Chop Wood, Carry Water 1/23

Jan 23, 2025

Hi, all, and happy Thursday.

I hope you’re doing as well as possible under the circumstances. It’s been a long week, hasn’t it? And we’re not quite done yet. Remember to pace yourselves. This is going to be a slog; we’ll all need to take lots of breaks.

I have some unfortunate news on the Laken Riley Act, as much as I wish I didn’t: It passed in the House yesterday, and 46 Democratic House representatives supported it. I encourage you to find out how your lawmakers voted on this bill and let them know how you feel about it. There’s a list of the House Democrats who voted yes in this article.

On that subject, I want to share part of an email I got from a subscriber named Rachel this morning. I think she’s right on.

She said:

I have been going to the Bracing for Impact zoom talks by Indivisible which you recommended. They are fantastic.
I learned a few things from their talk that I thought you might want to incorporate into your CWCW daily email. I have been making calls as you suggest but they take it a step further to see your calls as developing a relationship with the representatives to give them feedback in order to shape their behavior. This means asking them to vote or oppose certain bills, then following up with them after you see they way that they voted to either THANK them or express your disappointment. I hadn't thought about the calls in this way and thought it was an important missing piece.
Here's the quote from the Indivisible Guide 2.0, which I highly recommend:
That means your job is to support, cheerlead, or berate your Democratic Representative and/or Senators to be active fighters for every battle we fight on the Trump agenda. That work should be loud and public — whether positive or negative. We deserve champions in Washington who don’t just refuse to go along, but actively, passionately make the case against Project 2025 — let your representatives know you expect it of them.

She’s absolutely right, and we can start with this bill. Let’s start building those relationships right now. Thank or chide your Democratic lawmakers as appropriate. Heck—chide your GOP lawmakers, too, and tell them why. All of them need to hear from us.

Indivisible has also suggested we make calls to our reps about Trump’s Executive Order to eliminate birthright citizenship. We know this order is unconstitutional and that lawsuits have already begun, but we don’t yet know whether his administration is going to start trying to implement it right away anyway. We’ll make some noise to see if we can’t stop them from doing so.

And, of course, we’ll keep working to stop the worst of Trump’s repugnant nominees. I promise I’ll try to get to all of them, but today I’m focussing on Patel and Hegseth—the latter of whom Lisa Murkowski just announced she’ll oppose! Those of you living in Alaska helped make this happen. Great work! Please make sure you call and thank her for reversing course.

One last thing: my friend texted me yesterday to say that I should check my Instagram account—she’d noticed I was following Trump, Vance, and even FLOTUS there and assumed that I’d want to remedy that. She was right! I’d been following the official POTUS and VP accounts when Biden and Harris were in those positions; the accounts apparently just transferred over. I quickly went and unfollowed the whole unsavory bunch, but I’ll be circling back, as I’m also hearing that some people are getting re-subscribed, as it were, without their consent. Meta is truly up to no good. Consider checking—and re-checking—your accounts!

OK, all. Here are a few sensible actions to take before you return to enjoying your life—which you absolutely must. Remember: joy is a form of resistance. Also, fascism starves where joy is present. So let’s cultivate it!

Thank you for all you’re doing—it MATTERS!

P.S. — If any of you are into podcasts I just joined as a guest on the New Faces of Democracy Podcast. You can find the episode on their website here or on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. We had a great conversation!

Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲

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

First, I’m disgusted by Trump’s blanket pardon of January 6 rioters—many of them violent. It’s an assault on our rule of law and endangers all Americans. Has the Senator issued a statement denouncing it? [If yes thank. If no demand to know why.]

Second, I want the Senator to vote NO on Pete Hegseth’s nomination. Yesterday we learned of new allegations against him—disturbing claims that his second wife feared for her safety because of his behavior. Enough is enough. Hegseth’s record of misconduct, extreme views, and lack of qualifications make him unfit to lead the Department of Defense. The American people want and deserve leadership that prioritizes unity, competence, and the integrity of our institutions. Lisa Murkowski had the courage to say she’ll oppose Hegseth. The Senator should as well. Thanks.

Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲

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

First, I’m disgusted by Trump’s blanket pardon of January 6 rioters—many of them violent. It’s an assault on our rule of law and endangers all Americans. Has the Congressmember issued a statement denouncing it? [If yes thank. If no demand to know why.]

[Then if Dem say:]

I also want the Congressmember to take bold action against Donald Trump’s executive order to end birthright citizenship. This attack on the Constitution and the rights of newborns demands a strong and immediate response. Will the Representative publicly condemn this order and commit to defending the 14th Amendment with unwavering resolve? [H/T Indivisible]

[Or if GOP say:]

I also want the Congressmember to publicly oppose Donald Trump’s executive order to end birthright citizenship. This unconstitutional policy puts newborns in harm’s way and undermines the 14th Amendment. Will the representative stand with the Constitution and the rights of all children, or will they remain silent in the face of this cruelty?

Extra Credit ✅

Do you have a Democratic governor? Call and tell them to stand up against Trump’s executive order about birthright citizenship by making sure children born in your state receive a birth certificate -- as required by the Constitution. Governor Pritzker of Illinois has set the tone with statements like this -- if he’s your governor, thank him!

You can use Indivisible’s call tool to contact your governor. Or, if you already have their number in your phone, simply call and say:

Hi, my name is [Your Name], and I’m calling from [City].
I’m urging Governor [Name] to stand up against Donald Trump’s cruel and unconstitutional executive order to end birthright citizenship.
Will the governor commit to issuing birth certificates to all children born in this state? This is a moment to defend the Constitution and protect newborns. Please act now. Thanks.

Get Smart! 📚

The freedom to vote is under attack across the country, especially for Black voters and other voters of color. States can join the growing movement to protect the freedom to vote and remove barriers to the ballot box by enacting their own voting rights acts.

The Legal Defense Fund (LDF) and the Center for American Progress have partnered to create a special video series to help explain everything you need to know about how state voting rights acts can protect the right to vote from dangerous, discriminatory attacks, featuring experts from a wide array of voting rights organizations.

From January to June of this year, a new video will be posted online each month so you can learn about different aspects of state voting rights acts.

Join LDF and CAP for a screening of the first video in the “State Voting Rights Acts: Explained” video series, and a panel discussion about the importance of state voting rights acts featuring new national polling data from LDF. You’ll also hear remarks from Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) and Rep. Terri Sewell (D-AL).

RSVP

Messaging! Messaging! Messaging! 📣

Civic Sundays LA is having a Truth Bomb Briefing, led by Johanna Siegmann, previewing a new way of communicating that meets the moment. This is a virtual event and will be held over Zoom on Wednesday, January 29th 4:30pm PT/ 7:30pm ET.

Give 💰!

Lots of folks have been asking me how to support trans kids at this awful moment.

Erin In The Morning

(to whom you should absolutely subscribe if you care about this issue) has a great way to start: she’s published her annual list of trans Girl Scouts selling cookies! Let’s consider ordering some if we can.

From Erin:

Your purchases do more than satisfy cravings—you’re sending trans kids to summer camps, helping them give back to their communities, teaching them valuable business skills, and making it possible for them to embark on incredible adventures. Most importantly, you’re showing a group of kids who are facing political challenges at the highest levels that they are loved for exactly who they are.

I just ordered 6 boxes! Hope some of you can too—there are a LOT of kids to choose from.

Win Races—call or write postcards! 🗳

Environmental Voter Project volunteers are mobilizing voters year-round, not just in the lead up major elections. Join your fellow volunteers to take action and make calls TODAY Thursday, January 23, at 8pm ET / 5pm PT; or next Wednesday, January 29, at 7pm ET / 4pm PT.

Do you or a friend want to learn more about how to get involved with Environmental Voter Project’s postcarding program? Don't miss their upcoming postcard orientation on Tuesday, January 28, at 12pm ET / 9am PT.

Chop Wood, Save the Planet 🔥

While people are increasingly aware of the climate consequences of our dependence on so-called "natural gas," few are aware of its inherent health dangers.

Emerging science is clear: Gas stoves emit dangerous combustion by-products, including benzene, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and formaldehyde, which can negatively affect human health. Yet the public is largely unaware of these issues!

Join Climate Action Now on Sunday, January 26, 2025, at 7 pm ET to learn about this situation. You can ask questions of experts—including Chef Christopher Galarza—and TAKE ACTION using the Climate Action Now App!

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

[To: your Senators] [H/T] [[Text SIGN PEYWUE to 50409, or to @Resistbot on Apple Messages, Messenger, Instagram, or Telegram]

I’m writing to urge the Senator to oppose any effort to confirm Kash Patel as FBI Director.

Kash Patel’s appointment would fundamentally undermine the rule of law and the integrity of our federal institutions. He has openly declared his intention to use the FBI as a political weapon, targeting journalists, government officials, and nonprofit organizations. He even said, “We will go out and find the conspirators not just in government, but in the media.”

The FBI needs strong, unbiased leadership to rebuild public trust and address its shortcomings— Americans deserve that, too. But Patel’s vision is transforming the FBI into a tool solely to advance Donald Trump’s agendas.

Even Trump’s former Attorney General, Bill Barr, rejected Patel’s appointment as second-in-command, recognizing the dangers Patel represents.

Confirming Kash Patel would cement the weaponization of our justice system. Senators, regardless of party, must oppose this. You have sworn an oath to protect and uphold the Constitution. Voting for Patel is a clear violation of that oath.

I urge the Senator to stand up for the rule of law and protect our democratic institutions by opposing any effort to confirm Kash Patel as FBI Director. Thanks.

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

Talk soon.

Jess

Chop Wood, Carry Water