Beyond Spectacle: Building Power That Lasts (Part 2 of 2)

SHOW NOTES

Beyond Spectacle: Building Power That Lasts

Now that we understand why we're losing, let's talk about how we win. This episode provides the blueprint—not theory, but proven models already succeeding across America. We start with Obama's revolutionary 2008 franchise model that empowered local volunteers to lead, not just follow orders. While Democrats abandoned this approach, Republicans studied it, copied it, and turned it into Faith & Freedom Coalition—3.1 million members organizing year-round in communities most of us have never heard of.

Real organizing looks nothing like the billion-dollar spectacles dominating elections. We explore three groups—Down Home North Carolina, ISAIAH Minnesota, and Mormon Women for Ethical Government—that prove the power of local focus, economic common ground, and refusing purity tests. They're winning races, passing legislation, and building coalitions that cross party lines because they organize around shared concerns, not ideological conformity. The pattern is consistent: small groups meeting regularly, distributed leadership, and infrastructure that outlasts any single campaign.

For climate specifically, success means meeting demand with better alternatives, not suppressing it. Clean energy displaced coal because it became cheaper—not because of protests. The movement's task is enabling clean development at scale: supporting solar farms, backing transmission lines, championing nuclear and geothermal projects. This episode provides the practical path forward for both democracy and climate organizing, complete with specific strategies, inspiring examples, and the tools you need to build power in your own community.

A CALL TO ACT Full Index

TRUMPING TRUMP Resource Guide

ACTIVISM AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Community Engagement: Step-up Participation in Climate Action

Community-led Climate Action Planning

Tools for Eco-Organizers