A rancher, veteran, and corporate titan walk into a bar

The unlikely alliances shaking the pillars of authoritarianism

For much of our nation’s history, we’ve had leaders from each major party — presidents, judges, members of congress — who have embraced their oath to defend the constitution. And while it’s been harder to come by such leaders in the present, something special and unmistakably American has taken root and is growing from the ground up. Americans from all walks of life — including economic sectors and political identities traditionally aligned with the right — are refusing to accept the Administration’s mounting abuses of power.

And as Maria Stephan and Adam Fefer write in their recent piece for Just Security, these are not the usual suspects. These are veterans, business titans, and faith leaders. They represent the “pillars of support” any administration needs to function. When these pillars shake, the machinery of overreach begins to grind to a halt.

The Unlikely Coalition

The narrative that resistance is limited to one side of the aisle is false. The political winds are shifting, and the signals are vivid. Cattle ranchers are openly expressing disapproval of the administration’s plan to import Argentine beef, viewing it as a direct betrayal of campaign promises. In a rare public statement, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops — typically quiet on political mechanics — declared opposition to “indiscriminate mass deportation,” calling for an end to dehumanizing rhetoric.

We see this same resolve in our armed forces. Veterans and military families in Ohio are criticizing National Guard deployments in Democratic-majority cities, labeling them unnecessary and harmful to national security. Members of the Ohio National Guard are even using encrypted group chats to discuss their unwillingness to participate in these politicized deployments.

The Business of Democracy

The corporate world is drawing a line in the sand as well. Market stability relies on the rule of law, and executives are recognizing that authoritarian dynamics threaten the bottom line.

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon recently announced the company would not contribute to White House construction projects to avoid the potential risk of “doing anything that looks like buying favors”. Similarly, Disney shareholders criticized the politically motivated suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, labeling it a potential breach of fiduciary duty. Even in Silicon Valley, Salesforce staff and alumni forced CEO Marc Benioff to retract his call for National Guard deployments in San Francisco.

Binding and Breaking: How Resistance Works

Civil resistance is most effective when it employs an “economy of effort,” utilizing specific skills and resources to pressure the sources of authoritarian support. We are seeing two distinct tactics emerge: “binding” and “breaking”.

• Breaking involves refusing to comply. We saw this when Social Security Administration employees resigned rather than comply with “DOGE” requests for sensitive government records. It appears when airport officials refuse to show politicized Department of Homeland Security videos.

• Binding happens behind closed doors. This is where insiders persuade colleagues to withdraw support from unconstitutional orders. It is less visible than resignation, but it is equally vital for disrupting the chain of command that authoritarianism requires.

The Legal Firewall

This broad-based noncooperation creates a massive opportunity. The administration’s power base is cracking because people view their rights and economic interests as compromised. But individual courage requires institutional support. While a rancher can voice dissent and a CEO can withhold funds, we need a dedicated force to challenge unconstitutional actions in court.

Traditional institutional mechanisms like litigation remain crucial. This is where this movement — with our strategic litigation partner Campaign Legal Center (CLC) — enters the fight. While citizens disrupt the “pillars of support” through noncooperation, CLC fights back in court against the abuses of power. We provide the air cover for these acts of civil bravery.

The history of successful pro-democracy movements (not just in America, but throughout the world) shows that “unlikely allies” are essential. We are building a big tent that welcomes defectors without shame, focused on our shared values of freedom and self-rule.

The American people are doing their part. Let’s do ours.