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Kelli B's avatar

Don’t give up on your Republican senators and congressman, I discovered this newsletter 66 days ago and since then I have contacted my Republican senators and congressman 33 times. I’m not backing down. No one else in my red state may be doing the work, but I’m gonna do the work. And if enough of us keep doing the work eventually our voices will be loud enough that someone will hear them

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Jessica Craven's avatar

I suspect more people than you think are doing the work in your state! Thank you!

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Dave Conant - MO's avatar

You might be pleasantly surprised to find out how many other people in your state agree with you and are taking some of the same steps you are. In Missouri, Ohio, and Tennessee there are Every State Blue affiliates and elsewhere, you can find Forgotten Democrats. There are more groups, of course, but these are focusing on support for Democratic candidates in heavily Republican areas and just knowing that it's being done is helpful.

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One Of Many Stephanies's avatar

Way to go, Kelli! You are putting the pressure on your elected officials and it is working. You are amazing!

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Laurieure's avatar

Go Kelli!! You’re a rock star ⭐️!!

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Patti Curtis's avatar

I haven’t contacted mine that many times, but I’m hoping to be on their Christmas card list! Two Republican senators and a democratic rep.

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Kelli B's avatar

Mine are all republican but I keep reaching out unfortunately I was already on the Christmas card list. I think everybody in the area is but now I’m on the email list. I do have one senator that does respond to my emails but the other ones don’t I do live in Texas though so no surprise there

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Deb Pierce's avatar

I called my MAGA Republican Congressman's office and had a good conversation with the young staffer (they're all young staffers) about the AA crash. After I complained about T**** blaming the crash on DEI and asked the Congressman to speak out (which he won't do) against T****'s mismanagement, I told the staffer I'd flown into DCA (National) so many times and said I assumed he had, as well. I reminded him how scary it is to fly in low over the river, and how good it feels finally to be wheels down on the runway, and how sad it is that the poor folks on the AA flight never made it to wheels down. In short, I asked him to feel some empathy for the people on that flight, and for their loved ones. I hope it helped. Empathy is in short supply with MAGA Republicans. Thank you, Jessica, for helping us reach out to all of our Members of Congress.

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Jessica Craven's avatar

Well done! Thank you!

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Linda Rey's avatar

i called costco 6x and hit 0 but it disappeared into an audio black hole. I'll keep trying. I hope it's because they're hearing from tons of grateful folks.

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Dianne Chrestopoulos's avatar

I just called them and the woman said she was in corporate and was thrilled to have my call and was just about to take a long list of supporters' names up to the head office. She said they are FIRM in their stance and will never back down! Keep calling!

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Jessica Craven's avatar

AMAZING!

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Jan M. Flynn's avatar

I had that experience too -- so I finally gave up and sent them an online message through their corporate feedback site. Better than nothing, I figure.

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Linda Rey's avatar

True. What happened was i pressed 0, but every single time, it just rang once. BUT then my partner facetimed me. I answered it on my laptop forgetting about my phone and then a woman came on the line.

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Jan M. Flynn's avatar

Aha. Good for you for persevering.

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KeepGoing's avatar

I used the chat function and talked to an agent. Then dropped it in Feedback per her instructions.

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Linda Rey's avatar

I JUST GOT THROUGH. The woman was so nice and confirmed THEY ARE getting more calls from US them the hateful morons. SO YAY.

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Jessica Craven's avatar

Amazing!

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Jan M. Flynn's avatar

CHEERS!!

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Jessica Craven's avatar

Did she give you a link? I couldn't find one!

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KeepGoing's avatar

She described how to find it since I was struggling. She said to click on the main Costco log to go back to the home page (I was on the customer service page). Then she said to look to the scrollbar on the right and a blue Feedback bar would pop-up along the scrollbar.

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KeepGoing's avatar

*logo

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Bev Kummerling's avatar

Called Senator Padilla (member of Budget Committee) to thank him for boycotting the vote for Russell Vought. And the best part was I actually got a real person answering my call!

This shows our calls, emails etc do make a difference. Thanks for always giving us the info we need to be more informed citizens and respond to the needs of our country.

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Jessica Craven's avatar

Amazing! That never happens! I almost never get a staffer!

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maggie towne's avatar

Ditto with Ben Ray Lujan I called DC

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Barbara Moschner's avatar

I just had the most delightful conversation with the operator at Costco offices. She was so happy to hear from me and asked my full name and I gave my city of San Antonio.

She said they are getting over a thousand positive calls so far and people are renewing lapsed memberships that might offset people cancelling theirs.

She said they are getting negative calls but she is happy to pass them to some legal person.

She added that we should praise the staff at the local stores as many of them are being verbally abused by members.

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Jessica Craven's avatar

Good Lord. OK thanks!

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Jan M. Flynn's avatar

I was so appalled today by 1. the AA crash in DC and then 2. #47's cruel, disrespectful, knee-jerk blaming of the Biden admin and DEI — but having clear guidance from you about what to say in my comments to my congressional reps made me feel less helpless. And I thanked Costco ;-) Huge thanks, Jessica!

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Jessica Craven's avatar

Yeah, it's a lot. He's an awful human being.

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KeepGoing's avatar

If you can't make a call to Costco, drop this shortened 240 character version into their customer service chat:

I want to thank Costco’s leadership for refusing to cancel their DEI initiatives in the face of political pressure. Please let them know that decent Americans everywhere support them; we will support Costco financially in every way we can.

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KeepGoing's avatar

Hi Karen - hope your day is going well. I'd just like my positive feedback to be submitted to management.

Karen A

Thank you so much for your support. May I suggest leaving feedback at costco.com. You would need to access from a computer. This feedback goes to Corporate. It is a blue tab on the right side on the scroll bar. If you are on the app, click on account at the bottom and the Feedback is under Help.

Karen A

It means a lot Susan!

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KeepGoing's avatar

https://customerservice.costco.com/

Chat Us blue box in bottom right corner

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Anna Ravenscroft's avatar

Thanks! That worked!

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Erin Rahman's avatar

Just called Costco and the person who answered was so thankful - she must have said thank you a dozen times! They are keeping a list of people who are calling in support. Keep calling Costco! It took me a couple tries and you have to just wait on the quiet line until someone picks up!

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Jessica Craven's avatar

Love this!

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Susie B's avatar

Thank you so much for all of this! I have shared the 5Calls app with friends and family and have already made 8 calls today!!! I also called Costco and they seemed thrilled to take the message. I told them that we spent close to $400 there night before last (two kids in college in apartments!) Since I'm only buying items from Target that are from black-owned businesses and I've gotten rid of Amazon Prime, I'm really going to lean into local businesses as much as possible and Costco.

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Jessica Craven's avatar

Amazing, Susie!

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v_maxima's avatar

Hi there! Do you have any resources or scripts for us to call reps/take action against the EOs attacking gender-afirming care and trans youth? I don't see it as a part of your newsletter and would love to! Thank you so much!

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Jessica Craven's avatar

I thought I had one a few days ago but it'll be in tomorrow's again.

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v_maxima's avatar

Thank you! I'm a new subscriber so it's possible I missed it. :)

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Janet Zarem's avatar

It took me 4 phone calls to get through to Costco. And there was along wait while waiting for an operator. When I got through I said, "I'd like to thank Costco. Is there a comment line? The operator said, "You can tell me."

So I used Jessica's most of Jessica's script (shortened) and added, 'I'm going to Costco right now and I'm going to encourage everyone I know to shop there.' She said, "Thank you!"

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Jessica Craven's avatar

Yay janet!

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Margaret Bell's avatar

My Senator, Ben Ray Lujan (NM), is on the Senate Budget Committee. Called and thanked him and the other committee members for refusing to meet on Vought!!

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Jessica Craven's avatar

Amazing! I called and thanked PAdilla too!

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George McRae's avatar

Did and done.... Schiff's vm box is full. Last two days.

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Jessica Craven's avatar

Do you have all 5 of his numbers?

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Jessica Craven's avatar

‭(619) 231-9712‬

‭(415) 393-0707‬

(559) 485-7430‬

‭(310) 914-7300‬ all working district numbers other than the 202 one.

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Nancy Behm's avatar

I've been able to leave messages on his San Diego office line. Been awhile since I actually spoke to someone. Try a local number!

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Dave Conant - MO's avatar

For a very rare change, phones were answered in both of my Senators' offices and they have both been notified of my strong desire for NO votes on Patel and Vought. Schmitt has been vehement about his support for the entire cast of Felon47 nominees, but Hawley has been strangely quiet. We can always hope and must, since we're stuck with the less than dynamic duo for another 4 years (Hawley for 6).

While I understand the dramatic gesture of the boycott, I think it would have been more effective for the Committee Democrats to stay, vote no, and then publicly suggest another candidate for the job. It would have to be a Republican, but just saying NO, or withdrawing from the conversation entirely, isn't a very effective form of opposition. Democrats should also by now have publicized a People's Cabinet (Shadow Cabinet if you're a Brit) and each of those folks should be commenting on every move that the incipient Trump administration makes. We can do a fair amount of good, but the people that are elected and paid to represent us need to get off their collective fundaments and start representing. Loudly. Vehemently. Unanimously.

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Nancy Behm's avatar

I agree. Although they finally did something "edgy" by not confronting Vought about Project 2025 there are no videos clips or scripts to use as truth. Surely the Republicans didn't ask him anything viable.

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Eileen G's avatar

Yay! I loved making my call to Costco. I spoke to a very nice receptionist and she said they are keeping a list of positive comments and supporters to give to their CEO.

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Zannetta Smith's avatar

I went into Costco on Tuesday and signed up and told them why. She said they have been getting a lot of positive calls. Some random customer commented that it is a lot busier!

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Jessica Craven's avatar

YAY!

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