To the extent that we can shine a light on the bad things being done, that's going to have a positive impact.

You have to be local. You have to focus on your local members of Congress.

Stiffening the spine of progressive members of Congress is crucial.

If people don't get as engaged as the tea party was, we're going to lose.

Members of Congress care about reelection most of all. And that means they care about their constituents. So you have to be a constituent to make your voice heard.

To the extent that we can shine a light on the bad things being done, that's going to have a positive impact.

The tea party had a lot of nasty tactics that were needlessly aggressive and petty and scary. But they proved it is indeed possible for a committed, relatively small number of folks across the country to make Congress listen to them and to slow and stop an agenda.