"MAGA is as addictive as nicotine"

Let's break the habit

The Uvalde school shooting pushed me over the edge — I knew I finally had to leave MAGA.

For Stephania Messina, much of it came from realizing she'd abandoned her medical training as a pediatric respiratory therapist to follow anti-science ideas during COVID.

We both reached our breaking points over time, and we're not alone.

USA Today recently featured our work at Leaving MAGA, highlighting the growing movement of people walking away from this dangerous community.

WATCH NOW

Stephania's words in this feature deeply resonated with me:

"MAGA is as addictive as nicotine. A lot of well-meaning people on the left will say it's so pathetic that MAGA people don't wake up until something terrible happens to them. But it's so very human. It's a need, a wake-up call."

That final wake-up call, or accumulation of them, looks different for everyone. For Stephania, who became a Christian Nationalist in 2014, it was also recognizing that "it isn't about Christianity, it's about control. MAGA is not about Jesus."

That odyssey looks different for each of us. But the common thread in all our stories is that there is hope for those entrenched in MAGA. People are finding their way out. And we here at Leaving MAGA are here to help them.

SUPPORT OUR WORK

As Stephania said in the video, she did "three years of really hard work"because she knew she needed to change.

I've learned from personal experience how much courage it takes for someone to publicly acknowledge that they were wrong. To admit their mistakes. To make amends for rhetoric or actions that harmed others.

That's why I created Leaving MAGA — to build a community for those who have left or are afraid to leave.

We're gathering stories, creating resources, and building a roadmap for those ready to break free from extremism. But we can't do it alone.

With your help, we can reach more people. Your contribution today of $25, $50, $75, $100, or whatever amount fits your budget will help us amplify the voices of people like Stephania, who've already made their journey out. And it supports our work to heal the divisions that extremism has created in our community.

The exit ramp is open, and there IS hope for people. Please help us keep the light on for others.

Thanks for being with us in this odyssey,

Rich

SUPPORT LEAVING MAGA