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| Diane, As president, I was often inspired by a quote from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: "The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice." The line is well-known for a reason: it's a north star for all of us who are committed to the pursuit of progress. But people sometimes forget the first part: "The arc of the moral universe is long" — so long that sometimes you can't see it bend. Sometimes it zigs. Sometimes it zags. There are periods of progress followed by times of reversal. But while victories don't come easily, it's also true that setbacks aren't final – so long as we don't let the forces of injustice have the last word. And of course, the arc doesn't bend on its own. As my friend and our former Attorney General Eric Holder likes to say, "It only bends when people like us put our hands on it and pull it toward justice." I tried to bend the arc as president, but the job didn't end when I left the Oval Office. Each of us has a critical role to play as citizens to bend it, too – including you, Diane. That's why Eric and I launched the National Democratic Redistricting Committee in the first place. And with your support, it's leading the fight against gerrymandering so voters can choose their representatives instead of the other way around.
After years of serving as the strategic hub against gerrymandering, the NDRC has helped make sure the latest congressional maps are the fairest in decades. But it's not guaranteed to stay that way. Right now, too many people in power are actively trying to make our democracy less fair — to roll back fair maps and limit voting rights. Just this month, Republicans announced a sudden, mid-decade plan to redraw Texas' already-gerrymandered congressional map — a transparent power grab they publicly say could win them up to five seats in the midterms. That's why the NDRC is keeping up the fight. They're helping elect fair maps champions in the races that have the biggest effect on the state-by-state redistricting process — and key elections are happening this year. They're holding the line against new attempts to consolidate unearned power by manipulating district lines. And they're keeping this issue that touches every other element of our fight for a stronger democracy front and center. In other words, this team is playing the long game. Because that's what it takes to bend the arc of history. Every time you speak out against rising threats to democracy, you're doing your part. And every time you make a grassroots donation, you join forces with friends, neighbors, and fellow supporters across the country who are helping build a more just future. Thank you, Barack Obama
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Saturday, July 12, 2025Autocracy 101
Diane, Did you see President Obama's recent warning? He stated that the U.S. is getting dangerously close to a Hungarian-style autocracy — and today, we're breaking down what that means. What is autocracy? By definition, an autocracy is a system of government where one person holds absolute power. In contrast to a democracy, where the government is elected by and accountable to the people, an autocracy lacks separation of powers, governmental oversight, and checks and balances. An autocratic ruler is not accountable to the people — and there is no limit on their power. But what does this have to do with gerrymandering? Under an autocracy, elections are neither free nor fair. Under an autocracy, people's voices are stifled. When anti-democracy lawmakers draw maps that strip voters of their chance to be fairly represented, it erodes a pillar of our democracy. It creates a situation where politicians choose their voters and not the other way around — unfairly swaying electoral results for years to come. How does the U.S. under Trump compare to Hungary under Viktor Orbán? In Hungary, the Center for American Progress describes Orbán's leadership as a "textbook case of democratic backsliding, characterized by state capture of public institutions; assaults on minority rights, especially migrant, Roma, and LGBTQ rights; aggressive nationalist rhetoric; and attacks on the rule of law." He also rewrote Hungary's constitution to illegally hold on to power. Sound familiar? It's no wonder conservatives and Trump have close ties to Orbán. President Obama's warning should alarm us all. On day one of returning to office, Donald Trump issued a flurry of executive orders that were not only unconstitutional, but a clear overreach of presidential power. He gutted critical government agencies, illegally fired federal workers, appointed countless Trump loyalists, and continues to dismantle key parts of our government without any input from Congress. It's clear: Donald Trump is a clear threat to our democracy as we know it. Right now, our democracy is under threat like never before. And protecting it will require all of us fighting back stronger and harder than ever before. We cannot stand by while Trump takes us down the path of autocracy.
Thanks, Marina Jenkins
All On The Line is the grassroots advocacy campaign supported by the National Redistricting Action Fund. Support our work to end gerrymandering.
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These are emails from my.barackobama.com some of which are from Pres. Obama himself. You now have the inside track on what is being sent to members of the DNC's Organizing for America. Feel free to add your own comments!
