Act Now, Process Later: The Leopards Are In The House

Preface: This is addressed specifically to those who are just now realizing how bad tariffs are, that Project 2025 wasn’t a joke, are horrified at a Nazi salute during the inauguration ceremonies {1}, or some other new horror that’s happened since.

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So you’ve suddenly realized what’s going on. Maybe you’re just realizing that the MAGA/GOP oligarchy lied to you and are just realizing what those “leopard eating faces” memes are about. Maybe you somehow avoided anything political — or that would potentially upset a family member. Maybe you didn’t think that people would really actually do whatever line was crossed for you to finally realize that things were not going to just go back to normal.

I’m sorry. That’s an awful feeling.

Strap in. It’s going to keep get worse, quickly, and there simply is not the opportunity for you to process all this leisurely .

Like I said, I’m sorry. Regardless of how you got here, it’s a horrible feeling when you begin to realize exactly how bad things (and quite a lot of people) are.

However, you’re eight years behind, and you don’t have time to keep saying “but surely that can’t happen here,” because it’s already happening. The Nazis weren’t kicked out of the bar, and now it’s a Nazi bar.

Yes, it’s awful. Yes, it’s overwhelming — that’s on purpose, to overwhelm you. Yes, they shouldn’t be doing … well, most of that. Yes, they’re hypocritical and don’t follow the rules they swore to protect just hours earlier, but they still expect you to follow every bit of the rules, even while they’re blatantly cheating.

The time for shocked polite hand-wringing passed years ago. I’m sorry. You missed it. It is time to do something before you cannot.

Before you let that “oh, it can’t be that bad” thought get too far, remember, you thought we were exaggerating before , remember? Expecting other people — or institutions — to speak up, to do something is how it got this bad already.

The house is on fire; simply pretending everything is fine will just result in the house burning down with you in it.

Here’s some things to get you started.

Begin by reading the Authoritarian Regime Survival Guide at https://verfassungsblog.de/the-authoritarian-regime-survival-guide/ or the PDF version.

Then switch to Signal (at least), and learn how to encrypt your email and take other privacy-related steps about your online presence.

To the extent you can safely {2} — even if it makes you feel uncomfortable — do not let the bigotry and fascism go unchallenged around you. Publicly stand up for the rights of all others, especially when the comments sections are filled with bigoted trash.

Consume as much or little news as you can {2} from a variety of sources, including several overseas, such as the BBC or Al-Jazeera.

Quit passively giving money to Zuck (and being fed a right-wing non-fact-checked version of truth) by leaving Facebook, Threads, and Instagram. Not just “I’ll enjoy the groups I’m part of;” that still counts for traffic metrics and lets Musk keep making money. Instead, help get those groups off Facebook too. {3} Do the same with things controlled by Bezos, Musk, and the Waltons to the extent you’re able {4}. Use an alternate privacy-respecting search engine like DuckDuckGo or Kagi.

Read other’s suggestions of how to fight fascism, like the ones from George Lakoff and Gil Duran, The Battleground, Timothy Snyder, It’s Going Down, Mothers For Democracy (pdf), or The Trevor Project, for starters. Search for and fine some others on your own, too. Some of the suggestions are direct opposition and resistance, others are about creating whimsy and art and joy and friendship where you can. Some suggestions will be more suited to your skills than others; do the ones that make sense given your skills and abilities.

I’m not telling you the “right” thing to do, because I don’t know your situation or abilities. There is no one right thing to do, nor is there only one right way to do it. {5}

Actually, I take that back.

There is one thing you should do.

Apologize to the relatives and neighbors and friends who have been telling you this was coming for years.

Then get to work.

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{1} His response of saying the accusation is “so tired” instead of simply saying “Oh, no, Nazis are bad,” clearly puts Musk on the “asshole” side of the “autistic or asshole” test. Also, you know who popularized the “Roman salute” in modern times? Mussolini, the person who literally coined the term “fascism.”
{2} This includes your mental health and safety. Use the block button extensively.
{3} And whenever possible, choose federated and decentralized social media to avoid the exact same situation happening in the future. BlueSky is nice; it’s also just as centralized, which makes it susceptible to enshittification. (Same with most of the TikTok wannabes, unfortunately. Loops needs to get out of beta yesterday.)
{4} I’ve lived in very small towns; I know this is very difficult for some people. Do what you can.
{5} The same people who pardoned those who shat in the halls of Congress complained about respectfully taking a knee during the national anthem. They will object to any opposition, no matter how hypocritical that is.