Shadow Cabinet of Conscience: A Bipartisan National Unity Counterweight for an Unstable Era [Updated 6/19/2025]
This proposal does not aim to distract—it aims to clarify the stakes. It is a call for principled innovation at a time when traditional channels of political resistance are proving insufficient.
As the United States endures an era marked by democratic erosion, extreme polarization, and unrelenting executive overreach, Americans must not retreat into private despair or uncoordinated protest. What is needed now is a clear, credible, and morally grounded counterforce: a Shadow Cabinet of Conscience. This body would convene respected leaders across the political spectrum—including prominent Democrats, principled Never Trump Republicans, and trusted civic figures—to model integrity, policy coherence, and constitutional fidelity.
This would not be a partisan stunt or an abstract exercise. It would be a serious civic project grounded in American tradition, adapted from the parliamentary concept of a shadow cabinet, and shaped by the exigencies of our presidential system. It would not hold formal power—but its members would speak with the legitimacy of public service, the credibility of expertise, and the moral weight of democratic conviction. To expedite and strengthen effective resistance to the Trump Administration’s unlawful, unjustified, counterproductive, and unpopular policies, I offer this post as a call to action for those in a position to help operationalize Professor Timothy Snyder’s proposal for a “Shadow Cabinet.” Such a body could offer the moral clarity, strategic coordination, and disciplined messaging urgently needed to counter Mr. Trump’s increasingly dangerous agenda.
The recent resignations of Randi Weingarten, head of one of the nation’s most influential teachers’ unions, and Lee Saunders, president of a major public-sector union, from their positions on the Democratic National Committee—coupled with the success of the No Kings Day demonstrations—should make clear that the time for bold, creative action outside the conventional political channels is now.
I do not wish to appear antidemocratic or to stifle the diverse voices of the anti-Trump resistance—on the contrary, this moment demands a broad and inclusive popular movement. But there is, as the saying goes, a reason cats cannot be herded. Without some structure, coherence, and leadership, the energy of resistance risks being dissipated rather than directed.
To be clear, Professor Snyder has had no involvement in the preparation of this document; in fact, we have never communicated in any form. Nonetheless, through reading many of his books, “auditing” his online course on the history of Ukraine (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLh9mgdi4rNewfxO7LhBoz_1Mx1MaO6sw), following his Substack posts, and watching numerous public lectures and interviews, I have come to feel a strong intellectual connection to his work.
The goal is not to replace electoral politics, but to reinforce democratic accountability by projecting a disciplined, visionary, and ethical alternative to the rising tide of authoritarianism. In doing so, this initiative aspires to reassert the centrality of truth, uphold the rule of law, and inspire a civic revival rooted in competence, courage, and conscience.
Why It’s Needed — And Why It’s Hard to Carry Out
Unlike the United Kingdom or Canada, the United States lacks a parliamentary opposition framework. Several structural and cultural barriers stand in the way of forming a shadow cabinet:
No Institutional Framework: The U.S. Constitution offers no role for an official opposition, and American political tradition resists such formalized alternatives.
Decentralized Opposition: The anti-Trump coalition is diverse and ideologically diffuse, lacking a unified command or organizing center.
Perceived Political Risk: Establishing such a body might be misconstrued as undermining the Democratic Party or its electoral leaders.
Fragmented Media Ecosystem: With no national broadcaster akin to the BBC, American media may overlook or trivialize a civic shadow cabinet.
Elitism Accusation: Even with bipartisan membership, critics might deride the project as an elite gesture disconnected from average Americans.
Still, the stakes are too high to defer. A credible and visible shadow cabinet could provide what is sorely lacking: coherent leadership, a unifying civic narrative, and a reaffirmation of lawful governance and institutional norms.
Dissemination and Global Visibility
A national unity Shadow Cabinet must use a diverse media strategy to gain traction. Channels of dissemination should include:
Independent Media: Substack, YouTube, podcasts, LinkedIn, WhatsApp, X (formerly Twitter), Mastodon.
Traditional Media: NPR, PBS, MSNBC, CNN, The Atlantic, The Washington Post, The New York Times.
International Media: BBC, Deutsche Welle, CBC/Radio-Canada, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Radio France Internationale.
Global visibility is not about posturing. It is a countermeasure to a growing pattern of U.S. government interference in allied democracies, including:
Praising Karol Nawrocki after a contested Polish election.
Engaging with Germany’s far-right AfD.
Supporting destabilizing figures like Nigel Farage in the UK.
These actions mimic Vladimir Putin’s playbook: exploit alliances, discredit liberal democracy, and embolden authoritarian movements. Democratic solidarity, including through this initiative, is both principled and pragmatic.
Illustrative Members for a U.S. Bipartisan National Unity Shadow Cabinet (2025)
Honorary Shadow President: Barack Obama — Symbol of constitutional continuity and moral leadership.
Vice President for Constitutional Oversight: Judge J. Michael Luttig (ret.) — Conservative legal voice and defender of democratic norms.
Secretary of State: Adam Kinzinger — Military veteran and vocal opponent of authoritarianism.
Secretary of Defense: Michèle Flournoy — Respected bipartisan defense strategist.
Attorney General: Preet Bharara — Rule-of-law champion, former U.S. Attorney.
Secretary of Homeland Security: Will Hurd — Pragmatic former Congressman and cybersecurity expert.
Secretary of the Treasury: Lael Brainard — Experienced financial leader focused on equity and stability.
Secretary of Labor: Sara Nelson — Passionate labor leader and advocate for workers' rights.
Secretary of Health and Human Services: Dr. Ashish Jha — Trusted public health communicator.
Secretary of Education: Margaret Spellings — Experienced policymaker with bipartisan credibility.
Secretary of Transportation: Christine Todd Whitman — Moderate Republican and environmental advocate.
Secretary of Energy: Ernest Moniz — Visionary energy policy leader and physicist.
Secretary of the Interior: Deb Haaland (former) — Indigenous rights advocate and conservationist.
Secretary of Commerce: Mitt Romney — Fiscally responsible conservative and principled statesman.
HUD Secretary: Shaun Donovan — Housing and economic policy expert.
Secretary of Agriculture: Kathleen Merrigan — Innovator in food sustainability and security.
UN Ambassador: Liz Cheney — Courageous Republican leader and advocate for democracy.
OMB Director: Heather Boushey — Progressive economist focused on inclusive growth.
White House Chief of Staff (Shadow): Ron Klain — Strategic manager with experience in crisis governance.
Judicial & Legal Oversight Council
Judge Nancy Gertner (ret.) — Civil liberties defender.
Judge David Tatel (ret.) — Expert in administrative and regulatory law.
Judge Thomas Griffith (ret.) — Conservative rule-of-law defender.
Prof. Laurence Tribe — Eminent constitutional scholar.
Judge Michael Luttig (ret.) — Dual role for legal-political linkage.
Special Envoys & Civic Advocates
Samantha Power — Democracy and human rights advocate.
Walter Shaub — Former ethics official and transparency champion.
Cecilia Muñoz — Immigration policy expert.
Bryan Stevenson — Visionary for racial justice and historical reckoning.
Heather McGhee — Thought leader on civic and economic inclusion.
Historical Precedent: WWII Governments-in-Exile
During World War II, democratic governments exiled by fascist occupation preserved legitimacy, coordinated resistance, and reinforced allied unity. Their resilience provides historical inspiration for principled non-state leadership today:
France: London → Algiers — Free France opposed collaborationist Vichy regime.
Poland: London — Maintained sovereignty and supported resistance.
Belgium: London — Preserved royal legitimacy.
Netherlands: London — Queen Wilhelmina as a beacon of defiance.
Norway: London — King Haakon VII led moral resistance.
Czechoslovakia: London — Eduard Beneš sustained diplomatic and political continuity.
Yugoslavia: London — Contested authority between royalists and partisans.
Greece: Cairo → London — Fragmented but cooperated with Allied efforts.
Luxembourg: London — Symbolic preservation of national identity.
A Parting Thought
A Bipartisan Shadow Cabinet of Conscience is not a substitute for elections, but a supplement to democracy. It reminds the public that ethical, effective, and lawful government is not a fantasy—it has existed, and it can exist again.
It would reach beyond political insiders, addressing Americans across every profession and walk of life who feel alienated by dysfunction and alarmed by authoritarian creep. It would speak in a common language of decency, service, and shared responsibility.
As California Governor Gavin Newsom concludes his term in early 2026, he could provide executive leadership to this civic effort, offering national experience and principled resolve. In the interim, a public figure such as George Clooney might serve as a symbolic figurehead to amplify attention, while experienced policy professionals manage strategy and substance.
This is a call to action. Not to wait for permission, but to reclaim agency. Not to preserve the past, but to defend the possibility of a democratic future.
Sounds fanciful, but possibly necessary! Really interesting thoughts.