Chop Wood, Carry Water 10/3
Carry that torch!
Hi, all, and happy Thursday!
Also, happy New Year to those observing Rosh Hashanah. Hopefully you’re off enjoying your holiday, but in case you’re not I bid you Shanah Tovah!
What a 24 hours, huh? It feels like the news never slows down. Yesterday we got to see Jack Smith’s partially unredacted filing to Judge Tanya Chutkan. I haven’t read the whole thing, but I’ve digested enough from folks who have to know that it’s damning. We already knew much of what’s in it, but “the devil’s in the details,” as they say, and the details here are brutal. Pair them with JD Vance’s widely publicized unwillingness on Tuesday night to say that Trump lost the election and we are back in territory that is electorally terrible for team Trump-Vance. As it should be.
In other news—and this just broke—a federal judge has ruled that he will let the temporary restraining order against President Biden's sweeping new student loan forgiveness plan expire. This, as Kyle Griffin writes, is a “massive win for the administration. The ruling, from a Bush 43 appointee, means Biden may move forward with the plan just weeks before the election.” WOW. What a bit of luck!
The thing I savor most about both of these developments is that the timing is incredibly good for us, and bad for our opponents, and this was brought about entirely by Republican machinations. Had they not sued to block Biden’s loan forgiveness plan it would be old news by now. Had the Supreme Court not put its thumb on the scale of Trump’s trial it might be over now. Because Republicans did interfere, however, we find ourselves here, with voters being reminded of both the Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts to help struggling Americans and also of Trump’s profound unfitness for the Presidency, a month before Election Day. It’s a powerful one-two punch.
Does it mean we can rest on our laurels? Are you kidding? Not even one bit. We have 32 days until the last day to vote. We must redouble our efforts. This is still going to be a close election—or so they tell me.
One last thing: several of you asked yesterday whether it was still “worth it” to work to win in North Carolina, considering the horrific state of affairs in the Western part of the state. The answer is a flat and unequivocal yes. I actually spoke with Drew Kromer last night—he’s the chair of the Mecklenberg County Democratic party. I’ll be joining him and Robert Hubbell later today to record a 15 minute video for you—we’ll release it on Saturday. You can hear a longer answer from Drew then, but suffice it to say that the state is still very much in play, and efforts are being undertaken as we speak to make sure that as many Western North Carolinians as possible are still able to vote. Fortunately the state has an extraordinarily capable Democratic Governor, and every county’s Board of Elections has more Democratic members than Republican. There will be no chicanery, then; everyone will be working in good faith to help voters get their voices heard.
So YES. It’s worth it. And if you want to donate to the Mecklenberg Dems, who will be the ones to make any win in North Carolina possible, you’ll have a chance to do so after watching the video. Trust me—you’ll want to. (Or just jump in and do it now here!)
OK, all. Back to work! So much to do to save this beautiful, flawed, mighty country of ours. We’ve got the torch—let’s carry it one more time!
P.S. — I have to take Mj to a dentist’s appointment today so no calls to Congress. Sorry!
Extra Credit ✅
[From
]45,000 port workers from Maine to Texas are on strike for the first time since 1977. The members of the International Longshoremen’s Association are pushing for higher wages and to prevent job-killing automation, which could result in more than 2,250 East Coast port workers losing their jobs.
Port owners' refusal to meet workers’ demands could cost the US economy $5 billion a day, impacting both U.S. exports and imports -- including food, clothing, cars, and raw materials such as wood and cotton.
In recent years, port owners have raked in record profits with Maersk making more than $82 billion in revenue over a recent 6-month period. ILA President Harold J. Daggett said:
“Companies like Maersk are repeatedly trying to eliminate ILA jobs with the introduction of automation while realizing raking in billions of dollars.”
Let’s use More Perfect Union’s tool to write to the CEO and board of the U.S. Maritime Alliance, which represents port owners, demanding they meet workers’ demands now. Be sure to personalize!
Get Smart! 📚
Supermajority has partnered with HIT Strategies and Lake Research Partners to determine the most mobilizing messages for infrequent, non-voting young women and they’d like to share them with you in an upcoming webinar. We know what these women care about in this election—including the cost of living and reproductive freedom. Super Majority’s research results will share how to turn those priorities into civic engagement for this cycle.
Plus they will share the electoral math behind their strategy in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Arizona, North Carolina, and Georgia and what they’re learning from contacting these voters on the doors and on the phones since they kicked off our Get Out the Vote Campaign.
Tuesday October 8, 2024 at 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT
Spread the Word! 📣
In the wake of the blatantly political SCOTUS immunity decision, United For Democracy has created an electoral arm, Power Back to the People, and with it, The SCOTUS Election Nerve Center.
Their goal is to equip folks with useful tools and content to keep the Supreme Court—and the MAGA justices—at the forefront of voters’ minds when they cast their ballots.
Every week, the Nerve Center provides updated social media content via this toolkit to connect the dots between our votes and the U.S. Supreme Court.
This week’s content is focused on reproductive freedom — so download and copy/paste videos, graphics, alt-text and caption language here!
Give 💰!
One of my subscribers and her daughter have launched Donuts+Democracy to help turn college students out to vote. They have already partnered with 27 colleges in battleground states/districts and HBCUs with more being added every day!
The premise is simple: students host a GOTV event, “Your Donut—Your Vote— Your Future,” and D+D funds the donuts. They test-piloted this program in the 2022 midterms in NV and it was extremely effective. At $2 a donut it’s an effective and inexpensive GOTV strategy. Plus young voters are the key to winning and have the most room for growth. To learn more about Donuts+Democracy and support their efforts (they need to raise $30K in 7 days!) read this:
Win Races—use Indivisible’s incredible tool!
Indivisible has created a tool that will give you actions you can take based on where you live. Enter your address and sign up to knock doors, phone bank, or send letters now!
Win Races—GET MORE YOUNG PEOPLE REGISTERED!
The amazing folks at the Civics Center have been looking at voter files nonstop over the past few weeks, and what they are seeing is alarming. In AZ, OH, and GA, the voter registration deadline is Oct. 7, and fewer than 50% of 18-year-olds are registered. In PA, they have until Oct. 21 to register, but there, too, the registration rate for 18-year-olds remains under 50%.
In each state, that’s tens of thousands who are set to be disenfranchised by our country’s underinvestment in high school voter registration, combined with VR deadlines, lack of preregistration opportunities beginning at age 16, and other voter suppression laws.
You can help by making sure teens in you lives are registered, encouraging high schools with which they have direct ties to get all teens registered, and donating to support the Civic Center’s organizing and outreach work.
Also, great news! They have postcarding into Pennsylvania!
Win Races—Working America Needs More Letter Writers! BADLY!
The folks at Working America are asking that everyone commit to writing 300 letters between now and October 22nd. The only way that they reach their ambitious goal of one million volunteer letters is with your help! Many folks committed to participating in this 300-letter challenge and you can too! Look—I’m going to do it, OK? I know how effective this particular campaign is. Please join me!
If you're ready to help, SIGN UP HERE.
Chop Wood, Save the Planet 🔥
The Environmental Voter Project will be mobilizing voters every day in October, but they also need to fill over 4,000 phonebanking shifts from Nov. 1-5, so please take a moment to sign up for some shifts today! I LOVE these calls and will be making a bunch myself.
Sign up for Nov. 1–5 GOTV phonebanking shifts
Resistbot Letter (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.) 💻
[To: all 3 reps] [H/T] [Text SIGN PMMDKV to Resistbot at 50409 or via Apple Messages / WHATSAPP / MESSENGER]
I am writing to urge you to fully fund IRS enforcement efforts in the FY2025 budget and reject any cuts since they would benefit tax-evading millionaires and billionaires.
The IRS recently recovered $263 MILLION from a single wealthy tax cheat who had been running an offshore tax evasion scheme for over a decade. This massive recovery demonstrates the critical importance of robust IRS enforcement capabilities.
Since receiving increased funding, the IRS has collected over $1 billion in back taxes from millionaire tax cheats in less than a year. This money is being used to fund vital public services and reduce the deficit.
However, I am deeply concerned by House Republicans' proposal to slash $2 billion from the IRS enforcement budget. This reckless cut would deliberately cripple the agency's ability to go after wealthy tax evaders, effectively siding with high-end tax cheats at the expense of honest taxpayers and crucial public investments.
Every dollar cut from IRS enforcement is a gift to ultra-wealthy tax cheats and a blow to working families who pay their fair share of taxes. The proposed $2 billion cut could prevent the recovery of exponentially more in unpaid taxes owed by the rich.
As your constituent, I strongly urge you to:
— Fully fund IRS enforcement efforts in the FY2025 budget
— Reject any cuts to IRS enforcement capabilities
— Support measures to further strengthen the IRS's ability to crack down on wealthy tax evaders
Billionaires and massive corporations should not be allowed to shirk their obligations while the rest of us play by the rules. A well-funded IRS helps level the playing field and ensures everyone pays what they owe.
Thank you for your attention to this critical issue. I look forward to hearing how you plan to protect IRS enforcement funding and stand up for tax fairness.
OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk soon.
Jess
North Carolina here. DON'T GIVE UP ON US, FOLKS! Here in Durham we are working to GOTV nonstop, registering voters, canvassing, early voting, poll greeting. Anyone who wants info for Durham and surrounding areas, to donate, canvass, phonebank, look up your voting info, can find it HERE: https://linktr.ee/Durhamgotv
North Carolinian here, although not from the western part of the state.
Here's a link from the NC State Board of Elections about voting in the wake of Helene:
https://www.ncsbe.gov/voting/upcoming-election/helene-recovery-and-voting.
Twenty-five of NC's 100 counties plus the Eastern Band of Cherokee tribal lands (3 more counties) are subject to the disaster orders but it looks like only 5 county Boards of Election offices are currently closed.
Avery: Closed (Elections staff are working.)
Buncombe: Closed (Elections staff are working.)
Mitchell: Closed
Watauga: Closed (Elections staff are taking calls)
Yancey: Closed
Cynically, just 2 of those 28 counties with an emergency designation is majority Democratic based on 2020 election results:
Buncombe County - Biden won 59.7% <-- This is Asheville and the most populous county in WNC
Wautauga County - Biden won 53.1%
Trump won the rest of the western counties - in some cases with as much as 75% of the vote.
In terms of numbers, most of the population of NC (and most of the Democrats) live in the central "Piedmont" region which includes Charlotte, Raleigh, Durham. Greensboro, etc. The biggest impact here was with temporary power outages, which (unless repeated) will not effect residents' ability to vote.