For the longest time, Democrats have been acting as if the extraordinary, anti-democracy efforts of the Trump administration are just an extreme form of politics as usual. The thinking seems to be that Democrats will be the grown-ups in the room, while the toddler-in-chief rampages. After all, someone has to uphold the norms. But its slowly dawning on some Democrats that this isnt your usual political disagreement. Donald Trump is trying to beat his opponents into submission by intimidation, bogus investigations, and unlawful actions. He is trying to reshape the nation so that only his supporters succeed and only his viewpoint is allowed. Anythingand everyoneelse will have to bend to his will. Related The Democrats debate about trans issues is a dodge for a much deeper problem Up to now, Democrats have brought a press release to this knife fight. At last, some party members recognize that they have to engage in the same way. There are three examples that are a sign that at least some in the party are willing to go head-to-head with Republicans in a fight, The first is over redistricting. Texas Republicans, at Trumps urging, are preparing to rework the states Congressional maps outside of the normal cycle to give the GOP a boost in the midterms. (The new map would not-so-surprisingly put out lesbian Rep. Julie Johnsons seat at risk.) Democratic governors have responded to this raw power play by saying that they will respond in kind.If the other side is going to pursue this, regardless of the obvious unconstitutionality of it, then I dont think we have any other choice but to go there. You just dont go to the front lines without your bullets, Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly said. Dive deeper every day Join our newsletter for thought-provoking commentary that goes beyond the surface of LGBTQ+ issues Subscribe to our Newsletter today California alone could counter Texas gerrymandering. The effort has a tight deadline and requires voter approval, but a poll taken for California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) found broad support for redrawing the maps.Newsom, who has presidential ambitions, has also opened up a second front against Trump: ridicule. He has taken to copying Trumps trademarked all-caps meandering social media posts to mock the president. It is driving the right nuts. (Newsoms act doesnt make up for his anti-trans pandering earlier this year.) Finally, Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT), ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, is breaking away from other Democrats in the Senate by recognizing that bipartisanship is a fools game. As the Senate starts putting together the next budget, Murphy is refusing to participate in drafting discussions because, in his words, Trump doesnt give a f**k what we write.Murphy is right. Trump has illegally withheld money approved by Congress, and Republicans have done nothing to stop him. Why would anyone believe that reaching an agreement with the GOP majority would ever be honored? Indeed, Russell Vought, the architect of Project 2025 and head of the Office of Management and Budget, has said that he wouldnt rule out withholding more money that has already been appropriated by Congress. In other words, Congress can pass anything it wants, but Vought knows that the servile GOP will gladly renege on any agreements if Trump asks for it.Getting more aggressive is the right thing to do. Needless to say, not everyone is happy. Murphys colleagues are clearly giving him a wide berth for fear of not looking bipartisan. Weve been demanding a bipartisan process, Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI) told Politico. So when theres a step in that direction, I think its our obligation to try to be constructive. For others, the issue is not copying bad tactics that harm government. The answer to rigging elections for Republicans is not rigging elections for Democrats, Nebraska state Sen. Megan Hunt (I) wrote on X. She proposes banning all gerrymandering. (Hunt, mother of a trans son, famously filibustered an anti-trans bill in 2023.)Yes, gerrymandering bad. Bipartisanship good. Unfortunately, bipartisanship is a fiction when one party wants to annihilate the other. Were in a battle about the future of democracy, and the other side isnt fighting fair. The Democrats weak response up until now has already ceded far more ground to Trump than it should have. We dont want Democrats to adopt the worst of MAGAthreatening to overturn elections or arrest political opponents. But they do have to fight to win, and that means pushing back on the right as hard as they possibly can.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.