Think Trump’s going to try again?

The threat of a third term is a lot like the one he made about being a “dictator on day one”

Like his campaign promise to rule as a tyrant, the idea of an unconstitutional extra term has the benefit of sensationally distracting from the serious problems Donald Trump faces and is on its face so bizarre and improbable that it’s able to both gratuitously satisfy our hunger for entertainment and bypass the stream of serious political conversation in America. But just like his promise to rule as a dictator, Trump means it and has every intention of realizing it.

It’s another Trump concept that excites the faithful, is blown off as unserious by much of the media and is perceived as so outlandish and impossible by the majority of Americans that he is freed to pursue it without organized obstruction.

Those who protest are told that it’s just crazy talk. Why can’t you take a joke?

But for those who thought Trump was joking when he said he’d be a dictator on day one, what do they think now about his unconstitutional impoundment of Congressionally approved funding, his dismantling of Congressionally chartered agencies, his purging of military ranks to enforce PERSONAL loyalty, his criminal quid-pro-quo corruption of a DOJ prosecution of Eric Adams and his unlawful defiance of a co-equal branch of government when he ignored a federal judge’s order?

What do they think of him saying that “He who saves his country does not violate any law?”

And to be clear — Trump himself has said he is “not joking” when it comes to a third term. He’s publicly entertained the idea of Vance running for President with himself on the ticket as VP so that Vance can step aside after a presumed victory to allow Trump another term. And this, he tells us, is just one of many options he’s looking at to hold on to power at the end of his second term.

As his brain trust — Bannon et al — continue to explore options and socialize the idea throughout their echosphere, his minions in Congress are already filing the necessary paperwork. Right after Trump was sworn in for his second term, Rep. Andy Ogles proposed an amendment to the constitution to allow Trump a third.

The best predictor of future behavior is past performance. Trump will handle the constitutionally mandated exit from his second term much like he did the constitutionally mandated exit from his first.

The question for all of us is: will we be ready to stop him?

This should make it all the more clear that the defining political identity of this moment is not RIGHT v LEFT.

It is FIGHT or SURRENDER.

And if we want to save this country, restore our democracy and be governed by laws instead of tyrants we must fight on every front in every way. Peacefully, non-violently, without fear, without rest until we have fully and finally stopped the greatest threat to the greatest country on earth.

For those who protested yesterday — THANK YOU — it was an act of faith to show up. It gave confidence to those who joined you, it broadcast the strength of the pro-democracy opposition to the country and the rest of the world and it ignited hope throughout America.

Going forward, we must show up to every protest we possibly can, speak out publicly — city council, school board, state legislature, wherever people meet — and volunteer for every group that is organized around building pro-democracy power and defeating Trump and the authoritarian thugs and quislings who enable him. It is key both to impeding him now and defeating his party in 2026 and 2028.

Call out elected leaders when they fail to fight back. Encourage them when they do. Demand town halls to hold them accountable; hold them yourself if they refuse.

Do what you can with what you have where you are. Every day.

It’s our only chance of saving what Lincoln called the Last Best Hope of Earth before it’s too late.