I just sent this note to Joni Ernst, IA senator and encourage you all to reach out to her Dear Congresswoman, While I am not one of your constitutes, I have admired your courage and leadership from afar. So, it was shocking to me to learn that you would consider voting to confirm Pete Hegseth as Sec of Defense. You, of all people, know what it's like to be sexually abused and have leadership sweep the issue under the rug. Putting aside for the moment his notorious abuse of women (as documented by his mother no less), there is his record of significant financial mismanagement of two very small Vet nonprofits that he turned into his own "party-in-a-box." And then there his extreme ideology--including his belief that war criminals are heroes.
If you vote to confirm him, you would be risking the lives and health of the members of our armed services and as well as all US citizens, the US itself, and others in the world. Please, show some backbone and do not vote to confirm him. If you bow to the threat from the MAGA world that they will primary you, you will demonstrate that your power position is more important to you than our country and our constitution. I can't believe you would really do that. How could you sleep at night if you do that knowing he is uniquely unqualified for the job? Please, please, please put your duty to your country above your political ambitions.
Sending you a big hug from NYC. Your newsletter helps to keep me sane. Some of our elected Democrats are making me lose it. Like Richard Blumenthal singing Elon Musk's praises and John Fetterman sucking up to Elise Stefanik. And now Punchbowl is reporting that Nancy Pelosi and Greg Meeks are working behind the scenes to prevent AOC from getting her leadership position on Oversight. I don't agree with everything that AOC says or does but she is smart and will be aggressive in holding the GOP accountable. Also, it is time for a new generation. Thanks for the petition for Ben Wikler. He (and the new great candidates running in the special election in Virginia) are giving me hope for this party.
I did not know Blumenthal did that. I taught his son a very long time ago and recent him an email asking for his help with what is going on. Ugh! Shocked.
Ugh. I’ve never been a fan of Fetterman. I supported Connor Lamb in the primary and I think he would’ve been a better Senator and as much of a media hog. Malcolm Kenyatta would’ve been better too.
The World has absolutely gone mad. The human species is showing so much dysfunctional behavior that our survival is at serious risk.Cruelty is an attribute and empathy is a weakness. HOW could you even mention Trump as Time person of the year with dozens of more qualified exceptional humans?
I truly thought kindness, compassion, common sense, and morality would win.
Anyway, I will be wearing these kinds of shirts in front of MAGAs the next four years 👇
I was thinking that. Yes. Looked it up. Hitler 1938. Stalin was 1939. Ayatollah Khomeini in 1979. And Trump also was on it in 2016. Ugh. Not necessarily an honor as much as this person will affect a lot. Though I am also not defending. I'd rather see people. honored who are actually honorable.
Sad. Just perpetuating the sensationalism. Part of the Problem, not the Solution. Imagine if they put Kamala on the cover and did an actual deep dive into the Misogyny and Racism that prevented us from getting a highly qualified POTUS? sigh.
I am wondering if it would be a good idea for thousands of us to send one postcard per person to Senator Joni Ernst, telling her that by even thinking of supporting Hegseth is to not just abandon the her country, but to abandon her comrades in the military, both current and retired. She is a coward if she doesn't stand up to the MAGA extremists.
Not quite sure how to be most effective in the wording of this, but I would hope that for the investment of about $.56 and a few minutes, if we all decided to send her a postcard--send it to her Iowa address:
111 Seventh Avenue SE
Suite 480
Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
Let's see if we can push her back from the brink. Your thoughts?
Dear Jessica - thank you so much for making it easy to call our Senators and Congressmembers. I have been calling weekly with your assignments. Today, to voice my opposition to the RFK Jr. nomination. Thank you for all you do!
There is a different, and much more encouraging, way to look at Chris Wray's stepping down from the FBI. It could very well be a brilliant strategic move. If you haven't seen David French's recent NYT column
(I know, we're all mad at NYT, but some of it is still worthwhile), I encourage you to give it a look. Because of the timing of his departure, Wray's absence CANNOT be filled as a recess appointment. Here are the pertinent paragraphs:
"Here’s why. According to the Vacancies Reform Act, if a vacancy occurs in a Senate-confirmed position, the president can temporarily replace that appointee (such as the F.B.I. director) only with a person who has already received Senate confirmation or with a person who’s served in a senior capacity in the agency (at the GS-15 pay scale) for at least 90 days in the year before the resignation.
Kash Patel, Donald Trump’s chosen successor at the F.B.I., meets neither of these criteria. He’s not in a Senate-confirmed position, and he’s not been a senior federal employee in the Department of Justice in the last year. That means he can’t walk into the job on Day 1. Trump will have to select someone else to lead the F.B.I. immediately, or the position will default to the “first assistant to the office.”
In this case, that means the position would default to Paul Abbate, who has been the deputy director of the F.B.I. since 2021, unless Trump chooses someone else, and that “someone else” cannot be Patel, at least not right away."
So I've read Hubble's piece, and it doesn't really address the Vacancies Reform Act that French's column cites. Perhaps the question is: who is going to step up and invoke that act? And will it have any teeth if that happens?
OMG - that is amazing news! I will read the whole article, thank you! Recess appointments are my silent big fear right now. He who not be named has been very quiet on this and I know he has something up his sleeve.
Does anyone know if he can somehow avoid having his nominees get out of the FBI background checks? Another worry.
I think every day about how millions of people in other places and other times have lived with these uncertainties all their lives and keep the faith; never give up; maintain hope.
We can do that, too, and ultimately prevail, if not for ourselves, for future generations.
Thank you for all you do and for all of your recommendations for places we can find community. I did not have a chance to read your last post, but will circle back and do so. I feel a tad defeated as well, but know I cannot stay in that place. Reading three books: "Strongmen," by Ruth Ben-Ghiat, "Aristocracy Inc.: The Dictators Who Want to Run the World" by Anne Applebaum, and "Fascism: A Warning" by Madeline Albright, all helped to put things in perspective. The signs and the playbooks have been there all along and it's chilling. Ruth Ben-Ghiat suggested reading Eddie S. Glaude's book, "We are the Leaders we Have Been Looking For." All we can do is forge onward and do our part. Thanks again for all you do.
This is so good. And important. and THANK YOU JULIE D. for the suggestion about turning off Fox “News” in public spaces! Outside the (idiot) box thinking and a small but concrete action that could have a huge impact if repeated often enough.
I would add, in the self-care sphere, avoid social media as much as possible. a) it will make you feel better b) Zuckerberg is sucking up to TFG. Much better to sign up for positive actionable newsletters like this one.
Thank You, Jessica, for the reminder about the importance of saying THANK YOU to those public servants who are actually fighting for us (and Democracy). Gordon Segal, former founder & owner of Crate & Barrel said “people always take the time to complain but rarely to compliment.” We need to make positive beget positive. I’m sure Jamie Raskin and Elizabeth Warren need encouragement to keep going as well! (AOC is fierce and has the “fire in [her] belly” but we should still say thanks to her, too)
My own mantra, at least in terms of counseling others is “Action is the Antidote to Anxiety.” Feel free to quote me. Maybe I’ll design a t-shirt.
It was part of a larger speech, I think to motivate us to give the best possible customer service we could.
PS: Gordon is deceased and sold the company many years ago so it ain’t the C&B that existed for so long, fyi. Now looks like so many other Jenny Kayne/Coastal Grandma/Off-White chic boutique for the home. 🙄☹️
I think we all need to remember, we are in a 4 year war with battles we can anticipate all along the way. The enemy leadership is a bunch of billionaires on a vanity project to get more for themselves and return America to a kingship with an aristocratic leadership well out of reach of our current laws.
Some battles have already started and some will take shape quickly after Jan 20.
As depressing as the Navigator polling results are, they are telling us we need to learn how to sell the Democratic agenda to a broader contingent of voters so they can understand how voting Democratic is the road to a better, more secure future.
Traditional ways of selling our messages simply didn't work. So we need to find better ways.
Sadly, we know with confidence that the MAGA/GOP will not deliver for the less wealthy 60-70% of Americans. Seeing the mega rich cut out social safety net for healthcare, retirement, fodd safety, environmental improvement, etc. will not go well.
Over the next several months we need to really learn how to relate better to the uncommited aspirational voters who who want a better future and have been received by Trump/Musk and the usual GOP supply side, tax cutting BS.
Six months from now we will be outraged everyday but we will be better prepared.
Stay strong and as Jess says every day...stick together!!
how can we find out the list of voting DNC members. I can't find a list anywhere! I would like to contact DNC members from my state (NC) with my support for Wikler.
As for impacting the DNC Jennifer Rubin suggested:
Names of the top DNC leaders can be found on its website, which also links to state party leaders. You can certainly contact those people (especially those from your state), use your social media platform and communicate with other activists to express your choice.
As for impacting the DNC Jennifer Rubin suggested:
Names of the top DNC leaders can be found on its website, which also links to state party leaders. You can certainly contact those people (especially those from your state), use your social media platform and communicate with other activists to express your choice.
Hi! I'm trying hard not to wallow in despair. Channeling my energy for positive change is helping (somewhat). For anyone else who wants to help, I have been writing some postcards for the VA senate special election race (Kannan Srinivasan). The messages are short and this is such an important race to hold the democratic senate majority in VA. Sign up by contacting: Join@TonyTheDemocrat.org
Jane Cronin:
I just sent this note to Joni Ernst, IA senator and encourage you all to reach out to her Dear Congresswoman, While I am not one of your constitutes, I have admired your courage and leadership from afar. So, it was shocking to me to learn that you would consider voting to confirm Pete Hegseth as Sec of Defense. You, of all people, know what it's like to be sexually abused and have leadership sweep the issue under the rug. Putting aside for the moment his notorious abuse of women (as documented by his mother no less), there is his record of significant financial mismanagement of two very small Vet nonprofits that he turned into his own "party-in-a-box." And then there his extreme ideology--including his belief that war criminals are heroes.
If you vote to confirm him, you would be risking the lives and health of the members of our armed services and as well as all US citizens, the US itself, and others in the world. Please, show some backbone and do not vote to confirm him. If you bow to the threat from the MAGA world that they will primary you, you will demonstrate that your power position is more important to you than our country and our constitution. I can't believe you would really do that. How could you sleep at night if you do that knowing he is uniquely unqualified for the job? Please, please, please put your duty to your country above your political ambitions.
https://www.ernst.senate.gov/contact/email-joni
On it! Thank you for sharing it!
I’ve felt a need to do the same! You’ve inspired me to do the same! Great letter!
good! copying and sending elsewhere!
Sending you a big hug from NYC. Your newsletter helps to keep me sane. Some of our elected Democrats are making me lose it. Like Richard Blumenthal singing Elon Musk's praises and John Fetterman sucking up to Elise Stefanik. And now Punchbowl is reporting that Nancy Pelosi and Greg Meeks are working behind the scenes to prevent AOC from getting her leadership position on Oversight. I don't agree with everything that AOC says or does but she is smart and will be aggressive in holding the GOP accountable. Also, it is time for a new generation. Thanks for the petition for Ben Wikler. He (and the new great candidates running in the special election in Virginia) are giving me hope for this party.
Time to send a postcard to Nancy to support AOC.
I did not know Blumenthal did that. I taught his son a very long time ago and recent him an email asking for his help with what is going on. Ugh! Shocked.
https://bsky.app/profile/atrupar.com/post/3ld4qyh3pos2f
Thank you!
Ugh. I’ve never been a fan of Fetterman. I supported Connor Lamb in the primary and I think he would’ve been a better Senator and as much of a media hog. Malcolm Kenyatta would’ve been better too.
Fetterman also praised Musk
I once thought he was great. no longer.
Fetterman has lost it
The bully has power only because someone gave it to him.
Joni, who is a sexual assault survivor, rewarding a sexual predator just gave all sexual predators power.
Zuckerberg giving trump money just gave trump permission to keep coming back for more.
Etc, etc, etc...
I forgot she was a sex assault surviror...
The World has absolutely gone mad. The human species is showing so much dysfunctional behavior that our survival is at serious risk.Cruelty is an attribute and empathy is a weakness. HOW could you even mention Trump as Time person of the year with dozens of more qualified exceptional humans?
I truly thought kindness, compassion, common sense, and morality would win.
Anyway, I will be wearing these kinds of shirts in front of MAGAs the next four years 👇
teespring.com/stores/libtees-2
More than ever!
I still choose to find the goodness in this world, focus on kindness and compassion.
Call me woke. Woke AF!
NOT defending, just pointing out that TIME’s POY is not necessarily a compliment. Hitler was once POY too, I believe.
I was thinking that. Yes. Looked it up. Hitler 1938. Stalin was 1939. Ayatollah Khomeini in 1979. And Trump also was on it in 2016. Ugh. Not necessarily an honor as much as this person will affect a lot. Though I am also not defending. I'd rather see people. honored who are actually honorable.
Former journalist here. Heroism is not on their criteria list, just notoriety.
Sad. Just perpetuating the sensationalism. Part of the Problem, not the Solution. Imagine if they put Kamala on the cover and did an actual deep dive into the Misogyny and Racism that prevented us from getting a highly qualified POTUS? sigh.
Agreed, Jan.
Replace Woke with
Human Rights and enjoy the clarity.
I am wondering if it would be a good idea for thousands of us to send one postcard per person to Senator Joni Ernst, telling her that by even thinking of supporting Hegseth is to not just abandon the her country, but to abandon her comrades in the military, both current and retired. She is a coward if she doesn't stand up to the MAGA extremists.
Not quite sure how to be most effective in the wording of this, but I would hope that for the investment of about $.56 and a few minutes, if we all decided to send her a postcard--send it to her Iowa address:
111 Seventh Avenue SE
Suite 480
Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
Let's see if we can push her back from the brink. Your thoughts?
Great idea. Will do as part of my work tomorrow.
Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia is trying to keep birthright citizenship!
Dear Jessica - thank you so much for making it easy to call our Senators and Congressmembers. I have been calling weekly with your assignments. Today, to voice my opposition to the RFK Jr. nomination. Thank you for all you do!
There is a different, and much more encouraging, way to look at Chris Wray's stepping down from the FBI. It could very well be a brilliant strategic move. If you haven't seen David French's recent NYT column
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/12/04/opinion/thepoint/chris-wray-fbi-trump-step-down?smid=url-share
(I know, we're all mad at NYT, but some of it is still worthwhile), I encourage you to give it a look. Because of the timing of his departure, Wray's absence CANNOT be filled as a recess appointment. Here are the pertinent paragraphs:
"Here’s why. According to the Vacancies Reform Act, if a vacancy occurs in a Senate-confirmed position, the president can temporarily replace that appointee (such as the F.B.I. director) only with a person who has already received Senate confirmation or with a person who’s served in a senior capacity in the agency (at the GS-15 pay scale) for at least 90 days in the year before the resignation.
Kash Patel, Donald Trump’s chosen successor at the F.B.I., meets neither of these criteria. He’s not in a Senate-confirmed position, and he’s not been a senior federal employee in the Department of Justice in the last year. That means he can’t walk into the job on Day 1. Trump will have to select someone else to lead the F.B.I. immediately, or the position will default to the “first assistant to the office.”
In this case, that means the position would default to Paul Abbate, who has been the deputy director of the F.B.I. since 2021, unless Trump chooses someone else, and that “someone else” cannot be Patel, at least not right away."
I find comfort in this . . .
Unfortunately, that is not accurate
Bummer! Can you point me towards another source for the real scoop?
I believe it was Robert Hubble a couple of days ago that put that theory to rest
So I've read Hubble's piece, and it doesn't really address the Vacancies Reform Act that French's column cites. Perhaps the question is: who is going to step up and invoke that act? And will it have any teeth if that happens?
Thanks, I'll check that out. Although I'm not looking forward to being disappointed (again!) . . .
OMG - that is amazing news! I will read the whole article, thank you! Recess appointments are my silent big fear right now. He who not be named has been very quiet on this and I know he has something up his sleeve.
Does anyone know if he can somehow avoid having his nominees get out of the FBI background checks? Another worry.
I think every day about how millions of people in other places and other times have lived with these uncertainties all their lives and keep the faith; never give up; maintain hope.
We can do that, too, and ultimately prevail, if not for ourselves, for future generations.
The universal lesson from Holocaust survivors is that hope is a survival skill.
Jim, I think about that every day and it puts things in perspective immediately. Thank you.
Did my daily actions today. I have to do something to stay alive! Thanks for making it easy for us.
Jessica,
Thank you for all you do and for all of your recommendations for places we can find community. I did not have a chance to read your last post, but will circle back and do so. I feel a tad defeated as well, but know I cannot stay in that place. Reading three books: "Strongmen," by Ruth Ben-Ghiat, "Aristocracy Inc.: The Dictators Who Want to Run the World" by Anne Applebaum, and "Fascism: A Warning" by Madeline Albright, all helped to put things in perspective. The signs and the playbooks have been there all along and it's chilling. Ruth Ben-Ghiat suggested reading Eddie S. Glaude's book, "We are the Leaders we Have Been Looking For." All we can do is forge onward and do our part. Thanks again for all you do.
This is so good. And important. and THANK YOU JULIE D. for the suggestion about turning off Fox “News” in public spaces! Outside the (idiot) box thinking and a small but concrete action that could have a huge impact if repeated often enough.
I would add, in the self-care sphere, avoid social media as much as possible. a) it will make you feel better b) Zuckerberg is sucking up to TFG. Much better to sign up for positive actionable newsletters like this one.
Thank You, Jessica, for the reminder about the importance of saying THANK YOU to those public servants who are actually fighting for us (and Democracy). Gordon Segal, former founder & owner of Crate & Barrel said “people always take the time to complain but rarely to compliment.” We need to make positive beget positive. I’m sure Jamie Raskin and Elizabeth Warren need encouragement to keep going as well! (AOC is fierce and has the “fire in [her] belly” but we should still say thanks to her, too)
My own mantra, at least in terms of counseling others is “Action is the Antidote to Anxiety.” Feel free to quote me. Maybe I’ll design a t-shirt.
#onward
To Gordon Segal: the purchase is the compliment.
A business owner should welcome the complaints regarding a product that is below standards.
Nilla,
It was part of a larger speech, I think to motivate us to give the best possible customer service we could.
PS: Gordon is deceased and sold the company many years ago so it ain’t the C&B that existed for so long, fyi. Now looks like so many other Jenny Kayne/Coastal Grandma/Off-White chic boutique for the home. 🙄☹️
I think we all need to remember, we are in a 4 year war with battles we can anticipate all along the way. The enemy leadership is a bunch of billionaires on a vanity project to get more for themselves and return America to a kingship with an aristocratic leadership well out of reach of our current laws.
Some battles have already started and some will take shape quickly after Jan 20.
As depressing as the Navigator polling results are, they are telling us we need to learn how to sell the Democratic agenda to a broader contingent of voters so they can understand how voting Democratic is the road to a better, more secure future.
Traditional ways of selling our messages simply didn't work. So we need to find better ways.
Sadly, we know with confidence that the MAGA/GOP will not deliver for the less wealthy 60-70% of Americans. Seeing the mega rich cut out social safety net for healthcare, retirement, fodd safety, environmental improvement, etc. will not go well.
Over the next several months we need to really learn how to relate better to the uncommited aspirational voters who who want a better future and have been received by Trump/Musk and the usual GOP supply side, tax cutting BS.
Six months from now we will be outraged everyday but we will be better prepared.
Stay strong and as Jess says every day...stick together!!
https://www.newsweek.com/chris-wray-fbi-director-donald-trump-kush-patel-january-inauguration-1999725 well, here is a different take on Wray’s resignation which really makes sense to me strategically. Almost all media is accusatory saying he has kissed the ring, but I am not convinced that there is not some wisdom in his choice. ANY roadblocks to Patel are GOOD imo.
Yes! I agree!
how can we find out the list of voting DNC members. I can't find a list anywhere! I would like to contact DNC members from my state (NC) with my support for Wikler.
Here's a link to the DNC web page
As for impacting the DNC Jennifer Rubin suggested:
Names of the top DNC leaders can be found on its website, which also links to state party leaders. You can certainly contact those people (especially those from your state), use your social media platform and communicate with other activists to express your choice.
https://democrats.org/who-we-are/
Went to the DNC website, then followed link to my state and a found a list of names but no contact info that I could see. 🥴
Make no mistake that if they don't make it easy to contact your state's DNC people that's a frustrating design problem
I'm sorry. It may take a separate Google search to find them
following. would also like to know.
Here's a link to the DNC web page
As for impacting the DNC Jennifer Rubin suggested:
Names of the top DNC leaders can be found on its website, which also links to state party leaders. You can certainly contact those people (especially those from your state), use your social media platform and communicate with other activists to express your choice.
https://democrats.org/who-we-are/
Hi! I'm trying hard not to wallow in despair. Channeling my energy for positive change is helping (somewhat). For anyone else who wants to help, I have been writing some postcards for the VA senate special election race (Kannan Srinivasan). The messages are short and this is such an important race to hold the democratic senate majority in VA. Sign up by contacting: Join@TonyTheDemocrat.org
The organization is Postcards to Voters. :)
I'm writing postcards for that race, too.
Me, too! Sounds like a movement 😉