Chop Wood, Carry Water 1/31

Hi, all, and happy Tuesday.

I’m at a Los Angeles Police Commission meeting right now, having just made public comment asking the Board members to vote against re-appointing our police chief, Michael Moore. Under Moore’s tenure Los Angeles has seen a horrific number of police killings—we’re now the worst city in the country for them. It’s important that we who live here speak out about it. So here I am.

This sort of attendance at meetings, by the way, is another concrete way we can help move the needle on everything from racial justice, (in this case), to climate change, to public school curricula. I highly recommend it! If you feel nervous you can write your comments out in advance, but I generally wing it.

Speaking of ways to engage in democracy, I phonebanked for PA Democratic State Senate candidate Patricia Lawton yesterday—it was a blast. It was deeply heartening to see so many volunteers there—between us we called thousands of numbers and had conversations with about 1200 people. Remarkable! Many of those people either didn’t know there was an election today at all, were foggy about their polling place, or had simply forgotten the election was coming up. Because of 18 volunteers they now have the information they need to vote!

Y’all, this kind of phonebanking is so easy, fun, and important. Need I remind you of how many state-level races have been won or lost by ten, three, or two votes? Even one?

Having said that, this election is in a red district, and it’s probable we won’t win. Does that mean our time was wasted? No! Every Democrat we turn out is more likely to vote in the next election. Every young voter who turns out is more likely to build a lifetime habit of voting. And nearly EVERY race can be competitive if we simply turn our voters out! If you don’t play you can’t win!

All of this is to say that democracy, as I’ve said many times, requires elbow grease. Once applied, its wheels turn very often in our favor.

So let’s get to cranking one more time!

Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲

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

Is the Senator aware that more anti-trans bills were filed in January in state legislatures than in the entirety of 2022? We are at almost 200. I am horrified by these state-level attacks on transgender Americans—many of whom are children—and want to know what federal legislation the Senator is co-sponsoring to stop them. Lawmakers who attack already marginalized Americans are despicable, and federal lawmakers who ignore this threat to our most vulnerable communities are equally culpable. Again, I want to know what the Senator is doing to stop these attacks. I’ll take my answer in writing. Thanks.

Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲

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

Is the Congressmember aware that more anti-trans bills were filed in January in state legislatures than in the entirety of 2022? We are at almost 200. I am horrified by these state-level attacks on transgender Americans—many of whom are children—and want to know what federal legislation the Senator is co-sponsoring to stop them. Lawmakers who attack already marginalized Americans are despicable, and federal lawmakers who ignore this threat to our most vulnerable communities are equally culpable. Again, I want to know what the Congressmember is doing to stop these attacks. I’ll take my answer in writing. Thanks.

[If GOP add:] Also, I want the Representative to oppose Kevin McCarthy’s efforts to remove Rep. Ilhan Omar from the House Foreign Affairs Committee. It’s unjustified, petty, and undemocratic. Thanks.

Extra Credit ✅

To President Biden either via his web contact form (if you want to edit) or via Resistbot (if you don’t) by texting SIGN PPZZBJ to 50409.*

*The text of this letter was taken almost entirely from Heather Cox Richardson in her newsletter from last night.

I understand that former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro has applied for a six-month U.S. tourist visa. As you know, Bolsonaro entered the US when he was still president, two days before his successor took office and a little more than a week before his supporters attacked the government and tried to reinstate him. That timing means he came to the U.S. on an A-1 visa restricted to heads of state, which had to be replaced as soon as he was no longer president. 

Bolsonaro’s lawyer told a reporter that Bolsonaro wants "to take some time off, clear his head, and enjoy being a tourist in the United States for a few months before deciding what his next step will be.” In fact, the right-wing leader has made it clear he is afraid of the many investigations underway in Brazil for fraud and now for inciting the attack on the government that might end up putting him behind bars.

Please, do NOT issue him a tourist visa. Let him go back and face the music in Brazil. Doing otherwise would be self-defeating to the extreme. Send him back to Brazil. Thanks.

Get Smart! 📚

Join the Center For Common Ground this Thursday for an update on their current and upcoming 2023 get-out-the-vote campaigns into VA and WI!

They will go over their ongoing efforts to mobilize voters for Virginia's 4th Congressional District Race and introduce their paid phone banking team led by the Norfolk Democracy Center. Learn about how their paid phone banking team is helping us reach more Black voters while giving back to the community. 

CFCG will also be announcing their very first campaign in Wisconsin! Learn about their upcoming campaign to write Black voters in Milwaukee for the Supreme Court Race. 

Join them this Thursday at 8 pm ET.

Spread the Word! 📣

Here are some White House fact sheets you’ve almost definitely not seen. Please spread the word!

• FACT SHEET: President Biden Announces Funding for Major Transportation Projects Funded by Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

• FACT SHEET:  New Actions and Progress to Protect Communities From Lead Pipes and Paint

• FACT SHEET: Data Showing 26 Million People in All 50 States Applied or Were Automatically Eligible for One-Time Student Debt Relief

• FACT SHEET: Expanded Access to Capital and Support for Small Businesses

Win Races! 🗳

I’ll be phonebanking with the Wisconsin Democrats today from 3:30-5:30 PT (5:30-7:30 CT). We’re simply calling Democrats to make sure they know about the Supreme Court race there—the most important election of the year. These are easy, fun calls, and we need more volunteers. Can you join us?

Sign up here.

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

[to all 3 reps and POTUS] [Source article] [Quick send: text SIGN PVIFUP to 50409]

I’m writing to demand that Kroger’s merger with Albertsons be stopped and that Kroger be investigated for wage theft and price gouging.

Kroger’s merger would give the company control of nearly one-fifth of the US grocery market. This is unacceptable—it will result in price hikes, more food deserts, and mass layoffs. We already know that mega-grocery stores are engaging in price gouging, and this merger will only make this phenomenon worse.

Kroger recorded $113 billion in sales in the first three quarters of 2022, nearly an 8% increase from the same period last year. That increase came on the backs of consumers, who can barely afford to put food on their tables. Meanwhile In 2021, Kroger CEO McMullen received $18.2 million in compensation — 679 times more than the median Kroger employee. This is unconscionable. Especially in light of the fact that Kroger workers across the country are filing lawsuits against them accusing the grocery giant of wage theft.

This merger must be stopped. Kroger’s price gouging must be stopped. Its wage theft must be stopped. For God’s sake, fight for American workers and consumers. We elect you. Thanks.

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

Talk soon.

Jess