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Trump’s DC Takeover Is a Trial Run for Authoritarian Rule

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I’m writing from the heart of Washington, DC — where Donald Trump has just seized control of the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department and deployed 800 National Guard troops into our streets.

This is not law enforcement. This is occupation.

And Trump isn’t stopping here. As armed patrols sweep the capital, he’s threatening to “restore order” in cities across America — laying the groundwork for a coast-to-coast crackdown.

We cannot wait to act. Congress must move now to rein in this power grab before it spreads.

👉 ADD YOUR NAME: Tell Congress to Stop Trump’s DC Occupation

A Chilling Power Grab in Broad Daylight

Trump’s unprecedented seizure of local control is a trial balloon for full-blown authoritarianism.

As Rep. Pramila Jayapal said, this is a dictator’s move — grabbing power to intimidate voters, crush dissent, and cling to control by force.

And the justification? A lie. Violent crime in DC has been declining, but Trump is weaponizing fear to justify sending troops into American streets. If Congress doesn’t act, we will see this playbook repeated in blue cities nationwide.

Our Revolution Is on the Ground

Our Revolution’s DC Citizen Action Team is in the streets right now — fighting back against this authoritarian occupation.

This week, we’ll be on Capitol Hill delivering our message directly:

Congress must act immediately to restore local control of DC’s police and demand the withdrawal of all National Guard troops.

We’re scaling up our organizing to meet this moment — but we need every voice possible to push Congress to act.

This Is Bigger Than DC

This is not just about Washington. It’s about the future of our democracy. If Trump can seize a city’s police force today, he can do it anywhere tomorrow.

That’s why we must stop this authoritarian power grab now — before it spreads.

✍️ ADD YOUR NAME: Tell Congress to Defend Our Democracy.

When we organize, we win. Let’s make sure this is the moment we stopped Trump’s march toward authoritarian rule.

Our Revolution Condemns Trump’s Federal Takeover of D.C. Police and Threat to Deploy National Guard Troops

By Press Release

As Trump Escalates Series of Authoritarian Crackdowns Targeting Independent Centers of Power, Our Revolution Launches Petition Urging Congress to Block His Latest Power Grab — Calling Out the Manufactured Crisis as a Diversion from the Epstein Scandal and a Stark Example of Authoritarianism Merging with Oligarchy to Shield the Powerful and Well-Connected

Washington, DC — Our Revolution unequivocally condemns President Donald Trump’s dangerous and authoritarian federal takeover of Washington, D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department and his threat to deploy National Guard troops in the streets of our nation’s capital. This alarming move is the latest in a series of escalating crackdowns, from academia and the media to law firms, government offices, and cities led by political opposition — targeting independent civic centers of power as well as public officials who have challenged him.

“This is not law and order — it’s tyranny,” said Our Revolution Executive Director Joseph Geevarghese. “Trump is starting to target American cities led by Democrats, first deploying troops in LA, now federalizing local police in DC. This is a clear escalation with the threat of military force in Trump’s authoritarian push to silence dissent, intimidate communities, and tighten his grip on power. In the meantime, he’s using this power grab as a diversion from the Epstein scandal. Members of Congress need to connect the dots and step up to intervene before it’s too late. Next up could be Chicago or New York.

Time and again, strongmen have manufactured crises to tighten their grip on local police — the first step toward a nationwide power grab.”

Our Revolution stands with the people of Washington, D.C., and with communities nationwide rising up for justice and democracy. What we saw in Los Angeles is now playing out in the nation’s capital — an authoritarian tactic designed to silence protest and dissent. This is no one-off; it’s becoming a standard playbook Trump can deploy in any city to crush opposition and consolidate power. We urge every elected official, candidate, and organization that claims to defend democracy to speak out and act decisively against this dangerous escalation.

In response to the Administration’s dangerous abuse of emergency powers, Our Revolution is urging its 8 million+ members to demand Congress act now to stop this latest escalation,  circulating a petition calling on lawmakers to block the takeover and troop deployment. Petitions will be delivered to members of Congress this week.

The line between civilian and military authority is one of the most critical protections in a functioning democracy. Trump’s use of a federalized police department alongside the threat of armed troops in our streets is a blatant abuse of power. Congress must act.

MEDIA AVAILABILITY: Joseph Geevarghese, Executive Director of Our Revolution, is available for interviews to discuss Trump’s authoritarian takeover of D.C.’s police, his threat to deploy troops, the growing pattern of crackdowns, and what Democrats must do in this moment to show up for movements, protect vulnerable communities, and fight back against the erosion of democratic norms.

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Our Revolution is America’s largest grassroots independent political organizing group, born out of Senator Bernie Sanders’s 2016 presidential campaign. It focuses on mobilizing communities, electing progressive champions, advocating for progressive policies, and transforming the Democratic Party to serve people, not corporate interests.

RSVP: Grassroots Rally and Press Conference at Private Equity HQ in NYC to Expose Billionaire Antonio Gracias and Valor Equity Partners Profiting From Public Coffers to Fund Authoritarianism

By Press Release

Our Revolution members will join a broad coalition of labor, immigrant rights, and community organizations in a national day of action following the money trail from taxpayer dollars to billionaire pockets and the dismantling of democracy — spotlighting Valor Equity Partners and Antonio Gracias in the “No Gracias” campaign as emblematic of corruption, profiteering, and authoritarian power.

Press is kindly asked to RSVP HERE to attend or request interview

New York, NY  — On Tuesday, August 5,  Our Revolution, the nation’s largest grassroots progressive organization, will activate members to join a broad coalition of grassroots organizations for a high‑visibility protest and press conference outside the SoHo offices of Valor Equity Partners. The action will spotlight billionaire Antonio Gracias, a central figure in the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency, for his role in slashing public programs, driving mass deportation efforts, and spreading dangerous disinformation about immigrants.

As documented in Politico and the Revolving Door Project, Gracias used his leadership position at the Department of Government Efficiency to cut thousands of jobs at the Social Security Administration, embed operatives throughout immigration agencies, and weaponize federal data systems to target immigrants. At the same time, he continued to run Valor Equity Partners, a private equity firm invested in Musk linked ventures, border surveillance technology, and other industries positioned to profit from the very policies he advanced in government.

This protest is part of a national day of action in cities where Valor operates including Palo Alto, Seattle, Chicago, and Miami. It will kick off a sustained campaign to expose billionaires and corporate elites who leverage public positions to funnel taxpayer resources into private profits while advancing an authoritarian political agenda.

“Antonio Gracias represents the dangerous fusion of oligarchic wealth and authoritarian politics,” said Joseph Geevarghese, Executive Director of Our Revolution. “This is about more than one man — it is about billionaires and big money interests using their access to power to dismantle our democratic institutions, privatize public goods, and profit from fear and division. Our members are mobilizing because we refuse to let the billionaire class loot the public sector, gut essential services, and turn our democracy into a playground for the ultra rich.”

During the action and press conference, advocates will be calling for: 

  • Full staffing at the Social Security Administration
  • An end to immigrant scapegoating and misuse of federal data
  • Public accountability for those who abuse government roles to enrich themselves and dismantle public institutions
  • A government that serves the people, not billionaires

WHAT: Protest and press conference targeting billionaire Antonio Gracias, founder of Valor Equity Partners and key ally of Elon Musk, for using public office to weaken public services, build mass deportation infrastructure, and enrich private corporate interests

WHEN: Tuesday, August 5, 2025 – 12:00 PM

WHERE: Valor Equity Partners, 575 Broadway, SoHo, New York

WHO: Speakers from Our Revolution and coalition partners, grassroots leaders, community activists
PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS:Our Revolution, New York Communities for Change, 50501, We Feed New York, New York Immigration Coalition, Indivisible, Rise and Resist

WHERE: RSVP HERE

VISUALS:
• Large picket line and banners
• Speakers from coalition organizations
• Grassroots leaders and community activists
• Media backdrop in front of Valor Equity Partners’ SoHo office

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Our Revolution is America’s largest grassroots independent political organizing group, born out of Senator Bernie Sanders’s 2016 presidential campaign. It focuses on mobilizing communities, electing progressive champions, advocating for progressive policies, and transforming the Democratic Party to serve people, not corporate interests.

A Turning Point on Gaza — and a Crisis of Credibility for Senate Democrats

By Uncategorized

 

Yesterday, July 30, for the first time, a majority of Senate Democrats supported a resolution by Senator Bernie Sanders to block an $18 billion weapons sale to Israel—amid the Israeli government’s ongoing assault on Gaza and escalating starvation.

Though the resolution failed by a vote of 27-72—blocked by every Republican and 17 Democrats—this was a watershed moment in U.S. foreign policy and a powerful sign that the Democratic base is reshaping the party’s stance on Israel, militarism, and human rights.

“These votes don’t erase the fact that AIPAC and its billionaire donors have had a stranglehold on Democratic foreign policy for years,” said Our Revolution Executive Director Joseph Geevarghese. “That grip is finally starting to break—but the damage to trust in the Democratic Party and our democracy is real. Base voters see the influence of money, and they’re sick of it.”

While 26 Democrats stood on the right side of history, others revealed troubling contradictions.

Senators Jon Ossoff, Jack Reed, and Sheldon Whitehouse flipped their votes—supporting a similar resolution earlier this year, only to abandon it now, even as the humanitarian crisis deepens. Meanwhile, Senators Chuck Schumer and Cory Booker, both with long histories of defending U.S. military aid to Israel and deep ties to pro-Israel lobby groups like AIPAC, voted to block weapons sales under pressure from a mobilized public.

“They are not leading—they are catching up,” Geevarghese said. “This shift didn’t come from moral clarity in Washington. It came from the moral clarity of the grassroots.”

Despite the backtracking and political hedging by some electeds, the direction of change is clear—and it’s being driven from the ground up.

Polling underscores just how out of step many Democrats in office have been:

  • 78% of NYC Democratic primary voters say Israel is committing genocide
  • 46% believe Israel is using starvation as a weapon of war
  • A majority support restrictions on U.S. arms to Israel
  • Only 8% of Democrats nationally support Israel’s military campaign in Gaza

As the humanitarian crisis in Gaza worsens, voters are demanding action, not empty rhetoric. You can’t condemn famine while funding the bombs that cause it. The era of blank-check support for Netanyahu’s far-right regime is ending—and the political realignment is being led by ordinary people, not Washington insiders.

At Our Revolution, we’re organizing to make sure this shift is real, lasting, and accountable. The next phase of this fight is here—and we know who’s been standing with the people all along.

Our Revolution on the Democratic “Mood Shift” on Gaza and the Crisis of Credibility

By Press Release

Our Revolution on the Democratic “Mood Shift” on Gaza and the Crisis of Credibility


Executive Director Joseph Geevarghese Comments as a Record Number of Senate Democrats Back Sanders’ Resolution to Block Bomb Sales to Israel—Exposing the Hollow Rhetoric and Performantive Politics of Those Who Condemn Famine but Still Fund Genocide, While the Base Leads a Moral and Political Realignment

Washington, DC — Yesterday, in a watershed moment for U.S. foreign policy, a majority of Senate Democrats voted to block offensive weapons shipments to Israel, backing Senator Bernie Sanders’ resolution to halt an $18 billion arms sale and signaling a long-overdue shift away from blank-check support for the Netanyahu government’s brutal war in Gaza.

By a vote of 27-72, the resolution failed—blocked by every Republican present and 17 Democrats. But 26 Democratic Senators joined Sanders in voting yes, marking the first time a majority of the Senate Democratic caucus has voted to stop arming Israel in the midst of its ongoing assault on Palestinian civilians.

This is a turning point. But it’s also a moment of reckoning for those who continue to speak out of both sides of their mouth.

Senators Jon Ossoff, Jack Reed, and Sheldon Whitehouse flipped their votes after previously supporting a similar resolution—an unconscionable move as the death toll from famine and bombing continues to climb. Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Cory Booker—both of whom have accepted significant funding from AIPAC and pro-Israel lobby groups—voted to block arms sales despite their past records defending military aid to Israel.

“These votes don’t erase the fact that AIPAC and its billionaire donors have had a stranglehold on Democratic foreign policy for years,” said Joseph Geevarghese, Executive Director of Our Revolution. “That grip is finally starting to break—but the damage to trust in the Democratic Party and our democracy is real. Base voters see the influence of money, and they’re sick of it.”

Even with these contradictions, the momentum is shifting. Despite AIPAC’s millions in attack ads and threats, high-profile Democrats like Schumer and Booker could not ignore the moral urgency and public outrage any longer. They are not leading—they are catching up.

Polling shows just how out of step the political class has been:

  • 78% of NYC Democratic primary voters believe Israel is committing genocide (Data for Progress)
  • 46% believe Israel is using starvation as a weapon of war
  • A majority support restricting U.S. weapons to Israel

Only 8% of Democrats nationwide approve of Israel’s military campaign (Gallup)

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Our Revolution is America’s largest grassroots independent political organizing group, born out of Senator Bernie Sanders’s 2016 presidential campaign. It focuses on mobilizing communities, electing progressive champions, advocating for progressive policies, and transforming the Democratic Party to serve people, not corporate interests.

BLOCK TRUMP’S EXTREMIST NOMINEES—DEMAND SENATE DEMOCRATS FIGHT BACK

By Uncategorized

Donald Trump is at it again—this time, demanding the Senate cancel its August recess so he can ram through 135 of his dangerous nominees. From extremist judges to unqualified loyalists, Trump is trying to seize control of every level of government—and he’s counting on Senate Democrats to step aside and let him do it.

We cannot let that happen.

Senator Schumer and the rest of the Senate Democratic Caucus still have the power to stop this. They can withhold consent. Deny quorum. Use every rule in the book to delay, obstruct, and fight back. But they won’t act unless they feel the pressure from all of us. That’s where we come in.

Tell Schumer and Senate Democrats: Do everything in your power to block Trump’s extremist nominees.

ADD YOUR NAME

Let’s be clear—this is not business as usual.

Trump’s nominee list is stacked with loyalists who threaten our rights, our democracy, and the rule of law. Take Emil Bove, Trump’s personal lawyer turned DOJ appointee, now nominated for a lifetime seat on the U.S. Court of Appeals. Bove has been caught ignoring court orders, misleading judges, and refusing to denounce the January 6 attack. He even declined to rule out Trump running for a third term.

Or Jeanine Pirro, the far-right former Fox News host now nominated to be the top federal prosecutor in Washington, D.C. Or Michael Waltz, Trump’s disgraced former national security advisor—resurfacing as Trump’s pick for U.N. ambassador.

These are not normal nominations. These are power plays by an aspiring autocrat.

And yet—right now—some Republicans are trying to cut a deal with Democrats to fast-track these confirmations so they can get out of town for summer break.

We need to make our voices heard. Loudly.

This is no time for Democrats to play nice. We’re demanding they hold the line, hold the floor, and hold Trump accountable. Because if we don’t fight now, these extremists could shape our courts, our laws, and our lives for decades to come.

Demand Senate Democrats use every tool to stop Trump’s nominees.

ADD YOUR NAME

Revolution Report: July 26th, 2025

By Homepage2, Revolution Report, Revolution Report Newsletter, Uncategorized
Revolution Report Newsletter Banner Logo

New Survey: 95% of Progressives Reject Consultant-Driven Politics, Demand Bold Shift from Democratic Party Leadership

By Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, July 23, 2025

CONTACT: media@ourrevolution.com

 

New Survey: 95% of Progressives Reject Consultant-Driven Politics, Demand Bold Shift from Democratic Party Leadership and Rank Defunding the Oligarchs and Getting Big Money Out of Primaries as Top Priorities


Our Revolution survey of more than 5,000 progressive and Democratic voters finds overwhelming frustration with party leadership, broad pessimism of Project 2029, and strong demand for a grassroots-driven alternative.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — As the Democratic Party launches an internal review of its 2024 election loss and quietly advances “Project 2029” behind closed doors, a new survey conducted by Our Revolution, the nation’s largest progressive political organizing group, reveals a crisis of legitimacy for Democratic leadership—and a clear mandate for transformative change driven by the grassroots.

Fielded from July 19–21, the survey gathered responses from 5,089 politically engaged members across Our Revolution’s national base. The results show growing rejection of consultant-class strategies and overwhelming support for a bold, working-class agenda.

“The people responsible for driving the Democratic Party into a ditch are now asking for the keys again. We’d be fools to let them behind the wheel,” said Joseph Geevarghese, Executive Director of Our Revolution in reference to Project 2029 “The effort is not a strategy, it’s a stalling tactic meant to protect insider power. Time and again, our base is demanding something much deeper: a party that actually fights for us.”

While party insiders blame outside groups and refuse to examine key decisions around Biden and Harris’s campaigns, Our Revolution’s grassroots members say the problem isn’t just electoral—it’s systemic.

The crisis of confidence in Democratic leadership stems from years of corporate influence, failed messaging, and a refusal to take on corporations and billionaire donors.

Rather than embracing bold ideas that meet the urgency of the moment, party leaders are doubling down on a playbook that has already failed—elevating consultants over organizers, donors over voters, and caution over courage.

“What’s moving people is not poll-tested platitudes,” Geevarghese continued. It’s unapologetic leadership that centers working people, takes on corporate greed, and isn’t afraid to name names. From Zohran Mamdani in New York to grassroots organizers in Michigan, the path forward is being charted by people who know that democracy doesn’t trickle down—it rises up.”

The survey’s top findings reflect that sentiment clearly. Members ranked “Defund the Oligarchs” as their top priority for the next four years—calling on Democrats to end subsidies and sweetheart deals for billionaires and corporate interests. The second-highest priority? Getting Big Money out of Democratic primaries, a call to dismantle the pay-to-play politics that has sidelined grassroots candidates for too long.

Key Survey Findings Include:

  • 95% of respondents say the Democratic Party should be listening to working-class voters, community organizers, and grassroots leadersnot corporate consultants or billionaire donors
  • 90% believe Democrats win when they embody bold ideas and inspire change, not when they play it safe or avoid controversy
  • 87% say they feel let down or frustrated by current Democratic leadership
  • 84% want to see a bold, progressive alternative to Project 2029
  • 68% are pessimistic or very pessimistic that Project 2029 will lead Democrats to victory

These numbers underscore the scale of disillusionment within the Party’s base—and the urgency of changing course. Rather than more closed-door strategies that consolidate insider power, grassroots voters are calling for a fundamental reset.

Our Revolution will use these findings to guide the next phase of its organizing strategy, mobilizing to elect candidates who reject corporate PAC money, fighting to democratize the Party from the bottom up, and leading a people-powered movement to defeat Trump and the oligarchs who fueled his return.

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Our Revolution is America’s largest grassroots independent political organizing group, born out of Senator Bernie Sanders’s 2016 presidential campaign. It focuses on mobilizing communities, electing progressive champions, advocating for progressive policies, and transforming the Democratic Party to serve people, not corporate interests.

“Defund the Oligarchs”: What 5,000 Our Revolution Members Want from the Democratic Party

By Homepage2

At a pivotal moment for our democracy, more than 5,000 Our Revolution members have spoken—and their message is crystal clear: 

 

It’s time to Defund the Oligarchs and return the Democratic Party to the people.

In our latest grassroots survey, members told us exactly what priorities they want to see in the fight to take back our democracy and build real power for working people over the next four years:

  • #1 Priority: Defund the Oligarchs
  • #2: Get Big Money Out of the Primaries
  • Followed by top concerns like climate justice, universal healthcare, jobs, housing, immigrant rights, and more.

But while the grassroots is ready to fight for bold change, the Democratic Party’s leadership is falling behind.

A Crisis of Confidence in Party Leadership

  • 87% of respondents said they feel let down or frustrated by the current direction of the Democratic Party.
  • 68% said they are pessimistic or very pessimistic that the new “Project 2029” initiative will lead Democrats to victory.
  • 84% want to see a bold, progressive alternative to Project 2029—one that actually inspires people to act.

And perhaps most damning:

  • 90% say Democrats win when they embody change and inspire with bold ideas. Only 10% believe Democrats can win by playing it safe and avoiding controversy.
  • Nearly 95% believe the Party should be listening to working-class voters, community organizers, local leaders, and grassroots activists—not corporate consultants and billionaire donors.

What Is Project 2029—and Why Are People Concerned?

Behind closed doors, Democratic leaders and high-paid consultants are crafting a long-term strategy for the Party’s future. They’re calling it Project 2029—but to our members, it looks like more of the same:


A plan to protect insider power, ignore the base, and sideline the bold ideas that inspire people to get involved.

The truth is, consultants and corporate donors don’t knock doors. They don’t organize rallies, talk to neighbors, or build movements. The grassroots does.

If Democrats want to beat Trump and the Oligarchs, they need to start trusting the people—not the donor class.

What’s Next?

Our members are calling for a true opposition party—one that doesn’t back down from oligarchic power, that puts working people first, and that leads with courage and vision. The good news is: that’s exactly what Our Revolution is fighting for.

We’re organizing to challenge the status quo from the ground up—with the candidates, policies, and power-building strategies that can actually win.

Join us in building that future.

👉 Become a member or donate to help us Defund the Oligarchs and take our Party back.

DONAVAN MCKINNEY FOR CONGRESS IN MI-13

By Endorsement, Homepage2, MI

Our Revolution is proud to endorse

Donavan McKinney

for Congress in Michigan’s 13th District!

Born and raised in Detroit, Donavan knows firsthand the challenges working-class families face. He’s lived them—and he’s spent his life fighting back. In the State House, he’s been a leading voice on the frontlines of environmental justice, voting rights, and economic equity. Now he’s ready to take that fight to Washington.

Donavan joined Our Revolution’s national organizing call and told us his story:

“I grew up poor, moving over 13 times in Detroit’s 13th district. I didn’t know where my next meal was coming from,” he said. “In 10th grade, my mom was crying because another young black kid was murdered in our neighborhood. She looked me in the eyes and said, ‘You have to survive.’ That moment made me realize we need to fight for a better community.”

As a state representative, Donovan has stood up to oligarchic influence:

“I’ve taken on the utilities companies and told them I won’t vote for something to give them more money while we sit in the dark. I’ve taken on contractors that were gouging our state… we passed one of the strongest ethics packages in the state’s history.”

This is what real progressive leadership looks like: someone who doesn’t just talk about justice, but delivers it. Someone rooted in the community, who will bring the voices of everyday people to the halls of Congress.

With your support, Donavan McKinney can help build the people-powered movement we need to take back our democracy and deliver for working families.

Let’s win MI-13—for the people.

Add Your Name to Support Donavan McKinney>>

When we organize, we win!