The April Courage Brief published today.
We are especially excited to announce an update to our Research Tracking Database – we now have catalogued 527 articles about institutional betrayal and/or institutional courage published through 2025.
www.institutionalcourage.org/the-courage-...
"Many Americans say it’s time for a change. A year ago, it seemed like a pipe dream to hope that Democrats might retake control of Congress. Now they have a shot at capturing both the House and the Senate."
Resistance persistence; we can do this.
Gift article:
www.nytimes.com/2026/04/22/u...
Enablers seeking sympathy now "allowed Epstein to assault and abuse girls and women with impunity . . They imbued him with legitimacy. . . Without them, hundreds of girls and women would likely be enjoying much different lives."
Alison Dahl Crossley, Bethany J. Nichols, & @adriandaub.bsky.social
So much to lament, yes, but also, as @jesscraven101.bsky.social observes: "[T]here is a parallel universe in which very good people are working very hard to make positive change and succeeding!"
Savor this week's list:
chopwoodcarrywaterdailyactions.substack.com/p/extra-extr...
Enjoy!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVOG...
”This could be a true reflection of his inability to understand and recollect his own statements, or it could be an intentional tactic to deflect responsibility for his words.”
And, if it’s the latter, Harsey said it “would be an example of the first tactic of DARVO. . .”
@sarahharsey.bsky.social
For universities to gain trust from sexual assault victims they will have to change their ways. Get rid of mandatory reporting. Cut out the institutional betrayal. Nurture institutional courage.
(It works: psycnet.apa.org/fulltext/202... )
theconversation.com/students-exp...
Autocrats depend on the apathy and fear of citizens. Autocrats fail when citizens peacefully, persistently push back. (See Orban.)
Resistance persistence, hope, courage work.
"Today, once again, we have every reason to be hopeful, but no reason to be complacent."
-@roberthubbell.skystack.xyz
"Let’s . . .bask in this week’s victories. . . . Buckle up, because there’s a whole lot to celebrate in this week’s list."
@jesscraven101.bsky.social
And this list was created before Orban was defeated. If Hungary can do it, so can we.
chopwoodcarrywaterdailyactions.substack.com/p/extra-extr...
Bad news: the grim facts described in the Sunday editorial by the NYT Editorial Board.
Good news: the NYT, which holds enormous power in defining reality, is *finally* getting real.
We desperately need wise adults in the room. We desperately need institutional courage.
Gift article:
I agree: "Calls for impeachment should be commended." No matter how difficult it would be to make impeachment happen right now, it is the honest, moral action to call for it. I commend the many representatives calling for impeachment.
@jenrubin.bsky.social
www.contrariannews.org/p/undaunted-...
"Fighting Institutional Betrayal: Gender Pay Equity Litigation Against University Employers," a law review article by Nantiya Ruan, provides useful information. It describes my law suit (pp 48-53). I am moved by the final paragraph (p 56).
Full text:
digitalcommons.lib.uconn.edu/cgi/viewcont...
Institutional betrayal harms in two distinct ways: material and psychological. If your government mistreats some people that causes material harm to those people. Because betrayal is so potent, institutional betrayal can ALSO cause psychological harm to both direct victims and other citizens.
Holding the good news in the face of the terrible news is not easy, but it is important.
This week @jesscraven101.bsky.social gives us a powerful list of 60 good-news developments:
chopwoodcarrywaterdailyactions.substack.com/p/extra-extr...
"Joy doesn't betray but sustains activism. And when you face a politics that aspires to make you fearful, alienated and isolated, joy is a fine initial act of insurrection."
@rebeccasolnit.bsky.social
www.meditationsinanemergency.com/eight-millio...
"A federal judge delivered a serious setback to President Donald Trump Tuesday in long-running civil lawsuits seeking to hold him liable for the violence at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021."
Courage.
www.politico.com/news/2026/03...
This interesting essay links the concepts of fictive kinship ("we are family") and institutional betrayal to make sense of how much it can hurt psychologically (not just economically) to be fired without cause (or otherwise mistreated by one's employers).
www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/curi...
"Historically, autocrats often have turned out to be remarkably fragile, while effective mass movements have demonstrated unexpected strength to topple them. "
@jenrubin.bsky.social
Good. Mainstream press:
"The No Kings protests on March 28, 2026 became the largest single‑day demonstration in the United States in more than half a century. . . The third No Kings protests were an unmistakable display of political force that could reverberate in the 2026 midterms and beyond."
"No Kings protests were the biggest yet, with over 8 MILLION Americans . . .including in every single Congressional district in the nation! The protests got real news coverage. . . Including above the fold, front page coverage in the NYT! "
@jesscraven101.bsky.social
See the whole good-news list:
Mark your calendars for May 1, a nationwide general strike. No shopping, no work. Dorothy's ruby slippers: no administration has power without the consent (active OR passive) of the governed. We can demonstrate the power of The People by refusing to consent.
www.commondreams.org/news/no-king...
So much kindness and patriotism on display in the Seattle No Kings Day event yesterday.
So many great signs, music, and costumes. I especially loved this sign: "Make Orwell Fiction Again."
Today is the day! Do it for your country. Do it for your children, grandchildren, family and friends. Do it for world citizens. Do it for yourself; it will feel good to be part of this event - now and for the rest of your life.
www.nbcnews.com/politics/pol...
Every person who can be out on the streets tomorrow who actually gets out there will be helping us protect decency, compassion, equity, science, democracy. Remember the "3.5% Rule"? We have a chance of achieving that with your help. I hope you join me!
www.nokings.org
U.S. District Judge Dena Coggins "ordered the Trump administration to bring back a woman abruptly deported to Mexico last month despite her active protections under the [DACA] program."
Coggins called the deportation a “flagrant violation." She demanded justice.
Courage to celebrate and support.
Reading Scott Dworkin's substack has been one of the ways I have followed successful resistance persistence.
"We don’t do doom here. We bring the receipts, document the wins, and put a spotlight on the people who are fighting back."
@dworkin.bsky.social
open.substack.com/pub/dworkin/...
More good news to celebrate and to reflect upon. The resistance has momentum. Now is the time to lean in. Lets fix this tragic and horrifying mess. Resistance persistence.
www.nytimes.com/2026/03/24/u...
"America does not belong to strongmen, greedy billionaires, or those who rule through fear. It belongs to us, the people."
Being part of No Kings on March 28 matters so very much.
www.nokings.org
Survivors don’t owe anyone their stories. Yet, when women do share, delayed disclosures can be met w/ questions/doubt. Research on #betrayaltrauma + #institutionacourage can help people understand silence + action. @jjfreyd.bsky.social theconversation.com/psychologica...