What can we do about all this crap in the news???
This is the big question right now — and I would ask it in a Zoom circle context, because that’s where we actually have some — albeit small — leverage.
First: our group can’t stop Trump by force of will, but we absolutely can help shape what happens next — culturally, emotionally, locally, and politically. And honestly? Groups like ours are one of the few things that still work in a fractured society: small circles with discipline, creativity, attention, and actual human decency.
Also: this Greenland-tariff Cuba Mexico military escalation is real, not just rumor. Trump has been publicly linking tariffs against European/NATO countries to support for a U.S. takeover of Greenland, and the EU is openly discussing retaliation, which is exactly what Trump wants, so he can declare emergency war powers and kill a lot more citizens.
So — here are realistic, do-able, non-crazy things our Zoom circle can do.
1) Become a “signal amplifier” — not a doom consumer
The circle can decide:
No doom-scrolling. No rage-bait.
Instead:
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pick one trusted news brief source such as MS NOW
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and do a 1 minute weekly “what happened” segment on zoom with group.
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then STOP talking about it and do “what we do next.”
That alone is revolutionary.
Most people are being turned into emotional cattle.
2) Local action beats national despair
National politics is designed to make individuals feel helpless.
But counties, school boards, city councils, local courts, sheriff elections, local media:
these are actually steerable.
So you can do:
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one member per week looks up one local issue
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they bring it to the circle
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you take one small action (letter, call, attending meeting, supporting a local candidate)
A circle of 30 doing that weekly is a political machine.
3) “Document the weird” — keep receipts
When regimes get sloppy, they rely on the public forgetting.
Your circle can:
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maintain a simple shared doc called THE RECEIPTS
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every week: 5 bullets
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quote + date + source
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“what it means”
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“who it affects”
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This becomes a community memory bank.
And that becomes power later.
4) Make your art become a “carrier wave”
This is where you guys have a superpower.
Don’t try to out-argue the propaganda machine.
Out-create it.
What works:
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short songs
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funny satire
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memorable slogans
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simple visuals
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repeated themes (branding!)
If you can make people laugh and think, you win.
And your circle can do it as a practice:
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10 minutes: “what’s the headline?”
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20 minutes: “write 6 punchlines”
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pick best punchline.
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turn it into the hook of a song, make & play song as a DJ
5) Train emotional self-defense (this is huge)
Trump-world thrives on:
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fear
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humiliation
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tribal rage
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exhaustion
So one of your best contributions is teaching calm, clarity, sanity.
A weekly exercise like:
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“Name the emotion”
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“Name the hook”
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“Return to center”
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“Choose one action”
That turns politics from panic into practice.
6) Practical help for vulnerable people nearby
Whenever politics turns brutal, regular folks get squeezed first.
Our circle can quietly become:
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a micro mutual-aid network
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help with groceries, rides, small donations
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help people navigate resources
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moral support, warm phone calls
Not glamorous — but it’s real resistance.
7) Citizen voting discipline (the boring superweapon)
Not sexy — but the most powerful.
Your circle can:
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help everyone get or stay registered right away
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set calendar reminders for voting
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make sure folks know deadlines
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help people with rides (if needed)
And here’s the secret:
Many small circles produce Big Turnout.
…And turnout wins elections — that is, if we have one.
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Um, Bardo bus, anyone? Climb aboard and find a seat if you can.
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See You At The Top!!!
gorby