Chop Wood, Carry Water 12/20

Hi, all, and happy Friday!

The drama on the Hill shows no signs of subsiding.

As we know, Mike Johnson had to pull his painstakingly negotiated Continuing Resolution to keep the government funded because President Musk (I’m doing that intentionally) disapproved of it, mostly on counterfactual grounds. Trump had also thrown a last-minute demand for a debt-limit increase into the mix—something no one was expecting. So that bill was effectively killed before a vote even happened.

Last night Johnson returned with a second attempt. This one, per WaPo, “would have extended federal spending for three months and suspended the debt limit for two years in a bid to satisfy President-elect Donald Trump, adviser Elon Musk and the rowdy House GOP conference.” But this bill fared no better. Not only did it fail, in fact—it did so on a bipartisan basis; every Democrat but two (Reps Marie Gluesenkamp Perez and Kathy Castor) voted against it, and 38 Republicans did as well! One Democrat, Marcy Kaptur, voted present.

It bears mentioning which provisions Republicans struck from the bipartisan deal to create this second, failed version. According to the CPCC’s breakdown, they include:

• Restrictions on outbound U.S. investment in China

• Reforms to address drug price hikes from pharmacy benefit managers

• A bipartisan childhood cancer research program

• Replacement benefits for people whose food stamps were stolen

Priorities, right?

So what happens now that this second version failed so ignominiously? According to The Hill:

House Republicans are eyeing a new spending proposal that would tee up votes on three separate measures: to fund the government, appropriate disaster relief and allocate farm assistance.

But in a shift from previous strategy — and in a break from President-elect Trump’s request — the new plan does not include a measure to increase the debt ceiling, the sources said, a move that could spark the ire of the incoming president, who demanded that such language be included.

Punchbowl News also notes that, for procedural reasons, the vote may need to wait until tomorrow — after the government shuts down. Good times!

All kidding aside, this is a mess, and it’s a mess that Republicans created. While a new “skinny” bill (or three) may pass, they may not, as Trump has expressed an unwillingness to bend on his debt ceiling demand. If he comes out against this three-bill package will it succeed? Only time will tell, and not too much of it, either, as things are moving quickly.

But let’s be honest: yesterday, in a backwards sort of way, was a good day for us. The Republicans massively shot themselves in the foot, Musk’s power over Trump—and the entire GOP—was revealed, and Democrats regained their feet messaging-wise. Last night’s vote, moreover, showed that 38 Republicans—no small amount!—were willing to buck Trump on a bill they knew mattered greatly to him. Good!

Our wins, for now, will largely have to come in this dysfunctional manner. Before we can begin to crawl out of the massive pit American voters have put us in, after all, we must first make clear to those voters that we’re in said pit. Yesterday brought progress on that front. Musk’s determination to get out in front of Trump, moreover, almost guarantees a “battle of the titans” between these two fragile egos at some point soon—especially if we keep the term “President Musk” trending and use it at every turn. So please do.

We do have one actual material win coming, though. Or so I hope. Again per The Hill, “the Senate voted overwhelmingly [yesterday] to advance a bill to boost Social Security benefits for more than 2 million Americans by repealing two laws that have limited payouts to state and local public-sector workers and their families.” This is the Social Security Fairness Act, a bill about which we’ve called and written many times. Schumer has promised a full floor vote on it before the end of the year. Its chances of passage, furthermore, look bright. There is some Republican opposition, but it doesn’t appear they have enough to tank it. Bravo! We’ll take nothing for granted, of course—I’ll provide a call script for it below.

OK, all. We’ve got work to do and then festivities of various kinds to celebrate. I am quite certain this isn’t the last you’ve heard of me for the holiday break, but it is the last regular newsletter you’ll receive for a bit. I can’t begin to express to you how very grateful I am for all you’ve done and all you’ll continue to do. These are, indeed, “the times that try men’s souls,” (read the HCR piece that made me think of that line, by the way, if you haven’t yet. It’s glorious.) But they are also times ripe with possibility if we rise to them.

And rising is what you do best. So let’s get to it one more time.

Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲

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

I understand that Senators Schatz, Durbin, and Welch have introduced a joint resolution to amend the U.S. Constitution to abolish the Electoral College and mandate that the president be elected by the popular vote. I want the Senator to support it. The Electoral College is outdated and undemocratic. It’s got to go.

I also know that the Senate has voted to advance S 597, the Social Security Fairness Act. I strongly support this legislation and want the Senator to vote yes when it comes up for a vote. Thanks.

Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲

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

I understand that Rep. Steve Cohen has introduced a joint resolution to amend the U.S. Constitution to abolish the Electoral College and mandate that the president be elected by the popular vote. I want the Congressmember to support it. The Electoral College is outdated and undemocratic. It’s got to go.

[If GOP add:]

Also, Republicans need to get it together and pass a bipartisan bill to keep the government open. I’ll hold them responsible for any shutdown. Thanks.

[If Dem (except for the three Dems below) add:]

Also, please stand strong against Musk and Trump’s shutdown demands and continue backing a bipartisan agreement to keep the government open. Thanks.

[If your Rep is Castor, Kaptur, Perez add:]

I am extremely disappointed that the Congressmember supported the Republican budget bill last night. She needs to start working to regain my trust right now or consider a new profession. Thanks.

Extra Credit ✅

In 2019 and 2020, Charles Littlejohn, a courageous IRS contractor, leaked the federal income tax records of thousands of the nation’s wealthiest individuals to The New York Times and ProPublica. A series of bombshell reports by those outlets went on to open the nation’s eyes to the massive scale of tax avoidance by the ultra-rich.

In January 2024, US District Court Judge Ana Reyes sentenced Littlejohn to a prison term of five years, which was six times over the four to ten months that guidelines recommended. Most outrageously, the judge justified the absurdly harsh sentence by likening Littlejohn’s actions to those of the January 6th Capitol insurrectionists.

The Patriotic Millionaires and the Revolving Door Project have launched a grassroots letter campaign calling on President Biden to commute the prison sentence of Littlejohn to time served. The letter is housed at FreeCharlesLittlejohn.com and can be sent both electronically and via snail mail. I just sent it — hope you will, too!

Messaging! Messaging! Messaging! 📣

DemCast has created an excellent toolkit for opposing the five worst Trump nominations: Bondi, Patel, Hegsworth, RFK and Gabbard. It makes it easy to quickly post great graphics and copy on any of several social media platforms. Please access it here and post away!

Give 💰!

From my activist friend Andrew Reich—I second this!

The incoming Trump Administration will be brutal for efforts to fight pollution of our air and water. From decades of involvement in this enviro stuff, I believe that Earthjustice is the most effective environmental organization in the country. They are the largest non-profit environmental law firm in the U.S., and they won 85% of their lawsuits against the first Trump Administration. They will be absolutely crucial in the next four years and will need all the financial support they can get. I was on their Board of Trustees for 9 years and can assure you that your money is well-handled and goes a long way there. If you are considering making any tax-deductible year end gifts, please consider giving to them. And maybe think about setting up monthly donations in the new year.

I’ll be giving.

Win Races! 🗳

This short piece about the upcoming VA special elections contains lots of good ways to lend a hand. Please help if you can! Imagine the boost in morale we’ll all get from winning these seats!

Let’s Start the New Year Right with a Win

Chop Wood, Save the Planet 🔥

Also from Andrew Reich:

The highest leverage decision you can make to fight climate change is to buy an electric vehicle.

I'm not talking about your "carbon footprint," which is fossil fuel company framing. I'm talking about the highest-impact action you, as an individual, can take (outside of the political sphere) to speed up the transition to a clean energy economy. It's important to remember that the climate crisis is not a suicide on the part of humanity as a whole, but largely a homicide committed by fossil fuel companies. And a homicide committed knowingly since at least the 1950's. It's time to stop pumping money into their pockets, and from their pockets into the pockets of Trump, Putin, etc. So, perhaps a New Year's Resolution for 2025 is that, if any of you find yourselves in the market for a new car, you will make it a priority to buy an electric vehicle. There are now plenty of options at all price points, new and used. And they're just better cars.

I agree.

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

[To: POTUS] [H/T] [Text SIGN PJFBBQ to Resistbot on Apple Messages, Messenger, Instagram, Telegram, or by text to 50409]

In the remaining days of his presidency, I want President Biden to use his clemency power to change the lives of families across this nation—families who are disproportionately Black and brown, with loved ones who need them, suffering from injustices of the legal system.

Specifically, I implore the President to consider pardons for those in federal custody with unjustified sentencing disparities, the elderly and chronically ill, people on death row, women punished for crimes of their abusers, and many, many more. Go big in the name of justice! Thanks.

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

Talk soon.

Jess