Gabriel Lezra
@gabelezra.bsky.social
Policy at Democracy Defenders @democracydefendersaction.org @democracydefendersfund.org | Formerly @citizensforethics.org Debevoise & Plimpton @georgetownlaw.bsky.social | Building a democracy for the many
In my recent article @contrariannews.org I lead with our moral duty to stand between ICE and our neighbors. That’s about to become far more necessary as ICE leadership in our cities is turned over to the even more violent, paramilitary Border Patrol. Your friends and neighbors will need your help.
October 28, 2025 at 10:25 PM
In my recent article @contrariannews.org I lead with our moral duty to stand between ICE and our neighbors. That’s about to become far more necessary as ICE leadership in our cities is turned over to the even more violent, paramilitary Border Patrol. Your friends and neighbors will need your help.
Reposted by Gabriel Lezra
@gabelezra.bsky.social shares 15 ways you can fight for democracy right now.
15 More Ways You Can Fight for Democracy
By Gabriel Lezra
contrarian.substack.com
October 22, 2025 at 2:47 PM
@gabelezra.bsky.social shares 15 ways you can fight for democracy right now.
Reposted by Gabriel Lezra
Read this: “15 More Ways You Can Fight for Democracy”
By @gabelezra.bsky.social
@contrariannews.org
open.substack.com/pub/contrari...
By @gabelezra.bsky.social
@contrariannews.org
open.substack.com/pub/contrari...
15 More Ways You Can Fight for Democracy
By Gabriel Lezra
open.substack.com
October 21, 2025 at 10:19 PM
Read this: “15 More Ways You Can Fight for Democracy”
By @gabelezra.bsky.social
@contrariannews.org
open.substack.com/pub/contrari...
By @gabelezra.bsky.social
@contrariannews.org
open.substack.com/pub/contrari...
For @contrariannews.org here are 15 ways you can use the groundswell from No Kings 2 to fight for democracy.
contrarian.substack.com/p/15-more-wa...
contrarian.substack.com/p/15-more-wa...
15 More Ways You Can Fight for Democracy
By Gabriel Lezra
contrarian.substack.com
October 21, 2025 at 10:47 PM
For @contrariannews.org here are 15 ways you can use the groundswell from No Kings 2 to fight for democracy.
contrarian.substack.com/p/15-more-wa...
contrarian.substack.com/p/15-more-wa...
If you were given $30 per year since the beginning of the universe--the start of time itself--you would have approximately $415 billion.
Elon Musk's net worth is about $430 billion.
Elon Musk's net worth is about $430 billion.
September 8, 2025 at 2:40 PM
If you were given $30 per year since the beginning of the universe--the start of time itself--you would have approximately $415 billion.
Elon Musk's net worth is about $430 billion.
Elon Musk's net worth is about $430 billion.
The Trump ouroboros! Have a nice weekend!
September 5, 2025 at 10:59 PM
The Trump ouroboros! Have a nice weekend!
Every day is Labor Day! But with the Trump regime’s nonstop attacks on worker power, our right to organize is under the greatest threat in generations—so it’s really important to celebrate unions and workers today.
youtu.be/LHmZ-CprZ3A?...
youtu.be/LHmZ-CprZ3A?...
There Is Power in a Union
YouTube video by Billy Bragg - Topic
youtu.be
September 1, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Every day is Labor Day! But with the Trump regime’s nonstop attacks on worker power, our right to organize is under the greatest threat in generations—so it’s really important to celebrate unions and workers today.
youtu.be/LHmZ-CprZ3A?...
youtu.be/LHmZ-CprZ3A?...
We're traveling down a terrible authoritarian path: the regime has deployed troops to occupy our capital. Trump is going to send thousands more armed units into the country's major cities. He's arresting political opponents and his ski mask-wearing paramilitary officers are disappearing our friends.
It should never stop shocking us that we live in a country in which the president is so flippant about being called a dictator.
Trump: "The line is that I'm a dictator, but I stop crime. So a lot of people say, 'You know, if that's the case, I'd rather have a dictator.'"
August 27, 2025 at 7:15 PM
We're traveling down a terrible authoritarian path: the regime has deployed troops to occupy our capital. Trump is going to send thousands more armed units into the country's major cities. He's arresting political opponents and his ski mask-wearing paramilitary officers are disappearing our friends.
In @thehill.com with Diamond Brown @normeisen.bsky.social: MAGA Republicans' Jim Crow gerrymandering tactics must not be allowed to lock black and brown Americans out of political power and representation in our government. Democrats must respond in kind--and then win the gerrymandering arms race.
thehill.com
August 27, 2025 at 5:47 PM
In @thehill.com with Diamond Brown @normeisen.bsky.social: MAGA Republicans' Jim Crow gerrymandering tactics must not be allowed to lock black and brown Americans out of political power and representation in our government. Democrats must respond in kind--and then win the gerrymandering arms race.
So rolling an occupying army into our city is a “solution” to “crime”? That’s what’s going on? What a joke. This is one of the most cowardly prostrations to fascism I’ve seen in mainstream media. That it comes from what is ostensibly our hometown newspaper makes it so much worse.
August 16, 2025 at 12:48 AM
So rolling an occupying army into our city is a “solution” to “crime”? That’s what’s going on? What a joke. This is one of the most cowardly prostrations to fascism I’ve seen in mainstream media. That it comes from what is ostensibly our hometown newspaper makes it so much worse.
Reposted by Gabriel Lezra
What Trump did this week in D.C. is straight out of the authoritarian playbook: declare a fake emergency to seize power. It isn’t the first time.
@normeisen.bsky.social and I highlight five other examples since the beginning of Trump’s second term:
contrarian.substack.com/p/trumps-fak...
@normeisen.bsky.social and I highlight five other examples since the beginning of Trump’s second term:
contrarian.substack.com/p/trumps-fak...
Trump’s Fake Emergencies are Straight Out of the Authoritarian Playbook
Five (other) instances when President Trump used baseless "emergencies" to seize unwarranted power
contrarian.substack.com
August 14, 2025 at 5:09 PM
What Trump did this week in D.C. is straight out of the authoritarian playbook: declare a fake emergency to seize power. It isn’t the first time.
@normeisen.bsky.social and I highlight five other examples since the beginning of Trump’s second term:
contrarian.substack.com/p/trumps-fak...
@normeisen.bsky.social and I highlight five other examples since the beginning of Trump’s second term:
contrarian.substack.com/p/trumps-fak...
Reposted by Gabriel Lezra
Over 300 events are scheduled to take place tomorrow in communities across this country standing up to Donald Trump's attack on our democracy and attempt to rig the 2026 election. Sign up for an event near you at FightTheTrumpTakeover.Com ‼️
August 15, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Over 300 events are scheduled to take place tomorrow in communities across this country standing up to Donald Trump's attack on our democracy and attempt to rig the 2026 election. Sign up for an event near you at FightTheTrumpTakeover.Com ‼️
DC exists as a sort of non-place for Americans; it's Congress and the President and politics and museums--and nothing else. The regime is using that to make people less concerned about their fascistic plan to occupy our streets like we're Fallujah. If DC is a non-place, why not send in the army?
August 15, 2025 at 6:17 PM
DC exists as a sort of non-place for Americans; it's Congress and the President and politics and museums--and nothing else. The regime is using that to make people less concerned about their fascistic plan to occupy our streets like we're Fallujah. If DC is a non-place, why not send in the army?
Reposted by Gabriel Lezra
DC “crime emergency”
“Emergency” at the southern border
Invoking the Alien Enemies Act based on an “emergency”
A “national energy emergency”
“National emergency” due to Brazil trying an insurrectionist former president
All fake emergencies Trump has used for authoritarian ends. See below.
“Emergency” at the southern border
Invoking the Alien Enemies Act based on an “emergency”
A “national energy emergency”
“National emergency” due to Brazil trying an insurrectionist former president
All fake emergencies Trump has used for authoritarian ends. See below.
What Trump did this week in D.C. is straight out of the authoritarian playbook: declare a fake emergency to seize power. It isn’t the first time.
@normeisen.bsky.social and I highlight five other examples since the beginning of Trump’s second term:
contrarian.substack.com/p/trumps-fak...
@normeisen.bsky.social and I highlight five other examples since the beginning of Trump’s second term:
contrarian.substack.com/p/trumps-fak...
Trump’s Fake Emergencies are Straight Out of the Authoritarian Playbook
Five (other) instances when President Trump used baseless "emergencies" to seize unwarranted power
contrarian.substack.com
August 14, 2025 at 10:12 PM
DC “crime emergency”
“Emergency” at the southern border
Invoking the Alien Enemies Act based on an “emergency”
A “national energy emergency”
“National emergency” due to Brazil trying an insurrectionist former president
All fake emergencies Trump has used for authoritarian ends. See below.
“Emergency” at the southern border
Invoking the Alien Enemies Act based on an “emergency”
A “national energy emergency”
“National emergency” due to Brazil trying an insurrectionist former president
All fake emergencies Trump has used for authoritarian ends. See below.
Earlier this week, my colleagues at @democracydefendersfund.org and I sent FOIAs to the administration to get the Epstein/Trump files. @normeisen.bsky.social and I wrote about why that matters so much in @contrariannews.org:
contrarian.substack.com/p/why-gettin...
contrarian.substack.com/p/why-gettin...
Why Getting the Trump-Epstein Files Matters for Democracy
The government’s credibility is hanging by a thread.
contrarian.substack.com
July 25, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Earlier this week, my colleagues at @democracydefendersfund.org and I sent FOIAs to the administration to get the Epstein/Trump files. @normeisen.bsky.social and I wrote about why that matters so much in @contrariannews.org:
contrarian.substack.com/p/why-gettin...
contrarian.substack.com/p/why-gettin...
Reposted by Gabriel Lezra
The Senate rejected @jeff-merkley.bsky.social's attempt to fix the GENIUS Act & add checks to stop Trump's corrupt crypto conduct
Congress' refusal to fix this issue is disappointing & dangerous—we call on them to take swift action
af63c413-20ff-4419-a1ad-cce7174a8d6e.usrfiles.com/ugd/af63c4_7...
Congress' refusal to fix this issue is disappointing & dangerous—we call on them to take swift action
af63c413-20ff-4419-a1ad-cce7174a8d6e.usrfiles.com/ugd/af63c4_7...
June 12, 2025 at 7:24 PM
The Senate rejected @jeff-merkley.bsky.social's attempt to fix the GENIUS Act & add checks to stop Trump's corrupt crypto conduct
Congress' refusal to fix this issue is disappointing & dangerous—we call on them to take swift action
af63c413-20ff-4419-a1ad-cce7174a8d6e.usrfiles.com/ugd/af63c4_7...
Congress' refusal to fix this issue is disappointing & dangerous—we call on them to take swift action
af63c413-20ff-4419-a1ad-cce7174a8d6e.usrfiles.com/ugd/af63c4_7...
The GENIUS crypto bill includes a provision that sounds great: stablecoin issuers can't name their product in a way that would trick people into thinking they're backed by the US Treasury. Like, idk, "USD". Trump's stablecoin is USD1. Here's the loophole they included so Trump could still get paid:
May 19, 2025 at 10:32 PM
The GENIUS crypto bill includes a provision that sounds great: stablecoin issuers can't name their product in a way that would trick people into thinking they're backed by the US Treasury. Like, idk, "USD". Trump's stablecoin is USD1. Here's the loophole they included so Trump could still get paid:
Reposted by Gabriel Lezra
The Senate is moments away from a procedural vote on the GENIUS Act
Trump’s crypto conflicts of interest pose a grave national security risk
This is a clear ethics red line—they must vote NO
af63c413-20ff-4419-a1ad-cce7174a8d6e.usrfiles.com/ugd/af63c4_7...
Trump’s crypto conflicts of interest pose a grave national security risk
This is a clear ethics red line—they must vote NO
af63c413-20ff-4419-a1ad-cce7174a8d6e.usrfiles.com/ugd/af63c4_7...
May 8, 2025 at 5:41 PM
The Senate is moments away from a procedural vote on the GENIUS Act
Trump’s crypto conflicts of interest pose a grave national security risk
This is a clear ethics red line—they must vote NO
af63c413-20ff-4419-a1ad-cce7174a8d6e.usrfiles.com/ugd/af63c4_7...
Trump’s crypto conflicts of interest pose a grave national security risk
This is a clear ethics red line—they must vote NO
af63c413-20ff-4419-a1ad-cce7174a8d6e.usrfiles.com/ugd/af63c4_7...
Trump is quietly building a secretive crypto empire. Now, Congress is about to pass a bill that would make so-called stablecoins more secret, less regulated, and more likely to blow up the economy. And guess what? Right after Congress introduced the bill, Trump made a big investment in stablecoins.
37% of Trump's wealth is in crypto—& suddenly he seems all in on gutting crypto regs
Coincidence? I doubt it
I discuss what this means for democracy in my latest report @sddfund.bsky.social with Ginny Canter 👇
statedemocracydefenders.org/fund/trumps-...
Coincidence? I doubt it
I discuss what this means for democracy in my latest report @sddfund.bsky.social with Ginny Canter 👇
statedemocracydefenders.org/fund/trumps-...
April 23, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Trump is quietly building a secretive crypto empire. Now, Congress is about to pass a bill that would make so-called stablecoins more secret, less regulated, and more likely to blow up the economy. And guess what? Right after Congress introduced the bill, Trump made a big investment in stablecoins.
Reposted by Gabriel Lezra
Hey all! Did you go protest? Keep the momentum going by doing more things! Here’s a thread with ideas. Small, large, just start.
A big thing I recommend is going to town DNC meetings. Conventions are coming up and that’s where policy- the platforms- get set. It’s not glamorous, but it works.
A big thing I recommend is going to town DNC meetings. Conventions are coming up and that’s where policy- the platforms- get set. It’s not glamorous, but it works.
I get a lot of questions from my family and friends about how they can help fight authoritarianism and build real democracy. There’s not one answer. So here are *15*!
With my colleagues at @sddfund.bsky.social for @contrariannews.org 👇
contrarian.substack.com/p/15-ways-yo...
With my colleagues at @sddfund.bsky.social for @contrariannews.org 👇
contrarian.substack.com/p/15-ways-yo...
15 Ways You Can Fight for Democracy
Every day, hundreds of family members, friends, and Contrarian readers reach out to ask what they can do to stop Trump and turn the tide against autocracy. We can help
contrarian.substack.com
April 6, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Hey all! Did you go protest? Keep the momentum going by doing more things! Here’s a thread with ideas. Small, large, just start.
A big thing I recommend is going to town DNC meetings. Conventions are coming up and that’s where policy- the platforms- get set. It’s not glamorous, but it works.
A big thing I recommend is going to town DNC meetings. Conventions are coming up and that’s where policy- the platforms- get set. It’s not glamorous, but it works.
My man @normeisen.bsky.social is 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 today
Eisen: Donald Trump has removed my security clearance three times. I don't know if it is a mental capacity thing and he just forgets that he did it, or if he takes it away and then when he loses again, he says, turn it back on so I can feel better about all of the losing.
April 5, 2025 at 7:08 PM
My man @normeisen.bsky.social is 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 today
Reposted by Gabriel Lezra
I hope my American friends all consider activism. Here are a few ideas 👇
I get a lot of questions from my family and friends about how they can help fight authoritarianism and build real democracy. There’s not one answer. So here are *15*!
With my colleagues at @sddfund.bsky.social for @contrariannews.org 👇
contrarian.substack.com/p/15-ways-yo...
With my colleagues at @sddfund.bsky.social for @contrariannews.org 👇
contrarian.substack.com/p/15-ways-yo...
15 Ways You Can Fight for Democracy
Every day, hundreds of family members, friends, and Contrarian readers reach out to ask what they can do to stop Trump and turn the tide against autocracy. We can help
contrarian.substack.com
March 23, 2025 at 2:21 PM
I hope my American friends all consider activism. Here are a few ideas 👇
Paul Weiss’s capitulation is the latest reminder that even the corporations we expect to side with democracy will back autocracy if it saves them money. The way to fight back? Worker power (PW has a legion of young lawyers), and boycotts.
My 10th publishers note was the hardest one I have written for @contrariannews.org
It presented me with a dilemma because of my long & previously great relationship with Paul Weiss and the people who run it
1/x open.substack.com/pub/contrari...
It presented me with a dilemma because of my long & previously great relationship with Paul Weiss and the people who run it
1/x open.substack.com/pub/contrari...
Publisher's Roundup, 10
Trump is Lashing Out Because He’s Losing
open.substack.com
March 23, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Paul Weiss’s capitulation is the latest reminder that even the corporations we expect to side with democracy will back autocracy if it saves them money. The way to fight back? Worker power (PW has a legion of young lawyers), and boycotts.
Look: is this stupid? Yes. Is it the result of stupid people implementing stupid policies? Also yes.
The Department of Defense deemed a story about baseball hero and civil rights leader Jackie Robinson's time in the Army as "DEI" and deleted it.
March 19, 2025 at 1:08 AM
Look: is this stupid? Yes. Is it the result of stupid people implementing stupid policies? Also yes.
I get a lot of questions from my family and friends about how they can help fight authoritarianism and build real democracy. There’s not one answer. So here are *15*!
With my colleagues at @sddfund.bsky.social for @contrariannews.org 👇
contrarian.substack.com/p/15-ways-yo...
With my colleagues at @sddfund.bsky.social for @contrariannews.org 👇
contrarian.substack.com/p/15-ways-yo...
15 Ways You Can Fight for Democracy
Every day, hundreds of family members, friends, and Contrarian readers reach out to ask what they can do to stop Trump and turn the tide against autocracy. We can help
contrarian.substack.com
March 18, 2025 at 11:30 PM
I get a lot of questions from my family and friends about how they can help fight authoritarianism and build real democracy. There’s not one answer. So here are *15*!
With my colleagues at @sddfund.bsky.social for @contrariannews.org 👇
contrarian.substack.com/p/15-ways-yo...
With my colleagues at @sddfund.bsky.social for @contrariannews.org 👇
contrarian.substack.com/p/15-ways-yo...