Courage is contagious — it’s time to fight back
By Sarah Dohl, Indivisible Chief Campaigns Officer
Yesterday, Donald Trump was sworn in as president of the United States and signed more executive orders on Day 1 than any other president has signed in one year. Some are blatantly unconstitutional. Some are already being legally challenged and likely to be slowed or even overturned by the courts. All are designed to create chaos and inflict harm — ending birthright citizenship, declaring it the policy of the United States to discriminate against trans people, banning federal funding for programs affirming transgender people, and more.
There is no quiet part — it’s all out loud.
Remember: The chaos isn’t a side effect; it’s the goal. MAGA wants to overwhelm us with cruelty and confusion, hoping we’ll freeze.
We can’t.
I know we said it in an email to you yesterday, but it’s worth repeating: Fascists depend on convincing us to give our power away and fall in line, that the fight is over, and we lost. And while we must be clear-eyed about the threat, we must not do the fascists’ work for them by giving them powers they do not have.
Real-talk: While this moment feels utterly overwhelming, there are battles that we can take on right now. But — and I cannot overstate this enough — we have to stay focused on where we can generate backlash. Why? Because when we can generate backlash, we can delay, defang, and block some of the most dangerous parts of MAGA Republicans’ agenda.
This week, that means reminding Democrats in Congress that they have a choice: fight or fold. And right now, maybe more than at any other time in history, we need them to find their spines and fight — not on MAGA’s terms, but on our own.
Fighting on Our Terms on MAGA’s Laken Riley Act Dreamer Deportation Act
If we’ve learned anything over the last eight years, it’s that we can’t win by letting MAGA define the fight. When Democrats fight on our terms, we change the narrative and expose their extremism. That’s exactly what we need to do now with the Dreamer Deportation Act (also known as the Laken Riley Act).
For starters, let’s be honest about this bill: It has nothing to do with Laken Riley. The tragedy it’s named after is being weaponized as a dog whistle to stoke fear, demonize immigrants, and advance MAGA’s cruel, authoritarian agenda. Hard stop. This bill wouldn’t protect anyone. What it would do is create chaos and a constitutional crisis that could impact millions. It:
- Threatens Dreamers and Legal Immigrants: Dreamers and legal immigrants — including those on visas — would face heightened detention risks, tearing apart families and destabilizing communities.
- Imprisons Immigrants Indefinitely Without Trial: People can be detained indefinitely, even without a conviction or formal charges, violating due process rights.
- Empowers MAGA Extremists to Override Federal Policy: State attorneys general, like Texas’s Ken Paxton, could veto federal immigration policies, creating chaos and undermining national authority.
- Shuts Down Legal Immigration Pathways: Enables blanket bans on entire countries, disrupting family reunification, limiting skilled worker programs, and undermining pathways to citizenship.
We don’t have to agree on the perfect immigration solutions to agree that this bill is wildly bad. It’s cruel, unworkable, and unconstitutional. Passing it would hand MAGA a propaganda win at the worst possible moment. We cannot let that happen.
Where We Stand & What Happens Next
Senate passes the bill: Last night, the Senate held its final vote on this bill (S. 5), and it passed 64–35, with 12 Democrats voting yes alongside every Republican: Sens. Cortez Masto (NV), Fetterman (PA), Gallego (AZ), Hassan (NH), Kelly (AZ), Ossoff (GA), Peters (MI), Rosen (NV), Shaheen (NH), Slotkin (MI), Warner (VA), and Warnock (GA).
This is a disappointing outcome (and dear reader, if any of these folks are your senators, you should call them and tell them how disappointed you are), but it’s also proof of how much pressure works. When this fight began, only nine Senate Democrats stood against it. By final passage, that number grew to 35, thanks to your relentless calls and advocacy. That’s 26 more Democrats who found their spines last week — and it shows how much we can shift the narrative when we fight.
Now, the bill moves to the House, where we face another tough fight.
An uphill fight in the House: The last time this bill (H.R. 29) came up, 48 House Democrats voted with Republicans. That’s unacceptable. Half-hearted opposition won’t cut it. If Democrats don’t step up, MAGA will get an easy win that they’re desperate for right as Trump’s presidency kicks off.
As Ezra explained over the weekend, when Democrats fight, they can make MAGA work for every inch. Just look at last week’s battle over MAGA’s Child Predator Empowerment Act (H.R. 28). House Democrats, led by Rep. Maxwell Frost, refused to play on MAGA’s terms. They rebranded the bill for what it was and unified against it. Their courage slowed momentum and shifted the narrative. As of right now, it’s unclear when the Senate could take it up.
That’s the blueprint. Now, we need to act.
What You Can Do Right Now
- Call your Representative. For those 48 Democrats who voted the wrong way last time, make sure they know you’re paying attention and that you’re demanding that they vote no (we made a graphic for each and every one of them that we hope you’ll use this week). And for those who voted the right way, thank them and tell them to stand firm again.
- Plan a district office visit. Organize a small group, create visuals that flip the script (think: Dreamer Deportation Act), and show up to your representative’s local office. Thank them for courage where it’s due on the trans kids in sports bill and demand they don’t debate this bill on MAGA’s terms.
- Close out the Senate fight with thank-you or accountability calls. We need Senate Democrats to remember that we’re paying attention. Let the 12 Democrats who voted yes know how disappointed you are and demand they find their courage fast. Thank the 35 who voted no, and remind them you’ve got their backs when they fight. You can find how every senator voted here.
This isn’t just about immigration policy. It’s about stopping MAGA’s agenda before it builds momentum. Trump’s attacks on immigrants and trans kids are just the opening salvos. Congress has the power to fight back. If Democrats unite now, they can force MAGA to fight for every inch. If they cave, they hand Trump the victory he craves. Period.
We’ve been here before. In 2017, we learned that collective action can slow even the most aggressive agenda. Let’s take that lesson and double down. The stakes are higher now, and the time to act is today. Make your calls now, plan your visit, and share this email widely.
Courage is contagious — but so is capitulation. Let’s make sure Democrats understand that when they fight, we’re with them. And when they cave, we hold them accountable.
More than ever — thank you for all that you do.
P.S. Also, we’ll be coming together to process this week’s events this Thursday at 3pm ET. Co-Executive Directors Leah and Ezra will lead the discussion and answer your questions in real-time. You can register for Zoom here. While we hope you can join us live, we know that time doesn’t work for everyone — all these calls are uploaded here so you can watch them when convenient.
