Hi, all, and happy Friday!
My friend Deirdre at Political Charge (a wonderful newsletter if you don’t already subscribe) has started doing a roundup of good news on Fridays, and I’m so glad. WE NEED IT! This week’s list is particularly satisfying—you can find it here.
Speaking of satisfaction, yesterday’s visit to my Congressman’s office was just…wonderful. Ironic, because it was yet another thing I’d signed up for and immediately regretted committing to. “I don’t have the time,” I remember grousing. “Why do I always say ‘yes?’”
But when I got there and met the other people who’d taken time out of their days to come, when I saw Gomez’s staffer—a young man I’ve spoken to on the phone literally hundreds of times and never met in person—smiling behind his mask, when we grabbed the selfie of all of us with the balloons, cookies, and posters…I felt great. And I suspect everyone else did, too.
Point is? I never, ever show up for an action like this and wish I hadn’t.
I’ve often not shown up and later wished I had.
This makes my future course of action clear: Say yes to democracy whenever possible. Show up. Do the thing. Make the effort.
It feels good. It lifts me up. It also really, really works.
So let’s do the thing one more time.
P.S. I’m stuck at 9 out of 11 on the News Quiz. See if you can best me!
P.P.S. President Biden spoke out more forcefully yesterday about the filibuster than he ever has. This is because of YOUR pressure. Keep it up! And remember you can send him a letter demanding he do WHATEVER it takes to pass voting rights legislation, including reforming the filibuster, by texting SIGN POXKBR to 50409.
Call Your Senators (find yours here)
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
[If Democrat] First, I’m calling to ask Democrats to pass the Freedom to Vote Act by whatever means necessary -- including reforming the filibuster. We can’t let Republicans hold our democracy hostage. There’s no time to waste, and President Biden sound like he’s on board. Let’s get this done.
[to all:] Also, I’d like the Senator to support the EACH Act, legislation that would repeal the Hyde Amendment, and also the Womens Health Protection Act. I support a woman’s right to choose and expect the Senator to as well. One more thing: if saving Roe means expanding the Supreme Court by passing the Judiciary Act I also support that. Thanks.
Call Your House Rep (find yours here)
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
I'm calling to ask that my Representative support and co-sponsor the 6 anti-monopoly bills to hold Big Tech accountable that have already been introduced and passed through the House Judiciary Commitee. Large corportations like Amazon and Facebook have become too powerful, hurting workers, other businesses, and our democracy. It's time for Congress to rein Big Tech in.
Second, I support the Judiciary Act of 2021, which would expand the Supreme Court by four seats. Given the Court's failure to block Texas’s blatantly unconstitutional abortion ban in September, it is crucial Congress passes this bill immediately to protect Roe v. Wade from being further weakened, or overturned altogether. Thanks.
Extra Credit
Please send this or a similar letter to Merrick Garland here. [H/T]
I’m writing to ask that you prosecute criminal contempt charges against Steve Bannon to the full extent of the law. These are extraordinary times. Never before has America witnessed a president refuse to concede office peacefully. Never before have insurrectionists forced their way into the U.S. Capitol, threatening legislators, harming police officers, and damaging our seat of government. What happened on Jan. 6 was an organized crime against democracy, and Bannon’s public statements indicate that he was a witness to the planning of it, and possibly an active co-conspirator.
Beyond making laws, Congress has an informing function and a responsibility to determine abuses of and against our government. It cannot perform this duty without the ability to compel people to testify and turn over documents. Otherwise, it would only have access to information that those such as Bannon choose to turn over, allowing corruption to flourish. We would never accept those sorts of limitations on information in judicial proceedings — and even less should we accept them in congressional proceedings, where the interests of the entire nation are implicated.
As legal scholar James Landis wrote in 1926, “To deny Congress power to acquaint itself with facts is equivalent to requiring it to prescribe remedies in darkness.” Mr. Bannon’s refusal to cooperate with the select committee is an additional crime against our country and must have serious consequences, including imprisonment under 2 U.S. Code §§ 192 -194 & 18 U.S. Code Section 1505. The only privilege he should claim in this whole sorry affair is his fervent belief that he is above the law of a nation he openly despises.
Do not back down from this fight, Attorney General Garland. This man and his compatriots are more dangerous to the continuation of our country as a functional democracy than any foreign agent or government. Stopping them must be your highest obligation.
Get Motivated!
We’re nearly one year out from the 2022 midterm elections! 😳
We need to register enough Democrats in key battleground states to defy history and hold the Senate and the House, electing bigger majorities who can deliver on voting rights, progressive Supreme Court justices, and defeating COVID.
Can we do it? Welp, Field Team Six, my favorite voter registration organization, thinks we can. They’re holding a strategy briefing one year to the day from E-Day, and they’d love you to attend. It’s on November 8th at 5:30 PM PDT. Register here.
Get on the Phones! ☎️
The Virginia elections are 11 days away and I’ve got TWO WAYs you can help!!!! 😳
1️⃣ First, I’m pleased to say that my phonebank on Wednesday had 7 people at it, but I’m hoping for 3 times that many at today’s. Any chance you can attend? It’s from 3-5PM PDT and I will tell you EVERYTHING you need to know!
Use this link to sign up. Hope to see you later!
2️⃣ Second, please consider joining the VA Voter Protection Team: they are doing daily outreach to voters who need to cure their ballots. Apparently a LOT of folks have sent their VBM ballots back without a witness signature. These ballots won’t count unless they’re “cured.” These phonebanks will have you calling Democrats who have already voted and simply explaining that they need to fix this error. Easy, and CRITICAL!
Resistbot Text (new to Resistbot? Go here!)
[to your Democratic reps, both Senate and House] [H/T]
I’m a constituent who is extremely concerned about the climate crisis, and I’m worried that critical parts of the Build Back Better package are in danger.
We cannot allow Senator Manchin’s opposition to the Clean Electricity Performance Program block President Biden’s plan to reach 100% clean electricity by 2035. Sacrificing the emissions cuts this program would have achieved to get the package passed would spell disaster for our climate.
Please, speak out in favor of a strong climate plan and make sure that the final Build Back Better package includes programs that would cut as much carbon pollution as the Clean Electricity Performance Program. This is absolutely critical if we are to avoid the worst impacts of the climate crisis. Thanks.
OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk tomorrow.
Jess