God Is Dead & the Devils Are in Charge
Inauguration Day... Shock & Aw, not Again... National Prayer Service... Empathy Now a Sin...International Holocaust Remembrance Day... What To Do in Case of Emergency... Resources for the Resistance
Dear Readers,
Monday, January 27th, 2025: I began writing this post on the morning of Inauguration Day with a clear mind and a sense of determination. "The only way forward is through," I told myself. But then, the media coverage started rolling in. Billionaires occupied seats traditionally reserved for public servants and dignitaries, rubbing elbows and practically bending the knee to Trump at his inauguration. At the rally that followed, Elon Musk brazenly performed not one but two Nazi salutes, met with the roaring approval of thousands. And that’s when my brain broke. Every attempt at coherent thought dissolved into a string of expletives I chose not to share with you.
So here I am again, making a second attempt to write this post—a week later, on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, a day for the world to reflect on the consequences of unchecked hate and power. Leaders, dignitaries, and royalty from more than 50 countries gathered alongside 50 survivors to mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. Donald Trump did not attend but sent a delegation instead. Other than Ellen Germain and Daniel Lawton—who are career diplomats and not Trump appointees—the delegation comprised the kind of unqualified cronies we’ve come to expect from him. The organizers would have been justified in turning them away. I am ashamed to imagine what the survivors and their families must think of our country right now, as well as the deep trauma Musk’s actions likely triggered for many of them.
In the 1970s, when I was a kid, World War II was still fresh in the American psyche. My generation’s parents, the Baby Boomers, were raised by people who had lived through the war—whether overseas or on the home front. We had been steeped in WWII lore through television, films, and books from the 1940s onward, shaping how we understood heroism and villainy. Most of us knew exactly who the bad guys were. But there was always that one kid—a little weirdo fixated on the Nazis, their aircraft, their symbols, their salutes. I’m not saying Elon Musk was one of those kids. But his behavior was undeniably creepy, juvenile, and infinitely less excusable from a grown man.
Inauguration Day
January 20th, 2025: I woke up at dawn this morning and saw the hints of a glorious sunrise in the east. I decided to go for a walk. On my way, the day turned bright, crisp, and beautiful. I headed to Laurelhurst Park, where I greeted every dog I saw with a smile and gathered cool sticks and loose bits of moss for a craft project while listening to a podcast. It was a pleasant and carefree morning. While heading down Burnside on my way home, I encountered the sidewalk exhibition pictured above. It took me a moment to even recognize the people pictured; my thoughts were so far removed from national politics. And then I remembered what today was.
We all know how it went down. To add insult to injury, Inauguration Day fell on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, and flags were raised back to full mast to appease Trump’s ego—a blatant disrespect to President Jimmy Carter, a far greater man and President than the one sworn in that day. Protests were organized in cities across the country, but turnout was low and uneventful. Between the severe weather, devastating fires, and the crushing anxiety of late-stage capitalism under a despotic leader, we were perhaps too exhausted, demoralized, and disbelieving to collectively face what was happening. Again.
Also, Trump launched a family crypto business, effectively providing anyone seeking favor with the administration a legal way to send money directly to the president.
The Morning After
The following day, at the National Prayer Service held at the Washington National Cathedral, Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde delivered a pointed and heartfelt sermon on compassion. She urged Trump to lead with empathy and called on him to recognize the humanity of immigrants, refugees, and marginalized communities. Her words were a rare moment of clarity and courage, offering a stark contrast to the divisiveness of the previous day.
The backlash was immediate and vicious. Trump lashed out, labeling Budde a “radical leftist” and accusing her of political grandstanding. His supporters flooded social media with vitriol, distorting her message of compassion into an attack on their values. It was a textbook example of the administration’s tactic: to polarize, discredit, and drown out dissent with noise. A moment that should have appealed to basic human decency became yet another flashpoint in the right’s fabricated culture war—a sign of how far we’ve strayed from even the pretense of shared values.
Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde is a well-respected and beloved religious leader. A passionate advocate for justice, peace, and human dignity, she is deeply committed to the Episcopal Church’s mission of striving for equity and compassion. She is the author of Receiving Jesus: The Way of Love and Gathering Up the Fragments: Preaching as Spiritual Practice. When she’s not working, she enjoys cycling, cooking for friends, and spending time with her husband, Paul, and their two adult sons, Amos and Patrick.
Aside from her extraordinary accomplishments, she is an ordinary American now vilified by right-wing extremists for daring to call for compassion and empathy—values that should unite us, not divide us.
"God grant that our President will remember always the least of us, 'cause there always will be so far as I know, more of the least of us than all the rest." --The Reverend Martin Luther King, Sr. speaking to a crowd of 5000 at the Lincoln Memorial on the occassion of Jimmy Carter's inauguration on January 20th, 1977"May God grant us all the strength and courage to honor the dignity of every human being, speak the truth in love, and walk humbly with one another and our God, for the good of all the people of this nation and the world." --Bishop Mariann Budde, National Prayer Service, January 21st, 2025Do not commit the sin of empathy. This snake is God's enemy and yours too. She hates God and His people. You need to properly hate in response. She is not merely deceived but is a deceiver. Your eye shall not pity." --Deacon Ben Garrett on Bishop Budde, January 22, 2025God is Dead
As a non-believer with a fondness for existentialism and a strong sense of justice, I’ve always felt drawn to Friedrich Nietzsche's work. His sharp critiques of conventional morality, rejection of dogma, and exploration of human potential resonate deeply with me. But I’m wary of those who have tarnished his name and misused his philosophy to justify domination and cruelty.
When Nietzsche declared that "God is dead," it wasn’t a nihilistic rallying cry—it was a warning. He foresaw the collapse of religion as a moral foundation and feared that, without it, humanity might descend into chaos and meaninglessness. His challenge to humankind was not to abandon morality but to create something better—a framework of meaning that could rise above the collapse of old certainties.
In the 20th century, fascists twisted Nietzsche’s critique of Christian morality to reject compassion and glorify ruthless power politics—sound familiar?). They turned his philosophy into a weapon to uphold the very herd mentality and authoritarianism he despised. This distortion continues today, with right-wing heroes like Richard Spencer and Jordan Peterson misrepresenting his work to suit their agendas.
While I doubt Nietzsche would condone punching Nazis—likely deeming it too reactive and inadequate—I believe he’d be rolling over in his grave at how his philosophy has been manipulated to support ideologies he abhorred. That is if either of us believed in an afterlife.
Nearly 150 years after Nietzsche’s warning, the re-election of the worst president in this country’s history feels like a grim vindication of his fears—proof of what happens when a moral vacuum is created—greed, corruption, and hate rush in to fill the void.
Recommended reading: I Am Dynamite!: A Life of Friedrich Nietzsche by Sue Prideaux.
Week One: Shock and Aw, Not Again!
Since Inauguration Day, there has been a relentless bombardment of confirmations of mind-blowingly unqualified appointees, aggressively hateful executive orders attacking civil rights, immigrants and refugees, and the environment, and mass dismissals of dedicated public servants—to be replaced with sycophants and loyalists whose sole qualification is unwavering allegiance. This shock-and-awe strategy isn’t just chaotic; it’s calculated and designed to destabilize institutions, disorient opposition, and consolidate power in the hands of the unworthy.
We have their playbook. We’ve seen how brazen they are and know exactly what they’re capable of. They’re not hiding their intentions; they’re steamrolling through every safeguard, every institution, every principle of democracy. Each executive order, each appointee's confirmation, is a declaration that they will stop at nothing to reshape the nation in their image. The question is not whether they will succeed but whether we are prepared to stop them.
It’s tempting to feel powerless—to give in to the overwhelming tide of bad news, to retreat into the comfort of disbelief or distraction. But we cannot afford to look away. Not again.
This is An Emergency!
In times like this, it helps to think in terms similar to a cataclysmic event unfolding on the ground—it is, after all, a manmade disaster. The instructions may seem simple, almost rote, but they’re designed to save lives. So, in case of a national emergency, here’s the plan:
Stay Calm.
Panic benefits only those in power. They thrive on chaos and fear because it keeps us paralyzed. Take a breath, steady yourself, and remember that we’ve faced dark times before—and survived.Assess the Situation.
What’s happening? Who’s affected? What are the immediate threats? Focus on what’s within your power to address. Not everything can be solved at once, but small, targeted actions can chip away at even the biggest crises.Assess Your Arsenal.
What are your skills, knowledge, and resources? What do you bring to the fight? Everyone has something to contribute, whether organizing, writing, speaking out, showing up, or supporting others on the front lines. Take stock of your strengths, sharpen your tools, and prepare to use them.Secure Your Oxygen Mask First.
You can’t fight injustice if you’re burned out or overwhelmed. Take care of yourself so you can show up for others. Rest, regroup, and recharge when needed, and encourage those around you to do the same.Help Those Around You.
Reach out to your community. Support the people who are most vulnerable right now—those whose rights and lives are directly under attack. Compassion is not just an act of kindness; it’s a form of resistance.Look for the Helpers and Follow Their Lead.
Find those already doing the work and join forces. The path forward often begins with activists, organizers, and everyday people stepping up. Support them, amplify their efforts, and take action alongside them.Don’t Let the Noise Distract You.
The chaos is intentional. It’s designed to overwhelm and exhaust us. Instead, focus on protecting democracy, defending human rights, protecting the environment, and holding those in power accountable.Take the Leap.
Once you’ve assessed your situation, strengths, and allies, it’s time to act. Every action matters—making calls, sending letters, turning up for rallies and protests, donating, or volunteering. Don’t wait for the perfect plan—start where you are with what you have, and keep moving forward.Celebrate Small Victories.
Change rarely happens overnight, and big wins can be few and far between. Celebrate the small victories—the protest that sparks momentum, the conversation that shifts a perspective, the policy that protects even a few lives. These moments matter. They remind us that progress is possible and that joy, even in the fight, is revolutionary.Keep Living and Loving.
Resistance isn’t just about fighting; it’s also about living fully despite the forces trying to tear us down. Laugh, love, create, and find moments of joy. These are acts of defiance. A life well-lived is its own form of rebellion.
This isn’t the first emergency this nation has faced, and it won’t be the last. But resistance alone is not enough. If we don’t fill the moral and political void with a vision rooted in justice, liberation, and shared humanity, greed, corruption, and hate will continue to consume it. The fight demands more than defiance—it requires imagination, courage, and the collective will to create a world where power is wielded for the good of all, not the benefit of the few.
The only way forward is together.
With Love & Solidarity,
Chloe
Wonk Out!
Resistance isn’t just about fighting—it’s about staying informed, inspired, and connected. These resources are starting points; imagining and creating a better world continues. Keep learning, keep creating, keep hoping, keep loving, and keep fighting!
Media Outlets
Democracy Now!
Independent global news hour focusing on social justice and activism.ProPublica
Investigative journalism dedicated to holding those in power accountable.A trusted source for balanced, in-depth reporting and thoughtful analysis on domestic and global issues, with a commitment to factual, nonpartisan journalism.
While not explicitly left-leaning, it's a reliable, facts-first source often cited across the political spectrum.
A trusted source for in-depth reporting and progressive analysis on U.S. and global issues, focusing on accountability and justice.
An international news outlet providing nuanced and comprehensive coverage of global events, focusing on marginalized voices and systemic issues.
Magazines
Jacobin
Focused on socialist perspectives, labor rights, and economic justice.Current Affairs
A mix of humor, analysis, and critiques of power structures.Yes! Magazine
Solutions-oriented journalism covering social justice and environmental action.
Podcasts
Behind the Bastards
Unpacking the worst people in history and their tactics.Citations Needed
Examines media, PR, and power with critical insights.The Ezra Klein Show
Deep dives into big ideas with thoughtful guests.How to Save a Planet
Solutions-focused podcast on fighting climate change.Re-examines misunderstood events and figures in history, challenging misconceptions with a progressive lens.
A thoughtful podcast exploring the history, strategies, and philosophies of the American right to better understand and counter its influence.
A deep-dive podcast from Jacobin that tackles issues like capitalism, inequality, and political movements with a socialist perspective.
Newsletters & Blogs
Heather Cox Richardson’s Letters from an American
Daily historical and political insights from a historian.The Discourse Blog
Sharp, funny takes on politics and culture with a progressive edge.Heather Cox Richardson’s Letters from an American
Daily historical and political insights from a historian, providing context for current events.
Independent, deep-dive reporting on political accountability, corporate influence, and social justice.
Documentaries
13th (2016)
Ava DuVernay’s powerful exploration of the link between slavery, systemic racism, and mass incarceration in the U.S.Based on James Baldwin’s unfinished manuscript, this film examines the history of racism in America through Baldwin’s incisive words.
How to Survive a Plague (2012)
The story of ACT UP and the activists who fought tirelessly for AIDS awareness, treatment, and justice in the face of government inaction.
An examination of the complexities of war and morality, told through the perspective of Robert S. McNamara, offering lessons on the consequences of power and violence.
An inspiring look at the origins of the disability rights movement and how collective action led to transformative change.
Organizations to Get Involved With & Support
Indivisible
Mobilizing grassroots political action to resist authoritarianism and defend democracy.RAICES (Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services)
Providing legal services, advocacy, and support for immigrants and asylum seekers.The National Network of Abortion Funds
Ensuring equitable access to abortion care by connecting people to local funds and services.350.org
Building a global grassroots movement to fight climate change and advance sustainable solutions.Movement for Black Lives (M4BL)
Advocating for racial justice and systemic change through policy initiatives and grassroots organizing.Sunrise Movement
A youth-led organization fighting for climate justice and a Green New Deal through systemic change.Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC)
Combating hate, defending civil rights, and providing education to fight systemic discrimination.ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union)
Defending civil liberties, including voting rights, immigrant rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and freedom of speech.
Books
For book recommendations, you can visit the Street Wonk Bookshop! Every purchase supports Street Wonk, as well as hundreds of independent bookshops around the country.
I am grateful for the clarity, intelligence, and fierce devotion this post shares with the world. Thank you for shining your light in this shitstorm!