Joyce Vance: We are in the days of shock & awful, where Trump tries to make people feel so overwhelmed by all the rapid

[highplainsdem]

changes & actions that they quit trying to keep up. Don't give into that. Learn about what you have the bandwidth for. Understand that these are steps being taken to break down democracy.

https://bsky.app/profile/joycewhitevance.bsky.social/post/3lgsmoms4s22h

[Stargazer99]

1. The general public is being manipulated by Trump (brainwashed?) I am sure he has had help from

experts at controlling the public....is this what you want from your president?

[newdeal2]

2. Do "average" people even know what's going on with his decrees?

I don't think it's trickled down at this point, because we haven't seen the consequences quite yet besides the ICE raids. Maybe when there's scarcities at the store and the stock market tanks they'll catch-up.

I think his actions are mainly directed at overwhelming Democratic legislators or aligned groups and the courts right now.

[JI7]

4. Most people aren't really paying attention to anything

or they don't take things seriously unless they are personally affected.

[Stargazer99]

5. You are right until it is too damn late to do anything about it

[hlthe2b]

6. Yes. I peruse DU and at least skim all the news presented to get a sense, click on links for those

that appear most important and if I have time, I quickly scan a couple of online newspapers. Then when walking the pup at dawn for our usual 3 or 4 miles, I listen to select podcasts--sometimes a MSNBC show (Rachel, or Lawrence or Dateline Whitehouse if I missed it) OR if I am too stressed, one of the late-night comedy shows (e.g., Jon Stewart or Colbert--who present the horrific TSF news with appropriate ridicule and some humor)...

But, I just can't watch like I used to so unless listening via TuneIn, I can't--having ended my YOUTUBE TV subscription.

And on our second long walk of the day or when working--music only.

I walk the fine line of being stressed from feeling as though I am inadequately informed versus feeling overly informed/overwhelmed. So, I guess it will be a daily struggle to find balance. What I do know is that the old way of venting with like-minded people just isn't working. They clearly don't want to talk about these issues any more than I do... It just adds to the stress. AND YEAH, for all the best-intentioned "do something" comments or responses, most of us are already/have already been doing what we can. And that our efforts have been largely for naught-- is something that takes a bit of time to accept and push through for recommitted efforts.

[Redleg]

7. And it appears to be working...

I feel it and have tried to immerse myself in my work and spend more time with my loved ones and not talking about politics.