Chop Wood, Carry Water 10/4
Stay in the day
Hi, all, and happy Friday!
I’m behind on everything today, so I’m going to keep this first section extremely brief. Because it’s Friday you can pick up the slack for me by dropping in the comments what you’ll be doing this weekend to help us win! I’ve got 50 Working America letters to get through; on Sunday I’ll be joining Indivisible Illinois for a phonebank, then giving a quick talk to a terrific group of Nevada Giving Circles (you are welcome to join either event.)
So that’s me. Now I’d love to hear what you’re up to—it never ceases to inspire me.
As we contemplate the month ahead—and yes, it’s just a month now—let me remind you to, as Marcus Aurelius said, “confine yourself to the present.” Speculating about the future—especially when we’re in such a heightened state of anticipation and anxiety—won’t serve us. None of us are soothsayers. None of us can control what happens on November 5. All we have—and all we have control over—is today. All we need to do is what we can do now. We don’t know what will happen in 31 days. We don’t know what will happen next week. But today we know that we’re here, we’re hard at work, and that in the past that hard work has yielded spectacular results.
So let’s breathe in strength and breathe out fear. I’m right here with you, doing the work. Thirty-one days is a long time. It’s also a heartbeat.
Either way, to quote Aurelius one more time:
Begin - to begin is half the work, let half still remain; again begin this, and thou wilt have finished.
Exactly. We’ve got this. Let’s get to work.
P.S. — Bruce Springsteen endorsed Harris-Walz and it’s a beautiful thing to watch. See above!
Call Your House Rep (find yours here) and Your Senators (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
I’m calling to say that Congress needs to return and pass disaster funding for Hurricane Helene relief efforts now! Also, I’m aware that House Republicans specifically refused to support more funding for FEMA right before Helene hit AND that a whopping 175 House Republicans voted to defund FEMA as recently as 2021. I also understand that the Republicans’ FY2025 budget cuts FEMA by 14 million dollars. Why, in a rapidly intensifying climate emergency, would we cut FEMA? Is it because that’s what Project 2025 calls for? I find it outrageous that Republicans are so out of touch with what Americans want and need in this moment. Fully fund FEMA now, please! And prioritize climate action. Thanks.
Get relaxed! 🧘🏽♀️
This election season has been a whirlwind of emotions, and many of us are still experiencing fear or anxiety about this election that is like no other in terms of its potential impact.
One of my readers has made me aware of a free virtual event, Overcoming Election Anxiety, happening on October 10th from 9:30-10:30am PT. Panelists will share insider stories, along with proven mindfulness and meditation techniques, to help you approach the run-up and outcome with a more hopeful, detached, nonjudgmental, and clear-headed perspective. Event organizers from the Lenz Foundation for American Buddhism write, "The panel was crafted without regard to party affiliation, orientation, or views; Anxiety knows no political partisan barrier." Click here for more details, and to register.
Get Smart! 📚
On Tuesday, October 8th at 8PM ET, the national Gun Violence Prevention Voters for Harris-Walz will be hosting a panel discussion.
Don't miss this discussion! Newtown Action Alliance's Vice Chairman Dave Stowe and Board Advisor/survivor Kristin Song will be joining an incredible group of other GVP survivors and advocates.
● Emma Brown, Executive Director, Giffords
● Kate Ranta, Survivor
● Stephan Abrams, Brady’s Team Enough Executive Council
● Trevon Bosley, March For Our Lives, B.R.A.V.E. Youth Leaders
● Steven Kling, Texas Chapter of Gun Owners for Safety
● Kristin Song, Survivor/Activist
● Dave Stowe, Co-Founder & Vice Chair, Newtown Action Alliance
● MJ Hegar, Veteran
● David Hogg, March For Our Lives, Leaders We Deserve
● Angela Ferrell-Zabala, Executive Director, Moms Demand Action
● Mariah Cooley * Kamala Harris Campaign
● Eve Levenson * Kamala Harris Campaign
Please RSVP Here.
Spread the Word #1! 📣
Team Harris-Walz is looking for endorsements from small businesses! The more the better! If you or someone you know owns a small business please fill out this form to show your support! And thanks. Your voice as a small business owner, entrepreneur, founder, or advocate is important right now.
Spread the Word #2!
Only 3 days left to register in AZ + GA and less than 3 weeks in PA.
StudentVote.info is a one-stop, full-service, mobile-friendly registration + vote planning resource for Swing State students and their parents.
Send students in 7 Swing States to StudentVote.info now for:
Campus-specific registration, Voter ID, proof of residency and voting instructions
Downloadable voting plans made for each college page
Personal assistance from voting volunteers
STUDENTVOTE.INFO LIVE PAGE LINKS
AZ students - any college (registration deadline MONDAY 10/7)
GA students - any college (registration deadline MONDAY 10/7)
PA Students - any college (Registration deadline 10/21)
MI Students - any college (registration through 11/5)
NC Students - any college (registration through 11/2)
NY Students - any college (registration deadline 10/26)
Upstate NY and Long Island NY colleges are in House Swing Districts this year - students at these schools should register or re-register to vote from college in these locations.
WI Students - any college (registration through 11/5)
Spread the word widely to Swing State college students *and their parents* to get registration and voting help at StudentVote.info and a voting volunteer will call, text or email with personal instructions.
Let's maximize the college vote now!
Give 💰!
IMPORTANT FUNDRAISER on October 6 at 4PM PT / 7PM ET
There are less than 35 days until election day. And there are still state legislative races in potential tipping point seats in battleground states like AZ, MI, and PA that remain critically underfunded. The rightwing understands what’s at stake this November, and they’re investing accordingly.
So join the State Project for one night — on one call — as we gather our community along with some very special guests (including Olivia Spencer!) to close funding gaps for the most crucial state legislative races in the country. The dollars we raise together will fuel governing power for lawmakers who will defend our democracy, protect our personal freedoms, and work to improve people’s daily lives — power that can protect our future no matter who wins the presidency.
Win Races—write postcards and make calls! 🗳
Activate America has a lot more postcards to distribute and a lot of phonebanks for which they need callers!
Among their many postcarding campaigns:
Vote by mail registration campaign in New York, where voters are still unaccustomed to no-excuse absentee voting
Get Out the Vote campaigns in Michigan and Ohio are especially important as the Senate races in those states are the only 2 races left in the tossup column according to the Cook Political Report.
“Sleeper” races - We announced that we would be working in a handful of tossup House races that were not getting as much attention because their states are not competitive in the Electoral College and do not have a Senate race. We now have those postcard campaigns available for Colorado, New Mexico, and New Jersey.
Phone Banks
They especially want to flag three House races: Derek Tran in CA-45, Dave Min in CA-47, and Rep. Pat Ryan in NY-18. The California candidates in these races emerged from competitive primaries, so the candidate can use a boost in name recognition. The NY-18 campaign is in partnership with gun safety organizations and focused on re-electing a champion for common sense gun safety who needs our help. Please take a shift if you can.
Win Races—Do Voter Protection!
National Voter Protection and Access Final Stretch Kick Off Call on Monday October 7 at 7:30PM ET
With less than 35 days to go, Team Harris-Walz needs needs your support as they work to ensure every eligible voter is able to cast a ballot that counts and elect Vice President Harris and Democrats up and down the ticket.
Want to get involved? Have friends that are asking how they can help? Join this final stretch kickoff call and learn how each and every one of us can do our part to help. Register here.
Can't join but still want to help out? Fill out our Volunteer Interest Survey today!
Resistbot Letter (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.) 💻
[To: your HOUSE rep] [H/T] [Text SIGN PHYLAH to Resistbot at 50409 or via Apple Messages / WHATSAPP / MESSENGER]
As your constituent, I am urging you to co-sponsor the American Stability Act (ASA). The American Stability Act is a bold, elegant solution to the threat posed by destabilizing levels of inequality.
The American Stability Act does the following:
-ELIMINATES FEDERAL TAXES for any taxpayer making less than the median cost of living for a single adult with no children (slightly above $40,000 a year);
-SHIFTS the responsibility for these revenues onto taxpayers making more than $1 million a year;
-REPLACES the ‘minimum’ wage with a new “Stability Wage,” which is set to the median cost of living in the US for a single adult with no children, and then indexes it to make that principle permanent.
We need bold, innovative reform. Lawmakers like you must structure a more stable, prosperous economy that will deliver the results we need for a strong nation.
OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk soon.
Jess
I dropped my first batch of postcards into the mail today. Seriously excited. Got another roll of stamps in the mail. Post office has been out of postcard stamps for weeks. Folks at my mother’s assisted living place have been writing letters. It’s all hands on deck!
At this very moment I am on a plane to Arizona. I am leading a group of 23 intrepid warriors from the Bay Area to go canvassing in Tucson for Kirsten Engel for Congress and Kevin Volk for State Assembly. Tomorrow we will be part of Congressman Raul Grijalva's knock 5,000 Doors in a Day canvass!