I don’t know about you, but I woke up this morning feeling pretty low. I’ve been trying to triangulate the specific feeling that I haven’t been able to shake over the last week or so — it’s more than just outrage and alarm from what has been happening over the last month. And then I realized: The feeling is shame.
I actually can’t bring myself to watch the Trump/Vance gang up on President Zelensky with the sound on because the whole thing literally makes me sick to my stomach. (I’ve read the exchange and watched the interaction on mute and that’s enough for me.) The lack of decorum, the lack of any diplomatic skills, the lack of class — it was just embarrassing and humiliating for America, a debasement of the office of the presidency.
And that’s completely separate from the fact that siding with a brutal dictator against a small democratic country that was illegally invaded makes no sense from the point of view of our own national security interests. Those who have been enrolled in my Substack class know that Russia has been trying to subvert the United States from within since the Cold War, a baton that Putin, a former KGB officer, has picked up and run with over the last two decades. And now, it seems, he has won. If you are inclined, the following posts can offer some context:
Class 5: The Active Measures Long Game (no paywall)
Although the scene in the Oval Office was shocking, it’s not really surprising. After all, it was only the explicit manifestation of a pretty consistent foreign policy thru-line to weaken/villainize Ukraine ever since Trump became the GOP candidate in 2016. To wit:
2016: GOP dilutes its party platform on military assistance to Ukraine at the national convention
2017: Mueller investigation brings to light a so-called Ukraine-Russia “peace plan” that was presented to Trump that would (surprise!) benefit Russia at the expense of Ukraine by recognizing Crimea as Russian territory and requiring Ukraine to “lease” it to Russia
2019: Trump tries to shake down Zelensky by (illegally) withholding military aid unless he “announced” an investigation into the Bidens and into whether Ukraine interfered in the 2016 election (this was a Russian talking point)
2020: The “Ukraine election interference” conspiracy theory is information-laundered during impeachment 1.0, by members of Congress, specifically by Senators Ron Johnson and Chuck Grassley (Ryan Goodman and I co-authored a two-part Just Security piece breaking this down)
2021-2024: Trump and GOP keep trying to make Burisma happen
2025: The idiotic scene we witnessed yesterday
So. This has been in plain sight, the only difference now is that Trump realizes that there are no more Russia hawks in his own party who are going to stand in his way and he can just say the quiet part out loud.
I’m headed to an Indian wedding but will leave you with my and Renato’s pod from last week, on the importance of public resignations. Let’s hope we start seeing more of them:
Other podcasts I was in this week:
I was so excited to join my friend Dahlia Lithwick on her amazing Amicus podcast to discuss the dangers of a politicized FBI and the military (warning: this was not an optimistic discussion)
Articles worth reading:
I came across this New York Times piece after publishing last week’s round up (and sent it around to subscribers in the chat), but this big-picture overview of the current litigation surrounding Trump/Musk’s actions is very helpful, especially in providing visual markers of what is truly abnormal and what is in the realm of actual Article II authority
Upcoming events:
NEW! DATE AND TIME SET: Freedom Academy Book Club, Tuesday, March 25, 6 p.m. ET. I’m so excited that the Freedom Academy Book Club selection for this quarter is Breaking Twitter: Elon Musk and the Most Controversial Corporate Takeover in History by Ben Mezrich. You are likely already familiar with Ben’s work, as his book, The Accidental Billionaires: The Founding of Facebook was the basis for the hit movie The Social Network, and his more recent book, The Antisocial Network, was the basis for the hit movie Dumb Money. I am fortunate to get to hang with Ben and his wife, Tonya, up in Quechee, Vermont, and we are very lucky to have him join us (sometime in March) to discuss Elon, Twitter, social media, and billionaires more generally! (I am actually also reading his other book, Bitcoin Billionaires, because I’m now kind of obsessed with the rise of the broligarchs.) The Freedom Academy Book Club discussions are open to all paid subscribers and recordings of the talks are posted after in case you can’t make it live!
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
I am getting a lot of questions from friends and colleagues asking what they can do in this urgent political moment. I have three potential actions steps you can take now:
Pro bono lawyers are on the front lines to stop Trump and Musk’s breakdown, takedown, and shakedown of the federal government. You can contribute to this effort on the donation page of State Democracy Defenders Action
Start a democracy group! This latest report from Brookings, Democracy Playbook 2025, would be a great topic of discussion. It lists 7 pillars to shore up democracy which can provide guideposts for harnessing our efforts.
Self care tip of the week: SLEEP! One mistake I made during Trump 1.0 is that I completely torpedoed my sleep schedule. After getting myself worked up by watching (or being on air for) hours of cable news, I’d get on social media and exacerbate my anxiety even more. Then I’d toss and turn all night, and basically be a wreck the next day. Not this time, my friends. I feel SO much better and able to handle the day’s onslaught with a full night’s sleep — go to bed, the nonsense will be there in the morning to deal with. On nights where I feel especially anxious, I drink a glass of this tasty magnesium supplement and it gets me through the night.
I’ve been trying to think of a more inspirational sign off for my Round Ups and finally found one. Some of you might remember my reprinting an excerpt from Percy Bysshe Shelley’s “The Masque of Anarchy” after our December office hours. I have found myself thinking of the last stanza, as a reminder that MAGA is outnumbered by Americans and people around the world — from all parts of the political spectrum — who believe in democracy, decency, and humanity. So I will leave you with those words:
‘Rise like Lions after slumber
In unvanquishable number—
Shake your chains to earth like dew
Which in sleep had fallen on you—
Ye are many—they are few.’
I am with you. I need you because I cannot watch his reality TV antics. I have another example to share about shame. Like so many of us, my parents and I came to this country for a better life. The shame I also feel is how this administration has people like my parents believing people who look like them and want better for their families are the enemy. My parents admitted to me they voted for these idiots because of border security. My retired parents split their between India and Long Island. When the hell would the border issues bother them? I wish I had time that day to call them out on the colorism and anti-Blackness we Indians are known for. Yes. I am ashamed that my parents were so comfortable with their racism. I can only imagine what other nonsense they are sharing as they hear about what is happening to our transgender friends in the military. Apologies for the dump.
I really just meant to say that I love your content and I find it helpful for my teaching and my dissertation. Then the words kept spilling out. I am a doctoral student and we tend to have a lot on our minds. Have an awesome caturday!
It’s happening in front of our eyes, we know and see the consequences, and can do nothing but watch Putin win. It will be hard to ever feel proud of our country again. No nation led by rational leaders should ever trust us again.