Chop Wood, Carry Water 10/25
We've got this!
Hi, all, and happy Friday!
Deep breaths! Hope you’re hanging in there in these final “firestorm” days. We knew it would be mayhem, and it is. We knew it would be hard, and it is that, as well. Fortunately, we are up to this task.
And so is our candidate! She’s fighting with every ounce of her being. What a hero! What a campaign!
On that note, here’s a message from the Harris-Walz team:
On Tuesday, Vice President Harris will deliver a major “closing argument” address in Washington on the Ellipse – the site of Donald Trump’s attempt to overturn the 2020 election – where she will make the case to turn the page on Trump’s era of chaos and division and pursue a New Way Forward for the country.
She will paint a picture for Americans about what a first Harris term would look like versus a second Trump term – offering their contrasting visions for America.
The speech will remind voters that a new way forward for the country is possible if we remember the risk Trump poses in a second term, reject it, and choose to write a new chapter.
The symbolic location will help crystallize the choice in the election, spotlighting Trump’s worst moment as President in a stark contrast to VP Harris’ hopeful and optimistic vision for the future.
Harris has been stressing this theme in the close of her campaign in recent days and she will approach this moment like the former prosecutor she is: she has given her opening argument, laid out all the evidence, and now plans to take her closing argument directly to the “jury” – the American people who will decide the outcome of this election.
Good!
There’s a reason Harris’s speech will center on Trump’s past insurrectionism and the threat he poses in a second term. The campaign’s data show that Trump’s instability and his "unchecked power with no one to stop him" are a top concern for persuadable voters. As I’ve already posted, Blueprint found something similar, with this line, according to their focus groups, being the single most effective at swaying voters:
Nearly half of Donald Trump’s cabinet have refused to endorse him. When Trump learned during the Capitol riot that his supporters were threatening to kill his own vice president, he said ‘so what?’ and refused to do anything to ensure the vice president was safe. Republican governors, senators, and House members have all said the same thing: we can’t give Trump another four years as president.
So here are two asks from the campaign (and from me):
First, use the above messaging with any undecided voters you speak to. It’s very impactful. It moves them.
And second, please send the RSVP link for Harris’s DC speech to EVERYONE you know in the area. They want an absolutely massive turnout and are asking for our help to achieve it. The link is here.
One more thing I wanted to pass on from the campaign. This was in this morning’s communique:
Three things to know about early vote in battlegrounds so far
Democrats are returning ballots at a higher rate than Republicans.
Women are outvoting men across the board.
More Democratic sporadic voters are showing up, while Republicans are primarily cannibalizing from their traditional election day voters, not attracting new ones. (Italics mine, because it’s important.)
Bottom line: We're seeing strong turnout across the board. It's early and as expected, voting patterns this cycle are different from what we've seen the past few cycles post-COVID. We know this is going to be close and we're not taking anything for granted, but our organization is built to capitalize on the extended GOTV period to continue to make gains through election day.
Remember, my friends: if this election is as close as the “experts” are claiming it is (and I remain skeptical), the difference will come down to us. What we do. Where we go. Who we talk to. How much sweat equity we’re willing to put into this thing. I know we’re all exhausted—I am, for sure. But, as Tim Walz said, we can sleep when we’re dead.
And quite appropriately, it’s Friday fire-up time. So let’s drop what we’re going to do this weekend in the comments. I’m leaving for PA on Thursday and will be there knocking doors and making content until late on Election-Day eve, so I’m going to rest up a bit this weekend. But that means I’ll be phonebanking instead of canvassing, not doing nothing!
Now it’s your turn. What are you up to this weekend and how can we help? Remember, no action taken is too small and no conversation too insignificant. Many drops make the wave! The wave carves the stone! Together we can make a seismic difference!
Thank you, in advance, for all you will do. When people ask “are we going to win or lose?” I always say “the former.”
Because of you.
Extra Credit ✅
So the Washington Post has announced that it, too, will decline to endorse in the presidential election. Their owner, of course, is another billionaire who’s hedging his bets about a possible Donald Trump presidency, and the word is that it was, indeed, Jeff Bezos who made the call. It’s enraging, and I have now cancelled my subscription to them as well. I’m not telling you to do the same—that’s a decision everyone should make for themselves. But we can all write them a note, and fortunately/unfortunately we all have emails that we wrote to Patrick Soon-Shiong yesterday which bounced because the address I gave you for him was bad—sorry!
So let’s adapt those letters for the Washington Post and send them. You can—and should—submit an actual letter to the WaPo editor here (I just did). Or just send a note to David.Shipley@washpost.com —I think that’s the best address, as he is the Opinion Editor. There are a bunch more email addresses here.
Get Smart! 📚
Join Democracy Docket for a free, live event on 10/28 at 4PM PT / 7PM ET featuring actress and producer Eva Longoria in conversation with voting rights leader Stacey Abrams, Voto Latino president María Teresa Kumar and Democracy Docket founder Marc Elias.
They’ll kick off the final week before Election Day with an exciting discussion answering two key questions: what could happen between now and the election and what should we expect to happen after?
Spread the Word! 📣
National Security Action has some great talking points about why Trump would be a disaster for the people of Gaza. If anyone is having this conversation with an undecided voter these will be helpful to have, and they come with sources.
And if anyone hears from a voter (as i did on Tuesday) “I’m voting for Trump because he’s stronger on National Security” here’s an EXCELLENT set of talking points to help you respond.
Give 💰 #1!
From the wonderful Force Multiplier:
It's not too late to make a difference.
These are the candidates in the most competitive races who most need our support. Late money will help them get their messages out + make their closing arguments to voters.
Give 💰 #2!
Rural and small town America is especially vulnerable to voter suppression, disinformation, election sabotage and political violence.
There are now election boards in 15 counties and one state where election deniers hold a majority. These boards are located in the pivotal states of Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada and Pennsylvania and could disrupt the counting + certification process and sow chaos and mistrust. One county can block certification of the entire state’s count.
The Rural Democracy Initiative’s Heartland Fund has created a special fund to help its network of 150 grantees prepare for these and other threats to democracy during and after the election. These grantees are often the only pro-democracy groups in their communities.
Their activities will include:
ballot curing + ballot chasing
notifying voters who have been purged
monitoring polls + boards of elections
ensuring language access
de-escalating conflict at the polls
recruiting lawyers + engaging in litigation sometimes as the litigant
maintaining election threat hotlines
conducting communications efforts to reduce fear + disinformation, build trust in the electoral process + counter disinformation.
Their goal is to raise $1 million for rapid response grants to meet the post election needs of the 150 grantees in the RDI network.
Win Races—Canvass! 🗳
Watch this video! You’ll feel so excited to canvass that you’ll HAVE to sign up for a shift. Progressive Turnout Project isn’t recruiting any more canvassers, so go to go.kamalaharris.com instead…or to your favorite grassroots group running canvasses—like Swing Blue Alliance, NOPE, Grassroots Dems HQ, Swing Left, or Vote Save America. All of them need more door knockers…badly!
Win Races—Make Calls!
Team Harris-Walz is asking that we all hop onto a phonebank at some point over the weekend—they have daily zoom meetings all day, more or less, to do so. Please sign up for a shift. We are needed.
Also, on Saturday, October 26 at 3:00 p.m. ET / 2:00 p.m. CT / 1:00 p.m MT / Noon PT Progressive Dems have their Harris-Walz phonebank, and Analilia Mejia will kick it off. She is an unapologetic voice for progressive values, a movement builder, and the bold co-leader of Popular Democracy! Sign up here!
Also remember I have a whole doc filled with phonebanking opportunities here!
Get Fired Up About Abortion Rights 🔥
The documentary Zurawski V. TX is being released and will be free to view for a 48 hour time period starting tomorrow.
This link has all the details which includes a watch party.
[H/T Kitty Douglas from Big Tent USA]
Resistbot Letter (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.) 💻
[To: all three reps] [Adapted from this longer letter, sent by 50 organizations to Congressional leadership this week] [Text SIGN PBPUBV to Resistbot at 50409 or via Apple Messages / WHATSAPP / MESSENGER]
I’m writing to urge Congress to take all necessary steps to remedy serious faults in the vetting process for judicial nominees uncovered by a recent Senate report.
The stunning report, issued last week by Senator Sheldon Whitehouse following a thorough, multiyear oversight investigation, reveals that the Trump White House sabotaged the supplemental investigation by the FBI into serious and credible allegations of sexual assault and misconduct against then-nominee Brett Kavanaugh. The intentionally deficient supplemental background investigation deprived senators of information needed to fulfill their constitutional duty of assessing Justice Kavanaugh’s suitability for the Supreme Court, and so it is incumbent on Congress to use their full oversight authorities to minimize the chances that such failures are repeated when future nominees are considered.
Congress has a duty to ensure that lifetime nominees to the Supreme Court have the requisite qualifications, character, and temperament to fulfill the significant responsibilities incumbent on the holders of that office. Congress can fulfill that solemn obligation only with full information about the conduct of nominees. The supplemental background check of Justice Kavanaugh failed to provide that information, and Congress needs both to remedy that failure to investigate the serious allegations against Justice Kavanaugh and ensure that such failures do not recur. It owes that duty to Dr. Blasey Ford, Ms. Ramirez, and all Americans. Thanks.
OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk soon.
Jess
I am a lifelong Democrat who was raised in a large republican family. My father passed away two decades ago, but I know he never, ever would have voted for the felon. My mom and brothers feel they are somehow carrying on his legacy by voting republican. My goal each election has always been to register one Democrat to cancel out the vote of each of my republican family members. I have several somewhat hidden disabilities, and I’m also very shy with strangers. I have been very outspoken this election, but was afraid my disabilities would keep me from taking a more active role, though I have been cheering you all on and sending everyone I can your way.
A couple weeks ago, my mom and brothers unfurled a felon banner at her house. Last straw. I signed up to write postcards, and have been furiously doing so every minute I am able. New goal: 100 Democratic voters per republican family member. Found out the brothers attended a felon rally. New goal: 200 voters. As I said, I have some restrictive issues, but have been SO inspired by what you all are doing here that I have recruited nieces, nephews, restaurant owners, neighbors, and friends. We are in a very liberal part of CA, so I am focusing all my efforts in swing areas, where they will make a difference. I am exhausted, but this weekend my gal cronies and I are embarking on the Public Restroom Post-it Slapping Tour. Thank you SO MUCH for inspiring me to get going!
I will be canvassing for Sherrod Brown on Saturday here in Cincinnati. I have focused my efforts on this because I know that when Harris wins, she'll need a blue senate and Brown is just an amazing person to have for a senator and I want to keep him in that job (I won't mention my other senator, except to say he lusts after furniture and can't order a donut without looking awkward)!