On this week’s podcast, Rachel asked historian and author Nancy MacLean a great question: the far-right Heritage Foundation has existed for decades, so why are they doubling down on extremism now? Why is it Project 2025, not Project 1975 or 2005?
Well, Nancy says, it’s because we’re already winning. Extremists like The Heritage Foundation or Moms For Liberty have long been the vocal minority, and they know they’ll lose unless they double down on authoritarianism. And that was even before the wave of positive Harris/Walz energy! Now, Americans are more united than ever around hope, democracy and the common good. And the extremists are really quaking in their boots.
But we can’t repudiate Project 2025 with good vibes alone. This could be a critical election, one where we win big and reclaim democracy in this country, but that won’t happen unless we put in the work. Not just for the top of the ticket, but for state and local races too.
The best way to make sure this is “a thumper of an election,” as Nancy puts it, is to make sure that everyone we know votes. To make sure our friends and family know what’s at stake with each and every race on their ballot.
It can be tricky to remember who you’ve reached out to and what to say when you have those conversations, but don’t worry, Red Wine & Blue is here to help with an online tool called Rally Your Squad. On Rally, you can add voters (aka your family and friends) you plan to contact, track your progress, and access resources on how to handle tough topics like a pro. You can share important information about the election with your network. And don’t worry, your contacts’ information is kept completely private, so they won’t be contacted by anyone other than you — because we know, you are the BEST messenger for your friends and family. And the data is in: friend to friend organizing really works!
The enthusiasm we’ve seen in the huge virtual calls over the past few weeks and the response to the Democratic National Convention has been so uplifting. We have 74 days to take this energy all the way to the finish line, so let’s rally our squads! We can do it together!
A Thumper of an Election