Why do so many Americans wrongly believe that little is being done to resist the Trump administration’s decimations of culture, democracy, and health? It’s one of the strangest paradoxes of our time: while resistance is fierce, sprawling, and relentless, the myth of passivity persists. Anyone who does even a little research discovers that the amount of pushback is dramatic and substantial.

Here are some reasons for the ignorance:

Mainstream media sparingly and spottily reports on protests, legal challenges, and organizing against Trump. Coverage is often fragmented and inconsistent. Unlike conservative movements, which benefit from unified media platforms like Fox News that consistently amplify dissent and mobilize supporters, resistance to Trump lacks a centralized, sympathetic media infrastructure.

Many of the mainstream outlets strive for neutrality—or are terrified of being perceived as partisan—which results in less sustained attention and mobilizing coverage of opposition efforts. Efforts by Trump and his thugs to attack or punish media outlets for critical reporting have created a chilling effect, discouraging in-depth or sympathetic coverage of resistance movements.

There’s another factor: much of the tireless, detailed work Americans are doing to fight back against the Trumpocalypse isn’t sexy or glamorous in the eyes of corporate media. Hundreds of lawsuits have been filed to protect immigrants, voters, women, and LGBTQ people. Millions have filled the streets in some of the largest demonstrations in U.S. history. Grassroots groups, mutual aid networks, and local coalitions have blossomed in every state. But the slow, persistent grind of democracy defense doesn’t make for flashy headlines or advertising profits.

And one more reason: right-wing strategists have long understood that controlling the story is half the battle. By hammering the narrative that “the left is weak, disorganized, and absent,” they sow demoralization while obscuring the truth.

The reality is plain: resistance is everywhere, and it is working. The only reason some can’t see it is because the fog of propaganda and profit-driven media makes the landscape harder to discern. Beneath that haze, millions of Americans are rolling up their sleeves every day—and their work is changing the story.