election. Unfortunately, Trump and his people own these platforms that spread radical ideologies, disinformation, and Russian propaganda that millions of Americans consume, and we have no means to stop them from distributing whatever they want to the masses.

All this to say, we have an education and information problem. We know that the more educated a person is, the more likely they are to vote or align with the democratic party. There are several reasons for that, but one of the main ones in present day America is that they can see through disinformation, lies, conspiracies, and pseudo-science as well as Donald Trump's, MAGA’s, RFK Jr.’s, and others’ bullshit.  There is a reason Donald Trump said, "I love the poorly educated."

So, where do we go from here? How do we fix this? Stay tuned as we to try to figure it out.