Welcome to Gaslit Nation, where the firestorm of corruption meets the firehose of resistance. Terrell Starr of the Black Diplomats Podcast and Substack, recently home from Ukraine–the frontline of showing the world how to stand up and fight, joins Andrea to discuss how good Democrats, and We the People they serve, have a lot of power, if we remain defiant.
Senator Chris Van Hollen provided an urgent reminder of this as he warned El Salvador’s wannabe strongman Nayib Bukele: the U.S. isn’t the only power player in the world, and the international community is watching. This came after Van Hollen was denied access to the Maryland man, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, abducted by Trump’s agents, wrongfully deported, and sent illegally to El Salvador’s notorious gulag. Yet Van Hollen didn't back down. Even with the White House under occupation by a Russian asset, we still wield power.
The energy in the country is shifting. Over 1,500 “Hands Off!” marches just shook the ground in all 50 states, powered by everyone from labor unions to LGBTQ+ activists to veterans' groups. One Southern white man waved a giant American flag with a giant Ukrainian flag at a protest in Virginia, while wearing a MAGA-looking red cap that said: “My Grandpa Killed Nazis.”
Trump’s approval is slipping. The push for impeachment is gaining steam thanks to the grassroots movement CitizensImpeachment.com. And while spineless Republicans like Lisa Murkowski make excuses instead of calling for the impeachment of a lawless would-be dictator, people are waking up. We’re in a fight for accountability, truth, and justice, and we will win. Don’t let disillusionment or complacency stop you from building a world that’s fair, just, and truly livable for everyone.
We’re not just witnessing history. We’re shaping it. So let’s keep pushing. Join a Tesla Takedown protest near you, demand your reps in the House call for impeachment, help good people run for office and primary Do-Nothing Dems, ignore the cynical edge lords, and stay creative and defiant as we shine our collective light.
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Show Notes:
CitizensImpeachment.com – track which members of Congress are calling for impeachment and how to pressure others to join the movement for accountability and justice: https://citizensimpeachment.com/
Terrell Starr's Black Diplomats Podcast and Substack: https://terrellstarr.substack.com/
Sen. Chris Van Hollen says Salvadoran government "tried really hard" to prevent him from seeing Kilmar Abrego Garcia https://www.cbsnews.com/news/chris-van-hollen-interview-kilmar-abrego-garcia-visit/
Opening clip: Senator Chris Van Hollen’s press conference in El Salvador https://x.com/tify330/status/1913040416611455142?t=W4mDUace_uXsVWOdt8de7A&s=19
US paying El Salvador $6M to jail hundreds of Venezuela gang suspects: ‘Pennies on the dollar’ https://nypost.com/2025/03/17/us-news/us-paying-el-salvador-6m-to-jail-venezuela-gang-suspects-pennies-on-the-dollar/
Anti-Trump rallies held across the U.S. to protest administration's policies https://www.cbsnews.com/news/anti-trump-rallies-hands-off-administration-washington-new-york-boston/
Financial Times on Trump trying to stay in powe foreverr: https://x.com/bennpeifert/status/1913040600791945568?t=j0g7J1AFiX9hSKFXDSskbg&s=19
Trump’s illegal kidnapping of peopl and sending them to El Salvador using tax payer money is highly illegal: https://x.com/ReichlinMelnick/status/1912960051326623796?t=AZSVz6PSyCN4TkPbh6vdYg&s=19
FSU student and Parkland survivor describes experiencing second school shooting: "This is America" https://www.cbsnews.com/news/fsu-student-parkland-survivor-school-shooting/
Schiff and Raskin push for accountability: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElEVeJA-byE
Resistance video by the South Korean Activist: https://www.facebook.com/reel/1043733301107315
Stacey Abrams on how is taking your medicine https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ff2LVuUbtMQ
Native Land Pod We Been Outside: Gen Z Responds to Roland Martin https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lm6_C4TQF4U
5051: https://www.fiftyfifty.one/
Is this Gen Z’s Most Dangerous Candidate? (w/ Kat Abughazaleh)”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3daDf_iih5g
EVENTS AT GASLIT NATION:
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April 28 4pm ET – Book club discussion of Octavia Butler’s The Parable of the Sower
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Indiana-based listeners launched a Signal group for others in the state to join, available on Patreon.
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Florida-based listeners are going strong meeting in person. Be sure to join their Signal group, available on Patreon.
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Gaslit Nation Salons take place Mondays 4pm ET over Zoom and the first ~40 minutes are recorded and shared on Patreon.com/Gaslit for our community