Corporate media are helping Democrats sculpt a narrative of fecklessness.
By Julie Hollar, FAIR
As oligarchs Donald Trump and Elon Musk continue their pursuit of power unfettered by the Constitution, many citizens wonder why their elected representatives in Washington are doing so little to stop the administrative coup. They also might well wonder why the media so rarely ask the same question.
GOP congressmembers have mostly remained silent, when not celebrating, as their party leader shreds democratic institutions. Democratic leaders, meanwhile, have largely advised their own members to not make too much of a fuss—precisely the opposite of what leading scholars of authoritarianism are urgently calling for.
House Minority leader Hakeem Jeffries, for instance, told fellow Democrats not to “swing at every pitch,” while longtime Democratic adviser James Carville suggested Democrats should “play possum,” complaining that progressives voicing outrage were “detrimental” to the opposition and “never, ever learn to shut up.” Many Senate Democrats voted to confirm multiple Trump cabinet picks, who have done nothing to provide checks on unelected billionaire Musk.

Most reporting follows the tired, risk-averse corporate news script that simply quotes Democrats and Republicans in leadership positions, offering that same lens of Democratic (or even Republican!) congressmembers having no power to stop or even slow anything down. That neatly takes pressure off of those official sources to bother to do anything to protect their constituents—or, say, democracy—that might take some political capital.
Just over two weeks into the Trump/Musk dismantling of democracy, Axios (2/5/25) reported:
Congressional Democrats’ offices are being inundated by phone calls from angry constituents who feel the party should be doing more to combat President Trump and his administration.
The volume of calls appears to be at record levels, according to Axios‘ Andrew Solender, who quoted 28-year Rep. Jim McGovern (D–Mass.): “I can’t recall ever receiving this many calls. People disgusted with what’s going on, and they want us to fight back.”
Recent Posts
Zohran Mamdani Is Showing Democrats How To Shape Voter Opinion
June 23, 2025
Take Action Now Polls recorded shifts in NYC residents’ priorities following mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani’s campaigning on housing.By Susan…
Bombing Iran Is Part Of The USA’s Repetition Compulsion For War War War
June 22, 2025
Take Action Now More than ever, the United States and Israel are overt partners in what the Nuremberg Tribunal in 1946 called “the supreme…
62 percent Of Democrats Agree Party Leadership Should Be Replaced: Survey
June 20, 2025
Take Action Now The party has found it difficult to build a cohesive message as the Democratic National Committee (DNC) has been embroiled in…
Democratic Leadership Is Complacent In The Face Of Iran War Threat
June 20, 2025
Take Action Now “It’s embarrassing that some problematic far-right figures are speaking out more forcefully against direct military…