By Judy T., Rescue Our Democracy

When “Most Read” Misses the Mark

If journalism’s mandate is to inform the public about what truly matters, then the Associated Press’s recent headline, “In Dallas, 6,700 women rally for culture war battles after Kirk’s death,” raises serious questions. Placed under the AP’s “Most Read” section, this story elevated a small gathering to national attention. Yet 6,700 attendees in a metro area of roughly 8 million represent only 0.08% of the population. That’s a decimal point, not a movement.

In contrast, nationwide movements like the No Kings protests, organized by Indivisible and Ezra Levin, mobilized over 2,500 locations across the U.S. and drew millions. Despite this, coverage was minimal, often relegated to brief mentions or photo galleries.

The Throngs That Weren’t

The No Kings protests opposed what organizers described as increasingly authoritarian actions by President Donald Trump. These demonstrations were largely peaceful, far-reaching, and clearly newsworthy. Yet the AP focused on a niche rally led by “Angela Putnam”, assigning national prominence to an event of tiny scale.

(BTW, the “throngs of women” phrase — really, AP? 6,700 equals a throng, but millions nationwide barely register?)

This disparity isn’t about numbers alone; it’s about narrative control. Elevating small, ideologically aligned gatherings while downplaying massive pro-democracy mobilizations skews public perception. Readers are left thinking fringe events have outsized influence, while widespread civic engagement disappears into the background.

From “Angela Putnam” to Handmaid’s Tale

Editorial choices like this suggest a troubling trend: prioritizing spectacle over substance, and amplifying voices that align with a particular ideology. By promoting “Angela Putnam” nationally, the AP inadvertently normalizes a Christian nationalist agenda.

Consider the parallels to The Handmaid’s Tale. The Dallas rally’s messaging — and the organizer, “Serena Waterford” — evoke dystopian playbooks of gender and societal control. The AP treated it as cultural curiosity rather than a cautionary sign. Elevating such figures gives legitimacy to a philosophy that should remain strictly fictional.

Coverage Comparison: Small Rally vs. Massive Mobilizations

Word counts are approximate; placement illustrates editorial priority.

Facts, Sources, and Methodology

• The AP reported 6,700 attendees at the Share the Arrows event.
• AP has previously reported on coordinated pro-democracy actions (50501, No Kings, Indivisible).
• The DFW metro population is roughly 8 million; 6,700 attendees = 0.08%.

Percentage calculation:
6,700 ÷ 8,000,000 × 100% ≈ 0.08% (rounded).

Article length estimates:

• AP, Share the Arrows: ≈ 620 words
• AP, 50501 coverage: ≈ 1,450 words
• AP, No Kings: ≈ 1,070 words
• AP, 50-state anti-Trump coverage: ≈ 1,200 words

Interpretation: Even though AP devoted more word count to large, nationwide protests, the smaller rally received national prominence. This signals misplaced editorial priorities.

Fiction Should Stay Fiction

This article should have remained local, not national. By elevating “Angela Putnam” and “Serena Waterford”, the AP promotes a dystopian agenda straight out of The Handmaid’s Tale.

Journalists should illuminate truth, not amplify fringe spectacle. If outlets want their credibility back, they must recognize that 6,700 does not equal millions. Reality, context, and proportionality matter — because democracy cannot survive if fiction masquerades as fact.

Invisible and Dehumanized

Imagine carrying everything you own in a backpack, waking each day with no place to call home, no safety, no certainty about your next meal. Every step feels heavier than the last. You see people pass by, laughing, scrolling on their phones, pretending you don’t exist. And then someone nearby says, loud enough for everyone to hear: “Just kill the homeless. Problem solved.”

You don’t feel anger in that moment. You feel crushing worthlessness. You want to disappear. You question whether life is even worth living. I haven’t just been there—I’m still there, mentally from the damaged done. This is my reality. This is the reality for thousands of people America claims to care about but actively ignores.

The invisible despair you feel in these moments is not abstract. It is concrete. It is daily. And it is being mirrored across our society: people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, immigrants, the mentally ill—they are all being told, in policy, rhetoric, and action, that their lives are expendable.

The Machine That Is Eating Us Alive

This is not politics as usual. Look at the evidence. Charlie Kirk was assassinated. Instead of mourning a life lost, the right-wing apparatus used the moment to deepen fear, consolidate power, and justify targeting those outside their narrow ideal: rich, white, straight, and conventionally attractive.

Trump and his allies have weaponized fear and legislation. Laws targeting trans kids, immigrants, and voters are not isolated events—they are pieces of a broader authoritarian strategy. Every restriction, every executive order, every threat against journalists chips away at democracy.

Disproportionate violence is rampant. My last research shows right-wing actors overwhelmingly commit attacks, harassment, and propaganda. Not Democrats. Not progressives. But narrative control masks the truth, painting it as “both sides.” That is deliberate. That is dangerous.

And still, inside our movements, we squabble over petty ownership of groups and logos while authoritarian forces erode the foundations of democracy. This infighting is lethal. Stop it. Now.

The Shock of Betrayal – When Democrats Turn Violent Online

I opened social media one morning and was hit like a punch to the gut. Posts filled with hate. Calls for violence. People claiming to be Democrats, people I thought were on the side of reason and justice, advocating harm against others. And in that moment, I realized: this is not the America I recognize.

I grew up believing that Democrats fought for people’s rights, for fairness, for peaceful solutions. They were the party that valued justice without resorting to guns or threats. They were the ones I thought would always protect the vulnerable and uphold moral and ethical standards.

Seeing people I once trusted call for violence, suggesting we “lower ourselves to his level,” left me stunned and disappointed. History and childhood lessons teach us that responding to cruelty with cruelty never works. It never solves a problem; it only perpetuates cycles of harm.

I refuse to accept that as a solution. We cannot abandon our principles because the opposition abandons theirs. If we do, we stop being a force for positive change. We stop being the side that acts with integrity, strategy, and moral clarity.

The Moral Outrage of Living on the Edge

I have spent decades educating, organizing, and building platforms. I have avoided profanity in print, avoided sensationalism. But I am exhausted, enraged, and livid. People refuse to wake up. They argue over group names, logos, or status while ignoring the systemic attacks on real lives.

This is not a time for polite disagreement. It is a time for moral clarity. The rage I feel is not for show—it is righteous, it is informed, and it is rooted in survival. Every marginalized life at risk is a personal wound. Every ignored warning is a betrayal of the very principles America claims to uphold.

If you are safe, if you are privileged, use it. Protect those who cannot protect themselves. If you are angry, channel it into action, not social media performativity or internal squabbles. That is how change begins.

Violence Begets Violence – Stop the Cycle

Let us be clear: violence is never the solution. Violence escalates. It divides. It empowers authoritarian systems. The Charlie Kirk assassination did not solve problems—it amplified fear and justified further control. Threats, attacks, and intimidation only deepen societal fractures.

Every act of violence, real or incited, leaves a wound in our democracy. Stop pretending that shouting, punching, or threatening is enough. The fight is not won with fury alone—it is won with organization, trust, civic engagement, and community action.

The smarter path is influence, education, and connection. Build alliances. Know your neighbors. Understand their perspectives. Mobilize with strategy, not only emotion. That is how authoritarian power is countered.

Free Speech Under Siege – The Mao Tse Tung Parallel

Mao Tse Tung controlled information, punished dissent, and rewrote reality for his people. Trump’s America mirrors this in unnerving ways. Media control, attacks on journalists, and narrative manipulation restrict the public’s ability to see truth. Independent voices are vilified or silenced. Critical coverage is painted as “fake” or “dangerous.”

Free speech is the first line of defense against authoritarianism. When it is attacked, society weakens. Controlling narratives is not leadership—it is domination. It is absurd to see this in modern America, yet the danger is real. Democracy dies not with gunfire alone but with silence and submission.

Historical Echoes and Contemporary Lessons

History teaches that authoritarian control starts with narratives. Mao Tse Tung used propaganda to dominate the population, ensuring compliance through fear, isolation, and misinformation. Today, the parallels are chilling: targeted misinformation, media manipulation, and social pressure to conform are creating a society where truth is optional and obedience is rewarded.

We cannot ignore the lessons of the past. The erosion of democratic norms in America is incremental but accelerating. Every policy that erases voices, every law that targets the marginalized, every media attack chips away at liberty.

If we fail to recognize these patterns, we risk repeating history. Not in theory—but in our streets, neighborhoods, and homes.

Call to Action – Protect the Vulnerable

Wake up. Protect the vulnerable. People of color, queer individuals, trans folks, immigrants, the homeless, and mentally ill communities need shields. If you are safe, act. Use your privilege. Intervene where you can. Protect where you can. Organize where you can.

Talk to your neighbors. Understand their concerns. Explain the stakes of elections. Build trust and relationships. Mobilize communities. The fight is local, personal, and relational. Action begins with conversation and grows into systemic influence.

Call to Action – Organize and Educate

Protests alone are insufficient. Social media outrage is insufficient. Action is about strategy, connection, and persistence. Canvass. Vote. Hold officials accountable. Support independent media. Expose lies. Build networks that endure beyond hashtags and tweets.

The cycle of outrage and inaction must end. We cannot afford infighting while democracy collapses around us. We cannot afford passivity while vulnerable populations are dehumanized, criminalized, or targeted for elimination.

Closing Rallying Cry

If you are not angry, you are not awake. Democracy is collapsing while people scroll and argue online. Every ignored warning, every avoided conversation, every internal dispute gives authoritarianism another inch of ground.

Wake the hell up. Protect those who cannot protect themselves. Organize. Educate. Build trust. Mobilize communities. Speak truth to power. And never, ever stop.

We are not powerless. We are not invisible. And we are not alone. But if we do nothing, our democracy, our neighbors, and our very humanity will be lost.

It is time to act. Not tomorrow. Not when it’s convenient. Now.

Judy T.

I am distressed. I am sad. I am shocked. Everywhere I turn, violence is in the headlines. Violence against police. Violence in our streets. Violence in our political spaces. We can’t even breathe under the weight of it anymore.

This isn’t the America I grew up with. This isn’t the America I was proud to be from. Once, I believed we revered our Constitution, respected our courts, and valued peaceful disagreement. Today, I see people turning to threats, to rage, to violence — and it is tearing us apart.

Even when I disagree completely with someone’s politics, I believe in compassion for their families when tragedy strikes. That’s why I called for sympathy for the loved ones of Charlie Kirk, even though I opposed his ideology with every fiber of my being. But then his own widow went on record, urging people to “fight.” She was guaranteeing more violence. That is not America. Or at least, not the America I thought I knew.

To show just how far we have fallen, here is a sobering list of politically motivated violent acts from recent years. These are not rumors or social-media claims — they are documented, with evidence. And I’ve noted when the attacker came from the same party as their target, or the opposite party.

Politically Motivated Violence in America

Jan 6, 2021 — U.S. Capitol Attack

• Victims: Congress, staff, law enforcement.
• Perpetrators: Pro-Trump rioters.
• Same/Opposite: Opposite (pro-Trump mob targeted lawmakers opposing Trump’s claims).
• Evidence: Hundreds of prosecutions citing pro-Trump motives.

Oct 28, 2022 — Attack on Paul Pelosi

• Victim: Paul Pelosi (husband of Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Democrat).
• Perpetrator: David DePape, radicalized by far-right conspiracies.
• Same/Opposite: Opposite (right-wing attacker targeting Democrat leader’s home).
• Evidence: Court records, his writings and statements.

Dec 2022 – Jan 2023 — Solomon Peña shootings (New Mexico)

• Victims: Local Democratic officials.
• Perpetrator: Solomon Peña, Republican candidate who lost his race.
• Same/Opposite: Opposite (Republican targeting Democrats).
• Evidence: Indictment and sentencing reports.

June 13, 2024 — Shooting at Trump Rally (Butler, PA)

• Victim: Donald Trump and rally attendees.
• Perpetrator: Thomas Matthew Crooks (killed at scene).
• Same/Opposite: Unknown (motive not publicly established).
• Evidence: Ongoing FBI investigation.

April 13, 2025 — Attempted Firebombing at Gov. Josh Shapiro’s Residence (PA)

• Victim: Josh Shapiro (Democratic governor).
• Perpetrator: Cody Balmer, arrested; posted anti-Democrat sentiments.
• Same/Opposite: Opposite (anti-Democrat attacker targeting Democrat governor).
• Evidence: Police arrest reports.

May 21, 2025 — Shooting of Israeli Embassy Staff (Washington, D.C.)

• Victims: Two Israeli embassy staff.
• Perpetrator: Suspect reportedly shouted “Free Palestine,” FBI labeled act of terror.
• Same/Opposite: N/A (foreign policy motive, not U.S. partisan).
• Evidence: FBI statement.

June 14, 2025 — Minnesota Lawmaker Shootings

• Victims: Democratic state legislators, including Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman.
• Perpetrator: Vance Boelter; manifesto targeted Democrats and public officials.
• Same/Opposite: Opposite (anti-Democrat attacker targeting Democratic lawmakers).
• Evidence: Manifesto recovered by investigators.

Sept 10, 2025 — Assassination of Charlie Kirk (Utah)

• Victim: Charlie Kirk (conservative activist).
• Perpetrator: Tyler Robinson, registered “unaffiliated,” writings reflected left-leaning views hostile to Kirk’s rhetoric.
• Same/Opposite: Opposite (left-leaning attacker targeting right-wing figure).
• Evidence: Charging documents, reporting from court.

What This Tells Us

The pattern is painful: people are crossing the line from politics into violence, and too often they are targeting those from the opposite side of the aisle. This is not debate. This is not dissent. This is destruction.

And America, I hardly recognize you.

We can disagree passionately. We can organize, we can protest, we can vote — but if we descend into violence, we lose the very soul of democracy. We lose the freedom that allows us to breathe.

I feel like America is burning. I know I can’t put out this fire alone. But I also know we must try, together. Because if we give up now, there will be nothing left to rescue.

Judy T.