Pat Taub
To all in despair over T’s Big Bad bill with its cruel cuts to health care and food stamps in favor of record increases to ICE and the military, along with T’s nonstop support of Israel’s ever escalating genocide in Gaza, let me offer a different perspective.
If you just focus on the headlines, you’re missing the cracks, where in the infamous words of Leonard Cohen, “the light gets in.”
Here’s where I’m seeing light seeping in and by extension where I feel encouraged:
Progressive candidates taking a stand against the US-backed genocide in Gaza while supporting a living wage and free health care as personified by Zohran Mamdani, the socialist who, against the odds, decisively won New York city’s mayoral race. Just as encouraging, the largest bloc who voted for Mamdani were the 25-34 year olds.
Mamdani delivering a campaign speech
Another Socialist, Seattle’s Kshama Sawant, in 2013 ran a successful campaign for city council on a worker’s rights platform which included a $15 minimum wage. Sawant won reelection in 2019, fighting back against Amazon who spent $1.5 million to unseat her. At present she is showcasing her workers’ rights platform in her campaign for US Congress against the incumbent Adam Smith.
Palestine Action in the UK is refusing to back down in response to just being labeled a terrorist organization, with prison terms and fines levied against those who protest for Palestine or wear a Palestine Action T-shirt. Under this new law, last weekend in London, more than two dozen Palestine Action protesters were arrested simply for peacefully standing for Gaza. Those arrested included Sue Parfitt, an 83-year-old retired priest, whose offense was holding the sign, “I oppose Genocide, I support Palestine Action.”
Rev. Sue Parfitt, prior to being arrested
A UK activist informed me that this absurd attempt to shut down Palestine Action has only fueled their commitment to standing for Gaza with emboldened supporters ordering the illegal T-shirts.
T-shirts illegal in the UK under the new amendment to their Terrorism Law
Soulful writers like Ta-Nehisi Coates and Viet Thanh, speaking out for a new world order where both organizing and compassion go hand-in-hand. Thanh writes. “We can be more powerful together than we can be individually.”
The beloved children’s TV personality, Miss Rachel, who has been harshly attacked for calling attention to the plight of children in Gaza. In a recent program Miss Rachel performed with an adorable 3-year-old Gaza girl, a double amputee after being hit by an Israeli bomb. Miss Rachel told NPR she’s willing to risk her career rather than back down.
Miss Rachel performing with Rahaf from Gaza
The ”No Kings Day” nationwide demonstrations against Trump, whose initial action last month drew up to 5 million, lobbying to unseat Republicans in the 2026 midterms. Pundits like Paul Street caution that opposition to Trump has to include support for the working class, or MAGA’s base, with a platform advocating a higher minimum wage, affordable housing and universal medical care.
A “No Kings” protest outside the Michigan Capitol in Lansing, Michigan, June 14, 2025
Military veterans, like Joy Metzler, who resigned from the Air Force in protest over the US support of Israel’s genocide in Gaza. Nationally Vets for Peace, including many elderly vets, have been a constant presence in actions in support of Palestine and against war with Iran.
The incredible American doctors and nurses who have volunteered in Gaza’s hospitals, offering first-hand accounts of Israel’s slaughter and accompanying war crimes. Among this group is Dr. Adil Husain, an American physician from Dallas, who witnessed mass casualties from men, women, and children queuing up in aide lines, describing each day as a “mass casualty event.” To date, 743 Gazans (!) have been killed by snipers as they tried to procure food.
Local activist groups opposing ICE’s cruel policies of breaking up families for no good reason except to fuel T’s hate-filled rhetoric in need of a scapegoat to solidify his base.
A protester confronting a force of California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers on the 101 freeway in Los Angeles on June 8, 2025.
To add light to the world, join me in holding close to your heart the inspiring words of the late Howard Zinn:
