It's up to all of us.

It has always been up to us. 

That was the sentiment I saw in a few corners of Bulwarkland this week when the news came down that SCOTUS would take up Trump’s preposterous immunity appeal (but not for several weeks, Clarence Thomas has to go on a donor-funded RV trip for Spring Break first).

Many folks were rightly upset about this news (though our new Explainer-In-Chief George Conway did offer a more rosey view). I share their rage and frustration about Trump delaying consequences one more time. But it was the spirit of resolve that landed with me the hardest.

It is up to us. It always has been. It shouldn’t have to be. But my therapist taught me long ago to stop worrying so much about shoulds. 

Defending liberal democracy requires vigilance. It requires debate. It requires listening as well as persuading. It requires a shared set of facts. 

All of that is what we are doing here. Be it hard news about the MAGA movement, Congress, and the White House. Or listening to enraging and enlightening focus groups. Or drafting the umpteeth democracy defending cri de coeur to be shared on social media and with that one uncle who's so close to coming into the light. 

This is the spirit that I am trying to bring daily to The Bulwark Podcast. I want to bring in a diverse group of voices and opinions. Have vigorous exchanges. Challenge policymakers and opinion leaders. Test out arguments. Inspire passion in listeners to go out in their communities and spread the word. And do it in a way that is not wearying. That keeps people engaged and informed and amused. (Because we need that too!) 

These are ambitious aspirations, no doubt. But I am confident that The Bulwark is the place to do it. In large part because our community has consistently demonstrated itself to be thoughtful, committed, and engaged. 

So today I’m writing to ask you to join us. Help us continue to grow and expand this community and the pro-democracy movement. Upgrade to an annual membership today and get the next 30 days to test drive Bulwark+—for FREE. You’ll get unlimited access to everything we publish. Read and listen to what you want, share our best stuff with your friends and neighbors, arm yourself with facts and logic, and enjoy a community that’s built on good faith in defense of democracy. 

And I’ll be in the saddle with you everyday to see it through. 

It is up to all of us, after-all. 

—Tim

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