Chop Wood, Carry Water 11/1

A week for winning.

Hi, all, and happy NOVEMBER!

Hope you all had a happy (and suitably creepy) Halloween. 🎃

Speaking of scary things—yikes! Election Day is tomorrow! I’m on pins and needles; I have been for days. I tried to ease the nerves by phonebanking for four hours yesterday—right up until trick or treating time—and it definitely helped. I’ll be calling again later today, and all day tomorrow. It feels good knowing that, whatever happens, I gave my all to the cause. Hopefully you feel the same. (If you don’t I’ve put loads of opportunities to change that below).

I know I say this constantly, but this really is going to be a momentous week. In an ideal world we will prevail in Virginia, (and NJ, and PA, and so on), and see Build Back Better finalized and maybe even voted on…BEFORE the bipartisan bill.

In a less than ideal world—well, we won’t go there. Not yet.

Right now we will simply work to ensure the better outcome.

Because that’s how we win.

P.S. I am on the progressive mobilization call I do twice a week with a bunch of movement leaders and it sounds like POTUS is feeling very optimistic about BBB passing in the House early this week! Maybe we WILL get that win…

Call Your Senators (find yours here)

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

First, I’m reading the new reporting from the Washington Post about the January 6th insurrection and it’s shocking. Among many other takeaways is that Christopher Wray needs to be fired. Has the Senator made a statement saying so? If not they should. Merrick Garland should be replaced, too. The response so far by all of our law-enforcement agencies has been horrifically inadequate, and if we don’t act more forcefully it seems unavoidable that we will see more violence in the future.

Second, I know the Supreme Court is hearing testimony on Texas’s draconian abortion law right now, and it seems like a great time to remind the Senator that the House has already passed the Women’s Health Protection Act and the Senate should, too. I support a woman’s right to choose, (and P.S. if we have to expand the courts to protect it I support that, too.) Thanks.

[If Dem add:] Also allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices will help seniors AND save the federal government money. I am counting on you to please put this crucial provision in the Build Back Better Act. Thanks.

Call Your House Rep (find yours here)

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

[If Democrat:] First, Congress has a chance to act on immigration this year. I’m counting on the Congressmember to vote yes and secure immigration in the House reconciliation bill. 

[If Democrat] Second, I am urging you to hold the line and make sure a full Build Back Better Act is passed alongside the bipartisan infrastructure framework -- not after. The investments in child care, healthcare, and housing are critically important to my community, and the investments in clean energy put us on the right track to avert total climate catastrophe. Also allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices will help seniors AND save the federal government money. I am counting on you to please ensure that all of these crucial provisions are in the Build Back Better Act. Thanks. [H/T]

Extra Credit

Please, do a couple of things for me:

If you’re on twitter please copy and re-post (or R/T) this.

Then send President Biden a letter via Resistbot or his webform and tell him to fire Christopher Wray. I said:

Sir, I just read the Washington Post's new coverage of the Capitol riots, and I'm sickened. More than anything I'm worried at how many red flags there were ahead of this event, and how steadfastly they were ignored by everyone, but particularly the FBI.

So I’m writing to urge you to fire Christopher Wray.

The FBI knew the danger; they knew people would *die* if they failed to act. Yet they did nothing. I'm begging you to fire Wray.

Further, you need to replace Merrick Garland. He might be a good AG during peaceful times, but you need a “wartime Consigliere,” as it were. Garland is not it. He's failing to prosecute these acts of treason as aggressively as he must if we are to avoid repeating them.

The response to this horrific event has been anemic and shatteringly inadequate. Please, there’s no time to waste. Get folks in these positions who will do what needs to be done, or the violence next time could be far worse. Our democracy is in your hands. Thanks.

[If you want to use the quick-send tool to send the above to POTUS just text SIGN PWREGW to 50409 or click here.]

Text Out the Vote

📲 Black Voters Matter has texting into VA and a few other states all day today. I prefer phonebanking, so I can’t tell you much about it, but if you prefer texting you can sign up here and get more info.

📲 You can also text voters from anywhere today to help win the Supreme Court races that are so critical in PA tomorrow!

Get on the Phones! ☎️

Virginia phonebanks today! 👇🏼

First, they really need folks to help make ballot curing calls! This is really important, and if you’re looking for the easiest calls even this is your jam! These are Democrats who have already voted but forgotten to get a witness signature on their VBM envelope. They need to cure these ballots or their vote WILL NOT COUNT. Sign up here for an easy, fully trained-at-the-beginning shift.

Now for regular GOTV phonebanking…

If you’re familiar with PDI (or are willing to watch a short training video) you can phonebank in English or Spanish on your own time anytime today with Center For Common Ground here.

Activate America has a phonebank from 3-5 PM PDT. (This one lets you leave messages!) Sign up here.

VA Dems have phonebank shifts every two hours all day today. Sign up here.

Grassroots Dems has a phonebank from 2-4 PM PDT here.

And I’ve signed up to make calls with Sister District LA San Fernando Valley from 3-5PM PDT. Join me?

Resistbot Text (new to Resistbot? Go here!)

[Please personalize and/or tailor as you like and send to AG Garland here.]

I’m writing to ask that you prosecute criminal contempt charges against Steve Bannon to the full extent of the law. These are extraordinary times. Never before has America witnessed a president refuse to concede office peacefully. Never before have insurrectionists forced their way into the U.S. Capitol, threatening legislators, harming police officers, and damaging our seat of government.

What happened on Jan. 6 was an organized crime against democracy, and Bannon’s public statements indicate that he was a witness to the planning of it, and possibly an active co-conspirator.  Beyond making laws, Congress has an informing function and a responsibility to determine abuses of and against our government. It cannot perform this duty without the ability to compel people to testify and turn over documents. Otherwise, it would only have access to information that those such as Bannon choose to turn over, allowing corruption to flourish. We would never accept those sorts of limitations on information in judicial proceedings — and even less should we accept them in congressional proceedings, where the interests of the entire nation are implicated.

As legal scholar James Landis wrote in 1926, “To deny Congress power to acquaint itself with facts is equivalent to requiring it to prescribe remedies in darkness.” Mr. Bannon’s refusal to cooperate with the select committee is an additional crime against our country and must have serious consequences, including imprisonment under 2 U.S. Code §§ 192 -194 & 18 U.S. Code Section 1505. The only privilege he should claim in this whole sorry affair is his fervent belief that he is above the law of a nation he openly despises.  Do not back down from this fight, Attorney General Garland. This man and his compatriots are more dangerous to the continuation of our country as a functional democracy than any foreign agent or government. Stopping them must be your highest obligation. Thanks.

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

Talk tomorrow.

Jess