Chop Wood, Carry Water 12/7

Each of us has value.

“Each of us has value. And if we have value we ought to have a voice. And the way to have a voice is to have a vote to determine the direction of your country and your destiny in it.”

Senator Raphael Warnock

Hi, all, and happy Wednesday!

It’s a good day. I hope you’re all celebrating Senator Warnock’s win, and feeling good about the part you played in it. You SHOULD. You. Made. The. Difference.

I phonebanked until the polls closed last night, and late in the evening I got a sweet confirmation of why this work matters.

I’d spoken to a voter at 6:30PM ET—a half an hour before the polls closed. He’d told me he hadn’t realized yesterday was Election Day—English was clearly his second language and he simply hadn’t received the information. But he knew it was important to make his voice heard. I was able to text him his polling location and he swore he was getting in the car and could just make it by 7.

I didn’t think I’d ever hear if he got there in time, but yesterday evening, quite late, he texted me.

At that point we knew Warnock had won. But he wrote to tell me he’d voted anyway. Why?

Because being part of a winning campaign feels good. And knowing you did your part feels good too. It’s the kind of thing you like to share.

I’m proud of this man, and proud of every single person who got to the polls and made their voices heard in this runoff election—despite sometimes massive obstacles.

I’m also, again, extremely proud of everyone who helped them do so.

I vote. You vote. Every vote matters. Together our votes can save democracy. And, if we keep doing this work together, they will. 🗳️

P.S. This newsletter is a bit shorter than usual, (I’m going to sort of try to rest a bit), but the calls are important. I hope you can make them!

Call Your Senators (find yours here)

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

First, I oppose including Joe Manchin’s dirty permitting bill in the NDAA, and want the Senator to ensure it doesn’t get attached. Climate is a top issue for me, and this bill will be disastrous for our climate goals.

Second, we are running out of time to get critical bipartisan legislation passed before the lame duck period if over. Please ask the Senator to fight to pass the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, the MAT Act, and the Electoral Count Act. [If Dem add:] Also, we need to lift the debt ceiling using reconciliation so the Republicans can’t take us hostage next year.

Please ask the Senator to stay at work and get all of this done while they can. Thank you.

Call Your House Rep (find yours here)

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

I'm calling to urge the Congressmember to vote NO on the 2023 NDAA tonight. This is for two reasons:

First, I 100% oppose Joe Manchin’s dirty permitting bill, which shouldn’t be included in the NDAA but may be. That alone is a deal breaker.

Second, Congress’s signing off on $858 BILLION to keep the war machine funded while my community goes without is wrong. I am following this issue closely and urge the Representative to both block Manchin’s dirty deal AND do more to prioritize people’s needs over weapons and war — that means voting no on this year’s NDAA. Thanks. [H/T]

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

[to all 3 reps] [H/T] [quick send text SIGN PPOIWI to 50409]

The American people used the midterms to send a strong message to Congress: we want our elected leaders to stand up for our democracy and our fundamental freedoms. Now, Congress must do its part to protect our democracy and the will of the people by reforming the vaguely-worded, century-old Electoral Count Act.

When left to bad actors to interpret, this law was used to justify violence on January 6, 2021 and interfere with the will of the people. We can’t leave the door open to more opportunities to undermine our democracy and the will of voters.

It’s time for Congress to do its part to ensure that the candidate who walks into the White House in 2025—and every four years after that—is the candidate who was elected by the people. As a voter and your constituent, I urge you to pass the strongest possible Electoral Count Act reform legislation that can pass both chambers before the end of the year. Our democracy depends on it. Thanks.

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

Talk tomorrow.

Jess