Small daily acts of resistance 2025 edition

[NorCal]

Insulate your home. Get a heat-pump water heater. Retire a gas car. Any of these things will have a 10x to 100x impact over some of these feel good items being discussed.

I've always heard that driving an old gas car into the ground is a better environmental choice than using it as an excuse to get a new electric car sooner. At least partly because you'll resell your gas car to someone else who will continue driving it, so you haven't actually taken its emissions out of the equation; you've just increased demand for new cars. I suppose "reduce carbon emissions" is a different metric from "reduce money to oil and gas companies," but it seems like a similar principle might apply.

I hate to sound like I'm defending inaction. My goal is to get my 24yo gas car to last until I live somewhere where electric charging is an option; if I have to replace it sooner, a conventional hybrid will be the best I can do. But if there's a flaw in my logic, I want to know.

The key is to not put a new gas car on the road.  Every new gas car creates a ~$45k revenue stream for the oil & gas companies.

Buy a used car if you're not ready for an EV or PHEV.  That car will be on the road until it dies regardless of who drives it. 

[merula]

I'm doing volunteer tax prep through an organization that primarily serves Latinos, including a lot of immigrants. Every client whose taxes I do for free is someone who's not paying $300+ to the predatory tax prep services that dominate the neighborhood. I don't know of any other way to put thousands back into the pockets of low income folks with a couple hours of work.

Being a VITA volunteer requires computer literacy, ability to follow some basic logic rules, and passing a couple of tests, which is all stuff this community tends to excel at. I would really encourage others to look into volunteering at sites in their area (https://irs.treasury.gov/freetaxprep/), although at this point you're likely to need to do self-study as the intro sessions are usually held in Dec/Jan.

[Kris]

Today I have contacted both of my senators, and just created the Facebook group for Daily Acts of Resistance. Will be setting it up and sharing it on FB in the coming days.

[rocketpj]

Call it resistance I guess, but I have stopped buying US products wherever possible.  And will not be visiting the US for any reason while the current regime is in charge.  I certainly won't return until the US stops the moronic trade war and threats of annexation.

In practice this means I have cancelled my planned trip to Seattle to watch the Jays this year, and my planned road trip along the Oregon coast.  My bucket list goal of doing a BBQ tour of the Southern States is likely on permanent hiatus - I will replace it with expansion of my already planned food tour of France and Northern Spain.

I already divested about $250k of US equities as part of my recent rebalancing, but that had to happen anyway.  I won't be buying any US equities in the future however, because I don't invest in my country's apparent enemies.  It's a damn shame, but that's the new reality of the US choosing to pick fights with its friends. 

[Tasse]

The key is to not put a new gas car on the road.  Every new gas car creates a ~$45k revenue stream for the oil & gas companies.

Buy a used car if you're not ready for an EV or PHEV.  That car will be on the road until it dies regardless of who drives it.

That I can promise.

[oldtoyota]

Thanks for the fantastic ideas!

1. Will delete AirBNB soon.
2. Deleted X.
3. Deleted my USA Jobs profile.
4. Donated to ACLU.
5. Donated to Propublica.
6. Took a laid off friend to dinner.
7. Visited with a friend who might be laid off soon.
8. Emotional support for fed worker friends.
9. Use as little gas as possible.
10. Stopped any shopping at Target.
11. Began shopping at Costco to support them more.

I also downloaded my social security statement as I bet they'll try to mess with our data or--who knows?--even erase us.

I'll look into improving the insultation in our house in order to use less gas.

[Fomerly known as something]

Looks, in theory I have an account with Airbnb but I haven’t used them since running the Boston Marathon in 2016.  I’d rather stay at a real BnB vs using them at this point.

[dragoncar]

Looks, in theory I have an account with Airbnb but I haven’t used them since running the Boston Marathon in 2016.  I’d rather stay at a real BnB vs using them at this point.

I’ve always been pretty lucky to just google the name of the property management company behind an Airbnb listing and finding the same property on their web site for less.  Only works with property management vs individual owner but I prefer to deal with those anyway as individuals are usually more unreasonable about their rules

[Telecaster]

I’ve always been pretty lucky to just google the name of the property management company behind an Airbnb listing and finding the same property on their web site for less.  Only works with property management vs individual owner but I prefer to deal with those anyway as individuals are usually more unreasonable about their rules

That's a great hack.   The management companies would rather deal with you directly too.   

[Fru-Gal]

Looks, in theory I have an account with Airbnb but I haven’t used them since running the Boston Marathon in 2016.  I’d rather stay at a real BnB vs using them at this point.

I’ve always been pretty lucky to just google the name of the property management company behind an Airbnb listing and finding the same property on their web site for less.  Only works with property management vs individual owner but I prefer to deal with those anyway as individuals are usually more unreasonable about their rules

I feel like AirBnB is played out anyway. Like a lot of people I used it in the first few years a few times. It was incredibly useful for a European trip where I couldn’t afford hotels. But after that I was always like, I don’t want to stay in someone’s old bedroom, I want a nice anonymous hotel. Also, AirBnBs really ruined neighborhoods. At the height of the AirBnB bubble, a neighbor was running one. Gah, it was awful! Weird people coming and going, including a beautiful naked lady who used to sit on the corner crying wearing nothing but a leather jacket. Parking got all jacked up. I was so glad when the house sold and was no longer an AirBnB.

Now I’m kind of on a hostels kick! Hostels are super affordable and fun and all-ages.

[Warlord1986]

Hostels are way cheaper and way more fun than Airbnbs.

[rab-bit]

I subscribed to the anti-Trump MeidasTouch podcast, which just unseated Joe Rogan's podcast as #1 in the US

https://www.newsweek.com/joe-rogan-dethroned-meidas-touch-podcast-donald-trump-2032673

[Poundwise]

Referred a faraway friend to find her local Indivisible group. And you too! https://indivisible.org/groups

[Poundwise]

Also, I spoke out in favor of congestion pricing in NYC in the comment section of a local newspaper. It was swamped with trolls who probably didn't live within a hundred miles of NYC let alone ever commuted there.

[AccidentialMustache]

I subscribed to the anti-Trump MeidasTouch podcast, which just unseated Joe Rogan's podcast as #1 in the US

https://www.newsweek.com/joe-rogan-dethroned-meidas-touch-podcast-donald-trump-2032673

Off-topic but why the ever living fuck does anyone listen to Rogan? I saw part of one of his podcasts on Climate Town and Rogan is ranting about how "oh the oil protestors are clothed in oil-based clothes what hypocrites I can't stand them!" But somehow elmo and cheeto are okay? Yeah sure whatever.

[Kris]

I subscribed to the anti-Trump MeidasTouch podcast, which just unseated Joe Rogan's podcast as #1 in the US

https://www.newsweek.com/joe-rogan-dethroned-meidas-touch-podcast-donald-trump-2032673

Off-topic but why the ever living fuck does anyone listen to Rogan? I saw part of one of his podcasts on Climate Town and Rogan is ranting about how "oh the oil protestors are clothed in oil-based clothes what hypocrites I can't stand them!" But somehow elmo and cheeto are okay? Yeah sure whatever.

He is a dumb person’s idea of what a smart person sounds like. He’s “just asking questions.”

[Poundwise]

This morning I sent a message to Gov. Hochul asking her to sign the New York Health Information Privacy Act. S929.   And I called my New York state reps asking them to pass S3044, The New York Privacy Act which passed the State Senate but not the Assembly last year.

If your state doesn't have good privacy laws reach out and demand one. This is not a red/blue thing as TX has better privacy laws than most states, I hear.

[LaineyAZ]

Being registered as Independent means I sometimes get political solicitations from the right-wing.  This week's included a "survey" from the Heritage Foundation. 
It was the usual plea for money amid panic-inducing poll questions around immigration and other culture war topics, and "don't I want to support President Trump" with a donation to fight the brown hordes, etc. 

Of course I answered "No" to everything with a bright cherry red marker, and a big Hell No to a donation amount.  Then I sent it back to them in their own pre-paid postage envelope.

I've no idea if any human ever reads these things but I hope I cost them a few cents of their own time and money.

[GuitarStv]

I subscribed to the anti-Trump MeidasTouch podcast, which just unseated Joe Rogan's podcast as #1 in the US

https://www.newsweek.com/joe-rogan-dethroned-meidas-touch-podcast-donald-trump-2032673

Off-topic but why the ever living fuck does anyone listen to Rogan? I saw part of one of his podcasts on Climate Town and Rogan is ranting about how "oh the oil protestors are clothed in oil-based clothes what hypocrites I can't stand them!" But somehow elmo and cheeto are okay? Yeah sure whatever.

He has had a wide variety of interesting guests in the past - some people I would never normally listen to, and some I deeply admire.  I've caught his show occasionally for years depending on who he's talking to, and some of the conversations have been really fascinating.  He was attacked and treated quite poorly during covid (some of the concerns absolutely legitimate, and some of them completely wrong).  He's not really a hard right wing guy, although it feels like he has been painted as such - he tends to let a guest steer the conversation.  I haven't found many guests I want to listen to in the past year or so, and think this is because fewer left/centrist people are less interested in coming on his show any more . . . which honestly is a shame.  In the past he has given many democratic and left leaning people a great platform to discuss issues they find important.

[NotJen]

Officially deactivated my airbnb account today.

I deleted my AirBnB account today, but it didn't let me type my reason.  Booo.

[oldtoyota]

Yesterday, someone told me about Five Calls.

Make your voice heard. 5 Calls is the easiest and most effective way for U.S. constituents to make a political impact.

https://5calls.org/

[oldtoyota]

I subscribed to the anti-Trump MeidasTouch podcast, which just unseated Joe Rogan's podcast as #1 in the US

https://www.newsweek.com/joe-rogan-dethroned-meidas-touch-podcast-donald-trump-2032673

Just subscribed. Thanks!

[Tasse]

We own a small amount of IVV. Today they asked us to decide on a proxy voting policy for the underlying holdings, and we selected the climate-focused policy.

I'm also attending (half of) a webinar from GiveWell about the US Foreign Aid freeze.

I'm struggling to be motivated to do phone calls to congress, but I know I should. Ugh.

[Kris]

We own a small amount of IVV. Today they asked us to decide on a proxy voting policy for the underlying holdings, and we selected the climate-focused policy.

I'm also attending (half of) a webinar from GiveWell about the US Foreign Aid freeze.

I'm struggling to be motivated to do phone calls to congress, but I know I should. Ugh.

Get the 5 Calls app if you haven’t already. It makes calling easy, even for a phone-phobe like me. Two observations:

1) once you start doing it, it gets a lot easier.
2) in my experience, most of the time you get kicked over to voicemail, which is less scary but you still get credit for doing it.

[La Bibliotecaria Feroz]

I made a $5 monthly donation to my local food bank to do what I can to help my neighbors who are being impacted (direct debit from my credit union checking account, no need to give Chase a cut).

Now I am downloading the 5 calls app.

[La Bibliotecaria Feroz]

We own a small amount of IVV. Today they asked us to decide on a proxy voting policy for the underlying holdings, and we selected the climate-focused policy.

I'm also attending (half of) a webinar from GiveWell about the US Foreign Aid freeze.

I'm struggling to be motivated to do phone calls to congress, but I know I should. Ugh.

Get the 5 Calls app if you haven’t already. It makes calling easy, even for a phone-phobe like me. Two observations:

1) once you start doing it, it gets a lot easier.
2) in my experience, most of the time you get kicked over to voicemail, which is less scary but you still get credit for doing it.

Oh noooo I had to talk to a person. Just a warning to be emotionally prepared for that! And then they have to tell you why the thing you are requesting is not happening. But I did it! Go me!

[LifeHappens]

I contacted my state-level reps about a bill to stop development in our state parks. This is a response to some really shady stuff our governor tried to pull last summer.

I am also attending my city's state of the city meeting today.

[mtnrider]

... Joe Rogan ...

He has had a wide variety of interesting guests in the past - some people I would never normally listen to, and some I deeply admire.  I've caught his show occasionally for years depending on who he's talking to, and some of the conversations have been really fascinating.  He was attacked and treated quite poorly during covid (some of the concerns absolutely legitimate, and some of them completely wrong).  He's not really a hard right wing guy, although it feels like he has been painted as such - he tends to let a guest steer the conversation.  I haven't found many guests I want to listen to in the past year or so, and think this is because fewer left/centrist people are less interested in coming on his show any more . . . which honestly is a shame.  In the past he has given many democratic and left leaning people a great platform to discuss issues they find important.

I donno.  I disagree.  Maybe he was leaning left the same way Musk was?  Even back when he semi-endorsed Sanders in 2020, he was called out for being anti-trans.  I don't recall the specifics, I'm sure they're googleable.  There was more of this last year. 

The few times I've listened to his show due to a recommendation, on subjects that I'm familiar with, he seemed less about information and more about the entertainment* of the idea.  The singularity is coming soon, indeed.  Crypto is going to be the medium of exchange soon.  OK then. 

Cynically, he might just be algorithmic, like TikTok.  It could be that he saw the ratings going up with right wing content, and didn't care that he was a force multiplier for the right wing.  But it's telling that he endorsed Trump even after Project 2025 was in the open, and I find his rants on trans people distasteful.

* I personally don't find his style entertaining, but I understand tastes can differ.

[Serendip]

Today I complained to Airbnb about their founder joining DOGE. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/airbnb-co-founder-joe-gebbia-take-role-musks-doge-nyt-says-2025-02-14/
Then I went here, and deleted my Airbnb account. https://www.airbnb.com/privacy/manage-your-data/deletion

Thanks for this. Deleted mine as well.

[Fru-Gal]

Just made one phone call to my state senator expressing my support for some of his work and got a live person. Encouraged by this thread to do so. I will download the 5 calls app too.

Another small act of resistance is to order “Trump did this” stickers for the grocery store. Anyone doing this?

Also, in the category of LARGE acts of resistance, I feel like we Americans need to embrace more European- and South American-style protesting. Lasers, fireworks cannons, that kind of thing.

An alternative is using art and flash mobs for the same purpose. The whole story of clowns protesting
“White flour” was hilarious, not sure where that happened but it was genius.

[Serendip]

An alternative is using art and flash mobs for the same purpose. The whole story of clowns protesting
“White flour” was hilarious, not sure where that happened but it was genius.

I'm not sure what you are referencing but am totally intrigued!

Am curious to explore creative pathways of resistance as an artist..

[Fru-Gal]

An alternative is using art and flash mobs for the same purpose. The whole story of clowns protesting
“White flour” was hilarious, not sure where that happened but it was genius.

I'm not sure what you are referencing but am totally intrigued!
Am curious to explore creative pathways of resistance as an artist..

Found it! https://wagingnonviolence.org/2017/08/nazis-afraid-clowns/

And here is the Orange Alternative, a Polish protest movement featuring dwarves (er, little people).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orange_Alternative

Can you treat a police officer seriously, when he is asking you: "Why did you participate in an illegal meeting of dwarfs?"

[merula]

Another small act of resistance is to order “Trump did this” stickers for the grocery store. Anyone doing this?

This is the first I'm hearing about it. I can see some applicability, but I'm generally against making more work for low-paid workers, and I can't imagine it would change any hearts and minds in my extremely left neighborhood.

[Tasse]

I'm also attending (half of) a webinar from GiveWell about the US Foreign Aid freeze.

Recording available for anyone who is interested: vimeo.com/1058763882   (Sorry, I can't make it a linked URL or the forum automatically tries, and fails, to embed the video here.)

Context: GiveWell is an Effective Altruism nonprofit that does research on the most cost-effective ways to save and improve lives, resulting in a focus on global health. They direct about $350 million in donations per year to those causes. The webinar discusses how the temporary, and potentially permanent, loss of US global health funding (about $20 billion dollars annually) could impact their work.

[crocheted_stache]

I attended and spoke at a local planning meeting in person and made the introduction between leaders of two different local organizations I work with. None of it is really in the national space, but I hope to urge a major development project away from cars and parking and toward housing near jobs and amenities; walking; biking; and wildlife-friendly construction and landscaping. I must have made an impression, at least. Committee members were referring to my comments.

[dragoncar]

Another small act of resistance is to order “Trump did this” stickers for the grocery store. Anyone doing this?

This is the first I'm hearing about it. I can see some applicability, but I'm generally against making more work for low-paid workers, and I can't imagine it would change any hearts and minds in my extremely left neighborhood.

Yeah almost any business a worker is gonna have to scrape this off so I’m not really down on it and I never even saw the Biden ones in my area.  I guess if I had frequented a business that left Biden stickers up for long periods of time it would be fair turnabout … but that’s not my neighborhood

[Kris]

Made calls to my senators and representative about Trump's takeover of the USPS.

Donated money to the campaign of Josh Weil, Democrat for U.S. Congress (FL-6), who is running against Trump and DeSantis's handpicked nominee, Randy Fine in a special election on April 1.

[reeshau]

Future note:  should the "DOGE dividend" come to pass, there are ready funds to donate to groups who will oppose the various atrocities and unconstitutional actions.

[Serendip]

An alternative is using art and flash mobs for the same purpose. The whole story of clowns protesting
“White flour” was hilarious, not sure where that happened but it was genius.

I'm not sure what you are referencing but am totally intrigued!
Am curious to explore creative pathways of resistance as an artist..

Found it! https://wagingnonviolence.org/2017/08/nazis-afraid-clowns/

And here is the Orange Alternative, a Polish protest movement featuring dwarves (er, little people).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orange_Alternative

Can you treat a police officer seriously, when he is asking you: "Why did you participate in an illegal meeting of dwarfs?"

oh my--thank you so much! :)

[Poundwise]

Thanks for the link to this website! I found a really good article here:
https://wagingnonviolence.org/ipra/2025/02/tesla-takedown-musk-moving-from-protest-to-resistance/

Trump and the Republicans don’t need our votes or those of Democrats in Congress. They don’t care how much we protest or complain. They don’t care what we, or even our Democratic representatives in Congress, say. The fundamental historical lesson of fascism is that all the fascists need is for us to show up to work, obey orders, pay our taxes, and not get in the way of their juggernaut. Our power is the power not to show up for work, not to obey orders, not to pay our taxes, and to get in their way.

[Poundwise]

There's another 50501 protest on March 4. I'm trying to get up the courage to organize a protest that day at our nearest Tesla dealer.

[Fru-Gal]

Thanks for the link to this website! I found a really good article here:
https://wagingnonviolence.org/ipra/2025/02/tesla-takedown-musk-moving-from-protest-to-resistance/

Trump and the Republicans don’t need our votes or those of Democrats in Congress. They don’t care how much we protest or complain. They don’t care what we, or even our Democratic representatives in Congress, say. The fundamental historical lesson of fascism is that all the fascists need is for us to show up to work, obey orders, pay our taxes, and not get in the way of their juggernaut. Our power is the power not to show up for work, not to obey orders, not to pay our taxes, and to get in their way.

We protest not to shame or influence Trump & Musk, but to let those who don’t agree with their machinations know that they are not alone. Similar with anti-Tesla protests, the goal should be to influence the company to distance itself from Musk or experience consequences for his repulsive actions.  Just because Trump and Musk may seem to experience no consequences doesn’t mean that those in their orbit won’t. So far they have left and continue to leave a trail of destruction behind them, with, in the case of Trump, literally over a thousand people sent to prison for following his orders.

[Poundwise]

But basically... at some point... somebody has to stop obeying their orders, right?

[Telecaster]

But basically... at some point... somebody has to stop obeying their orders, right?

The Nazi party only won 38% of the vote (a plurality).  That was enough to take power and silence the opposition. 

Newly appointed FBI director Kash Patel has called for the government to target journalists.   Our freedoms are being dismantled as we watch. 

[dragoncar]

But basically... at some point... somebody has to stop obeying their orders, right?

Plenty of people are, but they are resigning or simply getting fired.  If the security guards lock you out of the building what choice do you have (outside of civil war/open rebellion)

[crocheted_stache]

I just forwarded information from a local activist organization to local news outlets, about a local person detained by ICE (despite being married to a US citizen and living here the last 30 years). He was badly injured in the process. I included an the admonition to check the facts, because I found absolutely nothing about it in the news. Activists are working on getting him released from the hospital, not into ICE custody.

ETA: I also wrote my congress member about it.

[jeninco]

FYI, indivisible is organizing a no-spend day feb 28.

[Trudie]

1. Deleted What's App, FB, Instagram, and GoodReads. Have long ago banned Amazon from my life. Engaging on Substack and BlueSky.
2. Set up monthly donations to ACLU.
3. Regularly contacting State and Fed legislators re. horrible bills. Using 5calls and other apps to make this easy.
4. Attending a state lobbying day in March to advocate for human services in my state.
5. Donated my old car to public radio last summer. Following Sheryl Crow's lead, put the "my old car is NPR" bumper sticker on my new one to be an advertisement.
6. Organized a get-together of my community gardening group yesterday. We didn't discuss politics, but there's a lot of mutual support. Community capacity is key.
7. Connected with several friends and acquaintances at church today. It is a progressive place within a mainline denomination. We talked about how to support friends in the sciences who have lost jobs, made arrangements to send money to a local refugee resettlement non profit, and organized a carpool to go to the state capitol tomorrow to oppose an anti-trans bill.

[Fru-Gal]

1. Deleted What's App, FB, Instagram, and GoodReads. Have long ago banned Amazon from my life. Engaging on Substack and BlueSky.
2. Set up monthly donations to ACLU.
3. Regularly contacting State and Fed legislators re. horrible bills. Using 5calls and other apps to make this easy.
4. Attending a state lobbying day in March to advocate for human services in my state.
5. Donated my old car to public radio last summer. Following Sheryl Crow's lead, put the "my old car is NPR" bumper sticker on my new one to be an advertisement.
6. Organized a get-together of my community gardening group yesterday. We didn't discuss politics, but there's a lot of mutual support. Community capacity is key.
7. Connected with several friends and acquaintances at church today. It is a progressive place within a mainline denomination. We talked about how to support friends in the sciences who have lost jobs, made arrangements to send money to a local refugee resettlement non profit, and organized a carpool to go to the state capitol tomorrow to oppose an anti-trans bill.

Amazing list!!

[Fru-Gal]

I’m noting the effect town halls in red-states are having. In-person action and phone calls are VERY EFFECTIVE. Also, the leaking to journalists from Fed employees has been incredibly effective.

Small acts of resistance in the news:

TV monitors in HUD were hacked to show a gross AI video of Trump & Musk.
On Hacker News, discussion of the urgency to move software off of American cloud providers
Multiple fed employees told to hold off on reporting their activities to Musk

I read somewhere (have now lost it) that in activism, it’s not trying to move someone from apathetic to activist. That’s a huge leap. You are just trying to move someone one step away from their negative position (towards resistance or activism). That’s where personal stories can really help, things like saying how sad it is that cancer research won’t be funded, how plane traffic isn’t safe with fewer FAA staff or how national parks are struggling with trash without staff to clean it up.

Musk is enormously unpopular and this is only going to increase. Trump was already unpopular, same deal.