Monday August 4 through Sunday August 10, 2025. I was on vacation and I used the time to rest. I took my cue from Jessica Craven, a super activist who did the same thing last week. We need down time to be here for the long haul.

Monday August 11, 2025 dissent day 204: I left messages for senators vehemently opposing the Republican regime’s deploying the National Guard for “law enforcement“ when violent crime in DC is at a 30 year low. This is massive overreach, deeply undemocratic and likely illegal.

Sunday August 3, 2025 dissent day 196: I faxed letters to senators and congressman urging them to investigate the case of Dr. Erika McEntarfer at the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The Republican regime fired her for releasing a negative jobs report.

Friday August 1, 2025 dissent day 194: I emailed Senator Padilla and thanked him for supporting the John Lewis Voting Rights Act. The Supreme Court gutted the original voting rights act in 2013. Republicans are now purging voter rolls and redrawing districts so only they can win.

Thursday July 31, 2025 dissent day 193: I participated in a strategic planning meeting for a nonprofit arts foundation. They sponsor marginalized minority and LGBTQ artists and services for immigrant communities. Art is powerful. That’s why they try to ban it.

Tuesday July 29, 2025 dissent day 191: I read the first chapter of “On Tyrrany.” Do not obey in advance. Authoritarian regimes rely on good citizens changing their speech and behavior to conform to what the regime wants without being told. Don’t surrender your soul without a fight.

Sunday July 27, 2025 dissent day 189: I faxed letters to senators and representative urging them to use the power of Congress to end the starvation in Gaza. And I danced.

Saturday July 26, 2025 dissent day 188: I faxed letters to Senator Padilla and Senator Schiff urging them to vote no on confirming Emil Bove to a lifetime appointment as a federal judge. 75 former judges have opposed his nomination for “abusing power and disregarding the law itself.”

July 25, 2025 dissent day 187: I bought a copy of “On Tyrrany.” It’s a guide for surviving and resisting fascism while keeping your sanity and your soul. It’s a surprisingly small book.

July 23, 2025 dissent day 185: I forgot. I’m human.

July 24, 2025 dissent day 186: I told senators to pull the gloves off to stop Emil Bove from getting a lifetime seat as a federal judge. I told congressman to hold Republicans’ feet to the fire for closing Congress to protect the President from accountability over Epstein.

July 22, 2025, dissent day 184: I faxed letters to senators and representative urging them to force the Department of Housing and Urban Development to uphold anti-discrimination laws.

Dissent day 183 Monday: I mailed letters to senators and representative urging Congress to use its constitutional power to rein in the Republican regime‘s weaponization of the Department of Justice.

Dissent day 181 Saturday: I rested. It was a long week. Dissent day 182 Sunday: I danced. Dance is my community and community is a bulwark against fascism.

Dissent day 180: I told Paramount that I was extremely disappointed that they canceled Stephen Colbert right after he criticized them for caving to the rogue madman in the White House. Trump will be gone someday but the memory of their cowardice will linger like a bad odor.

Dissent day 178: I faxed letters to Senators Padilla and Schiff telling them to vote no on confirming Emil Bove as a federal judge. 75 former judges of both parties have opposed his nomination for “abusing power and disregarding the law itself.” resist.bot/petitions/PC...

Dissent day 177: I signed a petition and donated money to protect public broadcasting. Dissent day 176: I told senators to stop violent ICE raids and shut down the Alligator Auschwitz concentration camp in Florida.

Dissent day 175. I danced. Dancing is a revolutionary act, which is why many repressive regimes try to ban it.

Dissent day 174: I wrote twenty letters to Democrats in Pennsylvania urging them to vote in their state supreme court election.

Dissent day 173: I told senators to vote no on the Republican regime‘s rescission package, which would further cut funding for vital services that save lives. I also told them to vote no on confirming Emil Bove as a federal judge. I told congressman to vote no on cutting funding for GAO.

Dissent day 172: I wrote to senators and congressman urging them to strongly support a law requiring ICE agents to show their faces and IDs while doing their jobs. Masked ICE agents have become the secret police: anonymous and unaccountable. This is outrageous and needs to stop NOW.

Dissent day 171: I wrote senators and congressman and urged them to stop the Republican regime’s unconstitutional and chaotic tariffs. Only Congress can levy tariffs and the regime is normalizing lawlessness.

Dissent day 170: I told senators to stop the nomination of Joshua Divine as District Judge in Missouri. He is an extremist who opposes abortion in all cases, birth control and even women’s health care. I told congressman to restore funding for NOAA and FEMA.

Dissent day 169: I told Congressman Panetta to co-sponsor the Equal Access to Justice for Victims of Gun Violence Act.

My friend in Texas reports that people are saying that FEMA and the National Weather Service are unnecessary because HEB trucks are bringing food to survivors. There is no limit to the damage caused by a blind adherence to ideology.

Dissent day 168: I danced. Dance is change. Dance is rebellion. Dance is revolution.

Dissent day 166: I read the Declaration of Independence on the 4th of July. It is amazing how many parallels I see to our current situation.

“We hold these truths to be self evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights… that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these Ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it….”

Making things better day 165: Today was a really hard day. I thanked my US senators and congressman from California for trying to defeat the Republican budget bill. This is a sad day for America but I will keep working for democracy.

Making things better day 164: I rested and meditated. I need to practice self care if I’m going to bring my A game to working for democracy.

Making things better day 163: I thanked California’s senators for doing what they could to try and stop the horrible Republican budget bill. I told congressman to do everything possible to stop it in the House.

Making things better day 162: I thanked California’s senators for opposing the horrible Republican budget bill. I told them to do everything they can to stop it. I expect them to leave everything on the field.

Making things better day 161: I danced. If I can’t dance, I don’t want to be part of your revolution. Dance brings joy, love and community.

Making things better day 160: I rested and meditated a lot. Look folks, it was a hard week. I need to practice self care if I am going to keep working for democracy.

Making things better day 159: I told senators to vote for a War Powers Resolution that would block the Republican president from further attacks on Iran. I told Congressman Panetta hat I was deeply disappointed that he voted to table a resolution to impeach the president.

Making things better day 158: I told senators to vote no on the Emil Bove nomination. This man openly called for defying court orders. He is unfit to be a federal judge. I told congressman to stop the violent, unconstitutional ICE raids.

Making things better day 157: I told senators to put everything on the line to stop the horrible Republican budget bill, including withholding unanimous consent from EVERYTHING. This bill will cut medical care for poor Americans and increase the national debt by trillions.

Making things better day 156: I thanked Senator Padilla for standing up for the Constitution.

California is the fourth largest economy in the WORLD and sends far more taxes to the federal government than it receives in government spending. Except for Texas and Florida, blue states subsidize red states. I am tired of my taxes propping up freeloading MAGA states who attack us every time.

Making things better day 155: I told senators and congressman to call an emergency session of Congress to stop the illegal war with Iran and impeach the Republican President for violating the Constitution.

Making things better day 154: I danced. Today more than ever I believe that dance is a form of resistance. Dance is a form of rebellion. Dance is a form of revolution.

Making things better day 153: I installed ICEBlock on my phone. It’s a free secure app that allows you to report ICE activity and share with other users. apps.apple.com/us/app/icebl...

Making things better day 152: I told senators and congressman to stop the ICE raids in LA that are tearing families apart and destroying the economy. I made a monthly donation to an organization helping immigrants in LA. www.chirla.org

Making things better day 151: I took the day off. Happy Juneteenth. Today we celebrate freedom for ALL Americans, especially those whose ancestors were brought here in chains. Let freedom ring!

Making things better day 150: I told senators and congressman to sign resolutions demanding that the Republican President get congressional approval before attacking Iran. The Constitution clearly states that only Congress can declare war. One man should not have that power.

Making things better day 149: I told senators to vote no on the GENIUS Act, a cryptocurrency bill that does nothing to stop the Republican regime from accepting bribes. I told congressman to demand the release of Brad Lander, who was arrested by ICE because he asked to see a judicial warrant.

Making things better day 148: I told senators to censure Mike Lee for spreading disinformation and joking about the tragic political assassination in Minnesota. Political violence must be immediately condemned by all government leaders.

Making things better day 147: I danced. Dance is an important form of expression and connection for many immigrant and marginalized communities. Historically, repressive political and religious authorities have tried to outlaw dancing. We’re still moving.