It seems like there’s a new domestic political crisis every day. Thanks to social media, it can feel overwhelming to try to stay on top of everything that is happening. But staying informed is the first step to resistance. There are many news outlets and reliable sources of information on Twitter, and there are many people who help digest that news into commentary and analysis. It's always important to remember that, on any social media platform, breaking news can be like a rough draft - it can change and evolve as more details emerge. That said,we have the 10 people or organizations you need to follow to stay up to date.
Mike McFaul
Twitter: @McFaul
A professor at Stanford University, Mike McFaul served under President Obama as U.S. Ambassador to Russia from 2012-2014 and the Special Assistant at the National Security Council from 2009-2012. His Twitter feed is an invaluable source of information and hot-takes on the ongoing investigation of alleged collusion between the Trump administration and Russia, the nature of our sensitive relationship with Russia, and important context on the security threat Russia poses to the U.S.
Suzanne Kelly
Twitter: @SuzanneKelly
Suzanne Kelly is a former CNN intelligence correspondent and the founder of The Cipher Brief. The Cipher Brief provides the facts about everything from terrorism to cybersecurity to the war in Afghanistan, with valuable insights from leading global security experts who work in those fields.
Van Jones
Twitter: @VanJones68
A CNN commentator and author, since the election Van has worked to mobilize Americans to pursue a compassion-based resistance to the Trump administration’s harsh policies on everything from healthcare to the environment. He posts videos on his Facebook page that provide step-by-step actions viewers can take to resist and he hosts The Messy Truth, a news series that attempts to establish dialogue with Trump voters. Van’s analysis of political issues always incudes an empathy-based discussion that is often absent in current political discussions.
Celeste Pewter
Twitter: @celeste_pewter
If you’re on Twitter, chances are you’ve seen the name Celeste Pewter. Since the election, Celeste has played a vital role in helping Americans engage with their representatives to make sure their views are heard. A constituent affairs director for a local elected official, she tweets scripts you can use to contact your representatives on different topics and provides easy to understand guides on how the legislative process works in Washington on each new bill. Celeste had this to say to Teen Vogue readers, “Significant change can happen at every level when someone stands up and says, ‘No, this is not okay.’ One of the best places you can start is at the local level.”
PolitiFact
Twitter: PolitiFact
With our country more divided than ever, people are spreading a lot of false information to fit their own agendas, so it’s more important than ever to make sure what you’re reading and sharing is accurate. PolitiFact is an independent fact-checking website that measures and rates the accuracy of statements by elected officials and other public figures discussing U.S. politics to hold politicians accountable and to keep the public better informed.
Rachel Maddow
Twitter: @maddow
Rachel Maddow has become one of the most trusted journalists covering the Trump administration. She hosts The Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC where she deftly lays out the facts and events that underpin her political analysis on everything, from why Trump fired former FBI director James Comey to Trump’s alleged collusion with Russia. Rachel told her viewers, "Don't pay attention to what they say, focus on what they do," according to a Rolling Stone interview, a view that demonstrates why her political reporting is so sound.
Senator Bob Casey
Twitter: @SenBobCasey
Bob Casey, a Senator from Pennsylvania since 2007, has been a Democrat Party leader on the ongoing health care debate. Both times the Republicans tried to pass new healthcare bills ending the Affordable Care Act, he live-tweeted pictures of each page and explained the damaging impact of each paragraph to minorities, insurance rates, Medicaid, and the economy. With the healthcare issue far from over, Sen. Casey is a must-follow to keep on top of how you and your family could be affected by the administration’s decisions.
Dan Rather
Twitter: @DanRather
Dan Rather is one of the world’s best-known journalists. Having interviewed U.S presidents since Eisenhower, his political analysis of the Trump administration provides important historical context to help readers compare Trump’s actions to previous presidents. His fact-based posts on his Facebook page on topics like Trump’s comments on the terrorist attack in Charlottesville will help you gauge how many of Trump’s policies are unprecedented.
The Southern Poverty Law Center
Twitter: @splcenter
The SPLC is a leading voice as both a civil rights advocacy group and an important source of information on social justice issues, such as immigrant and LGBTQ rights and criminal justice reform. The SPLC’s Intelligence Report monitors and reports on the activities of domestic extremist groups, like neo-Nazis and the KKK.
Your local political representatives
Regardless of their political affiliation, you should follow the social media accounts of your local representatives. Most of your representatives, if not all, maintain social media accounts where they post their positions on policies and list local events they are holding to engage with their constituents. Once you know who your representatives are in Congress, there are tools you can use like Resistbot that make it easy to contact your representatives.
Related: Terrorism's Definition Can Be Applied to the Charlottesville Attack
