Not that I don't want to hear from you, but make sure you get plenty of rest, Jess. We want to see you bright-eyed and busy-tailed when the new year comes a callin'!
Thanks as always Jessica. Enjoy your rest and cookies!
The Biden-Harris memo is awesome! I just want to remind all your followers that US Citizens living or studying abroad have to request their overseas ballot every calendar year. Please remind anyone you know living abroad that early in January to go to https://votefromabroad.org to request your ballot. It's a very simple process - in most cases it can be completed on your smart phone. And the good news is that you're one and done! Just one submission and it's good for the entire year!
I love the memo by the Biden campaign, but in this time of short attention spans, I would love them to make a bunch of short videos and perhaps even cartoons!
Absolutely - great idea. I watched a cartoon video about wealth inequality that was genius and totally explained it in easy to understand words accompanied by clever animation.
Hi Jessica: Thanks as always for the informative newsletter. I'm on the 12:30 ET Zoom with Wendy Weiser, Anat Shenker-Osorio, et al and I'm learning a lot there too. On postcards, I just wanted to say that in addition to the Activate America campaigns one of which I'm writing for (NY-03), Postcards To Voters has addresses for this super-important state legislative race in Florida for HD-35. Special election is January 16th (so a month before NY-03 Special). Simon Rosenberg has written about it https://www.hopiumchronicles.com/p/growth-expansion-in-2024-hopium-endorses?r=bjiv&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web, and I spoke to Rep. Maxwell Frost last week and he and David Hogg have been out leading canvasses for this race. They all think it is flippable. The Democratic candidate is Tom Keen. Here is the Postcards To Voters link.tree with all the ways to get addresses. https://linktr.ee/postcardstovoters Also, Markers For Democrats, through our postcard portal, Postcards For Democracy, is "writing and holding" for four California (Orange County and Riverside County) school board races on March 5th. Moms for Liberty and alligned groups are making inroads there. Here is the link: https://postcards.markersfordemocracy.org/
Happy Holidays and thank you for this vital information. My stack of postcards supporting Ruben Gallego in AZ went out on Monday. You can order plain, postage paid postcards from the USPS and avoid messing with stamps. Super convenient.
Hoping your holidays and New Years are rejuvenating!
Also, PostcardsToVoters.org has a postcard campaign for Tom Keen (FL HD 35), special election on Jan. 15th. Simon Rosenberg thinks this is an important and winnable race!
You are back in my old stomping ground. My husband taught in Rockland County and we lived in Orange County for 33 years before coming to NC. Enjoy the holidays!
I went through the statement from the White House about the Administration's accomplishments, and at the request of a friend, created a boiled down version for sharing. It's still long because there is so much that was done!
THE BIDEN-HARRIS AGENDA DELIVERED MEANINGFUL PROGRESS FOR HARDWORKING AMERICANS IN 2023 (Statement from the White House Communications Office 12-2023)
This document from Biden’s White House was a summary of the remarkable successes of the Biden Administration despite coming into office during a pandemic, with an economy in a severe downturn and a fraught political landscape and severe political polarization in the aftermath of an insurrection attempt.
For starters, highlights of what the Administration was able to accomplish through both Executive Action and legislation include:
Creation of over 14 million jobs
Revival of America’s infrastructure
Manufacturing renaissance
Meaningful wage gains for workers
Reduction of inflation by 2/3rds since the summer of 2022
Lowering of prescription drug and energy costs
In contrast, Congressional Republicans have a different agenda that reflects their constituents’ wishes:
Tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans and biggest corporations
Repeal of the Inflation Reduction Act (would block reductions in the cost of insulin and
prescription drugs, and undo the progress on clean energy)
Dismantle the social safety net, modest as it is (e.g., cut Social Security, Medicare, and
Medicaid)
Make abortion illegal nationally with few if any exceptions
Make voting even harder than it is already
Marginalize LBGTQ individuals
Just the major categories of major accomplishments of the Biden Administration, which make a real difference in the daily lives of millions of Americans, thus far include:
Lowering Prescription Drug and Health Care Costs:
Example: Capped insulin at $35 for seniors, and allow Medicare to negotiate for lower
prescription drug prices
Tackling Inflation and Cracking Down on Junk Fees:
Example: Saved Americans $billions by cracking down on hidden and junk fees charged
by banks, airlines, insurers and landlords
Tackling the Climate Crisis, Lowering Energy Costs, and Protecting the Environment:
Example: Inflation Reduction Act spurred hundreds of billions of dollars in private
sector investment in wind, solar, EVs, etc., and created 210,000 new clean energy jobs
Investing in America:
Example: Infrastructure bill and other support for overdue investment in industrial
maintenance has brought about 40,000 infrastructure projects, >$600 billion in private sector investments, including >$160 billion announced investments in battery and EV supply chains and >$250 billion to improve transportation all across the country, also high-speed Internet infrastructure, strengthened supply chains, and improved access to clean drinking water
Protecting Access to Reproductive Health Care:
One example amongst many: Responded to the overturning of Roe v Wade by signing
Executive Orders to protect access to abortion, contraception, and the right to travel across state lines to access care
Creating Jobs and Raising Wages:
Example: Created 14 million new jobs, while keeping unemployment <4% for 22-straight
months, supporting unions and worker dignity, and helping wages and wealth of Americans to grow above what they were pre-pandemic.
Promoting the General Welfare:
Example: Historic investments in mental health care, including over $450 million to
launch a new emergency number - 988 - the suicide and crisis hotline.
Making America Safer from Gun Violence:
Example: The first significant gun violence legislation in 30-years, the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which includes enhanced background checks for buyers under 21, expanded mental health programs, and support for red flag laws keeping guns away from dangerous people, and took on how to reduce gun violence with the first White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention
Making Higher Education More Affordable:
Examples: Canceled $127 billion in student debt, and cut undergraduate loan payments
in half through the “SAVE” plan, plus invested >$7 billion in Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
Strengthening Democracy and Combating Hate
Examples: National strategies to counter Antisemitism and Islamophobia, and pushing
for stronger voting rights
Pro-active in recognizing and confirming quality judges exhibiting the full range of race, ethnic
background or gender:
Examples: First Black woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, and confirmation of a
record-breaking number of Black, Hispanic, and AANHPI judges
For the full list, as published by the White House:
Does it dawn on any of you that all we have in this country that protects us is a system? And if one side “fixes” the system, surely expect the other side to do as well. So if a couple of anti Trump state judges choose to say that he engaged in insurrection (without any judicial pronouncement anywhere, except their own), what will keep the Texas Supreme Court from ejecting Joe Biden from a primary for taking bribes from China and Ukrainians??
Joy Scott here, subscriber and fan. Here's a Facebook post for anyone to use, linking to a Fakchex article and image summarizing five accomplishments to celebrate this holiday season.(https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=677605091167081&set=a.432365319024394). Fakchex presents facts about controversial topics (in Substack and on www.magenta-nation.com) for reading, sharing, motivating "squishy" Democrats, educating new voters, etc. It's a tool for us all to be information warriors. It's non-partisan, based on credible research sources, and free. I think the meme is useful throughout next week, and please feel free to use any Fakchex resources - same goes for any readers. I'm a communications professional and this is (one of) my contributions to helping this country get back on track. Thank you so much for all the great work you are doing!
Not that I don't want to hear from you, but make sure you get plenty of rest, Jess. We want to see you bright-eyed and busy-tailed when the new year comes a callin'!
Haha I’m trying! Thanks!
Thanks as always Jessica. Enjoy your rest and cookies!
The Biden-Harris memo is awesome! I just want to remind all your followers that US Citizens living or studying abroad have to request their overseas ballot every calendar year. Please remind anyone you know living abroad that early in January to go to https://votefromabroad.org to request your ballot. It's a very simple process - in most cases it can be completed on your smart phone. And the good news is that you're one and done! Just one submission and it's good for the entire year!
Happy holidays everyone!
I love the memo by the Biden campaign, but in this time of short attention spans, I would love them to make a bunch of short videos and perhaps even cartoons!
Oh I know! Agree!
Absolutely - great idea. I watched a cartoon video about wealth inequality that was genius and totally explained it in easy to understand words accompanied by clever animation.
Hi Jessica: Thanks as always for the informative newsletter. I'm on the 12:30 ET Zoom with Wendy Weiser, Anat Shenker-Osorio, et al and I'm learning a lot there too. On postcards, I just wanted to say that in addition to the Activate America campaigns one of which I'm writing for (NY-03), Postcards To Voters has addresses for this super-important state legislative race in Florida for HD-35. Special election is January 16th (so a month before NY-03 Special). Simon Rosenberg has written about it https://www.hopiumchronicles.com/p/growth-expansion-in-2024-hopium-endorses?r=bjiv&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web, and I spoke to Rep. Maxwell Frost last week and he and David Hogg have been out leading canvasses for this race. They all think it is flippable. The Democratic candidate is Tom Keen. Here is the Postcards To Voters link.tree with all the ways to get addresses. https://linktr.ee/postcardstovoters Also, Markers For Democrats, through our postcard portal, Postcards For Democracy, is "writing and holding" for four California (Orange County and Riverside County) school board races on March 5th. Moms for Liberty and alligned groups are making inroads there. Here is the link: https://postcards.markersfordemocracy.org/
Yes I put the Markers school board postcarding campaign in a recent newsletter. And thanks for reminder in the Keen race! Yes! I want him to win!
Thanks, Ellen. Attended Zoom for Tom Keen tonight and they have already canvassed 10,000 !
Here’s the link for Tom Keen’s volunteer hub: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1vz-DGKmGkqumWR9c-DVCqgasxOuMxmSBBwZI7qKLfR0/edit#gid=18227111
Happy Holidays and thank you for this vital information. My stack of postcards supporting Ruben Gallego in AZ went out on Monday. You can order plain, postage paid postcards from the USPS and avoid messing with stamps. Super convenient.
Hoping your holidays and New Years are rejuvenating!
You sure can! Although I prefer the postcards from here a bit more--they are larger and more sturdy. https://www.etsy.com/listing/1177124725/new-100-voter-postcard-pack-5-popular
Those are awesome! Bookmarked for future use. I will be hosting postcard parties again this year, that's for sure.
Thank you, Jessica & Happy Holidays to you & yours! :)
Thanks Catherine!
Also, PostcardsToVoters.org has a postcard campaign for Tom Keen (FL HD 35), special election on Jan. 15th. Simon Rosenberg thinks this is an important and winnable race!
Yes indeed!
Happy Holidays Jessica. You always pack it full, even in a short note. Make sure to brush your teeth!
Enjoy those cookies! I had two after breakfast myself. Have a wonderful, joyous holiday and thanks for all you do 😊🎄
You too, Susan!
You are back in my old stomping ground. My husband taught in Rockland County and we lived in Orange County for 33 years before coming to NC. Enjoy the holidays!
Oh wow! My parents lived in Piermont forever!
Mailed to AZ for Gallego Friday and working on some Tom Keen right now- Woot ! Happy Holidays one and all- Jess rest up!!! And enjoy that family time🎉
Yay thank you!
Thank you again and again for keeping us/me informed about all we can do and have done to save our democracy.
Of course! Thank you Deanna!
I just love the Joe Biden poster. In any case, Joe Biden will still win Colorado, no matter who the heck is running against him. 🥂✌️
Also, Jessica, enjoy your stay with your family in New York, and I hope you have an absolutely beautiful holiday week. ⛄️❄️🌟
Thanks Janet!
I went through the statement from the White House about the Administration's accomplishments, and at the request of a friend, created a boiled down version for sharing. It's still long because there is so much that was done!
THE BIDEN-HARRIS AGENDA DELIVERED MEANINGFUL PROGRESS FOR HARDWORKING AMERICANS IN 2023 (Statement from the White House Communications Office 12-2023)
[[[EXECUTIVE SUMMARY BY GARY STEWART (bertrandbartok@gmail.com)]]]
This document from Biden’s White House was a summary of the remarkable successes of the Biden Administration despite coming into office during a pandemic, with an economy in a severe downturn and a fraught political landscape and severe political polarization in the aftermath of an insurrection attempt.
For starters, highlights of what the Administration was able to accomplish through both Executive Action and legislation include:
Creation of over 14 million jobs
Revival of America’s infrastructure
Manufacturing renaissance
Meaningful wage gains for workers
Reduction of inflation by 2/3rds since the summer of 2022
Lowering of prescription drug and energy costs
In contrast, Congressional Republicans have a different agenda that reflects their constituents’ wishes:
Tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans and biggest corporations
Repeal of the Inflation Reduction Act (would block reductions in the cost of insulin and
prescription drugs, and undo the progress on clean energy)
Dismantle the social safety net, modest as it is (e.g., cut Social Security, Medicare, and
Medicaid)
Make abortion illegal nationally with few if any exceptions
Make voting even harder than it is already
Marginalize LBGTQ individuals
Just the major categories of major accomplishments of the Biden Administration, which make a real difference in the daily lives of millions of Americans, thus far include:
Lowering Prescription Drug and Health Care Costs:
Example: Capped insulin at $35 for seniors, and allow Medicare to negotiate for lower
prescription drug prices
Tackling Inflation and Cracking Down on Junk Fees:
Example: Saved Americans $billions by cracking down on hidden and junk fees charged
by banks, airlines, insurers and landlords
Tackling the Climate Crisis, Lowering Energy Costs, and Protecting the Environment:
Example: Inflation Reduction Act spurred hundreds of billions of dollars in private
sector investment in wind, solar, EVs, etc., and created 210,000 new clean energy jobs
Investing in America:
Example: Infrastructure bill and other support for overdue investment in industrial
maintenance has brought about 40,000 infrastructure projects, >$600 billion in private sector investments, including >$160 billion announced investments in battery and EV supply chains and >$250 billion to improve transportation all across the country, also high-speed Internet infrastructure, strengthened supply chains, and improved access to clean drinking water
Protecting Access to Reproductive Health Care:
One example amongst many: Responded to the overturning of Roe v Wade by signing
Executive Orders to protect access to abortion, contraception, and the right to travel across state lines to access care
Creating Jobs and Raising Wages:
Example: Created 14 million new jobs, while keeping unemployment <4% for 22-straight
months, supporting unions and worker dignity, and helping wages and wealth of Americans to grow above what they were pre-pandemic.
Promoting the General Welfare:
Example: Historic investments in mental health care, including over $450 million to
launch a new emergency number - 988 - the suicide and crisis hotline.
Making America Safer from Gun Violence:
Example: The first significant gun violence legislation in 30-years, the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which includes enhanced background checks for buyers under 21, expanded mental health programs, and support for red flag laws keeping guns away from dangerous people, and took on how to reduce gun violence with the first White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention
Making Higher Education More Affordable:
Examples: Canceled $127 billion in student debt, and cut undergraduate loan payments
in half through the “SAVE” plan, plus invested >$7 billion in Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
Strengthening Democracy and Combating Hate
Examples: National strategies to counter Antisemitism and Islamophobia, and pushing
for stronger voting rights
Pro-active in recognizing and confirming quality judges exhibiting the full range of race, ethnic
background or gender:
Examples: First Black woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, and confirmation of a
record-breaking number of Black, Hispanic, and AANHPI judges
For the full list, as published by the White House:
https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/LaBolt-Memo_Biden-Harris-Agenda-Delivered-in-2023.pdf?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
Does it dawn on any of you that all we have in this country that protects us is a system? And if one side “fixes” the system, surely expect the other side to do as well. So if a couple of anti Trump state judges choose to say that he engaged in insurrection (without any judicial pronouncement anywhere, except their own), what will keep the Texas Supreme Court from ejecting Joe Biden from a primary for taking bribes from China and Ukrainians??
Hi Jessica,
Joy Scott here, subscriber and fan. Here's a Facebook post for anyone to use, linking to a Fakchex article and image summarizing five accomplishments to celebrate this holiday season.(https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=677605091167081&set=a.432365319024394). Fakchex presents facts about controversial topics (in Substack and on www.magenta-nation.com) for reading, sharing, motivating "squishy" Democrats, educating new voters, etc. It's a tool for us all to be information warriors. It's non-partisan, based on credible research sources, and free. I think the meme is useful throughout next week, and please feel free to use any Fakchex resources - same goes for any readers. I'm a communications professional and this is (one of) my contributions to helping this country get back on track. Thank you so much for all the great work you are doing!
Joy Scott, Joy@scottpublicrelations.com (P.S. Jessica we have met at Swing Left events).