“I am mad as hell, and I am not going to take it anymore.” Remember that famous retort from the 1976 movie “Network,” when evening news anchor Howard Beale confronted an onslaught of social ills and global crises?
Fast forward to 2025. We’ve now hit day 40 of the second Trump term, marked by the Trump-Musk dismantling of the federal government. We have never seen anything like this in our lifetime. Yet, there is no massive outpouring of protests—no crowds in the streets chanting, “We are mad as hell.”
Why the slow response from grassroots America? Why do Democratic leaders seem to be lying low, offering only hollow talking points? Earlier this week, Democratic strategist James Carville suggested that Democrats should adopt a “strategic political retreat,” allowing congressional Republicans and the Trump team to push forward their budget cuts and governmental restructuring without interference. Carville argues that after four to six weeks of these drastic changes, the American public will wake up to the consequences—and Republicans will pay the price.
Sorry, James, but that strategy is far too risky. That’s like sitting on the sidelines of a basketball game, letting the opposing team keep scoring, and hoping that once you finally take the floor, you’ll rally. There’s too much at stake to assume this approach will work.
Let’s take a look at the impact of the Trump-Musk agenda on The Overlook Region, which spans New York’s 18th and 19th congressional districts. Nearly 14,000 federal workers live in these districts, employed in agencies ranging from the U.S. Postal Service, Department of Veterans Affairs, Social Security Administration, U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Internal Revenue Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Department of Justice—to name a few.
For perspective: At its peak in the mid-1980s, IBM Kingston employed 7,100 people. IBM left Kingston 30 years ago, but today, the number of federal workers living in our region is double the size of IBM Kingston at its height.
Federal job losses are one part of the equation. Local arts organization receiving federal funds can expect those dollars to dry up—unless you sign an agreement pledging to support all current and future executive orders from the president. If you’re involved in health, science, education, or environmental research, your funding is at risk. Meanwhile, House Republicans’ newly approved budget framework includes deep cuts to Medicaid, which would hit The Overlook Region particularly hard.
The jury is still out on how the public views Trump’s return to power. Recent national polls put his approval ratings between 45% and 52%. A new Harvard/Harris Poll shows Congress at 36% approval, up seven points since October. Polling numbers shift, but at this moment, Democrats are not in a strong position.
I spoke with Assemblymember Sarahana Shrestha, D-Esopus, who voiced frustration over the lack of urgency among national Democratic leaders.
“We sent our Democratic representatives to Washington with the expectation they would fight against Trump. The time to fight is now. This is a red-alert emergency,” she said.
Shrestha praised New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, as well as Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., for actively pushing back against the administration.
If I’m reading the room correctly—and yes, it’s early in the game—the anti-Trump movement is facing an uphill battle. We don’t yet know the full outcome of multiple lawsuits or the long-term effects of dismantling the federal government. As Carville suggests, there could be an awakening, but the clock is ticking.
One grassroots effort making waves today, Feb. 28, is an Economic Blackout led by John Schwarz, founder of The People’s Union USA. The grassroots movement encourages Americans to boycott major retailers like Amazon, Walmart, and fast-food chains for 24 hours, sending a message to Washington about rising costs, the rollback of Divirsity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, and exploitative corporate practices.
Locally, Neal Smoller, owner of Village Apothecary in Woodstock, is a vocal supporter of the blackout. Earlier this month, he announced his store would be closed on Feb. 28 in protest of the administration’s policies.
“The Trump administration is making us less safe and more sick,” Smoller said. “I believe the economy needs to grind to a halt to remind narrowly elected officials who holds the power.”
It’s only day 40, and so much has already unraveled. When we reach 100 days, where will we stand? Where is our nation headed? How will this impact our communities? And, most importantly, how will we respond?
The Overlook wants to hear from you. How do you feel about the president’s actions? How are they impacting your life—positively or negatively?
Scott Widmeyer is co-founder of The Overlook. Send correspondence to scott@theoverlooknews.com.
