Chop Wood, Carry Water 11/21

Something beautiful.

Hi, all, and happy Thursday.

It’s rough out there, so I want to tell you something beautiful: Yesterday you funded Jason Berlin’s much-needed vacation—and then some!—in about three and a half hours. I had to actually pull my car over on the way to a meeting to turn the donation function off, as I feared you’d give more than he could use! Jason was absolutely floored when he found out what had happened—I’m not sure it’s for me to describe his response in detail, but let’s just say he was deeply moved and profoundly appreciative.

We did a good thing. It feels good. Let’s do more.

I know very little about how we’re going to make it through the next few years, but I do know this: doing good, providing mutual aid, helping those who are down, standing with those being targeted—these are things that will not only keep us whole and staunch the bleeding in our communities, but bring us joy when few things can. I may be naive, but I’m convinced that love is the way out of this. It cannot prevail by force, but it can nevertheless prevail. We’ve seen it time and time again. How? Through the power of unity, perseverance, and compassion, and through determined collective action.

We will, then, keep looking for ways to lift each other up. We will not focus only on fighting those who are evil. We will focus even more on helping the helpers. This shift will make our burden lighter, and keep us connected when dwelling only on our anger and fear would poison and isolate us. This isn’t to say we can’t feel those feelings—we will and we must. But let’s keep trying to channel them into connectedness—not the opposite. It is in this way that we will fuel our activism, find pockets of joy, and enable ourselves to stay in the fight.

They want us to give up. We will simply give instead. Of our compassion. Of our energy. Of our patriotism. Of our creativity. Of our generosity. Of our hope. Of our courage. Of our friendship.

In this way we will outlast them. Outsmart them. Outnumber them.

They may win for a while.

But with love and determination, we’ll win at last.

Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲

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

First, the White House just sent Congress a $98.4 billion bill to help the Southeast recover from recent storm damage. I want Congress to pass it quickly.

Second, I know that Congress will soon be passing a stopgap funding package. I’m asking that it not cut funding to the IRS. The recent IRS funding increase has paid for itself many times over. We’ve seen over $1.3 billion in back taxes recovered from wealthy tax dodgers; the average wait times for taxpayer-assistance calls reduced dramatically, and Direct File saving taxpayers millions of dollars. These things matter. Please keep the IRS funded. Thanks. [H/T]

Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲

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

[If GOP:]

I understand that Rep. Nancy Mace introduced a bill to keep transgender women from using the Capitol Hill bathrooms. It’s aimed, of course, at Sarah McBride, who will be the first transgender member of Congress. Watching grown adults bully a transgender lawmaker is repugnant. If the Republicans supporting this bill really care about “protecting women and girls,” as they claim, why do they not condemn the nomination of several known sexual assaulters to Trump’s cabinet, including at least one statutory rapist? This is just performative cruelty because Republicans have no policy solutions. Shame on them and shame on any Congressmember who supports it. Thanks.

[If Dem:]

Has the Congressmember made a statement denouncing Nancy Mace’s bathroom ban bill? [If yes thank. If no add:] S/he should. Watching grown adults bully a transgender lawmaker is repugnant. If the Republicans really cared about “protecting women and girls,” as they claim, they wouldn’t be supporting the nomination of several known sexual assaulters to Trump’s cabinet, including at least one statutory rapist. Please call it out loudly. Thanks.

Extra Credit ✅

[H/T Stop the Coup 2025]

PASS THE ERA NOW! Contact President Biden and Congress and demand this now!

President Biden can stop Project 2025 from rolling back women's rights, reproductive rights, and LGBTQ rights by publishing the fully ratified Equal Rights Amendment in the US Constitution before he leaves office. Please reach out to President Biden and your Congresspersons daily, and ask your friends to do so as well. 

Email: https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/share/

Phone: 202-456-1111 (Tuesday through Thursday only)

Text: (302) 404-0880 (You will get a reply back that you need to enroll, then you can write whenever you want)

Social media: @ POTUS

You can simply say:

President Biden, please instruct the US Archivist to certify and publish the ERA in the Constitution before you leave office. It’s an easy way to protect women and LGBTQIA+ people from Project 2025 and the Trump agenda. Thanks.

You can also sign this petition saying more or less the same from the League of Women Voters.

Get Smart! 📚

You can do your part to stop the spread of election disinformation this holiday season – one conversation at a time. 

Election lies can spread easily and confuse voters in our communities. Misinformation and disinformation are rampant – especially with the rise of social media. 

That’s why Common Cause wants to help you have more productive and impactful conversations with friends and family as the holidays approach. 

Join them today (or on December 5) at 8PM ET for their Talking to Friends and Family training, where they will empower members to build community resilience to election misinformation.

RSVP NOW

Spread the Word! 📣

Someone on Bluesky posted a link to this great google doc, which lists organizations in every state that will help immigrants being targeted by Trump’s deportation policies. It will be updated continuously. Consider bookmarking and sharing it so that those looking for help can use it as a resource.

Give 💰!

Again, Alison Riggs’s GOP opponent in North Carolina is suing to have tens of thousands of ballots disqualified. Her legal fees are going to be huge. We need this Supreme Court seat. Please give if you’re able.

Win Races! 🗳

I’m just going to keep plugging ballot curing for Derek Tran because this race is CLOSE! There are multiple upcoming shifts. Please help!

Sign up here.

Chop Wood, Save the Planet 🔥

Care about climate change? Download the Climate Action Now app! Then use it! It will give you five easy and well-curated actions to take each day to push for climate action. It generally takes me less than three minutes to complete them all—maybe a couple more if I personalize my letters, which is always ideal.

Download the app here. You’ll LOVE it.

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

[To: your Senators] [H/T] [Text SIGN PQUHQO to Resistbot at 50409 or via Apple Messages / MESSENGER]

I understand that Rep. Sean Casten (D-Ill.) is planning to file a privileged resolution to force a vote on the release of the Matt Gaetz Ethics Committee report. I expect the Congressmember to support Rep Casten’s resolution. Americans want to know what’s in that report. We deserve to know whether Gaetz is a criminal before he is put in charge of federal law enforcement. PLEASE RELEASE THE REPORT. Thanks.

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

Talk soon.

Jess