Hi, all, and happy Monday!
Hope you had a lovely and restful weekend.
I had a terrific one, myself. Not only did I get some legit R&R in, but I also attended the Women’s March Abortion Justice Rally in Downtown L.A. with my husband on Saturday (the sign above was one of several excellent ones we saw there) and a spectacularly musical “Ballots Over Broadway” fundraiser last night. Both were amazing in different ways—one fiery and determined, one dreamy and bursting with talent and laughter—and both went a long way towards filling the well inside of me that, in turn, feeds my activism.
Which is a long way of saying that I had a lot of fun—and hopefully did a bit of good—with a bunch of awesome folks.
I also did a two-hour Sister District phonebank into Virginia yesterday. In about an hour and a half of calling I dialed 146 numbers and spoke to 16 people. Of those 16, twelve could be identified for the campaign as supporters of the candidate. I got to text two of them a voter information hotline number so they could track down their VBM ballots, and one of them the link to request their ballot. It was, in short, a VERY productive phonebank.
On the not-so-good side? There were only two of us there. 😬
Y’all, I know we’re tired. I know we’re burnt. But—and not to be hysterical, here—our democracy has literally never been in greater danger. Winning in Virginia may seem unrelated, but it’s 100% not. Every election we pummel the GOP in is more proof that they’re losing and more impetus for them to knock off the Trumpism. Not to mention that abortion rights and so much more are on the table in VA.
So please, consider stepping outside of your comfort zone and signing up for a phonebank—either the one listed below that’s later today or one of the many on offer in my VA resource document. Can’t stomach the phones? Write 5 Vote Forward letters—there’s no excuse not to, now that we know how stellar their impact is.
OK. Hopping off of my soapbox and onto the phone. Sending so much love, encouragement, and hope, friends. I know this is hard. But I have SO MUCH FAITH in our ability to prevail.
It simply requires our continuing to show up. Together. Song optional.
But the together part very much not. 💙
Call Your Senators (find yours here)
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
[If your Senator is a Dem:] The Build Back Better Act contains two climate provisions that MUST pass if we are to have any hope of averting climate catastrophe: the Clean Electricity Performance Program and Clean Energy Tax Credits. It’s absolutely critical that the final bill contain both and that they not be watered down by fossil fuel interests. [H/T]
[To All Senators:]
I want the Senator to support the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. [If Dem add:] It’s critical for these to pass if we are to stop GOP voter suppression and election interference. Democrats need to reform the filibuster and get this done!
[to all Senators:] Finally, I'm upset to see the Postal Service launch their terrible ten year plan--a plan that will slow mail delivery and cost customers money. The Senate needs to pass S 145, the USPS Fairness Act. I'd very much like the Senator to co-sponsor this bill and push for its passage. [If Dem add:] I’d also like them to push the President to immediately replace Ronald Bloom and John Barger with USPS Boardmembers who will vote to fire Louis DeJoy. Thanks.Thanks.
Call Your House Rep (find yours here)
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
[If your rep is a Dem:] The Build Back Better Act contains two climate provisions that MUST pass if we are to have any hope of averting climate catastrophe: the Clean Electricity Performance Program (CEPP) and Clean Energy Tax Credits. It’s absolutely critical that the final bill contain both and that they not be watered down by fossil fuel interests. [H/T]
Also, I want them to co-sponsor the Judiciary Act of 2021 H.R. 2584, which will expand the Supreme Court by four justices. [H/T]
[All House Reps]
I'm upset to see the Postal Service launch their terrible ten year plan--a plan that will slow mail delivery and cost customers money. There is a better solution than DeJoy's backdoor attempt to force the USPS into privatization. It is to pass H.R. 695, the USPS Fairness Act. I'd very much like the Congressmember to co-sponsor this bill and push for its passage. [If Dem add:] I’d also like them to push the President to immediately replace Ronald Bloom and John Barger with USPS Boardmembers who will vote to fire Louis DeJoy. Thanks.
Extra Credit
Send this to President Biden, either through Resistbot or via the White House Contact form. [H/T]
Mr. President, I am very, very worried about what will happen in 2024 if we don’t fix our democracy now. We can’t “out-organize” voter suppression – not when the results of elections can be overturned on false pretexts. We must have legislation and we need your help to get the job done.
Please make getting the Freedom to Vote Act your top priority and do everything in your considerable power to unite Senate Democrats to pass the bill by any means possible, including by abolishing, reforming, or providing an exception to the Senate filibuster. This is “must pass” legislation if we don’t want chaos and an end to democracy in 2024. Thanks.
Get on the Phones! ☎️
TODAY please join the Environmental Voter Project to call unlikely-to-vote environmentalists in Virginia ahead of the November 2nd Statewide General election! They'll start with an overview of their phone banking program and the scripts they'll be using, then you'll get to work calling VA voters.
7pm ET / 6pm CT / 5pm MT / 4pm PT. Training provided; no experience necessary. Sign up here.
Fight Disinformation!
Meet DDAD, Defenders of Democracy Against Disinformation!
DDAD’s mission is to identify, publicly call out, and reduce financial incentives to those sources—whether media, public officials, or others—who participate in disseminating lies and disinformation to the detriment of our national well-being. They aim to confront disinformation through grassroots campaigns that they find or develop and provide them to organized advocacy groups.
Their first target is FOX News, and they have some great ideas!
Subscribe to their e-newsletter here.
Resistbot Text (new to Resistbot? Go here!)
[to your Senators] [H/T]
Protecting the constitutional right to access abortion is critical but it is not enough. It is a public health, economic, and human rights imperative to ensure that people have not only the right but also meaningful access to abortion care, free from discrimination or fear of violence.
As anti-abortion legislators and a growing conservative majority on the Supreme Court continue to attack access to abortion, I urge you to go beyond baseline legal protections and ensure meaningful access to abortion for all by enacting a proactive abortion agenda.
This would ensure that everyone, regardless of race, sex, age, income, zip code, insurance status, disability status, sexuality, and more would have equitable access to abortion care.
A comprehensive proactive abortion agenda includes:
Codifying the right to abortion into law, appointing judges with pro-abortion rights records, preventing government interference, making abortion affordable for all, ensuring everyone has access to the full range of options for abortion care, and integrating abortion into the broader health care system. Please do all of this. Thanks.
OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk tomorrow.
Jess