Olivia's holiday wish list

Some backbone would be a good start...

Well, here we are. It’s less than a week until Christmas and about a month before Inauguration Day. As I reflect on the past year and anticipate the start of a new one, I feel tremendous gratitude for you. Thank you for being part of our growing community of readers. Now more than ever, we need sources of connection and truth. I am endlessly grateful for your trust in me, and I am proud to stand in solidarity with you.

But as we are all acutely aware, these are unusual times. So I have a few unconventional requests from Santa on my holiday list this year.

1. For the media to stop obeying in advance.

Since the last issue of this newsletter, ABC settled a frivolous lawsuit with Trump to the tune of $15 million. It chose not to fight a scurrilous suit and instead make a donation to Donald Trump’s foundation. This comes on the heels of The Washington Post’s refusal to make an endorsement in the presidential race, Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski’s public acquiescence to Trump, and The Los Angeles Times’ blocking editorials critical of Trump’s nominees for Cabinet positions. And next in Trump’s sights? The Des Moines Register, which was sued by Trump this week for publishing a poll he didn’t like.

This is all very alarming, and it’s the exact opposite of what we need right now. The press remains the greatest bulwark we have against creeping authoritarianism. It needs to stubbornly and courageously embrace that mantle. Preemptively conforming to Trump’s wishes without challenging or questioning them portends a coming collapse of the media’s independence, which is essential for a healthy democracy.

2. For the business world to stop enabling him.

It’s bad enough that an unelected megalomaniac—who used his incredible wealth and social media platform to help Trump return to office, and who benefits richly from government contracts—is telling our elected leaders what to do. Yes, Elon Musk just led the charge to kill the spending bill intended to avert a government shutdown. The last thing we need is more members of the founder class capitulating to Trump to score some of that same sweet oligarch power. And yet, everywhere you look, that’s exactly what’s happening.

During Trump’s first term, private industry helped keep Trump in line. And frankly, we need businesses, especially those in technology and science sectors, to step up and do the same now. Consider that among his many questionable nominees, Trump elevated Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and said he’ll let him ‘go wild’ on health. Now Kennedy is seeking to revoke approval for the polio vaccine. There are smart minds in business who understand how insane this is. They have exclusive access the rest of us don’t and need to use it now to safeguard not only our democracy but the public welfare.

3. For Democrats to stop treating him like a normal politician.

I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again: Democrats, stop the navel-gazing and definitely stop acting like Trump can be tamed. It’s not going to happen. I get what you’re doing. You believe in democracy, the peaceful transfer of power, faith in our elections, the integrity of our institutions, bipartisanship, and all the norms and traditions that have defined American governance for generations. I do too! But we aren’t honoring them by cooperating with autocracy.

Trump values loyalty beyond all else, but it only goes one way. If you think you can curry favor to get something you want done, it might work…at first. But it will come at a cost. Liz Cheney voted for Trump’s agenda 92.9% of the time. She voted against impeachment in his first trial, and she supported his reelection in 2020. By all accounts, she was a reliable ally to Trump. Then January 6th happened. Where is she now? Primaried out of office and facing prosecution by Trump’s incoming Justice Department. This isn’t normal, and by normalizing it, you’re harming democracy and maybe even torching your own political future.

4. For Americans to stay strong.

This is a tough one. It’s all too easy to feel helpless and demoralized in these circumstances. Right now, it looks pretty bleak. But we still have a Constitution (and 50 state constitutions!), a robust legal system, and a commitment to freedom and rights that’s tens of millions of American voters strong.

And here’s more good news: A majority of Americans oppose Trump’s plans to use the U.S. military to deport millions of undocumented immigrants, to instruct the Justice Department to investigate his political rivals, and to pardon the Jan. 6 rioters, according to a national Washington Post-University of Maryland poll. Even larger majorities oppose Trump’s plans to jail reporters for writing stories he doesn’t like and having police use force against anti-Trump protests.

5. For everyone to have a happy holiday…and, yes, a happy new year too.

This holiday season, my message is simple: hold onto hope. No. Seriously. I mean it. Take time to recharge—embrace your family, cherish your traditions, and find joy in what truly matters. These moments of connection and resilience fuel us for the challenges ahead. Don’t fear 2025; prepare for it with resolve. We’re not backing down—in fact, we’re gearing up. Big things are on the horizon, and I can’t wait to share them with you in the New Year. Thank you for standing with me on this journey. Together, we’ll keep pushing forward. See you soon.

Happy Holidays!

Olivia