I’ve lived through some tough times for America, but I’ve never seen anything like 2025. For those who choose to Resist, or just to keep themselves and their families a bit safer, here are a few tools that might be useful. I’ll try to keep adding to them as I can. If you have ideas you’d like to share, drop me a line.

Political Action (use your tools while you still can)

Ultimately, we’ll have to find some way of restoring the damage already done— and the damage that will be done in the weeks and months to come. The mechanisms of democracy aren’t working well right now, but we shouldn’t abandon them: I’ve lived in several countries where such mechanisms are much weaker than those of America today, and I’ve seen how much more difficult change is in such societies.

  • Congress switchboard: Call your Senators and your Member of Congress. Here’s the Congressional switchboard, which reaches ALL offices: (202) 224-3121.

  • Is your Member part of the solution, or part of the problem? Check out his or her record: Link

  • Voter registration— for yourself and others. If you’re not registered, do it right now: Link

  • Act Blue. Easiest way to contribute to ANY Democratic or progressive candidate: Act Blue. Link

  • ICE has an Office of Professional Responsibility. When ICE agents violate the law, make them at least fill out paperwork about it: (833) 442-3677

    Protect Yourself

    For many of us, the first act of Resistance is just keeping ourselves and our families safe. As many parts of the US government are dismantled before our eyes, many of us are directly in the line of fire— particularly, Federal workers. The rest of us risk becoming collateral damage, as vital government services are either erased or degraded. We all need to take care of ourselves and our neighbors.

  • Non-US citizen wondering what your rights are when entering the country? Here’s some useful info. Link

  • Non-citizen already in the US, wondering what rights you have? Link

  • Don’t want ICE (or anyone else) accessing your phone? Here’s how to lock it down. Link

  • If you’re a National Guard or active duty military and are given orders illegal or unconstitutional orders (as many servicemembers definitely will), here’s the number of the GI Rights Hotline: (877) 447-4487.

  • Worried that you might show up for work and find yourself locked out forever? Here’s guide for a “virtual go-bag,” from US Deptment of State. Which intended it for use in unstable autocracies overseas. Link

  • Federal worker laid off by Trump’s decision to gut the government? Here are some resources. Link

  • With the Centers for Disease Control and other US public health agencies now committed to actively degrading public health, it will be difficult to know where to get reliable information. You may want to consult the Public Health Agency of Canada (link), or the United Kingdom’s Health Security Agency (link).

    When That All Fails— Resist

  • Congress is doing nothing. The judiciary system is doing almost nothing. The only ones who can save us are— well, us. And just about the only organized effort at mass-mobilization is coming through the group Indivisible: Link.

  • Looking for a protest near you? The 50501 movement (organized by Indivisible) has got you covered. Link

  • If you protest, know your rights. The ACLU has a handy run-down: Link

  • 198 Methods of Nonviolent Action by Gene Sharp (He literally wrote the book on this). Link

  • 29 actions you can take, from Protect Democracy. Link

  • How to protect your neighbors when ICE rolls in. Link

  • In case you need to name and shame, here’s a constantly-updated calculation of each Member of Congress’s personal wealth: Link

  • Need a morale boost? This website shows you exactly how much longer— to the second!— until Trump’s term ends: Link

If you do go out in the streets to protest (peacefully), be prepared. Here’s a guide to some precautions commonly taken by protesters in Hong Kong during the 2019 demonstrations.