This is my last official newsletter as Chair of DA Portugal. It has been my honor to have served, and while Democrats may have lost this election, Portugal punched way above its weight in all metrics: expansion of membership, ballots returned, and phone-banking. We can - and are - super proud of everything we accomplished together, and believe we are poised to continue doing great things - with new strategies - moving forward.
What was supposed to be a relatively quiet year, where we could focus almost exclusively on ways to expand membership and reinforce engagement, morphed rapidly into an upside-down world where the United States is aggressively working to upend an order that the world has come to see a an almost existential normality. For what? The pundits are only beginning to try and understand - it's so much more than Project 2025 - it's a bid for power that aims to transform global economic systems, education, alliances, military allegiances and even morals.
Based on the response, it's reasonable to say that despite many warning signs, everyone - not just the Democrats, but business leaders, educators, unions, his MAGA base - was initially overwhelmed with the speed of the changes.
So what do we do?
This moment calls for a seismic need for collective, global action. In the coming months, you will receive a lot of messaging from our team on ways to take action, both on and especially off-line. We want to focus on how to fight back - how to create disruptions and many ways, large and small, that you can help. We won’t be messaging grievance or outrage. There’s enough of that on social media, and frankly, it doesn't help.
In fact, this underscores my main theme for this newsletter and what I hope can be a mantra for the year ahead - let's take our strategy and communications as off-line as possible - being on-line is partly why we are in this mess (IMHO).
Wherever you believe yourself to be on the (small D) democratic spectrum, and however disgusted or disappointed you are with the (large D) Democratic Party, we all have a part to play. I’ve said this before, but I’m going to say it again: democracy depends on participation. Yes, I know we have a republic in the United States - but a representational government also depends on participation. Each of us has a part to play.
What’s at stake for you? Let’s start with your social security. They are gutting the department along with the others. They’ve been salivating over that for decades. No, that won’t be good for you. Let’s go on to Medicare. Rinse repeat. Oh, but you’re not retired yet? How about your national security? Putin has long had his sites on breaking up NATO and the Euro-US decades-long alliance. At that point, it will likely become unsafe anywhere in Europe - even here. And that doesn’t take into account the likelihood of not one, but several pandemics exploding on the world stage, as they’ve eliminated the critical role USAID has played throughout the world, or containing long-controlled viruses like polio or measles from spreading unnecessarily.
And then there’s climate change and increasing natural disasters that will come with no warning, now that they’ve gutted the NOAA (with the aim of privatizing). And no, that won’t be good for you either.
I cite this not to raise your blood pressure, but to delineate that all of this impacts you and your families. We’ve lost our muscle memory for collective action. Let’s re-learn it together.
We had an incredible team of committed volunteers throughout the country, and I’m proud to share again that Portugal is widely regarded as the most successful country in the DA universe as far as expansion and getting out the vote. I want to give a huge shout out and expression of gratitude to everyone who pitched in.
And now for some alerts, some actions, and some news links:
ACTION 1: we are in the middle of voting for our DAPT leaders for the 2025-27 term. It's the final days.
Here is a link to the candidate statements. Your ballot is below.
Please note:
You need to add your FULL name with first and last.
For Members-at-Large: please vote for SIX people. These are not gender specific.
For Voting Members: vote for TWO men and TWO women. These ARE gender-balanced. If you vote for FOUR women, we will have to discount this vote on your ballot.
ACTION 2: RSVP to our 2025 Annual General Meeting. It is March 20th at 7pm. We will feature guest speaker, International DA Chair Martha McDevitt-Pugh, who will speak to what’s on deck for DA over the next year and the amazing job Portugal has done. You will also learn results of the Election and hear from our newly elected chair.
ACTION 3: Request your 2025 ballot today. There are several important special elections and it’s important voting hygiene. Especially if you are in a red state - who knows when and how they will attempt to purge voters - not requesting a ballot could easily become one of them.
ACTION 4: Check out our newly launched RESISTANCE page. Sign up to receive weekly emails instructing you how to TAKE ACTION.
ACTION 5: Please volunteer with us in Portugal. While we are on the verge of electing new leadership for our Executive Committee, they cannot do all the work. We have recruited some fantastic organizational skills, and have retained deeply needed institutional knowledge with returning leaders, but our success depends on many volunteers spread throughout the country.
Specifically and most urgently we need:
• A communications/digital marketing expert to lead our communications/marketing team. It starts and stops with great communications and proper branding. Also: graphic design, content creators, strategists
• A fundraising lead - experience is helpful.
• A few volunteers with project management experience
• Event organizers in Porto, Coimbra, Tomar, Nazare, Alcobaça, Setubal, Tavira, Lagos. If your area is not named, it means we have local folks taking the lead.
• Be a News Amplifier on social media. Even if you don't have time to do more, take two minutes to like and comment on our social media posts. We are building a large team spread throughout the country to help guarantee our posts our scene. The bigger platforms seem to be suppressing posts that have Democracy or democrats attached.
• Organize a Resistance roundtable in your region.
• IF you just want to volunteer in any of these areas, but are not interested in leading, please reach out to [email protected] and I will add you to a running list.
THE ATLANTIC: One Word Describes Trump - Jonathan Rauch
THE ATLANTIC: Move Fast and Destroy Democracy - Kara Swisher
DEMLIST - how to fight for resistance. This is a great website to outline ways to fight.
Tim Miller: the Bulwark. - I'm a huge fan. I highly recommend being a regular listener/viewer. It's available as a podcast or youtube. This episode he speaks to Neera Tanden and John Fetterman. You won't be bored.
See you at the AGM on Thursday!!
Democratically yours,
Sally DeSipio
Chair, DAPT
DA Portugal
https://www.democratsabroad.org/