Chop Wood, Carry Water 10/18

Find a way to unify.

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Hi, all, and happy Wednesday.

I’m running exceedingly late, and it’s my own fault. I wasted too much time watching the speaker vote in the House this morning—I couldn’t help myself. And what a satisfying outcome!

In case you haven’t heard, Jim Jordan lost the vote again. Nota bene: nearly every one of the GOP members who voted against him yesterday—and to whom many of you placed calls—did so again today. Bravo, team! Only two of them, LaMalfa and Spartz, backtracked. The original holdouts, however, were joined by four new ones: Reps Buchanan, Miller Meeks, Stauber, and Ferguson.

We have no idea what will come next, but we can say with certainty that Jim Jordan’s chances of becoming the speaker have decreased rather than increased because of this morning’s vote. And that, my friends, is a good thing.

Of course anything could happen next, and Jordan may not be done trying to gain the gavel. We’ll stand ready to mobilize against him again if we must.

In the meantime we’ll continue to call our House members and advocate for a “consensus candidate” and some sort of power sharing agreement. We know there is at least some movement on that front, although it sounds like more Republicans are getting behind extending Patrick McHenry’s Speaker Pro Tempore position through the end of the year. They will thus punt the larger question until after Congress passes a new spending package. I disagree with this approach, as I think a speaker should be elected. And I hate the idea of McHenry keeping the gavel.

On that note I’d like to clarify something: in yesterday’s script I mentioned him or Rep. Bacon as possible moderate Speaker options. These are the two candidates Republicans are floating. They’re not whom I would choose; I dislike both and deeply distrust the Problem Solvers Caucus. I should have made that more clear.

Anyway. As if all of this governmental chaos weren’t enough, the world is in absolute turmoil. I am, as I stated earlier this week, trying to steer this newsletter back towards more domestic issues, but we can’t ignore the fact that things are moving very quickly overseas, and in a perilous direction. The loss of life in Gaza is staggering and absolutely gutting. Israeli hostages remain unaccounted for. Diplomacy is struggling. It’s very, very bad all around.

To make matters worse, social media has become an absolute cesspool of anger, recrimination, and misinformation.

I want you to know that I am studying, learning, asking questions, following trusted sources, and doing all I can to stay educated and informed on what’s happening in the Middle East. I’ll post actions here when I find solid ones, but things are moving very fast; the topic is inflammatory, and I want to emphasize again that foreign policy is not my area of expertise.

What I do know is that we have got to keep this country running and pull our democracy back from the brink. Only a strong United States can help restore worldwide stability. Our weakness and inner division, I fear, will lead to greater catastrophe. This will hurt everyone—Israelis, Palestinians—all of us.

So we must find a way to unify, to forgive, and to relocate the compassion and understanding that’s gone missing in our discourse. Let’s continue to check in on friends and loved ones everywhere. Let’s peacefully stand for peace. And let’s try to be a source of solutions, not more problems.

After all, we despise the Jim Jordans of this world because they divide and tear down. It is our job to do the opposite.

Together—and only together—we can succeed.

Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲

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

I know the Senate is about to vote on an Ambassador to Israel. This feels like something we need at this moment in time. Please ask the Senator to vote yes, and ask him/her also to put pressure on Senators Tuberville, Hawley, and Cruz to lift their blockades on critically needed personnel in the military and State Department. They are making us less safe and I’m angry about it. Thanks.

Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲

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

I’m glad Jim Jordan failed his second speaker vote. He was a disastrous choice. [If your rep opposed him thank them. If they supported him express your disappointment. Then add:] It’s clear that Jordan will not have the votes to become speaker. It’s time for Republicans to nominate a moderate who is willing to work out a power sharing agreement with the Democrats. I oppose allowing Patrick McHenry to stay on. We need an elected speaker. It is only in this way that we can move forward. We are less than a month from a government shutdown. The world is dangerously unstable. We need a functioning government. Please get this done! Thanks.

Extra Credit ✅

Win Without War has posted a good petition to President Biden and Secretary of State Anthony Blinken. It asks them to call for, at minimum, a temporary cessation of hostilities in Gaza, the flow of humanitarian aid, and work to reunite hostages taken by Hamas with their families.

Sign here if you agree. I hope you will.

Get Smart! 📚

One of my readers, Cathleen D., sent me an email highlighting two more excellent posts from Antonia Scatton of

Reframing America

. After reading the articles I decided not just to post them here for you—they should be required reading!—but also to upgrade to a paid subscription to Antonia’s blog. This is important stuff she’s writing about, and she’s doing so in an accessible, smart way. Please check out the posts, maybe subscribe to Antonia’s newsletter, and definitely consider sharing these pieces with other would-be activists. Great stuff!

They Light Dumpster Fires. Stop Adding Oxygen.

Moral Operating Systems: How Swing Voter’s Brains Work

Give 💰!

Force Multiplier is hosting a fundraiser for three Representatives from Pennsylvania tomorrow night: Susan Wild (PA 07), Chris Deluzio (PA 17), and Matt Cartwright (PA 08). They would love you to join them and hear from these three amazing candidates.

Force Multiplier’s team of dedicated fact-finders researches the most consequential House and Senate races. In Pennsylvania, the “swingiest” of swing states, every House seat in play will make the difference between a red Congress or a blue one in January 2025.

Thursday, October 19, 7:00-8:00pm ET on Zoom

REGISTER + DONATE (they would love a $100 donation but you can give any amount and attend.)

Win Races! 🗳

Supermajority is doing a phonebank Wednesdays from 7-8PM ET. Tonight they will be calling into PA about the all-important Supreme Court race. They really need more volunteers. Can anyone help? Not many people are calling into PA right now but this race has huge implications for abortion rights in the state. Register here.

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

[H/T] [Text SIGN PKEOQT to Resistbot at 50409 or via Apple Messages / WHATSAPP / MESSENGER]

As a constituent and voter, I urge you to co-sponsor and pass the bipartisan Native American Child Protection Act right away.

This bill is an important step forward in providing Tribes with the tools they need to treat, prevent, investigate, and prosecute instances of family violence, child abuse, and child neglect involving Native children and families.

It would also finally make good on the unfunded and never implemented promises passed in the Indian Child Protection and Family Violence Prevention Act more than 30 years ago.

Your support is critical to passage. Please build support by becoming a co-sponsor today.

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

Talk soon.

Jess