🔌 Balancing news & noise

Plus 5 ways to *actually* get involved

This past week was a LOT.

(Something tells me I’ll say that weekly until 2029, assuming democracy still exists by then… 😂/😭). But anyway.

A few weeks ago, I wrote about how recharging is an act of resistance—and I stand by it.

But what happens when resisting is a form of recharging? What if activism fires you up and helps fuel your soul? Or maybe it just feels like a non-negotiable these days, but you’re determined to find that sweet spot between news and noise.

The online overwhelm happens FAST, no matter who’s in the White House—but with this administration, “flooding the zone” is by design, as AOC reminded us in a recent Instagram Live. As she put it:

“If you are watching the news right now and you are feeling overwhelmed by all of the constant headlines and developments and what is happening… First of all, know that you are not alone. And second of all, know that that is exactly what this administration is trying to get you to feel… It’s important for you to understand that the paralysis and shock that you feel right now is the point. They are trying to induce a state of passivity among the general public.”

As many angry MAGA supporters (and bots) were quick to point out in the comments section of my post on Threads that took off earlier this week, the outrage is the point.

Never thought this one would end up angering so many MAGA supporters, but here we are.

Here’s a sampling of the comments I received in response—and these weren’t even the worst of the bunch….

(🚨 Trigger warning: language!)

A smattering of the responses I got on Threads

To be fair, my post was mostly snark and frustration at the fact that Google is kissing Trump’s ring. (In addition to changing the “Gulf of Mexico” to the “Gulf of America,” they removed longstanding observances like Black History Month, Pride, Holocaust Remembrance Day, and Indigenous Peoples Month from their calendars; prohibited autocomplete for search results for “impeach Trump”; and donated $1M to Trump’s inauguration.)

• 🚫 Do I actually think giving the “Gulf of America” a one-star review on Google and reporting it as factually inaccurate is going to change anything? No.

• ✅ Did being petty for 2 minutes before getting back to other resistance efforts bring me a giggle? You bet.

This fight for democracy is going to be a long one. I know we need to reserve our energy for the battles that truly matter—as several folks in the comments reminded me, “this is the dumbest hill to die on.” But more and more, I think that not every ounce of resistance needs to be so serious. Sometimes you just need to scream into the void (aka leave a one-star review). Or share something to social media that resonates, even if your account is private. Or text a friend to commiserate. Or take time for yourself to recharge.

So… now what?

We’ve talked about joy and recharging as resistance (click below to read that piece), but beyond limiting our news consumption and taking good care of ourselves and others, what does resistance look like?

What are tangible, actionable ways we can speak out right now, especially when it feels like nothing we do or say makes a difference?

Here are 5 ways to take action in the coming months:

1. Call your congressperson.

I hate talking on the phone to strangers. Like, HATE. Growing up, I made my younger sister call to order pizza because I didn’t want to do the talking (sorry, Len). I’ve intentionally made appointments at places with not-great reviews just because they had online booking and the top-rated place didn’t. You get the point. I’m usually the last person to suggest making a call.

But 5calls makes it SO easy with their free app—just enter your zip code, choose the issue(s) you care about, and follow the script to voice your thoughts to your Representatives, Senators, Governors, and Attorneys General. Get started for free here. Another great resource here from

Emily Amick

of

Emily in Your Phone

:

emilyinyourphone

A post shared by @emilyinyourphone

2. Help your neighbors.

In the coming years, investing in our local communities (offline, especially!) is going to be more important than ever. This one’s still on my to-do list, but here’s how to find a mutual aid network near you. Want to start one of your own? Check out these tips.

3. Join and/or financially support the national advocacy groups working on issues you care about.

If you’re not sure where to start, try “anti-hate groups, civil liberties groups, and reproductive rights groups,” suggests Congressman Jerry Nadler in this 2019 piece on how we can resist Trump and his extreme agenda. (A lot of the content still holds true, despite being a few years old.) Whether it’s the ACLU, Planned Parenthood, the Center for American Progress, or another organization close to your heart, following and supporting their work can give you a tangible way to stay involved.

4. Invest in midterm (and local!) elections.

Are you registered to vote? Awesome. Now, take it a step further and get involved with an organization like When We All Vote or Field Team 6 to help spread the word and encourage others to register to vote. (I’ve volunteered with Field Team 6 in the past, and they offer a variety of ways to get involved.)

5. Boycott the companies funding fascism.

This one’s easier said than done—and full disclosure, I haven’t cut all these cords yet. (I also know that saying something like “just don’t shop at Amazon!” is a privilege, especially when prices are so reasonable.) But thinking long and hard about where we’re spending our money can speak volumes. The free Goods Unite Us app and website show companies' political expenditures in federal elections, so you can see which brands and businesses donate to which party and shop accordingly.

Example of Goods Unite Us. (Pictured is Home Depot)

Putting our money where our mouth is, so to speak, might be the quickest way to capture companies’ attention: Target has faced major backlash from customers since complying with Trump and rolling back its DEI initiatives, and Tesla shares have plummeted 30% since December in the wake of Elon… well, being Elon.

If you want to start small, consider joining this 24-hour nationwide boycott on February 28, organized by the People's Union.

For more suggestions, check out this post from

Everyday Activist

, and this episode of We Can Do Hard Things, featuring

Jessica Yellin

(

News Not Noise

). (Also added to the recharge playlist!)

🔋 This week…

📚 Reading: Before We Were Innocent by

Ella Berman

and 1,000 Words by

Jami Attenberg

. News-wise, I’m trying to limit my social media intake and read the 1440 daily newsletter instead (thanks to my sister for the suggestion!).

🎞️ Watching: You guessed it—Peaky Blinders. (We’re cruising—onto season 4!)

🤓 Learning: All about the symbolism and nuance in Kendrick Lamar’s halftime show. Mind is absolutely blown at the genius. (Here’s a breakdown from Rolling Stone if you’re curious!)

🍴 Eating: All the carbs. (Is it really a trip to NYC without a bagel?). One standout: a slow and cozy Valentine’s Day brunch at Cafe Colette (one of my favorite spots!) with a dear friend.

Food highlights included Cafe Colette and Leon's Bagels

🍸 Drinking: Airport Bloody Marys (did I mention our flight to NYC was delayed ALMOST ELEVEN HOURS?)

👩‍🍳 Cooking: These air fryer chicken tenders (because let’s be real—the best part of the Super Bowl is the snacks.)

🎧 Listening to: Pink Pony Club on repeat.

🛠️ Doing: Celebrating loved ones and their kiddos at a wedding and a baby shower, and meeting another friend’s baby for the first time. Heart’s so very full. Social battery could use a little R&R.

💛 Simple pleasures: My Rent the Runway order actually fitting. (Get $30 off a one-time rental with my affiliate link!)

💭 Obsessed with: This use of AI to bring historical figures back to life.

👀 Looking forward to: Picking up Waffles from the dog sitter’s tonight.

📲 Favorite new follow: I’ve been following

Laid Off

by

Melanie Ehrenkranz

for a few weeks now (so technically not *new* new), but am loving the profiles she’s running on folks who’ve been impacted by layoffs. It’s such a smart series with thoughtfully conducted interviews.

Thank you so much for reading. Here’s to the week ahead.