Chop Wood, Carry Water 1/23
It's a slog. We're up to it.
Hi, all, and happy Tuesday!
Ooof. Feels like a Friday, doesn’t it? I’m constantly reminded that days in the MAGA era are like weeks, weeks like months, and months like years. It’s a slog, indeed.
But one thing slogging does is build muscles—lots of them. And folks, we have grown incredibly, incredibly strong from so much slogging. So yes, this is a tough road. It feels virtually endless. And certainly exhaustion is understandable. But we’ve learned how to keep putting one foot in front of the other, in a steady march towards victory, even when we’re tired. And we won’t stop.
Meanwhile, our “army” keeps getting bigger, while MAGA’s keeps dwindling.
I was reading a Politico article this morning—about Trump’s problem with Independent voters—and it contained a detail I found heartening. Not just one, but a few voters they interviewed for the article said they’d voted for Trump in 2016 and 2020 but were now staunchly opposed to him. Here’s one excerpt:
“‘I can’t vote for Trump. He’s a crook. He’s too corrupt,’ said…an independent voter from Amherst, who backed Trump in 2016 and 2020. ‘I voted for him, and I didn’t realize he’s as corrupt as he is.’”
Wow. Even some “twice-Trump” voters are waking up! This flies in the face of my long-held belief that those who stayed with Trump through the 2020 elections were “too far gone” to try to get back. Apparently a few of them aren’t! I love being wrong in this regard!
Now, I’m not saying these folks are going to go all-in for Biden, but even if they don’t vote for him at all, every NO vote for Trump helps us. Especially from his Republican “base.”
So slog away with me one more time, folks. We are making progress. We are covering ground. And, as we slog, we’ll continue to grow stronger, smarter, and more seasoned. Our opponents, meanwhile, are hemorrhaging support and growing weaker by the day.
For that and many other reasons it is we who will win.
Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
I understand that Majority Leader Schumer is under a lot of pressure to schedule a vote on S. 3663 the Kids Online Safety Act in January. I want to be sure the Senator knows how strongly I oppose this bill in its current form. It won’t make kids safer. Instead, it’ll put youth in danger by preventing them from accessing resources they need. Lawmakers concerned about online safety should instead work to protect all internet users from abusive tech companies by passing a Federal data privacy law. As for KOSA, please ask him/her to vote NO. Thanks.
Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
I just heard that the Affordable Connectivity Program that cuts the costs of internet and cell phone use for those who qualify will end in April 2024 if Congress doesn’t act to extend funding. Many Americans rely on this program and their costs will double if it goes away. Please extend that funding! Please extend WIC funding, too, and SNAP. Lower income Americans still need help. Please don’t let those struggling the hardest fall through the cracks. Thanks.
Extra Credit ✅
The FCC has proposed new rules to prohibit cable operators from imposing unfair fees on consumers. This rule is in a public comment period now, which means that heavyweights like Comcast and AT&T are lobbying hard against it. The FCC needs to hear from us, too.
Let’s use More Perfect Union’s easy tool to tell the FCC we support their ban on cable junk fees. Be sure to personalize the suggested text—otherwise your comment may be discarded.
Get Smart! 📚
This is an event I highly recommend attending. LOVE Galvanize.
Introduction to Galvanize USA & Galvanize Action with Jackie Payne, Founder & Executive Director
January 24, 10:00am PT / 1:00pm ET (1-hour webinar)
Are you new to the work of Galvanize USA and Galvanize Action? You’re missing out! Their mission, which they’ve been carrying out with wild success since 2017, is connecting with moderate women to “build a broader base for progress and an America that works for everyone.” They focus on White women, many of whom voted for Trump in 2016, and help them see how they’re voting against their own interests.
Payne will share why she started Galvanize, lessons learned along the way, and the unique impact they're having in building a thriving, multi-racial democracy.
Interested but not available this date/time? No problem! Register and they’ll email you the event recording.
Spread the Word! 📣
In the wake of Trump’s fourth indictment in August, Research Collaborative and ASO Communications have worked to understand Americans’ desire for Trump to be held accountable for his criminal behavior. What they learned may surprise you!
Key Takeaways
Americans overwhelmingly believe Trump should be imprisoned for his crimes.
Those who want to see Trump serve time in prison call for lengthy sentences.
Independents are more aligned with Democrats than Republicans in their desire to hold Trump accountable.
Support for Trump serving time in prison is consistent and strong across communities of color.
This desire for decisive accountability has remained stable since the fourth indictment.
Americans’ desire for Trump to serve time in prison if found guilty indicates some level of anticipation that the trials will fairly determine Trump’s culpability.
Check out their latest memo where they review these findings, which were also featured in a recent NYT op-ed.
Win Races! 🗳
On Feb. 13, Pennsylvania voters have a chance to hang onto a State House seat in a Philadelphia suburban district. Jim Prokopiak, a Pennsbury School Board member and former Falls Township Supervisor, is running in a special election to replace another Democrat who resigned to become a judge. Democrats now have a majority of one in the PA House, so electing Prokopiak is vital.
MA Flip PA are looking for our help to make phone calls for Prokopiak to voters in HD-104. Training and support are provided at the two phone banks scheduled for 6 to 8 p.m. ET this coming week. Please sign up for one or both!
Chop Wood, Save the Planet 🔥
Did you know that some of your appliances are secretly draining your wallet, even when they’re turned off? They’re called “energy vampires,” and they could be costing you over $160 every year.
According to a nonprofit study, unplugging those appliances can prevent 48.5 million tons of carbon pollution from entering the atmosphere each year, while saving a total of $19 billion nationwide.
If it’s the act of unplugging that’s getting you down, try using a smart plug that can shut off power to your device automatically. Program it to turn things off in a cycle, just like your lights or your thermostat, and it can save you at least $100 per year.
[H/T and more info The Cool Down]
Resistbot Letter (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.) 💻
[To: ] [H/T] [Text SIGN PDXKNH to Resistbot at 50409 or via Apple Messages / WHATSAPP / MESSENGER]
Thank you for taking initial steps to lower prescription drug costs; however, millions of families still need assistance, especially with regard to EpiPens. The EpiPen Act introduced by Congressman Frost arises amidst a surge in the prices of auto-injectors, including generics, which have become excessively pricey. EpiPen's manufacturer has escalated the prices of these vital medicines from less than $100 to over $600, placing a financial strain on working-class families who cannot afford to be without an auto-injector at all times.
As costs have exploded, several states have acted to cap prices, but federal legislation is still needed to lower costs nationwide. The EpiPen Act can save families over 90% on the cost of the device and we need your action to ensure the affordability of this life-saving medicine for our families! Please become a co-sponsor now, thanks!
OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk soon.
Jess
Hi Jessica,
You're a blessing to us all and a gem. There's a saying: 'Do the hard stuff and life gets gradually easier; do the easy stuff and life gets harder'. Your blog inspires us to slog together through the hard stuff for as long as it takes.
My wife is a long-time subscriber; I'm relatively new. Together we lead a small Indivisible group that currently is focused on writing Post Cards to Voters for Tom Suozzi's NY-3 candidacy in a Special Election on Feb. 13th.
I read the linked Politico column with interest. I'm a life-long Democrat living in the south who peacefully coexisted with Republican friends by simply not talking politics. But after Trump that became much harder - especicially when some of them insisted on repeating Fox News talking points. I distanced myself from some of them because of our irreconcilable differences. But I did keep up with a few of my Republican friends - those that took Covid seriously.
After Jan 6th and Trump's second Impeachment trial, two friends (both life-long Republicans) told me out of the blue that they had changed their voter registration to Independent. I know both had voted for Biden in 2020. One of them has a slew of MAGA relatives and she will tell me "I just can't talk to them any more - it is like they are in a cult!" and "I don't think I will ever vote for anoter Republican in my lifetime; they are all Trump sycophants!" Honestly, anyone overhearing our conversation would assume that she's the lifelong Democrat....
My hope is that that there are more people like my friends than we know about. They just may be uncomfortable "outing" themselves to people they think will condemn them as traitors. I think it is important to welcome them -- no matter how long it took them to recognise that Trump is a clear an present danger to our country.