Thanks for the push. I need to renew mine. Hope for the best, prepare for the worst. Even if it’s not for voting, if I want to leave this country, I will have a passport to make it possible.
Kelly...absolutely...and good on you for taking it seriously!
That mindset is the whole point: hope for the best, prepare for the worst…and handle the logistics while it’s still easy and boring.
You also nailed the second half too...even if voting rules never tighten another inch, a passport is still FREEDOM of movement in your pocket.
When you want to go...you can go. No scrambling. No delays. No “I should’ve done this sooner.”
Renew it now, get it off your mental stack, and you’ve bought yourself real leverage and peace of mind for the next decade. That's what this newsletter is all about. We don't do "spazoid" fear around here. We treat reality...as reality...and plan for it to the best of our ability. Something far too many people don't do.
I put the renewal date for my new passport in my smartphone's calendar, so I will always remember to renew it 6 months before it expires. It's one less thing I have to rely on my tired old brain to remember!
Thank you, Suzie. I appreciate that. Yes...irresponsible people have taken the concept of privilege and poisoned it to the extent that it backfires and does damage at this point.
I just hadn't heard many people pushing back on the gross misuse of the word...and...I figured I might as well start that conversation.
I got my passport decades ago and renew it no matter if I was planning an overseas trip or not. Now, I’m hoping the Regime doesn’t try to interfere in making it harder to get a passport or renewal by adding more hoops for everyone to jump through.
CC...good on you! I agree...it's going to be interesting to see what hurdles get tossed out there as this moves along. I'm going to be watching closely, for sure.
There are organizations that help indigent persons get passports. Check with the legal aid society in your area. Do an internet search. County court/voter registration offices might point you to resources.
Friends or relatives may be able and willing to pay fees and help with paperwork.
Texas has fee-waiver and paperwork assistance passport programs for people who live on the streets. If the "You're poor? Go f#@k yourself" state does this, I bet your state does, too.
Christine...this is genuinely helpful! Thank you for laying out concrete paths.
Key point you’re getting at is exactly right: start local (Legal Aid, county clerk/passport acceptance offices, voter registration offices) because they often know the real...on-the-ground resources and partner programs people never hear about.
I love the practical mindset here...ASK for help...reduce friction...get someone to walk you through the paperwork. That’s how people actually get across the finish line.
One small add-on for anyone reading: whenever you find a waiver/assistance form or program...double-check it against the current State Department guidance or confirm with your local acceptance facility so you don’t waste time on something outdated.
A suggestion for those who argue that a passport is a privilege: Start a “passport pool” in your neighborhood to raise money from the “more privileged” to pay for passports for the less so.
- ie use that thought to to motivate action to offset the injustice that comes with lack of privilege.
Jack, I renewed mine last summer because something inside of me said it was important. Florida has the real id on its drivers license but was not sure if that was fgoing to be enough. Luckily I still have my birth name as I reclaimed with my divorce years ago. Everything you say is the truth. opting out because it is too complicated, expensive or not necessary is ridiculous. I feel for the women that have to prove their who they are because they took their spouse"s name as was normal years ago. I was curious how that affects those that hyphenated their name to keep their birth name. Hopefully people will listen dn get moving. This is not an overnight event ...it takes time to gather everything and send it off and wait fort to get back. I suspect they will be overwhelmed at the passport office..
Teri, this is exactly the kind of quiet intuition I respect.
You didn’t panic. You listened to the internal signal that said, “Handle this now.” That’s maturity.
And you’re right: REAL ID helps for domestic travel, but it’s not the same as a federally issued proof-of-citizenship document. That distinction matters.
On the name issue: hyphenation is fine...what the State Department cares about is a clean paper trail linking birth name → marriage/divorce documents (if any) → current legal name.
The friction shows up when documents are missing or inconsistent...which is why doing it early is so smart.
And...your bigger point is the one people keep missing: this isn’t overnight. If applications surge...processing slows. That’s just capacity math.
You handled it while it was calm. That’s leverage.
Hi! Hyphenated woman here. I also know a couple of women who completely created new names. They (we) just needed to get our documents updated with Social Security and the Passport office, Not straightforward or easy, but definitely do-able. We all have passports with our correct (new) names now. I, too, updated my passport last year, despite having "Real ID" on my FL license. Just seemed prudent.
I t would be nice if deathsantis would clarify what exactly would qualify for ID for voting. Last I heard the DL with the star was real ID but luckily I also have the passport. Glad you were able to do yours ahead of time.
I deeply respect your directness & no BS approach. It reminds me of myself. I’ve had a passport for 45 years. I wish there was a GoFundMe for helping people get passports that can’t afford to.
Lori...couldn’t agree more. And to take it a step further: if I had a time machine, this would be near the top of the list.
For 20 years...Democratic leadership treated voter ID like a perpetual “that’s not fair” fundraising line...instead of fighting it and SIMULTANEOUSLY building a serious... nationwide “get your papers” infrastructure...so voters could meet the requirement cheaply and easily.
You don’t beat a tightening system by sending people in unprepared. That's negligent behavior.
They dropped the ball. Badly. And the cost gets paid by the people with the least slack.
Creating one for your local community would be an effective form of resistance (as would helping people get the supporting documents they need to apply)!
You might start by contacting the organizations in your area that do voter registration drives. They might have some idea of how to proceed, both with the GoFundMe and with effectively identifying and then reaching out to the community members most likely to need the help.
Worth noting that the 10 year expiration is for adults; kids' passports expire in 5. Suspect that's mostly because kids tend to outgrow their pictures a lot faster than adults do.
It really is a savings and certainly good enough for many people. We still need passports for our travels, but if the day comes when we're grounded, will consider a card. I think you are absolutely correct, we can and MUST work towards not needing them, but if all goes to hell, we need to be prepared NOW.
If you can afford it, the next time you renew your passport get both the book AND the card. The card is wallet-sized, and so easy to carry to polling places and such. But you need the book to travel by air internationally.
A couple of years ago I managed to loose my driver's license in Reagan International Airport between baggage check and the TSA line. I was saved from potential highly "enhanced" security checks because my passport card was still in my wallet. The passport booklet and a recent bank statement (mailed, on paper) were sufficient ID for the local office to replace my driver's license
Thank you for writing this. EVERYONE needs a passport now!
I suggest that those who are applying for their first passport, and those renewing theirs, splurge and get both the book AND the card. The card is easier to carry in your wallet, but you need the book for international air transport. It's best to have both.
I also think that helping those who don't have a passport (and especially those who are low-income or technology-challenged) obtain the necessary supporting documents and helping them file the application, (including helping with the cost if necessary) is an effective and practical form of resistance!
You're welcome. Yes...this is the right kind of “do something.”
Book + card is a smart combo for anyone who can swing it: the card is easy to carry, and the book is what you need for international air travel. Maximum flexibility...minimum future friction.
And...the real resistance point is even better: helping low-income...elderly...or tech-challenged people gather documents...make appointments...complete forms...and even cover costs when needed.
That’s not performative. That’s practical CIVIC strength.
Preparation scales...and...when it becomes communal, it becomes RESILIENCE.
In addition to my earlier comment regarding the required passport photo (simple and inexpensive), be sure to print a copy of it, and photograph it, keeping these in a safe place for your records just in case it is lost.
People underestimate how often small administrative hiccups create outsized delays.
Having a backup copy of the photo...printed and stored securely...is just smart redundancy. It costs almost nothing and can save time if something gets misplaced in transit.
I’d just add one layer for everyone reading: keep copies of everything you submit...photo, application...supporting documents list...tracking numbers.
Not because problems are common… but because when they happen...documentation shortens the fix.
I have a photograph of my driver's license and my passport in a protected folder on my smartphone, and uploaded to a private folder on my photo storage website. You never know when that might come in handy!
That’s exactly what disciplined preparation looks like.
You didn’t wait for headlines. You didn’t wait for friction.
You handled it when it was still boring and straightforward.
Updated yours. Secured your daughter’s first one. That’s not fear...that’s stewardship!
And the line you quoted is the heart of it:
Overkill is regret without remedy.
You eliminated the possibility of standing in a long line later, saying, “We should’ve done this sooner.” That’s what adults do. They reduce future stress in the present.
Well done. Quiet...competent...early action.
That’s how you stay ahead of chaos instead of reacting to it. :)
As Stalin's secretary Bazhanov said, "I regard it as completely unimportant who in the party will vote and how, but it is extremely important who will count the votes and how.”
We know whom will be doing that.
Unfortunately, the passport maneuver will succeed because the goal is disenfranchise poor and non-white voters. That said, it will keep them from voting at all for anyone.
The attack on Democracy started in 2020 with the narrative that "there's something wrong with elections." The billionaire cabal successfully did this with immigration, a non-problem they pulled out of their asses. Once both sides agreed "yes there is a problem we need to fix," the bets were off.
Challenging the integrity of ALL elections erodes what faith remains. We've had only nominal democracy since the founding of this country (history shows as much, particularly the reliance Electoral College to allow minority slave states to have equal power as the populous north, and the more recent gutting of the Voting Rights Act that make sure true representative democracy never happens). Now even that will be ripped away and buried by Bannon's "flood the zone with shit" methodology.
Gore didn't do question election integrity in 2000 when he had just cause. Hillary didn't in 2016 when Trump may well have stolen three states. Trump may also have tried unsuccessfully again in 2020, then successfully in 2024, so this horse may be out of the barn (especially with the monopolistic use of Dominion by 28 states, this company recently acquired by a Trump-supporting billionaire company rebranded Liberty Vote).
Bottom line is Trump's cabal needs to seize the vote in order to rig it. They have to rig it to avoid being held accountable for the blatant criminality, graft, and violence.
Even with massive turnout, these people will refuse to leave office. They have yet to follow the laws at all.
If we want to chance things our job is to determine what real resistance looks like and do this now.
J Hardy...I hear the intensity in this. And...I want to respond to you in a way that’s steady, not reactive.
First...the Bazhanov quote gets used a lot because it captures a fear people have: that systems can be manipulated from the inside. That fear is real in history. But...we have to be disciplined about separating historical authoritarian regimes...from the mechanics of U.S. elections TODAY.
Second...broad claims that elections have already been successfully seized or fully rigged require extremely strong...verifiable evidence. Right now...there isn’t credible proof that U.S. national elections in 2020 or 2024...were systemically overturned through centralized control.
Courts, audits...recounts...and bipartisan certification processes still exist.
Imperfect? Yes. Collapsed? No.
When we move from “there are vulnerabilities” to “the entire system is already captured,” we risk doing the very thing you’re warning about: eroding public trust wholesale.
Now...your larger concern about erosion of democratic norms? That’s more grounded.
• Support journalism that investigates with evidence...not narrative
That’s REAL resistance...in a constitutional system.
Not acceleration. Not assumption of inevitability.
Preparation + participation > despair.
And...I’ll say this clearly: when people start concluding “they’ll never leave office no matter what,” that belief can become self-fulfilling. Democratic systems require continued engagement to function.
The passport piece was NOT about conceding defeat.
It was about removing personal friction...so you can participate cleanly.
If you’re worried about erosion...the most powerful move...is not assuming collapse.
It’s staying organized...informed...and active inside the system while it still functions.
The attack on democracy started in 1776. If we do not treat democracy as a verb, we will not experience it as a noun. I think we need to reframe the word political in this country. If we are awake we are likely doing an act that is political in some sense.
Emma...I like the way you’re thinking about this. The nominalized version isn't working.
Democracy isn’t a possession...it’s a practice. It only exists...to the extent that people actively participate in it. Voting...organizing...speaking up...holding officials accountable...those aren’t side activities. They are the thing.
I agree that we’ve let the word “political” get distorted.
In a functioning democracy, “political” shouldn’t mean partisan warfare. It should mean civic engagement...the daily acts of awareness and responsibility that keep institutions responsive.
If we’re awake...informed...and acting with intention...that’s not extremism. That’s citizenship!
The only silver lining is that requiring proof of citizenship will actually disenfranchise more Republicans than Democrats, as more Democrats than Republicans already have passports. And many rural, elderly, and female-who-changed-name-after marriage Republicans aren't going to have the needed documents to apply for a passport, and may not be able to get them in time to vote in November.
dlnevins...you’re putting your finger on the unsexy truth: when you raise documentation thresholds...the first people hit are often the ones with the LEAST administrative slack...rural...older...lower-travel households...and anyone with name-change complexity.
Passport ownership also tracks hard with GEOGRAPHY (urban/suburban higher, rural lower), which means...the blowback doesn’t neatly stay in one partisan lane.
That’s EXACTLY why I keep hammering the same point in this piece:
This isn’t about predictions. It’s about FRICTION.
If the system suddenly demands “clean proof,” the people who already have the paperwork...glide. Everyone else gets shoved into delays...missing records,and “come back later.”
So...yes...whatever you think the political intent is...the mechanical outcome is the same: People who wait will lose time they don’t have.
That’s why the move is still: handle it EARLY. Quietly. While there’s still capacity.
I agree, but those people need to vote too. We're buying into the left vs right framework that has been shoved down our throats. It's a false narrative. This is about a handful of billionaires who control all the information pipelines feeding everyone lies so we fight one another, not them. It is a class war, not a culture war. The poor outnumber the wealthy by tens of millions to one, and they have reason to be afraid.
They have organized around a single value story: every for us, nothing for you. All their activities comply to that story. We need a similar story, one that turns our warring factions into a cohesive unit. I suggested "their heads on spikes" as an option, but I am open to others.
J Hardy, I’m with you on the core point: Yes...this gets worse when everything is reduced to left vs. right. Without question. Power concentrates...narratives get engineered...and ordinary people get shoved into fighting each other.
But...I’m drawing a hard line on “their heads on spikes.” That isn’t a unifying story... it’s rage language. And rage...is exactly what fractures coalitions and hands ammo to the people you’re trying to beat.
A real value story is simpler and stronger: equal rules...transparent systems...real accountability...and broad participation. That...is how you build a majority that can’t be dismissed or divided.
The passport point is the same: reduce friction so more people can participate ...then organize like adults
I jest. Of course I am not advocating violent revolution. History shows us that when that happens, blood runs in the streets and when things resort the same old shitheels wind up in power again.
Violence is the supreme argument (not meaning that it's the best; only that when it is used, there's no further escalation except worse violence) which is why torture is such a crappy way to get information.
We do need a unifying vision, a simple statement that makes sense to all of us. Beyond that we need plans of action and tiers of involvement. Organized resistance is exactly that: organized.
Oh, I agree with you, but I also think having MAGA do an own goal that hurts its own voters is one painful way to wake at least some of those voters up. They may be OK with "the libs" being disenfranchised, but when they are disenfranchised as a result of legislation their own side was pushing, well, that's entirely different!
I'd just as soon see the situation stay as it is now, as there's no real evidence that we have a problem with non-citizens voting (at least in enough numbers to swing an election) - but if MAGA wants this, I'll be happy to see then standing in the rain going "what the hell?!" while I'm happy and dry under my umbrella. Can't actually PROVE you're a citizen? Too bad, so sad, you can't vote!
And I agree "their heads on spikes" needs to be part of the conversation. We need to make it clear to the electorate that, whatever it takes, there WILL be REAL consequences falling on the Trump Administration officials, the Republicans in Congress who went along with unconstitutional acts of the Trump Administration rather than standing up and fighting them, and on the oligarchs for supporting this crap. Not meaningfully punishing bad behavior by the wealthy and powerful for decades is one reason we're in our current mess.
One of the most useful posts you've ever made, Jack. I've been banging this drum for a long time. Is there a short term cost for obtaining a passport? Yes (and I'd recommend a regular passport, not a passport card). Spread that security out over 10 years, which is the term that passports are valid for, and it comes out to less than $20 / year.
What a bloody hassle 🤬 I'm going to have to go to court for a Legal name change. I haven't used my birth name since college, what a bummer. These so called Republicans can't win Election's since President Eisenhower, without Lying, Cheating and Obstruction‼️ Frustrating and Good to Know information, Jack. TGIF to you and all of your readers, and will reStack ASAP 💯👍
I’m so glad I renewed my passport in January before it expired! Renewing a passport is cheaper than getting a new one. And now I’m good for ten years.
Jack, is there any kind of program where people who can afford to do this can also donate money so people who can’t afford a passport get one anyway? Like a GoFundMe for passports?
Thanks for the push. I need to renew mine. Hope for the best, prepare for the worst. Even if it’s not for voting, if I want to leave this country, I will have a passport to make it possible.
Kelly...absolutely...and good on you for taking it seriously!
That mindset is the whole point: hope for the best, prepare for the worst…and handle the logistics while it’s still easy and boring.
You also nailed the second half too...even if voting rules never tighten another inch, a passport is still FREEDOM of movement in your pocket.
When you want to go...you can go. No scrambling. No delays. No “I should’ve done this sooner.”
Renew it now, get it off your mental stack, and you’ve bought yourself real leverage and peace of mind for the next decade. That's what this newsletter is all about. We don't do "spazoid" fear around here. We treat reality...as reality...and plan for it to the best of our ability. Something far too many people don't do.
-Jack
I just checked the expiration date on my passport… I’m good.👍🏻
And thank you, Jack for the clear straight talk…clear-eyed, focused, and calm.
I appreciate it.
Cj
CJ Blair...you are most welcome! I'm so glad to hear that you've long ago taken those steps.
-Jack
I put the renewal date for my new passport in my smartphone's calendar, so I will always remember to renew it 6 months before it expires. It's one less thing I have to rely on my tired old brain to remember!
Jack, this whole message is great. Thanks. Your comments on privilege are really important.
Thank you, Suzie. I appreciate that. Yes...irresponsible people have taken the concept of privilege and poisoned it to the extent that it backfires and does damage at this point.
I just hadn't heard many people pushing back on the gross misuse of the word...and...I figured I might as well start that conversation.
-Jack
I got my passport decades ago and renew it no matter if I was planning an overseas trip or not. Now, I’m hoping the Regime doesn’t try to interfere in making it harder to get a passport or renewal by adding more hoops for everyone to jump through.
CC...good on you! I agree...it's going to be interesting to see what hurdles get tossed out there as this moves along. I'm going to be watching closely, for sure.
-Jack
That's a big reason to apply or renew NOW!
There are organizations that help indigent persons get passports. Check with the legal aid society in your area. Do an internet search. County court/voter registration offices might point you to resources.
There is a federal fee waiver program; the form is at https://www.aila.org/files/o-files/view-file/4C2CBB76-04A3-445D-8309-856217420BFE You must show proof that you are 150% under the poverty line. If you get Medicaid, food benefits or similar federal assistance (does any of that still exist?), you likely qualify.
Friends or relatives may be able and willing to pay fees and help with paperwork.
Texas has fee-waiver and paperwork assistance passport programs for people who live on the streets. If the "You're poor? Go f#@k yourself" state does this, I bet your state does, too.
Good luck.
Christine...this is genuinely helpful! Thank you for laying out concrete paths.
Key point you’re getting at is exactly right: start local (Legal Aid, county clerk/passport acceptance offices, voter registration offices) because they often know the real...on-the-ground resources and partner programs people never hear about.
I love the practical mindset here...ASK for help...reduce friction...get someone to walk you through the paperwork. That’s how people actually get across the finish line.
One small add-on for anyone reading: whenever you find a waiver/assistance form or program...double-check it against the current State Department guidance or confirm with your local acceptance facility so you don’t waste time on something outdated.
Well done, Christine!
-Jack
A suggestion for those who argue that a passport is a privilege: Start a “passport pool” in your neighborhood to raise money from the “more privileged” to pay for passports for the less so.
- ie use that thought to to motivate action to offset the injustice that comes with lack of privilege.
Rock solid suggestion, Peter! Great idea.
-Jack
Jack, I renewed mine last summer because something inside of me said it was important. Florida has the real id on its drivers license but was not sure if that was fgoing to be enough. Luckily I still have my birth name as I reclaimed with my divorce years ago. Everything you say is the truth. opting out because it is too complicated, expensive or not necessary is ridiculous. I feel for the women that have to prove their who they are because they took their spouse"s name as was normal years ago. I was curious how that affects those that hyphenated their name to keep their birth name. Hopefully people will listen dn get moving. This is not an overnight event ...it takes time to gather everything and send it off and wait fort to get back. I suspect they will be overwhelmed at the passport office..
#HOLDFAST
Teri
Teri, this is exactly the kind of quiet intuition I respect.
You didn’t panic. You listened to the internal signal that said, “Handle this now.” That’s maturity.
And you’re right: REAL ID helps for domestic travel, but it’s not the same as a federally issued proof-of-citizenship document. That distinction matters.
On the name issue: hyphenation is fine...what the State Department cares about is a clean paper trail linking birth name → marriage/divorce documents (if any) → current legal name.
The friction shows up when documents are missing or inconsistent...which is why doing it early is so smart.
And...your bigger point is the one people keep missing: this isn’t overnight. If applications surge...processing slows. That’s just capacity math.
You handled it while it was calm. That’s leverage.
#HOLDFAST
-Jack
Thanks
Hi! Hyphenated woman here. I also know a couple of women who completely created new names. They (we) just needed to get our documents updated with Social Security and the Passport office, Not straightforward or easy, but definitely do-able. We all have passports with our correct (new) names now. I, too, updated my passport last year, despite having "Real ID" on my FL license. Just seemed prudent.
I t would be nice if deathsantis would clarify what exactly would qualify for ID for voting. Last I heard the DL with the star was real ID but luckily I also have the passport. Glad you were able to do yours ahead of time.
I deeply respect your directness & no BS approach. It reminds me of myself. I’ve had a passport for 45 years. I wish there was a GoFundMe for helping people get passports that can’t afford to.
Lori...couldn’t agree more. And to take it a step further: if I had a time machine, this would be near the top of the list.
For 20 years...Democratic leadership treated voter ID like a perpetual “that’s not fair” fundraising line...instead of fighting it and SIMULTANEOUSLY building a serious... nationwide “get your papers” infrastructure...so voters could meet the requirement cheaply and easily.
You don’t beat a tightening system by sending people in unprepared. That's negligent behavior.
They dropped the ball. Badly. And the cost gets paid by the people with the least slack.
-Jack
Creating one for your local community would be an effective form of resistance (as would helping people get the supporting documents they need to apply)!
I will have to do some research on it. Don’t have a clue about how to go about it. I’m not tech savvy. Every day is a school day.
You might start by contacting the organizations in your area that do voter registration drives. They might have some idea of how to proceed, both with the GoFundMe and with effectively identifying and then reaching out to the community members most likely to need the help.
Thank you so much for the information. I greatly appreciate it! I’ll check it out.
Lori, I just saw your comment after I posted mine. Yes! A GoFundMe for passports is a timely idea.
I had never heard of a passport card. Have had a passport since the 80s, but getting one for those who do not have one, great idea.
Roberta, since I didn't do this in the article (I should have)....
Here’s the clean breakdown:
Passport BOOK:
Valid for all international travel
Required for air travel outside the U.S.
Accepted worldwide
Larger booklet with visa pages
Costs more
Valid for 10 years (adults)
If you ever plan to fly internationally, you NEED the BOOK.
Passport Card:
Valid only for land and sea travel
Works for entering the U.S. from:
Canada
Mexico
Caribbean
Bermuda
Not valid for international air travel
Wallet-sized
Cheaper than the book
Valid for 10 years (adults)
Bottom Line:
If you want maximum flexibility → Get the passport BOOK.
If you only want proof of citizenship and limited land/sea travel → The passport CARD is a lower-cost option.
If your goal is pure documentation leverage...the card works.
If your goal is full mobility...the book wins.
-Jack
Worth noting that the 10 year expiration is for adults; kids' passports expire in 5. Suspect that's mostly because kids tend to outgrow their pictures a lot faster than adults do.
Great point, Faith!
-Jack
It really is a savings and certainly good enough for many people. We still need passports for our travels, but if the day comes when we're grounded, will consider a card. I think you are absolutely correct, we can and MUST work towards not needing them, but if all goes to hell, we need to be prepared NOW.
I couldn't agree more, Roberta. Your comment reflects and very clear-eyed way of thinking about this. Very much so.
-Jacl
If you can afford it, the next time you renew your passport get both the book AND the card. The card is wallet-sized, and so easy to carry to polling places and such. But you need the book to travel by air internationally.
GREAT advice.
-Jack
Good idea!
A couple of years ago I managed to loose my driver's license in Reagan International Airport between baggage check and the TSA line. I was saved from potential highly "enhanced" security checks because my passport card was still in my wallet. The passport booklet and a recent bank statement (mailed, on paper) were sufficient ID for the local office to replace my driver's license
Thank you for writing this. EVERYONE needs a passport now!
I suggest that those who are applying for their first passport, and those renewing theirs, splurge and get both the book AND the card. The card is easier to carry in your wallet, but you need the book for international air transport. It's best to have both.
I also think that helping those who don't have a passport (and especially those who are low-income or technology-challenged) obtain the necessary supporting documents and helping them file the application, (including helping with the cost if necessary) is an effective and practical form of resistance!
You're welcome. Yes...this is the right kind of “do something.”
Book + card is a smart combo for anyone who can swing it: the card is easy to carry, and the book is what you need for international air travel. Maximum flexibility...minimum future friction.
And...the real resistance point is even better: helping low-income...elderly...or tech-challenged people gather documents...make appointments...complete forms...and even cover costs when needed.
That’s not performative. That’s practical CIVIC strength.
Preparation scales...and...when it becomes communal, it becomes RESILIENCE.
#HOLDFAST
-Jack
In addition to my earlier comment regarding the required passport photo (simple and inexpensive), be sure to print a copy of it, and photograph it, keeping these in a safe place for your records just in case it is lost.
That’s a sharp add, Sara.
People underestimate how often small administrative hiccups create outsized delays.
Having a backup copy of the photo...printed and stored securely...is just smart redundancy. It costs almost nothing and can save time if something gets misplaced in transit.
I’d just add one layer for everyone reading: keep copies of everything you submit...photo, application...supporting documents list...tracking numbers.
Not because problems are common… but because when they happen...documentation shortens the fix.
This is exactly the mindset we’re talking about.
Calm.
Methodical.
Redundant where it counts.
Well done.
#HOLDFAST
-Jack
Excellent call. We had to use photos to get my parents back in around 30 years ago. Very good advice.
I have a photograph of my driver's license and my passport in a protected folder on my smartphone, and uploaded to a private folder on my photo storage website. You never know when that might come in handy!
“…overkill is regret without remedy…”
We got the passports (mine updated and daughters first one) in December 2024 knowing that the proverbial brown stuff was going to hit the fan.
Debby...l love this.
That’s exactly what disciplined preparation looks like.
You didn’t wait for headlines. You didn’t wait for friction.
You handled it when it was still boring and straightforward.
Updated yours. Secured your daughter’s first one. That’s not fear...that’s stewardship!
And the line you quoted is the heart of it:
Overkill is regret without remedy.
You eliminated the possibility of standing in a long line later, saying, “We should’ve done this sooner.” That’s what adults do. They reduce future stress in the present.
Well done. Quiet...competent...early action.
That’s how you stay ahead of chaos instead of reacting to it. :)
-Jack
As Stalin's secretary Bazhanov said, "I regard it as completely unimportant who in the party will vote and how, but it is extremely important who will count the votes and how.”
We know whom will be doing that.
Unfortunately, the passport maneuver will succeed because the goal is disenfranchise poor and non-white voters. That said, it will keep them from voting at all for anyone.
The attack on Democracy started in 2020 with the narrative that "there's something wrong with elections." The billionaire cabal successfully did this with immigration, a non-problem they pulled out of their asses. Once both sides agreed "yes there is a problem we need to fix," the bets were off.
Challenging the integrity of ALL elections erodes what faith remains. We've had only nominal democracy since the founding of this country (history shows as much, particularly the reliance Electoral College to allow minority slave states to have equal power as the populous north, and the more recent gutting of the Voting Rights Act that make sure true representative democracy never happens). Now even that will be ripped away and buried by Bannon's "flood the zone with shit" methodology.
Gore didn't do question election integrity in 2000 when he had just cause. Hillary didn't in 2016 when Trump may well have stolen three states. Trump may also have tried unsuccessfully again in 2020, then successfully in 2024, so this horse may be out of the barn (especially with the monopolistic use of Dominion by 28 states, this company recently acquired by a Trump-supporting billionaire company rebranded Liberty Vote).
Bottom line is Trump's cabal needs to seize the vote in order to rig it. They have to rig it to avoid being held accountable for the blatant criminality, graft, and violence.
Even with massive turnout, these people will refuse to leave office. They have yet to follow the laws at all.
If we want to chance things our job is to determine what real resistance looks like and do this now.
J Hardy...I hear the intensity in this. And...I want to respond to you in a way that’s steady, not reactive.
First...the Bazhanov quote gets used a lot because it captures a fear people have: that systems can be manipulated from the inside. That fear is real in history. But...we have to be disciplined about separating historical authoritarian regimes...from the mechanics of U.S. elections TODAY.
Second...broad claims that elections have already been successfully seized or fully rigged require extremely strong...verifiable evidence. Right now...there isn’t credible proof that U.S. national elections in 2020 or 2024...were systemically overturned through centralized control.
Courts, audits...recounts...and bipartisan certification processes still exist.
Imperfect? Yes. Collapsed? No.
When we move from “there are vulnerabilities” to “the entire system is already captured,” we risk doing the very thing you’re warning about: eroding public trust wholesale.
Now...your larger concern about erosion of democratic norms? That’s more grounded.
There are REAL stress points:
*Polarized narratives about election legitimacy
*Disinformation ecosystems
*Structural debates (Electoral College, VRA rulings, gerrymandering)
*Administrative power fights at the state level
Those are legitimate civic debates. But they’re not proof of total seizure.
Here’s the part I want to anchor:
If you believe democracy is fragile...the answer is not fatalism.
And...it’s not escalation.
It’s disciplined civic action.
What does that actually look like?
• Verify your own documentation and registration
• Support transparent election administration
• Volunteer as a poll worker or observer
• Donate to legal defense funds that litigate voting access cases
• Stay engaged locally...school boards...county commissions...statehouses
• Support journalism that investigates with evidence...not narrative
That’s REAL resistance...in a constitutional system.
Not acceleration. Not assumption of inevitability.
Preparation + participation > despair.
And...I’ll say this clearly: when people start concluding “they’ll never leave office no matter what,” that belief can become self-fulfilling. Democratic systems require continued engagement to function.
The passport piece was NOT about conceding defeat.
It was about removing personal friction...so you can participate cleanly.
If you’re worried about erosion...the most powerful move...is not assuming collapse.
It’s staying organized...informed...and active inside the system while it still functions.
That’s how democracies survive stress cycles.
Calm.
Prepared.
Engaged.
That’s strength...not surrender.
-Jack
The attack on democracy started in 1776. If we do not treat democracy as a verb, we will not experience it as a noun. I think we need to reframe the word political in this country. If we are awake we are likely doing an act that is political in some sense.
Emma...I like the way you’re thinking about this. The nominalized version isn't working.
Democracy isn’t a possession...it’s a practice. It only exists...to the extent that people actively participate in it. Voting...organizing...speaking up...holding officials accountable...those aren’t side activities. They are the thing.
I agree that we’ve let the word “political” get distorted.
In a functioning democracy, “political” shouldn’t mean partisan warfare. It should mean civic engagement...the daily acts of awareness and responsibility that keep institutions responsive.
If we’re awake...informed...and acting with intention...that’s not extremism. That’s citizenship!
-Jack
The only silver lining is that requiring proof of citizenship will actually disenfranchise more Republicans than Democrats, as more Democrats than Republicans already have passports. And many rural, elderly, and female-who-changed-name-after marriage Republicans aren't going to have the needed documents to apply for a passport, and may not be able to get them in time to vote in November.
dlnevins...you’re putting your finger on the unsexy truth: when you raise documentation thresholds...the first people hit are often the ones with the LEAST administrative slack...rural...older...lower-travel households...and anyone with name-change complexity.
Passport ownership also tracks hard with GEOGRAPHY (urban/suburban higher, rural lower), which means...the blowback doesn’t neatly stay in one partisan lane.
That’s EXACTLY why I keep hammering the same point in this piece:
This isn’t about predictions. It’s about FRICTION.
If the system suddenly demands “clean proof,” the people who already have the paperwork...glide. Everyone else gets shoved into delays...missing records,and “come back later.”
So...yes...whatever you think the political intent is...the mechanical outcome is the same: People who wait will lose time they don’t have.
That’s why the move is still: handle it EARLY. Quietly. While there’s still capacity.
-Jack
I agree, but those people need to vote too. We're buying into the left vs right framework that has been shoved down our throats. It's a false narrative. This is about a handful of billionaires who control all the information pipelines feeding everyone lies so we fight one another, not them. It is a class war, not a culture war. The poor outnumber the wealthy by tens of millions to one, and they have reason to be afraid.
They have organized around a single value story: every for us, nothing for you. All their activities comply to that story. We need a similar story, one that turns our warring factions into a cohesive unit. I suggested "their heads on spikes" as an option, but I am open to others.
J Hardy, I’m with you on the core point: Yes...this gets worse when everything is reduced to left vs. right. Without question. Power concentrates...narratives get engineered...and ordinary people get shoved into fighting each other.
But...I’m drawing a hard line on “their heads on spikes.” That isn’t a unifying story... it’s rage language. And rage...is exactly what fractures coalitions and hands ammo to the people you’re trying to beat.
A real value story is simpler and stronger: equal rules...transparent systems...real accountability...and broad participation. That...is how you build a majority that can’t be dismissed or divided.
The passport point is the same: reduce friction so more people can participate ...then organize like adults
-Jack
I jest. Of course I am not advocating violent revolution. History shows us that when that happens, blood runs in the streets and when things resort the same old shitheels wind up in power again.
Violence is the supreme argument (not meaning that it's the best; only that when it is used, there's no further escalation except worse violence) which is why torture is such a crappy way to get information.
We do need a unifying vision, a simple statement that makes sense to all of us. Beyond that we need plans of action and tiers of involvement. Organized resistance is exactly that: organized.
Oh, I agree with you, but I also think having MAGA do an own goal that hurts its own voters is one painful way to wake at least some of those voters up. They may be OK with "the libs" being disenfranchised, but when they are disenfranchised as a result of legislation their own side was pushing, well, that's entirely different!
I'd just as soon see the situation stay as it is now, as there's no real evidence that we have a problem with non-citizens voting (at least in enough numbers to swing an election) - but if MAGA wants this, I'll be happy to see then standing in the rain going "what the hell?!" while I'm happy and dry under my umbrella. Can't actually PROVE you're a citizen? Too bad, so sad, you can't vote!
And I agree "their heads on spikes" needs to be part of the conversation. We need to make it clear to the electorate that, whatever it takes, there WILL be REAL consequences falling on the Trump Administration officials, the Republicans in Congress who went along with unconstitutional acts of the Trump Administration rather than standing up and fighting them, and on the oligarchs for supporting this crap. Not meaningfully punishing bad behavior by the wealthy and powerful for decades is one reason we're in our current mess.
One of the most useful posts you've ever made, Jack. I've been banging this drum for a long time. Is there a short term cost for obtaining a passport? Yes (and I'd recommend a regular passport, not a passport card). Spread that security out over 10 years, which is the term that passports are valid for, and it comes out to less than $20 / year.
R.B. absolutely...and I’m going to elevate this for everyone reading because it’s the kind of “small” step that prevents a big, dumb delay.
A backup of the passport photo is smart. And the broader rule is even smarter:
Keep a complete duplicate file of your ENTIRE submission.
Not because failure is likely.
Because when anything goes sideways, the person with records moves first.
So here’s the clean checklist:
Print an extra copy of the passport photo
Save a digital copy (phone + cloud)
Copy/scan the application you submitted
Copy/scan every supporting document you included
Photograph the envelope before you seal it (optional but helpful)
Save tracking numbers + receipts in one place
Calm, methodical, redundant where it counts.
That’s how you reduce friction before it shows up.
#HOLDFAST
-Jack
Mine doesn’t expire until12/27 but I am considering early renewal
What a bloody hassle 🤬 I'm going to have to go to court for a Legal name change. I haven't used my birth name since college, what a bummer. These so called Republicans can't win Election's since President Eisenhower, without Lying, Cheating and Obstruction‼️ Frustrating and Good to Know information, Jack. TGIF to you and all of your readers, and will reStack ASAP 💯👍
I’m so glad I renewed my passport in January before it expired! Renewing a passport is cheaper than getting a new one. And now I’m good for ten years.
Jack, is there any kind of program where people who can afford to do this can also donate money so people who can’t afford a passport get one anyway? Like a GoFundMe for passports?