Democrats told to "get shot" for the anti-Trump resistance

[BumRushDaShow]

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by Omaha Steve (a host of the Latest Breaking News forum).

Source: Axios

11 hours ago


At town halls in their districts and in one-on-one meetings with constituents and activists, Democratic members of Congress are facing a growing thrum of demands to break the rules, fight dirty — and not be afraid to get hurt.

Why it matters: House Democrats told Axios they see a growing anger among their base that has, in some cases, morphed into a disregard for American institutions, political traditions and even the rule of law.

"This idea that we're going to save every norm and that we're not going to play [Republicans'] game ... I don't think that's resonating with voters anymore," said one House Democrat.

Another told Axios that a "sense of fear and despair and anger" among voters "puts us in a different position where ... we can't keep following norms of decorum."

Axios spoke to more than two dozen House Democrats for this story, with many requesting anonymity to offer candid insights about their interactions with constituents and activists

.

Zoom out: For months, Democratic lawmakers have fumed that their base's demands to "fight harder" misunderstand the lack of legislative and investigative power afforded to the minority party in Congress.

"We've got people who are desperately wanting us to do something ... no matter what we say, they want [more]," said Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Ill.), the chair of the center-left New Democrat Coalition, told Axios.

Liberal voters have angrily accosted Democrats at town halls for — in their view — not doing enough to counter President Trump's agenda.

In response, some Democrats have tried to up the ante: Heckling Trump, mounting rogue impeachment attempts, and getting tackled by law enforcement and even indicted in their efforts to scrutinize the president's deportation campaign.

What we're hearing: The grassroots wants more. "Some of them have suggested ... what we really need to do is be willing to get shot" when visiting ICE facilities or federal agencies, a third House Democrat told Axios.

Read more: https://www.axios.com/2025/07/07/democrats-trump-resistance-violence-congress

[Bayard]

1. I think what we're all telling you is to make good trouble

Don't just talk about it.

[SARose]

2. Younger members of Congress?

Term limits?

Retirement at 70?

I don’t expect anyone to “take a bullet.” I do expect Legislators and Senators to do their jobs! Cut out going home every two weeks. How about working 5 days a week instead of 3?

How about actually representing the people who put you there instead of big oil, big insurance and big ag?

I don’t think that’s asking too much, do you?

[sheshe2]

3. Well

I don’t expect anyone to “take a bullet.” I do expect Legislators and Senators to do their jobs!

Not what the article is saying.

"What I have seen is a demand that we get ourselves arrested intentionally or allow ourselves to be victims of violence, and ... a lot of times that's coming from economically very secure white people," said an eighth House Democrat.
"Not only would that be a gift to Donald Trump, not only would it make the job of Republicans in Congress easier if we were all mired in legal troubles ...

And this, your words, do you really think our reps are all working for big oil etc. and not the people?

How about actually representing the people who put you there instead of big oil, big insurance and big ag?

[SARose]

9. In Texas, yes

They do work for big oil, big insurance and big ag.

My Senators are Cruz and Cornyn. Yea!

What we're hearing: The grassroots wants more. "Some of them have suggested ... what we really need to do is be willing to get shot" when visiting ICE facilities or federal agencies, a third House Democrat told Axios.

Nuff said.

[sheshe2]

11. Thank you for clarifying.

Clarifying that you were speaking about Republicans and not Democrats. On this point I agree wholeheartedly, the R's never have and never will work for the people.

I would hope that these few anonymous people on the internet rethink their positions calling for our Reps to be harmed or take a bullet. That will solve nothing and only make our slim margins dwindle.

[Blackjackdavey]

4. This right here:

Sounds like some great insight, "no matter what we say, they want [more]," said Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Ill.)" but poor self awareness. News flash Mr. Schneider, the time for talk is long over. We want more, certainly, ACTION. Get busy.

[Scrivener7]

5. Much as I hate Musk, I am assuming he'll be showing what a party out of power is actually capable of.

[Mz Pip]

7. Could be interesting.

I hope the Trump/Musk feud isn’t over. Musk can still do a lot of damage to Trump if he chooses to.

[milestogo]

6. That's absurd.

[ancianita]

8. Fuck that. Getting shot wouldn't be enough either. It's that "some group" repeat the tapes corporate media have fed

the public over the years about Democrats not doing enough, even when their "doings' have outstripped everything rethugs have ever done. This year is no different.
Now Axios joins other media starved for content, blowing up more piles of the same weak, dishonest bullshit of "Democrats don't do enough" because even media know the old "both sides do it" narrative is self-evidently stupid.

In Congress minority party status gets ignored or shaded or doubted or damned no matter what it does.
At state levels much resistance continues in protests and federal court filings.

Brief Abridged Review of Democrats and Democrat adjacent organizations who've resisted without proportional media coverage:

Blue state governors -- CA's Gavin Newsom, IL Gov. JB Pritzker, CO Gov. Jared Polis, KY Gov Andy Bashear, MA Gov. Maura Healey, NY Gov Kathy Hochul , “Trump proof-ing” their states; beefing up teams of lawyers

Attorneys General -- CA AG Rob Bonta, IL AG Kwame Raoul, CO AG Phil Weiser, MN AG Keith Ellison, NJ AG Matthew Platkin, NY AG Letitia James, OR AG Dan Rayfield, WA AG Nick Brown , leveraged their large staffs to jointly file against the lawlessness of the felon and his cabinet

Organizations -- American Civil Liberties Union, Democracy Forward, EarthJustice, Indivisibles, Marc Elias Group, National Women’s Law Center Action Fund, Planned Parenthood Action Fund and Reproductive Freedom for All,

Democratic Caucuses of the House and Senate -- Senator Chris Van Hollen, Senator Cory Booker, Senator Bernie Sanders, Senator Adam B. Schiff , Reps. Jamie Raskin, Maxwell Frost, Representative Hakeem Jeffries organizing shadow hearings, Senator Brian Schatz of Hawaii put holds on the felon's nominees, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez setting public donation records, red district townhalls, media commentary,

Corporate media want to amplify that it's not enough that Democrats have put their bodies down on the tracks, getting arrested, indicted, tackled.
Now "news" reports on "some people" who say Democrats need getting shot? Fuck that shit.

[Cha]

12. Mahalo, ancianita... Putting this link in my Journal!

[paleotn]

13. Agreed. Average Dems are being played

But, Dem leadership can do more short of getting shot. When the very Republic is on the line, “dirty” is in the eye of the beholder. We need to get in the fucking gutter. Democracy is worth it.

[slightlv]

10. Gee...

misunderstand the lack of legislative and investigative power afforded to the minority party

Never stopped the repuglican party when THEY were the minority!

[paleotn]

15. They play dirty. Our people are "statesmen like"

Past time we got dirty too. Certain Dems use to be feared due to that. We need to be feared again.

[slightlv]

17. What I would give for a modern day LBJ! nt

[LPBBEAR]

14. Do the job we elected them to do.

before we have to.

[ancianita]

16. Undermine and throw shade on your own party, huh? Not too smart.

[LPBBEAR]

18. Not throwing shade at all

that isn't already there.

Some Democrats vote for Trump nominees or vote against their own party. This undermines any group effort to stand against Trump and his fascists. Fetterman for instance. We elect these people in good faith to stand up for us. Some are and good for them and their bravery but some are clearly not. When it reaches the point that our elected representatives aren't adequately standing up for us that's the point Democracy fails and we'll have to step in and do it ourselves to save our Democracy.

Unfortunately we're getting dangerously close to that point.

[Hornedfrog2000]

21. 10 years

For 10 years some of us have been screaming to do something. When will it be smart?

[Clouds Passing]

19. Firefighters fight wildfire with fire, light some fires Democrats!!!!!🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

Get out the hoses and soak the Rs at their own game 👩‍🚒👩🏽‍🚒👩🏿‍🚒

What are you waiting for the whole forest and the house to burn down?

[Omaha Steve]

22. AFTER a review by forum hosts LOCKING

Feature story, not LBN. Can be posted in GD.