For When You’re Attacked

Trump is coming for every organization, institution, and public figure on the Left. All of them. It’s a certainty. You’re not going to be spared. He just hasn’t gotten to you, yet.

The classic playbook for crisis communications does not work when faced with an attacker who wants to leave you cowed and powerless. To make you an example for others who might think to challenge them.

Like many other folks in our movement, I’ve spent several decades waging full-out advocacy campaigns on behalf of progressive causes. But unlike many others, I’ve also experienced being the target. That experience was deeply instructive.

Here’s how to win:

1.) Realize you’re fucked. It doesn’t matter that you didn’t ask for this. The worst things you can imagine are going to happen. Trump will never stop, compromise, or keep his word. His goal is to humiliate you, take everything you have. The only way out is to win. He’s going to come at you with everything he has. Like it or not, you’re all-in.

2.) Launch an outsized response. Think 5 steps ahead to all the horrible ways it could escalate–because it will–and respond, immediately, at that scale. Your instincts to be careful, proportionate, and professional will cause you to lose. Your only path is to escalate things faster than they can. Be disproportionate. I wrote more about this here.

3.) Be prepared to lead. There is strength in numbers. But that only works when we all move together. Not when we line up, single file, and wait our turn. It’s naive to expect everyone to have the strength of character to come to your rescue. Some will. But most will require leadership and cover fire. Start organizing and rallying your allies right out of the gate. Lead the charge.

4.) Make everything public. Literally everything. No one will trust you fought back unless they can see it. Stream every meeting, leak every email they send, reveal every threat they make. Resist anyone who preaches confidentiality, especially your lawyers. They are working within a system that no longer exists. Secrecy helps Trump, not you.

5.) Do not protect your own interests. Protect the country, your community, your colleagues. Maintain the moral high ground at all times and at your own expense. (Note that this does not include surrender or compromise.) The first person to serve their own interests loses. Even Trump knows this truth, which is why he cloaks his petty vengeance behind a veil of patriotism. Protect yourself by protecting everyone.