132 Comments

It seems we will need to employ different ways to resist this time. Protests and talking with elected officials, as suggested by Indivisible, seem fruitless. I’m at a loss as to how to proceed, other than knowing that mutual aid and protecting the most vulnerable are essential. What is your take on this?

Expand full comment
Nov 17Liked by Sarah Kendzior

Well, I’ve heard a cave is a good investment and a safe place to store cash as well .🙂

Expand full comment

Should we take our retirement savings out of the bank and bury it in the backyard? Serious question about the Security of the banking industry.

Expand full comment

A concern of mine also. Where to park our savings when (hopefully before) the stock market crashes next year?

I've been thinking FDIC-insured CDs when I sell. But then I think, hey, that's a FEDERAL agency, created in 1933 to restore confidence of individuals in the American banking system and to protect people from losing their life savings. With Trump in office, everything is vulnerable.

The fact that the Project 2025 Plan proposes merging the FDIC with other federal banking agencies concerns me. For the first time since 1933, an administration is talking about recharacterizing it.

Expand full comment

You can always save funds in a secured currency. Last time I checked there were about 8 countries that backed their currencies, Switzerland and New Zealand are two off the top of my head. You might want a non-US bank as well

Expand full comment

Do you think the election results were accurate? How likely is it that Musk/ Starlink manipulated the results?

Expand full comment

https://substack.com/home/post/p-151721941nn This as well as many others have broken down why it may be likely this election was stolen. Hate to sound like a one of those people but I wish someone would seriously look at this.

Expand full comment

In addition to/in concert with Russia.

Expand full comment

If you do answer this question I’d like to hear your thoughts on the shadow titan Peter Thiel and his vast power and influence, which never seems to be openly examined and questioned? Especially in relation to whether ‘rigging’ results is possible.

Expand full comment

How can I manage the intense rage I feel at the way elected and appointed Dems in positions of tremendous power seem to be rolling over in the face of the election results, pretending that everything is going to be fine and all we need to do is "keep the faith," whatever the F that means? And, secondarily, I am feeling a powerful pull to just try and gather my loved ones and protect them as best I can (if I can protect them at all) and tell those who are celebrating the orange monster's victory--especially the so-called "Christians"--not to expect any kindness or compassion from me going forward, period. I am not proud of all these dark and despairing feelings, but they are strong in me, sigh. Thank you.

Expand full comment

I wouldn’t try to ‘manage’ the intense emotions you’re feeling, I would rather suggest that you channel that energy and focus it towards a specific movement, protest, or action. Or, like you said, focus it on your family and getting a plan together for worse case scenario. Either way, those feelings are valid and powerful, especially when focused on a goal.

Also, those who are ‘excited’ and who were influential about the future regime’s second coming, are deeply lost, and they’re the epitome of the saying “words don’t teach, only life teaches”. There’s nothing you can say, they don’t want your compassion or kindness, to these people - the cruelty is the point, and they’re likely very hopeful that your loss, no matter how much suffering, will be their gain.

I’d recommend not wasting energy on extending much kindness or compassion to those people right now, after all they’re literally thrilled and getting everything they wanted … I’m not saying to do as they do, or to be cruel, but to not engage and protect your energy. It’s exhausting to argue with someone who is suffering from a deep cognitive dissonance, much like an addict, they’ll seek out truth, community and forgiveness when they’re ready… and that’s definitely not now.

❤️

Expand full comment

Sarah, I understand about Garland, the FBI, etc. all part of the mafia state. But what about Jack Smith? Where does he fit in all this?

Expand full comment

I've never been one for conspiracy theories but I find it difficult to believe that Trump won the popular vote, the presidency, the House and the Senate. I knew he could win but by this much? It seems to me that with the support tech bros (not naming anyone) some tampering would be easy. Why do you think Dems are not looking into this?

Expand full comment

I believe Sarah would say that as mentioned before, if they’re not swiftly and adamantly holding those perpetrators accountable, it’s because they 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 want the coup and further deterioration of freedom. Like 𝘴𝘰𝘧𝘵-fascist regimes maybe… if that’s even a thing.

Expand full comment

It was by a decisive margin, especially in the Senate, is why they can't contest any of the elections easily- only the PA Senate seat is doable for Dems, which they're trying (Reps could try the WI and MI Senate seats in rebuttal, since <1% wins there too, Hovde has got no shame so is trying it there even though he lost to Baldwin for example).

2016 was more doable because Hillary won the popular vote, even that (even if Trump is heading sub 50%, fortunately) is nigh impossible in 2024.

There was absolutely Right wing propaganda in play, but it also was in 2016 & 2020, is my two cents.

Expand full comment

For one reason, I'd guess, is that it would go to the Supreme Court eventually and lose there anyway?

Expand full comment

I apologize if you’ve answered this already. I’ve just recently become a subscriber and haven’t had a chance to get through all the archives. Please explain what controlled opposition is and the role it plays in the rise of authoritarianism. Are there any current democrats that are not acting as controlled opposition? How do we take back control of the government from the oligarchs/organized crime?

Expand full comment

Last time you answered questions, you mentioned living technologically like it was the 1990's (or something like that, pardon my inaccuracy). What does that look like in your life? Do you have any recommendations for folks around technology usage and surveillance? Anyone you look to on this? Thank you for everything you do!!

Expand full comment

Yes! This! My 22 yo son says the internet is already censored but what if it is blocked (like N. Korea and China). How will we stay informed?

Expand full comment

Hi Sarah, if both parties are complicit, how do we get out of this? Is there any hope to getting our country back? We need to remove dark money and oligarchs, and bolster voting rights at a bare minimum, but I’m not optimistic that’s going to happen given the court’s position on these issues.

Expand full comment
founding

Give it to me straight. What's the absolute worst-case scenario for our healthcare system now? I'm trying to mentally prepare myself. Thank you.

Expand full comment

As someone with an autoimmune condition who’s currently undergoing cancer treatment this is extremely relevant to me and my family. I know there are millions of Americans facing the same concerns.

Expand full comment

yes, i am very concerned that the protections related to pre-existing conditions and requiring insurance companies to cover preventative care/screenings will go away.

Expand full comment
founding

Totally get it. I've lived with Multiple Sclerosis for over 17 years and take a B-cell depleter that, if not covered by insurance, would cost over $120,000 per year at market price. I work full-time (1 regular job + 2 side hustles) and my wife also works 3 jobs (1 full-time + 2 side hustles) and there's absolutely no way we'd be able to afford this med, or any other M.S. med frankly, unless covered by insurance.

Expand full comment

Including the supply chain for medications? 😬

Expand full comment

Follower since your grad school days! Great work. Who are YOUR favorites to follow right now?

Expand full comment

I'm pretty steadily headed off in a very Guy Montag direction toward the wilderness of readings; however: I know some things, and I know how to get by, so I'd rather be sand in the gears of The Machine than just laying low. I'll be checking out the local group of folks who carry a more humane and humanitarian bent toward the quaint notion of 'community', despite their having hung their hopes on the neolibs for decades, and we'll see.

To my query to you, and at risk of Bonhoeffering (bringing undue attention to) any really effective organizations that have the ability to toss whole wrenches into the gears of what's coming, are you aware of an entity that's got its legs under it (and a canvas bag full of wrenches)? Thanks, Sarah, for this opportunity.

Expand full comment

In recent articles you've said that presidents are "installed" and that a lot of outcomes are planned or colluded in some way. Yet we see elections coming close, often down to a few thousand votes. so I'd love to better understand what mechanism you see doing the "installing": who is pulling the levers? and what levers are being pulled?

Expand full comment

Do we know what Erik Prince is up to?

Expand full comment

Hi Sarah, how worried should we be of Mike Flynn and Tulsi Gabbard possibly be in trump's administration?

Expand full comment

😱😱😱😱😱😱

Expand full comment

Why do you think Harris is not asking for a recount?

Expand full comment

Because she is either 1. Part of the problem/system or 2. Resistance is futile and she understands that she can’t buck the system… she literally (speaking from experience) at the bottom of the American caste system… she isn’t powerful, she’s inspiring, but not powerful. She needs those with implicit power, to fight that fight and push back… but I’m not sure there’s much point. Literally, black women understood the assignment… they showed up, they were willing to lead and to be lead… where did we fail? Why would we look back to her or them and ask them, “couldn’t you do more? Couldn’t you give more? It’s your fault…” whether she complicit or just tired and defeated… I understand why she’s quietly faded. I’m tired. I’m worried. I get it. She’s likely getting ready to pack up and head to her bunker… wait out the tsunami of terror that is very clearly coming (especially for her and people who look like her).

Expand full comment