Chop Wood, Carry Water 10/17 ✅
Hi, all, and happy Monday!
What a day! The Student Loan Forgiveness application platform has launched (see above) and so have over-the-counter hearing aids! Joe Biden continues to work to help Americans.
Yes, the polls are all over the place. Yes, this is an utterly anxiety-provoking time. Yes, the Republicans are hammering us on crime (laughable) and the economy (outrageous.)
Nevertheless, we will persist.
Remember, Democratic policies are massively popular with Americans when they hear about them. It’s our job to keep reminding folks what they are. Supporting unions, keeping abortion safe and legal, addressing climate change, passing common sense gun laws, taxing billionaires, protecting Social Security and Medicare, breaking up monopolies, protecting LGBTQ people…these things are what most people want.
Be proud to be on the side of right. It’s a big deal. It’s historic. It’s meaningful.
It’s why we’ll win.
Call Your Senators (find yours here)
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
I urge the Senator to show solidarity with the people of Iran who are demonstrating for their basic rights and against the cruelty of Iran’s authoritarian government. I ask that s/he cosponsor and pass the bipartisan joint resolution (S.Con.Res. 47) condemning the killing of Mahsa Amini and the Iranian government’s brutal crackdown and commending the bravery of the Iranian people.
Have they issued any statements on the protests?
Can they also support Sec. 1266 of the House-passed NDAA to support internet freedom in Iran and ensure it is in the final bill? Thanks! [H/T]
Call Your House Rep (find yours here)
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
I urge the Congressmember to show solidarity with the people of Iran who are demonstrating for their basic rights and against the cruelty of Iran’s authoritarian government. I ask that the Congressmember cosponsor and pass the bipartisan joint resolution (H.Con.Res. 110) condemning the killing of Mahsa Amini and the Iranian government’s brutal crackdown and commending the bravery of the Iranian people.
Have they issued any statements on the protests?
Can they also support Sec. 1266 of the House-passed NDAA to support internet freedom in Iran and ensure it is in the final bill? Thanks!
Extra Credit
Indivisible just sent out this incredible resource document filled with ways we can help the Iranian people, who are fighting courageously against brutal oppressors. (If we don’t think what’s happening there is connected to us just try saying the words “morality police” a few times over while looking at pictures of Ron DeSantis, Greg Abbott, or Brett Kavanaugh. You’ll make the connection.)
I’ve already set up my Snowflake browser extension—it took about twenty seconds—and I’m getting my “hairy envelope” together today. (See the doc for explanations.)
Y’all. These things are easy and young women are dying. Let’s help. Again, the doc is here.
Extra Extra Credit ✅
This morning I received an email from Laura Brill, Director of the Civics Center, an organization laser-focussed on registering young people to vote. She said:
I wanted to pass along our most recent report about youth voter registration in Pennsylvania. The voter registration rate for 18-year-olds in the Philadelphia area is still under 30%. It has risen by more than 7% (2 full percentage points) in just the last week. It's a very fast pace, but a huge difference your readers could make would be to follow us on twitter and amplify our messages directed at getting young people to register and vote in November. In PA, the registration deadline is one week from today. NV, NC, WI, MI all allow same-day registration. So there is still an opportunity to expand the electorate as we get out the vote.
Let’s start with this tweet, shall we? Can we all RT and/or post on our other social media channels? And please follow the Civics Center on all of their social media channels! Social media is where young folks are!
Get Smart! 📚
Want to learn more about the NEXT big climate bill?
Tomorrow, Tuesday, Oct. 18 at 4pm PT / 7 ET, veteran environmental campaigner Scott Faber will join the Climate Action Now team to discuss a powerful opportunity which comes in the form of the 2023 U.S. Farm Bill. Faber, an expert on the Farm Bill, will unpack this $648 billion omnibus—75% bigger than the Inflation Reduction Act's $369 billion climate package—and how it could be a game-changer for our planet.
(And if you don’t yet have the Climate Action Now app PLEASE download it and use it! Genius!)
Give 💰!
The race between Tim Ryan and JD Vance is effectively tied, and Ryan recently DESTROYED Vance in a debate; (watch this clip. Just watch it.)
“Undecided voters” will swing the result either way. And Vance is running non-stop negative advertising. Ryan needs money to combat this.
If you are interested in hearing from Ryan to consider supporting his campaign with much-needed donations, please join the amazing Robert Hubbell (whose newsletter is indispensable, by the way) as he and his wife interview Tim (with reader-supplied questions) on Tuesday, October 18, 2022, at 5:30 PM Pacific / 8:30 PM Eastern.
Tim’s campaign has agreed to make this event broadly accessible to readers of Hubbell’s newsletter. So, donate any amount to RSVP, and you will receive a Zoom link after registering. Donate and register here.
Win Races by phone! 🗳
I want to put out another plug for Joan’s Democracy Cafe. If phonebanks were couches, JDC would be the softest and coziest loveseat you can imagine. They are so gentle and kind and will train you and hold your hand every step of the way. Plus you can choose from a few different campaigns!
Every Monday and Wednesday from 4:30-7pm PT / 7:30-10pm ET
Click here to sign up for JDC's Mission for AZ campaign
Click here to sign up for JDC's NV Volunteer Recruitment
Win Races by letter! 💌
Are you worried about Nevada? Me too! Fortunately, Stand Up America has partnered with Vote Forward to encourage voters in Nevada to steer clear of Jim Marchant for SOS and vote for someone who’ll protect democracy instead. This is VF’s only partisan campaign, and I’m glad they’re doing it. Marchant is a menace. And these letters will help up and down the ballot in Nevada.
I’ve “adopted” 20 of these NV SOS letters even though I don’t technically have the time to do them. Will you join me?
Resistbot Text (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.)
[to all 3 reps] [H/T PIRG] [quick send text SIGN PRQDZB to 50409]
Legislation supported by the American Chemistry Council to classify plastic incinerators as "advanced recycling" would allow these facilities to circumvent the Clean Air Act laws meant to control the pollution they pump out.
Air pollution from plastic incinerators can cause serious health issues ranging from asthma to cancer. It's just trading one harmful form of pollution for another -- while the real solution to our country's out-of-control plastic waste crisis is to reduce the amount of wasteful, unnecessary single-use plastics that get produced in the first place.
We should be moving beyond plastic, not burning it and polluting our air. I urge you to oppose legislation that would deregulate this harmful, senseless practice.
OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk tomorrow.
Jess
Dear Jessica, Isolating with covid, it's been nice to talk to someone besides myself. As I chat with you in my mind, I keep asking: "Who are you?" You can't be just one person who does so much and touches so many every single day (and night). You saved my sanity over the weekend by asking for volunteer card writers. I mailed my colorful cards this morning to AZ LD 22, reminding voters to write-in Eva Diaz and just had to thank you for knowing what needs to be done by when and for helping so many valiant volunteer groups on the frontlines of this monumental battle. I did have 5 shots, but now understand that you are the secret booster. My spirits have lifted. I can almost breathe. You make my heart sing. Jayne Mackta (Art The Vote).
Thank you for calling out the need to support Tim Ryan. I live in Ohio and I am talking to women and men (esp black men) who support abortion rights. The USA Today story noted that Tim has a big lead with independent women while JD is leading with independent men (there's a reason I won't let my daughters move back here after college) We CAN win this one but Tim needs $$$. Please give if you can and come to the event Jessica mentioned, Tim is impressive. He's running a great campaign.