This is really happening

On Donald Trump, finding acceptance, and podcast recommendations

I saw this tweet the other day:

The first thing I did was laugh.
The second thing I did was think, “Wow, that’s a pretty lame wall.”
The third thing I did was think, “Oh my god, people like Steve King will have actual influence in Trump’s administration. I’m scared.”

Yes, I’m one of those people who, even with all the rational analysis out there, is having a hard time believing that this narcissistic, know-nothing ignoramus will hold the most powerful office in the world. But alas, it’s happening and my disbelief is irrelevant. In just a few days, Donald Trump will actually become the President of the United States.

For those who don’t know, I’ve been working the last few months as a detox counselor at Spera Recovery Center. We are a 12-step based program, and though I am not an addict, I have found the 12 steps and related teachings to be immensely valuable to my life.

We talk a lot about acceptance at work. It’s part of the first step and the Serenity Prayer which reads as follows: “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”

I believe the prayer, regardless of your belief in a higher power, is an excellent framework to approach decision-making — and how the fight against Donald Trump and the Republican Party should proceed.

If you do not support Donald Trump, as most Americans do not, we have to accept the fact that this man got elected—with the help of Vladimir Putin, I should add—and that Republicans want to take away people’s healthcare and overall have no regard for anyone other than the wealthiest.

However, the acceptance ends there. We should not accept any of Trump’s behavior as normal or even consider lowering the bar for Trump. We should expect him to be knowledgeable and professional (I’m laughing writing this sentence). We should take nothing that Kellyanne Conway or any other Trump surrogate says on cable news at face value. We have been subject to lie after lie, and we must refuse to be gaslit. The reality that we see is the reality that is.

We must be courageous. The work I’ve seen being put into the Women’s March on Washington is a perfect example of that. The calls to our representatives and senators have to be relentless, as time-consuming and awkward as they are to make.

We cannot not underestimate the threat Trump’s leadership poses. For decades, most Americans, especially minorities, have been discriminated against and tossed aside in favor of increasing profits for corporations and the wealthiest individuals and families (for the record, Democrats bear a lot of responsibility for this along with Republicans.) But it has been decades since we’ve seen hate and bullying this amplified. We’ve never had an incoming president this unhinged and unstable. That is not OK. It will never be OK. And we must remind ourselves of this every single day. Seriously, someone should make one of those apps that will text subscribers every morning that Trump is not OK.

In recent weeks, I have taken to posting positive statuses on Facebook. It’s probably gotten out of control at this point, but it is my way of breaking up the cycle of negativity and memes that are often found on our feeds. People seem to appreciate it (I hope? I think?). To those who have personally messaged me appreciation, you are all enablers.

Anyway, about that “cycle of negativity” I just mentioned. We have to stop with the Occupy Democrats and Bipartisan Report posts. Not only do they often look like a project from a 5th grade social studies class, but they are undoubtedly unproductive.

Don’t get me wrong, I love seeing pictures of Bernie Sanders next to inspiring quotes as much as the next white millenial, but I ask: Share articles from legitimate news sources and write your own commentary. The Washington Post, NPR, New York Times, The Atlantic, and Democracy Now!, for example, produce far better content than Occupy Democrats. And no matter what Trump says, those publications are not fake news and journalism has never been more important. Quick shoutout to David Fahrenthold of The Post who did masterful reporting about Trump’s charitable giving.

This request is part of the larger effort that I’m hoping people will do: Get educated. In addition to reading the news, I have found podcasts to be quite helpful. As a self-proclaimed “Podfather,” here are some recommendations:

1. Pod Save America: This is hosted by former Obama staffers Jon Favreau, Tommy Vietor, Jon Lovett, and Dan Pfeiffer. Their commentary is excellent and Favreau, Vietor, and Lovett just launched a company called Crooked Media. I am excited to see how that develops.
2. The Ezra Klein Show: Klein is an excellent interviewer, and I have learned a lot from his guests, which include Ta-Nehisi Coates, David Frum, Joseph Stiglitz, and Dr. Leana Wen.
3. NPR Politics Podcast: For those who have tried to watch as little cable news as possible since the election, their weekly roundups are super informative and entertaining.
4. Vox’s The Weeds: Ezra Klein hosts this along with Matthew Yglesias, and Sarah Kliff. I’m careful about my Vox intake because they are hyper liberal, but these three know a ton about policy, especially healthcare policy, so give it a listen.
5. Politico’s Off Message: This was hosted by Glenn Thrush until he left for the NYT. His interviews, especially with Republicans, are quite informative. I hope Thrush reboots a version of this pod at NYT.

I’ve been hearing a lot about how we live in a post-fact world now. I am not convinced that will last. Knowledge is power, and do not be ashamed to learn the truth and ask questions.

I recognize this piece puts me at risk to be labelled “a whiny liberal,” but I accept that. My eyes are wide open to the impending damage that will be done with Trump as president. Anti-Trumpers, we have to do everything we can to mitigate the damage and support those who will be most affected.

I am still in the process of figuring out how I will be active, but I promise you this: Though I accept his presidency, I will not be silent. I will try to find the courage to change the things I can.

If you join me, and more importantly, all the others who have already started organizing, in this, Trump and the Republicans have no idea what’s coming their way.