May 12, 2026
Settle in for the Marathon…
Staying Sane in the Craziness of Today
This week’s Take Action Tuesday is a little different from prior alerts. Next week we will return to analysis and discussion about more proposed rules from the North Carolina State Board of Elections. For now, let’s change our focus a bit.
Activism is HARD. In a world where every new headline feels like an attack on democracy, it’s easy to allow ourselves to “doomscroll” ourselves into a sense of despair. We’re so busy reading, protesting, and consuming social media. We’re worrying about our neighbors, fighting against overreach on so many levels - FORCED school board mergers, data centers being built that consume millions of gallons of water while WE are on water restrictions during a drought. North Carolina is the only state in the nation without a budget…which was due July 1, 2025. Executive orders, tariffs, lack of a living wage, the “capture” of the purse by the Executive Branch, Congress’ capitulation to Trump’s rule – all are symptoms of the autocracy. We are now more than two months into a “war of choice,” with no clear pathway out. The Roberts Court has essentially nullified the Voting Rights Act, making it harder for people of color to elect representatives of their choice.
No wonder we feel tired and irritable! If you’re paying attention, you’re probably exhausted.
WHAT TO DO
Share this information with your family and friends. Encourage them to join us in fighting back against the authoritarian regime. We need as many people as possible to get through this time.
Remember that this regime is creating chaos and disruption as a tactic.
https://time.com/6985760/autocrats-weaponize-chaos-essay/
Continue to be kind in your personal interactions. During the past year and a half, it has often seemed that “the cruelty is the point.” Trump and his cronies win if they subvert our elections and retain and increase their power. But they also win if we start acting the same way they do. Let’s make America GOOD again. Many Indivisible activities are linked to “mutual aid.” Find ways to give where needs exist.
Find a way to spend time on yourself! Burnout is real, and it can be deadly. We can’t take care of friends, families, or others, or be good citizens if we’re not taking adequate care of ourselves. It doesn’t cost anything to take a walk outside. Spend time in nature, listening to the birdsong. Studies have shown that just 15 minutes a day listening to birdsong can reduce anxiety. https://konacloudforest.com/blog/the-soothing-power-of-birdsong-how-15-minutes-a-day-can-calm-your-nervous-system/
One author suggests setting boundaries on news and social media consumption, as well as practicing gratitude to offset the negativity of the news cycle.
Spend time with family and friends. Engage in those hobbies that give you pleasure. For some, meditation might be effective.
Take action. Choose one issue that matters most to you this week. Make your calls to your representatives. You can refer to previous Take Action Tuesdays if you need ideas, scripts, or references. They are available on the website: https://www.indivisibleccv.org/page-2
Get involved at the local level. Attend local government meetings (county commission, city council, school boards) so that you know what is happening in your community. Local government has the greatest impact on your everyday life. https://www.cmu.edu/cmist/news-archive/news/2025/december/why-local-politics-matters-beyond-an-academic-exercise.html
COMING SOON: ICCV is working to add a calendar of local government events to our website. In the meantime, check local government sites for meeting schedules. There are multiple local government meetings scheduled in the next week or so.
HOW TO DO IT
Please use https://5calls.org/ or the bullet points in prior Take Action Tuesdays to contact your elected representatives.
- Senator Thom Tillis: (202) 224-6342
- Senator Ted Budd: (202) 224-3154
- Representative Pat Harrigan: (202) 225-2576
- Representative Virginia Foxx: (202) 225-2071
To find and contact your state legislators, go to https://www.ncleg.gov/FindYourLegislators
Enter your home address to link to contacts for your NC Senator and Representative.
WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT
John Pavlovitz tells us, “There is no way for otherwise mentally well, emotionally stable human beings to exist in this kind of prolonged lunacy and extended predation without being internally altered, without losing some sense of normalcy, without developing a persistent PTSD that will likely never leave.” He goes on to recommend a multitude of options to reflect, renew, and nourish our souls. https://johnpavlovitz.substack.com/p/bullets-ballrooms-and-bedlam-staying
Thank you for everything you do to protect our democracy!
ICCV Legislative Committee
“With Liberty and Justice for ALL”