TO STOP THE TRUMP-MUSK REGIME, CONGRESSIONAL DEMOCRATS MUST BECOME A DISCIPLINED OPPOSITION PARTY
QUICK READ: In less than 4 weeks, the Trump/Musk regime has completely erased Congress’ legislative and funding role. Court intervention has provided some relief, but only Congress has the power to stop the coup. GOP legislators have ceded their power, so it is up to Congressional Democrats to protect the programs and funding on which Americans rely. To do so, requires all Congressional Democrats to turn their caucuses into a real opposition party, promising not to further enable Trump’s destructive agenda, and providing daily updates to the American people exposing GOP actions that impoverish the American people and how Dems are, instead, working to protect their interests.
CONTENTS:
BACKGROUND
Just weeks after Trump’s inauguration, the Trump/Musk regime’s already completely erased Congress’ constitutional legislative and funding role:
· Trump’s issued 65+ Project 2025-inspired Executive Orders—many, like his funding pause and employee and independent agency personnel firings, violating the Constitution and federal law
· Musk and his muskrats have gained access to at least 15 federal agencies—illegally cancelling contracts firing employees, and violating Americans’ privacy rights.
Their real goal isn’t eliminating waste but rapidly replacing the federal workforce with MAGA loyalists and moving funds from programs benefiting the American people into their billionaire friends’ pockets.
Only the courts are trying to stop the carnage, but any reprieve would be only temporary, because the neutered GOP’s reconciliation bills Trump’s pushing will also cause serious damage.
If Congressional Democrats want to undo the coup, they must become a true opposition party:
· United in the fight to preserve Congress’ power to legislate and control government
· Promising to stop enabling Trump’s power grab by supporting his nominees or upcoming funding bills—the CR to keep the government open, raising the debt ceiling, reconciliation legislation—without an ironclad guarantee he’ll restore the axed programs, funding, and personnel and use appropriated funds as directed.
· Daily amplifying MAGA atrocities and Dems people-serving alternatives.
Otherwise, how can Dems claim to protect programs Americans need and want while voting for Trump’s extreme nominees, whose loyalty is to him and not the Constitution, and for legislation weakening or eliminating, rather than strengthening, them?
ACTION One: Call the Senate.
Script for Oregon Senators
SEN. MERKLEY: Portland office: 503-326-3386 | D.C. office: 202-224-3753
My name is [--] and I'm a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Thank you for taking steps to combat Trump’s illegal power grab and expose the effects of the Trump/Musk coup, but your constituents are clamoring for more. To effectively fight, Democrats must become a true opposition party, standing in lockstep opposition, using existing procedures to slow down and bring the Senate’s work to a halt until Congress effectively reasserts its powers and ends the illegal and destructive coup. This includes putting holds on all Trump’s upcoming nominees--chosen for their loyalty and willingness to carry out his harmful, destructive, and illegal policies, aimed at worsening your constituents’ lives while enriching his billionaire friends. It is also imperative that an opposition party hold daily news conferences amplified on social media—exposing how Trump’s and Congressional Republicans’ proposals would impoverish the American people and how Dems are, instead, working to protect their interests.
SEN. WYDEN:
Portland office: 503-326-7525 | D.C. office: 202-224-5244
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Thank you for taking steps to combat Trump’s illegal power grab and expose the effects of the Trump/Musk coup, but your constituents are clamoring for more. To effectively fight, Democrats must become a true opposition party, standing in lockstep opposition, using existing procedures to slow down and bring the Senate’s work to a halt until Congress effectively reasserts its powers and ends the illegal and destructive coup. This includes putting holds on all Trump’s upcoming nominees--chosen for their loyalty and willingness to carry out his harmful, destructive, and illegal policies, aimed at worsening your constituents’ lives while enriching his billionaire friends. It is also imperative that an opposition party hold daily news conferences amplified on social media—exposing how Trump’s and Congressional Republicans’ proposals would impoverish the American people and how Dems are, instead, working to protect their interests.
Script for Republican Senators
D.C switchboard: 202-224-3121
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], [state], [zip code].
By refusing to stop Trump’s illegal power grab and Musk’s destructive efforts to run the government and control the disbursement of funds, you are betraying your oath of office and selling out your constituents, and you’ll have to own the consequences of your nonaction. Unless you find your backbone and reassert your power over the purse and your oversight powers, you will soon find yourself unemployed.
ACTION TWO: Call the House.
Script for Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01)
Oregon office: 503-469-6010 | DC office: 202-225-0855
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Your constituents are very worried about Trump’s illegal power grab and the effects of the Trump/Musk coup. To effectively fight them, Democrats must become a true opposition party, with members presenting a united front, using the leverage you have in the upcoming fights to fund the government and raise the debt ceiling until Congress effectively reasserts its powers and ends the illegal and destructive coup. You must all agree to: · Vote NO on any bill that cuts core programs, contains poison pills attacking abortion rights, LGBTQ+ protections, or immigrant communities; and fails to contain an ironclad guarantee that Trump restore the axed programs, funding, and personnel and use appropriated funds as directed; · Use Minority Bill numbers 11-20 to introduce high-priority legislation and force GOP members to take unpopular public stances through discharge petitions. It is also imperative that an opposition party hold daily news conferences amplified on social media—exposing how Trump’s and Congressional Republicans’ proposals would impoverish the American people and how Dems are, instead, working to protect their interests.
Script for Cliff Bentz (OR-02)
Medford office: 541-776-4646 | DC office: 202-225-6730
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
By refusing to stop Trump’s illegal power grab and Musk’s destructive efforts to run the government and control the disbursement of funds, you are betraying your oath of office and selling out your constituents, and you’ll have to own the consequences of your nonaction. Unless you find your backbone and reassert your power over the purse and your oversight powers, you will soon find yourself unemployed.
Script for Maxine Dexter (OR-03)
Oregon office: 503-231-2300 | DC office: 202-225-4811
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Your constituents are very worried about Trump’s illegal power grab and the effects of the Trump/Musk coup. To effectively fight them, Democrats must become a true opposition party, with members presenting a united front, using the leverage you have in the upcoming fights to fund the government and raise the debt ceiling until Congress effectively reasserts its powers and ends the illegal and destructive coup. You must all agree to: · Vote NO on any bill that cuts core programs, contains poison pills attacking abortion rights, LGBTQ+ protections, or immigrant communities; and fails to contain an ironclad guarantee that Trump restore the axed programs, funding, and personnel and use appropriated funds as directed; · Use Minority Bill numbers 11-20 to introduce high-priority legislation and force GOP members to take unpopular public stances through discharge petitions. It is also imperative that an opposition party hold daily news conferences amplified on social media—exposing how Trump’s and Congressional Republicans’ proposals would impoverish the American people and how Dems are, instead, working to protect their interests.
Script for Val Hoyle (OR-04)
Eugene office: 541-465-6732 | DC office: 202-225-6416
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Your constituents are very worried about Trump’s illegal power grab and the effects of the Trump/Musk coup. To effectively fight them, Democrats must become a true opposition party, with members presenting a united front, using the leverage you have in the upcoming fights to fund the government and raise the debt ceiling until Congress effectively reasserts its powers and ends the illegal and destructive coup. You must all agree to: · Vote NO on any bill that cuts core programs, contains poison pills attacking abortion rights, LGBTQ+ protections, or immigrant communities; and fails to contain an ironclad guarantee that Trump restore the axed programs, funding, and personnel and use appropriated funds as directed; · Use Minority Bill numbers 11-20 to introduce high-priority legislation and force GOP members to take unpopular public stances through discharge petitions. It is also imperative that an opposition party hold daily news conferences amplified on social media—exposing how Trump’s and Congressional Republicans’ proposals would impoverish the American people and how Dems are, instead, working to protect their interests.
SCRIPT FOR Janelle Bynum (OR-05)
DC office: 202-225-5711
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Your constituents are very worried about Trump’s illegal power grab and the effects of the Trump/Musk coup. To effectively fight them, Democrats must become a true opposition party, with members presenting a united front, using the leverage you have in the upcoming fights to fund the government and raise the debt ceiling until Congress effectively reasserts its powers and ends the illegal and destructive coup. You must all agree to: · Vote NO on any bill that cuts core programs, contains poison pills attacking abortion rights, LGBTQ+ protections, or immigrant communities; and fails to contain an ironclad guarantee that Trump restore the axed programs, funding, and personnel and use appropriated funds as directed; · Use Minority Bill numbers 11-20 to introduce high-priority legislation and force GOP members to take unpopular public stances through discharge petitions. It is also imperative that an opposition party hold daily news conferences amplified on social media—exposing how Trump’s and Congressional Republicans’ proposals would impoverish the American people and how Dems are, instead, working to protect their interests.
Script for Andrea Salinas (OR-06)
Salem office: 503-385-0906 | DC office: 202-225-5643
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Your constituents are very worried about Trump’s illegal power grab and the effects of the Trump/Musk coup. To effectively fight them, Democrats must become a true opposition party, with members presenting a united front, using the leverage you have in the upcoming fights to fund the government and raise the debt ceiling until Congress effectively reasserts its powers and ends the illegal and destructive coup. You must all agree to: · Vote NO on any bill that cuts core programs, contains poison pills attacking abortion rights, LGBTQ+ protections, or immigrant communities; and fails to contain an ironclad guarantee that Trump restore the axed programs, funding, and personnel and use appropriated funds as directed; · Use Minority Bill numbers 11-20 to introduce high-priority legislation and force GOP members to take unpopular public stances through discharge petitions. It is also imperative that an opposition party hold daily news conferences amplified on social media—exposing how Trump’s and Congressional Republicans’ proposals would impoverish the American people and how Dems are, instead, working to protect their interests.
FURTHER READING
Democrats: This Is War. Isn’t It Time You Acted Like It?
Donald Trump and Elon Musk are not tiptoeing towards autocracy
Democratic leaders need to draw the line
Democrats, don’t save Trump from himself
Trump’s record number of executive orders are testing the limits of presidential power
Trump’s blitz to expand his power is direct threat to democracy, experts say
Here are the agencies DOGE have been trying to dismantle so far
