Fear Factor: Halloween, Politics Edition

Fear is their only play at this point.

It’s the week of Halloween – a celebratory yet shadowy time, when we’re primed to scare ourselves with animatronic monsters and scary movies and stories about things that go bump in the night.

And so on Saturday night, like families all across the country, we went trick-or-treating.

Every year, we walk to a nearby neighborhood that has the most epic Halloween. Horse-drawn hayrides clip-clop past massive brick Victorian mansions. Streets are blocked off by courageous volunteers who shepherd little princesses and goblins from one side of an otherwise busy intersection to the other. Literally hundreds of kids zig-zag up and down the streets – until they run out of houses to hit or their bag is too full to carry.

It’s easily the most spectacular trick-or-treating I’ve ever experienced, and it happens every year. Being an easy walking distance to this annual Halloween spectacle is the best thing about our neighborhood.

So on Saturday night I was surrounded by All Things Halloween. There were revelers and kids in costumes that ranged from the adorable to the terrifying. There were life-sized animatronics that moaned and hissed. Half-dead zombies clambered out of pretend graves, while a three-headed dog snarled at my side.

It was as we were walking past a menacing alien that it struck me as odd that there’s such effort dedicated to scaring folks with pretend monsters, when real monsters run my state legislature – and one is running for president.

What else do you call someone who uses the vast powers of the state to silence you, strip your rights, make you less safe, and traumatize you?

It’s actually a bit of privilege to imagine that some fictional character could wreak more havoc on your life than would, say, Donald Trump. At least I’d have a fighting chance of outrunning a zombie.

I can’t outrun my country.

Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash

Fear is playing a huge part in this election – just as it has in every election since Donald Trump came down a golden escalator in 2015. But while fear tends to mobilize and energize Republican voters, experience has taught us that it demoralizes and depresses Democrats. Nobody knows that better than Republican strategists, who have flooded the zone with low-quality right-leaning polls and bluster (and plenty of BS) that’s intended to conjure up memories of November 2016, make us think a Trump win is inevitable, and deflate our enthusiasm.

It’s their whole strategy at this point: an intentional effort to blunt our momentum and keep us doomscrolling and handwringing and otherwise paralyzed with fear.

But friend, you’ve seen this movie before so you know how to avoid the trap; it’s a classic scene from horror films. The lumbering boogeyman lunges at a character (usually a woman) who narrowly escapes his grasp and runs like a bat out of hell. And she outruns him until she’s overcome with fear or exhaustion or panic – and decides to stop what she’s been doing successfully (running) to cower and hide and wait to see what will happen to her.

That’s never the right decision.

Our reaction as audience members is visceral (and it’s meant to be). Get out of there! we think to ourselves (or scream out loud). Get up! Run! Do something!

But she sits quietly, gasping for breath, hoping and praying that she goes undetected. Predictably, the boogeyman comes around the corner or opens the door – and while she tries to run away again, it’s too late for her to act. Her fate is sealed.

She should have kept running.

Friend, here we are, one week out from the election. We’re running hard, we’re out of breath, we’re tired as hell. But we can’t stop now.

Right now, all indications are that we are winning a narrow election. We’re outrunning them, but they’re on our heels. We just need to keep going for seven more days.

Don’t let the terrifying prospect of a Donald Trump presidency do anything more than make you run faster. Doomscrolling on social media or wringing your hands not only isn’t helpful – it depletes the resources that you need to deploy right now. It’s the electronic equivalent to hiding behind a door and waiting to see if the boogeyman will find you.

Instead, make a promise to yourself that you’ll do something productive with the time you’d otherwise spend worrying. Sign up for a phonebank. Sign up for a textbank. Heck – text five friends to make sure they have a plan to vote. Talk to your neighbor; make sure the nice elderly couple down the street has a way to get to the polls.

Just do something.*

We are not just bit players in this election, you and I. We are the whole shebang. The main characters. The protagonists. The heroes.

So let’s act like it.

You are not helpless and the election is not hopeless – far from it. So let’s put our shoulders into the work, and bring this election home.

You know, writing about Halloween and fear reminded me of that old Ronald Reagan quote from his inauguration in 1981. He said “The nine most terrifying words in the English language are ‘I’m from the government and I’m here to help.’”

In reality, the nine most terrifying words in the English language are:

‘The winner of the 2024 election is Donald Trump.”

We have exactly seven days to do everything in our power to ensure those words are never spoken.

We can do that, friend. We’re almost there.

Let’s get to work.

*At the end of each Tuesday post I provide a few options for Action Therapy – so called because when you are anxious or nervous or worried, taking positive action not only alleviate those feelings, but it also brings about the world that you want to live in. Scroll below the photo for those, friend. And if you have more options and ideas for action, please share them in the comments!

Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash

Actions for the Week of October 29, 2024

Here’s the part where – if you are so inclined – we roll up our sleeves and engage in what I like to call Action Therapy. Each Tuesday I share a few “small things” – usually a Small Thing to Read, a Small Event to Attend, and a Small Call to Make or Action to Take. You can tuck these actions into your week with ease – and know that you’re doing something today to make tomorrow better.

I’m including a few more items than is typical for me, friend – because this isn’t a normal week. If you just want to tuck in with the campaign in this final stretch, head over to the general volunteer link here: https://democrats.org/take-action/

Or to https://go.kamalaharris.com/

Special Note for Missouri Voters: If you live in Missouri, here’s an excellent Voter Guide created by the President of the Board of Aldermen, Megan Green. (Click here for the guide.) In particular, I’d like to highlight the need to vote against retention of the two Missouri Supreme Court justices (Ginger Gooch and Kelly Broniec) who voted to keep Amendment 3 off the ballot and blocked an agreement between prosecutors and Marcellus Williams to stop his execution on grounds that new evidence likely proved his innocence.

Small Event to Attend: Set Your Calendar for the Every State Blue Election Night Watch Party!

Join David Pepper, Jessica Piper (and yours truly!) for an Every State Blue election night watch party! We’re excited to gather friends – and the members of Blue Ohio, Blue Missouri, Blue Tennessee, and Forgotten Democrats – to watch the returns. We’ll be joined by special guests throughout the night, including some folks who can provide insight into some of the early returns in our member states.

Worried you’re going to be too nervous to sit still on election night? We understand how you feel – but friends don’t let friends spend the evening being nervous alone! Come join us and be part of the community.

Click the button below to register.

Small Thing to Read/Watch: Jen O’Malley Dillon’s 3-minute Pep Talk!

Friend, you’ve got to watch this great summary of the state of the race and pep talk by the chair of the Harris Walz campaign. Jen lays out why she’s confident in what she’s seeing in the early vote – and explains how channeling your anxiety into action in these closing days is so critical.

Check it out here by clicking the button below.

Small Action(s) to Take: Opportunities to Help Voters Cure Ballots

Ballot chase and cure programs help voters that have already voted resolve issues that otherwise would prevent their ballots from being counted. Volunteers reach out to voters to let them know there’s an issue with their ballot and help them correct it. You will be personally helping ensure a voters’ voice is heard. There are many opportunities to help in this way across the country. Here are some events sponsored by Democrats nationally and in a few target states. Know of others? Please share them in the comments!

• Harris-Walz Voter Protection Phone Bank: Call likely Democratic voters in battleground states with potential issues with their registration or ballots to ensure their votes are fairly counted! Every day, we strategize directly with state voter protection teams to call the voters that need our help the most. Time is running out for these likely Democratic voters to fix any issues and vote. These can be sensitive calls as we’re dealing with challenges voters may face, but they generally appreciate our outreach because our only agenda is to ensure they're able to cast their ballot and ensure it counts. No experience necessary, though you will need to use your computer, an online script/calling platform, and your phone to make these calls, so comfort with computers is important. We will train you for the first 30 minutes, stay on to support you along the way, and debrief for 10 minutes at the end. You'll need a computer with internet and a phone; tablets/iPads aren’t recommended for compatibility issues. Sign up for as many shifts as you can! Multiple dates and times offered. Register here: https://www.mobilize.us/crooked/event/684133/

• Arizona: Ballot Cure Phone bank: Join us in helping Arizonans by calling voters and guiding them on the steps to cure their ballots. Never called voters before? Don't worry! We will give a full training and explain every step of the way. Multiple dates and times offered. Register here: https://www.mobilize.us/crooked/event/717867/

• Michigan: Ballot Cure Training with Michigan VoPro: Calling all Voter Protection volunteers (remote and in Michigan)! The Harris for President Voter Protection Team is actively recruiting volunteers for its Ballot Cure team! What is Ballot Cure: Ballot Cure is the process of helping voters who have had their ballot rejected by their local clerk for an issue with the signature or address on their absentee ballot. If these voters do not take steps to fix or "cure" their ballots, their votes will not be counted! What You'll be Doing: Experts from the Voter Protection Team will walk you through all the basics of how Ballot Cure works here in Michigan. Trained volunteers will join our regular phonebanks (flexible for all types of schedules) where we'll be notifying voters their ballots have been rejected, and how they can make their vote count. Multiple dates and times offered. Register here: https://www.mobilize.us/2024mivictory/event/724863/

• Nebraska: Ballot Cure Hotline Training: As VP Kamala Harris says - when we fight, we win! So, are you ready to join the fight to win? Join the virtual Ballot Cure Hotline Training to learn how you can protect the vote this historic election season! Help us protect Nebraska voters by letting them know when their ballot has been rejected. This role can be done remotely and in person. It is active before Election Day and possibly for one week following Election Day. In this training, you'll learn how to: Answer common voter questions on the Hotline; Use Hotline technology to answer incoming calls; Make outgoing ballot cure calls; Sign up for Hotline volunteer shifts with the Voter Protection Ballot Cure team. No prior voter protection experience needed. Please note that all volunteers interested in running the Hotline must attend a hotline training. Multiple dates and times offered. Register: https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/718707/

• North Carolina: North Carolina Voter Protection: Chase & Cure Training (Nov. 6, 12pm & 7pm) Please join us for an overview of our Ballot Chase and Cure program. This training will provide volunteers with the information and resources they need to help voters resolve issues currently preventing them from having their ballots counted. This outreach will be essential to ensuring that every eligible voter has their voice heard in the 2024 election. Register: https://www.mobilize.us/crooked/event/709165/

• Ohio: Ohio Ballot Cure Phonebank (T/Th/Sat): Ballot Cure Matters: Ensure Every Vote Counts: You’ll help ensure that every Ohioan's vote is counted. Often, voters miss important messages from their County BOE about their rejected ballot. We will make sure Ohioans know how to fix their ballot and have a plan to get it done before the deadline. Multiple dates and times offered. Register here: https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/714404/

• Pennsylvania: Ballot Cure Phone Bank: The PA Dems Voter Protection and Organizing teams are working hard to make sure that every voter's voice is heard this November and we need your help! Please join us in making calls to voters who need help "curing" their ballots. Please note, we will provide training on the phone bank for all new volunteers. Multiple dates and times offered. Register here: https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/676131/

Thanks for reading, friend – I’m glad to see you here! If you love what I do and you want to support it, consider becoming a paid subscriber. It means a lot!