Indivisible Santa Fe Newsletter

National purpose with local action

Next Monday, August 18th, will be reserved for committee work and not organized as a regular meeting.

The next regular meeting will be August 25 and will be focused on the Labor Day protest
Meetings at:
Christ Lutheran Church
1701 Arroyo Chamiso Road, Santa Fe

Surfing the deluge 🌧️ There is so, so much going on in the fight to preserve democracy that it's hard to keep track of. I follow only maybe half a dozen sources, and every week they are lit up with reports on the latest egregious violations of norms and laws, and documenting the fall of American freedom 😩 It's hard just to curate. We don't want to include all of that here, but I encourage you to follow what resonates with you, either in topic or tone. But don't let it overwhelm you – as we've said before, being overwhelmed and exhausted is exactly what they are trying to do. The Trump regime has put in place so many incompetent lackeys in positions of leverage that they can, collectively, produce an incredible volume of news worthy of attention. Check out our links page, which is a curated set of resources we find to be both helpful and respectable. Follow what you will, but don't drown in the deluge. ❤️

The 3rd and last episode of One Million Rising is tomorrow, August 13th at 6:00 MT. Register here, even if you're already going to one of the watch parties:

One Million Rising: Strategic Non-Cooperation to Fight Authoritarianism · Mobilize

Across the country, authoritarian forces are getting bolder and more dangerous. Trump and his allies are not hiding their agenda: mass deportations, rollbacks of civil rights, weaponized courts, and full-scale attacks on our democracy. We don’t have to wait until it’s too late. We can stop this. But it’ll take all of us—not just on single days of mass action, but through sustained organizing in our communities. That’s why this summer, we’re launching One Million Rising—a national effort to train one million people in the strategic logic and practice of non-cooperation, as well as the basics of community organizing and campaign design. This is how we build people power that can’t be ignored. You’re invited to join us—and lead. Let’s build a force bigger than fear and louder than hate. Let’s get ready. Let’s get organized. Let’s stop Trump. **Did you miss Session 1?** It’s not too late to join us - just watch the recording here! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4496VWDjwS0 **Session 2: How to Make it Happen - July 30** Learn not just our strategy, but how you can lead a discussion with others and get them on board with taking action in your community. You’ll host your first community resistance gathering after this session, before our next session. Can’t get into the Zoom? No problem! Check out the livestream at nokings.org/rise - make sure to still register so you can stay in touch with us and receive all of the follow-up materials! **Session 3: What Now? - August 13** You’ll be onboarded to basic campaign design and learn how to implement it locally as well as get plugged into our next national campaign work. Your second community resistance gathering will move this action forward. Sign up for all 3 sessions to get the most out of this experience. Watch it live with a friend in person, and get ready now to host your own community resistance gatherings after the second and third sessions. This is how we get to 1 million!

Mobilize

And if you need to catch up or review previous episodes, check out our One Million Rising resource page. Be sure to watch Ezra and Leah's interview with Erica Chenoweth!

Labor Day Protest

Monday, September 1, is Labor Day and, as with No Kings, organizations across the country are planning blow-out protests. Indivisible Santa Fe is the lead sponsor of the one in Santa Fe at the Roundhouse. Stay tuned for more details, we are working hard to make it a good one. As with No Kings, we are looking for volunteers to serve as Ambassadors – contact communications@indivisiblesantafe.org to volunteer or for more information.

ISF lead sponsor for Labor Day Protest

Just like we did with the No Kings protest in June, for our Labor Day protest we will be looking for volunteers to serve as Ambassadors. In addition to inviting people to subscribe to our Newsletter, Labor Day Ambassadors will play an important role during the protest in a collective

Indivisible Santa FeScott Romans

Local Action

If you're interested in writing to our local paper, Indivisible National put together some good support and we included some guidelines specific to Santa Fe:

Indivisible’s new guide: How to Write Letters to the Editor that Really Get Attention

How to Write Letters to the Editor that Really Get AttentionIndivisible Here are guidelines for our local paper, the Santa Fe New Mexican: * 150 words for Letters to the Editor * 600 words for the My View section Submission (and details) form here: https://www.santafenewmexican.com/site/forms/online_services/

Indivisible Santa FeHeidi Li Feldman

We had a great talk Monday from Cindy Weehler talking about the dangerous storage of nuclear waste at Los Alamos National Labs, embedded in a wildfire risk area 😬

Fire on the Mountain | nuclear waste | Santa Fe, NM, USA

Fire on the Mountain explains the danger of nuclear waste stored in a wildfire zone at Los Alamos National Labs near Santa Fe, NM, and recommends moving the waste to WIPP.

Dangers Of Legacy Wa

And we're going to have a Mayoral candidate forum at the September 15 meeting:

Santa Fe Mayoral Candidate Forum

Please join us on Monday, September 15th at our normally scheduled meeting for a forum with the candidates running for election to the Office of Mayor of Santa Fe. This will be a great opportunity for us all to get to know the candidates.

Indivisible Santa FeScott Romans

And don't forget about the NM interim committees that are meeting these days. Less formal than regular legislative committee meetings, a great way to see how our state government operates:

NM Interim Committees

Find Out How New Mexico Plans to Protect us Against the Big Ugly Bill Tuning IN To find out details of any meeting, go to nmlegis.gov, and click “committees”, then scan for the “interim committee list”, find the committee of interest and click on it. The page that appears

Indivisible Santa FeISF Leadership

Wednesdays: Walk the Talk

Walk The Talk Wednesdays! 11-12 am St. Francis & Cerrillos

Indivisible Santa FeDonovan Kolbly

Saturdays: Tesla Takedown

Meet Saturdays from 10-2 across from the Tesla Albuquerque dealership at US Hwy 550 & Rio Rancho Blvd

Indivisible Santa FeDonovan Kolbly

Defunded But Not Defeated

Since 1976, Native people in the Four Corners have depended on KSUT Tribal Radio for news, music and Indigenous viewpoints on the world. A dozen years after its founding, the station became an affiliate of National Public Radio and American Public Radio, today serving 30,000 listeners of the Ute

Indivisible Santa FeGary Kowalski

Redistricting War

Heather Cox Richardson dives into the latest attempt to cheat the voters, once again illustrating how the regime's policies are so bad that the only way to win is to cheat:

[Trump's announcement of a new census] shows how aware he and administration officials are that their program is deeply unpopular and that they expect to lose control of the House of Representatives in 2026 unless they rig the system.
– Heather Cox Richardson

August 7, 2025

At 7:22 this morning, President Donald J.

Letters from an AmericanHeather Cox Richardson

and a view on how Texas Democrats' willingness to Fight, fight, fight is seen as a welcome bit of spine

Democrats Fight Back on Re-redistricting

Politicians satiate the base’s demand to stand up to MAGA bullies

The ContrarianJennifer Rubin

Latest Power Grab

Trump’s “State Capitalism”

It would be communism under any other dictator

Robert ReichRobert Reich

Local Action

This week: Indian Affairs, Revenue Stabilization & Tax Policy, and Military & Veterans

NM Interim Committees

Find Out How New Mexico Plans to Protect us Against the Big Ugly Bill Tuning IN To find out details of any meeting, go to nmlegis.gov, and click “committees”, then scan for the “interim committee list”, find the committee of interest and click on it. The page that appears

Indivisible Santa FeISF Leadership

Check out our resources page with lots of links to useful information, constantly being updated as we find new web resources to help fight for democracy and the rule of law.

You can help our effort to expand our digital presence, including social media on Bluesky, Facebook, and Instagram by following us and liking and re-posting our messages, or sharing our website with people who might be interested – they, too, can sign up and get this newsletter! 🎉 Help us get the word out!

Cowardice is easy to find. I’m on the hunt for courage.

We all see Trump shaking down media companies, universities, law firms, and businesses – and now moving to militarize and control DC (more on that as the situation develops). When you’re dealing with a mob boss like that, cowardice is the easy move. That short-term self-preservationist thinking is why we have Paramount, Paul Weiss, Columbia University, and others buckling under pressure.

So I’m looking for leaders who are doing the hard thing. I want to see and celebrate courage not just because this makes me feel good, but because quiet, unnoticed courage doesn’t spread or build. Sure, courage is contagious, but the contagion could use a boost.

Last week, I wrote about the courage of Texas House Democrats breaking quorum and the need for blue states to fight back. This week, I’m happy to celebrate some courage that’s catching on. 

Not only are the Texas Democrats still refusing to budge in the face of threats from their state, the White House, and the FBI, but Dem leaders in other states are backing them up:

• Illinois Governor JB Pritzker welcomed most of the Texas Dems to his state and ridiculed the empty threat of FBI arrest. “I welcome the FBI coming to the state. I hope they take in the State Fair.”
• California Governor Gavin Newsom also welcomed some of the Texas Dems to his state, and described the moment as an “existential crisis to democracy,” promising to respond in kind with his own mid-decade redistricting.
• Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey hosted some Texas lawmakers, calling the Republican plot “a partisan, craven, political power grab attempt by the President of the United States.”
• New York Governor Kathy Hochul hosted some of the Texas Dems, as well, and accused the Republicans of implementing a plan to “drag us towards authoritarianism,” while also promising her own redistricting response.

It’s so bad that the introverts are here, too. As much as I like to hear fighting words from high-profile politicians, I want to turn your attention to a different detail that struck me this week. It came from Gene Wu, the little-known Texas House Dem leader who is helping lead the charge.

Wu describes himself this way: “I am very, very much an introvert. I prefer to not talk to people if at all possible.” The Washington Post reported that his “leg shook almost uncontrollably with nerves recently as he spoke to reporters.” And yet, Wu is parlaying with governors, party leaders, and national press throughout this crisis.

Courage does not mean you don’t have fear, and it doesn’t mean you are comfortable leading. For the other introverts out there reading this from the safety of your own home, I hope you understand this movement for democracy needs you, too. As Trump threatens to militarize our nation’s capitol, we need all the introverts (and extroverts and omniverts) we can get.

We aren’t all fearless and we aren’t all comfortable, but damnit, this needs doing and we’re going to do it.

This week, that means celebrating and spreading the courage we’re seeing around the country. The Texas Dems have called for a national day of action this Saturday, August 16. Indivisible is backing them up -- find the map here and host or attend an event.

And Leah and I will be back for our weekly live discussion with What’s The Plan? this Thursday at 3pm ET to discuss what we can do moving forward.

For more, read on to this week’s action items below.

In solidarity,
Ezra Levin
Co-Executive Director, Indivisible

Your weekly to-dos

1. Find an event this Saturday, August 16, to protest Trump’s effort to rig electoral maps and steal the 2026 election. Trump’s map takeover is starting in Texas, but it won’t stop there. We’re fighting back nationwide with a day of action this weekend. No event near you? Register your own protest here.
2. Blue State Indivisibles: Call on state Democrats to fight fire with fire by readying new congressional maps. If red state Republicans redraw their maps to rig the race for Congress, blue state Dems must even the playing field by responding in kind. Use our tools to demand that Democratic governors and legislators act now.
3. Sign up for the final One Million Rising session on August 13 to plug into a new phase of national campaign work. You’ll learn to plan and execute a non-cooperation campaign -- and how to coach others to do the same. We’ll also share specific actions you can take to put pressure on institutions enabling Trump.
4. Join Thursday’s What’s the Plan? call to ask Leah and Ezra your questions on redistricting, One Million Rising, and more. Every Thursday at 3pm ET, our co-founders jump online to break down key campaigns and answer your questions directly! Be part of an interactive chat about what’s next in our fight for democracy.

P.S. New threats from this administration come at a torrid pace, and Indivisible needs to move just as fast. That often means responding to emerging attacks like Trump’s map-rigging gambit before we can financially plan for them. Your donations, particularly monthly gifts, make that possible. If you’re able, please start a monthly donation or chip in just one time to ensure we can always respond to new fascist takeover attempts.

Demand universities resist Trump

Last week, Brown University became the latest high-profile institution to cut a backroom deal with the Trump administration -- caving to an extortion scheme that forces discriminatory policies and surveillance measures onto campus in exchange for restored funding.

It’s not just Brown. Columbia and Penn have already capitulated, and behind closed doors, Harvard could be next. But resistance is growing.

We’re partnering with Crimson Courage to support an open letter urging Harvard to stand firm and reject Trump’s demands. Add your name to the open letter telling Harvard they must resist -- democracy depends on it.

IndivisiWIN of the week

In a key New York congressional district, Indivisible groups are working collectively to toxify the Big Bullshit Bill and hold their GOP representative accountable for backing it.

Last week, leaders from CCoHOPE Indivisible and Indivisible YorktownNY took over their local paper’s letters section with pieces condemning Rep. Mike Lawler for voting to gut Medicaid and other programs his constituents need. Read the Indivisibles’ letters in the Peekskill Herald here!

Get an expert's guidance on building coalitions

Our Solidarity in Action speaker series is all about effective strategies to support, uplift, and stand in solidarity with the communities most endangered by authoritarianism. At our next session on August 18, immigrant rights activist and author Cristina Jiménez will share her strategies for building effective community support programs.

You’ll leave equipped with best practices for forming, managing, and sustaining effective coalitions to amplify community support and advocacy efforts.

Sign up for the Solidarity in Action event with United We Dream co-founder Cristina Jiménez on Monday, August 18, at 7pm ET / 4pm PT.

Follow Indivisible national on Bluesky, Mastodon, and Threads to keep up on the latest information, and text “INDIVISIBLE” to 59798 to opt-in to our text messaging program, where we send rapid response actions a few times a month.