It is tempting to write about the Trump regime’s rejection of democratic Europe and Ukraine and its embrace of autocratic Russia. It’s an interesting topic and more evidence of the existential threat to democracy in the United States. But that threat now seems so strong and compelling that I think it’s better to write about what vigilant citizens can do to counter it.
There’s only so much we can do. We have jobs, housework, schoolwork, family and friends, health and fitness, local communities, hobbies and fun that draw upon our time. Most of us lack expertise in politics and activism. The way to leverage our time and jump start our political effectiveness is to draw upon and support pro-democracy organizations.
I’m going to highlight some of the organizations that are at the forefront of the battle to save democracy from the march of authoritarianism. In keeping with Vigilant Citizen’s nonpartisan and open-minded viewpoint, I’m most interested in nonpartisan organizations with balanced political ideologies.
Number one on my list is Protect Democracy, “a cross-ideological, nonprofit group dedicated to defeating the authoritarian threat, building more resilient democratic institutions, and protecting our freedom and liberal democracy.”
This is Protect Democracy’s strategy — to build a coalition of progressives, moderates, and conservatives who believe in defending the principles of democratic government and the rule of law.1
Protect Democracy uses an Authoritarian Threat Index to evaluate the level of threat to American democracy. The current threat level is 2.8 (out of 5,) a score approaching 3 - Severe Threat, “violations that signal significant erosion of democracy quality and warn of high potential for breakdown in future.”
Protect Democracy’s strategies for preventing our democracy from declining into a more authoritarian form of government draw on The Authoritarian Playbook2 which outlines seven basic tactics used by authoritarians to seize power:
Politicizing independent institutions.
Spreading disinformation
Aggrandizing executive power
Quashing dissent
Scapegoating vulnerable communities
Corrupting elections
Stoking violence
I am amazed by the Trump regime’s pervasive employment of all of these tactics. I’m surprised the Authoritarian Threat Index isn’t higher.
Protect Democracy’s strategy for defeating the Authoritarian Playbook is based on four priorities:
Protect fair and free elections, regardless of who wins. Defend the process of holding elections. Protect voters’ ability to meaningfully participate, free from intimidation and harassment.
Defend the rule of law from authoritarian threats. Uphold the principle that nobody is above the law. Ensure accountability for those who have attacked our democracy. Ensure checks and balances on power. Protect the ability to voice dissenting views. Protect non-politicized law enforcement and civil servant workforces.
Prevent disinformation from corrupting fact-based debate. Deter through litigation and other tools. Neutralize biases in the information ecosystem. Disrupt the feedback loop that pushes elected officials toward disinformation-driven policy.
Shape the democracy of tomorrow. Replace winner-take-all elections with more proportional representation. Advocate for more and better political parties. Legalize fusion voting, where more than political party can nominate the same candidate.
Protect Democracy has had significant impacts by implementing their strategy since 2016 and continues to be at the forefront of the battle against authoritarianism. Most recently, Protect Democracy represented plaintiffs to obtain a court order to stop sharing private data with DOGE and is defending civil servants against attempts to dismantle meritocratic service and turn it into a spoils system for political supporters.3
Protect Democracy’s guide, “29 actions you can take right now to protect democracy” is particularly helpful for vigilant citizens who want to do something to stop our country from shifting towards authoritarianism, threatening our freedom and quality of life. Some of these actions take less than a minute, some take months, others are ongoing.
Here are ten actions4 that stand out to me as effective use of a vigilant citizen’s time and energy to learn, build community and engage in political action:
Action #1: Subscribe to “If You Can Keep It”, an excellent free newsletter so that you know what’s happening in our democracy.
Action #4: Know who represents your community at every level. Learn about them Get to know them.
Action #6: Read the Authoritarian Playbook for 2025. This serves as the guide for a pro-democracy movement and coalition.
Action #10: Clean up (and build up!) your contacts. This is probably the most powerful cation on the list. Your social network is your most powerful asset and source of support. You cannot rely on social media for outreach and advocacy. (Think about who owns the platforms!)
Action #12: Go to a local community meeting. Meet people, build your local network, establish relationships. Think nationally, act locally.
Action #13: Organize people who agree with you. There are people in your network that share your worries about democracy and can help if they know what do do. Turn them onto Protect Democracy. (And Vigilant Citizen!)
Action #14: Dialogue with people who don’t agree with you. Not to convince them they’re wrong, but to seek mutual understanding. I guess (hope) that most Americans would choose democracy over an authoritarian form of government, even if they disagree on policy or ideology.
Action #19: Reach out to your elected officials. Call them about an issue or to ask what their priorities are. Be civil, let them know you vote. Get to know them and their staff.
Action #20: Organize around an issue, not a candidate. This may be an opportunity to make alliances with people who don’t agree with you and to build political power.
Action #29: Become a leader in the democracy movement. Share Protect Democracy’s guide, all at once or a few actions at a time. I am ever-hopeful that a pro-democracy movement of the people is a means to heal the wounds of polarization and unite the majority of us for a common cause.
If you want to support Protect Democracy’s work, consider making a donation5. A regular monthly donation is better than a one-off.
I recall a local radio station’s news broadcast which always ended with the challenge, “If you don’t like the news, go out and make some of your own.” If that appeals to you, I have two suggestions. First, look at Protect Democracy’s list of 29 actions and pick one to do this week, just to get started doing something. (Hell, Action #7 requires just going to you local library! One of my favorite places, BTW.) Second, share this Vigilant Citizen article with others who are worried about where the country is headed and may be feeling powerless. They aren’t. We aren’t. Do something!
I do not hold any interest in and am not affiliated with Protect Democracy in any way.