In a powerful interview with Ben Meiselas of MeidasTouch, Congressman Eric Swalwell rallied Americans to stay engaged in the fight to protect democracy, warning against complacency and urging proactive steps to counter Trump’s anticipated policy agenda, dubbed “Project 2025” and “Agenda 47.”
Swalwell’s message comes at a crucial time, as he pointed out the serious implications when Trump regains office, from appointing controversial figures like Rick Grenell and Kash Patel to potentially leading the CIA, to nominating Judge Aileen Cannon as Attorney General—positions that would amplify Trump's influence over federal agencies. Swalwell argued that the real risk lies in how these appointments could shape national policies, rolling back protections and freedoms, especially with possible cabinet appointments like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at Health and Human Services.
“If a young woman in Florida, where a six-week ban is now the law of the land, can get up today and find her way through, we can too,” Swalwell emphasized, appealing to Americans’ resilience in the face of current political challenges. He invoked the strength of a soldier in Ukraine and the determination of high school students facing a school gun crisis, positioning these struggles as inspirations for citizens to keep fighting for a brighter, safer future.
Swalwell outlined specific actions Americans can take: engaging with Senate committees that will confirm nominees, reaching out to senators who hold deciding votes, and holding lawmakers accountable for supporting or opposing Trump’s appointees. He encouraged Americans to contact members of Congress, participate in protests, and organize grassroots campaigns to influence key decisions.
Reflecting on lessons from recent elections, Swalwell highlighted the importance of a “plainspoken and authentic” message that resonates with working-class voters, noting that gratitude should go to Black voters for their continued support, despite narratives that suggested they might disengage. Swalwell believes the path forward lies in coalition building, rallying around core values rather than divisive finger-pointing.
As Swalwell closed, he urged viewers to remain vigilant, reminding them that democracy’s defenders must be prepared for the “next play,” reinforcing that now is the time to be in the game and resist Trump’s extreme agenda.
Watch our full interview with Congressman Swalwell ad-free above, exclusively here on Meidas+. Thank you for your continued support of the MeidasTouch Network. If you appreciate our reporting and are ready to continue in this fight, please consider becoming a paid subscriber today to keep us going.
Happy to fight back but how? Rather limited when we don’t have a voice in any branch of government.
I'm staying in the fight for women, babies, people of color, LBGTQ and our democracy.
Leslie, everything you said and more. I will never giving up fighting.
✅
It would be helpful to get a list of (all) congressional representatives and the various committees they serve on with contact information. Break down the barriers of participation by providing framework of a system. We're all eager to help, but it's more productive and conducive to participation if we are organized.
Literally was going to ask the same thing. I'd like to be able to share information like this to various groups with a easy to do list for them to follow
So interesting to hear this, Megan. For awhile now, I've been thinking about my role as a citizen and what a shit job I've done for so long. Yes, I would write the occasional letter, but that goes nowhere. I'm angry with myself that I didn't show up personally at my reps' offices and ask pointed questions.
That said, I'm a good volunteer, meaning that I understand how most of the work is tedious, thankless and tiring, but it's in support of a larger goal, and when you get the win, it's fantastic. Believe me, not a lot of people really want to do the job when it comes to entering data into a spreadsheet, but that's what it takes.
I'm battling a tough cancer at the moment, so I couldn't take the lead on something like this, at least not right now. But I'd be happy to do a zoom call or talk on the phone or chat through email. Or enter data. :) You can email me through my site, which is just my name, maryannfarley dot com.
Biden needs to use presidential immunity that he has been given by SCOTUS to impede Trump in any way possible in the ensuing 73days
He does. And he won’t.
Unfortunately that's true He won't because he HAS to play by the rules with the fascist group that he is dealing with has thrown out the rule book
Let’s push for campaign finance reform - billionaires bought this election!
We didn't lose! He cheated and you all know he cheated! He said he didn't need the votes why is that?
Susan and Cynthia-- What has preyed upon my mind, even long before election day, are two comments Trump was repeating. At one point in July, he told his voters a few times that they didn't need to actually vote because "we have all the votes we need." Don't know about you, but I instantly assumed the gop had a plan, and Trump, being Trump, just had to blurt it out.
Then he follows that up at a Christian rally saying, "But if you do vote, you'll never have to vote again." WHAT? Even Laura Ingraham, of all people, tried to pin him down on his meanings, but he evaded her questions.
THEN, in recent weeks, a story breaks in the Wall Street Journal that Musk has consistently and secretly been talking with Putin FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS. After that, blogs, discussion groups and op-ed pieces all asked if tech manipulation of the election was being planned. (Surely not between a sworn enemy of the US with boundless resources combined with the RICHEST MAN IN THE WORLD.)
And finally, what about Trump’s blowjob of the microphone? Was it just Trump being folksy old Trump? Or was it the act of a supremely confident candidate who knew that nothing he did at that point would cost him the election? (He also jerked off that mic.)
And so… here we are.
No one wants to sound like a maga conspiracist, but that shouldn't stop us from putting some very basic facts together and doing the math.
This is the party that tried to steal the 2020 election FOR REAL.
I smell a rat.
pbs.org/newshour/politi…
newrepublic.com/post/18…
What we all need to watch for is Musk! He is now sitting in on calls with world leaders and controls satellites used by Ukraine and other countries used in their fight with Russia! Simply put Musk takes away communication from a country rendering them unable to fight for their country’s democracy and they have no choice but to give up! Trump will use STARLINk under Musk to stop the wars even if it’s the shadiest way to do it and will take credit for stopping wars! Also I hear Musk is asking for everyday members of his company to have positions in the Defense Department which is scary as hell in itself but imagine the impact Musk will now have over this whole world and imagine the money he will make from this! All this from an illegal who broke the law in 1995! The irony of this! Watch my prediction come true! I’ve already heard that Putin asked Musk to prevent South Korea having access to STARLINk on behalf Putin who asked for the favor for China! America is now allies with China and Russia under Trump! And the sheep in himn this is a good thing!
Thank you for this interview. It made me feel a bit better today.
I agree with Ben--I am tired of liberals and progressives cannibalizing each other after a loss--we need to unify, not point fingers.
THANK YOU for encouraging words, Swalwell!! Kamala did a GREAT job of making clear that she (and I hope us by association) will be here for ALL people not just the privileged few!!👌😊
This message is timely. Clear messaging needs to take place first. I
I don't understand how there can be a peaceful transfer with a felon who wants to destroy democracy! Someone commented on Substack that if Biden retired Harris could call a state of emergency. I mean call me crazy but Project 2025, dismantling the Federal Government, ridding democracy and the Constitution is not American. HELP US ! SOS! Seriously we are looking to get out of the country!
Writing from Canada where in our next federal election to be held sometime in the next year we are looking down the barrel of the MAGA gun in the form of our Conservative parties and their associated organizations. I live in Alberta which is ruled by a MAGA wannabe party called the United Conservative Party. Slowly a resistance is being coordinated which is outside traditional political party lines. Many Canadians are devastated by the US election results. It's like finding out your hero big brother is involved in child porn.
Trump and Vance, who will assume the presidency fairly soon, would be happy for supporters of western liberal democracy to curl up in the fetal position and do nothing. That is not going to happen. This election was a bait and switch grift - vote for Trump, but you will get Vance and the Heritage Foundation as the President. Not sure if Trump and his supporters were in on the grift or they got played as well. A showdown between power hungry Trump thugs and power hungry Heritage Foundation ideologues will require popcorn. Keep fighting.
It sounds good in theory, but won't matter what the general public does to fight back. We have one party who is only after power and now that they have it, they have a stranglehold on any matter of consequence. America has lost the plot of what America stood for. I understand why Democrats lost this election. They lean heavily on values aligned with communist governing. The Republican party is aligned with authoritarianism values. Bad things are gonna happen the first 100 days of Trumpism. Mass deportations, tariffs which will crush our economy, and widespread racism. How is it possible a two time impeached, 34 charged felon, an Epstein coconspirator, an adjudicated sexual predator, filed bankruptcy 6 times, and other things we don't even know about yet becomes the next president. Wait until the first time, after becoming president, he sees or hears about someone who has made fun of him. He'll go after them to make an "example" of them. It says a lot about the country I live, who believes Trump is the answer for our country. Watch how sideways things go when the deportations start.
It kinda blows my mind that those who most voted for the rule of law are the most disadvantaged.
Thank you Ben and Rep. Swalwell. I know a positive mind and compassionate heart is needed. And I know it is not the time to quit. But I think it is time to play at least a little bit by the other side's tactics.
It seems to me we need to focus on whether or not this was even a legitimate election. I truly believe it has been stolen. It should be investigated vigorously. He should never even have been able to get his name on the ballot! Trump and cohorts have been far too cavalier all along. Something is very wrong. I don't say this lightly, or just because I don't want a criminal for the leader of our country. I am 73 years old and do not want to spend my golden years living under the rule of hateful, racist dictators. Nor do I want anyone else to lose their freedom.
If anyone within a thousand miles thinks for a minute I will absorb any of this blowhard's rhetoric and warped pronouncements, can I interest you in buying a famous NYC bridge? I will peacefully and legally resist any attempt within my power as a citizen, to support views of a Felon, cheat, liar who is President!! Would not surprise me if he and his cronies didn't stuff the ballot boxes. God, what a catastrophe !!!!!!!
I live the state that just elected Jim Justice senator🙄. Who am I supposed to "reach out to"?
Yes, we must act now. The Trump/Vance/Musk/GOP/Putin/Orban/ Project 2025 to abolish liberal democracy and replace it with "illiberal democracy," a white-dominated, religiously based society, that eliminates the independent press, cracks down on political opposition, gets rid of the rule of law, and is led by a minority rule of crony oligarchs, sets the stage for a nightmarish dystopiam future for all of us.
I, for one, firmly believe that TRump's election was manipulated, that bad actors, i.e. Russia in particular, and maybe China, Hungary and North Korea, interfered with our actual voting machines and counts. The unexpected pro-Trump/GOP numbers were just too crazy.
Here are my reasons for suspecting a major foreign interference, long in planning and particularly urgent in this election because a Trump defeat/Harris victory would have set the totalitarian oligarchs' world conquest back for years, decades, perhaps permanently:
• At a July Washington rally, Trump boasted: “We don’t need votes. No need to vote. We have plenty of votes."
https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/donald-trump-keep-saying-dont-need-votes-election-2024-rcna163808
• At his October MSG rally, Trump boasted about "our little secret" with Speaker Johnson.
https://www.axios.com/2024/10/28/trump-johnson-election-secret
• On Election Day, several dozen bomb threats, originating from Russians, targeted polling places in battleground states, causing them to be evacuated and disrupting voting and vote-counting.
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/fake-bomb-threats-linked-russia-briefly-close-georgia-polling-locations-2024-11-05/
• In 2016, Russian hackers hit systems in a total of 39 states. Investigators found evidence that cyber intruders tried to delete or alter voter data in four out of every five U.S. states.”
http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/news/a55603/russia-hack-voting-totals/
• In 2019, investigations of Russian elections-hacking revealed Russian cyberactors were in a position to delete or change voter data” in voter databases. Moscow’s intelligence agencies — chiefly the G.R.U., Russia’s main military intelligence unit — may have “intended to exploit vulnerabilities in the election infrastructure during the 2016 elections and, for unknown reasons, decided not to execute those options. More ominously, the report suggested that it might have been cataloging options “for use at a later date”
In the 2019 election, many machines were not connected to the internet and the most efficient way to alter votes was with physical access to the machines or computers. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/25/us/politics/russian-hacking-elections.html
• “Officials knew that Russian hacking compromised our elections but feared the effects of that knowledge re. Russian hacking the actual voting machines and vote counts would have on Americans’ confidence in our elections more than the actual effect on the outcome of our elections.” Imagine that.
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/an-11-year-old-changed-election-results-on-a-replica-florida-state-website-in-under-10-minutes
• “The risk of a hacker affecting an election through one of any number of other entry points is huge, and the actual difficulty of such an attack is child’s play.
“The most vulnerable part of election infrastructure is the websites. Unlike a voting machine, websites represent a compelling target because they are, by their nature, connected to the internet 24/7. And, whether they are used for voter registration, online campaigning or announcing the results at the end of the election, they can be used to sow havoc.
“We know that Russia has done this before,” Braun says. “They did it in the Ukraine, where they hacked Ukrainian election results on the government website
“Beside hacking activity, at all, we opened up the back of the machine, and of course, no surprise, all the parts are made across the world, especially China.
“This isn’t conjecture, this isn’t my dystopian fantasy world, this is something we know they do … because once you’re in the chips, you can hack whole classes of machines, nationwide, from the fucking Kremlin.
“A bad actor doesn’t need to steal every vote in every county in every state in the country. They just need to steal enough votes in a few counties in America’s battleground states – just enough to swing a close election.
“While individual voting machines aren’t (or shouldn’t be) connected to the internet, the PCs that are used to program the individual elections are. “One large vendor codes the system for 2,000 jurisdictions across 31 states,
“Many other places, like Michigan, use small businesses – some with just six or seven employees. Hack those businesses, and an attacker could theoretically reprogram thousands of election machines at once.
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/aug/22/us-elections-hacking-voting-machines-def-con
Karin, your research is amazing. I’m sharing this with everyone in my circles. But please tell me how we can get Biden to DO something NOW to take advantage of the immunity SCOTUS handed down?
Yes, both cheating and stupidity are likely factors, but it’s the cheating on such a monumental, world-changing scale that I cannot let go of, and someone must surely be able to expose.
Don't think this is beyond the realm of possibility. The election results do seem bespoke. Perfectly tailored to present a perfect mandate from the Electorate. Trump may still have won, but margins should be much smaller. And a guy who has lost the popular vote 2 times in a row wins the popular vote by 4 million this time around. Russia, Iran, China and other bad actors have very sophisticated cyber warfare platforms. Throw in tech bros supporting Trump who have backdoor channels to leaders of our adversaries, along with Trump's track record of accusing others of actions he is involved in and it does make one go hmmmm. The alternative is that Americans have decided democracy is too hard and are stupid as described by Dietrich Bonhoeffer in his writing On Stupidity. "Stupidity is a more dangerous enemy of the good than malice."
I invite everyone to vent themselves in this forum and make the most of it, because once the Ministry of Propaganda enters the picture, possibly MTG or F***er Carlson, and Elon Musk dominates the internet, that opportunity will no longer exist.
More of the same nice Democrat rhetoric. When are we ever going to be represented by someone who knows how to work underground like the Trump cult did and does? Where are the Democrat billionaires? Where are the Democrat technology geniuses that know how to fight the misinformation, disinformation, and malformation? Where are the generation z members who have heart and are critical thinkers? Why don't the gen y members get more involved? I think that the Democrats need to identify their next presidential nominee - white male, young, bilingual, and driven to succeed RIGHT NOW! By all means, Trump is a lame duck. He cannot run again. JD Vance is another story, however. He is the Democrat's worst nightmare. The Democrats need to put up the blue wall with a candidate RIGHT NOW!!
One major lesson I have learned is that the Heritage Foundation agenda has been pushed on children for a decade and a half. We need to create/revive content that strengthens kids sense of worth and strengthens their values related to equality and compassion. Then we need to manipulate the algorithms to make sure this content floods their feed.
Here is my fear…will this rogue 2.0/ 2025 even care about the confirmation process?
Without and clear direction on 'what to do' or "how to fight" you're blowing smoke up everyone's butt while you're still going to be collecting bribes from lobbyists.
Democracy died on Tuesday and unless there is a revolution, it's never coming back.
Did you ask him about his CCP honeypot Fang Fang? Or how Feinstein had a CCP spy as a driver for 20 years? Of course not, you're propagandists.
I would vote for Kamala again! I think we need to make sure this election was authentic and real.
We have to start digging into Vance. He is going to be in control befrore we know it. Don't let him surprise us!
Pls tell Swalwell to get matching donations now for Senators Rosen & Casey & House still counting and recounting votes, like before the election.
Corporate media is blaming Dems for being out of touch. I am more concerned with disinformation, dangerous media consumption, and being able to check out from any information at all.
Wanted to add I am NOT okay with this coalition building kumbaya if it means (which it almost always does) that democrats are prepared to lurch to the right like they did in the 90s. I don’t think I want to be a registered Democrat anymore. I’m going to switch to being an independent because something is very, very wrong here.
It seems that everyone believes that everything in congress is going to operate normally. Trump wants to operate as dictator, why does he need to have a congress. He seeks yes- men/maybe women. Who’s to say he won’t kick congresspeople out?
I would like to say that Trump supporters are not reading any of this and some don't even understand government or the word tarif
I am hopeful not sure what I can do right now I think Biden should some of his power limit some things does our reps really read our concerns
I keep being surprised that in all these discussion with elected officials, nobody mentions the fact that trump has been immunized by the MAGA Supreme Court. How does that work with slim majorities in the Senate? Do we still have the power to block what he does or is he just going to say "fuck it, I'm immune, I'll do what i want?"
Sadly, as Texans, we have been in maga-land boot camp for years. It is possible to survive and resist. Representatives Crockett & Allred are just two examples of beacons of light in Texas. If Latinos who voted for Trump in Texas and elsewhere would wake the hell up this country would never have to deal with Maga again. That's why they want to frighten and threaten deportation...Maga has done the math. WAKE UP LATINOS
Even Texas has never seen anything like what’s about to happen here.
I hear you! I'm saying that there is a reality if resistance in the place where you live, even if it feels as rotten and hopeless as Texas. 💟
Along with talking to Senators in committees about how they will vote, you need to talk to Rep D Jared Huffman who is chair of the sub committee that has been dissecting project 2025 since it dropped with an eye to what they, or we, can do to negate the effectiveness of the proposals. He may not divulge specifics, but he can give everyone the hope we need that they are actually trying to do something about it. We need their decisions and plans more than ever and ASAP.
I think one of the mistakes that is being made is you are either with us or against us. DT through RFK, Jr. has gotten huge support from the Alternative Health Community which has millions of members. I voted for Harris. But, I believe the Fluoride they put in the water is a health problem. There are many studies about this. Many people believe that Health Freedom begins with vaccines - take them or not. RFK is not taking away the vaccines. He is giving more choice.
My friend went to a party in Palo Alto, CA ( Stanford students) whose baby almost died because it was given 2 vaccines on "schedule" when baby had a fever. We give our kids over 50 vaccines on schedule when they are young. When I was a kid, I got polio and a few vaccines. and certainly NOT until I was a a bit older, not a newborn. Drs. own vaccine companies.
What happens now is the Government is dictating what parents must do, when parents don't want to.
I will be happy for more freedom in Health care.
I still think Harris would make a better president for all.But the dems gotta stop demonizing everyone who does not agree with them. ( Just as the Right is doing.)
Fang Fang agrees
Look at where Kamala and Biden and Walz went to college: not Harvard, not Ivy League, thats all Trumps people
Great response!
I’m a tiny blue dot in Oklahoma (Nowata). What can I do?! I feel so helpless. I can’t believe this has happened!
Tell me why 15 MILLION democrats didn’t vote, Eric? They didn’t vote for Trump. He actually got less votes than last time. Those 15 million voters, who weren’t that keen on Biden in 2020 because he was an old fella (though turned out to be an FDR) … those 15 million who knew it was Biden or fascism couldn’t be arsed to even cast a vote this time? Wisconsin goes red for Trump but re-elects their (wonderful) lesbian senator? North Carolina elects another democratic governor, but decides nah, they want Trump because … eggs? Or because Kamala is a woman? Is that the answer? 15 million democrats would rather have fascism, their wives and daughters dying, our food supply poisoned, our national parks raped and drilled for oil, our ACA gone, rather than vote for a woman? Something went very wrong and it seems it’s taboo to even SUGGEST such a thing. Even with all of the tech bros and the fascist oligarchs and their dark money and fascist media, we won’t even entertain the idea that something is wrong here because we seem like conspiracy theorists? Joe rushing out as soon as possible to tell us we’re going to be okay SO HARD and our elections are perfect?
It was the youth who cant see past their nose to the bigger picture. Rebecca Solnit wrote “voting isnt a valentine, its a chess move” and these ding dongs took their toys and went home, because they didnt get a ceasefire and they pouted. They fucked up
Thank you Eric Swalwell for providing some real things we can do. I'm on it
waiting to vote again 2026
https://www.meidasplus.com?r=o6g2r
HOW do we engage with Senate committees? We need step by step?
And can’t Congress stop his cabinet appointments?
Ben
I worry that you failed in your original mission.
https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/meidastouch/
I am also happy to fight back but I do not know where to start or way to go to voluntary. Can you help those of us who in this same situation.
We lost the senate. Can't fight the nominees.