I didn’t really perceive a method on how to “stand up” to trump in this article. “Don’t take the bait” seems anemic at best. It does lay out some methods of the MAGA regime as they bait (Mexico) thusly:

“To that end, every tool in the kit will be trotted out: official and unofficial slander, media smears, taxes, sanctions, border closings, visa cancellations, treaty disputes — carefully calibrated to start small so that they can be ramped up as needed. And all designed, moreover, to back Sheinbaum into a damned-if-you-do (provoking retaliation), damned-if-you-don’t (green light for further encroachment), no-win situation.”

Those that are actually aware of the shitshow are already aware of this for the most part. This is their method of operation almost everywhere. How do we diffuse or render it ineffective? Not taking the bait just doesn’t seem like a substantial enough of an answer because the shitshow keeps rolling.