Post · bonfire.cafe

Political change is downstream of coalition building, and coalitions are fragile, because by definition they are not fully aligned; they share some goals but often violently disagree about others. A coalition forms when groups set aside their differences to pursue the common elements of their agenda.

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this thread to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2026/05/05/three-is-a-magic-number/#coalitions

'The Spirit of 76,' a famous painting depicting three soldiers marching after a US Revolutionary War battle. The figures heads have been swapped for a man in a top hat, Che Guevara, and a 19th century European general in a silly hat. The US flag in the background has been replaced with the EU flag. The fallen soldier at their feet sports a Trump wig and his skin has been tinted Cheeto orange.

https://pluralistic.net

Pluralistic: The three armies fighting for the post-American world (05 May 2026)

kbal

@kbal@fedia.io · 16 hours ago

There must be a better way to hold together a big coalition than love or hate of a charismatic cult leader. If the best we can do right now for an organizing principle is being anti-Trump, we need to come up with something better before he's gone. Getting rid of the Trumpists is just the first step of many in restoring democracy.

Joseph Allen

@elgringomexicano@mastodon.social · 16 hours ago

@pluralistic I haven't been able to get this image out of my head ever since I learned about it. THIS is the kind of coalition building the establishment truly fears, and they fucking murdered Fred Hampton for it.

https://theconversation.com/chicago-1969-when-black-panthers-aligned-with-confederate-flag-wielding-working-class-whites-68961