Resistance Daily Brief for 20 February 2025
Information, insight, and inspiration for resisting tyranny in America
Welcome!
Welcome to The Resistance Sentinel, a publication dedicated to documenting and amplifying the growing movement to defend democracy against authoritarian overreach. We are a small collective of researchers and analysts who have come together with a simple mission: to shine a light on the diverse forms of opposition emerging across the country, from courtrooms to city squares, from state houses to social media. While much media coverage focuses on tracking authoritarian actions, we aim to highlight the creative, determined, and often inspiring responses of citizens, institutions, and organizations working to protect democratic norms and processes.
Our daily briefings will provide carefully curated coverage of resistance activities, upcoming opportunities for engagement, and practical knowledge drawn from historical movements and contemporary best practices. We believe that resistance is most effective when it is informed, strategic, and sustained--and that documenting these efforts helps create the solidarity and courage needed for long-term success. Whether you're a seasoned activist or newly concerned citizen, we aim to provide the information, tools, and inspiration needed to participate meaningfully in this critical moment for American democracy.
Join us as we work collectively toward a more just and democratic future. Together, we can turn awareness into action.
Resistance Today
Judicial Branch
Labor Groups Sue Trump Administration Over Mass Firing of Federal Workers
What happened: Several labor unions filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration in San Francisco federal court, challenging the mass firing of probationary federal employees that began on February 13, 2025. The unions allege that the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) exceeded its authority by directing federal agencies to terminate tens of thousands of workers, claiming the firings were illegally carried out under the pretense of performance issues. The lawsuit is part of a broader conflict over the Trump administration's efforts, supported by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, to dramatically reduce the federal workforce.
Why it matters: The case represents a critical test of executive power limits in reshaping federal bureaucracy, as it challenges whether administrative agencies can unilaterally terminate large numbers of government workers without Congressional authorization. The lawsuit's outcome could establish important precedents for protecting government workers' rights against arbitrary dismissal and prevent future administrations from using similar tactics to circumvent established civil service protections. If successful, the legal challenge could provide a blueprint for resistance against authoritarian attempts to dismantle government institutions through mass personnel purges disguised as performance-based terminations.
Track Litigation Against the Trump Administration
What Happened: Resist List over on BlueSky is posting good resources for keeping up with resistance activities, including a link to the Just Security litigation tracker.
Why it matters: With the regime’s “flood the zone” strategy of overwhelming action to collapse democracy, it’s going to take all of us working together to monitor and share information to stay informed. If actions in the legal space are important to you, be sure to follow Just Security’s tracker. In any case, follow Resist List.
Legislative Branch
Democrats Plan Symbolic Guest Protest at Trump's Congressional Address - But Will It Work?
https://www.axios.com/2025/02/19/trump-speech-congress-hakeem-jeffries-guests
What happened: House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries is directing Democratic members to bring guests negatively impacted by Trump administration policies to the president's March 4th Congressional address. The coordinated guest strategy aims to highlight opposition to Trump's agenda and recent budget proposals. Democrats are unifying around this symbolic protest as part of a broader resistance strategy that includes litigation and district-level messaging.
Why it matters: According to Sharp's framework for effective resistance, symbolic protests like this guest strategy are unlikely to meaningfully constrain authoritarian power since they don't target key institutional pillars or sources of regime authority. Sharp emphasizes that successful resistance requires undermining the dictator's actual sources of power through widespread noncooperation and institutional defiance, not just symbolic actions. While the Democrats' broader strategy of litigation and local organizing shows more promise, this particular Congressional theater appears focused on messaging rather than building alternative power centers or expanding participation beyond political elites. For truly effective resistance, Sharp recommends focusing on actions that directly challenge and weaken the regime's legitimacy, institutional control, and sources of cooperation from key sectors of society. This guest protest, while generating media attention, fails to meet those strategic criteria for effective resistance.
Democratic Congressman Demands Answers After Revelations About White Supremacist ICE Official
What happened:
Why it matters: The exposure of a senior immigration prosecutor's alleged white supremacist views presents a critical opportunity for coordinated institutional resistance and reform. While the congressman's public demands create important pressure, lasting change will require sustained action from multiple sources including media outlets, civil rights organizations, and internal whistleblowers. The documentation of these views could serve as a catalyst for broader systemic changes by eroding institutional legitimacy and enabling protected channels for exposing similar biases within the system.
Executive Branch
Civil Servants Fight Back: Federal Workers Launch GameStop-Style Resistance Against Musk's Takeover
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/feb/20/civil-servants-trump-gamestop
What happened: Federal workers are mounting organized resistance against Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) operation through coordinated civil disobedience and truth-telling. When pressured to resign en masse on January 28th, 2025, only 75,000 out of 2 million workers took buyouts, with many rallying around the slogan "Hold the line, don't resign." Even after mass firings began, employees are documenting the truth about their colleagues' excellent performance records and refusing to accept false narratives about their terminations.
Why it matters: This strategic non-cooperation by federal workers demonstrates how coordinated resistance can effectively challenge authoritarian control by targeting its vulnerabilities. By maintaining institutional integrity and exposing false pretexts for firings, the civil servants are undermining the regime's legitimacy while preserving vital documentation of government functions. Their disciplined truth-telling campaign, inspired by Solzhenitsyn's concept of "personal non-participation in lies," provides a model for how bureaucratic resistance can help preserve democratic institutions and create a factual record that could be crucial for eventual accountability and restoration of proper governance.
DOJ Criminal Division Shake-up: Key Officials Resign Amid Mounting Political Pressure
https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/18/politics/justice-department-dc-criminal-division/index.html
What happened: Three senior officials in the DOJ's Criminal Division submitted their resignations, including Division Chief Sarah Martinez and two deputy chiefs. The resignations come after weeks of intense Congressional scrutiny over the Division's handling of several high-profile political corruption cases.
Why it matters: The sudden departure of key DOJ leadership creates a significant vulnerability in federal law enforcement oversight and could impact numerous ongoing investigations. The timing of these resignations, coinciding with increased political pressure, suggests growing tensions between career prosecutors and political appointees that could affect the independence of justice department operations. This development may signal deeper institutional stress within federal law enforcement agencies, potentially weakening their ability to effectively pursue complex criminal investigations. Tensions between a regime and its security services, like police and military, are significant factors in potential regime collapse. If Trump cannot bring the DOJ and federal law enforcement agencies like the FBI to heel, it could spell trouble for his future. That is why he and AG Pam Bondi, and now FBI Director Kash Patel, are spending so much time and effort in their purge of these agencies. They are a center of gravity for the Trump regime.
States
Illinois Governor Pritzker Draws Parallels Between Trump Administration and Nazi Germany in Budget Address
https://news.wttw.com/2025/02/19/pritzker-compares-trump-administration-s-approach-nazi-germany-during-state-budget
What happened: During his joint budget and state of the state address, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker warned of the potential dangers of federal budget cuts and drew comparisons between the current political climate under President Trump and the rise of Adolf Hitler in Nazi Germany, citing the spread of distrust, hate, and blame. His remarks sparked immediate backlash from Republicans, who accused him of divisiveness and trivializing history, while Pritzker defended his statements as a necessary warning to safeguard democracy. Pritzker emphasized the need to learn from history to prevent the repetition of past tragedies and to remain vigilant against authoritarianism.
Why it matters: Pritzker's comments highlight a significant vulnerability for the regime: its perceived authoritarian tendencies and historical parallels that could erode its support base and galvanize opposition. By invoking historical comparisons, Pritzker taps into a potent narrative that could resonate with a broader audience concerned about the direction of the country, potentially inciting greater resistance. The Republican backlash also provides an opportunity to further highlight the regime's sensitivity to criticism and its attempts to control the narrative, which can be used to undermine its credibility. The comparison to historical events also serves as a potent warning, urging the population to recognize and resist any encroachments on democratic norms before they become irreversible.
Public
Mass Federal Worker Protests Erupt Nationwide as Trump's DOGE Service Slashes Jobs
https://www.ktvu.com/news/federal-workers-protest-outside-tesla-showroom-musk-defends-cuts
https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2025/2/20/federal-cuts-rally-boston/
https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/philadelphia-trump-federal-worker-cuts-protest/
What happened: The Trump administration has fired approximately 10,000 probationary federal employees across multiple agencies, triggering widespread protests in Washington D.C., San Francisco, Boston, and Philadelphia. The dismissals came as Trump's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, continues accessing agency internal systems. Hundreds rallied outside the Department of Health and Human Services in D.C., where researchers and scientists warned the cuts threaten critical medical research and public health work.
Why it matters: The mass firings reveal significant vulnerabilities in the federal bureaucracy that could be exploited by resistance movements. The protests demonstrate how quickly coordinated opposition can mobilize across multiple cities when government overreach occurs. The strong showing by unions, academics, and civil servants suggests potential for building broader coalitions. Most notably, the firings appear to be creating internal dissent, with some agency leaders like NIH's Dr. Tabak choosing to resign rather than implement the cuts - indicating possible fracturing of regime loyalty that resistance groups could leverage.
Trump Administration Launches Attack on California High-Speed Rail Project, Faces Fierce Resistance
What happened: Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced a "compliance review" of California's High-Speed Rail project during a contentious appearance at LA Union Station, where protesters disrupted his speech with chants of "build the train!" The review appears aimed at rescinding $3.1 billion in Biden-era grants for the $4 billion project that is already under construction.
Why it matters: The regime's attempt to undermine a popular infrastructure project reveals its vulnerability to organized resistance and public opposition, as demonstrated by the protesters' ability to disrupt the official announcement. The strong public support (54.3% approval) and economic impact ($22 billion and 14,600 jobs) make it politically difficult for the administration to justify canceling the project. The resistance's strategy of combining direct protest action with institutional defense through state government and public opinion shows how multiple centers of democratic power can be activated to challenge authoritarian control attempts.
Photo Credit: @streetsblogla.bsky.social
Trump Policies Face Fierce Resistance as Minnesota Civil Society Groups Rally at State Capitol
What happened: A large coalition of labor unions, faith leaders, and educators gathered at the Minnesota Capitol Rotunda to protest Trump administration policies targeting public services, immigrants, and transgender rights. Attorney General Keith Ellison highlighted legal victories against the administration's attempts to restrict birthright citizenship and gender-affirming care, while union leaders demanded continued funding for education, healthcare and social services. Teachers and union members specifically rallied against proposed education defunding and anti-transgender sports policies.
Why it matters: The widespread resistance demonstrated at this rally reveals significant vulnerabilities in the regime's ability to implement its agenda, particularly at the state level where organized opposition can effectively challenge federal policies through legal and grassroots action. The diverse coalition of labor, faith, education and government leaders shows how different sectors can unite in nonviolent resistance, using methods like public protest, legal challenges, and organized non-cooperation to defend vulnerable populations and essential services. The rally exemplifies how focused resistance targeting specific policies, combined with broad-based organizing across different groups, can successfully impede authoritarian measures and protect democratic institutions.
New Academic Dashboard Tracks US Protest Activity in Real-Time
https://nonviolentactionlab.shinyapps.io/ccc-data-dashboard/
What happened: The Crowd Counting Consortium (CCC) Data Dashboard has launched as an academic initiative to monitor and analyze public demonstrations across the United States. The dashboard provides weekly updates tracking rallies and public demonstrations using publicly available data. The project represents a comprehensive effort to quantify and study patterns in American protest movements.
Why it matters: This type of systematic data collection and analysis provides valuable insights into the effectiveness and trends of public demonstrations as a form of resistance. The academic nature of the project helps establish credible metrics for measuring protest impact and reach, which can inform future organizing strategies. Understanding the geographic and temporal patterns of demonstrations can help resistance movements optimize their tactics and resource allocation for maximum effect.
See also: Pillars -- Principled Collective Action & Loving Defiance [h/t to Resist List]
International
European Leaders Push Back Against US Isolationism as Poland's PM Calls for Decisive Action on Ukraine
https://x.com/donaldtusk/status/1892614329792422319
What happened: Donald Tusk, Poland's Prime Minister, issued a direct challenge to recent US positions by calling for immediate concrete actions to support Ukraine. His three-point plan includes using frozen Russian assets to finance aid for Ukraine, strengthening military preparedness along EU-Russia borders, and implementing new fiscal rules for EU security and defense. This statement comes as a direct response to signals of US withdrawal from European security commitments.
Why it matters: This represents a significant shift in European security dynamics, with EU leaders taking more assertive stances independent of US policy. The specific mention of using frozen Russian assets and strengthening EU borders suggests Europe is preparing for a future with potentially reduced US security guarantees. The timing and forceful tone of Tusk's statement demonstrates growing European determination to maintain support for Ukraine and counter Russian influence, even if it means doing so without traditional US backing. This demonstrates ongoing weakening of the Trump regime’s international alliances and stature and its increasing isolation among nations of the liberal democratic West.
Organized Opportunities
Organizations Planning Regular Resistance Actions
Federal Unionists Network - https://actionnetwork.org/groups/federal-unionists-network
Indivisible - https://indivisible.org/
5051 - https://www.fiftyfifty.one/
Choose Democracy - https://choosedemocracy.us/
The General Strike - https://generalstrikeus.com/
MAGA Regime CVEs
In cybersecurity, CVEs are “common vulnerabilities and exposures.” These are the cracks in the system that adversaries exploit for their own ends. Political CVEs are those cracks in an authoritarian regime, points of vulnerability that can be exposed and exploited by defenders of democracy.
New Polling Shows Trump and Musk Actions Are Unpopular
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/02/20/trump-poll-unpopular-post-ipsos/
What happened: President Trump's second term has begun with controversial initiatives to reshape the federal bureaucracy, with only 43% of Americans supporting his first month's actions. Trump appointed Elon Musk to lead government restructuring efforts, which has drawn significant criticism with 57% of Americans saying Trump has exceeded his authority. The president's most contentious moves include mass deportation plans, pardoning January 6 defendants, and giving Musk broad powers to shut down federal agencies.
Why it matters: Musk's appointment and access to government institutions without proper oversight creates unprecedented opportunities for storing and accessing sensitive government data, with 63% of Americans concerned about his team accessing personal information. The systematic dismantling of federal agencies and programs could potentially create vulnerabilities in government record-keeping and institutional memory. The combination of agency shutdowns, workforce reductions, and restricted public communications from federal health agencies represents a significant shift in government transparency and accountability.
Strategic Disruption of Air Safety Oversight Could Have Catastrophic Consequences for Authoritarian Control
What happened:
Why it matters: The systematic breakdown of air safety regulation creates multiple pressure points on the Trump regime. When safety standards deteriorate and oversight becomes unreliable, international aviation bodies may restrict access to airspace and foreign airports, isolating the regime. The resulting chaos in commercial aviation can trigger business disruptions and public outrage, especially among elites who rely on air travel. Continued Trump-Musk failures in air safety leverages the regime's own bureaucratic structures against itself. This creates a cascading effect where the dictatorial system's need for control actually accelerates its own unraveling through increasingly dysfunctional delivery of vital services.
GOP Senators Beg Trump Officials for Money They Approved as Musk's DOGE Service Freezes Billions
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/02/19/trump-musk-senators-funding/
What happened: Republican senators find themselves in an unusual position of pleading with Trump administration officials to release funds they themselves appropriated, as hundreds of billions in federal spending remains frozen. The sweeping executive orders and cuts made by Elon Musk's U.S. DOGE Service have affected everything from farmer aid to infrastructure projects, while the administration simultaneously moves to terminate federal employees. Even as many Republicans support streamlining government, senators across the ideological spectrum are lobbying to restore funding for programs in their states.
Why it matters: The centralized control over funding creates dangerous dependencies and internal tensions within the governing coalition by forcing allied lawmakers to compete for resources and favors. This system pits different power centers against each other - senators vs cabinet secretaries, Congress vs Executive agencies, party loyalty vs constituent needs - while generating administrative chaos and uncertainty. The reliance on personal relationships and arbitrary control makes the system vulnerable to internal rivalries, growing frustration among lawmakers unable to deliver for constituents, and potential cracks in party discipline as officials prioritize institutional interests over partisan loyalty.
Bipartisan Outrage Erupts as Trump Admin Guts 9/11 Health Program Staff
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/19/nyregion/doge-ground-zero-health-care-cuts.html
What happened: The World Trade Center Health Program, which provides care for 137,000 9/11 first responders and survivors, lost 20% of its staff through terminations and buyouts as part of broader federal agency cuts under Trump's new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Seven Republican lawmakers joined Democrats in demanding reversal of the cuts, which affect a program serving those exposed to Ground Zero toxins.
Why it matters: The staff reductions reveal how even politically sensitive programs supporting national heroes are vulnerable to authoritarian-style bureaucratic dismantling through seemingly neutral "efficiency" measures. The bipartisan pushback, especially from Trump-supporting Republicans, demonstrates that targeting certain symbolic institutions can backfire by uniting opposition and damaging regime legitimacy. The cuts also show how unilateral executive actions bypassing legislative oversight can be used to weaken independent government functions, though organized resistance may force reconsideration when cuts affect politically potent constituencies.
Conservative Legal Scholars Warn Trump's Actions Threaten Constitutional Order
https://www.deseret.com/opinion/2025/02/19/constitution-separation-of-powers-protects-individual-rights/
What happened: Legal scholars from conservative Brigham Young University strongly criticized President Trump's recent invocation of Napoleon Bonaparte to justify executive overreach, warning that his actions threaten the Constitution's separation of powers. The criticism is particularly notable coming from BYU, a conservative Mormon institution in heavily pro-Trump Utah.
Why it matters: The stark warning from traditionally conservative voices reveals growing concern about authoritarian tendencies even among Trump's natural allies. The article exposes vulnerabilities in Trump's support base, as constitutional conservatives begin to openly challenge his disregard for institutional checks and balances. This principled opposition from respected conservative scholars provides potential common ground for resistance movements to build broader coalitions focused on defending democratic institutions rather than partisan politics.
Resistance School
One of the best things you can do to resist tyranny in America is read, read, read! There is a large literature on nonviolent resistance tactics and strategies. Some of these are classics, like Gene Sharp’s work, which we referenced in yesterday’s post. The International Center on Nonviolent Conflict has a Resource Library that we cannot recommend highly enough.
There are also newer guides being created by people like Lucas R.R. Cunha.
The Relentless Playbook: A Modern Guide to Fighting Fascism
The Bottom Line: The Relentless Playbook presents a strategic framework for combating modern fascism through three key pillars: defining the enemy, controlling information warfare, and building an unstoppable movement. The document positions itself as a tactical guide for dismantling fascist power structures through coordinated civilian resistance and narrative control.
Why it matters: The Playbook builds upon Sharp's foundational work on nonviolent resistance but adapts it specifically for the modern information age and current political climate. While Sharp focused primarily on physical acts of civil disobedience and institutional noncooperation, The Relentless Playbook emphasizes psychological and information warfare as key battlegrounds. The document recognizes, like Sharp's work, that fascist systems have inherent weaknesses that can be exploited, but places greater emphasis on narrative control and coalition-building as primary mechanisms for change rather than traditional protest actions. This evolution reflects how modern authoritarian control relies heavily on information manipulation and social division, requiring resistance movements to adapt their strategies accordingly.
The most important point in the call to read, read, read! is that our situation is not entirely new or unique. Many societies have successfully thrown off the yoke of authoritarian rule in the past. Luckily, there is a large and excellent literature written by academic researchers and activists that distills that wisdom into usable form for us today. Don’t reinvent the wheel! Instead, read about what works from those who have been there before!
Daily Inspiration
States Backtrack on Challenge to Federal Disability Law After Public Outcry
https://ksltv.com/local-news/utah-16-other-states-tell-judge-we-never-meant-to-say-section-504-is-unconstitutional/741469/
What happened: Utah and 16 other states have formally withdrawn their challenge to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act in a joint status report filed in U.S. District Court. The states originally filed a lawsuit in September challenging the Biden administration's inclusion of "gender dysphoria" as a disability, which included claims about Section 504's constitutionality. After significant public concern, Utah's new Attorney General Derek Brown led efforts to clarify that the states never intended to challenge the constitutionality of Section 504 itself.
Why it matters: This reversal demonstrates how public pressure and advocacy can effectively influence government positions on crucial civil rights legislation. The preservation of Section 504 protections ensures continued access to educational accommodations and support services for students with disabilities, maintaining a critical safeguard against discrimination. The incident highlights the importance of public vigilance and engagement in protecting established civil rights laws, showing how organized resistance can prevent the dismantling of essential protections for vulnerable populations.
Finally, some rousing words from AOC to end today’s post…