Pushback 18
I'm going to run out of stock photos of numbers soon. But until then, happy 18th post to The Pushback.
I have to admit, the news today is a little overwhelming. Trump has beaten back some TRO requests, and Elon continues to steamroll federal agencies, accessing private information and firing career civil servants. I hope some of what you find here is heartening. The Not My President Protests broke through; the mainstream media did cover them. Let's hope they keep watching.
Please note that the second half of this newsletter's name is Rebuild. For the foreseeable months, we will be in Pushback mode, but it's important to remember that the Democrats lost because they didn't have a platform that voters identified with or supported, and they will need that, and not just anti-Trump sentiment - to win in the future. Eventually, I hope to start including policy proposals and advocates that propose a new way forward. Ezra Klein seems to have the same thing in mind. He is interviewing Congressional Democrats about what alternative ideas they would propose if they had the majority. His first interview with Jake Auchincloss is available on NYT and on Klein's podcast.
The topics are in alphabetical order. This is a crowd-sourced effort, so if you come across a news item or call to action that you think we should include, please complete this form. Thank you to everyone who has contributed so far. Some links will require subscriptions.
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Action Items
As part of the February 19 Day of Action, Labor for Higher Ed is sponsoring protests on university campuses. Find your nearest action HERE.
You can register for the Hakeem Jeffries rally HERE.
Business
President Trump's tariffs: Why Alabama's thriving car industry will see biggest impact
Education
How Authors Against Book Bans Helped Defeat Attempted Library Censorship in Florida
Colorado bill to curb school library book challenges clears first legislative hurdle
Government
Some Republicans are pushing back on DOGE as firings hit their home states
Astronauts push back on Trump claim Biden abandoned them on space station
‘Follow the damn law’: Washington leaders have terse words for Trump
Trump cuts hit red states, triggering GOP pushback
Sen. Dick Durbin, University Leaders Push Back on Trump’s Efforts to Cut Medical Research Funding
Justice
Senior U.S. prosecutor resigns, citing demands to open probe into Biden-era contract
Four Adams Deputy Mayors Quit Following Trump Deal
LGBTQ+
Transgender rights advocates push back against new federal policies
Protests
OKC protests today draw crowds against Trump, Elon Musk
Anti-Trump protesters gather at Chicago’s Federal Plaza on Presidents Day
The Not My President Protest in Union Square was epic (Bluesky post)
‘Not My President’s Day’ protesters gather across Bay Area (East Bay Times)
'Not My Presidents Day' protests erupt across the country (Fox News)
Thousands rally against Trump in nationwide "Not My Presidents Day" protests (Axios)
‘Not My President’s Day’: Thousands Gather in Protest Against Trump (The Atlantic)
Protests outside CDC headquarters in Atlanta
‘No kings on Presidents Day’ rings out from protests against Trump and Musk (AP)
Thousands of people protest in Washington, D.C., and across the U.S. on Presidents Day (NPR)
Thousands Gather on Presidents’ Day to Call Trump a Tyrant (NYT)
Dallas protesters push back against Trump administration’s policies on Presidents Day
