Trump’s deal with corporate elites is corrupt and undermines democracy. We all pay financially and with our freedom. Gerard Baker of The Wall Street Journal has written two columns that make a powerful statement about the damage America’s corporate elites and their style of capitalism have done.

Strong progressive election results are continuing. Voters are making it clear that their top issues are the unaffordability of daily life, the corruption in our politics, fairness in our economy, and strong, effective opposition to the Trump regime.

The Trump family’s relationships with Saudi Arabia and its ruler involve billions of dollars of investments and real estate deals. These conflicts of interest and apparent corruption are unprecedented. There are many accessories, and there should be many investigations and prosecutions.

The Trump administration’s deal to support a Saudi Arabian nuclear energy program represents a major shift in U.S. policy and risks accelerating the nuclear arms race in the Middle East and globally. It has put a spotlight on the Trump family’s relationship with Saudi Arabia and its ruler.

Trump is the only politician calling for and taking government control of private companies and resources. At his direction, the government has taken stakes in at least nine companies. On the other hand, democratic socialists in the U.S. today are in the historical mainstream and are not communists.

Are national Democrats listening? The public is yelling and voting based on affordability and corruption. Progressive, grassroots candidates are beating incumbents and winning even in conservative districts. Many of these candidates are young, female, multicultural, and/or new to politics.

Democratic states need to push back more effectively against Republican efforts to impose right-wing policies. They need to use their policies and economic leverage to improve people’s well-being. This will make a distinction and persuade some voters and non-voters to vote for Democrats.

Some Republican states and right-wing activists are using the courts and vigilantism in efforts to impose their right-wing policies on Democratic states.

Some Republican states, with Texas in the lead, are trying to impose their right-wing policies on Democratic states. The federal government is fanning the flames of this divisive extremism. Abortion, gun laws, public school funding, and even private companies’ behaviors are targets.

State policies make a difference in people’s lives and even in their longevity. They’re more important than ever given the federal government’s dysfunction. Differences between policies of Republican states and Democratic ones affect access to healthcare, affordability, and overall well-being.

The revulsion at the violence, cruelty, lawlessness, and killings by ICE and CBP is growing. Please contact your U.S. Senators and Representative NOW and ask them to block funding for ICE, CBP, and DHS until major reforms make them compliant with the rule of law and the best practices of policing.

ICE’s lawlessness, cruelty, and violence are well documented. PLEASE contact your U.S. Senators NOW. Ask them to block ICE’s budget until thorough, local investigations of ICE killings are underway and unless it includes strong accountability and transparency measures.

Big money is corrupting our elections and elected officials. There are ways to blunt its impact that can be taken now by Democratic Party officials and by state and municipal governments. Contact them and encourage them to act now to blunt the impact of big money in our political system.

Two key questions for 2026: Will we have fair and honest elections? What do the Democrats need to do to win – and win big? I encourage you to contact your state election officials, as well as national and state Democratic Party leaders and elected officials. This post provides answers and messages.

2025 was a horrible year for American democracy. However, many good things did happen; here are some of them. Let’s keep up the activism and resistance in 2026. And let’s get out to vote and get everyone we know out to vote. That will make it a much better year than 2025 was. Happy New Year!

The huge, billionaire-owned news and media companies are not providing voters with the information needed for a well-functioning democracy. Abandon these biased, corporate news sources for independent, typically viewer / reader supported, non-profit sources, such as those identified here.

Huge news and media companies are dangerous and harmful. They control the information and disinformation we receive. They are not providing voters with the information they need to maintain a well-functioning democracy. Here are steps to rein in and compensate for their dangers and harm.

Please contact your U.S. Representative NOW. Ask them to stop the draconian Republican budget bill. The House will be voting soon on the bill just passed by the Senate. Its spending cuts will harm millions of Americans. Its tax cuts will be a windfall for wealthy individuals and corporations.

Please contact your US Senators NOW. Ask them to stop the draconian Republican budget the Senate is voting on NOW, which includes major cuts to Medicaid and food assistance. Its spending cuts will harm millions of Americans. Its tax cuts will be a windfall for wealthy individuals and corporations.

The Trump administration and Republicans are taking a serious toll on our society. Examples include their sanctioning of unnecessarily aggressive and violent tactics by federal police, their false claims of fighting antisemitism, and their attacks on transgender girl athletes.