Virginia elects a new governor in 2025, ridding ourselves of the awful MAGA Red Vest Youngkin, who can't run again. The fantastic Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D) did not run for re-election as she prepares for the Governor's race in 2025, and her House seat was won by Democrat Eugene Vindman, a first-time candidate. Virginia voted for Kamala Harris, the only southern state to do so. You can help us strengthen the Blue Wall with a 2025 trifecta in Richmond. https://abigailspanberger.com/
Since many blue states subsidize many red states via Federal income tax, could blue state residents refuse en mass to pay their taxes, and instead, send what they owe to their states to offset the planned reduction from Trump's administration? We know there aren't already enough IRS agents to handle tax evaders.
That is a nice fantasy but it isn't reality. If you refuse to pay your Federal taxes you'll have to deal with the IRS. Federal tax laws don't care which state you live in. You'll be hit with interest and penalties and, in the end, you'll have to pay your taxes or have your assets seized. You'd only be adding to your own costs by having to deal with the IRS. Blue states don't want to break the laws. I live in a very Blue part (St Louis County) of the very red state of MO. But, voters here passed an amendment to grant abortion rights (basically what was removed with Roe), and to increase the minimum wage to $15/hour. Ballot initiatives have been used to expand Medicaid, to legalize medical and recreational marijuana, and to stop right-to-work being the law of the state. I agree with Noah - work in your state to make things better and wait until the Republican Party implodes. The political sabotage, infighting, and backstabbing is already beginning. I don't think Congressional Republicans want to take orders from Musk and RFK, Jr. And, Trump is a lame duck from day one; he'll lose his power over his term as Republicans figure out how to work around him.
Stopping the blame game and working on strengthening efforts to protect rights within the states sets a great example to others where the pendulum is swinging towards the blue. We cannot allow ourselves to give up but must work smarter to protect us from an onslaught by the new administration.
This former Arizona resident is ever so happy to call Colorado home for 20 years now. Our ballot this year had diverse constitutional amendments and legal voter initiatives. We increased funding for police, helped veterans, constitutionally protected abortion, removed the constitutional prohibition on same sex marriage, and turned down a “school choice“, measure that would have directed state money to private schools. And we are the fifth most educated state of bachelor’s degrees. It’s no wonder how educational attainment equals more progressive attitudes, and why so many red state want to underfund schools. I bet the coefficient of correlation of education and broader attitudes is pretty close to 1:1. I do wish that our governor was as outspoken as Pritzker or Gavin, but he is openly gay and wins by large margins.
Just as an addition: the WA AG you mentioned, Bob Ferguson, is now the Gov-Elect, as Jay Inslee is retiring. Inslee made a very strong statement for WA resistance to Trump, and I’m sure he had Ferguson’s approval. (I live in WA.). The gov of Massachusetts and also Huchul in NY have also made statements. I’m expecting a lot of blue state cooperation, and am pleased that they’re skipping any honeymoon and throwing the gauntlets down right away.
Like Berlatsky, I also worry that we won’t have meaningful elections. Many other commentators have painted a rosier picture, anticipating that the far right can be checked by the 2026 and 2028 elections. Given how authoritarians operate, I am pessimistic that elections will function as they once did.
The next four years will be grim, but one has to hope that every time a non-voter (the vast majority of the country) faces grim in their personal life, they will reconsider whether non-voting is the best option.
California is blessed with many things, and one of them is lawyers. Glad to see the states gearing up to litigate the more oppressive trumpian policies. Stall them to the midterms, watch the economy tank, and ask folks relentlessly whether the price of eggs--not to mention cell phones, gaming consoles, and TVs-- has gotten any better.
Sorry to be a downer, but I still think we are screwed. Trump and his minions will find multiple ways of "punishing" the Blue states that defy him. How will we protect families when Trump's troops start going door to door, rounding up "illegals"? How will be we protect reproductive rights, when the Republican Congress makes it illegal? And then there is the enormous task of persuading average Americans to look beyond the ads and find out what they really stand for. I'm just not very hopeful.
Until the American people understand the source of their pain, they will continue to put Republicans in power. So we will all suffer a lot of pain before the message gets through. One sign of hope is that Democrats made progress down ballot, which emphasizes the importance of local races.
No one would like Trump to fail more than me, but good luck with that! The minute Trump refuses to release educational, highway, Medicaid, and FEMA funds to these states, I wonder how many blue state governors will continue to fight for immigrant rights, when they can’t even vote?
And how many of their voting constituents will still support the governor when they start feeling the economic pain? If the inflation issue is any indication of future results, then there won’t be many! IMHO!
The economic pain will come from more sources than those you mentioned. The trick is to get out in front of the pain with messages ahead of what’s coming, and putting the blame where it belongs.
I agree, but the problem is all of the disinformation being disseminated on social media daily. It’s impossible to counteract, because it comes so fastidiously, and from so many different angles. It’s like a military swarming attack…:)
First, thanks for rounding up some good, though somewhat confounding news. How did people vote for Democrats and abortion rights down ballot, but Trump at the top of the ballot in some states?
Also, and this is probably just the anger and resentment speaking, but having a hard time donating to or supporting immigrant rights group when 60% of Latino men voted for Trump, and even here in San Francisco, Trump gained Asian and Black voters. And let's talk about the Arab community who Trump banned in his first Presidency voting for him this time around. The people I've seen as vulnerable and needing support, did not see each other as vulnerable and needing support. OK then. Tell me why I should pick up the slack?
By the same token, there are differences between 2016 and now that work in Trump’s favor as well: most notably a compliant Judiciary. The federal bench is well-stocked with Trump-appointed and Trump-loyal judges, as is — worst of all — the Supreme Court.
The Court’s hard-right majority has shown a breathtaking disregard in recent terms for precedent and the plain text of statutes and the Constitution (when it suits them). I predict that the recently-neglected principle of federal preemption will come roaring back into favor, as the Court sweeps away the protections blue states are implementing now.
Virginia elects a new governor in 2025, ridding ourselves of the awful MAGA Red Vest Youngkin, who can't run again. The fantastic Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D) did not run for re-election as she prepares for the Governor's race in 2025, and her House seat was won by Democrat Eugene Vindman, a first-time candidate. Virginia voted for Kamala Harris, the only southern state to do so. You can help us strengthen the Blue Wall with a 2025 trifecta in Richmond. https://abigailspanberger.com/
The Vindmans are good people.
Thanks for info, just donated
Since many blue states subsidize many red states via Federal income tax, could blue state residents refuse en mass to pay their taxes, and instead, send what they owe to their states to offset the planned reduction from Trump's administration? We know there aren't already enough IRS agents to handle tax evaders.
It’s the dirty little secret of how blue states subsidize red states. The anti government states are ever so happy to take the government money.
That is a nice fantasy but it isn't reality. If you refuse to pay your Federal taxes you'll have to deal with the IRS. Federal tax laws don't care which state you live in. You'll be hit with interest and penalties and, in the end, you'll have to pay your taxes or have your assets seized. You'd only be adding to your own costs by having to deal with the IRS. Blue states don't want to break the laws. I live in a very Blue part (St Louis County) of the very red state of MO. But, voters here passed an amendment to grant abortion rights (basically what was removed with Roe), and to increase the minimum wage to $15/hour. Ballot initiatives have been used to expand Medicaid, to legalize medical and recreational marijuana, and to stop right-to-work being the law of the state. I agree with Noah - work in your state to make things better and wait until the Republican Party implodes. The political sabotage, infighting, and backstabbing is already beginning. I don't think Congressional Republicans want to take orders from Musk and RFK, Jr. And, Trump is a lame duck from day one; he'll lose his power over his term as Republicans figure out how to work around him.
Stopping the blame game and working on strengthening efforts to protect rights within the states sets a great example to others where the pendulum is swinging towards the blue. We cannot allow ourselves to give up but must work smarter to protect us from an onslaught by the new administration.
This former Arizona resident is ever so happy to call Colorado home for 20 years now. Our ballot this year had diverse constitutional amendments and legal voter initiatives. We increased funding for police, helped veterans, constitutionally protected abortion, removed the constitutional prohibition on same sex marriage, and turned down a “school choice“, measure that would have directed state money to private schools. And we are the fifth most educated state of bachelor’s degrees. It’s no wonder how educational attainment equals more progressive attitudes, and why so many red state want to underfund schools. I bet the coefficient of correlation of education and broader attitudes is pretty close to 1:1. I do wish that our governor was as outspoken as Pritzker or Gavin, but he is openly gay and wins by large margins.
This is the part of the story where we find out that Republicans are not, in fact, in favor of State's Rights.
Just as an addition: the WA AG you mentioned, Bob Ferguson, is now the Gov-Elect, as Jay Inslee is retiring. Inslee made a very strong statement for WA resistance to Trump, and I’m sure he had Ferguson’s approval. (I live in WA.). The gov of Massachusetts and also Huchul in NY have also made statements. I’m expecting a lot of blue state cooperation, and am pleased that they’re skipping any honeymoon and throwing the gauntlets down right away.
Phew 😮💨. As Obama would say,
“Don’t cry…Get to work!” (Paraphrased)
Thank you Noah. I appreciate you identifying opportunities and ways forward. Anyone going full doomer is just doing Rs work for them.
Like Berlatsky, I also worry that we won’t have meaningful elections. Many other commentators have painted a rosier picture, anticipating that the far right can be checked by the 2026 and 2028 elections. Given how authoritarians operate, I am pessimistic that elections will function as they once did.
The next four years will be grim, but one has to hope that every time a non-voter (the vast majority of the country) faces grim in their personal life, they will reconsider whether non-voting is the best option.
California is blessed with many things, and one of them is lawyers. Glad to see the states gearing up to litigate the more oppressive trumpian policies. Stall them to the midterms, watch the economy tank, and ask folks relentlessly whether the price of eggs--not to mention cell phones, gaming consoles, and TVs-- has gotten any better.
Sorry to be a downer, but I still think we are screwed. Trump and his minions will find multiple ways of "punishing" the Blue states that defy him. How will we protect families when Trump's troops start going door to door, rounding up "illegals"? How will be we protect reproductive rights, when the Republican Congress makes it illegal? And then there is the enormous task of persuading average Americans to look beyond the ads and find out what they really stand for. I'm just not very hopeful.
Until the American people understand the source of their pain, they will continue to put Republicans in power. So we will all suffer a lot of pain before the message gets through. One sign of hope is that Democrats made progress down ballot, which emphasizes the importance of local races.
No one would like Trump to fail more than me, but good luck with that! The minute Trump refuses to release educational, highway, Medicaid, and FEMA funds to these states, I wonder how many blue state governors will continue to fight for immigrant rights, when they can’t even vote?
And how many of their voting constituents will still support the governor when they start feeling the economic pain? If the inflation issue is any indication of future results, then there won’t be many! IMHO!
The economic pain will come from more sources than those you mentioned. The trick is to get out in front of the pain with messages ahead of what’s coming, and putting the blame where it belongs.
I agree, but the problem is all of the disinformation being disseminated on social media daily. It’s impossible to counteract, because it comes so fastidiously, and from so many different angles. It’s like a military swarming attack…:)
First, thanks for rounding up some good, though somewhat confounding news. How did people vote for Democrats and abortion rights down ballot, but Trump at the top of the ballot in some states?
Also, and this is probably just the anger and resentment speaking, but having a hard time donating to or supporting immigrant rights group when 60% of Latino men voted for Trump, and even here in San Francisco, Trump gained Asian and Black voters. And let's talk about the Arab community who Trump banned in his first Presidency voting for him this time around. The people I've seen as vulnerable and needing support, did not see each other as vulnerable and needing support. OK then. Tell me why I should pick up the slack?
Thank you.
By the same token, there are differences between 2016 and now that work in Trump’s favor as well: most notably a compliant Judiciary. The federal bench is well-stocked with Trump-appointed and Trump-loyal judges, as is — worst of all — the Supreme Court.
The Court’s hard-right majority has shown a breathtaking disregard in recent terms for precedent and the plain text of statutes and the Constitution (when it suits them). I predict that the recently-neglected principle of federal preemption will come roaring back into favor, as the Court sweeps away the protections blue states are implementing now.
So, enough with the typical liberal self-pity and finger pointing … let’s shore up state law and leave the Confederacy to bluster and wither.