Tesla Takedown

Adjusting to a world that's turned upside down.

Last week, Karoli participated in a demonstration outside a Tesla dealership. Since then, #TeslaTakedown has burgeoned into an ongoing thing in at least 65 US cities and around the world.

We all knew that the second Trump administration would try to bulldoze our democracy. We knew that Project 2025 was going to be a Christofascist shitshow. But I could not imagine that Elon Musk and his ill-defined Department of Government Efficiency (which is neither a real department nor efficient) would be given the keys to the Federal government and carte blanche to supercharge the planned destruction.

I feel ashamed for my failure of imagination.

The first month of this administration has been incredibly frustrating, as the unelected, unconfirmed Nazi billionaire appears to occupy an administrative gray area. His indiscriminate cutting, firing, emailed threats, self-dealing, and meddling in our data is doing irreparable damage to the nation. And all the while he uses his $44 billion social media plaything to troll us and interfere in the politics of other nations.

He must be stopped.

But so far, our only official recourse has been to sue. And over the last four years we painfully learned how long it can take to get satisfaction from the courts. If at all.

With the messaging that Teslas are actually “Swasticars,” we may be able to punch Elon right in his over-leveraged, $140 billion stake in the company.

I wholeheartedly support these demonstrations - organize one of your own or find one here.

As for me: I’m still working on how to square my complete and utter abhorrence for Elon with the fact that I own one of these vehicles. For a number of reasons, getting rid of the family car at this time is not an option for me. Writing this is a form of penance - as attending some of these demonstrations will be.

I just may have to park a couple of miles away.*

*Pssst. No one tell Donna that literally 2 hours ago I ordered her like 5 different magnets from Etsy for her car so she’ll feel better driving around. Shhhhhh. ~Aliza

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Our New Pariah Status

Liberals who bought Teslas to support the “EV Revolution” are not the only new pariahs in the world.

It’s a real shift in perspective.

Forget all that stuff about us being “leaders of the free world.”

This week, the United States commemorated the three-year anniversary of Ukraine’s invasion by voting at the United Nations with Russia. We’re now aligned with Putin, Xi, and Kim.

The EU is now supporting Ukraine without us, and Germany’s incoming chancellor has vowed to work towards separating Europe from US influence.

The JAGs fired Friday night mean that we can no longer count on the military following our laws, let alone international norms.

Last night, the House moved one step closer to passing its draconian budget bill that decimates programs like Medicaid and SNAP while giving billionaires and corporations even more tax cuts. What happens next is… complicated.

We need to keep pressure on our legislators - both Democrats and Republicans. Keep making your calls. Keep showing up. And remind yourself that they are not invincible.

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One Last Thing