Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

babylonsister

(172,365 posts)
Tue Sep 23, 2025, 07:08 AM Tuesday

The Sleeping Giant Is Awakening

http://www.smirkingchimp.com/thread/robert-reich/114969/the-sleeping-giant-is-awakening

The Sleeping Giant Is Awakening
by Robert Reich | September 23, 2025 - 5:36am
— from Robert Reich's Substack

Friends,

snip//

You could almost feel the great sleeping giant of America open an eye and frown, then blink both eyes and sit up and stretch, and then roar “what the hell is going on here?”

snip//

The giant roared again a decade later, after television showed civil rights marchers getting clobbered by white supremacists. Congress passed the Civil Rights Act.

It roared again after tens of thousands of young Americans were killed in the jungles of Vietnam, finally bringing to an end one of the nation’s costliest, deadliest, and stupidest wars.

It roared again at Richard Nixon after Nixon was heard on tape plotting the coverup of Watergate — then being forced to exit the White House by helicopter on his way back to California.

It is starting to roar again now — at the sociopathic occupant of the Oval Office who won’t tolerate criticism, who in one wild week revealed his utter contempt for the freedom of Americans to criticize him, to write or speak negatively about him, even to joke about him.

Maybe I’m being too optimistic, but I’ve seen a lot. I know the signs. The sleeping giant always remains asleep until some venality becomes so noxious, some action so disrespectful of the common good, some brutality so noisy, that he has no choice but to awaken.

And when he does, the good sense of the American people causes him to put an end to whatever it was that awakened him.
64 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
The Sleeping Giant Is Awakening (Original Post) babylonsister Tuesday OP
Get thee to the greatest page malaise Tuesday #1
I most pellucidly agree GreenWave Tuesday #19
Hehehe malaise Tuesday #21
The sleeping giant is now woke. sop Tuesday #2
Nicely played malaise Tuesday #24
I hope this is true. SamKnause Tuesday #3
K&R spanone Tuesday #4
let us hope.... markie Tuesday #5
Who would have guessed that mnhtnbb Tuesday #6
Believe Kimmel was the straw that broke the camel's back. KS Toronado Tuesday #26
His guest tonight is BonnieJW Tuesday #32
Oh boy, this ought to be real FUN KS Toronado Tuesday #34
Might watch, tho I usually don't; PBS and movies preferred. elleng Tuesday #40
Actually Gov. Newsome is a guest on Stephen Colbert tonight. FakeNoose Tuesday #56
Tonights Episode: The Constitution! BidenRocks Tuesday #44
Agree. MorbidButterflyTat Tuesday #53
I'm not buying it Random Boomer Tuesday #37
That was compounded by Trump's own remarks afterward NH Ethylene Tuesday #54
HEAR, HEAR Skittles Wednesday #62
Epstein! Epstein! Epstein! MrWowWow Tuesday #7
Sadly ironic that... Trueblue Texan Tuesday #8
The Oval Oaf of offal. BattleRow Tuesday #60
As I remember it there was always a significant number who remained sound asleep. gordianot Tuesday #9
yes Dyedinthewoolliberal Tuesday #38
Saturday October 18: No Kings! . . . . .nt Bernardo de La Paz Tuesday #10
I still can't fathom why we don't have more frequent protests... johnnyplankton Tuesday #12
You are free to organize locally. . . . nt Bernardo de La Paz Tuesday #13
People in Tucson have been protesting weekly in some locations Attilatheblond Tuesday #20
Greta Thunberg protested MorbidButterflyTat Tuesday #55
I pray this Kimmel incident wakes some people up as to what is happening. Katinfl Tuesday #11
This belongs here malaise Tuesday #14
Together, the American People have HUGE financial power that can crush these corporate cowards. Joinfortmill Tuesday #15
This! Ray Bruns Tuesday #16
Well, you just don't fuck with their TV shows ashredux Tuesday #17
I remember Traildogbob Tuesday #27
The new third rail of American politics is late night tv Blues Heron Tuesday #18
nothing will happen azureblue Tuesday #22
Just as the 'Sinister Six' are doing. (n/t) OldBaldy1701E Tuesday #25
I Wonder What Would Happen Mr.Bee Tuesday #23
"The Sleeping Giant Is Awakening" J_William_Ryan Tuesday #28
All this hell Traildogbob Tuesday #29
I certainly hope this is the case relayerbob Tuesday #30
POS signed an Antifa Act as terrorism act yestersay pioche4 Tuesday #31
I had sticky notes from by the DAV. I did this Captain Zero Tuesday #57
Yup. BumRushDaShow Tuesday #33
I'm hopefully tending to agree that we've hit an inflection point. slightlv Tuesday #35
This is my hope. Martin68 Tuesday #36
I will withhold my optimism, if SCOTUS gives him more power, I can't see a political way out. Bev54 Tuesday #39
We've all felt some rumblings of pushback and resistance building! I, like many, bemoan the slothlike speed liberalla Tuesday #41
Well at least it woke the sleeping giant of Corporate entertainment companies Beringia Tuesday #42
FLUSH HIM LIKE A GOOD BM. TAKE ACTION TODAY. (Indivisible and NoKings) FIGHT BACK WITH FRIENDS usonian Tuesday #43
Wake up America! oasis Tuesday #45
"You can always count on the Americans to do the right thing, after they have exhausted all the other possibilities" Hekate Tuesday #46
Please let this be true. nt PufPuf23 Tuesday #47
God willing Mme. Defarge Tuesday #48
K&R red dog 1 Tuesday #49
I have been witnessing this steadily since Drumpf's inauguration in January. During his first term, I attended a few KitFox Tuesday #50
Same here! BigmanPigman Tuesday #58
Sleeping giant should have awoken about ten months ago. WarGamer Tuesday #51
Fi Fie Fo Fum..... Bayard Tuesday #52
DISNEY / ABC clearly got the message !!!!! Jack Valentino Tuesday #59
I think the sleeping giant has been drugged by billionaires. C Moon Wednesday #61
not much gets past this crew RussBLib Thursday #63
I admire your optimism and I really hope you're right. ecstatic Thursday #64

markie

(23,647 posts)
5. let us hope....
Tue Sep 23, 2025, 07:28 AM
Tuesday
?si=p24swIy-l5PzA5mv

?si=m_r9uj_7CuXbuCcR

?si=sBDJ11mT_b5j7nSZ

(explicit)
?si=CaW19SH4xyCU56h2

?si=I5V-Hqjc_fXfV4xQ


mnhtnbb

(32,872 posts)
6. Who would have guessed that
Tue Sep 23, 2025, 07:35 AM
Tuesday

from all the outrageous actions taken to destroy the government by this Administration in the last eight months, to deny people on the street their liberty, to put armed troops on the streets, to restrict access to health care, that it would be muzzling a late night comedian that would wake the American people to the power they hold to grab the capitalists and wanna be fascists by their money balls and squeeze in order to protect a Constitutional right: the right to free speech? Take note, America.

KS Toronado

(21,382 posts)
26. Believe Kimmel was the straw that broke the camel's back.
Tue Sep 23, 2025, 09:26 AM
Tuesday

Hope on his first show tonight he roasts tsf relentlessly all night and gives everyone a free
bottle of Tylenol.

KS Toronado

(21,382 posts)
34. Oh boy, this ought to be real FUN
Tue Sep 23, 2025, 10:02 AM
Tuesday

Will be the most watched program tonight, hope Gavin brings along some of his anti-rump
messages to show on the big screen. Also hope his "ratings" are through the roof.

FakeNoose

(38,766 posts)
56. Actually Gov. Newsome is a guest on Stephen Colbert tonight.
Tue Sep 23, 2025, 06:49 PM
Tuesday

Jimmy Kimmel has Glen Powell and Sarah MacLachlan tonight.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/103725566

BidenRocks

(2,270 posts)
44. Tonights Episode: The Constitution!
Tue Sep 23, 2025, 01:27 PM
Tuesday

A Quinn Martin Production

Brought to you by 'Fukitall'

Problems with Chump?

Just Fukitall and feel better!

MorbidButterflyTat

(3,714 posts)
53. Agree.
Tue Sep 23, 2025, 04:04 PM
Tuesday

It's been outrage after outrage after outrage. It's an accumulation of crap, not this one thing.

NH Ethylene

(31,216 posts)
54. That was compounded by Trump's own remarks afterward
Tue Sep 23, 2025, 04:05 PM
Tuesday

He's been very explicit: He wants to control what is said about him via muzzling speech.
The sleeping giant woke up, looked around, and noticed the countless atrocities done over the past 8 months. If that scenario is accurate, it will grow exponentially, very quickly.

I fervently hope this is the case.

MrWowWow

(1,377 posts)
7. Epstein! Epstein! Epstein!
Tue Sep 23, 2025, 07:37 AM
Tuesday

Let that be the giant's blaring, nonstop mantra that keeps the pot stirred. No more sleeping on the job! Democracy is neither self-servicing nor a spectator sport! We must all collectively stir the pot or risk ending up in it.

Trueblue Texan

(3,794 posts)
8. Sadly ironic that...
Tue Sep 23, 2025, 07:54 AM
Tuesday

...it took one of the giant's entertainment outlets being threatened to jar it from its coma. I fear a tweak in strategy and everything else is still open game for the monster in the Oval.

gordianot

(15,664 posts)
9. As I remember it there was always a significant number who remained sound asleep.
Tue Sep 23, 2025, 08:00 AM
Tuesday

It takes a good hard kick to wake them up.

johnnyplankton

(568 posts)
12. I still can't fathom why we don't have more frequent protests...
Tue Sep 23, 2025, 08:16 AM
Tuesday

Like we did for BLM. People were out every night for weeks (including me). When is that going to happen?

Hopefully before ICE and DHS continue to become Trump’s private thug army, and get way bigger with all that funding ($150. Billion)

Attilatheblond

(7,335 posts)
20. People in Tucson have been protesting weekly in some locations
Tue Sep 23, 2025, 08:54 AM
Tuesday

Even daily protests at some busy intersections, yes, even in the horrible AZ summer heat.

If you want more protests, ORGANIZE and make it happen.

Katinfl

(516 posts)
11. I pray this Kimmel incident wakes some people up as to what is happening.
Tue Sep 23, 2025, 08:13 AM
Tuesday

We have the power to stop it. We need to use it.

Joinfortmill

(18,994 posts)
15. Together, the American People have HUGE financial power that can crush these corporate cowards.
Tue Sep 23, 2025, 08:26 AM
Tuesday

ashredux

(2,773 posts)
17. Well, you just don't fuck with their TV shows
Tue Sep 23, 2025, 08:35 AM
Tuesday

Apparently, Trump could do all sorts of crazy things, but the last straw was a late night TV comedian that finally did the trick

Traildogbob

(11,902 posts)
27. I remember
Tue Sep 23, 2025, 09:29 AM
Tuesday

My granny back in 50’s and 60’s with her “soaps”. Everybody shut the hell up, get out from in front of the TV cause grandma is watching her STORIES!!
Do so and feel that long Hickory stick from her seat to your leg.

azureblue

(2,567 posts)
22. nothing will happen
Tue Sep 23, 2025, 09:09 AM
Tuesday

until the Republicans who are enabling Trump, are neutered. That has been the issue all along - Trump can't do anything without Repubs backing him. And the DOJ is protecting the Repubs in Congress and Trump.

J_William_Ryan

(3,030 posts)
28. "The Sleeping Giant Is Awakening"
Tue Sep 23, 2025, 09:31 AM
Tuesday

The ‘giant’ needs to stay wake during elections and vote to keep fascists like Nixon, Reagan, Bush, and Trump out of power in the first place.

Traildogbob

(11,902 posts)
29. All this hell
Tue Sep 23, 2025, 09:35 AM
Tuesday

Sits in Mitch The Bitch’s Lap. He packed HIS courts and let Trump get away with impeachable political ending crimes.
He needs it around his neck and name for eternity.
The architect of ending Democracy. At minimum, the puppet to follow the 2025 billionaires orders to implement the whole fucking plan.

pioche4

(174 posts)
31. POS signed an Antifa Act as terrorism act yestersay
Tue Sep 23, 2025, 09:43 AM
Tuesday

They will claim anyone angainst them, their ideas and policies as Antifa…they’ve already done this, now they’ll have the ICE force to monitor it…I fear the sleeping giant has opened its eyes too late. I very much wish that this isn’t the case

Captain Zero

(8,453 posts)
57. I had sticky notes from by the DAV. I did this
Tue Sep 23, 2025, 08:12 PM
Tuesday

The sticky notes are double wide and have a slight border of the stars and stripes across the top. I took one and wrote this on it.

antifa
Headquarters


And put it my apartment door.
I plan on doing more.

BumRushDaShow

(160,747 posts)
33. Yup.
Tue Sep 23, 2025, 09:56 AM
Tuesday

I have dubbed them "the Silent Majority". Those who aren't part of the craven, obnoxious and loud "minority" of somewhere between 25% - 30% of the population, who have had the backing of almost all of the "mainstream media" as their megaphone.

Most people are not "politics junkies" and basically try to go about their daily lives... waving away "the hyperbole" that they hear at every election, that rarely resulted in the end of the world as they know it.

But this time is different, when actual actions have occurred that are starting to impact some of the farthest reaches (and least paying attention) of the population.

slightlv

(6,618 posts)
35. I'm hopefully tending to agree that we've hit an inflection point.
Tue Sep 23, 2025, 10:07 AM
Tuesday

I just hope getting rid of tr and his nazi dominions will also mean the end of P2025. THAT'S the real problem that will continue to haunt us as long as those right wing think tanks survive.

Bev54

(12,908 posts)
39. I will withhold my optimism, if SCOTUS gives him more power, I can't see a political way out.
Tue Sep 23, 2025, 12:10 PM
Tuesday

liberalla

(10,705 posts)
41. We've all felt some rumblings of pushback and resistance building! I, like many, bemoan the slothlike speed
Tue Sep 23, 2025, 12:15 PM
Tuesday

it started as... Finally the momentum is getting going! Yay! Sleeping Giant! It's good to see you! I make really good (strong) coffee in a moka pot --- come by for a 'wake up' mug!

usonian

(20,863 posts)
43. FLUSH HIM LIKE A GOOD BM. TAKE ACTION TODAY. (Indivisible and NoKings) FIGHT BACK WITH FRIENDS
Tue Sep 23, 2025, 12:23 PM
Tuesday
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100220667867



Democracy is busting out all over!



Be there or be Square.

https://www.nokings.org/?SQF_SOURCE=indivisible#map

Why today?

NO KINGS. That's why.


NO KINGS. That's why.


NO BRAINS WHATSOEVER. That's why.

More info from Indivisible.
Latest newsletter
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10114548
Home
https://indivisible.org/

Hekate

(99,594 posts)
46. "You can always count on the Americans to do the right thing, after they have exhausted all the other possibilities"
Tue Sep 23, 2025, 01:40 PM
Tuesday

Apparently this isn’t really from Winston Churchill, and its attribution to him is apocryphal.

Still, the saying has stuck around all this time because it’s just so damn true about us.

Yes, we did exit the disaster that was Vietnam — after over 50K young Americans and countless Vietnamese died there. And so on.

I hope Robert Reich is right, I really do. But this disaster was 40 years in the making, and I fear a long night is ahead before we see daylight again. Keep resisting, keep digging, keep hope alive.

red dog 1

(31,903 posts)
49. K&R
Tue Sep 23, 2025, 02:16 PM
Tuesday

Every day, in different ways, people are expressing their resistance to the Trump Crime Family.

KitFox

(429 posts)
50. I have been witnessing this steadily since Drumpf's inauguration in January. During his first term, I attended a few
Tue Sep 23, 2025, 03:28 PM
Tuesday

large protests: Women’s March, March For Our Lives, Save OBamacare. There were still protests here and there, but it seemed only us same loyal dozen or so would keep showing up. It is the total opposite now. There is something going on every week and the turnouts are always large and sometimes enormous. Besides rallies, there are overpass banner drops in many locations on weekdays and weekends. Different local “Indivisible” groups organize everything and publicize it in multiple formats. Besides big rallies, they organize folks to speak on pertinent policy at city council and town hall meetings. It is energizing to be a part of resisting with so many like minded folks. My pals and I bring our instruments and play music at the protests and people sing along or stop and listen. The variety and creativity on people’s signs is in itself uplifting and encouraging. I could ramble on, but I’ll close with this: At a huge rally, I saw a tiny, frail very elderly lady slowly inching her way along with her walker. On the front of her walker, her sign said: “Sometimes you find courage in unusual places”. So dear DU family, keep on insisting, resisting, and persisting however and whenever you can. Be well! 😊🧡

BigmanPigman

(53,835 posts)
58. Same here!
Tue Sep 23, 2025, 08:12 PM
Tuesday

I attended over 30 protests between 2016 and 2020. Now I am protesting again.

Anger and passion drive me. ANGER IS AN ENERGY (to quote the Sex Pistols).

Jack Valentino

(3,369 posts)
59. DISNEY / ABC clearly got the message !!!!!
Tue Sep 23, 2025, 10:56 PM
Tuesday

This was INDEED a TRIUMPH by the American people over TRUMP FASCISM !!!!

RussBLib

(10,208 posts)
63. not much gets past this crew
Thu Sep 25, 2025, 11:19 PM
Thursday

Usually, when I find a great article, I will do a search to see if it has already been posted here on DU. I'd say 75% of the time, it's been posted. That's impressive.

But it is hard to read everything on this site!

https://russblib.blogspot.com

ecstatic

(34,940 posts)
64. I admire your optimism and I really hope you're right.
Thu Sep 25, 2025, 11:33 PM
Thursday

What I see is more and more dumbasses, which is basically why we're in this situation to begin with.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»The Sleeping Giant Is Awa...