How the Oligarchy Wins—Unless We Fight Back

<p>In a powerful callout, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez slammed Congress and the White House over insider trading. Elected officials shouldn't hold stocks—period. While Martha Stewart went to prison for it, members of Congress routinely outperform the market, raising red flags of insider trading. Donald Trump, for example, told people to buy stocks just before pausing tariffs, triggering a historic $304 billion windfall for billionaires, according to Bloomberg. How many people did Trump tell in private before hitting send on that social media post? Because that would be insider trading. </p> <p>Corruption flows freely in America—like cheap wine at Mar-a-Lago. Now, MAGA Republicans are pushing the SAVE Act, requiring proof of citizenship to vote in federal elections. It's voter suppression dressed up as security. Noncitizen voting is extremely rare, but this bill could disenfranchise millions—including women who changed their names for marriage and trans Americans. It's essentially a poll tax, nationalizing Jim Crow.</p> <p>Democrats could stop it in the Senate—unless a handful cave. Four House Democrats already backed it. If passed, this could become the next Citizens United, further empowering oligarchs like Elon Musk and paving Trump's path to authoritarian rule.</p> <p>What can you do? Show up. Protest. Call your senators, especially those who caved on the budget battle. Demand accountability. And yes, let's talk about AOC primarying Chuck Schumer or Kirsten Gillibrand—New York, an the nation, deserves better.</p> <p>For more on how to fight back, check the Gaslit Nation Action Guide at <a href="https://www.gaslitnationpod.com" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"></a><a href="https://GaslitNationPod.com" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">GaslitNationPod.com</a>. Join us Monday, April 14, for a salon on defeating oligarchy, with special guests–Patrick Guarasci and Sam Roecker, senior advisors to Judge Susan Crawford's victorious Wisconsin Supreme Court campaign. Together, we're sand in their gears.</p> <p>In this week's bonus show, Gaslit Nation's special guest Adrian Karatnycky takes the Gaslit Nation Self-Care Q&amp;A. Adrian has been on the frontlines fighting for democracy both at home and abroad. In his critically acclaimed book <a href="https://yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300269468/battleground-ukraine/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Battleground Ukraine</a>, he traces Ukraine's struggle for independence from the fall of the Soviet Union to Russia's genocidal invasion today, drawing important lessons for protecting democracies worldwide. He has worked alongside civil rights legend Bayard Rustin and the AFL-CIO, the largest federation of unions in America. He also supported Poland's Solidarity movement, which helped bring down the Iron Curtain, and played a key role, along with iconic Soviet dissident, writer, and Czech statesman Václav Havel, in preserving Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty in the 1990s, when many thought the Cold War had ended. </p> <p dir="ltr">Want to enjoy Gaslit Nation ad-free? Join our community of listeners for bonus shows, ad-free episodes, exclusive Q&amp;A sessions, our group chat, invites to live events like our Monday political salons at 4pm ET over Zoom, and more! Sign up at <a href="http://patreon.com/Gaslit">Patreon.com/Gaslit</a>!</p> <p><strong>EVENTS AT GASLIT NATION:</strong></p> <ul> <li> <p>April 14 4pm ET – Live-taping with Patrick Guarasci, chief political strategist for Judge Susan Crawford, discussing their campaign's victory against Elon Musk in the pivotal Wisconsin Supreme Court race!</p> </li> <li> <p>April 28 4pm ET – Book club discussion of Octavia Butler's The Parable of the Sower  </p> </li> <li> <p>Indiana-based listeners launched a Signal group for others in the state to join, available on Patreon.</p> </li> <li> <p>Florida-based listeners are going strong meeting in person. Be sure to join their Signal group, available on Patreon.</p> </li> <li> <p>Have you taken <a href="https://www.gaslitnationpod.com/survey-reject-hypernormalization" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Gaslit Nation's HyperNormalization Survey Yet?</a></p> </li> <li> <p>Gaslit Nation Salons take place Mondays 4pm ET over Zoom and the first ~40 minutes are recorded and shared on <a href="https://Patreon.com/Gaslit" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Patreon.com/Gaslit</a> for our community </p> </li> </ul> <p><strong>Show Notes:</strong> </p> <p>Here Are the Senate Democrats Who Helped Republicans Avert a Shutdown <a href="https://time.com/7268499/senate-democrats-budget-vote/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://time.com/7268499/senate-democrats-budget-vote/</a> Will They Help MAGA Pass the SAVE Act? Here's How to Contact Them: <a href="https://www.congressionalinstitute.org/contact-congress/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://www.congressionalinstitute.org/contact-congress/</a></p> <p>Four Democrats Pass Bill Making It Harder for Married Women to Vote The House of Representatives—with the help of four Democrats—just passed a bill that could disenfranchise millions. <a href="https://newrepublic.com/post/193868/democrats-save-act-bill-harder-married-women-vote" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://newrepublic.com/post/193868/democrats-save-act-bill-harder-married-women-vote</a></p> <p>The SAVE Act threatens to block millions of Americans from voting while also imposing significant burdens on state and local election officials. <a href="https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/dangers-congresss-latest-election-bill" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/dangers-congresss-latest-election-bill</a></p> <p>3.5 Million Votes Canceled in 2024 Election: <a href="https://gaslitnation.libsyn.com/will-we-have-free-and-fair-elections-in-the-midterms" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://gaslitnation.libsyn.com/will-we-have-free-and-fair-elections-in-the-midterms</a></p> <p>U.N. expert decries near 'tyranny' in U.S. against minority voting rights <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/us/un-expert-decries-gerrymandering-parts-us-that-denies-minority-voting-rights-2021-11-22/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://www.reuters.com/world/us/un-expert-decries-gerrymandering-parts-us-that-denies-minority-voting-rights-2021-11-22/</a></p> <p>Report of the Special Rapporteur on minority issues, Fernand de Varennes, on his visit to the United States of America <a href="https://www.splcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/files/report-un-special-rapporteur-minority-issues-march-2022.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://www.splcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/files/report-un-special-rapporteur-minority-issues-march-2022.pdf</a></p> <p>Attack on Civil Rights: SPLC contributes to UN special report on state of minorities in the US <a href="https://www.splcenter.org/resources/stories/attack-civil-rights-splc-contributes-un-special-report-state-minorities-us/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://www.splcenter.org/resources/stories/attack-civil-rights-splc-contributes-un-special-report-state-minorities-us/</a></p> <p>Members of Congress again outperformed the stock market, report shows <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/news/members-congress-again-outperformed-stock-162050482.html" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://finance.yahoo.com/news/members-congress-again-outperformed-stock-162050482.html</a></p> <p>Andrew Ross Sorkin Suggests Government Officials May Have Sold Stocks Ahead of Trump Tariffs: 'Would Not Shock Me' <a href="https://www.mediaite.com/tv/andrew-ross-sorkin-suggests-government-officials-may-have-sold-stocks-ahead-of-trump-tariffs-would-not-shock-me/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://www.mediaite.com/tv/andrew-ross-sorkin-suggests-government-officials-may-have-sold-stocks-ahead-of-trump-tariffs-would-not-shock-me/</a></p> <p>Ocasio-Cortez: Colleagues 'should probably disclose' recent stock purchases now <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5242235-alexandria-ocasio-cortez-congress-stock-donald-trump-tariffs/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5242235-alexandria-ocasio-cortez-congress-stock-donald-trump-tariffs/</a></p> <p>The Power of the Powerless by Vaclav Havel October, 1978 <a href="https://www.nonviolent-conflict.org/wp-content/uploads/1979/01/the-power-of-the-powerless.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://www.nonviolent-conflict.org/wp-content/uploads/1979/01/the-power-of-the-powerless.pdf</a></p>