Chop Wood, Carry Water 10/25

The MAGA takeover is complete.

Hi, all, and happy Wednesday.

Well, that’s over. The GOP has their Speaker. Mike Johnson of Louisiana has done what so many before him could not and gained the votes needed to attain the gavel.

This has happened not because Johnson has his caucus’s enthusiastic support but because the GOP, humiliated, has exhausted their other options. Every day they continue without a speaker is a disaster for them. They had to settle on someone, and, to appease their base, they chose Johnson rather than a more moderate candidate that Democrats might have supported. It’s our job to remind voters of that at every opportunity.

Republicans may be lukewarm on Mike Johnson, but now that he’s Speaker they will act as if he’s always been their man. They will, further, congratulate themselves heartily for electing him, behaving as if choosing a speaker is an accomplishment only they could achieve.

Let us remember that, in fact, it’s something every other caucus in history has done with zero fanfare and no delay.

In short, don’t let them gaslight you. This has been both a staggering show of weakness and a jawdropping display of ineptitude. Never let them forget it.

So who is Mike Johnson? He’s being referred to as “Jim Jordan in a sportscoat.”

Semaphor has this to say:

Johnson isn’t a household name; he is a four-term congressman and a former Republican Study Committee chair who is now the vice chair of the House Republican Conference. He is also a 2020 election denier but not a “public firebrand” like Rep. Jim Jordan, Punchbowl News writes this morning, which may make it harder to demonize him. In 2022, the New York Times characterized Johnson as “the most important architect of the Electoral College objections.”

Johnson is not just a top election denier, though. He is an extremist in every sense of the word. An evangelical Christian, he’s an opponent of gay marriage, a staunch forced-birther, and an NRA darling. See the 5th column below. He is as conservative as it gets—more so than any of the other candidates who were considered yesterday.

I say none of this to fear-monger, but rather to clarify. Just because the Republicans have finally—after 22 days!—settled on a speaker, they deserve no praise. They have chosen their man, and he, for better or for worse, now represents their caucus. It’s not he, but the GOP itself, then, that is “Jim Jordan in a sportscoat.” The party has submitted entirely to its MAGA masters. The deed is done.

They need to be removed from power.

That effort, of course, has begun, but it must ramp into high gear now. In two weeks we have elections not just in Virginia, but in Mississippi, Louisiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maine, New Jersey, and dozens of other states. The need for us to win decisively in every race has never been greater.

If you are reading this newsletter and care about democracy I urge you to help in every way you can—even if you’ve never before volunteered for a campaign. This is not a dress rehearsal. The 2024 elections begin now, with these races. We need landslides everywhere. Only we can make that happen.

And we are up to it, friends. Together you and I are more powerful than the MAGA right, Donald Trump, and all the cash in Harlan Crowe’s coffers.

Remember: the many is more powerful than the money.

As long as the many show up and do the work.

So let’s do that one more time.

Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲

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

I understand that the Senate Foreign Relations Committee just approved Jacob Lew to be ambassador to Israel. I want the Senator to vote to approve him in the floor vote. His qualifications seem solid, but more importantly we need someone in this role immediately. [Feel free to add your personal feelings about what’s happening in Israel and Gaza. I can’t write a script that will suit everyone so won’t try, but will certainly be offering my two cents.]

Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲

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

[If GOP:] I’m calling to say that I’m appalled that the Congressmember just voted to make an election denier and far-right extremist the Speaker of the House. The Republican party just proved that it no longer reflects the beliefs of the majority of the country. You could have found a consensus candidate and you chose not to. I won’t forget it on election day. Thanks.

[If Democrat:] I’m calling to thank the Congressmember for standing with his/her caucus and fighting the good fight on the speaker vote. I’m extremely disappointed that Mike Johnson will be our next Speaker—he’s an election denier and an extremist and doesn’t represent my views in any way. I want the Congressmember to keep pushing back hard against the GOP’s far-right platform and I will have his/her back. Thanks.

Extra Credit ✅

Did you know that the United States is the only large democracy whose Supreme Court justices don’t have term or age limits? The Brennan Center is working to change that and they’ve asked me to help amplify their work. There’s lots of great information about Supreme Court term limits at their website, as well as a place to sign up to help advocate for this widely popular reform.

Please do so here!

(I made a TikTok about this if you like a visual explainer of why SCOTUS term limits matter. It’s here on YouTube if that’s easier.)

Get Smart! 📚

There’s an update on the Virginia elections with the Center For Common Ground on Thursday, October 26 at 5 pm PT/ 8 pm ET.

So far, over 300,000 voters have cast their ballots early in Virginia. There are still two more weeks of early voting to go and a lot can happen during that time. 

Join Andrea Miller for a breakdown on voter turnout so far and what’s on the line with this election. This will be the CFCG’s final webinar before the Virginia Election on November 7. Come learn about how you can support their efforts to mobilize voters of color across the state!

RSVP HERE

Give 💰!

As I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, Robert Hubbell, Jessica Yellin, I, and several others are co-hosting an in-person fundraiser for the Civics Center here in Los Angeles on Thursday. The Civics Center is doing yeoman’s work registering young people to vote, and they need our help. I just learned that the event is at capacity but they’re still taking donations—if you can contribute to this effort please go here! Let’s make sure this great org has what it needs to get kids voting!

Win Races! 🗳

Just putting this here again: I’ve got resource documents with lots and lots of ways to help in PA here, VA here and Ohio here. There are phonebanks, letter-writing campaigns, texting opportunities, and places to donate. If you want to help in Maine, Mississippi or Louisiana email me and I’ll help you find opportunities. Hoping these links get LOADS of clicks today!

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

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

The Supreme Court is the highest court in the land. They hand down decisions that can affect the entire country for generations. They should be held to the highest level of scrutiny and the highest ethical standard. It is a disgrace that Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito accept gifts and vacations from billionaire benefactors, often without disclosing them to the American people.

The Senate has the power to rein in this corruption in this co-equal branch of government. They should use it. Senate Judiciary Chair Dick Durbin should hold full hearings on Clarence Thomas’ and Samuel Alito’s misconduct as soon as possible. And Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer should bring a bill to implement a Supreme Court code of ethics to the Senate floor as soon as possible. Thanks.

---

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

Talk soon.

Jess