a very good day

In the coming days, a Grand Jury of everyday Americans in Manhattan may indict the former MAGA President on bribery and corruption charges dating back to 2016.
 

While we welcome this long overdue step toward holding him to account, we know that the MAGA Republicans that supported, schemed, and covered up for him are still in power today. Our task is to bring their complicity in this criminal conspiracy into view and to connect this one case to the larger pattern of deliberately spreading lies, breaking laws, and fomenting corruption in order to grab and hold onto power. And of course, we must activate public defiance, seek justice for this fascist faction’s crimes and replace them with new leaders who will govern for us.
 

In recent weeks, we’ve tested new messaging around these issues with the purpose of making voters feel agency and urgency, connecting MAGA Republicans’ ongoing attacks on our freedoms to real-life consequences for voters, and increasing demand for leaders who will protect our freedoms. We have adapted these lessons for the present moment that we now face.
 
Please use our recommended message BELOW to shape this moment when indictments are announced.

   As Americans, we deserve leaders who follow the law, act honorably in our interests and govern in our name. A Grand Jury of everyday Americans across race, background and party has indicted the former MAGA President for bribes and corruption, weighing the evidence and deciding he must stand trial. Yet the MAGA Republicans in office trying to take away our freedoms supported, schemed and lied for him, and now want to undermine and overturn our entire legal system to keep covering up for him. They knowingly back this con-man because they want to take away everything from Social Security to our freedom to decide what happens to our own bodies in order to rule for the wealthiest few. It's long past time for every Republican in office to declare they are with the American people in demanding he and his co-conspirators stand trial.

  DO make clear co-conspirators are still in power.
 

DO Rename Trump as “former (MAGA) President" when possible.
 

DON'T speak about Trump alone or shorthand others as “his allies.”
Mentions of Trump’s name leads voters to tune out and ignore our message.
 

DO make clear this is one case (and an element of a broader track record and criminal conspiracy) and one step on the pathway to accountability on behalf of the American people.
 

DON'T discuss the likelihood of success, soundness of this particular case or concerns of future retribution. Conversely, it’s also not helpful to make this one case the be-all when it is only one element of the much broader case against the former President and his MAGA loyalists.
 

DO emphasize that everyday Americans are issuing this indictment: “A Grand Jury of everyday Americans heard and weighed the evidence and decided to indict…”
 

DON'T muddle the conversation and risk confusing voters by also bringing in the complexities of the Department of Justice also conducting investigations.
 

DO go on offense by linking criminal conspiracy to GOP actions across issues, including economic ones.
 

DO expose their motivations – distracting us to seize wealth and take away our freedoms.
 

DON'T obscure stakes by focusing on process or hypocrisy.
 

DON'T call MAGA Republicans’ actions a “political stunt” or motivated by “partisanship.” This dilutes the severity of their actions and reinforces a “both sides are just playing politics” notion among many voters.
 

DO Signal our commitment to the will of the people and freedoms. Talk about the need to vote them out of office.
 

DON'T risk seeming to stoop to their tactics with talk of “power” and “removing them from office.”
 

MAGA Republicans want to turn the worst of our past into our future. No matter what they do next, we must stay consistent, focused, and united in calling out their crimes and protecting our freedoms, our families, and our futures.

 In solidarity,
The Research Collaborative and ASO Communications teams
Research Collaborative, 712 H St NE, Unit #891, Washington, DC