What to Do When Things Feel Bleak 9.23.25 Ally Sammarco Sep 23 Photo by Natalie Pedigo on Unsplash Things feel bad. Very bad. But doomscrolling doesn’t make things any better. If you find yourself wondering how to make a difference when everything feels bleak, here’s the truth: there’s more you can do than you think. I want every Democrat, or just American, to feel like they have power. The power to do something. To make change. Because we do and we can. It’s the most powerful people that want you to feel like you don’t Here’s where I would start. 1. Get involved locally. National politics gets all the airtime, but local politics changes lives. School boards, city councils, and state legislatures are where Republicans have been quietly reshaping policy for years. Show up at a school board meeting. Help register voters at your neighborhood farmers’ market. Volunteer with your local Democratic party. Yes, VOLUNTEER! Knocking on doors and making phone calls is an essential part of mobilizing our voters. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve talked to a voter who has no idea who’s running in an election—or even that there’s an election at all! You could be the difference between an entire neighborhood getting out to vote or staying home. The truth is change doesn’t always come from Washington—in fact, most of the time, it doesn’t. 2. Donate strategically. Not everyone has time to volunteer, but if you have the means, your money matters. $5 or $10 into a down-ballot race could flip a seat. Republicans know the power of funding obscure positions like secretary of state or county election boards. Democrats need to play the same long game. You may wonder: how do I know where to donate? How do I know where my money is going? The truth is: there are a lot of different avenues including PACs and campaigns. In my experience, donating directly to a campaign is the best way to know exactly where your money is going. PACs can do good work, but they are less transparent. Common Sense with Ally Sammarco is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. 3. Use your voice any way you can. Hopelessness thrives in silence and complacency. Write letters to the editor. Call your representatives (yes, this can actually change how they vote). Share information on social media. One tweet won’t change the world—but your willingness to speak up can inspire so many people who are afraid to do so. Now all of a sudden, you’ve mobilized thousands of people with a tweet or a TikTok (the butterfly effect!) 4. Support the organizers doing the work. Grassroots groups are the backbone of progressive causes. They don’t just come flying in for election season; they’re year-round, embedded in our communities. Whether it’s climate groups, reproductive justice organizations, or voting rights coalitions, amplifying their efforts multiplies their impact and is much easier than trying to start from scratch—and solo. Do the research, find groups that mean the most to you, and then go all in on them. The bottom line is feeling bleak is okay. Giving up is not. Democrats can’t afford to sit in despair and give up. That’s exactly what Republicans want. Empower yourself. Empower your community. There are a lot more people out there that agree with you than you realize and they appreciate what you do. And I’m here for you. Xoxo. We got this.