Blow up your TV and Get Local
Turn off MSNBC, get offline and channel John Prine. There are many local actions you can take to challenge authoritarianism in Tennessee. Get visible, get local and get loud.
Trump has made it clear—he plans to give us “great television” for the next four years. Don’t let him win by being glued to a screen. So turn off MSNBC. Log out of doomscrolling. Channel your inner John Prine and get involved where it actually matters—right here, right now, in your own backyard.
Authoritarianism doesn’t happen overnight—it creeps in when people feel powerless. And the best way to fight back? Get visible. Get local. Get loud. (As my day-job boss Matt Hildreth says.) Our federal and state leadership is counting on people to check out, to believe there’s nothing we can do. But that’s a lie.
There are dozens of ways to take action, groups to plug into, and fights worth joining. We push back by showing up and holding those with power accountable for their decisions. We fight state overreach, defend local power, and make sure our communities—not right-wing politicians—decide our future. And most importantly, we bring people with us—because no one wins alone.
As we say in organizing, best inoculation against the hypernationalism infecting our politics is localization.
So blow up your TV (metaphorically, please 😃) and let’s get to work.
Aftyn
TAKE ACTION TODAY
Save Social Security Rally – TODAY in Nashville at 2 PM
In response to reports that Donald Trump, through Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, plans to cut 50% of Social Security Administration (SSA) staff and shut down hundreds of field offices, Nashville community members will rally outside the local SSA office to demand an end to these reckless cuts.
Join community members and advocates today, Thursday, March 6th at 2 PM CT at 120 Athens Way in Nashville.
Navigating the Chaos with Indivisible TN and Rep. Behn
Feeling overwhelmed by the sheer volume of political attacks? Indivisible TN is hosting a strategy call with me on Sunday evening at 6 PM ET/5 PM CT to break it all down—what’s happening, what’s at stake, and how we fight back. Join the conversation and get organized for what’s ahead.
Defend Every Child’s Right to Education—Stop Tennessee’s Attack on Immigrant Students!
For over 100 years, the right to a public education for all children has been guaranteed in the United States. In Plyler v. Doe, the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed that no child can be denied access to public schools based on immigration status—because an educated society benefits all of us.
Now, Tennessee lawmakers are trying to defy the Constitution and strip certain immigrant children of their right to a K-12 education. This isn’t just an attack on undocumented students—it’s an attack on the core values of fairness, opportunity, and democracy. If they succeed here, they’ll try it everywhere.
Call your legislators. Show up. Speak out. Demand that Tennessee uphold every child’s right to learn. The future of our communities—and our country—depends on it.
Sample caption:
“All children living in Tennessee deserve the freedom to learn. It’s in our collective interest to ensure that every child can attend public school, no matter how much money their parents have, what they look like, or where they were born.”
🔹 Call your legislators: https://www.educationforalltn.org/call?ms=TV
🔹 Send an email: https://www.educationforalltn.org/email?ms=TV
Healthy and Free TN – Day on the Hill (Two-Day Event!)
Join reproductive justice advocates, organizers, and legislators for two days of action at the Free Tennessee Day on the Hill! We’ll be fighting against laws that criminalize pregnancy, parenting, and poverty while pushing for policies that support Tennesseans and their families. This two-day event is dedicated to rooting ourselves in our mission to grow our families and plant the seeds of change for a better future.
March 25: Online Lobbying 101 Training
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM CST (register on Zoom)
March 26: In-Person Day on the Hill (register on this site)
8:30 AM - 3 PM CST at Cordell Hull, 425 Rep. John Lewis Way N
Stand Up for Science in Nashville!
Science is under attack, and we need to take a stand. Join us on Friday, March 7th, from 1-4 PM at the Tennessee Capitol (east steps) for Stand Up for Science, a nationwide rally mobilizing scientists and advocates in over 30 cities, including right here in Nashville.
Science is a public good and a cornerstone of social progress. But from climate denial to funding cuts, policymakers are undermining the research and innovation that shape our future. This rally is our chance to defend science, push for evidence-based policies, and show that facts matter.
Be part of this movement. Whether you’re a scientist, student, or supporter of truth and progress, your voice is essential. Show up, speak out, and stand up for science!
You're right. Take action--you've suggested many excellent options. And have a conversation (civil!) with someone who doesn't agree with you. Kindness might go a long way. Especially since there doesn't seem to be a lot of that in the Washington halls of power, these days. Or in the power centers in the Tennessee State Capitol, either. Very glad you are there to represent us. Thank you.
You are so right about TV. I wish my wife would let me get rid of ours. I can’t imagine how many hours of work and self education are lost while people are watching others make a living.
As to your other points, climate science has been contested by scientists over the years. It has been seen that non-scientists like Al Gore, have no clue. If you look at his statements from years ago the polar ice cap should have melted last year. Unfortunately so many swallow what ever they are fed by their respective organizations. For instance there is NOTHING in the bill mentioning Social Security. Amazing how this lie gets circulated as true. I would appreciate it if you took time out of your busy schedule to research your posts before just endorsing what ever the DNC sends you.
People rely on you to report truth on these issues and to say the jury is still out on an issue makes you stand out.
Thanks for your time.
David Hooven
P S The way the Democrats acted at the Address to Congress was a total embarrassment. Looked like a childish act of having a little fit and showed disrespect for those honored by our nation.