Good morning, wonderful readers.
First, an enormous thank you to those of you who gave to my laptop fund yesterday. I am humbled to report that the goal was reached in a few hours, and has now been surpassed (!!!) The extra funds will be hugely helpful in funding postcard campaigns, buying office supplies, subscribing to more periodicals, and the like, so I am terribly grateful. Oh, and I go to buy a new laptop as soon as I’m done here (yep, still on my kid’s 😂). So thank you, again, from the bottom of my heart.
Second, you’ll notice that I’m bifurcating more scripts below—separating those for Democrats from those for Republicans. I’ve tried not to do this in the past, as it frankly adds more work, but at this point the two parties are so divided, and their goals so different, that there are only so many bills that will appeal to both sides. So going forward I’ll do my best to give you scripts tailored to the Ted Cruz’s on the one hand and the AOCs on the other. It won’t always be perfect, but neither is the one-size-fits all approach. At least not in a Congress with differences as seemingly irreconcilable as ours.
OK, y’all. I feel your love and send it back. We are living in historic times, and I am eternally grateful to be fighting the fight of our lives with each and every one of you.
Let’s go make some calls.
Call Your Senators (find yours here)
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
First, I know that yesterday Senator Leahy introduced the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. This bill should be a no-brainer, and I expect the Senator to support it, as well as the Freedom to Vote Act.
[If GOP:] Also, I know another vote has been scheduled to raise the debt limit, and I expect the Senator to support it this time. Shame on Republicans for not doing so earlier—I will remind the Senator that Democrats voted to do so three times during the Trump years, when your party raised the deficit by 7.8 trillion dollars with tax cuts for the wealthy. Do NOT crash the economy for short-term political gain. It’s unacceptable. Thanks.
[If Democrat add:] Also, I know another vote has been scheduled to raise the debt limit, and if Republicans filibuster it this time Democrats must reform the filibuster and raise it without them. They’ve given you no other choice; plus it is long past time for this Jim Crow relic to be abolished. It must be done in order to pass voting rights legislation as well. And so much more. Stop letting a treasonous party call the shots. Abolish the filibuster and lead. Thanks.
Call Your House Rep (find yours here)
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
First, after the whistleblower’s testimony yesterday it is abundantly clear that Facebook needs to be regulated. Passing a federal privacy standard is a good first step, but we should also take Frances Haugen’s advice and modify Section 230 to make companies legally liable for their algorithms promoting harmful content rather than specific users’ posts. Finally, Congress needs to create an outside regulatory agency that would have the power to request data from Facebook, particularly about how its algorithms work and the kind of content they amplify on the company’s social media platforms.
[If Democrat add:] Also, please keep as many of the original provisions in the Build Back Better package as possible. This plan won’t cost American taxpayers anything—it’s entirely paid for. So don’t worry about the price tag. Worry about helping Americans in innumerable ways, and saving our race from extinction. We need ALL of it—including Medicare’s negotiating our drug prices. Go big. And no bipartisan bill until the Build Back Better plan is passed. Thanks.
Extra Credit
Activist Jessica Reznicek pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to damage the Dakota Access Pipeline, an energy facility. On June 30th, 2021 Federal Judge Rebecca Goodgame Ebinger set a dangerous legal precedent when she agreed with federal prosecutors that it was necessary to apply a domestic terrorism enhancement to Jessica’s case to deter others from taking similar actions.
The terrorism enhancement doubled Jessica’s sentence and unless changed could have frightening consequences for anyone seeking to protect the environment from corporate destruction.
The result of this decision is that Jessica will serve 8 years in prison, followed by 3 years supervised probation, and a restitution of $3,198,512.70 paid to Energy Transfer LLC for the actions she took in 2016 to stop the Dakota Access Pipeline.
Please sign this petition demanding that her sentence be reduced. We can’t allow environmental activists to be treated like terrorists.
Get on the Phones! ☎️
My VA phonebank is from 3-5 today. Last time we had 3 people. It’s got to be more if we are to win. Sign up here and come hang out with meeeee!
Get Strategic!
Conventional wisdom says that the odds are against us in 2022. To defy the odds, Movement Voter Project—one of the best grassroots progressive activist coalitions out there— is developing an audacious strategy to supercharge the movement to win the midterms — just like we did in the Georgia runoff that changed the world.
Join them on Wednesday, November 3, at 5:00pm PT / 8:00pm ET to learn about MVP’s “Top 40” targets in 2022: House, Senate, Governors, and Secretaries of State. We’ll hear from some of MVP’s incredible State Advisors and organizers in key states and their strategies for 2022, our next big step in building a Progressive Decade.
I’ll be there, and hope you will, too.
Resistbot Text (new to Resistbot? Go here!)
[to your Democratic House rep and/or Senators] [H/T]
I urge you not to compromise on the transformative content of President Biden’s Build Back Better Act. I support passing legislation which includes all of its critically important elements.
Investments in clean energy jobs, climate resilience and protecting our planet from further damage
Home care for the elderly and disabled
Extending the Child Tax Credits that have already led to historic reductions in child poverty
Expanding Medicare to cover vision, hearing and dental care
Medicaid expansion and ACA subsidies so millions can access quality, affordable health care
Lower drug prices by allowing Medicare to negotiate pricing
Paid Family and Medical Leave
Child care subsidies and free Pre-K
Free Community College
Funding for Housing and combatting homelessness
And most importantly: raising taxes on Corporations and the wealthiest Americans who need to pay their fare share of taxes.
Both infrastructure bills are vital and need to be passed together. Thanks.
OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk tomorrow.
Jess