The truth is, science is debatable: Why progressives lost ground.
In the wake of major corporations scaling back their DEI initiatives, denial of climate change amidst Los Angeles' catastrophic wildfires, and the ushering in of a new era under Trump, it’s clear we progressives need to face a hard truth: it’s time to come to terms—literally.
The language we are using is limiting our reach to broader audiences and isolating our ability to make effective, wide spread change. We are repelling people who might not fully agree with us but still share a common vision for a better future.
Being in tune with the perspectives from 'the other side,' I’ve seen firsthand how terms like ‘Climate Action,’ ‘DEI,’ and even ‘sustainability’ (as I am learning) trigger unintended backlash. Words meant to inspire action are instead creating walls, shutting down conversations before they can begin. These terms, laden with political and cultural baggage, carry consequences that undermine our efforts to build the broad, active coalitions we need to tackle these pressing challenges.
The truth is, science is debatable. Not in the sense that it’s inaccurate or fact-less but in its literal definition—open to dispute, capable of being debated. And climate deniers, anti-DEI advocates, and those clinging to misinformation are coming armed with their own data, stats, and headlines. If it is our perspective that they are not operating on logic, then why are we trying so hard to communicate with them using our own logic?
Rethinking Our Approach Means Finding Common Ground Beyond the Facts
This isn’t about abandoning facts or silencing science. It’s about strategy. We don’t need data sets to find common ground. We need empathy, compassion, and a willingness to see beyond ideological barriers.
The common ground has already been stated: clean air, clean water, and healthy, thriving communities. “So Important.” We may disagree on the path forward, but those shared values are the foundation. By meeting people where they are—ditching the jargon, and connecting to the basic human desire for a better future—we can shift the momentum and make real progress.
We can adopt language that resonates with a broader audience and anchor our campaigns in it. Clean air, clean water, and healthy communities. This opens up opportunities to build relationships with those we might not always agree with. Then, once we’ve secured a larger audience, we can continue to develop mutual respect and trust with inclusive, face-to-face conversations. Something that standing and shouting from our soapbox has never given us.
From there, we can present our perspectives—not with slogans, catchphrases, and our usual rhetoric, but through personal stories—to move beyond abstract concepts and connect with people on a deeply human level. Sharing how environmental or social policies have shaped our health, communities, and opportunities—or those of our loved ones—makes the stakes real. Storytelling builds bridges (shameless plug for Story Story Night), inviting others to see the world through a new perspective without feeling confronted or judged, while encouraging an expansion of their definitions to include ours. Right now, we’re not giving ourselves the opportunities for our stories to be heard.
(To be honest, why we didn't take this approach on topics sooner rather than later, is beyond me. Our stubbornness has been sowing the seeds of our own demise all along.)
End the Debate, Focus on Survival and Shared Humanity
This approach doesn't require agreement on every point; it simply opens the door for collaboration. Storytelling reminds us that these issues aren't just political—they're personal. And when people connect to the personal, they’re more likely to take action.
Some might argue that changing language is just a cosmetic fix and doesn’t address the underlying systemic issues or delegitimizes the root problem. While language alone isn’t enough to fix these issues, it plays a crucial role in shaping perceptions, fostering empathy, and building coalitions. Changing language can open doors for deeper conversations, which in turn can drive the systemic changes that are needed.
In my humble opinion, this isn’t about winning a debate. It’s about survival, and survival doesn’t care about who’s right or wrong. It cares about whether we all make it through, together. I’d like to see a future where we focus on language that unites us and builds a movement. The rest can come later.
As we wrap this up, here are two takeaways to chew on: 1) Bipartisan efforts that are already making a difference, and 2) Fresh language for our next campaigns (with a touch of humor to lighten the mood). Let’s keep pushing forward, together.
Building on Bipartisan Foundations: Historic and Current Initiatives for Progress
The Great American Outdoors Act is a landmark environmental law signed by President Trump, providing billions in funding for national parks and public lands, addressing deferred maintenance and permanently funding the Land and Water Conservation Fund with $900 million every year.
The First Step Act, signed into law by President Trump, provides criminal justice reform and received broad bipartisan support. It aims to reduce recidivism(a tendency to relapse into a previous condition or mode of criminal behavior) by providing funding for education, vocational training, and rehabilitation programs for incarcerated individuals, while also addressing sentencing reforms to make penalties fairer. It is on the docket to be improved upon by NJ democrat Cory Booker in The Next Step Act.
President Obama signed the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) into law in July 2014, still receiving bipartisan support, and seeks to provide employment training and job placement services to underrepresented populations, including people with disabilities, veterans, and at-risk youth by implementing state advisory councils. Still regularly referenced and updated, the “staffers for the House and Senate education committees have announced that months of negotiations have produced an agreement on legislation to reauthorize [1]” the bill in November 2024.
The Water Resources Development Act, originally introduced in 1974, has been continuously built upon by each administration, including Biden and Trump, to develop vital water infrastructure projects that protect communities from flooding and improve water supply systems. This piece of legislation is often a collaborative effort between Democrats and Republicans, underscoring the shared commitment to addressing infrastructure needs and safeguarding communities.
Trump Said It, We're Just Repeating It for Good Measure
“We want the cleanest air. We want crystal-clean water, and that’s what we’re doing and that’s what we’re working on so hard. [...] In addition to clean air and clean water, that means being good stewards of our public lands; prioritizing cleanup of polluted lands that threaten our most vulnerable citizens, and threaten them very dearly; and implementing pro-growth policies to unlock innovation and new technologies which will improve American life and America’s environment. So important.”
“And I’m sure you’ve all seen, by watching television, by maybe reading about it — it’s a tremendous problem: Thousands and thousands of tons of this debris float onto our shores after it’s dumped into the oceans by other countries. The tides come to us. Usually, that was a good thing, but this isn’t so good. This is a tremendous problem. Thousands and thousands of tons of garbage comes to us.
“You can’t have dirty floors. You can’t have 20 years of leaves and fallen trees. After the first 17 months, they say the tree is like a piece of tinder. You have to be very careful. So you can’t have that. That’s why you have so many fires. [...] When I went to California, they sort of scoffed at me for the first two weeks and maybe three weeks, and not so much — four weeks. And after about five weeks they said, “You know, he’s right. He’s right.””
Read his whole spiel here.
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