Springville Action - 3/30/25 #4

Truth isn’t just ignored—it’s being hunted down and erased.

Author

Springville Action
March 30, 2025

~1700 words; 10-15 minutes to read

Inspiration 🦄

From Omar El Akkad, One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This, which has a 26 week (!) wait on Libby at the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library by the way.

Nightmare Fuel

🕮 This one makes my brain melt. They’re trying to destroy libraries. The American Library Association has actions to take in the face of “executive orders” and IMLS defunding. Libraries are .003% of the annual federal budget. Luckily, librarians are some of the fiercest advocates on the planet. Help them save our public library infrastructure. You’ll see this topic in this space again.

To do ✅

👑 No Kings. There is an effort from a well-informed former US Senate staffer to coordinate nationally on a message to Senate communication directors. Organizing call AND collective (email) action on April 7 at 10:30 am. Let’s get NY23 and NY26 participation.

📺 Something to watch: Indivisible call from March 27 and transcript - What’s the plan?

📖 Something to read: On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder - late of Yale but on his way to the University of Toronto because fascism. Required reading, just buy a copy before the book burnings begin (sarcasm, but not really).

📻 Something to listen to: The Square podcast - local politics, art, society - find it on your favorite podcast player.

News 📺

Check in on the Toronto Star, BBC or Le Monde (English) - no media are without bias. These sources undoubtedly give a different perspective on current events, and are generally well sourced and thorough.

The Atlantic: The Gleeful Cruelty of the White House X Account. Extra credit - on your calls to Nick Langworthy, ask if he endorses the pathological meanness of the White House comms team.

Congressman Tim Kennedy press release (used this instead of a paywalled Buffalo News link): Congressman Kennedy, Councilwoman Everhart Join Educators and Community Leaders to Defend WNY Schools. TK and Mark Poloncarz have consistently been local voices against the general fascist undertones and authoritarian actions being inflicted on our country by a bunch of two-bit grifters, and an American public that has been lied to. Support them and inspire more elected officials and community leaders to get on board.

A little something about Information Warfare

If you’re on Bluesky, follow Digital Warrior.

“‘We’re waging a 21st-century information warfare campaign against the left.’ That’s not a warning. That’s Fox News bragging. The right is flooding the zone with lies—and they’re winning. Here’s how it works:

This isn’t chaos—it’s choreography. A lie drops from Trump or his cabinet. Musk spreads it to millions. Podcasts like Rogan’s rage about it. Fox turns it into a segment. By the time truth shows up, it’s too late. The lie has already become belief.

The Gaza condom lie is a textbook case. [Ed. Note - this lie was spread locally by Chrissy Casilio and Russ Gugino, both congenitally challenged by facts, and amplified by local media including WIVB and WBEN.] Invented at the podium. Amplified by Musk. Weaponized by right-wing media. It was false—but Trump doubled it, claimed $100M, and used it to slash USAID’s budget. A lie became federal policy.

This is deliberate. Trump killed the fact-checking teams. Musk axed trust & safety. Meta ended oversight. Even the government units created to track foreign disinfo were dismantled. Truth isn’t just ignored—it’s being hunted down and erased.

They aren’t playing by the old rules. They’re not debating. They’re deploying. Every lie is strategic. Every viral outrage is a weapon. The goal is simple: overwhelm, confuse, destabilize—and then legislate based on fiction.

And it works. Repetition beats reality. Narrative beats nuance. Say the lie loud enough, often enough, and suddenly the burden of proof is on you—just for telling the truth. That’s not politics. That’s psychological warfare.

This is bigger than spin. It’s a full-scale war on reality—and the right is waging it relentlessly. If we don’t counter it with truth that moves just as fast and hits just as hard, we’ll lose more than elections. We’ll lose the truth itself.

- Digital Warrior on Bluesky

Events 📅

4/1, 6:30 pm - Indivisible East Aurora, Aurora Theater. Our friends to the north hold a general meeting. Email [email protected] to be connected to that group.

*New 4/2: Watch for the results of two Congressional races in Florida and the Wisconsin state judge race. These are bellwether events, especially after a Democrat flipped a solidly Red PA state senate seat in March. Media do not reflect reality, and the reality is that a good chunk of America is angry and afraid about the dismantling of democracy and watching our entire American fabric fray.

*New 4/2, 5-7 pm: Elbows Up for Canada. American side - Shoreline Trail near the Peace Bridge. “We stand in opposition to the ginned-up tariffs and all takes of making Canada the 51st state. We want to normalize saying "this is dangerous and foolish," so that people don't get used to Donald Trump's lies about Canada through his sheer rambling repetition of them.” Follow on Bluesky.

View looking south for Elbows Up event along I-190/Niagara River. Ramp available / no stairs.

4/5, 11 am-1 pm - Hands Off Rally, Niagara Square, Buffalo. Rally to protect your favorite causes - Social Security, postal service, climate, women’s rights, voting rights, rule of law, Medicaid, education, and on and on and on. Bus transportation from East Aurora is planned; details/pay at the 4/1 Indivisible meeting - plan for ~$15/person + driver’s tip. [Email your favorite signs to [email protected] to be included in this newsletter.]

4/26, all day - Partnership for the Public Good, Advocacy Summit at Buffalo State University. Free.

5/31, 10 am - NYS Citizens Preparedness Corps, Concord Senior Center. Free. Registration link available in April.

To Do ✅

*New 😷 Medical checkups. Will Brainworm Bob and his merry band of unprofessionals remove the ability to get basic vaccines? There’s a non-zero chance that will happen. Get a printout of your vaccination record and check with your doctor about recommended vaccines, including MMR, based on your age and other risk factors.

*New 🐝 Citizen Scientists, Unite! Download the Inaturalist app on your phone; upload pictures of nature (animals, plants, trees) for identification and help out the environmental community.

📰 Letter to the Editor. Pick a topic, drill down to 1 key message and write your heart out. There are local people who will help zazz up your letter and get it ready for publication. Email [email protected].

📱 5 Calls - Download the app to your phone; enter your ZIP code; follow the prompts to call U.S. Senators and your local Congressional rep. EXTRA CREDIT - ask your local elected officials what the impact of general federal nonsense will have on local projects, and what they are doing to protect your community.

📮 Postcards - Explore the Postcards for Democrats web site and support Democratic candidates in swing states. Organize for Action is local and working on Virginia races. Email [email protected] to get connected with that group.

😊 Meet a Neighbor: How well do you know your neighbors? Start small but make a point to find one new acquaintance in your area this week!

🗳️ Go to a government meeting. These are open to the public and people rarely attend. See your government at work and pay attention to the decisions they’re making.

At a loss for what to do?

Are you sick of hearing “there’s nothing I can do about everything that’s happening”? There’s plenty you can do - big or small, just try to do SOMETHING each day.

  • *New Donate blood

  • Plant a garden or support a local CSA

  • Plant a homemade lawn sign - it doesn’t have to be political - paint a one word message like “Hope", ”Love,” “Peace.”

  • Learn first aid and basic medical skills

  • Participate in local Buy Nothing groups

  • Donate to Little Free Pantries or your local food pantry

  • Maintain little free libraries or start your own

  • Support or join a volunteer fire department

  • Participate in a seed exchange, like the one at Hulbert Library in the Town of Concord

  • Help people with phone calls and forms - like Social Security, health appointments and insurance paperwork

  • Give neighbors rides, assist with basic needs

  • Provide a meal to a struggling family or neighbor - see lasagnalove

  • Offer babysitting or respite care - especially during meetings

  • Teach a skill or coordinate a training - sewing, gardening, cooking, car repair, how to fix a toilet or bike.

  • Green Springville, Grow with Springville, Springville Center for the Arts, the Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail, the Finger Lakes Trail - just a small set of local organizations that would be glad for your support and time.

Misc.

Content welcome: Initially this newsletter was going to be sent weekly. Now it's sending as soon as it feels like there is enough content to let it fly - probably 2x/week. Your contributions are welcome. Email [email protected].

This newsletter will always be free, but if you like what you're reading and can find it in your budget, kick a few bucks to support your local food pantry, an abortion fund, or an elected official who has demonstrated common sense and decency.

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