William S. Becker, co-editor of 'Democracy Unchained' and executive director of the Presidential Climate Action Project, has published an opinion column in The Hill arguing that Americans should launch a coordinated "Take Back America" movement to reclaim national symbols, institutions and democratic values from what he describes as theft by political opponents.
The column draws a parallel to the 1960s "Take Back the Night" movement, which addressed safety concerns for women walking alone after dark. Becker writes that today's movement should be broader in scope, targeting what he characterizes as systematic appropriation of American ideals by ideological adversaries.
What the Right Is Saying
This opinion column does not include direct responses from conservative voices or Republican representatives. The piece represents a single political perspective arguing for policy positions without presenting counterarguments from those who might disagree with Becker's characterization of events or proposed solutions.
Conservative commentators and Republican officials have generally characterized their efforts as protecting election integrity, promoting traditional values, and advancing American interests domestically and internationally. They would likely dispute characterizations of their movement as representing "hatred, intolerance, racism and insurrection."
Trump administration allies have defended the president's record on law enforcement, border security, economic policy, and foreign affairs as fulfilling campaign promises to American workers and national interests.
What the Left Is Saying
Becker presents his case as a progressive critique of the current political moment. He argues that "the far right cloaked itself in the American flag and made it a symbol of hatred, intolerance, racism and insurrection." He contends that conservatives have rewritten concepts like patriotism despite their opposition to constitutional governance.
The column asserts that Trump has "stolen" America's global reputation, writing: "We are no longer proof that a free people can be trusted to govern themselves." Becker argues the presidency has been corrupted, stating Trump is conducting "the most blatant, outrageous, and corrupt presidency in the nation's history," serving himself rather than the country.
On voting rights, Becker writes that Republicans in several states are "helping him by passing voter-restriction laws and manipulating election districts to favor their party." He calls for taking back "the integrity of the vote" as a fundamental democratic right.
Becker also addresses cultural concerns, arguing conservatives are "stealing our history" through textbook revisions on slavery and racism. He compares such efforts to Germany "redacting the Holocaust," writing that understanding past travesties is necessary to avoid repeating them.
What the Numbers Show
Becker makes several numerical claims in his column. He writes that Trump has "ordered military attacks in at least 10 countries, more than any other president in the modern era." He also states Trump has signaled interest in actions related to Greenland, Cuba, Canada, Colombia, Mexico, Panama and Oman.
The column cites an estimate that under the current administration, the U.S. has "threatened, left open the possibility of attacking, or actually attacked roughly one out of every 13 countries in the world." These figures have not been independently verified by Political Bytes.
Becker references historical military incidents including the Wounded Knee Massacre (1890), My Lai massacre (Vietnam War), No Gun Ri massacre (Korean War), and Haditha massacre of Iraqi civilians (2005) as examples of atrocities committed under "maximum lethality" standards he attributes to current Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's stated philosophy.
The Bottom Line
This opinion column represents one perspective in an ongoing national debate about the direction of American democracy, institutions and values. Becker calls for a broad coalition movement to reclaim symbols, institutions and political terminology from opponents he characterizes as having stolen them.
The column does not include responses from Republican or conservative voices, making it impossible to present their counterarguments within this article structure. Readers seeking balanced coverage should consult additional sources representing multiple political perspectives on these issues.
Becker identifies several policy areas he believes require attention: election integrity and voting rights, presidential conduct and constitutional adherence, American global reputation, educational curriculum on historical injustices, and cultural definitions of masculinity and patriotism.