Five steps you can take today

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed in times like these. But, you're not alone, and you're not helpless. There are concrete, strategic actions you can take today to reduce your risk, protect your future, and support others.

Here are five things you can do right now:

1. Move four months of expenses into cash in international accounts.

Emergency power activations mean all US assets are now subject to government seizure at will (like eminent domain, but with your money). If you have the means, move at least 4 months’ worth of living expenses into liquid, accessible accounts in something not a US Bank.

  • Top recommendation: Swiss or Liechtenstein accounts (strong privacy and asset protection laws).
  • Avoid U.S.-based fintechs like PayPal or Robinhood for emergency reserves. Like all US-domiciled accounts, these platforms can freeze accounts without notice.

2. Get your communications off U.S. platforms.

Anything hosted by Google, Apple, Meta, or Microsoft is now subject to warrantless surveillance under the emergency powers declared a few weeks ago. The companies do not have to notify you that they are accessing your texts, emails, or data. So, move anything sensitive now.

  • Email: ProtonMail or Tutanota
  • Messaging: Signal (not WhatsApp), and enable disappearing messages
  • Cloud: Skiff Drive or Tresorit
  • Browsing: Use Brave, Tor, and Proton VPN for privacy-first internet access

3. Create an exit plan.

Even if you never use it, make one.

  • Research visa pathways for countries like Portugal, New Zealand, and Costa Rica (some of the friendliest for U.S. expats).
  • Know what documents you’ll need (passport, birth certificate, proof of funds, degree certificates).
  • Think through logistics: Can you get a remote job or go back to school abroad? Do you need to set up a business or find a sponsor?

Having a plan reduces panic. Even just writing it down can bring peace of mind.

4. Identify your skills—and use them to support others.

You don’t have to be an activist to make a difference. Whatever you do best, offer it up:

  • Are you a lawyer? Volunteer with the ACLU, RAICES, or immigration clinics.
  • Medical researcher or pharmacist? Help people understand alternatives to medications likely to be affected by tariff-induced shortages or price hikes.
  • Engineer, writer, teacher, therapist? There are mutual aid networks, open-source projects, and community groups that need your mind and heart.

No contribution is too small. What matters is that we show up for each other.

5. Turn outward, not inward.

Authoritarian regimes thrive on fear. They depend on silence, isolation, and the belief that “we’re alone.”
Prove them wrong.

  • Invite friends to dinner.
  • Start a book club.
  • Throw a game night or potluck.
  • Host a neighborhood volunteer day.

When we connect, we remember who we are. And we remember what we’re protecting.

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