I’m all for dismissive language but I’m not sure “gremlins” is a strong enough dismissal. These people are scum. I think your most effective slogan is “No Military on Our Streets”. Keep up the good writing!
I like gremlins because they're like annoying little parasites and if you shine sunlight on them they explode. Plus in the second movie there's a Nazi gremlin. So depending on your level of knowledge / memory of the reference you realize how perfectly apt gremlin is for these douchebags. But yes, scum works too.
Gremlins are not scary to most people. So I believe you need a much stronger word than that. Monsters. Thugs. Something else. Everything else about what you wrote here is spot on in my opinion. I wish I knew how to get your words in front of the people who need to be using them.
I understand the gremlin reference but think of them is weirdly cute and mischievous, not … whatever these fascists are. But ultimately, it’s just my opinion and I wanted to be honest that that label, in all your messaging that made me think YES stopped me short and I snorted and thought “Gremlins? 😂” They’ve become a bit of a cultural joke in my mind, that’s all. But it’s better than Tribbles. Lol
Anyway, for being one of your very grateful, opinionated, nuisance readers (lol), I vow to spread your Stack because it’s really good work you’re doing. I’m a nobody with a tiny following myself but I will personally see what I can do - and I hope others will too. I think the Dem leadership is pretty lost and spinning their wheels, and if your words resonate with them, they’d be glad to have you in their arsenal.
I don't want people to think of the fascists as extremely scary monsters. They are only powerful in numbers. Any single gremlin is rather pathetic and easily defeatable with minimal effort. Gremlin felt like a good balance, though maybe I should try and aim for something that most people under 30 would easily recognize lol
Tell me about it. I've been trying to figure out how to get in front of bigger audiences. I'm considering becoming a paid subscriber to a few names that may or may not be willing to look at some of my work to see if it's easier to get their attention. We'll see.
I've considering asking my readers to drop comments for other prominent authors here on Substack who talk about fascism, but I'm not sure if folks would be down for that.
You are in considerable agreement with Johnathan Last on this, looks like. The both of you seem to be self-evidently in the right strategic direction on the shutdown, at the very least.
I read the intro to the article (Not a paid subscriber / big fan of paywall business model for folks defending democracy). Looks good based on the intro though.
He's arguing for offering to let them have the absurd budget as-is, but only in exchange for big demands, eg. D.C. statehood, Epstein files. "Saving voters from the real-world consequences of Trumpism should be the last thing Democrats want."
It just seems wild to me. The fascists have created these perfect circumstances where Dems could politically end the GOP right now. And yet, we have what we have now.
I hate cynicism, but I'm struggling to believe that Dems, or anyone for that matter, can be this completely incompetent.
Thank You Lukium. I ask that you consider changing the Epstein messaging to "Release The Unredacted Epstein Files" across the board. We must leave no room for misunderstanding. Nothing less than "releasing the UNREDACTED Epstein Files" will suffice.
"Release the Epstein Files: The unredacted Epstein files, with exceptions only for sensitive victim information, must be released to the American public. There will be no state funding for the protection of powerful criminals."
I didn't say "unredacted" in every single spot as it would also require qualifying that redaction should be allowed to protect victims, which would make every sentence it gets used in very bulky and hurt the document as a comms strategy.
Cheeto and his Nazi allies(Karolyin’ Leavitt, Stephen Adolph Eichmann Miller) are pulling all the stops in their authoritarian playbook The fascist threats are coming fast and furious Cheeto leads with his executive order about “domestic terrorist groups” meant to dispel those who are considering protests and facing confrontation with military troops
Karolyin’ in a presser said that it’s ok to target people who support Democratic candidates And Adolph Eichmann has been whining and complaining that his highly funded ICE agents aren’t meeting quotas by picking up noncriminal citizens
The White House “Left-wing organizations have fueled violent riots, organized attacks against law enforcement officers, coordinated illegal doxing campaigns, arranged drop points for weapons and riot materials, and more. The Trump Administration will get to the bottom of this vast network inciting violence in American communities, and the President’s executive actions to address left-wing violence will put an end to any illegal activities.”
The Nazis are panicking that they are not terrorizing Americans enough So heavy handed tactics to suppress protests is now the name of the game There are more of us than there are of them!! So show up with friends, relatives, neighbors, family to turn your voice up and be heard
I’m all for dismissive language but I’m not sure “gremlins” is a strong enough dismissal. These people are scum. I think your most effective slogan is “No Military on Our Streets”. Keep up the good writing!
I like gremlins because they're like annoying little parasites and if you shine sunlight on them they explode. Plus in the second movie there's a Nazi gremlin. So depending on your level of knowledge / memory of the reference you realize how perfectly apt gremlin is for these douchebags. But yes, scum works too.
Gremlins are not scary to most people. So I believe you need a much stronger word than that. Monsters. Thugs. Something else. Everything else about what you wrote here is spot on in my opinion. I wish I knew how to get your words in front of the people who need to be using them.
I understand the gremlin reference but think of them is weirdly cute and mischievous, not … whatever these fascists are. But ultimately, it’s just my opinion and I wanted to be honest that that label, in all your messaging that made me think YES stopped me short and I snorted and thought “Gremlins? 😂” They’ve become a bit of a cultural joke in my mind, that’s all. But it’s better than Tribbles. Lol
Anyway, for being one of your very grateful, opinionated, nuisance readers (lol), I vow to spread your Stack because it’s really good work you’re doing. I’m a nobody with a tiny following myself but I will personally see what I can do - and I hope others will too. I think the Dem leadership is pretty lost and spinning their wheels, and if your words resonate with them, they’d be glad to have you in their arsenal.
I don't want people to think of the fascists as extremely scary monsters. They are only powerful in numbers. Any single gremlin is rather pathetic and easily defeatable with minimal effort. Gremlin felt like a good balance, though maybe I should try and aim for something that most people under 30 would easily recognize lol
Tell me about it. I've been trying to figure out how to get in front of bigger audiences. I'm considering becoming a paid subscriber to a few names that may or may not be willing to look at some of my work to see if it's easier to get their attention. We'll see.
I've considering asking my readers to drop comments for other prominent authors here on Substack who talk about fascism, but I'm not sure if folks would be down for that.
This mirrors my own thinking to a T.
we have to use their gaslightibg against them
It’s not about gaslighting. It’s about using communication that is psychologically powerful as they have.
It’s about using slogans, repetition, framing, and other tactics typically used for building a cult to dismantle this one.
I go in depth here:
https://americanmanifesto.news/p/anti-maga-messaging-guide-v1
You are in considerable agreement with Johnathan Last on this, looks like. The both of you seem to be self-evidently in the right strategic direction on the shutdown, at the very least.
https://www.thebulwark.com/p/democrats-how-you-can-win-the-shutdown-fight-trump-newsom
I read the intro to the article (Not a paid subscriber / big fan of paywall business model for folks defending democracy). Looks good based on the intro though.
He's arguing for offering to let them have the absurd budget as-is, but only in exchange for big demands, eg. D.C. statehood, Epstein files. "Saving voters from the real-world consequences of Trumpism should be the last thing Democrats want."
I see.
It just seems wild to me. The fascists have created these perfect circumstances where Dems could politically end the GOP right now. And yet, we have what we have now.
I hate cynicism, but I'm struggling to believe that Dems, or anyone for that matter, can be this completely incompetent.
Thank You Lukium. I ask that you consider changing the Epstein messaging to "Release The Unredacted Epstein Files" across the board. We must leave no room for misunderstanding. Nothing less than "releasing the UNREDACTED Epstein Files" will suffice.
Thanks for the feedback!
This is already in the precondition text, no?
"Release the Epstein Files: The unredacted Epstein files, with exceptions only for sensitive victim information, must be released to the American public. There will be no state funding for the protection of powerful criminals."
I didn't say "unredacted" in every single spot as it would also require qualifying that redaction should be allowed to protect victims, which would make every sentence it gets used in very bulky and hurt the document as a comms strategy.
What do you think?
Words matter, & your approach really helps us express our views better. Thanks.
The Resistance Is Working!
Cheeto and his Nazi allies(Karolyin’ Leavitt, Stephen Adolph Eichmann Miller) are pulling all the stops in their authoritarian playbook The fascist threats are coming fast and furious Cheeto leads with his executive order about “domestic terrorist groups” meant to dispel those who are considering protests and facing confrontation with military troops
Karolyin’ in a presser said that it’s ok to target people who support Democratic candidates And Adolph Eichmann has been whining and complaining that his highly funded ICE agents aren’t meeting quotas by picking up noncriminal citizens
The White House “Left-wing organizations have fueled violent riots, organized attacks against law enforcement officers, coordinated illegal doxing campaigns, arranged drop points for weapons and riot materials, and more. The Trump Administration will get to the bottom of this vast network inciting violence in American communities, and the President’s executive actions to address left-wing violence will put an end to any illegal activities.”
The Nazis are panicking that they are not terrorizing Americans enough So heavy handed tactics to suppress protests is now the name of the game There are more of us than there are of them!! So show up with friends, relatives, neighbors, family to turn your voice up and be heard
Please get involved with this organization. It is strategically aligned!
https://swingbluealliance.org/strategies/