These are the times to test the democratic soul.

In the face of a free president who holds down Washington’s power and brings sledgehammers to parts of the federal government and part of the chainsaw to others, existential questions about the party and its leaders, what is the counterattack? And how difficult it is.

Political columnists Mark Z. Barabak and Sammyros Hells The Times writing about climate issues. Boiling point podcast And the newsletter has a different perspective on how best to deal with chaos and the sudden changes of the past few weeks.

Here they haveh things.

Barabak: The proverb due to Mark Zuckerberg – “Move fast, break things” – has become a manifesto for Moonshot’s innovators and Silicon Valley backernation capitalists.

Now, Trump has brought that idea to the oval office, but I don’t think that’s surprising given his presidency has sublimated to an overactive and assertively violated Elon Musk. .

loss:Not surprising, it’s not wise to act like shrugs and acts like you’re acting. Moving fast and breaking things is a fun way to make money in Silicon Valley, but it’s a disaster recipe when you’re playing with the federal government that employs millions of people and jobs.

Barabak: I agree. It’s hard to say which is more appalling: the recklessness or heartlessness that Musk and his much powerful passages in his 20s are scything Washington.

So many people will suffer. We already have a cutoff of foreign aid, perhaps Most effective and ununderstandable of the federal program.

Polls show it on a daily basis In fact, Americans believe that if it is less than 1%, a quarter of the federal budget will be foreign aid. And we buy so many goodwills for that relatively poor amount. As one military chief told Congress, we can now spend relative pitance on food and medical relief, or fire far more than ever about weapons systems and counterterrorism efforts. .

But, alas, soft power is just as fashionable as veganism and green energy in Trump’s Red Flesh Washington. I know the latter is particularly close to your mind.

But let’s reach our differences. I seem to prefer what I call a more subtle, one that chooses your Battles approach, while you prefer unprotected resistance.

loss: Well, it’s interesting to say that “green” energy is close to my heart. Whether they know it or not, I think it’s close to everyone’s hearts. Scientists have discovered air pollution caused by coal, oil and gas burning Millions of people Every year around the world, mostly exacerbates heart disease. The less fossil fuels we burn, the fewer people die. That’s even before we take into account all the deaths from heatwaves, wildfires and storms spurred by climate change.

But yes, to go back to your question, I don’t think “choose their fight” is the right approach for Democrats. It’s partly a matter of morality. Who or what to throw under the bus: Trans people? Immigrants? journalist? People at the forefront of the climate crisis, including victims of LA County wildfires? And who can make these decisions?

Given Trump’s track record, I don’t know how many people are safe. Musk imitated the “Heil Hitler” gesture on his inauguration.

I’m actually thinking about it too. The Democrats set a hell of resistance eight years ago against Trump than this time. They then reclaimed their homes from Republicans in the middle of 2018 and defeated Trump in 2020.

And it wasn’t Trump won a dominant victory last year. He likes to talk about mandate, and it appears that many Democrats have embraced the idea. But he won the popularity poll Just 1.5% points.

Barabak: No, it’s not exactly a landslide. In fact, it is a rather central performance by historical standards. That said, I don’t think democratic pushback is either a proposition. And I don’t think I’m playing a party either.

The Democratic Attorney General and his political allies have already attacked the Trump administration with a megaton of lawsuits, some of which have successfully stopped Musk and his co-president’s single-mindedness overreach.

Anyway, for now.

And, to give just one example, Gavin Newsom takes what I consider to be a more intentional and practical approach.

The California governor was one of the loudest and most intense critics of Trump and National Republicans. “Where is my party?” At one point he olded his fellow Democrats to be too evil in response to the Supreme Court’s elimination of federal abortion rights.

But recently, Newsom has largely been competing for himself. In fact, he got in the way to make it nice with Trump – flattering looks like he’ll take you almost everywhere with our most wasted president – and that’s the federality they need See it to get relief.

It may not be variable personally, but it helps people who are elected to serve.

I also think it’s important to note that Trump’s presidency is not a month. I don’t call it exactly honeymoon. His The average approval rating is blue Compared to past presidents. But I think he is given a period of grace by his voters.

Let’s take a look at what things will look like in a few months or by the time the 2026 midterm elections roll. By then, Trump’s actions would have had a meaningful impact on voters’ lives – and, importantly, not just people living abroad.

Supporting the firing of federal employees is one thing if you think they are a bunch of neglectful relaabouts. Another thing is when your Social Security check is not delivered on time, or if it takes three hours to go to the VA and check in at the understaffed front desk.

loss: I don’t think it’s a good idea to see how bad things can be gained until 2026.

Certainly, there are social security checks. But Trump’s actions have already hurt people. Federal prosecutors have been fired to defend democracy against violent rebellions. The dismantling of health and science institutions will have long-term consequences on our physical well-being. And who knows what Mask does with all the sensitive personal information he accesses?

The list continues. Immigrants have been deported on a large scale. The Federal Communications Commission is working hard to threaten the free press. In the private sector, businesses are abandoning people of color by dismantling DEI policies to appease Trump. And, yes, we have lived with many additional climate pollution over the centuries.

I have sympathy for Newsom for wanting to secure wildfire assistance. Hopefully his strategy will work.

But can anyone believe that Trump’s ego is more than a loose bandage to a bleeding democracy? Trump never admitted losing the 2020 election. His administration has openly ignored court orders. His advisors question the judicial authority to check his power.

Democrats should abandon their usual routine of worrying about whether they’re reading the room correctly. They should stop acting like these and begin to act in such a way that the next few months and years will determine the currents of democracy in America.

Otherwise, they give voters a message that they are loud, offensive, but essentially legal leaders who happen to be wrong about how Trump lowers egg prices. I’m sending it.

Barabak: I agree with everything you say about clear and current dangers. But much of what Trump is doing is what he threatened and promised to do while he was running to recover to the White House.

And he won.

Unfortunately, as I found, the prices of eggs, bacon and gasoline are more than lying about the 2020 election, for example, tolerating attempts at rebellion and undermining belief in democracy. , seemed far more important to voters.

The fact is that Trump is president, except for some extraordinary developments over the next four years. As a result, I fear a lot of pain and misery. I certainly hope I’m wrong.

I know many people are shaking with great willingness to bite my fingers into my face and telling me if I am.

loss: I hope you’re wrong too. However, all evidence suggests that this is not the case. And the fact that Trump has won the platform of destroying democracy and harming many Americans means that Democrats have an obligation or strategic duty to stay quiet while he does so I don’t think so. If anything, the opposite.