Our Call to Action in response to Trump’s vs Kimmel’s Perspectives

 
 

How to conduct oneself
You can be courteous, or you can be firm, but no threats nor foul language—the call here is for civility. If speaking with a government official, do provide your first name, (last name may be necessary, in some cases for some officials as well as your zip code) and specify the name of the person you wish to direct the issue to.

Context:
Trump stokes hate and division in our country, and during the recent Charlie Kirk memorial he seems to want to deepen the divide that has gripped our country, and apparently by any means possible, not only through his words but also through his actions. This week he gave instruction to our National Guard to quell protesters in Portland using “necessary” and “full force”. Resistors must not take the bait! He is manipulating The Left into responding negatively. Many of us are keenly aware of the importance of messaging, whether discreetly through symbolism, (e.g., red MAGA hats), or directly from a broadcast studio stage, (e.g., Jimmy Kimmel’s re-entry monologue). The manner of delivery and/or, how and what is conveyed can be used as either a weapon to divide or as inspiration towards peace and unity. We need to oppose harmful messages and actions, with truth.

Here is what we want you to tell the media to do:

  • We need them to be responsible in their coverage and bring forth facts!

  • We need them to NOT cherry-pick images that will fit into an untruthful narrative.
    (For example, when the troops first went to LA, broadcast stations kept showing the same images of the same Waymo car burning as if the entire city of LA was under attack by protesters; it was not!)  

  • We need them to check the tone of their reporting and to ask if what they are putting out will create more division or more hatred in the country? And to stop!

  • We need them to stand up to their editors and producers who want to engage in false and inflammatory language and/or speech. Hold them to a higher standard. Be courageous. We are fighting to save our democracy!

Here is how you connect with media outlets:

Since we cannot always rely on national legacy media, such as the New York Times or Washington Post alone, and since local news is of primary importance to our communities, we are providing a resource for local California media sources and also national media sources to help with your outreach.

You can also respond to what the media is doing right or wrong by writing a Letter to the Editor. Don’t know how? Follow this outline from Indivisible National:
How to Write Letters to the Editor that Really Get Attention


California media directories
From the Media and Democracy Project, (be sure to donate to these excellent folks!) Here is a list of California media outlets. We recommend you reach out to outlets near you and include those who cater to Spanish-speaking populations. This directory includes our own San Francisco Standard, Mission Local, 48Hills, and more.
https://www.mediaanddemocracyproject.org/journalism-directory-list/california

From EinPressWire this is their California Media Directory, which includes our local SF GATE, SFist, and a number of other local news sources.
https://www.einpresswire.com/world-media-directory/4/california

For those outside of California
Use the Media and Democracy Project link below to select states outside of California. Be sure to share resources with folks outside of California! 

From Media and Democracy project
https://www.mediaanddemocracyproject.org/journalism-directory
(Scroll to the bottom of the page to find their map which will provide database listings by state.)

From EinPressWire there is this database for outlets outside of California.
https://www.einpresswire.com/world-media-directory/

Here is what we want you to do using ‘internet activism’: 

  • We need your help to quickly address disinformation via your social media platforms. Swat down lies and elevate truth! Hashtags: #Portland and #Oregon 

  • We need you to use the power of your words towards peace; not argument.

  • Be creative in your defense against false information, division and hate.
    Humor and/or ridicule is one method to use. We know Trump hates being laughed at. So let’s get laughing! Look at how effective our governor has been with his memes and how sensitive, or rather angry Trump got from Kimmel’s joke which led to his removal. Or try the approach as in this Reddit post. Create your own memes to share online. Again, use the power of the internet!

  • Push out positive messages to our brothers and sisters in Portland to not take the bait! Hashtags: #Portland and #Oregon 

  • Share this success from the Disney boycott on your Bluesky account:
    https://bsky.app/profile/marisakabas.bsky.social/post/3lzyjg3ulo222

Here is what we want you to do:
Let us begin to understand the power of Rhetoric. As stated in one of our recent issues::
“Much of our losses over the past decade can be traced back to a failure to message to the public and command the public focus. The right wing is always communicating to the public to gain power; when we don’t, the right seizes the opportunity to frame the public consciousness on their terms and thus shift the “Overton window” of acceptable ideas in their direction. In order to start winning again, shift the Overton window back, and rebuild political capital that will translate to the kind of policy and governance we want; we have to learn how to focus the public consciousness via the public discourse—via effective rhetoric that punches through the noise.

Rhetoric is not about who is right; it's about who is convincing.”

Indeed, from the above passage, and with the attention given to past Charlie Kirk statements, we see more clearly his effectiveness in swaying people to his cause; of course laced with “christianity” helped too. However, that aside, the question then becomes how do we start learning to dismantle their power? In case you missed it, we recently touched on rhetoric’s impact on our politics in our August 27, 2025 issue: The Rhetoric Game: A Guide to Messaging and Debate Part 1: The Focus of Rhetoric. (There will be more to come on this subject from the Media Accountability, Balance and Protection group.)

Understand that individually we each have impact, collectively, a sleeping giant is awakened. These are ways, even seemingly small ways where collective action can continue to raise awareness of issues that matter to us; to the country!

Internet activism can be effective. One post; one share can cause a rippling effect; we just saw that with the Disney outcry! It worked!

 

This Week's State-Level Call Scripts

 
Media Comment, Top ActionAnna KrasnerMedia comment, Jimmy Kimmel, Charlie Kirk shooting