We Make The Future Action

A graphic with bold black text on a cream background. It reads: “WE DESERVE THE FREEDOM TO DECIDE WHEN & HOW WE GROW OUR FAMILIES.” The word “FREEDOM” is highlighted in yellow. The Forward TN logo is at the bottom right corner, and decorative starburst shapes are in the corners.

Instagram post from @forwardtennessee. The caption begins: “In America, we value our freedoms — like the freedom to decide when and how we grow our families. Three years ago, Roe v. Wade was overturned by the Supreme Court’s ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. The impact has been devastating, especially in states like Tennessee…” The post goes on to describe how a new federal budget reconciliation bill includes a provision to defund Planned Parenthood and urges people to take action.

Follow-up Instagram caption in the same post thread. The text reads: “Make no mistake: If Congress passes this bill and President Trump signs it into law, it will worsen the already dire abortion access crisis created nearly three years ago by the Dobbs decision…” It also includes a call to action directing people to contact their U.S. Senators and follow @pptnmcares and @tnadvocatesforpp.

We 💖 this graphic and messaging from Forward Tennessee, using RCN and the freedom frame to defend our reproductive freedoms.

Check out the full post here:
www.instagram.com/p/DLSqlMhx9M...

As an intro to our Messaging Monday slides, The text reads “The Freedoms Frame." A stylized pop-art image of a megaphone blasting sound with a burst and an exclamation point is in the center. Bottom text says “Source: We Make the Future Action, ‘Guide to Messaging Our Freedoms’” and “Swipe right” with three arrows.

Black and white photo of a protest with people holding signs that say “We Know Our Worth” and “Let Texas Vote.” Above the photo, bold text reads: “Narrative Tip: Voters across races, ages, and parties consistently rate ‘freedom’ as the most important value they hold as Americans.” Additional text explains that we should contrast how the opposition seeks to take away these freedoms and how we fight to protect them.

Text boxes with two freedom-based issue frames: Immigration: “Our freedom to move,” “give our families a better life,” “be who you want to be, say what you want to say, and go where you want to go,” and “keep our families and communities whole.” Trans and Queer Justice: “Our freedom to be ourselves,” “our children’s freedom to be themselves and pursue their dreams,” and “our freedom to shine bright as our true selves.”

Text boxes with two freedom-based issue frames: Climate: “Our freedom to have safe water to drink and healthy air to breathe,” “breathe easier,” and “leave a better life for our children, grandchildren, and future generations.” Education: “Our freedom to learn” and “our children’s freedom to learn.”

For #MessagingMonday, here are some tips for how to talk about issues that our communities face in this moment, through the frame of protecting our freedoms.

For more messaging advice, check out our ✨newly updated ✨ "Guide to Messaging Our Freedoms": www.wemakethefutureaction.us/resources-do...

✨NEW✨We’re so excited to share our updated “Guide To Messaging Our Freedoms.”

This is our most comprehensive messaging guide yet.

Check out proven approaches to motivate and inspire our audiences to join us in fighting for the future we all deserve: www.wemakethefutureaction.us/resources-do...

Kentucky Gov. @andybeshearky.bsky.social talks about how using academic, elite-sounding words obscures what the real problems are & makes addressing them more difficult.

We should use clear, everyday words, center our shared humanity and present a vision where all of us have the freedom to thrive.

Four WNBA players pictured during warmups wearing black shirts with bold white text that reads ‘Pay Us What You Owe Us.’ The image captures different players at various moments on the court, surrounded by teammates and spectators. The shirts are part of a visible protest for fair compensation.

For #MessagingMonday, we want to highlight these WNBA players who are demanding that they are paid what they are owed.

When we talk about budgets, we should be clear: the wealthy must pay what they owe in taxes.

Check out our "Fund Our Future" toolkit:
www.wemakethefutureaction.us/resources-do...

Graphic with turquoise background and text that reads: “Join We Make the Future Action at the 20th Annual Netroots Nation in New Orleans, August 7–9.” Swipe right for more info.

Alt text: Graphic with logos for Netroots Nation and We Make the Future Action. Text reads: “AMPLIFYing Impact: ‘Freedoms’ Narrative Organizing in the 2024 Election. Thursday, August 7, 3:45 PM – 4:45 PM.” Swipe right for more info.

Alt text: Graphic with logos for Netroots Nation and We Make the Future Action. Text reads: “Using Layering To Build Narrative Power (and Win). Saturday, August 9, 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM.” Swipe right for more info.

Graphic with Netroots Nation and We Make the Future Action logos. Text reads: “Tap our link in bio to get 10% off any ticket level for Netroots Nation 2025.” At the bottom is colorful, playful text that says “LINK IN BIO” with a smiley face in the “O.” Blue background.

We will be at #NN25 in New Orleans!

We hope you’ll join us for the largest annual progressive gathering in the country.

Register now and get 10% off any ticket level: registration.socio.events/e/netroots25...

WNBA stars wear 'Pay Us What You Owe Us' shirts WNBA All-Stars took the court for warmups wearing T-shirts that read "Pay Us What You Owe Us," a reference to the players' biggest gripe during the ongoing CBA negotiations.

We developed and tested ads, presented over & again on this work, tried to shift tax & revenue talk - and had allies who adopted it WIN state level revenue battles in many places. Still "fair share" dominates as defaults tend to do.

Gratified to see this!!!
www.espn.com/wnba/story/_...

Three column chart. Column 1 says "embrace:" "make the rich pay what they owe" etc; column 2 says "replace:" "make the rich pay their fair share"; column 3 explains "owe hints at a broader unmet & overdue responsibility..."

In 2022, we led research with @wmtfaction.bsky.social on talking taxes. I had hunch that "fair share" - as in make corporations/rich pay theirs - fell flat. Fair being in eye of beholder & thus possible justification for flat tax. Sure enough, we found "pay what they owe" tested better.

A graphic titled “Full Narrative.” Text reads: “Most of us would move heaven and earth to provide for our loved ones, whether we’re born here or have made America our home. But MAGA Republicans want to seize even more money and control by [insert specific anti-immigrant attack]; they spread fear and sow division based on our races, backgrounds, or genders so they can hand billionaires and corporations the wealth our work creates.” Followed by: “[Continued on next page]”

Another “Full Narrative” slide. Text reads: “Americans know it’s love that makes a family, families that make vibrant communities and communities that make a prosperous nation. That’s why we are joining together to keep our families whole, make our communities thrive and transform our nation into a place of liberty and justice for all.”

Text reads: “Narrative Tip: Close with a vision for a better future that we will achieve by keeping our communities whole and respecting all families.” An illustration of a large, diverse group of people stands below, including individuals in wheelchairs, wearing cultural clothing, and of varying ages and skin tones.

A “Say This / Instead of This” graphic. Recommended phrases include: – “People who come seeking safety” – “People seeking asylum” – “People with the courage and tenacity to move for a better life” Discouraged phrases include: – “Immigrants” – “Refugees” – “Asylum seekers” – “Victims”

Another “Say This / Instead of This” graphic. Recommended phrases: – “Aspiring citizen(s)” – “New American(s)” – “Blended American families” Discouraged phrases: – “Undocumented workers” – “Mixed status families”

Another “Say This / Instead of This” graphic. Recommended: – “We can create a fair immigration process that respects all families.” – “Let them stay.” – “Keep our families/communities whole.” Discouraged: – “Fix our broken immigration system.” – “End abuse.” – “Stop detention.” – “Stop mass deportations.”

A blue graphic with the We Make the Future Action logo. The heading reads, “Here to Stay: How to Talk About MAGA’s Authoritarian Agenda on Immigration.” A circular graphic in the top right shows a smiling Black family—mother, father, and baby—with the text “Keep families together, protected and safe.” At the bottom: “Messaging Monday” and “Swipe right.”

Text reads: “Narrative Tip: Lead with values, such as freedom, family, and love, naming that they’re shared across races, classes, and backgrounds.” Below the text is an illustration of a smiling family of four: a father, mother, son, and daughter.

Text reads: “Narrative Tip: Name the culprits and their motivations in perpetuating harms and scapegoating new Americans.” Below is a black-and-white photo of wealthy, powerful figures including Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and others in suits.

Text reads: “Narrative Tip: Combat cynicism by highlighting past and recent victories we’ve achieved through collective action and unity.” Below the text is an illustration of three women raising their hands and protest signs. One holds a megaphone.

The MAGA regime is unleashing the military on our families and turning our government into a weapon against our people.

We must stand united and actively resist the forces that seek to divide us.

Check out the full guide from ASO Communications: www.wemakethefutureaction.us/resources-do...

What does the MAGA Murder Bill say about the MAGA regime?

They’re draining our savings, abducting our neighbors, and stealing medicine from seniors to enrich their billionaire backers. Only by joining together will we protect our freedoms, our families, and our futures.

This ⬇️ 👀

Trump Signs Bill to Kick Millions Off Health Care Into Law Donald Trump has signed the so-called “Big Beautiful Bill,” which will cut taxes for the rich at the expense of Medicaid, into law.

The MAGA regime’s Murder Bill will force us to struggle, handing everything we’ve created to care for each other to their billionaire backers. We must #FreeAmerica of this regime.

Native or newcomer, most of us want to see families kept whole & our neighbors treated with dignity.

The MAGA regime is trying to pit us against each other, scapegoating immigrants to further their fascist agenda.

We must come together and fight for liberty and justice for all, no exceptions.

No one:

Republicans & their #BigUglyBill:

We must also stop using the word "immigration" as a catch-all to refer to things that clearly aren't the movement of people into our country for purposes of residency.

For generations, Americans have allowed horrors against Black, Indigenous, immigrant, LGBTQ, disabled people & women to unfold all while making believe these were long past or anecdotal anomalies. "It cannot happen here" is the gateway drug to ensuring it absolutely can and does.

We must call the Florida Fascism Facility what it is: a concentration camp. This is accurate term makes clear how this regime is following the playbook, adapted from Jim Crow, of fascist regimes before it. It contests the anesthetizing fiction that "it couldn't happen here."

Immigrant Americans embody making a way out of none at all: courage, tenacity, family, community. Things we desperately need more of in this country.

Same is true today as ever, people move. It takes courage to pack bags & leave everything but you do it to feed family, get kids into better school, seek better life. America's supposed to be land of the free, home of the brave. Let's make it that way.

Messaging for Solidarity - Race Class Narrative with Anat Shenker-Osorio · Indivisible The opposition regularly uses racial fear as a tool to exploit economic realities and turn people against one another. The Race Class Narrative messaging and analysis help us fight back against these attacks to build solidarity across differences. H

Solidarity in Action with @anatosaurus.bsky.social takes on race class narratives.
Learn why some messaging succeeds while others fall flat so we can be a united opposition!

#Indivisible #MessagingforSolidarity

Register here: www.mobilize.us/indivisible...

This video by @tnimmigrant.bsky.social is a great example of using the RCN when talking about how the MAGA regime is unleashing the military on our families.

This speech is clear about villains and concludes with a bold vision for the future that we will build together.

#MAGAMurderBill is the only apt descriptor for this evil monstrosity that will empower the regime to do away with whomever they deem undesirable.

There's a reason regime is calling it “Alligator Alcatraz" - to imply folks abducted to it are criminals. Conjures obsession with mafia, making sequester cool dictator pastime. Alligator obscures idea human beings will be tortured there. Call it Concentration or Internment Camp.

Florida Fascism Facility

Your race, place and background may keep you out of the bull's eye but with this regime hell bent on destroying anything that doesn't enrich them, eventually the #MAGAMurderRegime tide shall down all in its wake.

Text on a red background reads: “We condemn the violent Trump crackdown in Los Angeles.” A quote from Sulma Arias says: “Every person who values our freedoms must demand an end to these abductions and that all of our community members be returned home.”

Red background with white text: “The Trump regime is abducting parents, students, and neighbors — disappearing people based on race, immigration status, and beliefs.” Below, black text on white strip: “They escalated violence in L.A., using arrests, tear gas, and now the military.”

Red background with large bold text: “We are committed to nonviolence — and committed to resisting this assault.” Below, text says: “The strongest defense? People showing up for each other.” Silhouettes of a crowd march upward.

Red background with bold white text: “We demand: an end to abductions, all detained community members returned, no military violence in our cities.” Below: “This is a regime of bullies for billionaires. Together can we protect our families and our future.”

CHECK IT OUT: @pplsaction.bsky.social posted a powerful set of social media graphics in response to Trump’s attack on Los Angeles. We like how they:

✅ Lead with freedom as a value.
✅ Explicitly name the Trump regime as the villain.
✅ Uplift how collective action can resist this assault.

A protester holds a handmade sign that reads: “THEY BLAME IMMIGRANTS SO YOU WON’T BLAME BILLIONAIRES.” The sign includes cartoon drawings of a rich man in a suit, a red-faced figure resembling Trump, and large green money bags. The crowd in the background holds additional signs under a clear blue sky.

The MAGA regime points fingers at people moving for a better life so we don’t see how their billionaire backers steal the wealth our work creates.

Whatever our race, background, or faith, we must build a future where we’re all free to care for our families.

📷 @popdemocaction.bsky.social

Pride is for everyone — whether we were born here or made a home here, whether we're transgender or not, and no matter who we love. 🌈

We all deserve the freedom to live fully, love openly, and be our authentic selves — no exceptions.