Bigger Than Me Democracy Project

著者: Bigger Than Me Democracy Project LLC
  • サマリー

  • Bigger Than Me is a rapid-response audio blog from the Bigger Than Me Democracy Project. Hosted by Bonnie Ross, this blog helps listeners make sense of the moments that don’t just make news — they challenge democratic norms. Each episode breaks down what happened, why it matters, and how it fits into the authoritarian playbook described in On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder. Here are the 20 lessons we return to again and again: 1. Do not obey in advance. Authoritarianism thrives when people preemptively conform. Refuse to teach power what it can get away with. 2. Defend institutions. Institutions don’t protect themselves. Pick one you care about — a court, a library, a newsroom — and take its side. 3. Beware the one-party state. Support multiparty democracy and fair elections while you still can. Vote in every election. Consider running for office. 4. Take responsibility for the face of the world. Symbols matter. Hate spreads when we get used to seeing it. Don’t look away. Don’t let it stand. 5. Remember professional ethics. When leaders set bad examples, ethical commitments matter more. Rule of law needs defenders in every field. 6. Be wary of paramilitaries. When the men with guns claim to protect the nation, watch who they march with. The merging of unofficial militias and official forces signals real danger. 7. Be reflective if you must be armed. If you serve in uniform, be ready to say no when something isn't right. 8. Stand out. The moment you do, others will follow. Nothing breaks the spell of the status quo like someone brave enough to go first. 9. Be kind to our language. Avoid political clichés and empty slogans. Speak clearly. Read deeply. Think for yourself. 10. Believe in truth. If nothing is true, power wins. Reality matters. Truth is the foundation of freedom. 11. Investigate. Don’t just consume headlines. Subscribe to trustworthy journalism. Learn how propaganda works. 12. Make eye contact and small talk. It’s more than polite — it’s civic glue. In times of fear and distrust, human connection is resistance. 13. Practice corporeal politics. Get off the screen. Show up in person. Join others in physical, public acts of civic life. 14. Establish a private life. Protect your digital life. Keep some conversations offline. Tyrants exploit what they learn about you. 15. Contribute to good causes. Support organizations that reflect your values. Help sustain civil society with your time and money. 16. Learn from peers in other countries. Authoritarianism is a global trend. Stay connected beyond borders. Have a passport. Use it. 17. Listen for dangerous words. “Emergency.” “Terrorism.” “Extremism.” Authoritarians exploit these words to justify taking power. 18. Be calm when the unthinkable arrives. Crises are used to break democracy. Don’t trade freedom for false promises of safety. 19. Be a patriot. Model the kind of America you want future generations to inherit. 20. Be as courageous as you can. No one wants to be a hero. But if we’re not willing to risk for freedom, we all risk losing it.
    Copyright 2025 Bigger Than Me Democracy Project LLC
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あらすじ・解説

Bigger Than Me is a rapid-response audio blog from the Bigger Than Me Democracy Project. Hosted by Bonnie Ross, this blog helps listeners make sense of the moments that don’t just make news — they challenge democratic norms. Each episode breaks down what happened, why it matters, and how it fits into the authoritarian playbook described in On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder. Here are the 20 lessons we return to again and again: 1. Do not obey in advance. Authoritarianism thrives when people preemptively conform. Refuse to teach power what it can get away with. 2. Defend institutions. Institutions don’t protect themselves. Pick one you care about — a court, a library, a newsroom — and take its side. 3. Beware the one-party state. Support multiparty democracy and fair elections while you still can. Vote in every election. Consider running for office. 4. Take responsibility for the face of the world. Symbols matter. Hate spreads when we get used to seeing it. Don’t look away. Don’t let it stand. 5. Remember professional ethics. When leaders set bad examples, ethical commitments matter more. Rule of law needs defenders in every field. 6. Be wary of paramilitaries. When the men with guns claim to protect the nation, watch who they march with. The merging of unofficial militias and official forces signals real danger. 7. Be reflective if you must be armed. If you serve in uniform, be ready to say no when something isn't right. 8. Stand out. The moment you do, others will follow. Nothing breaks the spell of the status quo like someone brave enough to go first. 9. Be kind to our language. Avoid political clichés and empty slogans. Speak clearly. Read deeply. Think for yourself. 10. Believe in truth. If nothing is true, power wins. Reality matters. Truth is the foundation of freedom. 11. Investigate. Don’t just consume headlines. Subscribe to trustworthy journalism. Learn how propaganda works. 12. Make eye contact and small talk. It’s more than polite — it’s civic glue. In times of fear and distrust, human connection is resistance. 13. Practice corporeal politics. Get off the screen. Show up in person. Join others in physical, public acts of civic life. 14. Establish a private life. Protect your digital life. Keep some conversations offline. Tyrants exploit what they learn about you. 15. Contribute to good causes. Support organizations that reflect your values. Help sustain civil society with your time and money. 16. Learn from peers in other countries. Authoritarianism is a global trend. Stay connected beyond borders. Have a passport. Use it. 17. Listen for dangerous words. “Emergency.” “Terrorism.” “Extremism.” Authoritarians exploit these words to justify taking power. 18. Be calm when the unthinkable arrives. Crises are used to break democracy. Don’t trade freedom for false promises of safety. 19. Be a patriot. Model the kind of America you want future generations to inherit. 20. Be as courageous as you can. No one wants to be a hero. But if we’re not willing to risk for freedom, we all risk losing it.
Copyright 2025 Bigger Than Me Democracy Project LLC
エピソード
  • Justified as Security. Designed to Undermine Civilian Rule.
    2025/05/03

    Take Action

    If this concerns you, take action with those in this situation showing courage. Here's how you can make sure your elected officials and the public hear from you — and can't say they didn't know.

    📧 Email Template

    Subject: Oppose the Militarization of U.S. Land—This Is a Red Line

    Dear [Senator/Representative] [Last Name],

    I’m writing to demand that you speak out against the executive order placing the Roosevelt Reservation—federal land along the U.S.-Mexico border—under military control.

    This is not about border security. It is a deliberate expansion of executive power, achieved by reclassifying public land as a military base and granting active-duty troops the authority to operate on U.S. soil. No congressional debate. No public input. Just a unilateral move to give the military enforcement power over civilians—on American land.

    This crosses a line. The Posse Comitatus Act was written to keep military force out of civilian life. That principle is now being tested. If we accept this reclassification without resistance, we open the door to permanent military enforcement zones—not just at the border, but wherever the president declares a threat.

    And it’s not just civilians at risk. This move is also unfair to the military. Our armed forces are trained to defend the nation from external threats—not to police American communities. Forcing them into this role compromises their mission, erodes public trust, and entangles them in a political agenda that risks long-term damage to the institution itself.

    This is how authoritarianism advances: quietly, and with just enough plausible justification to discourage outrage.

    I urge you to oppose this order publicly, demand immediate oversight, and make clear that using the U.S. military as a domestic police force is unacceptable in any democracy.

    This isn’t just a policy disagreement. It’s a test of whether civilian rule still holds in the United States. I’m asking you to meet this moment—not with silence, but with action.

    Sincerely,

    [Your Name]

    ☎️ Phone Script

    Hi, my name is [Your Name], and I’m a constituent from [Your City, State].

    I’m calling to urge [Senator/Representative] [Last Name] to speak out against the executive order placing part of the U.S.–Mexico border under military control. Turning public land into a National Defense Area undermines civilian oversight and violates the spirit of the Posse Comitatus Act.

    This isn’t just about border policy—it’s about creeping authoritarianism. I want to see my elected officials protect constitutional boundaries and push back against this dangerous overreach. Thank you.

    📣 Sample Social Media Post

    Trump just gave the military control over public land at the border—no debate, no oversight. This isn’t security. It’s a warning. Civilians should not be policed by troops. We need action now. #NoMilitaryZones #AuthoritarianWarning #BiggerThanMe #DefendDemocracy

    https://player.captivate.fm/episode/c082de60-99b8-45b5-b543-80cdbfaf6ded/

    Sources

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    10 分
  • Understanding Our Power: How to Take Meaningful Action
    2025/05/01

    🖊️ Click here to learn more and to sign your Strike Card

    Dr Chenoweth Explains Their Research and Insights

    Social Media Post

    🚨A General Strike is being organized—but it won’t happen until 3.5% of Americans commit to take part.

    Why 3.5%? Because history shows that’s the tipping point where nonviolent movements win.

    Read the blog. Understand the strategy. Consider joining.

    #GeneralStrike #50501 #BiggerThanMe

    https://player.captivate.fm/episode/848ba3ff-8782-486f-a24a-54664c5f21d8/

    Sources

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    8 分
  • Breaking Trust: The Oklahoma Raid as a Warning to All Americans
    2025/04/30

    Take Action

    If this concerns you, take action with those in this situation showing courage. Here's how you can make sure your elected officials and the public hear from you — and can't say they didn't know.

    📧 Email Template

    Subject: Stop Dangerous Federal Abuses of Power Now

    Dear [Elected Official’s Name],

    As your constituent, I am writing to express my outrage over the federal raid in Oklahoma City on April 27, 2025—a shocking breach of constitutional rights that threatens the fundamental principles of our democracy.

    Federal agents from ICE, FBI, and allegedly the U.S. Marshals forcibly entered the home of Marisa, a U.S. citizen, and her three young daughters. Agents did not identify themselves clearly, lacked a valid warrant naming anyone in the home, and forced the family outside, humiliating them in the rain and confiscating property without proper documentation. Marisa’s husband, still in Maryland, was left helpless as his family was traumatized.

    This shocking incident isn't just a tragic mistake; it represents an unacceptable erosion of Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable searches. Such aggressive, paramilitary tactics against innocent civilians threaten the very foundations of our democracy, signaling that no American is safe from government overreach.

    This matters deeply because unchecked federal abuses erode public trust and normalize authoritarian practices. If constitutional rights can be ignored without accountability, democracy itself is at risk.

    I urge you to demand immediate transparency and accountability from ICE, FBI, and the U.S. Marshals. Insist these agencies publicly acknowledge wrongdoing and commit to concrete reforms to prevent future abuses.

    Your swift action is crucial—not only for this family, but for protecting the democratic rights of all Americans.

    Respectfully,

    [Your Name]

    ☎️ Phone Script

    Hello, my name is [Your Name], and I'm a constituent from [Your City]. I'm calling to express my outrage over the unconstitutional federal raid in Oklahoma City on April 27, 2025, where heavily armed federal agents terrorized an innocent mother and her three young daughters, blatantly violating their Fourth Amendment rights. I'm urging [Elected Official’s Name] to publicly demand full transparency, accountability, and immediate reform from ICE, the FBI, and the U.S. Marshals Service. This abuse threatens our democracy and must be addressed urgently. Thank you.


    📣 Sample Social Media Post

    🚨 Federal agents raided a family's home, violating their rights with no accountability. If we allow this, democracy erodes for all. Demand accountability now. Our rights depend on it. #DefendDemocracy #AccountabilityNow #OklahomaRaid #BiggerThanMe

    https://player.captivate.fm/episode/113515f5-8564-46c7-be30-b8198b3b751a/


    Sources

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    8 分

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