Madness. Milestones. Making Good Trouble.
Cope, Connect and Confront it all with COMEDY
Welcome Everyone,
Good Trouble Lives On…..
July 17th, A national day of nonviolent action!
Our freedoms are under attack. Our democracy is being pushed to the brink by white supremacist, oligarchical, authoritarian, and anti-democracy forces that are actively undermining the right to vote for millions. We’ve been here before—and we know what to do - we know how to Make Good Trouble.
On July 17, we honor the anniversary of the passing of civil rights icon John Lewis—not with ceremonies, but with action. Across the country, we will take to the streets and march to demonstrate our non-violent struggle for justice, voting rights and dignity for all.
This is more than a protest—this is a moral reckoning; a fight against voter suppression; a fight against racial division; a fight against Medicare and Medicaid cuts and all other social safety net budget cuts and a fight to protect our Constitutional Freedoms, a continuation for Congressman John Lewis’ legacy and a new front in the freedom struggle; this is a movement for Democracy!
- Barbara Arnwine, Esq - Founder/President
- Daryl Jones, Esq - Board Chair
Transformative Justice Coalition
Note to self: Make plans to attend, invite friends, click & GO! JULY 17TH - FIND YOUR BEST LOCATION - CLICK IMAGE
Bing. Bang. Boom.
Abracadabra.
America has crossed the bridge — straight onto fascism way.
Our authoritarian leader waves his hand, and reality flips:
Black becomes white. White becomes black.
What you see is not what you see.
Welcome to Gaslit America.
An Iran-Israeli war brews.
The orange man, ego-fueled and egged on by Fox News, bites.
Unconstitutional power grabs unfold in plain sight.
We see trucks removing “some kind of stuff.”
Then — no, no, no — there was no removal.
We see photos. Then we don’t.
Listen to the man, chaos be damned.
The site was obliterated. One lies, and other two swear by it.
Then we see movement. Then it’s guarded. Then denied.
No nuclear program — or is there? Or is it just delayed?
We are at peace — or are we?
We glance over our shoulders,
Knowing consequences can strike our troops abroad and our people at home.
Trump declares a new Middle East peace.
But whose peace? And how long will it last?
U.S. intelligence says one thing. Israeli intelligence another.
Facts flicker. Vanish. Reappear.
Like a magician’s sleight of hand.
Gaslight, gaslight, through the land.
We’re just watching, holding our breath for what comes next —
At the behest of a madman who loves to text.
And the truth?
Hiding in plain sight.
Fascism feeds on chaos, confusion, and the fear of might.
Stand up, sit down, FIGHT. FIGHT. FIGHT.
- Judy Kaplan- June 2025
The Disappeared.
No Due Process. No Explanation. Just Gone.
On March 15, 2025, a federal judge ruled that the U.S. government could not remove individuals without due process. Due process is guaranteed to ALL people under the United States Constitution, a bedrock principle of our democracy and the rule of law.
That same day, 238 people were forcibly flown to El Salvador. No hearings. No legal representation. No chance to speak. - THEDISAPPEARED.ORG
Every single day — in the United States of America — people are being disappeared. It is shocking and out of a dystopian playbook, right in our backyard. These are our neighbors, friends, co-workers, employees, local workers or relatives.
In the name of “immigration policy,” under the direction of the current authoritarian regime, human beings are illegally abducted from homes, schools, churches, courthouses, work places and other public spaces.
They are whisked away to unknown locations, often held in barbaric conditions, cut off from their families, denied access to lawyers, and stripped of basic rights.
The perpetrators?
ICE agents — masked, unnamed, and operating outside the bounds of law, employed by our very own HOMELAND SECURITY and being paid with our own tax dollars. Their tactics are brutal. Their targets are vulnerable and without proof of guilt. Not the hardened criminals they SAY they are seeking.
This is not law enforcement.
This is not national security.
This is state-sanctioned terror.
TAKE NOTE. SPREAD THE WORD. CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVES.
202-224-3121
VISIT THE SITE THEDISAPPEARED.ORG AND SEE HOW YOU CAN HELP!
THIS IS NOT OKAY! LET’S NOT BECOME HARDENED TO THE DAILY NEWS.
Cope, Connect and Confront it all with COMEDY
This afternoon I was talking with a friend about the relentless tension so many of us are feeling right now — the political pressure cooker, the disinformation, the whiplash between outrage and numbness. She reminded me that she and her husband make it a nightly ritual to watch (or record) the late-night comedians — Jimmy Kimmel, Seth Meyers, Stephen Colbert, and others. It’s their way of staying informed without falling apart.
Another neighbor told me she’s sworn off social media entirely; the news is just too much. Instead, she finds her sanity and perspective through the satire and sharp wit of these same late-night voices. For them — and for millions of others — laughter is not an escape. It’s a survival tool.
Laughter is always good medicine. We can only take so much stress, shock and outrage before it affects our own personal lives. We need to remain strong and in the best spirit we can during these times.
Actor Diego Luna has been guest hosting for “Jimmy Kimmel Live” and used his last monologue of the week to celebrate comedy and satire as weapons against authoritarian leaders. “Strongmen like to be liked. It really gets under their skin when they are being ridiculed.”
Jon Stewart, Samantha Bee, John Oliver and others have used satire and comedy to call out corruption and dissect policy while offering viewers a way to laugh instead of cry. Laughing together reminds us that we are not alone.
In times of fear or uncertainty, laughing together becomes more than just a coping mechanism — it’s a quiet form of solidarity. It signals: You’re not alone. I see you. I feel this too. Shared laughter builds a bridge between pain and resilience, reminding us that we still belong to a larger, feeling, thinking community.
Hope you enjoy the short clip below. Have a laugh and enjoy!
🎉 Exciting Milestone! 🎉
In just two months, The Red Lipstick Forum has reached 100 subscribers—a growing network of like-minded people committed to resisting the cruel, lawless, authoritarian agenda of the current regime. Bold and unapologetic, educating, amplifying and taking action.
Thank you for standing with us. Your support helps us amplify our message, expand our reach, and build a powerful community of GOOD TROUBLE in this critical moment for democracy.
Let’s keep the momentum going. Looking to amplify and reach 200 new subscribers this month!
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Putting this all together is helpful and entertaining! I love it, as a like minded fan!
You are so articulate and inspiring. I feel that reading your posts is my conscious speaking to me to pay attention, stay vigilant and get involved. Thanks for all the great work you are doing for all of us!