160 Comments
User's avatar
Nell Allen's avatar

Yes!

Expand full comment
Jamie C Barnett's avatar

Makes me feel very good to read this. Now we need to figure out how to recruit experts back to CDC, NIH, NOAA, etc. and rebuild the well-hewn pathways and processes organizations like USAID forged over the decades. I fear we won't be able to do it in the two years before the midterms. Things to think about.

Expand full comment
JDonaldson's avatar

If only Democratic voters, especially but not limited to the “progressives”, understood American politics and culture outside of their little utopian worlds. Whether it’s repeal the BBB, or introduce Rick’s well thought out legislation, this is how our system works . . . slightly more effective, ultimately, than marches and vigils.

Expand full comment
MLMinET's avatar

Rick, can you get your WH contacts to,give you an idea of WTH is going on with Trump? Feels like a “Weekend at Bernie’s” scenario.

Expand full comment
Bob McKeown's avatar

Weekend at Joe Stalin's.

Expand full comment
Peggy McGraw's avatar

A strong push back. Rally on Labor Day for laws outlined

In Rick Wilson Substack. Time is now. Stakes are high. Democracy is on the line. People power is essential. Stand up, speak out, talk back

Expand full comment
Jen Baron's avatar

How do Democrats start to set up the reconstruction of the Gov't NOW? Can we prepare to restore USAID and all the other Needed agencies that benefitted this Country for decades?

Expand full comment
Jeff Lichtenstein's avatar

Excellent

Expand full comment
Simon Turkel's avatar

Wholly warranted. To be enacted Day One.

Expand full comment
Kat's avatar

👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

Expand full comment
Martha's avatar

Brilliant! This idea gives me a glimmer of hope.

Expand full comment
Cathy Brown's avatar

Good luck but a great idea. Which democrat do you think would have the balls to bring this forward IF and thats a stretch they win the trifecta of president, senate, and house?

Expand full comment
Carol Nelson's avatar

A good idea. But, be warned that many of us who want our democracy restored also want our governemnt revamped. Our system was bloated and over loaded with many conflicting and redundent elements. I’m not saying dump it all, just review it and streamline it. Recinding all of the illegal orders Trump has dictated and the destruction of the infrastructure that cabinet members and DOGE have done will take more that an edict to restore it. I think it will take several years to weed out all of the minions Trump will leave behind. Then we have to deal with Vance’s part. I’m sure he will accelerate what is already taking place and adding his (and Thiel’s) touch.

I’m all for restoring our democracy! I just want one that is more progressive and modern. I think we need to impeach the Supreme Court 5 and set term limits on it as well as congress. As I learned in my high school History class, the founder believed congress was a part-time job. It wasn’t intended to become a fulltime career. And maybe some age limits for when to retire. We need to restrict lobbying, overturn Citizens United, impliment gun regulations, remove reliigon from our government and education, remove tax exemption from churches, balance the tax system to where the rich pay their share, and on and on and on… We need to undo almost everything republicans had done to our government since Regan. I think we can handle regulations and laws republicans did before 1980. Oh, and make Gerrymandering illegal or at least make them non political citizen commissions.

We have an opportunity to make changes to our democracy and bring it into a more progressive era that is more just and equal rights for everyone. That is if we get out and vote in the midterms and then overwhelm the republicans in 2028 and for a very long, long time after that, until the republican party can demonstrate sufficient understanding of what MAGA and Trump and his cohorts did to our country and show sufficient loyalty to the Constitution.

Expand full comment
Janet's avatar

Put up billboards along major highways in every state showing the exact amount of “fraud, waste, & abuse” the cuts found/prevented. The uninformed Americans who do not follow events (or who only watch Fox) needs to know that the whole thing was a scam all along.

Expand full comment
Janet's avatar

I have an addition: Cancel all no-bid contracts entered into since January 2025 and outlaw their use in the future. Initiate a class action lawsuit that can be joined by any American whose personal data (SS number, etc.) was derived from government databases. The target of the lawsuits shall be anyone who collected, sold, or used it for any purpose. The end goal should be to bankrupt those individuals and corporations.

Expand full comment
Ss's avatar

Tax the oligarchy, focus on a redistribution of wealth they've acquired from the government and the people.

Expand full comment
Andrea L Spissinger's avatar

And reinstate all workers who were fired, laid off, etc. That want to come back. And give them all raises.

Expand full comment