I get more calls from journalists in turbulent political times, generally when there’s interest in figuring out viable political and protest strategies.

In the last week or so, I’ve commented on a consumer boycott announced by a thus far marginal character who started a new organization. That’s on Marketplace https://www.marketplace.org/2025/02/28/peoples-union-usa-economic-blackout-boycott/

The fact that the sketchy People’s Union effort got so much attention pretty clearly shows that many people are interesting in finding a way to fight back against destructive and anti-democratic policies coming from the Trump administration.

Working scientists are also trying to find ways to fight for their work, as noted in a thoughtful article in Nature https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-00661-8, which includes my comments. Scientists haven’t generally done a very good job in advocating for the scientific work of producing knowledge. Maybe this time will be different.

I’d add that there’s a long history of some scientists as individuals and through organized groups, weighing in on the political issues of the moment. Here’s a few:

The Federation of American Scientists, founded in the wake of the first use of nuclear weapons (1945), continues to advocate for arms control and disarmament, as well as a range of other issues.

The Union of Concerned Scientists, founded at MIT in 1969, in no small part to oppose the Vietnam War, has established a consistent presence on the political landscape and engaged a wide range of issues, including nuclear weapons and nuclear power.

Much more recently, Scientist Rebellion, first active in 2021, has worked to get scientists–often in their lab coats–out into the streets to take direct action and exercise political influence on climate in particular.

There are many others.

And Der Spiegel has just published a long interview with me about organizing and effective tactics for political influence. It features a comparison of the protests against Trump I and the prospects for protest against Trump II. I can’t understand my comments in German, but I’m going to assume that they’re filled with insight and wit.

I will write more about all these issues in this space.