Chop Wood, Carry Water 10/9

Lead with love.

Art by Camila Rosa via Amplifier

Hi, all.

I won’t say “happy Monday” because it simply isn’t. There’s too much suffering, too much anger, too much grief, too much death. I have no words for it—I can only say how heartbroken I am that we find ourselves in this moment. Regardless of what brought us here, it’s shattering.

Many good and worthy things have been said on the situation in Israel thus far. Robert Hubbell’s piece from last night was excellent; I thought highly of this beautiful essay by Garrett Bucks of The White Pages. I learned a good deal from today’s episode of the Daily Podcast from the New York Times. I’ll post more helpful coverage as I find it; I may lack foreign policy expertise, but I’m handy at gathering and disseminating reliable information.

Here’s one thing I do know now: our Jewish friends are suffering and need our support.

I saw my neighbor this morning leaving to take her daughter to school. Knowing she was Jewish, I called over to ask her how she was holding up.

She paused at the door of her car and looked at me, suddenly appearing stricken.

“Not well,” she said. “In fact I’m a mess.”

I’ve had the same reaction from every Jewish friend I’ve reached out to. And every one has thanked me for the simple gesture of asking.

It takes nothing to send a text or make a call. The maelstrom of context, history, and politics aside, our Jewish friends have just been attacked—some literally—and they’re gutted. This we can respond to, as humans doing what humans do best—showing that we care.

If we have Palestinian friends, of course, we ought to do the same. They are not Hamas and deserve none of the blame for this hideous assault. They, too, are witnessing unspeakable attacks on a place—and on people—they love. They, too, are grieving and angry.

I hate war, friends. Hate hate hate it. I’m a mom. I weep to see young people—or any innocents— killed, maimed, kidnapped, raped, displaced. I struggle for words to convey my sorrow in this moment, and I’m sure you do, too. That’s OK. It’s what we do that matters. Especially if we lead with love.

So let’s send words of support to a Jewish friend. Let’s give money if we can—I made a donation here. Let’s check in on our Palestinian neighbors. Let’s bring cookies to a local Temple.

Let’s spread love, in short, in any way we can.

That, at least, can never be wrong.

Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲

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

I’m calling to demand that the Senate fill all national security positions immediately. This means Republicans need to stop blocking confirmations today. Tommy Tuberville has to lift his blockade on military promotions—we have no senior military defense official in Israel because of him. We also have no Israeli Ambassador because of Rand Paul. We don’t have Ambassadors in Egypt, Lebanon, Oman, or Kuwait, either. We have no confirmed top USAID official for the Middle East. No State Department Coordinator to Counterterrorism. All because of Republican obstructionism. We are in a moment of crisis; these blockades are endangering our national security and hindering our ability to help our allies. Any Senator who continues to stop these confirmations in light of what’s happening should be censured and expelled. Thanks.

Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲

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

[If Republican]

I’m calling to say that House Republicans need to get their house in order immediately. Their disarray is making us look weak and unstable at a moment where the world needs us to be the opposite. The Republican caucus needs to elect a competent, non-extremist Speaker, today. Your job is not to create drama and fight amongst yourselves. It’s to support President Biden as he navigates what’s going to be a challenging and highly consequential foreign policy emergency. I also demand that Republicans stop spreading misinformation about Iranian funding which did NOT come from American taxpayers and is NOT from the humanitarian aid fund we recently unfroze. Republicans only make themselves look worse by spreading what everyone knows is lies. Knock it off. Thanks.

Extra Credit ✅

Late last week, “Save the Postal Service” launched a new action to send a letter to Congress telling them to “Unlock the Restrictions Keeping the USPS from Selling New Products and Services.” 

When they passed the Postal Service Reform Act recently, Congress authorized the selling of some new products, like hunting and fishing licenses, as long as the USPS partners with state and local governments. But they’ve stopped short of repealing a law that forbids USPS to introduce new services that they weren’t offering in 2006, a crippling provision. 

If Congress repeals that law, new services could include everything from bus and subway passes to postal banking, from WiFi access in parking lots to paying off a parking ticket. A boon for business, and a help to us!

Send your letter now.

Get Smart! 📚

Boost Your Phone Banking Game

Are you phone-bank curious? Are you a veteran phone-banker who wants to hone your skills? Swing Blue Alliance has new tips and tricks for you, to help you get the most out of every call. 

This session will be laser-focused on problem solving. Getting too many hangups? Can't figure out whether the voter supports your candidate? Want to practice phone banking with a cutting edge chatbot? Join our session.

Phone Banking at the Top of Your Game

Wed, Oct 11 @ 12 pm - 1 pm EDT

Spread the Word! 📣

Dan Pfeiffer posted this excellent piece about how to respond to Republican disinformation about Israel, Iran, and the funding the Biden Administration recently unfroze. Please read and share!

Israel Attacked: Pushing Back on Right Wing Disinfo

Win Races! 🗳

From Activate America:

We have completed Vote By Mail postcards and are now writing to Get Out the Vote in Ohio. Our postcard script provides crucial information and uses evidence-based social pressure wording requested by our local experts and activists. Write postcards now and mail them starting October 4 through October 28. https://www.activateamerica.vote/postcards

We also need phone banking volunteers to get out the vote in Ohio! You can join our phone bank groups at set times, dial on your own time using our computer-based system, or sign up for training with our friendly guide Shelby: https://www.activateamerica.vote/phonebanking

NEW! Fight extremist school board candidates in Pennsylvania! Write postcards to support highly qualified school board candidates who will support all children and their freedom to learn - and oppose book bans and bigotry. We are supporting local activists who are fighting the take over of their local school boards by Moms for Liberty, a national extremist group that works to eliminate LGBTQ rights and the teaching of real history. Limited time campaign; sign up now and mail postcard before October 25 for the November 7, 2023 elections. https://www.activateamerica.vote/postcards

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

[to your HOUSE rep] [H/T] [Text SIGN PNNXOS to Resistbot at 50409 or via Apple Messages / WHATSAPP / MESSENGER]

I’m writing as your constituent today to ask that you oppose the far-right, fossil fuel-funded anti-ESG agenda.

It’s obvious that destroying our environment, union busting, exacerbating racial inequality, and appointing cronies to boards pose significant financial risks to companies, and that any prudent investor needs this information disclosed so they can take these risks into account.

Last month, the House Education and Workforce Committee passed several measures that attempt to restrict retirement savers and the investment institutions and advisors that manage their money from considering ESG factors when it comes to retirement investing. At the end of July, the House Financial Services Committee also passed several anti-ESG bills. These are disastrous bills, and I am urging you to vote “NO” on these, and any other anti-ESG legislation, because it puts long-term investments like retirement savings at risk.

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

Talk soon.

Jess