Introduction to “Fight Back: How States Can Counter Authoritarianism” Series

posted by Kristi Wachter on September 10, 2026

Resistance is

State and local governments have constitutional and legal powers to challenge repressive federal actions and to advance freedom and equality.

August 20, 2026

Excerpt:

The following essays, like the chapters in the book from which they are drawn, Fight Back: How States Can Counter Authoritarianism (New Press, forthcoming 2027), suggest why this situation is not irreversible. They demonstrate that state and local governments have constitutional and legal powers that can be harnessed as a force to challenge repressive federal actions and to advance a more substantive and meaningful kind of freedom and equality — terms that can be understood, and conditions that can be enjoyed by conservatives and liberals alike.

Read the whole thing:

Introduction to “Fight Back: How States Can Counter Authoritarianism” Series

posted by Kristi Wachter on September 10, 2026

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Find more news about resistance, victories, and hopeful trends: weekly Extra! Extra! posts from Chop Wood, Carry Water; biweekly Just Good News posts from the Americans of Conscience Checklist; and Your Daily Dose of Climate Hope - plus pro-democracy protest photos every day from Today's Edition Newsletter.

October 17 - Vote Early Day

Join in a national day of voter participation on October 17 - join your neighbors in helping eligible voters understand their options and make a voting plan.

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Other things you can do:

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Now is a great time to take action.

Take Action

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It's okay to start small.

Connect with Indivisible. They have groups all over the country and actions you can take on your own or with others.
Use 5calls to call your legislators about whatever matters most to you.
Check out Mobilize to find protests, postcard-writing parties, virtual events, and volunteer opportunities.

Action is the antidote to fear and despair.

Even doing small things - learning more about how we can strengthen our democracy, sharing what you know with others, making a phone call - can make a difference.

Right now is a great time to take action.