Chop Wood, Carry Water 12/13
Every day a fire hose.
Hi, all, and happy Wednesday!
Here are some of the (fairly major) things happening today:
A House vote on launching an impeachment inquiry into Joe Biden (there is absolutely no evidence to support such a move.)
A possible draconian “deal” on immigration in exchange for Ukraine funding.
The ongoing outcry about Texas’s awful abortion decision.
The Supreme Court’s agreeing to hear the Mifepristone case. (Not good).
Various Trump and Trump-related legal cases heating up.
Any one of these would be major news in a normal universe. But because we’re not living in “normal” we get all of the above, and know there could be more. Every day a fire hose.
It’s a lot, but we can handle it, and we will—one second, one minute, one day at a time. I’ll try to offer you easy actions as stuff comes up, and if I don’t get to everything in every newsletter know that I’ll get to most things in a subsequent one. Readers should feel free to keep sending me action ideas, too, if you think I may have missed them.
One last thing. Several of you reached out to let me know that you received an odd response from “me” in yesterday’s comments section. It looked like this:
Odd indeed! This is not me. It’s Substack spam, and I encourage you to report it if you receive a message like it from “me” again. I will never, ever invite anyone to Telegram by the way—I don’t use it. As for investment suggestions? Ha! Talk about “not my wheelhouse!” In short, please do not respond to this person!
I’ve alerted Substack to the situation and also blocked this imposter. Hopefully that’s the end of it. Thanks to those of you who reached out to let me know!
OK, all. It’s a big day so let’s make the most of it! Thanks for all you do!
Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
I’m extremely alarmed that the Senate is considering implementing Trump-era immigration laws. We fought back against these policies in the Trump years. Targeting immigrants in our communities across the country is just cruel, turning asylum seekers away is against our values, and giving a future president the power to unilaterally ban immigration is unconscionable.
I know Republicans are trying to play hardball, and I do support Ukraine funding, but this isn’t the way to get it. Thanks. [H/T Indivisible]
Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
I’m calling to say that I strenuously oppose the impeachment inquiry Republicans are launching against President Biden. This so-called inquiry is just a political stunt. It’s not what Congress should be focussed on. Americans want action on corporate price gouging. We want action on gun violence. We want action on the climate crisis. We want paid family leave, more worker protections, and better healthcare. I could go on but you get my point. We do NOT want a baseless impeachment inquiry that’s a total waste of time and tax dollars. Thanks.
Extra Credit ✅
Annoyed that Leonard Leo is ignoring a Senate subpoena? Let’s call the Senate Judiciary Committee at (202) 224-7703 and say:
I’m an American citizen calling from [city, state]. I’m calling because I know the Senate Judiciary Committee has issued a subpoena to Leonard Leo requiring him to testify under oath about his decades of influence on Supreme Court Justices. I also know he has said he won’t cooperate with this subpoena.
This is unacceptable. If Leonard Leo won’t abide by the Judiciary Committee’s subpoena and testify about his close relationships with Supreme Court Justices, then the Committee needs to refer him to the Department of Justice for contempt of Congress. Please do so. I’m tired of watching billionaires escape accountability. Thanks. [H/T]
Get Smart! 📚
Interested in gun violence in America? I’ve got a podcast for you. Also a newsletter to follow.
First the podcast:
The Gun Machine, produced by the Trace in partnership with WBUR, looks into the past to bring you a story that most Americans never learned in history class. It’s about mad scientist gunsmiths and the fledgling U.S. government; the Wild West and Waco; Tommy guns and the National Rifle Association; and much, much more.
Episode by episode, host Alain Stephens examines how the government’s 250-year relationship underpins all Americans’ interactions with guns — including a very personal look at our failures in dealing with the fallout of gun violence.
Then consider signing up for the Trace newsletter. No one is writing about gun violence and its solutions better than they are.
Spread the Word! 📣
I have two EXCELLENT messaging toolkits for you. One from the folks at Winning Jobs Narrative and the other, called Freedom Over Fascism, from the amazing people at ASO Communications.
Why check them out? Because HOW we talk about things really, really matters if we want to win. These toolkits tell us which phrases work better (ie: when talking about the Supreme Court DO describe impacts as “take/taking away” to activate loss aversion. DO NOT use language that impugns the entire Supreme Court), give us messaging best practices, and even show us what graphics to use with our words.
I think you’ll find the toolkits fascinating and helpful.
Give 💰!
Join the fabulous Walk the Walk USA on Thursday, December 14th at 5:30pm PT / 8:30pm ET. They’ll be diving into an evidence-based strategy for winning up and down the ballot in 2024. This will be their last zoom of 2023– and a perfect time to host a watch party.
They’ll be in conversation with the AMAZING Dreama Caldwell, Executive Co-Director of We are Down Home NC. North Carolina is a critical and emerging swing state where we can help build short and long-term power. And truly Dreama is beyond inspiring. Go hear her if you can! Really!
Sign up here!
Win Races—Nebraska? 🗳
Political strategist (and super nice guy) Mike Lux thinks we’ve got a shot at picking up a Senate seat in Nebraska next year. Yes, you heard me right! Nebraska! Lux explains why in this blog post—check it out! Then consider RSVP-ing for his campaign briefing THIS THURSDAY Dec. 14 at 1 PM EST with US Senate candidate from Nebraska Dan Osborn, whose exciting candidacy he discusses in the post. I know I’m intrigued.
Chop Wood, Save the Planet 🔥
Please consider attending Third Act’s All-In Call tonight with Senator Bernie Sanders, Akaya Windwood, and Bill McKibben!
December 13, 2023 — 5:00PM Pacific Time / 8:00PM Eastern Time
This is their final All-In Call for 2023, and features a conversation with three incredible and inspiring speakers. Third Act will also be previewing some of the work they're lining up for 2024. You won't want to miss it!
Resistbot Letter (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.) 💻
[To all 3 reps: ] [H/T] [Text SIGN PDMDOG to Resistbot at 50409 or via Apple Messages / WHATSAPP / MESSENGER]
For the first time last year, new billionaires made more of their wealth from inheritance than from entrepreneurship, according to a new report from investment banking firm UBS. In addition, more than 1,000 billionaires are expected to pass $5.2 trillion to their children over the next 20 to 30 years.
That is a massive transfer of wealth into the hands of very few people -- and most of that wealth will not be taxed.
As your constituent, I am urging you to pass Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Jimmy Gomez’s “For the 99.5% Act,” (S. 1178 / H.R. 2676) which would reform the estate tax, close loopholes, and implement a progressive tax on inheritances over $3.5 million.
When too much wealth and power is concentrated in the hands of so few people, our economy and democracy are threatened. In order to reduce wealth inequality and preserve our democracy, we must institute a progressive estate tax on the inherited wealth of multimillionaires and billionaires.
For the sake of our democracy, please pass the “For the 99.5% Act” today.
OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk soon.
Jess
Very interesting read about Nebraska, but also about Missouri. Dems have got to fight in some of these red states, and these seem like good ones. And think how glorious it would be to send Josh Hawley packing. I do worry, though about the disapproval numbers on R Senators--I just can't help thinking that some of that disapproval is that they aren't MAGA enough for some of the voters, and so they need to be taken with a grain of salt. I think the strategy in NE of running as an independent is an interesting one.
Hi Jess, I want to do more to fight for reproductive freedom and amplify voices the majority voice, especially before the Court rules on the Mifepristone case. Can you point to specific actions we can take now and/or organizations that can use volunteers? I donate to many Repro rights groups but need to act to feel hope. Thanks in advance for your work!