WIN OF THE WEEK: AMERICANS ARE VOTING EARLY
Last weekend, millions of Americans took to the streets for No Kings. The message was clear: protest, then vote. And with less than two weeks until the midterms, voters are doing exactly that.
More than 16 million Americans have already cast their ballots, according to the University of Florida’s Election Lab. In Dallas County, Texas, voters broke an early-voting record. North Carolina is running 37% ahead of 2022, while Georgia has already passed one million ballots.
Democrats and independents are showing up in force, too. In North Carolina, registered Democrats have cast more than twice as many early ballots as Republicans. In Pennsylvania, Democrats account for roughly 68% of returned mail ballots.
Last week’s mission was to turn No Kings energy into votes. The early numbers are encouraging.
BOTTOM LINE UP FRONT: PUT CORRUPTION ON THE BALLOT
For years, conventional political wisdom insisted voters cared about their wallets, not government corruption. Someone might want to tell the voters.
A new Fox News poll found 88% of Americans are extremely or very concerned about government corruption, putting it ahead of inflation, gas prices, and healthcare. CNN found corruption is among voters’ leading concerns, and Reuters reported nearly seven in ten Americans believe Trump’s business interests influence his decisions as president.
Perhaps Americans have figured out why their government keeps working so well for the people running it.
And Trump is doing his part to make the case.
At a rally in North Carolina Tuesday night, Trump told Marines and families harmed by decades of contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune that compensation for their suffering depended on Republicans winning Congress.
“If we don’t win, there’s no money. If we do win, you’re getting it.”
Hundreds of thousands of claims have been filed by veterans and families seeking compensation. Trump turned their suffering into an election pitch.
With just 13 days until Election Day, we’re making sure voters know what’s happening.
This week’s mission: Put Corruption on the Ballot.
FIRST, former Republican Congressman Joe Walsh and Gen Z political commentator Adam Mockler joined us to discuss why corruption is breaking through with voters, including Republicans who are increasingly uncomfortable with Trump’s use of the presidency for personal enrichment.
SECOND, we examined the staggering scale of the corruption surrounding this administration, from the Trump family’s financial windfalls to the corporations pouring money into Trump’s projects while seeking favorable treatment from his government. We also discussed how to reach voters who are fed up with corruption but aren’t convinced either political party will do anything about it.
THIRD, we welcomed producer Dan Lieberman of Storycast to discuss the making of CORRUPTIONLAND, DEFIANCE’s new documentary exposing the people and institutions enabling corruption in Washington.
And today, we gave viewers their first look at the film.
CORRUPTIONLAND examines what happens when the checks and balances meant to protect Americans stop working, and the people entrusted with enforcing accountability become part of the problem.
We’re releasing it for free ahead of the midterms because Americans deserve to know who is profiting from their government.
YOUR MISSION, IF YOU CHOOSE TO ACCEPT IT
As a DEFIANCE.org Member, you’re already refusing to let democracy die on our watch. But if you want to do even more this week, here’s what you can do…
1️⃣ Watch and share the film with friends and family. Join us for the virtual premiere on Monday, October 26, at 8 PM ET. The 35-minute documentary will be available to stream for free beginning Tuesday, October 27. Share it with your friends, family, and anyone who deserves to know where the money is going. Tell them it is streaming free at corruptionland.org.
👉 Watch and share CORRUPTIONLAND
2️⃣ Host a watch party. Bring people together to watch the film and talk about what corruption is costing Americans. At 35 minutes, it’s an easy addition to a weeknight gathering, community meeting, or organizing event.
3️⃣ Bring CORRUPTIONLAND to your community. We’re taking CORRUPTIONLAND on the road, beginning in Portland on October 27 and heading south toward Los Angeles and San Diego by Election Day. We’re looking for local hosts to help organize screenings along the way.
👇 Badge below
🖥️ IF YOU MISSED IT
You can watch the full Weekly Mission Briefing at the top!
As always — stay loud, stay brave, and stay together.
Best,
The DEFIANCE.org Team
THIS WEEK ON THE ANT HILL
THURS, OCT 22 — SHOW US YOUR ANT-ITUDE! — We wanna see your DEFIANCE swag, your original artwork, your unique ways of shouting out your defiance to the world in creative ways. Send your pics to our editor here.
THURS, OCT 22 — DEFIANCE BOOK CLUB — Our current selection is: 1984 by George Orwell. We’ll be discussing chapters 9 & 10 in our Members-only chatroom @ 2:30 pm ET. It’s never too late to join the party! Visit your library or favorite bookstore to pick up a copy.
FRI, OCT 23 — DOGS (AND CATS!) OF THE DEFIANCE — That’s right…even our furry friends are sticking it to the man. Do you have a dog (or a cat or a horse or a rabbit or a ferret…) that would sooner lift their leg on Trump than play fetch? Send us a pic, and they might be featured in a future issue! Because fighting authoritarianism is hard work, a little fun is important too. :)
GROW THE DEFIANCE
DEFIANCE Members are absolutely crushing it, spreading the word about our club for the courageous to their friends. There is strength in numbers, and that’s exactly what defiance requires. Here’s how you can help build our numbers—and get a shoutout on the Daily with Miles and Xander:
Use the buttons provided to share your personal referral link on X, Facebook, or email. Or, copy the link (circled in the example below) to share it via text or other social platforms.
