Conservative Columnist Calls for Civic Uprising Against Trump
When you hear calls for mass protests and strikes coming from Republicans, it hits different.
The Call for MORE From David Brooks
In a surprisingly passionate opinion piece for the New York Times, Republican columnist David Brooks is calling for MORE.
(Here is a GIFT ARTICLE version of what he wrote for those who don’t subscribe.)
In the piece, Brooks argues correctly that Trumpism is not just a political ideology but a primal force driven by ego, appetite, and acquisitiveness, which seeks to destroy any institution that might restrain its power. He contends that the various attacks on law firms, universities, NATO, and global trade are not separate battles but a single effort to undo the civilizational order.
“Over the centuries, people built the sinews of civilization: Constitutions to restrain power, international alliances to promote peace, legal systems to peacefully settle disputes, scientific institutions to cure disease, news outlets to advance public understanding, charitable organizations to ease suffering, businesses to build wealth and spread prosperity, and universities to preserve, transmit and advance the glories of our way of life. These institutions make our lives sweet, loving and creative, rather than nasty, brutish and short.
Trumpism is threatening all of that.”
Brooks advocates for a comprehensive national civic uprising, bringing together Americans from universities, law, business, nonprofits, scientific communities, civil servants, and beyond. He cites historical examples of nonviolent uprisings that have successfully challenged authoritarian regimes, highlighting the need for coordination, clear messaging, and a backbone organization to lead the movement.
He’s 100% right.
Go Big or Go Home
As we’ve been saying on The Dangerous Ones Podcast (Subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts), we need to protest in numbers too big to ignore.
Hands Off was great, but we need more.
AOC and Bernie have been great, but we need more, as well as a broader coalition not rooted in party politics, as Brooks suggests.
In the next episode of The Dangerous Ones, which will go live at 8am ET on Sunday, April 20th, our guest Malcolm Nance suggests a massive protest in DC on Trump’s birthday, when he plans to have a parade fit for a military dictator.
Whatever the venue, civil society and everyday Americans need to be prepared to come together in a way and on a scale that we’ve never experienced.
Trump’s assaults are unprecedented. Our response - ultimately - needs to be as well.
So buckle up.
I don’t think that we can wait that long.
Coming from a Conservative this seems to carry extra heft.