There's a Project 2029—But It's Maybe a Little Too Nice

The Democrats dropped a long-term fix, bless them. We need a right-now fight.

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In case you haven’t heard, a group of Democrats dropped something big. It might sound familiar: Project 2029. That’s right - kind of like that Project 2025 that’s destroying our country, except it’s written by folks in white hats (or maybe blue, if Dems were a cult).

I have some thoughts about it, but let’s start with what Project 2029 actually is—because it’s not all bad.

Who released it?

Project 2029 was rolled out by a coalition of Democratic policy wonks, former Obama staffers, civic reform orgs, and a smattering of idealistic state-level activists. The website (project2029.me) outlines a thoughtful set of priorities: money out of politics, voting rights as a constitutional guarantee, ending presidential immunity, and civic education as a national priority.

What they got right

To their credit, the creators of Project 2029 understand that the status quo is broken. They acknowledge the danger of Supreme Court overreach, disinformation, gerrymandering, and the collapse of public trust. Their SIMPLE framework—Storytelling, Issue-based activism, Media amplification, Policy reform, Local chapters, and Evaluation metrics—is fine as a civic engagement tool.

What they got dangerously wrong

For starters, and maybe I’m being petty here, but it emphasizes the word kind. Right at the top of their website, it says: We’re building a plan of action for a future that is strong, kind, and focused on human flourishing.

Don’t get me wrong. I like the word kind. I try to be as kind as humanly possible. And gawd, I wish the current administration were more kind. But IMHO, kindness should not be the driving force behind the effort to stop a clown car full of sick and dangerous villains.

And let’s be honest—if this were 2020 or even 2022, Project 2029 might’ve felt like a roadmap. A bit slow? Sure. But methodical, moral, and future-focused.

But it’s not 2020. Or even the first half of 2025. It’s now. And the house isn’t just on fire—it’s halfway collapsed.

I’m not the only one with these concerns. Historian Tad Stoermer called Project 2029 what it is: "a rhetorical gesture." In a series of sharp breakdowns, he points out that the project is built for preservation, not resistance. It assumes that the constitutional system will remain intact long enough to be slowly reformed. It assumes that the next administration will even have access to the same legal protections and functioning agencies that we had six months ago. It assumes time we don’t have.

As an example, Stoermer points out several reforms that call on using grants that have already been abolished by the current administration. Before using the grants, they’d have to restore them first, through an act of Congress. Worse, they don’t even mention using emergency powers—the ones Trump is so fond of. Except in this case, they’d be legitimate. Because we are now in an emergency, thanks to Trump’s ineptitude and cruelty. When the Democrats manage to gain control, they have to act fast—which they could do with a declaration of an emergency. They can’t pretend this is business as usual.

And speaking of a time the Democrats take control, let’s took at their ideas election reform. They’re proposing getting rid of the Electoral College. I agree it should go, but in this case, it’s both a noble dream and a logistical fantasy. The Electoral College isn’t just bad policy; it’s constitutional law. Reforming it would require a constitutional amendment, ratified by 38 states. And we’re supposed to believe Alabama, Texas, and Florida are going to vote for less electoral power? And that’s not even supposed to happen until after the Democrats manage a win in 2029? That’s fan fiction, not resistance.

The real emergency is now. Trump is out of control. His administration has diminished or destroyed just about every agency and qualified civil employee in our government. His goons have taken to the streets, arresting workers, parents, and politicians. Journalists and comedians are losing their jobs. His Supreme Court has written him a blank check to do as he pleases. And his mental capacities are slipping in real time. We simply can’t count on the tools we had in 2024 being there in 2026. Or even next month. Let alone by 2029.

Speaking of which—could they have at least called it Project 2026? Or even Project 2027. Come on, it’s pure fantasy to think we have until 2029 to solve this problem.

So yes, Project 2029 has good ideas. Noble ideas, even. But noble ideas are not enough in the face of blatant autocracy. You don’t lecture the arsonist—you evacuate the building and then figure out how to fight back.

Am I glad someone is doing something? Sure, yes. But it’s not enough. We’ll talk another day about other strategies. But for now, I’d suggest you go ahead and join Project 2029—to help steer them in the right direction. Just keep in mind that they need a little less kindness and a little more oomph to be effective.

—Rosie

🔥 What do you think of Project 2029? Does the good outweigh the bad? Drop your thoughts in the comments. 👇

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