Of course you are furious. Do not let yourself get baited.

[applegrove]

— John (@rottipapa.bsky.social) 2026-01-26T22:38:38.049Z

[Cirsium]

1. No they aren't

They are not trying to bait us and they don't need any pretext. They can and will set their own Reichstag fire (as the Nazis probably did).

The idea that we can control what they do by our behavior is delusional and dangerous.

Let's not take advice from Republicans like Bill Kristol and Tim Miller.

[Prairie Gates]

2. THIS!!!! 100% THIS!!!

The abuser never stops or goes soft because you placate them.

[applegrove]

3. I deleted Miller and Krystol. But the baiting is real.

They want evidence that their CBP agents and ICE goons are the real victims. Because people have cameras on their phones, they can't push the narrative so they want angry Americans to act out violently. Non violent movements are very successful. See below. It is a great threat to the MAGA WH as is showing up in the polls.

Make this viral--Renee Good & others deserve our support.

Someone smarter than me shared why small protests matter—especially now, with people showing up for Renee Good. This article explains it well.

Please REPOST 🔁

[u6955]
thejenniwren.substack.com/p/to-the-naysayers-youre-wrong-were

— Steve B (@bsteve978.bsky.social) 2026-01-11T15:39:32.621985-08:00

[Cirsium]

5. No

They don't need us to give them evidence. They just make it up, or use agents provocateur.

I should say that I have no criticism whatsoever of the tactics people are using in Minnesota. Also, I am not advocating black bloc performative violence.

They don't want angry Americans to act out violently, they want intimidated Americans to meekly roll over and submit.

[Martin Eden]

7. The idea is that we can control what WE do. Don't take the bait.

We KNOW that Trump wants to impose martial law and either cancel the midterms or sieze ballots under the guise of "election integrity."

But this fascist regime still needs a plausible pretext. Public opinion still matters, and is increasingly turning against them. Not all lower court rulings are being overturned by the Seditious Six. Some Republicans in Congress are starting to grow a spine.

In any event, our behaviour matters. If we start killing federal agents, that which we fear the most will almost certainly come to pass.

None of us has a crystal ball. What happens to our democracy this year is not chiseled in stone. We know what we're up against, and we have to be smart.

[Cirsium]

8. We disagree on that

I agree that our behavior matters. I agree we have to be smart. I don't agree that we can control whatever pretext the regime comes up with.

I don't think anyone anywhere is suggesting that "we start killing federal agents." I don't agree, however, that what "we fear the most will almost certainly come to pass" as a result of anything we do or don't do. The historical record is clear on that. It has always been a mistake to think that if only we don't provoke the bullies they won't hurt us.

The Trump administration is continually making up pretexts for every one of their draconian actions.

[Martin Eden]

9. There's a difference between "control" and pushing things past a threshold

We have to remain nonviolent. Sure, we're not hearing calls to arm ourselves against ICE, yet, but peaceful demonstrations that turn into physical altercations can get more people killed, then escalate from there.

We need to show up in ever greater numbers, and clearly demonstrate we are not a rioting mob -- even when provoked. Don't take the bait, even after more tragedies like Good and Pretti.

I agree Trump is itching to use the Insurrection Act, and is getting worried about the midterms. The highest priority of any authoritarian regime is to maintain its grip on power. Trump is mentally deranged enough to do just about anything, especially with Stephen Miller in his ear.

It is possible martial law will be declared even without anything approaching a valid pretext, but I'm not convinced he can get away with it.

Our Constitutional rule of law is only maintained by citizens, and people in the government and military who take their sworn oaths seriously. More and more people are turning against this regime. The needle is moving. We don't know how far it will have moved 3, 6, or 9 months from now.

The future is not predetermined, and what millions of concerned citizens do can affect the outcome.

[TexLaProgressive]

4. The Rev Dr Martin Luther King taught us the way.

Bloody Sunday,March 7, 1965, 600 people attempted to cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge to demand their constitutional right to vote. They were met on the bridge by law enforcement who beat many of them close to death. This violence was met with brave non-violence. The witness of the 600 people who only wanted their rights and the horrific violence of the police lead to the passing of the Civil Rights Act of 1965.
https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/onthisday-bloody-sunday

[Sogo]

6. Donald Trump has NO power to cancel the midterms.

NONE. He has no jurisdiction over state elections.

We have state elections, run by each state.