Welcome. If you’re reading this, it’s hopefully because you understand that restoring our democracy starts with helping Trump voters reconnect with reality. You see the harm caused by the relentless rhetoric that divides us and turns some against our country, and you recognize that you have a role in engaging in honest, meaningful conversations with Trump voters in your circles to bridge that divide.

Whether you’re fired up for this or you’re a bit hesitant, we’re here to help!

To put you at ease, let’s clarify what we mean by ‘talk’ and ‘conversation’ upfront. This isn’t about ‘rescuing’ them single-handedly—we’re not aiming for an ‘OMG, you’re right, how did I not see that?’ moment (though it can happen). What matters is staying connected—using your presence and your voice to offer gentle nudges back to reality. Our beliefs and values are shaped by those in our circles, so it’s crucial to reaffirm, manage, and grow our connections with Trump supporters. Reach into their information bubble with tidbits of truth, small things they can reflect on privately, and reminders that there’s a place to come back to.

While we’re at it, let’s clarify what we mean by ‘Trump voter’ and ‘Trump supporter” We use these as broad terms for anyone who voted for Trump—whether they’re hardcore MAGA supporters, misinformed voters, or disengaged/casual ones. It can also include people who didn’t vote at all; if they didn’t vote, they weren’t paying attention, and they need to start.

Now, let’s get at it…

If we want to protect democracy we no longer have the luxury of silence. Before the election, Trump supporters were in an information bubble—and we let them rot there. That was a fatal mistake. We can’t do that again—our unwillingness to engage Trump supporters only strengthens the influence of those who’ve captured them.

Practically speaking, the only way to save our democracy is to broaden anti-Trump sentiment, which will hopefully convince his handlers and Congress to back off their wrecking ball. We don’t just want people to dismiss Smith; we also want them to learn to distrust and distance themselves from those who have lied to and exploited them.

While some of us are eager to reach out to friends and family in the hope of reconnecting, many understandably feel repulsed by the idea. We know these conversations can be difficult and the potential for frustration, landmines, and backfiring is high. They don’t have to be perfect, but there are ways to make them easier and more effective.

Relationships vary in type, history, and closeness so these heart-to-heart chats will have many subtleties we’ll explore later. To give you an idea of what these conversations might look like, here’s a quick sample of some of our most basic tips:

• These conversations can take some time (maybe even months) – don’t rush them
• Oftentimes, early conversations should only briefly touch on politics, if at all
• These conversations should almost always be one-on-one
• If you find yourself raising your voice then you’re probably doing it wrong

Before starting, let’s quickly look at a few things:

• Why these conversations are critical in the fight for democracy
• Why these conversations will be easier than before the election
• Why our friends and family voted for Trump

Why these conversations are critical in the fight for Democracy

Billionaires, corporatists, and oligarchs have no interest in democracy, in fact, it, and you, get in their way. These elites have used their extreme wealth to seize control of media, technology, much of our government, and the minds of many of us. Their decisive move came with a massive investment to install Trump as their front man in November 2024.

With Trump and his highly corrupt appointees in power, we can expect the erosion of norms and laws, along with a rise in threats and violence. The impact on our democracy will be devastating on all fronts and there will be significant suffering. The impact on our democracy and global stability will be devastating, leading to significant suffering on all fronts:

• Extreme disinformation and propaganda across right-wing and conservative media.
• Increased whitewashing by an intimidated mainstream media
• Expanded right-wing ownership of media
• Suppressed independent journalism
• Even less effective democratic messaging

These conditions are the exact opposite of what is needed to save democracy and will silence the voices capable of reviving truth and a deeper understanding of what truly matters. If we don’t engage with one another, we’ll only empower those who seek to control and exploit us, deepening our vulnerability and making democracy even more fragile.”

Some of the few remaining places where sane discussion can still happen are around our kitchen tables and on our front porches. In other words, saving our democracy depends largely on grassroots efforts—engaging in conversations with those around us, whether they are non-voters, apathetic Trump voters, or even staunch Trump supporters. They are our friends and family and only we can reach them

Even before Trump’s inauguration, some of his voters (especially his apathetic voters) were already doubting their decisions simply by belatedly understanding what tariffs are and that Obamacare and the Affordable Care Act are the same thing. But, we don’t want to passively wait for folks to leave Trump, the sooner he loses support, the less damage he can do.

We are the last guardrail of democracy, but only if we talk.

Why these conversations will be easier than before the election

For the most part, we neglected to have these crucial conversations before the 2024 election. Some of us, caught in our own information bubble, were certain Harris would win and felt little urgency to engage. Many others, however, held on to lessons learned from talking to Trump supporters in the 2016 and 2020 elections. We were left shocked, confused, and angered by the choices and behaviors of those we thought we understood. In response, we pulled away—and so did they.

The reality of living in a much different America will make these conversations easier going forward. Here are a few realities people will face:

• Some will feel betrayed by the many broken promises
• Some will feel or see the pain from the Trump and Project 2025 agenda
• Some will be bothered by the chaos, the crazy, and the cruelty
• Many will be shocked and frightened by the global instability
• Many will become more aware of being victimized by propaganda and disinformation
• There will be a growing realization that “it can happen here”

Showing is more effective than warning – saying “Look what is happening” is more convincing than saying “This is what might happen

Another factor that will ease these conversations is the powerful, unconscious need people have to belong. Letting them know your door is always open and that they have a place to return to is key. Understanding this dynamic will make them more receptive and help ease their shift away from Trump.

Why our friends and family voted for Trump

This is a complex and nuanced topic, one explored in countless books and articles—we’ll keep it brief…

We live in a world awash in manipulative and harmful rhetoric. It comes at us from many directions every day all day, and at its heart is an unrelenting drive for power by a select few. Several key dynamics shape this landscape:

• Oligarchs rising to power with their excessive reach into government, dominance of media, and obsessive drive to dominate society
• Traditional news sources are being abandoned in favor of social media, entertainment news, and headline-driven coverage that obscures deeper understanding.
• Advancements in propaganda and disinformation technologies outpacing our minds’ natural defenses
• Our brains’ inherent malleability (neuroplasticity) is being used to reshape how we think and act.

Persistent and widespread disinformation, fearmongering, and scapegoating – creating issues such as ‘coastal elites’, ‘white replacement theory’, ‘wokeness’, ‘the deep state’, and ‘the attack on manhood’ – are deliberately employed by those interested in re-engineering our society

These tactics, combined with harmful conservative wealth-concentrating policies, create anxiety and low self-esteem, delivering a one-two punch to our psyche. Anxiety rewires our brains, weakening our ability to reason and heightening our sensitivity to threats and distrust of others. Low self-esteem fosters resentment, pushing us toward fellow sufferers and charismatic leaders offering quick fixes. Together, this contributes to a vulnerable and exploitable segment of the population.

Intelligence doesn’t matter – low self-esteem and anxiety typically overpower our capacity for rational thought. It’s also important to realize that most of this goes on in our unconscious mind, keeping us unaware and unable to break free. 

Regardless of your circumstance, if you spent too much time in the echo chamber, you were doomed. Not only did it create a society plagued by manufactured victimhood, resentment, and tribalism, it simultaneously created our consent for the destruction of Democracy.

Other dynamics that may have helped sway our friends and family include:

• Young Trump voters were in their mid-teens when he left office, unaware of his failures. Democrats didn’t tell them, but social media influencers amplified his bravado.
• Decades of conservative fiscal policies, like trickle-down economics, have left many behind, fueling legitimate low self-esteem and anxiety.
• Many still couldn’t let go of the stubborn mindset that the Republicans are the ‘Law and Order’ and ‘fiscal responsibility’ party
• Contrived and disingenuous investigations of Democrats by Republicans
• The Deliberate undermining of institutions, then citing the damage as “proof” of government incompetence and waste.
• A growing awareness that human progress has been pushed aside for the economic progress of the few has created a sense of disillusionment and a longing for the past or ‘anything different’.
• The belief that “it will never happen here” insulated our minds from the urgency of the moment
• Long-running whitewashing and bothsidesism by mainstream media blurred the lines between the parties and their candidates.

Underlying all of the above is the fact that if you were trapped in the wrong bubble, you rarely heard anything bad about Trump while being bombarded with negativity about Biden, Harris, our government. They were fed a distorted view of the world—and behaved accordingly.

The good news is that our neuroplasticity never goes away so it can be used to reverse what was done to our friends and family. Rather than seeing those caught in echo chambers as lost causes, we might view them as individuals influenced by forces beyond their control—forces we can help them resist and overcome.

So now what?

Hopefully, you’ve made it this far because you see the urgency and possibilities of these chats. If you’re still unsure, look at our guidance pages to determine whether these conversations are for you. If you’re fired up and think you’re ready to go, you’re still advised to look at our guidance as this is more challenging than you might think.

A final friendly reminder as you ponder about having these conversations: our unwillingness to engage with Trump supporters only strengthens the influence of those who’ve captured them.

Talking heads are destroying Democracy – talking friends can save it. Start your conversation here. {TBD link to work-in-progress approach}