Hello, wonderful readers.

No real newsletter today, but a few quick things:

First, NICE JOB, VIRGINIA! I am so proud of—and grateful to—everyone who helped make this win possible. Yes, it was narrow, but guess what? A win is a win! We just very likely picked up four Congressional seats and taught Donald Trump, once again, that when you come at us we will come back even harder. Good! That’s the only way to stop a bully.

Second, I forgot to tell you yesterday that I’m doing a Substack Live with Leah Greenberg, co-founder of Indivisible, at 11:30AM PT today. We’ll be talking about the upcoming May Day strike—why it matters, how we can plug in, and who’s participating. We’ll also talk about where we are in our fight against authoritarianism and what comes next. I’ll send out the recording after.

Third and last, a reminder that I’m speaking at a Zoom fundraiser later today for a great group in New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional district. We’ll be talking about how to fix our messaging to bring more people into the Democratic fold. There’s no requirement to give to attend. Info below!

Democrats are winning special elections by big margins. But they still suffer from poor polls and low voter enthusiasm. LET’S FIX IT!

What new tactics are out there that get attention and elicit action at the ballot box? And is it too late to start using them?

You’ll get to ask Jessica Craven these and other questions in an online fundraiser for Blue CD2 NM on Wednesday, April 22, 6-7 PM MDT. (This is 5PM PT and 8PM ET, in case you, like me, weren’t sure.)

Your donations will help them buy postcards they mail to reluctant voters, billboards throughout their rural district, social media, programmatic ads and texting to engage the reluctant voters who can make a difference.

Register here. No donation required to attend.

OK, thanks, all! And thanks for your lovely comments on the newsletter, always. You’re a wonderful group of human beings. I so appreciate the support and love you send me, and hope you feel it coming back to you.

Talk tomorrow.

Jess

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Hi, all, and happy Tuesday!

It’s been an eventful day already. We just heard that embattled Democratic Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL) has resigned, (Trump’s labor secretary also resigned last night), Republicans just released their long-anticipated budget resolution—in which they’re asking for 70B more for ICE and CBP (!!)—and Virginia is voting in another election with critical national implications! Never a slow news day here in the United States of Chaos.

In Iran, meanwhile, the news changes not by the day, but by the minute. We’ve just learned that the so-called peace talks are in doubt and that Vance is postponing his trip. This doesn’t bode well for progress on extending a ceasefire deal that expires in less than a day. The news, however, could have changed agains completely by the time you read this, so we’ll take things as they come. One thing doesn’t change, however, and that’s that this war is illegal, ill-founded, and guaranteed to cost our country untold amounts of money we don’t have. For that reason—and so many others—we should continue to demand a war powers resolution whenever we call our representatives. Consider it a “tag” on whatever else you call about. Remember, one simple sentence represents a viewpoint that will be recorded, so simply adding “oh, and pass a war powers resolution now! This war must end!” will do the job just as well as a longer script.

Which leads me to remind you, as I try to do from time to time, that my call scripts—or anyone else’s, for that matter—are simply suggestions. If my language doesn’t suit you, change it up or reject it completely! Speaking in your own words is the most powerful thing you can do, anyway. It is the staffer’s job to decipher your position on the issue in question, and as long as you make basic sense they’ll understand where you stand and what needs to be communicated to their boss.

There’s a lot more going on—House Republicans, for example, will spend much of this week voting on a bunch of terrible, anti-clean-energy bills, such as the FIRE Act, to roll back state reporting requirements regarding air pollution, and the Reliable Federal Infrastructure Act, to abolish energy efficiency standards for federal buildings. All of these would cost Americans, both in poorer health and higher utility bills, and all of them will likely fail in the Senate. So why do House Republicans do it? Because they are slaves to their fossil fuel masters, and must show that they’re beating back any progress on climate change or a healthier environment with both fists. Vote them all out.

Speaking of voting, if you’re in Virginia please do so! Every single ballot cast will matter, and the consequences of this election will be felt long past November. We stand to pick up four Congressional seats if YES wins, so let’s make sure it does!

One last thing: I have a special action in the newsletter just for NY residents, and it’s really important. Please be sure to share with everyone you know in the Empire State! Thanks!

OK, my friends. Let’s get to it.

Subscribe now

Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲

Hi, I’m a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.

I understand that Senate Republicans have put forth a budget resolution asking for 70B more for ICE and CBP. This is horrifying. These agencies are already wildly overfunded; meanwhile working Americans are dying—literally. We can’t afford our healthcare, utility bills, or groceries. But Congress wants to give more money to lawless and unpopular agencies? I oppose this with my entire being. Especially with no guardrails on ICE’s behavior. Vote no.

[If Republican add:] I cannot overstate how many more seats your party will lose in November if you pass this bill. We have had it.

Second, please ask the Senator to oppose a clean reauthorization of Section 702 of FISA. Section 702’s numerous loopholes allow for unwarranted government surveillance and can be easily manipulated at the expense of Americans’ civil liberties. I ask the Senator to only support an extension with warrant requirements and the data broker loophole closed. [H/T]

Finally, Congress needs to pass a War Powers Resolution now. End this illegal war! Thanks.

Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲

Hi, I’m a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.

First, please ask the Congressmember to vote no on H.R. 1897 – the ESA Amendments Act of 2025. This bill would gut the Endangered Species Act, including by making it easier to remove endangered species designations and harder to create new ones. Why on earth would anyone support this? Vote no.

Second, I understand that Senate Republicans have put forth a budget resolution asking for 70B more for ICE and CBP. This is horrifying. These agencies are already wildly overfunded; meanwhile working Americans are dying—literally. We can’t afford our healthcare, utility bills, or groceries. But Congress wants to give more money to lawless and unpopular agencies? I oppose this with my entire being. Especially with no guardrails on ICE’s behavior. Vote no.

[If Republican add:] I cannot overstate how many more seats your party will lose in November if you pass this bill. We have had it.

Finally, Congress needs to pass a War Powers Resolution now. End this illegal war! Thanks.

Extra Credit ✅

Trump is exploiting the housing crisis to scapegoat immigrants, undermine the federal housing programs, and continue his unlawful power grab. He’s initiated a plan under which 80,000 people could be evicted from their homes. That includes 37,000 children, nearly all of whom are themselves U.S. citizens.

The proposal won’t just hurt immigrants. It will impact anyone who lives in some of the country’s biggest federal housing programs. That’s millions of people, including children, veterans, seniors, and people with disabilities.

Today is the LAST DAY to make comments on this proposal. Keep Families Together has all the information you need to do so. It’s easy!

Go here to get started—I just did mine!

Special NY State Extra Credit! Important!

I’m sure you’ve all heard about Mayor Mamdani’s new “pied-a-terre tax,” announced last week in conjunction with Governor Hochul. It’s awesome, but not nearly enough to close NYC’s massive budget gap. Plus Trump’s cuts will force NY—like all states—to spend more in order to avoid catastrophic cuts to people’s healthcare and nutritional assistance.

Because of this, a huge coalition of labor unions and progressive groups is now asking New York State Governor Kathy Hochul to tax billionaires even further. But the resistance from corporate overlords and the mega rich is HUGE. We need to really put the pressure on her!

Please ask everyone you know in New York State to sign this petition to Governor Hochul asking her to tax the rich, NOT cut services to the neediest New Yorkers! The time is now, let’s get this done! Remember, what starts in NY state can become a template for other states! It’s in ALL of our interests to see this succeed.

Here’s a video I just made explaining the situation. It’s on YouTube here, FB here and IG here if those are easier places from which to share. The petition link, to share with it, is https://dreamfornyc.com/action.

Get Smart! 📚

Join the May Day training mass call: No Work, No School, No Shopping. (Thurs 8pm ET/5pm PT)

Indivisible and Grassroots Democracy are hosting a training on what “No Work, No School, No Shopping” means, and how you can tap into the day of economic disruption however is right for you. We’ll also dig into the strategy behind economic noncooperation and why we’re taking action now. Be sure to invite friends and family to join the call, too!

Polls! Polls! Polls!

Two newly released polls, from Politico and Somos Votantes, underscore that a majority of Americans, including Latinos, are rejecting the cruelty, chaos, and misplaced priorities of the Trump/Miller mass deportation agenda. Good.

Also, Trump’s approval rating hit a second-term low in a new NBC poll.

• Overall, 37% of adults approve of Trump’s performance as president, while 63% disapprove — including 50% who said they disapprove strongly.

• The economy continues to be the top issue for Americans, with 29% saying it’s the issue that matters most to them right now, while 24% said threats to democracy, 12% said health care and 10% said crime and safety.

• Just 32% of Americans said they approve of Trump’s handling of inflation and the cost of living, compared to 68% who disapprove.

Get in the Streets! 🪧

Join Detention Watch Network’s Stop ICE Warehouse Detention day of action this Saturday.

The Trump regime is purchasing and converting warehouses to serve as concentration camps for the people ICE and Border Patrol disappear off the street -- but local communities are fighting back. Detention Watch Network’s national day of action is this Saturday.

Find an event (or sign up to host one) and get ready by watching last week’s training call with Indivisible.

Win Races! 🗳

First of all, there are phonebanks all day today into Virginia to get out those E-Day voters! Please sign up if you can! EVERY VOTE WILL COUNT! RSVP here.

Next, please consider joining Indivisible’s phone banks for Jasmine Clark in GA-13 (Wed & Thurs, 5:30pm ET/2:30pm PT).

Join Indivisible as they make calls to voters in GA-13 in support of Indivisible endorsee Jasmine Clark ahead of the May 19 Democratic primary. Help us send a real fighter for families and defender of democracy to Congress and replace a checked-out representative who didn’t even cast a vote against Trump in the 2024 election! First-time dialers and phonebank pros are welcome to join; we'll have a short phonebanking training at the start of each event for anyone who needs it.

Resistbot Letter (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.) 💻

[To: your Senators] [H/T Rogan’s List] [Text SIGN PWOQTZ to 50409, or to @Resistbot on Apple Messages, Messenger, Instagram, or Telegram]

(Note that for the most effective RESISTBOT it’s best to personalize this text. More about how to do this here. But if you’re short on time just send it as is using the above code.)

The selection of Kevin Warsh to serve as the next chairman of the Federal Reserve is not a normal nomination by a normal White House. Do not treat it that way.

We are in the middle of an unprecedented and dangerous attack on the independence of the Federal Reserve Board. A president who wants to rule as a king is attempting to illegally terminate one governor and use a criminal investigation to extort or punish another - and is now threatening to fire him, too. And all because they have refused to ignore the damage his policies have done to our economy.

The Fed was designed to be independent so that our monetary policy serves the interests of the public, rather than what’s best for the politicians. It is nowhere near a flawless institution, but we have seen in Argentina, Weimar Germany, and Richard Nixon’s America how bad things can get when the executive branch starts pulling the strings of the central bank. We are risking investors giving up on the United States, with consequences that could haunt us for decades.

We cannot believe Donald Trump would have put forward Warsh as anything other than a puppet, prepared to do whatever the president instructs. Trump has said himself that “anybody that disagrees with me will never be the Fed Chairman.” His nomination is simply the legal side of an authoritarian power grab, and one that could touch the lives of every American who wants a house, a car, a business or has a credit card. The Senate must not confirm him.

Frankly, there should not even be the pretense that this is business as usual. Allowing any sort of standard confirmation process for the Fed while Trump tries to remove and imprison board members who won’t bend to his will is effectively giving his actions a pass.

Please make it clear you will vote against Kevin Warsh’s confirmation and use every power available to you as a senator to disrupt Trump’s efforts to put him on the Federal Reserve Board.

OK, you did it again! You’re helping to save democracy! You’re amazing.

Talk soon.

Jess

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Hi, all, and happy Monday!

Hope you had a great weekend! We had gorgeous weather here in L.A.—hope it was OK where you were.

I’m going to start out with a bit of housekeeping:

First, I want to apologize for referring to Pope Leo as “Monsignor” in Friday’s newsletter. I should have referred to him as His Holiness. I meant no disrespect, but it seems some was inferred. Sorry about that!

That wasn’t the only thing I got called out on. Another reader wrote:

Many of your readers don't appreciate you asking us to pray, so please find a secular request for support.

Haha. Fair enough. I, myself, am entirely secular, so I thought it was understood that “pray,” in this context, was an expression, not a religious directive. I will endeavor to find another way to phrase it, however.

All of this does prompt me to remind you, as I do from time to time, that I am a one-woman show where this newsletter is concerned. No one fact checks or edits it but me. I absolutely do not use AI anywhere near it. So I do make mistakes—although I try to keep them to a bare minimum. I ask your forbearance when I do slip up. I fear I am in a constant rush—this occasionally leads to careless errors.

Last thing before I get you going to make your calls: I am going to do my Substack Live solo today, so if you’re looking for a recap of where we are, what’s coming up legislatively this week, wha’s happening with the war, and more—come on by! 4PM PT / 7PM ET right here on Substack.

OK, all. Thanks so much for being here. Remember, this is tough, but we’re tougher.

Let’s get to work.

Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲

Hi, I’m a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.

First, I’m deeply concerned that Jared Kushner is serving as an envoy in the Middle East while also soliciting billions of dollars from Gulf monarchies for his private business ventures. It is a staggering conflict of interest. I understand that Rep. Jamie Raskin has opened a probe in the House into Kushner’s possible corruption. I’d like the Senate to do one as well.

Second, I know the Senate is negotiating a FISA re-authorization bill right now and I want to be very clear: I oppose a “clean” re-authorization. FISA Section 702 must be reformed to close the data broker loophole and stop the warrantless searches. Without those changes the Senator must vote no. Thanks.

Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲

Hi, I’m a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.

First, I want the Congressmember to co-sponsor H.R.8275, Rep. Raskin’s bill to establish the Commission on Presidential Capacity to Discharge the Powers and Duties of the Office. Donald Trump is dangerously unfit to hold office. Congress must find out if this is the case, and if so act. Thanks.

Second, energy bills are out of control and Trump’s war is making them worse. I’m glad more than 100 members of Congress have introduced a bill called the Energy Bills Relief Act, which would deliver sustainable and cost-effective solutions to boost clean energy, meet rising demand, invest in solutions, and lower energy costs. I expect the Congressmember to co-sponsor it.

Extra Credit ✅

If you’re horrified by the Senate’s vote to allow mining around Minnesota’s Boundary Waters there are still several actions you can take to help! All of them involve contacting Minnesota’s Department of Natural Resources, which has the legal authority to block such mining.

First, from subscriber Cheryl J.:

I just got off a postcard zoom and the discussion touched on the awful vote to permit copper/nickel mining in the boundary waters. One of the participants told us that there are still steps that need to happen on the state level and she suggested that everyone send a single postcard to the commissioner of the MN department of Natural Resources.

Please send a single postcard to:

Commissioner Sarah Strommen, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources 500 Lafayette Road St Paul MN 55155

Suggested imagery natural scenes or national parks

Ask her to protect the fragile ecosystem in the Boundary Waters. No mining in National Park protected lands. The Chilean mining company has a terrible ecological record. This area is a waterway affecting many miles of our country, Canada and Indian nations.

After you’ve done that, head to the Friends of the Boundary Waters website, where you’ll find a link to send Commissioner Strommen an email, a phone number at which you can call her, as well as lots more ways you can help protect this precious natural resource.

Get Smart! 📚

Politics as usual isn’t cutting it—and voters know it.

Congressional candidates, Shannon Bird (CO-8), Paige Cognetti (PA-8), and Nancy Lacore (SC-1), have already stepped up for us—whether in uniform or in state or city government—and now they’re answering a new call to serve in Washington, D.C.

Join BigTentUSA on Tuesday, April 21 at 7pm ET, for a candid, solutions-focused discussion moderated by Alli Peters of Majority Democrats. Together, the candidates will dive into why this moment demands leaders grounded in duty and accountability, and how their record of service shapes what real leadership should look like, what we should expect from anyone seeking power, and how we can push for something better in our politics.

Use this link to register.

Messaging! Messaging! Messaging! 📣

The Virginia Special Election is TOMORROW (April 21) and we’re hitting EVERY platform HARD.

DemCast has a social media toolkit loaded with posts about the election. Please use it. Even if you think your platform is small—every eyeball matters!!

Toolkit for VA elections

Win Races! 🗳

Here are a few ways to help in the final VA push today!

Rep. Lauren Underwood will join Activate America for a phonebank TODAY at 3PM ET. RSVP here.

All in to Win VA has a phonebank today with Jess Piper and Michele Hornish. They’re literally two of my favorite people. It’s at 5:30pm ET. Please go if you can! RSVP here.

Also, you can make calls to reach Spanish-speaking voters in special phonebanks TONIGHT from 6-8PM ET here

Or you can help with one final textbank to voters TONIGHT from 6-8PM ET here.

Resistbot Letter (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.) 💻

[To: your US Senators] [H/T] [Text SIGN PGOBBF to 50409, or to @Resistbot on Apple Messages, Messenger, Instagram, or Telegram]

(Note that for the most effective RESISTBOT it’s best to personalize this text. More about how to do this here. But if you’re short on time just send it as is using the above code.)

Please vote no on any bill that includes a clean reauthorization of Section 702. Real reform is possible and has more support than ever. Several bills would do much more to rein in Section 702 surveillance and protect Americans’ privacy without hurting national security. 

We live in a globalized society in which Americans are constantly communicating with people overseas. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has proven many times over that they cannot be trusted with discretion to warrantlessly query communications collected under Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Americans should not lose their constitutional rights to private communications because of a mass surveillance authority that provides federal law enforcement with backdoor access to them. 

Please, reform Section 702.  Close the data broker loophole and end warrantless surveillance, thanks.

OK, you did it again! You’re helping to save democracy! You’re amazing.

Talk soon.

Jess

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Hi, all, and happy Sunday!

Welcome to the week in good news! The last seven days show that, while Trump and Republicans continue to destroy everything they touch, there is a parallel universe in which very good people are working very hard to make positive change and succeeding! You, in fact, are among them!

So let’s take a few minutes to bask in the many, many wins that took place this week while we were busy doomscrolling. Call it hopescrolling, if you will.

One thing before I go: I want to say a word of thanks to my paid subscribers: I know times are tough out there—I understand many are struggling and can’t afford to support my work. That makes me all the more grateful to those of you who can. It’s because of you that I am able to continue to offer this 5-day-a-week newsletter without paywalls EVER. You’re truly keeping the lights on. Thank you.

Celebrate This! 🎉

Voters in Hungary overwhelmingly elected the opposition Tisza party, led by Péter Magyar, bringing an end to Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s 16 years in power. AND Orban conceded!

Los Angeles, the second-largest school district in the U.S., avoided a historic strike by teachers, principals and staff hours before classes started on Tuesday, cutting deals that offer hefty raises across the board.

After being sued, the Trump administration agreed to permanently return the Pride flag to Stonewall National Monument in New York City.

​Billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott gave an unrestricted $70 million donation to Meals on Wheels. I love this woman!

A federal judge has dismissed a defamation lawsuit brought by Donald Trump against The Wall Street Journal, ruling that the former president failed to plausibly allege that the paper acted with “actual malice” in publishing a controversial article about a purported letter linked to Jeffrey Epstein.

The Cook Political Report adjusted the ratings for four Senate races in favor of Democrats.

Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed several pro-voter bills into law, including legislation that defines election certification as a mandatory ministerial duty and authorizes the State Board of Elections to intervene if local boards of elections refuse to certify results.

Indiana students scored a big win for their voting rights. Last year, an unconstitutional state law banned university IDs as acceptable forms of voter identification. On Tuesday, a federal judge blocked the ban.

For the first time in France, and possibly for the first time ever, anywhere, an entire corporation has been put on trial and found criminally liable for enabling terrorism.

A GoFundMe created to save Denver’s only lesbian bar has raised over $83,000.

Memphis’ Mason Temple, the historic Tennessee church where the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his final speech, is getting $1.2 million in federal funding for renovations as a civil rights landmark.

During a speech in Cameroon, Pope Leo criticized those who manipulate religion “for their own military, economic or political gain.”

About 422 new indie bookshops opened in the US in 2025, according to the American Booksellers Association, a 31% rise from 2024.

Chinook salmon have been found naturally hatching in the Upper Klamath River for first time in a century, a promising sign of the species’ return following dam removal.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced a pied-à-terre tax that puts an annual surcharge on homes valued above $5 million when there is no resident who lives primarily in New York City.

Moms for Liberty is imploding.

Shareholders in Thomson Reuters demanded the company’s board launch an investigation into whether its products have contributed to human rights violations, specifically with regards to their ongoing sale of peoples’ personal data to ICE.

Barely two weeks before it was due to shut down, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette announced it had found a last-minute buyer — a successful nonprofit journalism operation that has agreed to keep the struggling newspaper open.

A federal court issued a preliminary injunction halting the Nexstar-TEGNA merger.

Gov. Abigail Spanberger of Virginia signed into law a bill to end tax exemptions for a slate of Confederacy-related organizations in the state.

A federal judge in Oregon forcefully struck down RFK Jr.’s attempt to impose far-reaching restrictions on gender-affirming care for minors, ruling the policy unlawful and blocking its enforcement in the states that challenged it.

James Talarico raised more than $27 million in the first quarter of 2026 — the largest amount ever raised by a U.S. Senate candidate in the first quarter of an election year.

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu outlined a national electrification plan aimed at reducing reliance on fossil fuels and strengthening the country’s energy sovereignty.

A Fairhope, AL municipal judge acquitted a No Kings protester who was arrested for wearing a giant inflatable penis costume.

In a landmark ruling, the Montana Supreme Court has declared that the constitution, one of the most progressive in the nation, entirely protects transgender people. The ruling is even insulated from SCOTUS decisions, due to how state constitutions work.

Democratic senators voted overwhelmingly to block bomb and bulldozer sales to Israel on Wednesday. The vote represents a sea change in Democratic lawmakers’ attitudes towards Netanyahu’s government.

John Eastman, the lawyer who spearheaded Trump’s attempt to overturn the 2020 election, has been disbarred in the state of California.

All charges have been dropped against three Memphis No Kings protestors who were wrongfully arrested last month; the investigation is now focussing on the police officers involved in the arrests.

Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons will step down on May 31. Buh-bye.

NPR received its largest-ever donation from a living donor this week when billionaire philanthropist Connie Ballmer gave them $80 million.

Prosecutors in Hennepin County, MN have brought felony assault charges against an ICE agent who is accused of pointing a gun at another car in February. We wrote this prosecutor back in February and asked her to prosecute ICE’s crimes! You contributed to this win!

A federal judge ordered new evidence to be turned over in a lawsuit seeking details on a secret "voter data agreement" between DOGE and election deniers.

Republican incumbents were wiped out in Whittier, CA amid backlash to ICE activity, as Democrats flipped the mayor’s office and both council seats on the ballot by 30+ point margins.

A Manhattan federal jury found that Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. and its Ticketmaster subsidiary operated as an illegal monopoly, violating federal and state antitrust laws after a five-week trial.

Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed six gun-control bills and amended four others that reached her desk last month.

New Prime Minister Péter Magyar announced the Hungarian government will no longer use taxpayer money to fund CPAC or related institutions, calling the prior practice “a crime.”

A federal appeals court ruled that Arizona’s legislative leaders can’t dismantle a new national monument near the Grand Canyon.

Tony Gonzales and Eric Swalwell both resigned from Congress.

Minnesota authorities announced a criminal investigation into the January 18 detention of ChongLy 'Scott' Thao as potential kidnapping, burglary, and false imprisonment by federal immigration agents.

Singer Addison Rae filed a copyright claim against DHS after the agency used her song “Diet Pepsi” in a promotional video, which led to the disabling of media capabilities on its post.

In Chicago, every public school student can now use their student ID as a library card.

Beloved bald eagles Jackie and Shadow welcomed a pair of eaglets into the world over Easter weekend.

An Alaska district court judge has ruled against a coalition of logging interests looking to get their saws on Tongass National Forest’s old growth timber stands.

​In response to protests, Etsy will ban animal fur sales starting in August.

The NAACP sued Elon Musk’s xAI, accusing the company of violating the Clean Air Act with its use of natural gas-burning turbines to power data centers in and around Memphis, Tennessee.

Canada has updated its legislation to allow for the seizure and transfer of profits generated from frozen Russian state assets to Ukraine

A federal judge ruled that ICE can’t proceed with retrofitting a warehouse in Western Maryland into a detention facility, pending further court proceedings.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and the Liberal Party secured a majority government following special parliamentary elections.

The flagship electric SUV from Swedish auto company Polestar will soon be produced exclusively in the U.S.

A federal judge dismissed a Trump administration lawsuit seeking to stop Hawaii from ​suing fossil fuel companies in state court over ‌climate change, citing a “longstanding” policy against federal intervention in state court processes.

Georgia’s largest utility is launching a new program to let industrial customers build their own renewable energy projects and add them to the grid.

According to Indivisible’s post-protest survey, 32% of protestors at the recent No Kings were first timers. 27% of all voters said they want to come next time. Read that again: More than a quarter of Americans would like to go to the next pro-democracy protest.

ICE agents have started leaving U.S. airports.

​The Netherlands just made it illegal to generate nonconsensual nude images using X platform’s Grok. The new court order imposes hefty fines on those who use Elon Musk’s AI tool to create nude images without consent.

Virginia has become the latest state to join a movement to make the winner of the popular vote the president.

The Texas Medical Board sanctioned three doctors for delayed care that led to the deaths of two pregnant women (this is only happening because of Pro Publica’s reporting! Please support them if you can!)

A federal judge dismissed the Justice Department’s lawsuit against Rhode Island Secretary of State Gregg Amore that sought to force him to turn over private information about his state’s voters.

House Democrats on Tuesday proposed creating a commission to assess whether Trump is fit for office and remove the president under the 25th amendment if it finds he is not.

Formerly staunch Trump supporters are now wondering if he’s the antichrist.

Watch This! 👀

From No Authority on instagram. 😂😂

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Hi, all, and happy Friday!

WE MADE IT THROUGH ANOTHER WEEK!

And we’ve had some big developments in the last 24 hours, too!

First, Trump claims that he and Iran have arrived at a deal allowing the Strait of Hormuz to be “fully opened” until the end of the ceasefire (six days from now), with the hopes that it could lead to a permanent reopening.

Trump is crowing about this as if it’s an accomplishment, when in reality, of course, the following is actually the case:

(If you’re not following , by the way, you should. She’s brilliant.)

Markets are responding exuberantly to this announcement, and of course I hope their optimism is warranted. But Trump and Hegseth have also been deploying more servicemembers to the Middle East this week—there are some who believe this “truce” is simply a pause so both sides can retrench. Knowing what we do about the new leadership in Iran, as well as about Bibi Netanyahu, Hegseth and Trump, I’m not super optimistic that this ceasefire will last. But we should all, of course, pray that it does.

The best case scenario is that the fighting stops, the Strait stays open, Trump takes a horrible deal—ie: he unfreezes 20B of Iranian cash—but secures Iran’s uranium, and we move on. My worry, though, is that he’s planning on taking the enriched uranium and then attacking Iran again—and if I’m worried about that I’d imagine Iran’s leadership is, as well. It’s hard, in other words, to see how two deeply evil and mendacious groups come to an agreement they can both trust; let’s hope they do.

A 10-day ceasefire has been announced in Lebanon, as well, by the way, but Israel has already violated it.

Speaking of which, Democratic lawmakers are changing how they vote on Israel, and it’s happening fast. On Wednesday night Bernie Sanders forced two resolution votes —one to block the sale of Caterpillar bulldozers to Israel that are used to knock down Palestinians’ homes, and one to stop a sale of bombs to Israel. In total, 40 Democratic Senators supported the bulldozer resolution. That is HUGE. A majority of Democratic senators also voted with Sanders on the other resolution.

These votes are a big deal. As Truthout wrote: “Sen. Sanders’s measures still failed to pass, but they document a historic shift in Democratic consensus on Israel aid.” I know this is a contentious issue, but it’s important to note that Democrats are following their voters, and their voters don’t want them to keep giving Bibi Netanyahu a blank check. I’m glad of it.

Now on to some good news on FISA. We had a win—even if temporary—on this issue last night. Mike Johnson tried to sneak through a late-night, amended FISA re-authorization that looked, on the surface, like it contained a reform or two. It didn’t —AND it extended FISA for 5 years, not 18 months, as Trump had originally wanted. The good news is that it failed, with all but three Democrats voting against it and twenty House Freedom Caucus members also opposing it. The 3 Democrats, by the way, were Marie Glusenkamp Perez, Josh Gotthiemer, and Jared Golden. Shame on all of them.

There was then a second vote on a rule for an 18-month clean extension. This failed too, although this time FOUR Democrats voted for it (the same three as above plus Tom Suozzi). There is really no overstating how outrageous it is that any Democrat voted for any Republican rule, and especially this one. I’ll have phone numbers and call scripts for the four reps in question below.

Johnson had to settle for a two-week extension on FISA, which is a huge win for us. It gives us 14 days to force all Democrats to support passing very simple and easy reforms: closing the “data broker loophole” and ending warrantless searches of Americans’ data. ANYONE should be able to get behind that. IN fact, Senators Mike Lee and Dick Durbin co-authored an Op-Ed in today’s New York Times saying just that (gift link here.) There is growing, and bipartisan, support for these reforms!

One last thing on FISA: I was on a long call this morning with some Hill insiders who they made clear that while Rep. Jim Himes vote the right way on these rules he was likelythe one pushing the four Democrats to vote as they did. As the ranking member of the Intelligence Committee he can’t vote yes on a Republican rule without risking the chairmanship of his committee. Those votes, in other words, were more or less proxies for him. So he is not out of the proverbial woodshed at all. Rep. Gregory Meeks of NY is also whipping votes for a clean re-authorization. We need to work on him, too.

For a great explainer on FISA and why these reforms are so important you can watch this David Sirota interview with Ken Klippenstein or read the Brennan Center’s explainer.

Another bit of great news: Pope Leo is NOT backing down in his “fight” with Trump. It’s actually a fight against greed, warmongering, and “manipulating relgion for military or political gain,” and I, for one, am here for it. We should continue to uplift this courageous man, as well as any other person standing up for what’s right. I know I am! Great way to use your platform, Monsignor!

Oh! One last thing! Democrats continue to win across the map, including last night in New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District, where Rep.-elect Analilia Mejia won her race by wide margins! Since Trump took office, Democrats have won or overperformed in 265 out of 296 key elections — a rate of nearly 90%. Thought you’d like that information. (:

Anyway. There’s a lot more happening, but we’ll never get to our calls if I keep yapping. Let’s go take the actions that we can see are making a difference!

Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲

Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.

First, I’m glad to see that the House defeated a FISA reauthorization last night that would have done nothing to close the data broker loophole or end warrantless searches. I want the Senator to only support a reauthorization that DOES include these reforms. We have every reason to believe that Donald Trump and Stephen Miller are abusing the ability to surveil Americans—it will only get worse now that they can use AI to make their searches more efficient. I will be watching any FISA vote closely and expect my Senator to protect my privacy.

Also, please support the Security and Freedom Enhancement (SAFE) Act, a bipartisan bill that would reauthorize the valuable core FISA while enacting reasonable safeguards to protect the Fourth Amendment rights of all Americans.

Lastly, please ask the Senator to support H.R. 1689 to stop Trump from expelling our Haitian friends and neighbors! It just passed the House! Thanks! [You can sign a petition here, too!]

Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲

Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.

First, I’m glad to see that the House defeated a FISA reauthorization last night that would have done nothing to close the data broker loophole or end warrantless searches. May I ask how the representative voted? [If they opposed thank. If they voted yes add:] I find that deeply disappointing. Going forward I want the Congressmember to only support a reauthorization that includes real reforms. We have every reason to believe that Donald Trump and Stephen Miller are abusing the ability to surveil Americans—it will only get worse with AI in the mix. I will be watching any FISA vote closely and expect my Congressmember to protect my privacy. They will lose my support going forward if they do not.

Also, I’m angry that Republicans are attempting to slash the IRS and the Election Assistance Commission budget, while at the same time blocking witnesses like Scott Bessent from coming to testify on the impacts of such cuts. This is not the way appropriations are supposed to work. We want transparency, we want hearings, and we do NOT want cuts made to the already underfunded IRS and EAC. Thanks.

Extra Credit ✅

Let’s ALL call the four Democrats who voted so poorly last night.

Tom Suozzi 202-225-3335 or 516-861-1070 or 718-631-0400

Jared Golden 202-225-6306 or 207- 249-7400 or 207-492-6009

Marie Glusenkamp Perez 202-225-3536 or 360-695-6292

Josh Gottheimer — 202-225-4465 or 201-389-1100 or 973-940-1117

Say:

My name is ______ and I’m calling to say that I am appalled at the representative’s support for Miller and Trump’s warrantless surveillance bill . Please ask them to change course immediately and stop supporting a so-called “clean FISA.” We want the data broker loophole closed and warrantless surveillance of American citizens to end. I will be watching their votes on this closely and will make sure everyone knows where they stood when our rights were under attack.

[Optional add:]

This is NOT about national security. The surveillance capabilities of Section 702 have already been reauthorized until March of 2027. The idea that we could “go dark” is a lie. The time for reforms is now. Please stop helping Trump and Miller. Thanks.

Get Smart! 📚

New States Win Substack: “Most political donations don’t matter. Here’s when they do.”

“Does my $20 really make a difference?” Lara Teich, States Win’s Head of Development, has answers. In their latest Substack, Lara lays out the data on how small-dollar donations drive outcomes at the state level as federal races drown in dark money. She shows why state legislature giving is one of the highest-impact investments you can make. I’VE BEEN SAYING THIS FOREVER!

States Win, by the way, used to be Sister District. They know of what they speak!

Read it here.

Win Races—WRITE! 🗳

Blue Wave Postcards has more cards to sell for Georgia!

This is the biggest campaign they’ve run since 2024 - their goal is to have a huge impact on the upcoming May Georgia Supreme Court race. Whether you haven’t bought your cards yet or you’ve already finished your kit, please consider ordering a batch now to help them get out the vote. Have any friends that are new to postcarding? Have them use the code Hello26 to get 15% off of their first postcard kit! BWP is also running a test on this campaign to hone how they do business, so every kit you write helps!

Order your kit now →

Win Races—CALL! 🗳

Andrea Miller, the head of Center for Common Ground said on a Tuesday zoom they need more help calling Black voters in Virginia. They have regular phone banks and they also have 2 different dialers for phoning on your own with a large range of hours when you can make calls. Center for Common Ground is telling voters that President Obama and the NAACP want them to vote yes.

Please join them if you can.

No Resistbot letter today—sorry!

OK, you did it again! You’re helping to save democracy! You’re amazing.

Talk soon.

Jess

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Hi, all, and happy Thursday,

We’ve almost made it through another week!

Last night Senator Tina Smith of MN held the floor for hours in an admirable and valiant attempt to stop a bill that could allow mining near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA) in her state. Because that vote is coming up any minute now, and because Smith is working so hard to stop it, I am going to make this opening short. She’s working so hard to try to protect the natural resources in her state. Let’s call and lend her all the support we can.

Before I go, however, I wanted to tell you that Mike Johnson didn’t have the votes to pass a clean reauthorization of FISA yesterday so he had to delay the vote again. This is huge! While our chances of stopping it completely until reforms are made are still slim, we have to keep trying. Something we’re doing is working. So today please call your reps about it, whether Democratic or Republican.

And, of course, let’s keep calling about ICE and military funding. The reconciliation package containing such funding is another bill that will likely pass on a party-line vote, and I’m told there may be little we can do to stop it, but you never know. At the very least we should let Republican lawmakers know that their willingness to keep throwing money at ICE, CBP, and the Pentagon while cutting programs we rely on has been noticed, that it will be remembered, and that we will be voting them out over it in November.

It’s all a lot right now, but steadily, slowly, we’re moving the needle in our direction. After every new Republican outrage please remind yourself: “this is awful, but it will help us beat them in November. I must keep going. The only way out is through.”

Just ask the citizens of Hungary. Tyrants can be beaten. But only if we don’t give up. So let’s get to work.

Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲

Hi, I’m a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.

First, I want the Senator to oppose Joint Resolution 140. Protect the Boundary Waters! This area is America’s most visited wilderness and a place I value. I want to see it, and all of our public lands in the headwaters, adequately protected from toxic copper mining. Please do NOT vote for this Resolution. [h/T]

Second, I oppose any more funding for ICE, the Pentagon, or CBP. They all have an obscene amount of money—meanwhile Americans are losing all the services and programs they rely on to survive. No more! Put that money towards healthcare instead!

Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲

Hi, I’m a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.

First, I understand that House Democrats introduced six articles of impeachment against Pete Hegseth yesterday accusing him of abuse of power, war crimes and other serious wrongdoing. He’s obviously guilty of all of it. I want the Congressmember to support his impeachment.

Second, I strongly oppose a “clean” reauthorization of FISA. Congress should pass a two week stopgap bill and use that time to pass actual reforms that protect Americans’ data. No more “data broker loophole” and no more back-door, warrantless searches. I’ll be watching this vote closely. Thanks.

Finally, may I ask how the Congressmember voted on the War Powers Resolution yesterday? [If they supported it thank them. If they opposed it add:] I am really disappointed to hear that. The Congressmember is supporting an illegal war and ignoring the wishes of their constituents. We will not forget it in November.

Extra Credit ✅

It’s S.O.S. time on the CA governor’s race. I believe we need a nationwide campaign to get the lowest-polling candidates to drop out. I know some of you will disagree—I’m torn myself, as Betty Yee is my preferred candidate—but polling still shows the two Republicans at the top. We have limited time. Action is needed. California’s electoral college votes could be at risk with a MAGA in charge. This affects all of us. That’s why I’m asking all of us to take aciton.

Fortunately the good folks at Indivisible Alameda have put together a website with lots of ways we can help. The CA S.O.S. Campaign shifts emphasis from individual Democratic gubernatorial candidates to the unintended outcome of only Republican representation on the November ballot.

From them:

There are 10 candidates—two Republicans, both aligned with Trump, and seven Democrats—on California’s June 2 primary ballot. In the California primary, only the top two vote-getters, regardless of political party, will be on the November 3 ballot for governor.

The ballot is printed, and long. The weakening of votes spread thin among many Democratic candidates is still a real problem. The structure of the “top-two” primary sets the stage for disaster, leaving ~70% of the voting populace potentially un-represented.

Without solid evidence that a Democratic candidate will be in the “top-two”, and recognizing that Republicans are not sitting on the sidelines, we need to prioritize the safety of California’s gubernatorial seat. Redirecting votes and support from low-polling candidates—whose legacies and good work would be undone with a Republican governor—is how we protect California.

On the CA SOS Campaign website, we clarify how tenuous the situation is, and offer you powerful individual actions to ensure at least one Democratic candidate is an option on November’s ballot. Your actions will apply pressure in three key places: By urging the lower-polling candidates to withdraw, by pushing Governor Newsom to negotiate the consolidation of candidates, and by pressing the California Democratic Party to continue to push the low-polling candidates to drop out.

You’ll find forms and images to share on social media, scripts to use your voice and your network to press the low polling candidates to step down and throw their votes in with a leading candidate—and keep Californians safe.

CA S.O.S. Campaign

Give 💰!

Democrats are winning special elections by big margins. But they still suffer from poor polls and low voter enthusiasm. LET’S FIX IT!

What new tactics are out there that get attention and elicit action at the ballot box? And is it too late to start using them?

You’ll get to ask Jessica Craven (me) these and other questions in an online fundraiser for Blue CD2 NM on Wednesday, April 22, 6-7 PM MDT.

Your donations will help them buy postcards they mail to reluctant voters, billboards throughout their rural district, social media, programmatic ads and texting to engage the reluctant voters who can make a difference.

Register here. No donation required to attend.

Get in the Streets! 🪧

Friendly reminder: On May 1, 2026, workers, students, and families will rally, march, and take action across the country to demand a nation that puts workers over billionaires, with many refusing business as usual through No School. No Work. No Shopping.

Find your local event—or plan your own—here!

Win Races! 🗳

I’m going to attend a GOTV phonebank with the Environmental Voter Project on Monday, April 20, at 3PM PT / 6PM ET. These are my favorite kinds of phonebanks—so easy, so pleasant, and you NEVER have to talk politics—they’re nonpartisan! Join me? Remember, 4 seats are at stake in this election. It’s vitally important.

Register here.

Chop Wood, Save the Planet 🔥

Here’s an easy action for climate folks: Join Carbon CREW’s free monthly call and build your own Personal Climate Action Plan. No commitment. No cost. Just show up whenever it works for you, learn real ways to take climate action in your household and community, and become part of a growing community of people who care about the climate and want to learn from each other. One call a month, open to everyone.

Next call: Thursday, April 23 at 8pm ET / 5pm PT

Register here (this link stays current so you can sign up for any upcoming call):

Resistbot Letter (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.) 💻

[To: all 3 reps] [H/T] [Text SIGN PGQZIR to 50409, or to @Resistbot on Apple Messages, Messenger, Instagram, or Telegram]

(Note that for the most effective RESISTBOT it’s best to personalize this text. More about how to do this here. But if you’re short on time just send it as is using the above code.)

I understand that the Department of Justice has requested that a federal appeals judge vacate convictions for members of two far-right groups, the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers, who were found guilty of seditious conspiracy in connection with the violent January 6 Capitol attack. I find this absolutely appalling.

This is the Trump administration’s latest move to absolve the January 6 rioters, who stormed the Capitol in 2021 in an attempt to stop the peaceful transfer of power after Joe Biden’s election victory. What they did was shameful and illegal. They were tried and convicted. To overturn those convictions now is abhorrent.

The overt politicization of the DOJ, and their willingness to ignore or pardon real crimes while prosecuting Trump’s enemies, is dangerous, unconscionable, and frightening. Congress must push it to reassert its independence and focus on actually prosecuting criminals. Also, please make a statement opposing the vacation of these convictions. Thanks.

OK, you did it again! You’re helping to save democracy! You’re amazing.

Talk soon.

Jess

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Hey, all!

A quick note about the phonebank into Virginia I’m co-hosting with the Grassroots Dems HQ today: We have a very special guest coming to kick it off—Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi!! Come and hear her tell us why this election is so important!

The phonebank is at 3PM PT / 6PM ET. We have a ton of RSVPs and a great trainer—I hope you’ll come and help. It’s more important than ever that we win this ballot measure and win it massively; we can only do that with your help.

Here’s the RSVP link. Hope to see some of you there!

Talk tomorrow!

Jess

P.S. — I sent you a Tax Day primal scream video because I’m sure I’m not the only one who feels like paying taxes this year is AWFUL.

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Hi, all, and happy Tuesday.

Hope you’re all hanging in there.

I wanted to give you an update on what’s coming next with the budget fight. I’m going to do so by first sharing some information from an organization called Caring Across Generations. They advocate for Medicaid, and once again that program is in Republicans’ crosshairs, so they’re paying close attention.

From them:

Congress is considering the possibility of another reconciliation bill, following the massive reconciliation bill last year, H.R. 1, that gutted more than $1 trillion from Medicaid, Medicare, and the ACA in order to pay for tax breaks for the wealthiest and big corporations and to fund the Administration’s mass deportation and detention agenda.

Some members of Congress are moving very fast, hoping to draft a proposal for a reconciliation bill by the week of April 20. This time, some members of Congress are considering going through reconciliation to provide even more mandatory funding to ICE and CBP, continuing to pour billions of dollars into immigration enforcement that inflicts violence and harm in our communities, or to further fund the war in Iran instead of investing in human needs. At this point, details on exact amounts that Congress could be looking to fund are up in the air, but some members of Congress, like the chair of the House Budget Committee, have voiced interest in paying for war and ICE by making even further cuts to Medicaid and other critical needs programs…

On timing, the House and Senate Budget Committees are negotiating right now to determine what they will include in their potential reconciliation. Everything is very fluid, so this timing could change. The anticipated timing is below:

—The Senate wants to introduce and pass a budget resolution, the first procedural step to moving forward a reconciliation bill, the week of April 20th.

—The House would take up the resolution the following week, the week of April 27th.

—Congress will recess the week of May 4th.

—The Senate is aiming to pass a reconciliation bill the week of May 11th.

—The House would aim to pass the reconciliation bill the week of May 18th.

—June 1st: The President’s self-imposed goal to have a bill on his desk.

So that’s the basic situation. Republicans can’t force Democrats to vote to fund DHS the old-fashioned way (through appropriations) because Democrats are demanding changes to ICE in exchange for those votes. So Republicans will try to get that funding via reconciliation. Once they feel confident of success, they claim, they’ll pass a bill to fund the rest of DHS through regular order. It’s not the way things are supposed to work—at all—but it’s how they’re doing it because, well, they don’t care about anything but pleasing Trump.

That’s why we’re going to vote so many of them out in November, friends.

In the meantime, our next big job is in front of us: to try to make these ICE and DOD expenditures—and their coincident cuts—so costly electorally that Republicans won’t pass them. We’re going to have to make a huge amount of noise to achieve this, though, as it’s difficult to get Republicans to split from Trump. As his approval ratings continue to tank, however, and the economy continues to go with them, we may stand a chance.

Either way, I wanted you to have a brief synopsis of what’s likely to happen over the next few weeks, and when. It’s going to be a scramble, as well as an uphill climb, but we’ve got a real chance of stopping them if we organize and work together.

So let’s do that! Starting by making our calls right now!

Oh, also, the FISA reauthorization vote is TOMORROW in the House. Please make those calls, too! We really could prevail, but it’s going to be close! More on that below.

Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲

Hi, I’m a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.

First, I know that Congress is starting to put together a new reconciliation bill, to pass more funding for ICE, CBP, and Trump’s illegal war. The plan seems to be to pay for this by cutting Medicaid further. This is an absolutely terrible idea and a complete non-starter for me. I expect the Senator to oppose any more funding for ICE, CBP, or the Pentagon, and any more cuts to Medicaid. I’ll be watching this vote closely. Thanks.

Second, please ask the Senator to support S. 4115, the BETS OFF Act, to regulate prediction markets and block insider trading. Political wagering on prediction market platforms can be easily abused, and restrictions need to be enacted to stop government insiders from manipulating political events for personal profit. Thanks. [H/T]

Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲

Hi, I’m a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.

First, please ask the Congressmember to oppose a clean reauthorization of Section 702 of FISA. Section 702’s numerous loopholes allow for unwarranted government surveillance and can be easily manipulated at the expense of Americans’ civil liberties. The Congressmember should only support its extension with significant reforms. [H/T]

Second, I know that Congress is starting to put together a new reconciliation bill, to pass more funding for ICE, CBP, and Trump’s illegal war. The plan seems to be to pay for this by cutting Medicaid further. This is an absolutely terrible idea and a complete non-starter for me. I expect the Senator to oppose any more funding for ICE, CBP, or the Pentagon, and any more cuts to Medicaid. I’ll be watching this vote closely. Thanks.

Extra Credit ✅

DoorDash inserted themselves into politics yesterday by participating in a PR stunt involving Trump and a DoorDash driver (who may or may not have been a paid plant) in a photo op. I personally deleted the app this morning. They had a choice about participating in anything havong to do woth this adminstration. They chose wrong.

If you feel like contacting them to tell them how you feel about it it seems like Threads or Instagram is the best place (they’re not on Bluesky and on FB they have no messaging enabled). You can also do it through the app before you delete it.

Say something simple like:

Allowing DoorDash drivers to take part in government propaganda is wrong. Participating in any kind of PR for an administration that is lawless, vicious, and dangerous is disgusting. I will spend my dollars where my values are respected. I won’t be using DoorDash again.

Get Smart! 📚

I did an interview with Drop Site News yesterday about tomorrow’s FISA vote and the dangers of passing a “clean” bill. It’s not long, and there are two super smart privacy advocates on the panel with me. Please watch and/or share! We MUST stop this re-authorization until FISA has been fixed!

Messaging! Messaging! Messaging! 📣

Americans For Tax Fairness has put together a great social media toolkit for tax day (tomorrow). There are a ton of well composed posts, and a lot of good graphics below those that you can download and share (one is at the top of this newsletter). Please use this toolkit liberally to remind people of how rigged our system is right now.

Win Races! 🗳

Activate America is hosting two final phone banks into VA, both focused on reaching registered Black women voters and ensuring they have accurate information and a clear plan to vote ahead of the April 21 special election. Both also feature very special guests.

You can join them:

• Friday, April 17 at 3:00–4:30 PM ET / Noon-1:30 PM PT featuring Rep. Jennifer McClellan. RSVP HERE.

• Monday, April 20 at 3:00–4:30 PM ET / Noon-1:30 PM PT featuring Rep. Lauren Underwood. RSVP HERE.

This could be a very close election, and as they so often are in American politics, polls indicate that Black women might be the margin of victory. They’re also among the demographics most likely to be shared misinformation by nefarious actors. Please help if you can.

Resistbot Letter (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.) 💻

[To: all 3 reps] [H/T Mary on Resistbot] [Text SIGN PMDFZG to 50409, or to @Resistbot on Apple Messages, Messenger, Instagram, or Telegram]

(Note that for the most effective RESISTBOT it’s best to personalize this text. More about how to do this here. But if you’re short on time just send it as is using the above code.)

Senator Mark Kelly's PEACE ACT: S4278—please sponsor it, please vote for it.

Trump's ongoing usurpation of congressional powers is an abomination. Congress needs to reassert those powers, item by item and issue by issue if necessary.

"Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) introduced the Prohibiting Expenditures for an Accountability-Circumventing Entity (PEACE) Act to prohibit federal funding for the Board of Peace—an unaccountable international organization with President Trump as chairman that he is using to funnel over a billion dollars in American taxpayer money with no congressional oversight, treaty, or guardrails.

The Trump administration designated the Board of Peace as a public international organization in January 2026 and has since transferred $1.25 billion in federal funds meant for international disaster relief and peacekeeping operations—without congressional authorization or appropriation.

Unlike every other international organization the United States funds, U.S. participation in the Board of Peace was established by neither treaty nor act of Congress, meaning that it is not accountable to the American people."

This bill helps to rein in illegal executive expenditure. It should not be be necessary to legislate to defend the constitution, but it is: this legislation is necessary, appropriate, and aligned with your sworn oath to defend the constitution.

Please declare your support and vote for it.

A vote against it would be a betrayal of your oath and duty.

OK, you did it again! You’re helping to save democracy! You’re amazing.

Talk soon.

Jess

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Named one of the Time 100’s 2025 100 Most Influential People In The World, one of the Washington Post’s Next 50 Americans shaping society in 2026, and one of the Most Powerful Women by Washingtonian Magazine, Skye is a nationally respected lawyer, advocate, and executive. She serves as President and CEO of Democracy Forward, a nonpartisan, national legal organization that promotes democracy and progress through litigation, regulatory engagement, policy education, and research. Since January 2025, Democracy Forward has filed hundreds of legal actions, launched hundreds of investigations, and, through its Democracy 2025 initiative, has organized the largest, most successful affirmative litigation effort against executive branch excesses in United States history.

YOU WILL LOVE THIS CONVERSATION! It was so inspiring, hopeful, and informative.

Enjoy!

Jess

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Hi, all, and happy Monday!

And it is, indeed, a happy one—or as happy as any day can be while Trump is still president.

Global democracy saw a massive win yesterday with Peter Magyar’s landslide victory over Viktor Orbán in Hungary. Magyar’s party won huge majorities, too, which means they’ll be able to undo a good part of the damage Orbán’s done and hopefully hold his administration accountable. The margins of this election were so enormous that even Orbán couldn’t deny them—something our side should bear in mind as we head towards November. Voter turnout was almost 80%. Hungarians agreed on a candidate—even if he wasn’t their ideal—and unified behind him. It worked.

We will learn more in time about how this historic win played out, but for now let’s just celebrate it, folks. The strongman Trump spent years praising and imitating just got crushed by voters who are sick of corruption and economic pain—despite huge amounts of election chicanery on Team Orban’s part! WE CAN DO THIS HERE, TOO!

In other news, Eric Swalwell announced he is suspending his campaign. Good. I am friendly with the content creator who first broke this story (Mrs. Frazzled on social) and I couldn’t be more proud of both the way she exposed Swalwell and the way our party has responded. We could wish that someone had spoken up sooner—rumors of Swalwell’s behavior have been circulating for years—but now that the secret is out Democratic leadership has rightly—and swiftly—demanded his departure from the race. Some have gone further and demanded he resign, and he should. But Rep. Tony Gonzales, who has had equally egregious allegations of sexual abuse made against him, should step down as well. We will send a Resistbot letter about all of this today.

Finally, JD Vance’s attempts at “instant” diplomacy with Iran failed this weekend, as it was inevitable they would. Obama’s Iran deal took twenty months to negotiate; nothing meaningful was ever going to be accomplished in 48 hours.

Soon after Vance’s talks failed Trump announced a Naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. The thinking behind this seems to be that it will stop Iran from being able to transport its own oil through the Strait—the Trump administration had been allowing it to do so so that some oil was getting sold on the global market. Trump believes, apparently, that Iran will feel the financial pinch and give in. Few experts I’ve spoken to agree. The blockade may also be a pretense for bringing more naval vessels to the region. If it is, and if Trump is planning a ground invasion, we are in for blood and mayhem. I truly hope this is not the case.

Either way, Trump is in deep over his head. We need a War Powers resolution, and we need it now.

So, as always, there’s a lot to call about! Let’s get to work!

I am so happy for the people of Hungary, and so proud of you, who bring that same spirit to the fight for American democracy. Let’s do this!

Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲 and Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲

Hi, I’m a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.

I know the vote to reauthorize FISA’s section 702 is coming up on Wednesday. I strongly oppose a clean reauthorization. I know lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are fearmongering so they can rush this so-called “clean” version through. They’re saying if it doesn’t pass Americans will be less safe because surveillance will “go dark.” That’s a lie. The surveillance program authorized by Section 702 has already been extended by a judge for another year. There is NO REASON not to pass reforms that will actually help keep Americans safe. I want the data broker loophole closed and an end to backdoor, warrantless surveillance. Any lawmaker who votes for a clean reauthorization will lose my support, because they’ve thrown my privacy under the bus. I will be watching this vote closely. Thanks.

Second, we need a War Powers resolution and we need it now. Trump is in over his head; his latest actions show it. Congress needs to re-exert their co-equal authority and get involved in resolving this conflict. No one in Trump’s circle is up to the job.

Finally, Donald Trump is failing mentally. He needs to be removed. His post depicting himself as Jesus and his attacks on the Pope are dealbreakers. Impeach him. Remove him. Call for the 25th amendment. I don’t care how it happens— I just want him out.

LIVE Today with Skye Perriman of Democracy Forward! 🎤

So exciting! I’ll be interviewing Skye Perryman on today’s Live. Skye is President & CEO of Democracy Forward. Democracy Forward, in case you don’t know, is the INCREDIBLE legal organization that has been taking the Trump administration to court over and over again—and winning!

We’re going to talk about the cases DF is bringing to 1) protect immigrants and push back on ICE, b) protect our elections, and c) find out what happened to our SS data. YOU ARE GOING TO LOVE SKYE! She is a badass. Please come hear her at 4PM PT/7PM ET today! You will leave feeling way more hopeful about everything, I promise.

Extra Credit ✅

ICE seems to be making a policy of detaining and deporting medical professionals who work in Latino communities. In the last week they snatched two physicians, Dr. Bolivar and Dr. Veliz, both of whom provide care in the Rio Grande Valley in Texas. Without them the already grave dearth of providers in the area has grown exponentially worse.

My friend who is also a physician has launched a Resistbot letter to get these doctors released. I know I’ve got a Resistbot letter below, but today we’re going to do two. The letter is here—you can sign it by texting Sign PLLKKK to 50409.

Get Smart! 📚

Join the Coalition For Human Needs on Apr 16 at 10AM PT / 1PM ET for a timely webinar breaking down what’s ahead in the budget fight.

This webinar will explain what’s coming: Republicans’ expected use of “reconciliation,” a strategy to fund or cut certain programs that can pass with only a simple majority in the Senate (unlike regular appropriations bills that need 60 votes, and so must attract some Democratic support). Will reconciliation be used just to fund long-stalled ICE, Border Patrol and other Department of Homeland Security programs? Will it add hundreds of billions of additional Pentagon spending? Will it try to pay for these large sums by still more cuts to basic needs programs like Medicaid, SNAP, or the Earned Income Tax Credit?

With new appropriations bills needed by the end of September, will Congress reject or accept the harsh cuts proposed in the new Trump budget?

You will hear clear explanations of how the reconciliation process works and how advocates can be heard. Learn about how the Trump budget proposals slash basic needs programs. And hear how advocates can fight back to prevent those cuts and protect children and families, workers, immigrants, people with disabilities, and many others from hardship, discrimination, and injustice.

Featured speakers include:

• Marc Morial, President and CEO of the National Urban League

• Ellen Nissenbaum, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

• Sunjeev Bery, Campaign Director, People Over Pentagon

• Moderated by Deborah Weinstein, Executive Director, Coalition on Human Needs

Register to learn what’s coming—and how advocates can be heard at this critical moment.

Messaging! Messaging! Messaging! 📣

Here’s a social media / messaging toolkit designed to pressure Pam Bondi to comply with her subpoena and to urge Representative Comer to enforce it or hold her in contempt.

This toolkit includes key messaging, talking points, and sample posts for various platforms to assist with these efforts. I hope you find them useful!

Grab your Wallet! 💳

Citizens Bank is making ICE concentration camps possible, providing more than half a billion dollars in financing each to CoreCivic and The GEO Group. This is a choice to be complicit, and Citizens can make a different one.

The De-ICE Citizens Bank Coalition is building pressure on corporate leaders, with standouts ongoing, a digital week of action starting Wednesday, and a protest scheduled at the bank’s upcoming shareholder meeting in Providence on April 23rd.

On THURSDAY at 7PM ET, they’ll be holding a national mobilization call to talk about how we can get more involved in these efforts. Let’s sign up here.

(We can also find more info and a toolkit about taking part in the digital actions here.)

[H/T ]

Win Races! 🗳

There are three ways you can help us win the VA redistricting election today!

1. TEXTING: Join Virginians for Fair Elections at a textbank training TONIGHT (or tomorrow, or Wednesday, or Friday) Monday, April 13 from 6 – 7pm EDT Register here.

2. CALLING: Join me and Network NOVA TODAY at 2:30PM PT / 5:30 PM ET to make calls into VA. This’ll be fun and really well organized. Register here.

3. SPREADING THE WORD! Grab DemCast’s Virginia toolkit and POST! Spreading the word via social media is KEY. Please help if you can!

Resistbot Letter (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.) 💻

[To: all 3 reps] [H/T Rogan’s List] [Text SIGN PJOBAB to 50409, or to @Resistbot on Apple Messages, Messenger, Instagram, or Telegram]

(Note that for the most effective RESISTBOT it’s best to personalize this text. More about how to do this here. But if you’re short on time just send it as is using the above code.)

We are likely to see votes in the coming days on expelling Reps. Eric Swalwell and Tony Gonzales from Congress for sexually preying on women. We are counting on you to support removing both of these abusers from the House.

It is disgusting and infuriating that we’re only holding members of the club accountable for their crimes as part of partisan gamesmanship. The evidence that Rep. Gonzales pressured an aide for sex acts and retaliated against her when their “affair” was discovered has been public for weeks. Speaker Johnson and House leadership shamelessly stood by him. How long would this have gone on if they hadn’t found a Democrat to punish to even the score?

We are fed up with powerful people acting like they’re above the law and morality, hurting folks and getting away with it. We are furious with their fellow elites protecting them from justice until they can use it to serve their broader agendas. We are demanding that those who claim they are fit to lead show enough leadership to acknowledge that certain acts disqualify you from public office regardless of party identification.

It is clear that both Swalwell and Gonzales took advantage of their position to get away with exploiting and abusing women, and neither of them should be allowed to remain in the House of Representatives. It is also clear that they are facing the appropriate consequences for the wrong reasons. Please uphold this very basic standard in these upcoming votes, and please do so in the future without consideration of which side of the aisle they’re on.

OK, you did it again! You’re helping to save democracy! You’re amazing.

Talk soon.

Jess

Leave a comment

Hi, all, and happy Sunday!

I find myself marveling once again, as I finish putting this list together, at how many amazing things keep happening while we’re also suffering through the news cycle from hell. It’s strange how two things can be true at once: Everything is awful AND some great things are still coming to pass.

So let’s take a quick—or long!—break from doomscrolling and bask in this week’s victories. Victories, by the way, that transpired while we were waiting to see if Trump would blow up the world. He didn’t—yet, and that’s a good news item, too, I suppose.

Anyway. Buckle up, because there’s a whole lot to celebrate in this week’s list.

Remember, it’s because of the hard work of people like you that I have new items to put in this newsletter every Sunday. Keep it up! I’m so proud of you!

Celebrate This! 🎉

A Democrat won the mayoral race in Republican-leaning Waukesha, Wisconsin.

Shawn Harris didn’t win his Congressional race in GA-14, but he swung the margins 25 points to the left. That is HUGE!

Democratic-backed Chris Taylor won the Wisconsin Supreme Court race, ensuring a liberal majority on that court through the presidential elections in 2028 and redistricting in 2030. Better yet, Taylor won by 20 points! Massive!

April 7 was a huge day for LGBTQ representation in Wisconsin! The Brown County Board of Supervisors elected the first trans woman ever to hold that seat (in a Trump +7 district). A young trans man unseated a 16-year incumbent for the Menomonie Common Council District 8 race. And a nonbinary candidate ran for Dane County Board of Supervisors District 9 and won overwhemingly.

We flipped a mayoral seat in River Falls, Wisconsin.

All three Moms for Liberty candidates lost their school board races in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin.

Voters in Festus, MO, voted out four city council members who voted to approve a new data center in their town.

WI passed the nation’s first referendum requiring future large-scale data center building projects that receive tax benefits to secure approval from local voters.

A Democrat flipped a school board seat in Tulsa.

In the election for Salt River Project leadership in Phoenix, AZ, Turning Point Action lost a majority of the board seats to Clean Energy Team candidates. This was an under-the-radar but really important race; TPA put a TON of money into it.

A federal judge refused to block sending abortion pills by mail while the FDA continues its (unnecessary) review of mifepristone’s safety.

Governor Spanberger signed legislation to raise Virginia’s minimum wage to $15 per hour.

A federal judge has blocked the Pentagon’s latest bid to limit press access, tearing into the Department of Defense in a stinging ruling that warned “suppression of political speech is the mark of an autocracy, not a democracy.”

Cook Political Report just shifted the Iowa’s governors’ race rating from “Lean Republican” to “Tossup.”

To cap off his first 100 days in office, Mayor Zohran Mamdani walked the full 6 miles home from New York City Hall — greeting New Yorkers along the way.

Wisconsin GOP State Rep. Jerry O’Connor announced he won’t seek reelection. He is the 6th Wisconsin Republican to do so.

Tulsa, OK voters overwhelmingly approved each of four bond propositions for Tulsa Public Schools. The entire package totals $609 million for the district and was staunchly opposed by Republicans.

A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to turn over all their evidence on Renee Good’s murder.

The Cook Political Report upgraded the U.S. House races in FL-27, NJ-09, OH-01, OH-13, and PA-08 in Democrats’ favor.

Massachussetts’ top court ruled that Meta must face a lawsuit by the Massachusetts attorney general alleging that as the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, it deliberately designed social media features to addict young users.

Mexico’s 120 million citizens will begin to enjoy free, universal access to healthcare next year, following a decree by socialist president Claudia Sheinbaum.

HUGE! Over the course of March, the US got more electricity from renewables than it did from natural gas, which is typically the single-largest source of energy on the U.S. grid. It’s the first time renewables have bested fossil fuel in the U.S. across an entire month.

Rep. Jamie Raskin requested the White House physician conduct a “comprehensive cognitive assessment” of President Trump and brief Congress on the results.

House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chair Rep. James Comer said that the panel would be holding hearings to give victims of Jeffrey Epstein the chance to speak about his crimes against them.

Minnesota’s largest pediatric health system is restoring gender-affirming care for minors after a federal judge blocked a Trump administration effort to label the treatment unsafe, reversing a suspension that had disrupted care for families across the state.

Following a historic vote, U.K. women who have been convicted, and in some cases jailed, over illegal abortions are set to be pardoned.

The British government barred Ye — the rapper formerly known as Kanye West — from entering the country to play a series of concerts because of his history of antisemitism. The U.S. should take note!

The Artemis II mission officially surpassed the Apollo 13 distance record of 248,655 statute miles from Earth, then returned to earth successfully. A beautiful, uniting mission accomplished!

American freelance journalist Shelly Kittleson was released in Baghdad after being held by the pro-Iran militia Kataib Hezbollah since March 31.

On the fourth anniversary of Amazon Labor Union-IBT 1 becoming the first union to win an election at an Amazon facility, the National Labor Relations Board ruled conclusively that the megacorporation must come to the bargaining table.

A federal judge from Massachusetts has blocked the Trump administration’s decision to end Temporary Protected Status for over 5,000 Ethiopians.

A significant number of Trump’s 2024 voters say they will not support a Republican candidate in the midterms, a new poll has found.

A federal judge dismissed the Justice Department’s lawsuit against Massachusetts Secretary of State William Galvin that sought to force him to turn over private information about his state’s voters. Judges have also dismissed the cases against California, Michigan, and Oregon.

A federal judge denied the State Department’s bid to dismiss a lawsuit from a Havana Syndrome victim who alleges the government retaliated against him for testifying to Congress, allowing the case to go to trial.

Gov. Janet Mills signed a proposal into law to allow Mainers to install small, portable solar energy systems in their homes. Go balcony solar!!

The Trump administration has quietly declined to appeal rulings that shut down its attempts to halt offshore wind construction. This is a really big deal!

A megachurch in Virginia donated $1M to stop over 300 families from being evicted.

Trump seems to have broken with a bunch of his long-term, hardcore MAGA allies, and it’s ugly.

India is set to quadruple solar power capacity and triple wind power capacity in the next decade.

​Dolly Parton made a “generational and transformational” donation to the hospital named after her. The East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, now the Dolly Parton Children's Hospital, said the money will be a lifeline for years to come.

The U.S. teenage birth rate fell by 7% in 2025, continuing a decades-long decline, according to a report published by the National Center for Health Statistics.

​Florence + The Machine is partnering with Planned Parenthood on tour amid a “life and death” fight for abortion rights. In 2023, Florence Welch received life-saving reproductive health care for an ectopic pregnancy that caused her to miscarry, and the experience informed her latest album.

For the first time in his second term, Donald Trump is underwater with white working class voters

This budget year, Congress quietly saved funding for the government’s popular Energy Star program. Bipartisan majorities also salvaged weather forecasting, fisheries and climate research at the NOAA, and even some international environmental aid. Climate advocates are hoping something similar happens this go-around.

Thanks to bipartisan pushback from lawmakers and the public, the Trump administration abandoned its plans for a physical border wall in Big Bend National Park.

A critically endangered whale species now has a GoFundMe after its research grants cut were cut by the Trump administration.

​Chile’s “near threatened” seals gained protection with a new marine park.

Pope Leo XIV denounced the ‘delusion of omnipotence’ that is fueling the U.S.-Israel war in Iran and demanded political leaders stop and negotiate peace.

​Luxembourg became the second country in the world to enshrine abortion rights into its constitution. France was the first to do so in 2024.

The price of lithium-ion batteries has fallen 99% in the last three decades. At the same time, batteries have also gotten better.

Voter turnout hit historic levels as Hungarians cast their ballots today, reaching over 77% participation by the time polls closed. Exit polls are looking promising…FINGERS CROSSED!

​A seabird colony in the U.K. is finally rebounding after a trained detection dog helped eradicate ferrets from their island.

Guerilla style street signs have popped up all over Los Angeles telling ICE they are not welcome.

Janelle Monáe, Spike Lee, Jodie Foster, and a battalion of pediatricians joined the growing coalition calling for Dilley Detention Center’s shutdown

At least 70 House Democrats are now calling for Trump’s impeachment.

The largest ever Global Sumud Flotilla departed for Gaza, aiming to break Israel’s blockade and deliver desperately needed aid to Gazans.

Watch this!

If you haven’t yet seen Bruce Springsteen’s opening for his new tour, do watch. This is him in Los Angeles this week (footage courtesy of Margaret Nagle on Threads)

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Hi, all, and happy Friday!

Well, we made it through another week, and this one was a doozy. It isn’t every week that you get to say we dodged a genocide, but this week, stunningly, we sort of can.

Of course the more we know about Trump’s supposed “last-minute deal” to avoid said genocide, the more it looks like just a way for him to get out of a humiliating, lose-lose situation. In fact there’s no real deal yet at all. The Strait is still closed, Iran still has its uranium, the “new” regime is worse than the old one, and Iranian sanctions are still lifted. Israel is still attacking Lebanon. Nothing good—aside from an avoided genocide—has come from this at all. Quite the contrary.

Meanwhile, on the domestic front, the news just keeps getting worse for Trump.

Today, new economic data revealed just how much inflation has skyrocketed due to Trump’s war in Iran. Americans are shelling out an average of $4.15 per gallon of gas nationwide, drug companies are considering increasing their prices, and there’s no relief in sight. Consumer prices rose 3.3% in March from a year earlier, up from just 2.4% in February and the biggest yearly increase since May 2024. Consumer sentiment is now at the lowest level ever recorded.

As if that’s not bad enough, Melania Trump did an impromptu, unexpected, and deeply cryptic press conference yesterday. Per Wapo:

First lady Melania Trump on Thursday issued a rare public statement denying that she had a close relationship with convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell.

Standing at a lectern in the Grand Foyer of the White House, the first lady labeled as “lies” unspecified allegations linking her to Epstein and said they “need to end today.” She said she was “never involved in any capacity” in Epstein’s abuse of his victims and characterized the disgraced financier and his partner as casual acquaintances who sometimes were present at parties she and President Donald Trump attended in the early 2000s.

The weird thing about this, of course, is not only that Trump had no idea Melania was going to speak, but that there are no new accusations against her that would have justified such a speech. Or not yet, anyway. Rumors abound that something big is about to drop—many think it could be from Amanda Ungaro, the ex-partner of Paolo Zampolli, the modeling agent who allegedly introduced Melania to Trump in 1998 and who now sits on the Kennedy Center’s Board of Directors. Zampolli asked the Trump administration to deport Ungaro during a nasty breakup and custody dispute, and they complied. She is now, apparently, out for blood. Read Wajahat Ali’s short thread to learn more; the TLDR is that new Epstein-related information seems almost certain to be coming.

Since the DOJ just announced that they would let Pam Bondi skip her April 14 hearing—something Democrats are rightly denouncing—I thought the above presented a good opportunity to put more pressure on Congress to expose the Epstein ring. So we’ll do that.

There’s a lot more happening, of course, but this newsletter is already late, so let’s get to work!

Remember, your actions may seem small, but when put together with the small actions of millions of others they can literally change the course of history! So let’s goooo!

Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲

Hi, I’m a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.

First, yesterday Melania Trump urged Congress to give Epstein survivors a public hearing to help uncover the truth. I support her call. Will Congress immediately schedule such hearings? Also, Pam Bondi needs to come in to testify as planned. If she defies her subpoena, Congress should begin contempt charges. We are tired of the DOJ’s obstruction.

Second, please ask the Senator to vote no on a clean FISA renewal. We absolutely must close the “data broker” loophole. I am terrified of what will happen to our privacy if this corrupt and lawless administration unleashes AI on our data. The Senator should be deeply concerned, too. Please vote no on a clean reauthorization. Fix what’s wrong with FISA now! Thanks.

Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲

Hi, I’m a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.

First, yesterday Melania Trump urged Congress to give Epstein survivors a public hearing to help uncover the truth. I support her call. Will Congress immediately schedule such hearings? Also, Pam Bondi needs to come in to testify as planned. If she defies her subpoena, Congress should begin contempt charges. We are tired of the DOJ’s obstruction.

Second, please ask the Congressmember to vote no on a “clean” FISA renewal. We absolutely must close the “data broker” loophole. I am terrified of what will happen to our privacy if this corrupt and lawless administration unleashes AI on all of our data. The Congressmember should be deeply concerned, too. Please vote no on a clean reauthorization. Fix what’s wrong with FISA now!

Extra Credit ✅

Tomorrow, the U.S. Treasury Department has to make a decision that will determine whether companies tied to the abduction of Ukrainian children keep making money.

On April 11, a temporary U.S. sanctions waiver allowing Russian oil sales is set to expire. That waiver currently lets companies like Gazprom and Rosneft continue selling oil on global markets.

Here’s why that matters right now: A new report from Yale’s Humanitarian Research Lab found that these same companies have helped transport and indoctrinate more than 2,000 Ukrainian children taken from occupied territories.

If the waiver is extended past this weekend, the U.S. will continue allowing companies tied to these abuses to profit. That is unacceptable.

👉 Use this link to tell Congress: let the waiver expire, reinstate sanctions, and pass the DROP Act, which would sanction Russia’s oil sector for good.

[H/T Razom]

Get Smart! 📚

Are you a soccer fan? Then read this, from Working Families Action:

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the biggest sporting event ever held in North America. We’re here to make sure this moment belongs to the people — the fans, the families, and the communities who make the game beautiful.

That’s why we launched Our Copa with Mijente, a campaign rooted in the understanding that fútbol is more than a sport. For many of us, it’s a shared language, a way of life, and a chance to build meaningful connections within our communities. Now, we’re inviting you to be part of it.

We’re hosting a mass call for anyone ready to turn World Cup energy into real organizing. Because we know that there’s no World Cup without the people of the world.

If you’re heading to a Fan Fest: we’ll show you how to engage and organize in those spaces.

If you’re watching from home: we’ll help you turn your watch party into something bigger.

Join us on Thursday, April 16, 2026 at 8:00 PM ET/5:00 PM PT to learn more about Our Copa initiative, offer tools and resources, and talk through how you plug in.

Give 💰!

To help retake the House, Blue Tent is recommending that we support three coalitions working to engage, persuade, and mobilize voters in 46 swing districts: Battleground Alliance, Battleground California, and Battleground New York.

These coalitions are comprised of scores of organizing groups and unions with strong ties in communities and deep experience in connecting with voters. Please support this work if you can. Blue Tent is dedicated to telling left-leaning donors where their money can do the most good. I trust their recommendations fully.

Donate

Win Races—call with me! 🗳

Democracy doesn’t defend itself — but you can help by joining a Fight Back Vote Yes phone bank for Virginia

Every shift kicks off with a special guest host to get you energized.

And speaking of guest hosts — I’m hosting Monday, April 12, starting at 2:30pm PT (5:30pm ET). Come hear my pep talk and then make calls with me! It’s a great crowd, an easy dialer, and we’re talking to folks who are already motivated to act. Sign up here to phone bank with me.

Other upcoming hosts include Simon Rosenberg, Glenn Krischner, Reed Galen and special Friday Happy Hour Dialing with Delegates. Click here for the full schedule

Win races—write letters!

Vote Forward still has 35,000 more letters to distribute for the VA elections. THESE ARE SO EASY! They take just a few minutes each and can have a big impact. I am committing to doing 5. Can you join me? Please? Let me know in the comments if you do!

Sign up here.

Resistbot Letter (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.) 💻

[To: your House rep] [H/T] [Text SIGN SIGN PJXMRM to 50409, or to @Resistbot on Apple Messages, Messenger, Instagram, or Telegram]

(Note that for the most effective RESISTBOT it’s best to personalize this text. More about how to do this here. But if you’re short on time just send it as is using the above code.)

Please champion the U.S. Farmworker Protection Act (H.R. 7541), which will cap the number of H-2A visas at 400,000 annually, helping to protect local jobs and curb human rights violations.

The runaway growth of the H-2A program has been a disaster for US farm workers’ wages and jobs. We’ve had local workers tell us about being illegally fired to make way for H-2A guest workers, resulting in gender and age discrimination. Additionally, this expansion has resulted in numerous cases of human trafficking, forced labor, sexual violence, wage theft, unsafe housing conditions, and other human rights abuses.

Currently, the H-2A agricultural guest worker program is uncapped and has ballooned in size — growing more than 7 times larger than the number of visas issued in 2005. This common-sense legislation would cap the number of H-2A visas at 400,000 annually. Please vote yes on this bill to support the workers who are putting food on America’s tables today. Thanks!

OK, you did it again! You’re helping to save democracy! You’re amazing.

Talk Sunday.

Jess

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Hi, all, and happy Thursday.

Hope you’re hanging in there. What a week. Good grief.

Let’s start with the good news. Tuesday was a terrible day in lots of ways, but it also happened to be a remarkable election day for us. We not only won the Wisconsin Supreme Court race by twenty points (!!) and guaranteed a liberal majority there for at least the next ten years, but we over-performed in the GA-14 Congressional race by 25 points! Wow! Even though we didn’t flip Marjorie Taylor Green’s seat—something that was always more or less an impossibility—our efforts to get out the vote for Shawn Harris still mattered; that massive swing is making headlines and likely terrifying Republicans everywhere!

We had a bunch more wins on Tuesday—I’ll have them all in Extra! Extra! on Sunday—and as far as I know Republicans had absolutely no victories to crow about at all, aside from, yes, winning a seat in the reddest district in Georgia that they were basically guaranteed to win. We are clearly the ones with the electoral winds at our backs, and those winds are only picking up speed and gaining strength; by November, at this rate, they’ll be gale force. That’s good news. I know things are excruciating right now, but let’s try to hold on to the fact that the midterms are coming, and when they do they’re going to be a rout.

So congratulations and thanks to everyone who wrote postcards, sent texts, knocked doors, or made phone calls for any of these races. Your efforts mattered so very much, and it’s important to keep them up. The next big election is in Virginia on the 21st, and after phonebanking for it yesterday I’m frankly a little concerned. There is a ton of confusion out there, due to an huge amount of misleading campaign advertising (I made a video about it here.) It’s critical that we all join the GOTV efforts for Vote Yes if we can—this ballot measure could be the difference between our flipping the House in November or dealing with two more years of unmitigated hell!

And please, if you have friends or family in VA, let them know they need to vote yes and get everyone they know to do the same. Polling is way too close on this one. We need to ramp up our actions!

Now let’s talk about the ceasefire agreement Trump supposedly reached with Iran on Tuesday (Jay Kuo has a great piece here about why that’s likely not the way it actually played out). It’s good that Trump used the pretense of a new agreement to opt out of genocide, of course, but the agreement itself, such as it is, is a disaster. The absolutely brutal, murderous Iranian regime is still in power, Iran still has its nuclear material, it retains thousands of missiles and drones, along with its proxy network, and it remains in control of the Strait of Hormuz—which, by the way, is still closed.

As National Security Action posted this morning:

If the Iranian regime survives, maintains a dangerous arsenal of missiles and drones, keeps its highly enriched uranium, and now effectively operates a multibillion-dollar toll booth in the Strait of Hormuz – how can we view this war as anything but a complete and utter failure?

Iran’s autocratic regime is intact and emboldened – now likely dominated by even more hardline elements. Rather than toppling the regime or pushing for democratic change, Trump has proven to its leaders that they can withstand a war with the United States.

A nuclear Iran is more likely than ever. The war has likely strengthened the argument among Iranian hardliners that nuclear weapons are necessary to ensure the regime’s survival.

Trump’s claim that Iran’s military capabilities have been “destroyed” is wishful thinking at best. Iran retains thousands of dangerous missiles and drones and, over time, there is little doubt that the regime will seek to fully rebuild its military capabilities.

It’s a mess. Meanwhile, Israel spent yesterday massacring civilians in Lebanon—especially disturbing when you consider that we helped pay for it. And House Republicans just blocked another War Powers Resolution this morning.

It’s a very, very bad situation. While we should see all of this for the grim reality that it is, however, we mustn’t let ourselves succumb to despair. That, after all, is exactly what Trump, Stephen Miller, and Pete Hegseth want.

We must keep fighting. The stakes are too high, the victims too numerous, and the rule of law too important. While everything seems rotten—and it is—Trump is growing weaker by the day. In fact new polling released yesterday by Free Speech for People shows that 84% of Democratic Voters, 55% of Independents, and 20% of Republicans now support impeaching Trump for violating Americans’ constitutional rights. Wild!

So have hope. We’re in the worst part, folks. It may stay bad for a while, but we are going to prevail.

Now enough talk. Let’s get to work. The below scripts are a little long but there is SO MUCH important to call about. Do what you can, thanks!

P.S. — Hope to see some of you at the First In Line webinar later today! It’s going to be great!

Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲

Hi, I’m a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.

First of all, I want the Senator to Vote NO on FISA reauthorization unless Congress closes the data broker loophole and bans no-warrant surveillance. This is really important to me; I’m watching this vote closely.

Second, I understand that Trump has ordered the dismantling of the US Forest Service and I’m furious about it. Congress needs to stop this. I am tired of this administration destroying natural resources and gutting funding meant to protect wild spaces.

Finally, I want a war powers resolution passed NOW, and am really angry that House Republicans just blocked another one. I also 100% oppose one penny more being spent on this war. I am furious about the bombardment of Lebanon yesterday, furious about how badly Trump has botched this whole illegal enterprise, and furious that our money is going to slaughtering innocent people. It has to stop. Thanks.

Last question: How much damage does one man have to do before Congress impeaches and removes him? For God’s sake get him out!

Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲

Hi, I’m a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.

First of all, I want the Senator to Vote NO on FISA reauthorization unless Congress closes the data broker loophole and bans no-warrant surveillance. This is really important to me; I’m watching this vote closely.

Second, I understand that Trump has ordered the dismantling of the US Forest Service and I’m furious about it. Congress needs to stop this. I am tired of this administration destroying natural resources and gutting funding meant to protect wild spaces.

Finally, I want a war powers resolution passed NOW, and am really angry that House Republicans just blocked another one. I also 100% oppose one penny more being spent on this war. I am furious about the bombardment of Lebanon yesterday, furious about how badly Trump has botched this whole illegal enterprise, and furious that our money is going to slaughtering innocent people. It has to stop. Thanks.

Last question: How much damage does one man have to do before Congress impeaches and removes him? For God’s sake get him out!

Extra Credit ✅

Trump just ordered the most devastating dismantling of the US Forest Service in 121 years. Many outdoor brands that built their entire business on public lands haven't said a word. It's time to change that.

This SaveUSFS.org website is INCREDIBLE and makes it super easy to reach out to the brands who haven’t yet spoken up. Please check it out!

Get Smart! 📚

The Trump administration is converting warehouses across the country into mass detention facilities — and communities are already fighting back. Join Indivisible, Detention Watch Network, Disappeared in America, and other partners on April 14th for a one-hour national training call where you will learn the tactics and strategies to host actions in defense of immigrants in your community.

This call is for everyone, including if you live near an existing or proposed site. On this call, you will:

-Hear directly from organizers at a frontline site fight about what they’re planning.

-Get an overview and resources so you can host a safe, effective event in your community.

-Register your actions live on Mobilize, with step-by-step support.

There’s a role for everyone, whether you’re in a community with a proposed warehouse facility or not.

RSVP here.

Win Races! 🗳

From Network NOVA:

Now through April 21 - Vote YES VA Phone Banks Galore! Celebrity Phone Banks. Every night someone new! Each Zoom phone bank starts with a special guest host to get us inspired and energized to make calls a half hour later. Training for newcomers and ongoing support will be available during every phone bank. If you’ve never used a dialer before, consider watching this video ahead of time.

List of guest hosts and sign up at this link. You may even see me there! (:

Chop Wood, Save the Planet 🔥

Red, Wine, and Blue presents: What You Need to Know: AI Data Centers in Your Community

Thursday, April 9, 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM ET

AI data centers are expanding rapidly across the country. While promising jobs and innovation, these data centers often move into cities with little public input. What do these massive facilities actually mean for your community?

Join RWB to hear from the experts at AI Now to learn what AI data centers are, why they’re spreading so quickly, and the real environmental and financial impacts they can have locally. We’ll also share proven strategies communities are using to demand transparency, hold decision-makers accountable, and push back effectively. Whether a proposal is already on the table or still flying under the radar, you’ll leave ready to protect your community and take action before decisions are made for you.

RSVP here.

Resistbot Letter (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.) 💻

[To: all 3 reps] [H/T ] [Text SIGN PJWTYC to 50409, or to @Resistbot on Apple Messages, Messenger, Instagram, or Telegram]

(Note that for the most effective RESISTBOT it’s best to personalize this text. More about how to do this here. But if you’re short on time just send it as is using the above code.)

Donald Trump’s Easter Sunday threats against Iran should alarm every member of Congress, regardless of party.

In public statements and social media posts, he threatened to destroy Iranian power plants and bridges, used profane and taunting language, and then suggested that if no deal were reached, very little would be off limits. This is not a question of style, and it is not about whether one agrees with his broader foreign policy. It is about whether a president who speaks this way about war, civilian infrastructure, and mass destruction can be trusted with the powers of the office.

A president must show judgment, restraint, and the ability to distinguish between lawful military objectives and reckless threats against civilians. Trump’s words showed the opposite. Publicly threatening civilian infrastructure is not strength. It is evidence of dangerous instability and a profound disregard for the obligations of the office.

[Read the rest here]

OK, you did it again! You’re helping to save democracy! You’re amazing.

Talk soon.

Jess

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If you want a script to call your reps I’ll have one in the newsletter today. But 5 Calls has a good one, too. Thanks!

Regular newsletter will come soon.

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Regular newsletter will come soon after, but may be a tad late today because of the Live. Sorry! This FISA stuff is literally that important.

Here’s a video I posted about it last night to give you some idea of what’s happening.

Thanks! See some of you soon, I hope!

I don’t normally do a post on Wednesdays, but I’m sending out a special edition because an organization I LOVE is in danger of shutting its doors and I want to see if we can help.

First, I want to be completely clear: I will not profit off of this ask in any way. This org is simply providing an incredible service and I don’t want to see them go.

An irony of Trump’s assault on our democracy is that it has created an existential crisis for our fellow advocates in the climate movement. The migration of activist energy and dollars from climate to the defense of our democracy has left climate defenders in a perilous position.

Nobody knows this better than my good friend, Brett Walter, founder and CEO of Climate Action Now. Climate Action Now has been at the cutting edge of climate action since launching its innovative Climate Action Now App on Earth Day in 2021.

In an early pilot, Al Gore’s Climate Reality Project found that citizens using the Climate Action Now app took 29 times more action than those using conventional advocacy tools like web forms. Why? Because it’s way easier and more rewarding to use!

I fell in love with this wonderful app, recommend it frequently to readers, and have been honored to moderate several of Climate Action Now’s amazing Action Parties, online events where people learn about climate issues from experts while simultaneously taking action with the Climate Action Now app.

Brett also understands that many lose hope when confronting the enormity of the climate crisis, so he created the popular Daily Dose of Climate Hope newsletter on Substack, which delivers a single dose of hopeful news and a single action to take into your inbox every day.

And now, Brett has created the wonderful new CAN Action Carousel so that concerned citizens can take action without even needing an app.

But with the migration of activists and dollars to defend our democracy, his wonderful organization is now on the brink of closing its doors.

Folks, we can’t let that happen. We need to be able to do both - to defend our democracy AND preserve a livable planet for future generations. We must not let Trump destroy our democracy OR our climate.

There are many worthy climate organizations, and many of them are suffering now, but Climate Action Now is one I love and will do my utmost to help.

Here are a few simple things you can do if you’d like to help:

1. Get the Climate Action Now app and start taking action with just a few taps.

2. If you don’t want another app on your phone, use the incredible new CAN Action Carousel on the Climate Action Now website and spend just 5 minutes a day sending messages in defense of our climate. It’s just as easy as the app! With the app or the carousel, you’ll earn points, and when you earn enough points, Climate Action Now will plant real trees on your behalf.

3. Become a Climate Action Now member for as little as $9.95/month. Membership has lots of cool benefits, like savings on trees that you can gift to loved ones.
   

4. Take advantage of CAN’s amazing Save the Planet subscription service. For a few dollars each month, Climate Action Now will plant trees, preserve the Amazon rainforest, and deploy solar panels in the Global South.
   

5. Sign up for Climate Action Now’s wonderful Dose of Climate Hope Substack (free with optional paid subscription) and get hopeful news and a single action delivered into your inbox every day.
   

6. If you’d rather stay focused on democracy action, check out CAN’s amazing new Dashboard for Democracy, which features actions recommended by yours truly, Robert Hubbell, and other democracy advocates. It’s a one-stop shop for democracy action:

Brett created this wonderful organization and these terrific tools on behalf of our climate and, now, on behalf of our democracy without taking a single penny for himself. In fact, the entire Climate Action Now management team consists entirely of volunteers like himself. But he also has a small but mighty paid staff of young people doing essential work, and of course, has expenses like servers, licenses, etc.

Please help me keep this wonderful organization working on behalf of our planet and future generations.

Join Climate Action Now.

OK, all. Thanks for helping in any way you can. More tomorrow!

Jess

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Hi, all, and happy Tuesday.

Obviously it’s not happy, as Trump sent out a Truth post this morning that put the fear of God into any halfway decent person. I’m sure you’ve seen or heard about it; he threatened genocide against the Iranian people. As bad as Sunday’s post was, this one was far, far worse.

What will Trump do? Is he planning, as some say, to nuke Iran? Or to flatten their power plants? Or “simply” to bomb all of their civilian infrastructure? All of the above are terrifying prospects, and all are war crimes. We should be clear on that when we call our representatives.

And call we should. While we can’t force Trump’s cabinet to invoke the 25th—they almost certainly won’t, as they share his moral depravity and corruption—we can and should deluge our lawmakers with demands that they do SOMETHING. We should remind them, loudly, that they could stop this today with a vote to impeach and remove Trump, and that they should do so. We should also call Republican leadership and tell them to reconvene Congress—it’s insane that they’re on vacation while Trump is literally threatening to end a civilization.

Please. Encourage your friends and family to call. Some may respond: “It’ll never work. Congress are cowards. We’re screwed.” Tell them that we’re surely screwed if we do nothing. If we use our voices commandingly and in huge numbers, however, we can at least hope that the needle will move. To paraphrase Nelson Mandela, everything is impossible until it happens. We absolutely cannot survive three more years of this. And while the elections in November should provide much relief, they are eight months away. Too much damage can be done between now and then. We need Congress to step up.

We will call for impeachment as if our lives depend on it. They may. And the Iranian people’s lives almost definitely do.

Sending love and strength during these troubled times. Remember to breathe. And remember the words of Marcus Aurelius: "You have power over your mind, not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength."

Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲

Hi, I’m a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.

I’m calling to express my outrage over Trump’s disgusting post this morning. He’s deranged, sadistic, and utterly unfit for office. I ask that the Senator immediately call for him to be impeached. Also please do everything in your power to stop him and Pete Hegseth from committing genocide in Iran. All of this, of course, will require Congress to end its vacation and get back to DC now, which they absolutely should.

One more thing: please ask the Senator to oppose any bill to reauthorize FISA until the data broker loophole is closed and warrants are required. This administration can’t be trusted with out data, and neither can Sam Altman. Thanks.

Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲

Hi, I’m a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.

First, I’m calling to express my outrage over Trump’s disgusting post this morning. He’s deranged, sadistic, and utterly unfit for office. I ask that the Congressmember support Rep. Larson’s new Resolution of Impeachment, H. Res. 1155, and push your colleagues to support it as well. We need Trump removed immediately. Also please do everything in your power to stop him and Pete Hegseth from committing genocide in Iran today. All of this, of course, will require Congress to end their vacation and get back to DC now, which they absolutely should.

One more thing: please ask the Congressmember to oppose any bill to reauthorize FISA until the data broker loophole is closed and warrants are required. This administration can’t be trusted with out data, and neither can Sam Altman. Thanks.

Call Republican Leadership

Let’s call Senate Majority Leader John Thune at (202) 224-2321 or (605) 225-8823 or (605) 334-9596 AND House Speaker Mike Johnson at ‭(202) 225-4000‬ or ‭(318) 840-0309‬ or ‭(337) 423-4232‬ and say:

Hi, I’m calling the Majority Leader / Speaker to demand that they get back to DC immediately and reconvene Congress. Donald Trump is committing war crimes and threatening the genocide of the Iranian people and Congress is nowhere to be found. It’s insanity. Get back to DC and do something. Preferably impeachment. He’s a dangerous lunatic; he cannot remain in power. Thanks.

Extra Credit ✅

A new rule that the Trump administration is proposing would gut the immigration appeals process. Right now, people ordered deported have 30 days to appeal. They’re trying to lower that to ten days. Imagine trying to find a lawyer, gather evidence, and file paperwork in 10 days: from detention, in a language you don’t speak. Imagine being a kid trying to do this alone.

Federal courts have blocked parts of it, but it’s not settled. Public comments are open until April 8th, and the National Immigrant Justice Center has a tool to help you leave one, but it’s very important that you rewrite the comment in your own words! The government only counts unique comments. Even writing two sentences about why due process matters to you, or why you think children deserve more than 10 days to appeal their deportation, is a powerful way to use your voice!

Again, the tool is here.

Extra Extra Credit ✅✅

Casey Means is unqualified to be the Nation’s Surgeon General. Stand Up For Science has made it easy for you to tell your Senator this by sending them a letter using this tool. If they're on the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, you’ll urge them to oppose Casey Means’s confirmation as Surgeon General. If not, you’ll urge them to stand against Means on her full senate vote.

Get Smart on Voting Rights

HOW THE SUPREME COURT COULD ROLL BACK VOTING RIGHTS Tuesday, April 7, 7:00 PM ET

Voting rights are under attack and a pending case before the U.S. Supreme Court, Callais v. Louisiana, could be one of the most consequential decisions for the future of our democracy.

Join Red, Wine, and Blue to hear from Janai Nelson of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, who argued this case before the Court. Janai will break down what the case is about, why it matters so deeply for voting rights, and how it could reshape the protections established under the Voting Rights Act of 1965. She’ll explain how the Court could weaken legal safeguards on voting and what that would mean for fair representation and access to the ballot across the country.

SIGN UP NOW

Get Smart on the war! 📚

The U.S.-Israeli War: Destabilizing Lebanon and the Broader Region with the Center For American Progress

Trump’s war of choice in Iran has dominated global attention. Less discussed are the consequences for a broader region already stressed from years of conflict and insecurity. Israel’s bombardments against Hezbollah in Lebanon, for instance, have displaced more than a million people.

Please join the Center for American Progress for a virtual conversation with expert panelists based in the region who will explore the regional political, security, and humanitarian dynamics of the U.S.-Israeli war, with a particular focus on Lebanon.

Wednesday, April 8, at 2PM ET

RSVP here.

If You’re In Los Angeles…

Silverlake No Kings and Swing Left Los Feliz are hosting a “Picnic & Purpose” community gathering on April 11 at Silver Lake Meadows—a joyful, welcoming space to come together, build real connection, and turn our shared hope and urgency into collective action. They’ll have incredible local grassroots orgs like Civic Sundays, HODG, Field Team 6, Community Defense and more sharing easy ways to get involved.

In a moment that can feel overwhelming, this gathering is about grounding ourselves in community, lifting each other up, and remembering that showing up—together—is one of the most powerful acts of resistance we have.

Bring a blanket, a picnic, and a friend—and join them for an afternoon of connection and purpose.

12:00-2:30PM PT this Saturday. RSVP here. This is an in-person event!

Get in the Streets! 🪧

From April 11th to the 25th, the We Are America March (WAAM) will journey from Philadelphia to Washington, DC carrying a copy of the Constitution transcribed by children from all across the country. Join this pro-democracy movement: walk for a mile, a day, or the whole way!

In September 2025, 50 core marchers from around the country completed this 160-mile march, with hundreds more joining as day marchers. On April 11th, WAAM aims to double the number of core marchers and double the impact.

WAAM’s fundamental mission uses community building and skill-sharing to defend the experiment that is American democracy. By marching, WAAM aims to demonstrate that our neighbors throughout the country are not alone in their resistance and to empower each other to take on leadership roles in our own backyards. WAAM is a reminder of our shared responsibility to take a stand (or a step) in defense of each other.

March leadership is committed to making the 15-day event as safe and accessible as possible. Following a carefully curated and tested route, marchers are accompanied by multiple support vehicles, safety marshals, and volunteer street medics. Core marchers (those marching multiple days) are provided with food and housing accommodations.

Interested in learning more? Sign up for one of two Q&A sessions this week! Ready to march? Register to join the core marcher team!

Win Races! 🗳

Virginia needs you! So do I!!

I will be leading phonebanks into Virginia with the Grassroots Dems HQ tomorrow and next Wednesday as well. This election to redraw the maps is looking way closer than it should be—we have to turn people out!

Please join me on Zoom from 3-5 PM PT / 6-8 PM ET, to call left-leaning VA voters and make sure they know how important it is to vote!

RSVP here.

Resistbot Letter (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.) 💻

[To: all 3 reps] [ [H/T] [Text SIGN PROZRT to 50409 or to @Resistbot on Apple Messages, Messenger, Instagram, or Telegram]

(Note that for the most effective RESISTBOT it’s best to personalize this text. More about how to do this here. But if you’re short on time just send it as is using the above code.)

I’m writing to support two recently-introduced bills: S. 3956, the Make Billionaires Pay Their Fair Share Act, and H.R. 8085, the Ultra-Millionaire Tax Act of 2026.

Today, the ultra-wealthy control an unprecedented share of the country’s wealth: America’s 916 billionaires together hold more than $8 trillion. Prices keep growing while wages, especially for poor and working Americans, aren’t keeping pace. Yet it sometimes seems like Congress exists only to serve the needs of the wealthy.

Both of these bills have at their core a powerful call to action: we can build a better society, and we can pay for it with very modest taxes on the wealth of the luckiest Americans.

Taxing the rich isn’t just good policy -- it’s good politics. Majorities across all parties support billionaire income taxes and wealth taxes.

I urge you to do everything you can to support these bills. Thank you.

OK, you did it again! You’re helping to save democracy! You’re amazing.

Talk soon.

Jess

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