I came across an internet meme the other morning that had me smiling the rest of the day. It was a photo of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) holding forth from the well of the Senate with a caption that read, “For Every Major Mistake America Has Made In The Last 30 Years, There Is A Video Of Bernie Sanders Trying To Stop It.” I have not performed a comprehensive analysis, but given the ubiquity of Sanders videos since the 2016 election, and since his recent declaration as a 2020 presidential candidate, the meme probably contains more than a grain of truth.
This video is one of the many Sanders videos that bolster this theory. In this interview with Sanders conducted by Truthout reporter Geoff Millard back in 2007, the Vermont senator holds forth on a number of the pressing topics of the day. Twelve years later, however, Sanders’s words are surprisingly apt in describing the current situation, as well, given Donald Trump’s aggressive ignorance regarding his legal responsibilities, and the ongoing national crisis of money in politics and media.
On opposing Michael Mukasey, George W. Bush’s nominee for attorney general: “To my mind, we want an attorney general who not only understands that torture is not what America is about, but equally important, understands that the president cannot simply claim that he is fighting terrorism and give the president all of the powers that this president wants. We need an attorney general, in fact, who will educate the president of the United States about the Constitution, because clearly this president doesn’t understand it.”
On corporate welfare: “We give tax breaks to billionaires and we don’t fund the needs of children in terms of health care. That’s because of the power of Big Money and their lobby. That is the fundamental reality of Washington, D.C.”
On activism and politics: “It means being involved in the deepest sense in the political process, which by the way does not just mean only voting every two years or every four years. It means organizing, it means educating, it means addressing the issue of corporate control over the media, and that’s what we’ve got to think about. What you have is a nation increasingly owned by fewer and fewer people who use their wealth not just to buy big yachts — that’s the least of the problem — they use their money to buy politicians, they use it to buy media, to influence what other people think. Those are some of the issues that we have got to address, and the solutions are not going to happen tomorrow. But we need a strong grassroots movement because I think the vast majority of the people want to see fundamental changes take place in Washington D.C., and they want us to stand up to these very powerful forces who represent a very small number of people.”
(Emphasis added)
Score one for the meme.
Help us Prepare for Trump’s Day One
Trump is busy getting ready for Day One of his presidency – but so is Truthout.
Trump has made it no secret that he is planning a demolition-style attack on both specific communities and democracy as a whole, beginning on his first day in office. With over 25 executive orders and directives queued up for January 20, he’s promised to “launch the largest deportation program in American history,” roll back anti-discrimination protections for transgender students, and implement a “drill, drill, drill” approach to ramp up oil and gas extraction.
Organizations like Truthout are also being threatened by legislation like HR 9495, the “nonprofit killer bill” that would allow the Treasury Secretary to declare any nonprofit a “terrorist-supporting organization” and strip its tax-exempt status without due process. Progressive media like Truthout that has courageously focused on reporting on Israel’s genocide in Gaza are in the bill’s crosshairs.
As journalists, we have a responsibility to look at hard realities and communicate them to you. We hope that you, like us, can use this information to prepare for what’s to come.
And if you feel uncertain about what to do in the face of a second Trump administration, we invite you to be an indispensable part of Truthout’s preparations.
In addition to covering the widespread onslaught of draconian policy, we’re shoring up our resources for what might come next for progressive media: bad-faith lawsuits from far-right ghouls, legislation that seeks to strip us of our ability to receive tax-deductible donations, and further throttling of our reach on social media platforms owned by Trump’s sycophants.
We’re preparing right now for Trump’s Day One: building a brave coalition of movement media; reaching out to the activists, academics, and thinkers we trust to shine a light on the inner workings of authoritarianism; and planning to use journalism as a tool to equip movements to protect the people, lands, and principles most vulnerable to Trump’s destruction.
We urgently need your help to prepare. As you know, our December fundraiser is our most important of the year and will determine the scale of work we’ll be able to do in 2025. We’ve set two goals: to raise $125,000 in one-time donations and to add 1400 new monthly donors by midnight on December 31.
Today, we’re asking all of our readers to start a monthly donation or make a one-time donation – as a commitment to stand with us on day one of Trump’s presidency, and every day after that, as we produce journalism that combats authoritarianism, censorship, injustice, and misinformation. You’re an essential part of our future – please join the movement by making a tax-deductible donation today.
If you have the means to make a substantial gift, please dig deep during this critical time!
With gratitude and resolve,
Maya, Negin, Saima, and Ziggy