Civil Unrest In The Making: Billionaires, Extremists, And The People’s Resistance

Can the people build solidarity before billionaire extremists destroy democracy?

Note: Unfortunately, today’s podcast episode has been postponed. Sometimes schedules shift but don’t worry. I’m already lining up more conversations and content for you. Stay tuned for next week’s episode, and thanks, as always, for your support!

As the far right continues their temper tantrum over the House rules, it dawned on me that while these fascists continue to assert that they are in the majority of the House, the numbers say otherwise. They’re looking at the picture as though it’s a left vs. right issue, and I’m sure on policy later on, it will be, but so far, the problem has been the oligarch’s lapdogs vs. everyone else.

Looking at the votes for the Speaker’s race and the House rules yesterday, the minority in the House isn’t the 62 Democrats, but the few dozen sycophants paid by the billionaires (especially Tim Dunn) to do their bidding.

Although each is duly elected, these members will never work for the people of Texas. They are each behest to the rich man pulling the strings. These are the problem children who will spend the entire legislative session throwing temper tantrums.

Nate Schatzline (R-HD93) is using a common right-wing tactic of stochastic terrorism and is attempting to incite violence against his Republican co-workers. Dunn has previously given Schatzline $200,000 under his PACs.

Meanwhile, the Tarrant County Republican Party Chairman Bo French seems to hint at actual violence toward the new House Speaker. Dunn once gave French $368,000 (through his PAC).

But as we saw during Trump’s attempted 2021 coup, there are no penalties for Republican politicians who use aggressive rhetoric like this. It’s how MAGA operates. However, it must be understood that the most angry people who use the most violent rhetoric are all on Tim Dunn’s payroll. Perhaps that’s what Dunn is paying them to do.

While my initial thought was to refer to them as “Dunn’s Henchment,” some on social media called them “The Dunn Militia.”

Will there be violence?

It should be noted that no specific laws prohibit state legislators from carrying firearms within the State Capitol or during legislative sessions. But I wouldn’t expect the violence to come from the Dunn Militia. Instead, if there is violence, it would most likely come from the True Texas Project people… because those guys are super unhinged.

It’ll only be a short time that Republicans have a focus on each other because when civil unrest arrives, they will unite behind the billionaires and their shared mission to dismantle democracy, crush dissent, and ensure Texas remains a playground for the ultra-wealthy. When that moment comes, the “Dunn Militia” and their allies will likely pivot from attacking their own to targeting anyone who dares challenge their oligarchic agenda.

Civil unrest?

After Trump’s first week in office, I think we all have a general idea of how bad things are about to get. He directed the CDC and FDA to stop all public communication so that bird flu and E. coli outbreaks will be unreported as the deaths stack up.

Of course, we all saw the man who owns Trump, Elon Musk, making a Nazi salute on stage. Soon after, Trump signed an Executive Order overturning the Equal Opportunity Act of 1965 while forcing the federal government to fire workers of color under a DEI purge.

It should be mentioned that the Equal Opportunity Act of 1965 was one of the final pieces of legislation to end Jim Crow. It has been in effect for 60 years.

Those things don’t even include what’s happening regarding immigration. Aside from the ICE raids, the orange one has already ended legal immigration and this morning issued a memo guiding on taking away the legal status of 1.5 million migrants.

Add those things up with the fact that prices for groceries and everyday items are about to skyrocket, and all the ingredients for civil unrest are present. 

Since Trump overturned the Equal Opportunity Act of 1965, many people have legitimately asked, “What’s next?” The 1965 Voting Rights Act? Brown v. Board? How many rights will the American people allow this dictator to take away before they revolt in the streets?

What I’ve been witnessing.

Over the years, I’ve watched countless right-wing extremists cry for civil war and the overthrow of the government. January 6, 2021, wasn’t just a spontaneous event—it was the culmination of years of radicalization and planning. I remember watching it unfold on right-wing live feeds, with some of the same individuals and groups I had warned my readers about after the 2020 election. Back then, I explicitly cautioned about the potential for post-election violence, and seeing it come to fruition was both horrifying and sadly unsurprising.

What is shocking, however, is that some of this same rhetoric is coming from certain left-wing circles. In recent days, I’ve noticed a growing number of people who genuinely believe revolution is necessary, not theoretically but in a real, tangible way. They encourage others to organize with like-minded individuals in their local areas, urging collaboration offline to avoid surveillance or infiltration.

On social media (and I won’t specify the platform), I’ve seen accounts sharing resources on guerrilla revolutionary tactics and strategy. These aren’t fringe accounts with a few followers and they’re gaining traction. I’m hearing murmurs about groups like the Brown Berets and Black Panthers becoming part of the conversation again, though it’s unclear how organized or widespread their efforts might be (one week in). Alongside this, there’s a growing push for a general strike, a massive, coordinated work stoppage meant to disrupt the system entirely.

The parallels between the rhetoric I monitored for years on the far right and what I now hear from parts of the left are undeniable. It reflects just how tense and fractured things have become in this country. When people on both ends of the spectrum are calling for revolution, the stakes could not be higher. How far will this go—and will the rest of us be ready for the fallout?

How can you participate in the general strike?

I’ve always been a fan of peaceful civic action, protests, sit-ins, letter-writing campaigns, and organized boycotts that disrupt power systems while remaining nonviolent. One group is trying to organize a mass general strike.

A general strike is a mass collective action in which workers across industries stop working simultaneously to push for systemic change or meet specific demands. It’s a powerful tool of nonviolent resistance that disrupts the economy and forces those in power to address the people’s needs.

Research shows that nonviolent movements can be successful with the active participation of just 3.5% of the population. In the U.S., that’s roughly 11 million people. This number represents the tipping point at which the scale of disruption becomes too significant to ignore.

This organization is encouraging people to commit to a general strike. Once the number reaches 11 million, the strike will occur. As I’m writing this, they’ve already received 125,000+ commitments. (They were at 120,000 yesterday.)

As word spreads about this, more people will sign up. If you’re interested in participating in the general strike, please sign up and share with your networks.

I hope that when civil unrest inevitably comes, it will stay lawful and peaceful.

History has shown that nonviolent movements are the most successful, creating lasting change without the destruction and heartbreak that violence leaves in its wake. However, we must also acknowledge that some may choose a different path. That’s why it’s so important to channel our energy into constructive action and preparation right now.

This is the time to support local mutual aid efforts, ensuring communities have the resources to weather instability. It’s the time to organize within your neighborhoods, build connections, and foster resilience. Partnering with labor unions or advocacy groups that are already laying the groundwork for collective action is also critical.

At the heart of this is the understanding that we must hold each other up, even as the systems around us falter. That’s the power of collective action, not just striking against what’s wrong but building something better in its place.

So, as tensions rise, remember that change doesn’t happen in one explosive moment. It happens when ordinary people come together, refuse to stay silent, and refuse to back down. Whether through protests, strikes, or mutual aid, each of us has a role in shaping what comes next. Let’s make it something we can all be proud of.

• January 28: Senate Finance Committee - Article V

• March 14: The last day Legislators can file bills.

• June 2: The 89th Legislative Session ends.

• Click here to find out what Legislative districts you’re in.

LoneStarLeft is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Follow me on Facebook, TikTok, Threads, YouTube, and Instagram.