It Can't Happen Here - Part Two - What We Can Do
A heartfelt welcome to new GirlUnCensored Subscribers and a warm thank you to those who have been here from the very beginning!
Since the November 2024 election, our lives have been ambushed, thrown into chaos, seemingly by surprise. But in reality, none of this was a surprise. The warning signs were there. We chose to look the other way. "It Can’t Happen Here" unearths the quiet warnings we’ve ignored, revealing how the storm we dismissed now rages daily, its deep seated unimaginable affect on our lives, and what we, as everyday citizens, can do.
Not only can it happen here, it has and is.
Author Margaret Atwood, of The Handmaid’s Tale, written in 1985 revealed during a 2019 Penguin Podcast interview that she is often asked how she came up with so much material that fueled her dystopian novels centered around fictional Gilead. Her response: “the terrifying events of the novel all have their precedents in some of the darkest chapters in world history…from the brutal Communist reign of Ceausescu in Romania to the battles waged over female rights in America during the 1980’s.” Atwood would clip articles from newspapers and magazines, placing them in a notebook. It was from these pieces she created the famed The Handmaid’s Tale.
“…In 1985 racists in the US were preaching revolution: ‘US conservatives push new order – the push to the right.’ And religion was a significant part of that whole movement: ‘Racism and religion a potent brew,’ ‘Evangelist moles running for US president,’ ‘The power and influence behind America’s right’ – meaning the rise of the religious right.”
“…Once any democracy starts curtailing freedom in the name of freedom, it may land us in trouble. What if you wanted to take over the US today? What flag could you wave successfully?”* Margaret Atwood, September 9, 2019, Penguin Podcast
*(Emphasis added)
In Atwood’s Gilead, Christian Nationalism and extreme right ideology meld together, sprinkled heavily with sexism, topped off with a hefty dose of misogyny. Women’s autonomous freedom over their bodies and themselves was removed. Handmaids were held down by “barron” wives, raped by their husbands, all while they looked on. Should the rape render a pregnancy, the Handmaid surrendered the child to her rapist. Freedom to speak and move freely, removed. The Constitution of the United States of America, or Gilead as it was known, replaced by the Bible and used as the official Law of the Land. Under His Eye.
There existed a distinct hierarchy —- White, powerful, well-connected wealthy men, served as its governance.
As horrifying and far-fetched the story, one could take heart that at least it couldn’t/wouldn’t happen here.
Dizzying. Disquieting. Chilling. Stunning. Horrifying. Depressing. Exhausting. Debilitating. Deranged. Surprising. Not Surprising. I can’t believe it. I can believe it. Shocking. Expected. Unexpected. Fascism. Constitutional Crisis. Dictator. Authoritarian. White Evangelicals. Christian Nationalism. Nazis. White Supremacy. Suppression. Coup. Hostile Takeover. Oligarchy. Autocrats. Autocracy. Fiat. Succumb. Obedience. Loyalty.
Feelings, phrases and words. Just feelings, just words, from a country reeling from chaos and destruction. Missing is “unprecedented” because it’s all unprecedented. All of it. And we’re only 4 weeks into a 4-year term.
Our nation has gone from a Constitutionally mandated, 3 co-equal branches of government —- Executive, Legislative, Judicial —- each branch no greater or less than the other —- to an Executive branch aggressively and with hostility, wresting power from the GOP-controlled Legislative branch, its members aquicessing its power serving only as advisors and a Judicial branch, hanging barely, in the balances.
In real time we are watching the potential collapse of democracy and life as we know it. More than 30 government agencies have suffered the scourge of the unelected co-president and his band of teenage Ninjas, inflicting pain and suffering throughout the country and the world, the effects of which will be felt for another generation. And they’re not done yet. Today it’s the IRS, where the plan is to infiltrate the most sensitive private, personal information of hundreds of millions of tax paying citizens. All of this without any accountability, oversight, least of all any checks or balances. Remember the hoops Members of Congress jumped through, for years, to obtain the tax returns of Trump, which they needed for legitimate investigative purposes? Funny how that all works.
Risk-averse Democratic leaders are trying to figure out which way the wind is blowing and just how far into the water they can wade. Meanwhile, the clock is ticking.
The big question —- What can we do?
What We Can Do
First things first: We need to educate ourselves.
Over time I have been amassing publications, authors, influencers and Substack newsletters. I have put them on a spreadsheet. It is by no means comprehensive or exhaustive. I welcome your suggestions/recommendations. Let me know by sending a message or comment and I’ll add them to the list.
For Non-Spreadsheeters (I completely understand!) I have included links corresponding with each section in this newsletter.
There are references to books, documentaries and docuseries on the spreadsheet and below. No need to spend money for online streaming services or giving your money to Amazon for book purchases (although independent bookstores would greatly benefit from your support!) If you have a library card, at no cost, you can borrow online, audio/Ebooks, and online streaming movies, documentaries, docuseries.
“Libby” for ebooks; “Hoopla” for audiobooks/ebooks and music and “Kanopy” for videos. All three have apps you can download onto your phone
Educating Ourselves
Throughout history and over the last few decades, democracies around the world have collapsed. There is a playbook. For us to effectively and methodically resist, seeking the truth to combat the avalanche of miss/disinformation, we need to educate ourselves to better understand. Some recommendations:
Ruth Ben-Ghiat is a professor of History and Italian Studies at New York University. She advises governments and corporations on autocats and authoritarian parties and the threats to democracy they pose. She is the author of Strongmen Mussolini to the Present and Lucid, a Substack Newsletter and Podcast.
Timothy Snyder is an American historian of Europe. An author of many publications, his books On Tyranny and Bloodlands are particularly prescient to what’s happening here. He also has a Substack Newsletter, Thinking About…
Jeff Sharlet —- a NYT’s bestseller author of The Undertow: Scenes from a Slow Civil War; The Family (a Netflix series); and C Street; Sweet Heaven When I Die and This Brilliant Darkness. He is a Contributing Editor at Vanity Fair and a Professor of Literary Journalist, Dartmouth.
I have watched Sharlet’s Netflix series, The Family a number of times. It’s not about “a family” per se, but about the Far Right Christian movement dating back at least 70 years, and the subtle, highly organized, very well-funded organization that began here in the U.S., and fanned worldwide systemically, thanks in large part to their relationships with U.S. elected representatives. I have also read The Undertow: Scenes from a Slow Civil War. Both are superb introductions/assessments, through his reporting, the intersection of religion and politics. Sharlet also has a Substack Newsletter - Scenes from a Slow Civil War. All of it — more than worth your time.
Love her or hate her, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio Cortez (D-NY14) held an Instagram Live Stream, February 3, 2025, where more than 25,000 viewers took part. She explains what in her view, is happening and gives ideas of what we can do to resist. If you need motivation and/or need inspiration, I highly recommend. Total viewing time is about an hour-and-a-half. AOC’s personal Instagram account - for upcoming live streams here.
Building Community
What exactly does that mean?
Building community means creating and nurturing connections among people who share common interests, values, or goals. It involves fostering relationships, encouraging participation, and creating a sense of belonging. This can happen in neighborhoods, workplaces, online spaces, or social groups.
The far right has been effectively building communities and information silos since before the 1950’s. Like their movement, they have done so systemically, methodically, are well organized and well-funded. Democrats are eons behind but there is positive coalition building taking place nationwide. In the meantime, it depends upon each of us.
Everyone has a phone —- instant means of communication. We are on at least one social media platform, have email list serves and personal lists. Whether you have five follows or five million, it doesn’t matter. The majority of America is not consumed with cable news on a daily basis. In fact, especially today, less are paying attention because the news is too overwhelming. This is one key area where we can make a dent in the information abyss. We. Can. Do. It.
Take Action
Any number of groups and individuals have put out “Resistance Tool Kits.” There will of course, be actions you have zero interest in. Take with you what you can and what you’re most comfortable.
Here are a few independent(ish) publications:
Here are some Influencers you might find informative and engaging:
Contrarian - Substack - Contrarian was founded by Jen Rubin, formerly of the Washington Post and Norm Eisen. The list of contributors is both extensive and impressive and can be found on the Contrarian Substack website.
All of the above is contained on our Resistance Tool Kit spreadsheet here.
Only we can save ourselves from what is coming.
Please feel free to reach out. I would love to hear your thoughts!
Karen, your research to support what we should all fear is impeccable. I send your pieces to friends overseas in a bid to help them understand what is happening here. Thank you for your insight into the political horror show. Maggie Hall.
I love your perception and your writing, Karen. So happy to be in touch again.