10 Steps for Saving Democracy
The worst is yet to come. Here's what to do about it.
“Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.” —James Baldwin
Now that Donald Trump has begun his second term, we need concrete ways to defend our democracy. While large-scale collective actions have yet to emerge, there’s plenty each of us can do right now as individuals to stem the tide of authoritarianism. Here are ten steps we must take immediately to mitigate the harms of the new administration. In coming weeks, I’ll dive deeper into each, explaining why they are necessary and how to do them effectively.
#1 Stay Calm
Grief, fear, and outrage are natural reactions to Trump’s return to office, but we cannot sustain resistance in a constant state of alarm. While strong emotions can drive action and clarify priorities, being consumed by them clouds our judgment. To resist effectively, we must learn to regulate our emotions in the face of Trump’s endless provocations, practicing skills like mindfulness, compartmentalization, and collective processing. Staying calm will help us avoid hopelessness and burnout, foster resilience, and ensure we respond thoughtfully rather than react impulsively over the long-term.
#2 Resist Division
Division is the cornerstone of authoritarian power. Aspiring dictators gain strength not only by vilifying political opponents but by fostering infighting among them. Trump has proven especially adept at polarizing the public, using inflammatory rhetoric, fearmongering, and social media to pit Americans against one another along political, racial, and cultural lines. To counter this, we must prioritize building bridges with people who may be very different from ourselves. Collaboration with anyone who shares a commitment to democracy—even if we disagree on other important issues—is essential to resisting authoritarianism. Progressive purity tests and ideological battles weaken us and play directly into Trump’s hands. A united front is the antidote to the division he stokes.
#3 Set a Good Example
Democracy is governed by a core set of social norms that guide how we treat one another and resolve conflicts. These norms include respect for the rule of law, commitment to equality, mutual respect, tolerance of dissent, nonviolence, and more. Authoritarians undermine democracy by eroding these principles, violating them themselves and encouraging others to do the same out of expediency or fear of retribution. To counter this, we must uphold these norms even when our political opponents do not. As Michelle Obama said, “When they go low, we go high”—because the only way to protect democracy is by staying true to its principles, even when others do not.
#4 Build Trust
Trust is the invisible bedrock of democracy. Society thrives because we believe that most citizens, leaders, and institutions are striving to act in good faith. Even when we disagree or fall short of our goals, trust allows us to work together. Aspiring despots like Trump undermine this crucial foundation by stoking cynicism and suspicion—falsely claiming widespread voter fraud, attacking the media, and spreading conspiracy theories about government institutions. To rebuild and protect trust, we must reconnect with our communities and repair the bonds that once united us. By focusing on the inherent decency of the vast majority of people, we can counter Trump’s corrosive rhetoric.
#5 Discuss Politics
Few things are more damaging to a democratic society than avoiding political conversations. When citizens withdraw from public discourse, aspiring authoritarians fill the gap with their own twisted version of reality. Refusing to engage in discussions, especially with those who disagree with us, not only gives the impression that we agree with Trump’s actions and narrative, but stifles the flow of vital information about the state of the nation. Thoughtful, respectful dialogue is crucial for countering division, rebuilding trust, and modeling the constructive engagement democracy depends on.
#6 Communicate Persuasively
It’s not enough to talk about politics—we must also communicate in ways that bring others to our side. Unfortunately, we often engage with Trump voters in ways that push them away rather than welcoming them to the cause. While good communication skills don’t come naturally to most people, they can be developed with practice. Effective persuasion isn’t about delivering the strongest arguments; it’s about helping the other person feel safe enough to lower their defenses and consider an alternative perspective. This means holding back on sharing our own views and instead prioritizing asking thoughtful questions, listening carefully, and genuinely trying to understand the other person’s worldview.
#7 Tame Bad Behavior
Trump’s rhetoric and actions signal that prejudice, hate, and violence are acceptable, giving others the greenlight to violate long-standing social norms. Authoritarians rely on this breakdown of social rules to consolidate power, as unchecked bad behavior creates an environment of fear, division, and chaos. When leaders fail to defend these standards, it falls to ordinary citizens to step up and reinforce prosocial norms. This means naming harmful behavior when it occurs—not to create conflict, but to clarify and reinforce boundaries. By calmly and consistently holding others accountable for their actions, we push back against authoritarian attempts to destabilize our communities and remind everyone of the value of mutual respect and equality.
#8 Combat Misinformation, Disinformation, and Propaganda
From the moment he entered politics, Trump has used lies and misinformation to manipulate public opinion and undermine democratic institutions. His falsehoods range from calculated claims, like insisting the 2020 election was “stolen,” to absurdities, such as suggesting disinfectant injections for COVID-19. Trump is aided by propaganda outlets like Fox News, OAN, and other partisan media that blur the line between fact and fiction, spreading disinformation to millions. This tactic, common among authoritarians, creates an environment where reality feels malleable, leaving people disoriented or resigned to believing one central figure. To combat this, we must become reliable sources of truth within our communities, sharing accurate, verifiable information and building trust through consistency and accuracy. Rather than getting bogged down in endless debates over falsehoods, our focus should be on helping others to seek out more trustworthy sources of information for themselves.
#9 Act Strategically
During Trump’s first term, a lot of political energy was wasted on tactics that failed to produce meaningful change. This is a common mistake: focusing on taking action in the absence of a coherent strategy. Tactics—such as protests, sit-ins, and demonstrations—are valuable tools, but they are only effective when guided by a well-defined plan with specific, realistic goals. Without clear objectives, even well-intentioned efforts can backfire. For instance, protests that disrupt daily life without clear messaging risk alienating the public and losing support, while scattered efforts can lead to activist burnout and disillusionment. To succeed, movements need strong leadership, practical planning, and a unified vision to ensure every action serves the larger mission. It’s not enough to oppose Trump; we must organize around achievable goals and execute thoughtful plans to successfully counter his actions.
#10 Be a Hero
The coming years will demand courage, resilience, and selflessness from all of us. You don’t need to singlehandedly save the nation, but you do have a moral obligation to participate in the fight for democracy. Heroism isn’t about grand, dramatic gestures or self-serving virtue-signalling—it’s about everyday acts of bravery such as talking with your MAGA family and friends about politics despite the risk of social friction. Authoritarians count on social anxiety and fear to silence and subdue dissent, hoping to splinter communities while pushing you toward hopelessness and compliance. True heroism lies in refusing to yield—standing firm in your values, even when it seems nothing can be done and everyone else has given in. Find the strength within yourself to uphold what is right even when it’s uncomfortable. By doing so, you help ensure that democracy endures.
The Time Is Now
Whether we like it or not, Trump 2.0 is here, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. Instead of succumbing to despair, outrage, or disengagement, start taking these steps now to push back against the spread of authoritarianism. Each of these actions plays a critical role in defending democracy, and over the coming weeks, I’ll dive deeper into each one to show you why they matter and how to do them effectively. The fight for democracy requires all of us—thoughtful, resilient, and determined—to act with purpose and clarity. Let’s get started.
What do you think is the most important step we can take right now to protect democracy? Share your thoughts below!
As soon as I started posting comments and podcast episodes about positive action, multiple people in my community reached out to me to tell me that they were organizing positive action groups. Positive action focuses on what we can do and tries to minimize the time people spend complaining about things that they can't control. It's really helpful to view what you are doing as positive action because it makes you somewhat immune to those people around you, in real life or online, who want to pull you down dark and depressing rabbit holes. Every single person can commit acts that make their community a bit healthier, whether the act is tiny like smiling at customers in a grocery store, or large like organizing effective political action.
I appreciate the way your comments ‘lean toward’ civility. Gottman explained the ‘4 horsemen’ that doom a marriage as: Criticism, Contempt, Defensiveness, and Stonewalling. But I see persons on the left using those 4 with people on the right on the daily, especially on Social Media. Criticism and contempt of someone who ‘seems racist’ only metasticizes racism. The only people the left can change is ourselves. We need to be bigger people, not egoically but with a kind of humility that allows us to engage from a ‘softer place’… That allows people to have the psychic space to admit to their unsure-ness of their deeply-held convictions. Most people don’t have the courage to admit they were wrong about something without a lot of support.