ATTN FEDERAL WORKERS: I’ll say this again: download all your SF-50s, performance evals, and your eOPF.

Now.

Print hard copies.

And make sure you file an informal grievance with your supervisor within 15 days of any adverse action. Here is a template: www.muellershewrote.com/p/informal-g...

8.

5/ Build community: Share the cognitive load. Different people track different issues. Network intelligence beats individual overload.

Remember: They want you scattered. Your focus is resistance." ✊🏼

7.
3/ Remember: Feeling overwhelmed is the point. When you recognize this, you regain some power. Take breaks. Process. This is a marathon.

4/ Practice going slow: Wait 48hrs before reacting to new policies. The urgent clouds the important. Initial reporting often misses context

6.
2/ Use aggregators & experts: Find trusted analysts who do the heavy lifting of synthesis. Look for those explaining patterns, not just events

5. What now?

1/ Set boundaries: Pick 2-3 key issues you deeply care about and focus your attention there. You can't track everything - that's by design. Impact comes from sustained focus, not scattered awareness.

4/ Agenda-setting theory explains the strategy: When multiple major policies compete for attention simultaneously, it fragments public discourse. Traditional media can't keep up with the pace, leading to superficial coverage.
The result? Weakened democratic oversight and reduced public engagement.

3 / Media theorist McLuhan predicted this: When humans face information overload, they become passive and disengaged. The rapid-fire executive orders create a cognitive bottleneck, making it nearly impossible for citizens and media to thoroughly analyze any single policy.

2/ The flood of 200+ executive orders in Trump's first days exemplifies Naomi Klein's "shock doctrine" - using chaos & crisis to push through radical changes while people are too disoriented to effectively resist. This isn't just politics as usual, it's a strategic exploitation of cognitive limits.

1st of multiple:

1. "Wise and important words from sociologist Jennifer Walter about what is happening in this country right now and what to do about it:
"As a sociologist, I need to tell you:
Your overwhelm is the goal.”

For all of those who have posted my cartoon with my signature cut off, here is the original.

There is help, stay strong by leaning in and reaching out. #IAmHereForYou

If you don’t already follow Heather Cox Richardson, I strongly suggest that you do.
She is a much needed voice of reason.

bsky.app/profile/hcri...

Quick history lesson: During the holocaust, pink triangles weren't the only way Nazis ID'd homosexuals.
A black triangle identified lesbians, AND women who were "too masculine" in their appearance.
This isn't simply Rowling being a TERF - there are far deeper implications for this kind of BS.

Seriously? https://buff.ly/41ioWcl

They have a point.

Ford is introducing a new pickup truck with 36 flagpole holders and calling it the Ford Temper Tantrum.