Ezra and Leah
December 11, 2025
Have I written about these guys before? They are Ezra Levin and Leah Greenberg, co-founders of Indivisible and hosts of a weekly zoom called, “What’s the Plan.” This is one hour of political inspiration I absolutely depend on and look forward to each week (Thursdays at noon, Pacific). I don’t think I’ve missed but 2 or 3 this entire year….they are that good. Smart, wonky, politically astute, strategic. They are a firehose of insight and information. I feel smarter listening to them.
Today, I’d just returned from coffee with Vicki. I’d walked to Cloud Forest (and back) in the misty, frigid fog that has become our daily reality for weeks now here in the central valley of California. Vicki and I typically sit on the patio and even today, weirdos that we are, we sat outside in the bone cold air (the owner just couldn’t believe it). By the time I got home, I was frozen to my core so decided to take a bath to thaw out and warm up. Submerged in very hot water, steam rising all around, I watched today’s “What’s the Plan.” Ezra and Leah were in fine form, 60 solid minutes of rapid fire brilliance. Always gives me such hope.
Foggy air, icy chill, political despair, political inspiration, hot water, steamy steam… there’s probably a good metaphor in there somewhere.
Not My President’s Day
February 17, 2025
Another great day for a Capitol protest.. this time President’s Day. Probably a couple thousand? (No idea, really, I just know it was a lot bigger than the last one.)
This time, Steve came over and we did Action Coffee, then Lyra arrived, then we picked up Chris, Spot Heroed a great parking place in the Cathedral lot at J and 11th, and a short walk to the Capitol put us in the thick of it.
Well Organized!
February 7, 2025
I’m telling ya. I am very taken with these two — Ezra Levin and Leah Greenberg, founders of Indivisible. In the dark days of the first term of the president who would be dictator, they launched Indivisible and successfully lead demoralized dems through some well-fought battles to thwart some of the worst of trump’s early agenda. He was (thankfully) green, the resistance effort was green, but Indivisible’s ramp up was swift and their impact significant. It’s safe to say the big Obamacare repeal — a central feature of trump’s campaign — never materialized thanks in huge part to a massive grassroots campaign masterminded by Indivisible. The resistance was born.
Their organization has mushroomed and become incredibly well-oiled and Ezra and Leah are effectively mobilizing shell-shocked progressives once again. They are in coordination with a lot of great partners in the effort — MoveOn, the Working Families Party and many, many others. These guys are so smart, so easy and inspiring to listen to, so motivating. They have gotten the attention and earned the respect of so many in the media, in the resistance space and, AND, democratic lawmakers (who are now reaching out to them for advice on messaging and tactics).
I am just so grateful to be a part. I have made a priority their weekly checkins (Thursdays), that attract many thousand of activists from all over the country. Their most recent coalition gathering (with MoveOn, WFP and others) attracted 53,000 folks! They motivate, yes, but far more importantly develop strategies and accessible tool kits.. they always have action items at the ready so people can immediately step in, get activated, and add to the tremendous wave of folks who collectively ARE having an impact.
It’s the absolute best: an antidote to despair, action that adds up to influence, community that makes you feel like you’re not alone… and part of something important. It’s doable and sustainable.
It’s way too early to know whether trump is all bluster and recklessness or whether his goals of retribution, government destruction and authoritarian rule will succeed. It’s also too early to know whether courts will stand up for the rule of law, whether lawmakers will uphold their oaths to the Constitution and whether dems and progressives will sustain an effective resistance.
But I’m satisfied with my part in this, guided by people like Leah and Ezra.
A Great Day for a Protest
February 5, 2025
Yes, I’m demoralized by the prospect of four years of madness (at least two and then who knows). Yes we are drowning in a blizzard of sickening executive orders, insults, affronts and assaults from all sides. Yes it feels all doomsdayish and yes I’ve considered where we might have to move (Canada) if we continue on this authoritarian path.
But today. Today was a respite from the despair.
Steve M swung by at 9:30 and we repurposed some signs from marches-past. Then we picked Chris up and headed to the Federal Building at I and 5th in downtown Sac to meet (we hoped) with Senator Padilla’s field staff. We and about 300 others (!) … who, in a matter of days responded to an impromptu call-to-action from a woman in San Diego who stepped up to organize this meeting at the suggestion of Indivisible leaders in that crazy-inspiring Zoom call last Sunday night that drew 53,000 attendees!
People are setting their hair on fire (when they’re not burrowing deep under the covers) and desperado to do something about the insanity overwhelming every dem from coast to coast.
We showed up at 10:30 and were so thrilled to see a large crowd, which grew and grew. We listened to Irene (the woman from San Diego), who led us in chants (sure, okay). She instructed us to write our key question and/or issue on a Post-it. Originally, the idea was to attach all the Post-its to Padilla’s office door, as his staff had been MIA for days (uncertain why). However, the staff had gotten wind of the gathering and showed up and, to their credit, were attentive/responsive to the crowd. Well, that’s their job. Many of us waited for our turn to address staff, which was satisfying. I liked the face-to-face.. after a few weeks of phone messages.
The value of all of this is that Padilla’s staff conveys the energy, urgency of the crowd to the Senator, which, supposedly, influences their decision making. The other benefit is all the PR that comes out of this.. photos that get circulated, social media posts that spread through networks of tags… this is what democracy looks like (as the chant goes).
So this was wildly successful.
Here are a few pics of that:
Rebekka questioning staff about the breach of the US Treasury Department computer system by Elon Musk and his merry band of programming geeks.
THEN.. most of us left the Federal Building and headed the 10-ish blocks to the Capitol for the a bigger rally. This was sponsored by some group who’d organized an action at all 50 state capitols. Turns out it was hugely successful. There were sizeable gatherings in all 50 states — some marches, some rallies — and they all got great press coverage.
Here are some pics of that.
Sacramento had one of the larger turnouts across the country:
This was, like so many of these events, a sign-fest!
Here are some Davis folks we met up with at the Capitol.. heard there were tons, but we obvs didn’t see them all.
Hoping that this trend of engagement and pushback continues. It’s going to be a long and head-bonking few years, so .. more of this, please!
Non Inauguration Day
January 20, 2025
Saw bits and pieces here and there.. but avoided any direct contact (visual, audible) with the incoming guy. Blah blah blah. Me me me.
He’s a nauseating P.O.S and limiting exposure is the best strategy. He degrades everything he touches and it’s just such soul sucking shit, one assault on our senses after another after another after another…
I had a fantastic workout this morning thanks to a 5-day-course of prednisone. This jury is out, but no denying a kinda miraculous response: mobility increased, pain decreased. How long will it last??
Then I made calls to Senator Padilla’s, Senator Schiff’s and Congressman Thompson’s office on some pending immigration legislation. It’s part of a Monday morning thing I plan to do regularly whenever I’m in town: Action Coffee, hosted by Indivisible Yolo. Small but steady steps and actions in the forward direction. My drip adds to the bigger wave. It was also my nod to MLK day and volunteerism that contributes to the cause of social justice.
Was happy to see the City of Davis maintained its flag at half staff today (rather than bow to the incoming guy’s ego by raising it) in honor of a president whose integrity, honesty and commitment to justice moves me deeply. Thank you Jimmy Carter.
Life of Wry 