How to stop Trump in 300 words

Our Job is to Humanize

1. Trump’s strategy is dehumanization. Every time he humiliates, caricatures, ostracizes, bullies, arrests, deports or incarcerates, he creates terror. That’s what will end our country.

2. Our job is to humanize: to be clear about who and what we’re fighting for.

NOT “Medicaid.” INSTEAD, “making sure every mother and child can see a doctor, can get a prescription filled when they’re sick.” Sure, mention Medicaid, but explain what Medicaid looks like in real life.

NOT “Due process.” INSTEAD, “stop Trump from arresting people just because of their skin color—stop his mass arrests without evidence they’ve done anything wrong.”

NOT “Tariffs.” INSTEAD, “stop Trump from destroying our jobs and any savings we’ve managed to put aside.”

Go beyond mere words.

Share real life experience.

Tell a story about someone you love who got sick, and what happened when they did or didn’t get medical care.

Describe how someone you love just lost their nest egg or job.

Ask the person you’re meeting if they have faced prejudice first-hand: they were judged unfairly, or even experienced race-based assault by criminals or the police.

When we share our stories—one-on-one, face-to-face, in person—we not only give each “issue" a human face.

We connect.

3. Focus on the 15,000 voters who will decide our country’s fate.

15,000 voters in 3-5 districts will decide who controls the House of Representatives in 2026 (this was true in 2024). Google “close House races.” You’re probably within driving distance of one. Volunteer now. Volunteer specifically to connect with voters face-to-face. Start now. Help the Democrat win.

It’s up to you and me and our friends. Are we willing to talk with some people who aren’t yet with us?

We need them. And they need us.

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This short piece ran in Vital City NYC this week and was one of several offering short-form advice on what we can all do. Thanks to Vital City for asking me to contribute. Here’s where you can see the full array of pieces:

https://www.vitalcitynyc.org/articles/what-you-can-do-about-trump