While anyone is certainly welcome to read this article, it is specifically intended for independent journalists, podcasters, and other influencers active in the pro-democracy political arena.

Democracy is running out of time, and we’re running out of options. There’s no need to itemize what Trump and the oligarchs have done to undermine democracy. We’re all aware of the damage, and the list would be obsolete in a few days anyway.

Two of our remaining options are Congressional Republicans finding the courage to defend Democracy, or a too-big-to-rig turnout in November 2026. Both of these require continued loss of support for Trump. Yes, his support is falling, but the right-wing propagandists are still working 24/7, and many who have left are one well-planned disinformation scheme away from falling back in line.

We cannot let Trump’s declining support be a spectator sport.

The most efficient way to prevent that is for everyday Americans to reach out to their Trump-supporting friends and family. We must engage with the Trump supporters in our lives. If we don’t, the only voices they’ll hear will be Sean Hannity, etc.

Unfortunately, many of us are understandably repulsed by the idea of these conversations. But democracy desperately needs them. His voters (and non-voters) were in the dark, and we let them rot there – let’s not make that mistake again.

Few people attempt these conversations, and those who do often find them to be a struggle. The problem is that these conversations must be done differently. Our typical approach will almost always backfire.

Yet if more of us knew that proven approaches exist, we’d be more willing to try. If more of us knew there were experts and resources to help make these conversations easier, effective, and lasting, we might be willing to learn. This is where independent journalists can make a real difference.

The Ask

Saving democracy will require a grassroots effort, and it’s critical that you, as independent journalists, historians, online personalities, etc., drive this point home to your followers. They'll need to understand their role in closing the divide, repairing society, and amplifying the few remaining voices of truth. Independent journalists, encouraging and driving kitchen table conversations, might be our only hope.

However, for reasons outside the scope of this article, your followers may easily mishandle these conversations, leading to frustration and counterproductive outcomes. It's not enough to tell your followers to run off and have the chats. They’ll need to be connected with those folks and resources that will help them.

The ask is simple: guide your followers to these resources, encourage them to learn, and remind them to keep trying.

One of the biggest challenges we face is the lack of any real structure or organization guiding these crucial conversations. There’s no national effort coordinating those skilled in facilitating tough discussions with those needing them most. Independent journalists are uniquely positioned to fill this gap. They are trusted by their audiences, connected to real communities, and capable of bridging insight with action.

People need to move away from Trump and the many voices that enabled his rise to power. You have the opportunity to help save democracy by reconnecting Americans with each other and the truth. Below, we explore the reasoning behind this and how it could take shape on your platform.

How Independent Journalists Can Save Democracy

You have the trust that institutions have lost

Many Americans, particularly those who distrust mainstream media, turn to independent journalists because they see them as more honest, aligned with their values, and free from institutional agendas. You have been vetted and trusted. Your followers have invested in you. This trust gives you a unique ability to inspire these conversations in ways traditional media cannot.

Turn your clarity into action

You spend countless hours crafting thoughtful, fact-based content that enlightens your followers; now, empower them to spread the message. Your reporting informs, but when you guide your followers in strategically carrying that clarity into their own conversations, you're giving them the power to mobilize.

Your audience can make some noise

Silence allows disinformation to spread. Many recognize their loved ones are consuming and spreading false narratives, but feel powerless to address the issue. Without guidance, they either avoid the conversation entirely or engage in unproductive, frustrating debates that often backfire.

Our unwillingness to engage with Trump supporters only strengthens the influence of those who have captured them.

Expand your reach beyond the like-minded

A major challenge for independent journalists is that their work often reaches only those who already share their views. While this strengthens and informs their existing audience, it does little to reach those who need it most. To be truly effective, independent journalists must find ways to reach beyond their usual audience, including those who wouldn’t normally subscribe.

Your followers collectively have far greater influence than you alone. If even a fraction of them engage in meaningful conversations, the ripple effect can be significant.

Without this kind of outreach, independent journalism risks becoming an echo chamber rather than a catalyst for change.

Provide continuous encouragement

By guiding and equipping your followers, you empower them to start conversations that might never happen otherwise and to stay engaged, even when those discussions become difficult. When people feel supported, they are far more likely to persist.

Disinformation spreads through relentless repetition. Counter it with relentless encouragement. The more you urge people to engage, the more likely they are to speak up.

Collaborate with others

Consider collaborating with other independent voices. For example, if you're an independent journalist, then collaborating with a social media influencer or personality might increase your effectiveness and reach.

While Journalists have credibility and depth, influencers have connectiveness and reach; they speak directly to large, often emotionally engaged audiences. They are storytellers and have more leeway to show vulnerability and personality. Such a collaboration would help the independent journalist connect with people outside traditional media bubbles, including those who are apolitical, disillusioned, or even on the ideological edge. Finally, their tone can make the project feel less like a lecture and more like a conversation, which is exactly the spirit the project is trying to encourage.

What This Might Look Like

You know what works best for your platform, audience, and resources - take what’s useful from the following and make it your own.

Leverage existing tools and resources

• Don't reinvent the wheel - resources are available here, here, here, and plenty of other sites.

• Identify which existing resources make sense for your audience and keep sharing these resources through your various mediums

• Consider taking your own deeper dive into these techniques so you can better help your audience

Push the Message Regularly

• Consistently encourage your audience to reach out to friends and family. Don’t just mention it occasionally.

• This can be as simple as mentions at the end of all your content

Develop a Community Aspect

• You and your followers could share experiences & strategies (through your social media, article replies, forums, etc.) to refine the approach.

• Maintain a "small wins" campaign that highlights stories of people making progress, even in small ways, to keep motivation high.

Expand your Content

• Create space on your platform to support this effort

• Provide a few links to various resources

• Share success stories here https://leavingmaga.org/

• The idea is to expand your content with minimal impact on your normal workload

Grow your Subscriber Base

• In this new reality, the reach of the right-wing information bubble will expand, and its rhetoric will get much worse.

• With the oligarchs hellbent on controlling us, platforms like BlueSky and Threads will likely follow the path of X/Twitter, leaving independent journalists with fewer ways to get their message out

• The clarity you provide your followers is crucial, but without a broader reach, both it and they remain stuck in a bubble.

• Encourage your followers to regularly share your content with friends and family, and to support independent journalism in general.

• Complimentary and ongoing collaborations can quickly grow your exposure to new followers and new platforms/technologies.

Conclusion: This Is How We Defend Democracy

The decline of democracy isn’t just about bad policies or corrupt politicians. It’s also about the erosion of truth and the manipulation of public perception. Many Trump voters aren’t unreachable, but they're trapped in a media bubble designed to create and then reinforce their beliefs. We need to pop holes in that bubble.

If there’s any hope for change, it won’t come from mainstream media or our institutions. Democracy will not be defended from the top down; it will be saved from the bottom up, through countless individual conversations.

As an independent journalist, you have the opportunity to be part of a grassroots effort that aligns with your anti-establishment, truth-seeking mindset. By empowering your followers to engage, you’re extending your journalistic mission beyond reporting and actively contributing to the rebuilding of America.

This could be the beginning of a moment to reimagine journalism not as something above society, but as part of its fabric.