Is it possible they would act but are afraid to get a call that says, “I know where your kids go to school.” Is it crazy to think we need a fund that politicians can anonymously tap to cover security?
Hi Leslie. If this is true--and, sadly, I think it probably is--it *strengthens* the case for them banding together (not only with each other but also with Dems) and speaking out vs. cowering alone and staying silent. I can't think of any way to tackle the organized crime operation that this administration is turning out to be...without some equal and opposite organizing. And yes: it may be time to do some fundraising for personal/family security. There are a number of staunchly pro-democracy billionaires: Mark Cuban, Reid Hoffman, Reed Hastings, etc. Over on Bluesky, I've been prodding them--to no avail :)--to fund a new Kara Swisher media outlet that WaPo's talent could then join en masse...but yep: maybe they also need to fund security for whistleblowers (and by whistleblower I just mean any lawmaker willing to defy Trump).
Leslie, shortly after I replied to you, I saw this (below) from Adam Kinzinger. I know he's out of office, but if the concern is physical security...why is he not afraid? Anyway, this is just to say: now I'm not so sure...maybe it really is just the end of their political careers that all these sitting Republicans fear? That would be *so* unimpressive--and so much harder to understand, given the stakes for the country...but Republicans like Kinsinger and Liz Cheney demonstrate that it *is* possible to stand up to stand up to Trump, even if you have a family, right?
Kate, any thoughts about this: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/27/republicans-trump-threats ?
Is it possible they would act but are afraid to get a call that says, “I know where your kids go to school.” Is it crazy to think we need a fund that politicians can anonymously tap to cover security?
Hi Leslie. If this is true--and, sadly, I think it probably is--it *strengthens* the case for them banding together (not only with each other but also with Dems) and speaking out vs. cowering alone and staying silent. I can't think of any way to tackle the organized crime operation that this administration is turning out to be...without some equal and opposite organizing. And yes: it may be time to do some fundraising for personal/family security. There are a number of staunchly pro-democracy billionaires: Mark Cuban, Reid Hoffman, Reed Hastings, etc. Over on Bluesky, I've been prodding them--to no avail :)--to fund a new Kara Swisher media outlet that WaPo's talent could then join en masse...but yep: maybe they also need to fund security for whistleblowers (and by whistleblower I just mean any lawmaker willing to defy Trump).
Leslie, shortly after I replied to you, I saw this (below) from Adam Kinzinger. I know he's out of office, but if the concern is physical security...why is he not afraid? Anyway, this is just to say: now I'm not so sure...maybe it really is just the end of their political careers that all these sitting Republicans fear? That would be *so* unimpressive--and so much harder to understand, given the stakes for the country...but Republicans like Kinsinger and Liz Cheney demonstrate that it *is* possible to stand up to stand up to Trump, even if you have a family, right?
https://bsky.app/profile/adamkinzinger.bsky.social/post/3ljbvlii2n22s