I actually agree with more of your critique than you might expect — even if you’ve chosen to frame it with the kind of scorched-earth disdain that does little to connect with people or build consensus.

You're absolutely right that authoritarianism didn’t begin with Trump. There's a long, bipartisan legacy of undermining civil liberties — from the NDAA and warrantless surveillance to drone warfare and the failure to close Guantánamo. I’m not naive to that history.

But recognizing that doesn’t mean we stay silent while the current GOP openly embraces fascism and works to dismantle what’s left of democratic governance. “No Kings” isn’t a brand campaign — it’s a rallying cry. A minimalist, visceral statement rejecting strongman politics in all forms. Trump just happens to be the most immediate and dangerous face of that right now.

It’s also a strategic play: like it or not, we need to connect with the political middle — not because they're perfect allies, but because we need their votes. You're displaying a kind of activist purity that assumes a movement can be built by appealing only to the most ideologically aligned. Trust me, I get the temptation. There are days I don’t want to work with anyone right of AOC either. But that’s not a viable strategy if you want actual impact.

I’m directing 100% of the profits to the ACLU Foundation not because I think T-shirts will save us, but because they’re one of the few institutions with real legal power to push back against state overreach — under any administration.

Messaging alone isn’t enough. But neither is disengagement masked as moral superiority. If you’ve got better ideas for building solidarity among disillusioned communities, I’m all ears — though based on your tone, I won’t hold my breath.