Elizabeth Warren: The plan to fight back after the 2024 election

To anyone who feels like their heart has been ripped out of their chest, I feel the same way. I share your fears with anyone who is afraid of what happens next. But what we do next is important, and I need you by my side in this fight.

Given Donald Trump's second presidency, we have two tasks ahead of us. First, try to learn from what happened. And then make a plan.

Many political pundits and DC insiders are already blaming President Joe Biden's economic agenda for Vice President Kamala Harris' loss. This does not stand up to scrutiny. Although the Biden economy produced strong economic growth while curbing inflation, established parties around the world were rejected by voters in the wake of the pandemic. American voters also showed support for Democrats' economic policies, such as approving ballot initiatives to raise the minimum wage in Alaska and ensure paid sick leave in Missouri.

But good economic policy does not erase the painful basic truths of our country. Throughout my career, I have examined how the system is rigged against working-class families. On paper, the US economy is the strongest in the world. But working families struggle with high expenses such as housing, health care and child care costs. Giant corporations receive tax breaks and favorable regulations, while workers are burdened by higher prices. Billionaires pay paltry taxes on their wealth while families cannot afford to buy their first home.

Americans don't want a country where political parties each field their own team of billionaires who then argue over how to divide the government's spoils. Vice President Harris deserves credit for running an inspiring campaign under unprecedented circumstances. But if Democrats want to regain the trust of working people and govern again, we must convince voters that we can and will solve the economy.

What's next? Trump won the election, but more than 67 million people voted for the Democrats, and they don't expect us to roll over and play dead. We will see a peaceful transfer of power, followed by a vigorous challenge from the ousted party, because that is how democracy works. Here is a way forward.

First, fight every battle in Congress.

We won't always win, but we can slow or sometimes limit Trump's destruction. With each battle we can build political power to tighten our control over his government and lay the foundation for future victories. Remember, during Trump's first term, mass mobilization – including some of the largest peaceful protests in world history – was the battery that charged the resistance. There is power in solidarity, and we cannot win if we do not join the fight.

During the Trump years, Congress increased its oversight of his unprecedented corruption and abuse of power. In the Senate, the Democrats gave the radical Trump candidates no quarter; We asked tough questions and held the Senate floor for hours to slow confirmation and expose Republican extremism. These tactics have doomed some nominations entirely, laid the groundwork for other Cabinet officials to later resign in disgrace, and brought scrutiny that has somewhat limited Trump's efforts.

When all this work came together, we won some of the toughest battles. Remember Republican attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act? Democrats lacked the votes to stop the repeal. Nevertheless, we continued to fight. Patients held a tireless rotation of congressional sessions, activists in wheelchairs engaged in civil disobedience, and lawmakers used all sorts of tactics—late-night speeches, forums highlighting patient stories, committee reports, and procedural tactics—to draw attention to guide Republican repeal efforts. This sustained resistance ultimately changed the politics of health care repeal. The final vote was a slam-dunk, but Republicans lost and the ACA survived.

Democrats should also recognize that finding a middle ground with a man who calls immigrants “animals” and says he will “protect” women “whether women like it or not” is unlikely to produce a good outcome. Uniting against Trump's legislative agenda is good politics because it is good politics. It was Democrats' opposition to Trump's tax law that caused Trump's approval ratings to plummet to what were then the lowest levels of his administration, forcing Republicans to drop any mention of the law before the 2018 midterm elections and contributing to one of the largest blue waves of recent history.

Second, fight Trump in court.

Yes, extremist courts, including a Supreme Court stacked with MAGA loyalists, are poised to approve Trump's lawlessness. But litigation can slow Trump down, give us time to prepare and help the vulnerable, and win some victories.

Third, focus on what each of us can do.

I understand my role in the Senate, but we all have a role to play. During the first Trump administration, Democrats vigorously fought every special election and laid the groundwork for retaking the House of Representatives in the 2018 midterm elections, giving Trump strong control and breaking the Republican trifecta. Whether it's running for office, supporting a neighbor's campaign, or getting involved in an organization that takes action, we all must continue to invest in our democracy – even in states that are passed over as “too red.” . The political position we find ourselves in is not permanent, and we have the power to bring about change if we fight for it.

After all, the Democrats currently in office urgently need to work.

While we still hold the reins of the Senate and the White House, we must do everything we can to protect our democracy. To counter Trump's threats to abuse state power against what he calls “the enemy within,” Pentagon leaders should issue a directive reaffirming that the military's oath is to the Constitution. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer must use every minute of the year-end legislative session to confirm federal judges and key regulators — none of whom can be removed by the next president.

To those who are desperate: I understand. But remember that every step toward progress in American history came after the darkness of defeat. Abolitionists, suffragettes, dreamers, and demonstrators for civil rights and marriage equality all faced incredible odds, but they persevered. Now it's our turn to pull up our socks and get back into the fight.

Elizabeth Warren is a US Senator from Massachusetts.

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