Chop Wood, Carry Water 11/17
This is tough. We're tougher.
Hi, all, and happy Friday!
Heading into a holiday week I find myself even more grateful for you than usual. And that’s really saying something. I have recently been so inspired by, and happy for, your comments, your engagement, your suggestions, your pushback, your inquiries—it all feels very vital, very human, very respectful, very loving, and very, very hopeful.
And Lord knows we need hope.
I posted a TikTok last night (it’s in this email, too) about Trump’s immigration plans for his second term—a term, of course, we hope he won’t get. We can’t, after all, convince “disaffected voters” to turn out for Biden again if they don’t truly understand the stakes, so I made the video despite the fact that it was a bit more alarmist than my usual content. As much as I want to project pure optimism and hope, you see, I also don’t want to hide what’s facing us if we lose next year. It’s really important that people get it.
The video got a lot of views, lots of engagement, and lots of shares. Good. But sadly, a few of the comments seemed utterly despondent. “I hate it here,” wrote one person. Others expressed the desire to “just leave” the U.S. or even, more alarmingly, “the world” (I gently urged that person to seek help).
Look, I get it—I had a moment yesterday where I broke down in tears. It’s OK. These are very, very hard times and the news—with which some of us spend an enormous amount of time—is filled with genuinely frightening stuff.
Here’s how I handle the moments of despair, though—and I shared this with my viewers in the comments: First, I get off of my devices. I put it all away—the phone, the laptop, the earbuds—all of it. When we start spinning out these devices stop being tools and start being “anxiety accelerants.” Not helpful. So I get up, shake myself off, and then look for a human to connect with.
In my case it was Mj, with whom I went on a spontaneous ice cream run. We visited some shops, too. Tried on a few shirts at our favorite local boutique. Sat in the sunlight of the late afternoon.
By the time that hour had passed I was no longer in despair. It was then, and only then, that I could go home, pick my laptop back up, and take more action, which in turn led to more hope.
See how it works?
Our secret power, folks—the fuel that will carry us through this beyond challenging time—is each other. It’s love. It’s human connection. It’s caring. It’s listening. It’s disconnecting from the electronic world and spending meaningful time in the real one.
And then, only once we have re-filled our wells, it’s taking more action. Which will fill our wells even further. And more connection. And so it goes.
This is tough. We’re tougher. And together we’re unbeatable. Don’t forget it.
Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
First, I want to make sure the Congressmember plans to vote yes on expelling George Santos from Congress. I have read the list of his misdeeds and he can’t stay in Congress. Period.
Second, while I’m glad that Congress passed a Continuing Resolution that averted a government shutdown the bill failed to include any additional WIC funding. This is bad news as that program is severely underfunded. Congress needs to fully fund WIC in the final budget to stave off interruptions in benefits and services in the program. We need to make sure the neediest among us don’t go hungry—especially when they’re children. Thanks. [H/T and lots more info]
Extra Credit ✅
Whoa! This is important and I almost missed it! Thanks to the readers who forwarded me this action, which comes from Don Moynihan’s Substack
(You should read the full post—it’s great.)From Moynihan:
The US Office of Personnel Management has issued a rule to neuter Schedule F, Trump’s executive order that would allow him to convert career officials into political appointees, meaning he can force them to choose between being fired and serving an authoritarian agenda. This is a very big deal. Authoritarians consolidate power by removing the independence of the bureaucracy.
The proposed rule is a good one. As with any rule, the public can comment on it. You can comment on it.
This is my ask of you today: Take the time you would have spent complaining about politics online, and use it to write a comment supporting the proposed OPM rule and opposing Schedule F. You can do it in 5 minutes. Deadline is November 17th!
You can enter a comment here. No log in. You can enter text, or upload a document. You don’t need to read the rule or be an expert. Schedule F (politicization) is bad and the rule (protecting nonpartisan civil servants) is good.
Let’s do this! Today is the deadline!!
I said (and this is just a “for instance;” you should write your own):
This is so straightforward. Schedule F is politicization, and it's bad. The rule you're proposing-- protecting nonpartisan civil servants--is good. Anyone who disagrees with this wants authoritarianism, not democracy. We already know Donald Trump is planning on using political appointees, lawyers in government, and career civil servants to attain his authoritarian ends. This rule is the way to prevent it. Please, for the love of God--and our freedoms--enact it. Thanks.
Get Smart—a Great Podcast! 🎧
🚨 Israel / Gaza related! Feel free to skip. 🚨
Like many of us, I have been doing a very, very deep dive on the situation in the Middle East and the many issues it’s brought to the fore. One of the podcasts I’ve found most helpful is one with which I was previously unfamiliar: the Ezra Klein Show. The episode that dropped today, called “The Sermons I Needed to Hear Right Now,” is especially powerful, balanced, nuanced, and, I thought, deeply moving. I highly recommend all of the episodes he’s done on the conflict—there are many—but especially this one.
Get Smart—a great read! 📚
OK, this may not be for all of you, but Rachel Bitecofer’s new post about how to shut down your Trumpy uncle this Thanksgiving is, to me at least, worth sharing and considering. Hers is not the most pacifist of approaches, and again, some of you will decline to try it, but if I had a Trumpy uncle I’d be all over it. We know from watching Republicans that it’s effective. And “reasoning” with Trump supporters appears to be utterly pointless.
Spread the Word! 📣
Sorry to promote my own content but spreading the word about Trump’s horrific plans for his immigration policy is so important, and the MSM isn’t really doing it. So please either share this article, share the below video summarizing it, or both.
Give 💰!
🚨 Exciting news! 🚨
You've seen me talk up the amazing Movement Voter Project on multiple occasions. MVP funds highly-vetted, highly effective grassroots groups to help mobilize voters, win policy change, and achieve lasting progressive power. They are very, very good at what they do.
I feel strongly that MVP is one of the most politically impactful places to send our dollars, and I’ve said so many times. Last week I was contacted by a longtime reader and self-described "MVP fanatic" who was so excited to see MVP mentioned in this space that he's offered to match the first $10,000 (yes, ten thousand dollars!) that Chop Wood, Carry Water readers contribute to MVP through the end of November! Here's the donation link for the offer; let's make sure we don't leave any of the match on the table! Please share this with moneyed friends who are freaking out about our democracy! This is a meaningful way to help!
Resistbot Letter (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.) 💻
[H/T] [Text SIGN PGJYCO to Resistbot at 50409 or via Apple Messages / WHATSAPP / MESSENGER]
Supreme Court decisions impact every American and every aspect of our lives. And yet, the majority of Americans have lost faith in the Court’s ability to act as a neutral arbiter of the law.
Each session, the Court hands down decisions that are increasingly divorced from the values and viewpoints of the American people. It’s time for Congress to restore public trust in the Court by creating term limits for the Supreme Court.
A supermajority of Americans—7 out of 10—support passing term limits for our highest court. The Supreme Court Biennial Appointments and Term Limits Act, introduced by Senator Whitehouse, would create 18-year term limits and give presidents two Supreme Court appointments during each term they are in office, creating a Court that is more representative of the American people.
No other major democracy in the world gives lifetime appointments to judges, and 49 of our states already have term limits, mandatory retirement ages, or elections for members of their highest courts. It’s time the federal government follows their lead.
As a constituent, I am urging you to become a cosponsor of the Supreme Court Biennial Appointments and Term Limits Act and build support among your colleagues in Congress. It’s time to restore trust in the highest court in our land.
OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk soon.
Jess
Wow, that Rachel Bitecofer Pivot-and-Attack method is...harsh! I am so glad I have no one in my family or friends or associates to use it on. But I can see its utility. Maybe follow up with, "I'm just so pleased that since 1989 48 million of the 50 million jobs created have been under Democratic administrations. That's 96%, which I feel good about."
In the meantime, thanks for the OPM and Schedule F action, Jess! My comment was based on yours:
As a Stanford student I lived in Germany in the 1980s and learned the history of that country, including how authoritarianism took hold in the 1930s. In the USA I see a similar danger now, with Schedule F being Trump's method of enforcing loyalty to him as a Unitary Executive. This politicization of our civil service system is harmful to democracy.
Thankfully the rule you're proposing -- protecting nonpartisan civil servants -- is good. Anyone who disagrees with this wants authoritarianism, not democracy. We already know Donald Trump is planning on using political appointees, lawyers in government, and career civil servants to attain his authoritarian ends. This rule is the way to prevent it. Please, for the sake of our freedoms, enact it. Thank you.
Great list of actions today. I just submitted a comment on the OPM rule, gave to MVP and signed the Resistbot letter. All while eating lunch!
And yes we are all scared but our movement also has hope and humor, and we care for each other. They have only fear which is motivating short term but not sustainable long term. They are humorless and at each other’s throats. I would much rather be us than them.