Chop Wood, Carry Water 1/3
An additional resolution.
Hi, all, and happy Wednesday!
First, I’m glad many of you enjoyed yesterday’s “2024 Resolutions” list. It seems to have struck a chord, so I’ve decided to put it in its own post (with a couple of small edits based on reader comments) and pin it to my Substack profile page. You can find it here.
I also made a video version for TikTok. If you’re into that sort of thing here’s the YouTube link.
Next, and on the subject of resolutions, here’s one more I’m recommitting to: I won’t be putting actions about the war in the Middle East in the newsletter again.
Yesterday’s call script to Congress generated more than the usual pushback from readers who were concerned I was being hard on Israel and Biden. And look—I’m glad they wrote; I encourage reader feedback. Nor do I expect people to agree with every word I write. All of my call scripts—all of my actions in general—are suggestions. They’re all optional.
Having said that, this subject is just too controversial. And, quite frankly, too time consuming. I can explain my reasoning for including yesterday’s action, for example, and have now done so to several individual subscribers at length, but writing those thoughts out in detail to many different people, which I feel is necessary and important, takes a great deal of time.
More importantly I’ve come to see—again—that in this fraught political climate even what I feel to be a well-reasoned and balanced script about the Middle East can feel like an attack on vulnerable parties. That’s the last thing I want.
In short, the downsides are just too great. I trust we are all pursuing our individual advocacy on this issue. It will have to stay that way.
So I regret putting yesterday’s action in. I didn’t intend it to be divisive, but it was—especially as part of the first post of the year. Not good for the team! Sorry about that.
And look, we are just that—a team. We’re not going to agree on everything, obviously, but as your “coach” (forgive the metaphor) I have to work to keep us together and keep our focus on winning the proverbial Superbowl.
So. If you need more information on events in Israel and Gaza I will simply state that I look to J Street for guidance. They are both staunchly supportive of Israel and deeply concerned about Palestinians’ welfare. Their arguments are well-reasoned, historically informed, and highly nuanced. I highly recommend subscribing to their email list.
And that’s all I’ll say on that for the foreseeable future.
There’s a lot happening and it’s our job to act! We have a country to save, a democracy to preserve, and a resistance to galvanize. I love you all and am so incredibly grateful for this community.
As Coach Taylor says, “Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose.”
Let’s get to work.
P.S. In yesterday’s newsletter I forgot to credit the commenter who wrote about the New York Times. It was Patricia Danver. Thanks for your inspiration, Patricia!
P. P. S. This issue has taken up so much time over the past 24 hours that the newsletter is truncated today. No Congressional calls, and no Resistbot. Sorry. I’ll have a full one for you again tomorrow.
Get Smart! 📚
Please join the Environmental Voter Project on Thursday, Jan. 4th at 7pm ET for a Briefing + Panel Discussion on Organizing Older Climate Voters. They'll start by briefly presenting their recent Gray is the New Green report on the growth of older climate voters; then you'll hear from a panel of expert organizers: Bill McKibben of Third Act, Judith Le Blanc of Native Organizers Alliance, Frances Stewart of Elders Climate Action, and Dominique Browning of Moms Clean Air Force. What a lineup!
Please RSVP here.
Spread the Word! 📣
Ten Charts That Explain the U.S. Economy in 2023. Love this!
The US Economy defied expectations in 2023. Many forecasters predicted a recession at the year’s outset, some even asserting it with a 100% probability. This blog post highlights ten trends that capture some of the most important economic developments of the past year. Taken together, they depict an economy characterized by robust growth driven by strong consumer spending backed by robust and steady job growth, growing real wages, and historic gains for women and Black workers. At the same time, the data show that the historic public investments that make up the Biden-Harris Administration’s economic agenda in critical sectors for future growth, resiliency, and security are beginning to come to fruition. Nevertheless, there is more work to do to lower costs for American families and ensure Americans feel the benefit of continued real wage growth, a strong labor market, and declining inflation.
Give 💰!
Join Force Multiplier’s Zoom event tomorrow, January 4, 7:00-8:00pm ET to meet Democratic House Whip Katherine Clark and two incumbents in must-win races: Reps. Susie Lee NV-03 + Jared Golden ME-02.
Rep. Clark is appearing in support of four members of FM's House Slate: Susie Lee NV-03, Jared Golden ME-02, Emelia Sykes OH-13, and Marcy Kaptur OH-09. Clark is not receiving any of the funds raised.
Win Races—Florida! 🗳
I found some Tom Keen GOTV opportunities! First of all, thanks to the reader who found me this incredible link to the campaign’s volunteer hub. WOW! That’s some resource! Keen’s team seems highly organized—so encouraging!
Some highlights:
🍊 Wednesday, Jan. 3 from 6-8 p.m. EST phonebank with Congresswoman Debbie Mucarsel-Powell and the Hispanic Caucus. Register here!
🍊 Thursday, Jan. 4 from 6:30-8 p.m. EST phonebank with the Florida Democratic Party. Register here!
🍊 Fridays, Saturdays, and Mondays textbank with the Orange County Democrats. Register here!
Also…
🍊 The Environmental Voter Project has a phonebank on January 9th at 9AM PT / noon ET. Sign up here—I will endeavor to be there, although that’s right in the middle of writing-time. We will be calling low-propensity environmental voters who will almost certainly vote blue if they vote at all. I love making these calls. Join me!
Of course you can also go to Keen’s website to donate or sign up to volunteer. And I hope you will! Remember, if he wins the Republicans will lose their supermajority in the FL statehouse! That’s HUGE!
Win Races—NY! ☎️
I am thrilled to announce that I’ll be co-hosting a phonebank for Tom Suozzi with the Bay Area Coalition every Wednesday starting today! It’s from 2:30-4:30 PT / 5:30-7:30 ET. Please join us—it’s going to be a blast and this race is really important!
Chop Wood, Save the Planet 🔥
Courtesy of the Climate Coach, here are seven nuggets of wisdom from 2023. Please spread the word!
Lentils are the most underrated protein.
Pre-rinsing dishes is pointless.
Bar shampoo is better.
Bidets beat toilet paper any day.
Your sweater can be forever.
One of the best things you can do for nature: Pay attention.
Bug zappers don’t work. At all.
Resistbot Letter (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.) 💻
Resistbot will be back tomorrow.
OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk soon.
Jess
A little grace goes a long way. You are our hero. Thanks for all you do.
Don’t regret what you wrote. Others should respect your opinion. I thought it was a balanced approach and agreed