Chop Wood, Carry Water 1/31
Be like the headland
Hi, all, and happy Wednesday!
It’s another jam packed day.
First: It's go time on the bipartisan tax package that expands the Child Tax Credit. It’s on the floor today—floor debate is around 5-6 ET and the vote is tentatively at 8PM or so. While this version isn’t as robust as the one we saw—and loved—in 2021, it’ll still pull almost half a million children out of poverty, and that’s no small thing. So we’ll be calling in support of it.
Second, the House Homeland Security Committee voted along party lines yesterday to impeach DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. We knew it would happen, but that doesn’t make it less infuriating. Not only is this impeachment utterly baseless on all fronts, but should the entire Republican caucus vote for it when it comes to the House floor—as they’re likely to—it’ll force a protracted hearing in the Senate. Democrats, of course, won’t vote to convict there, but consider the time and resources Republicans are willing to waste on this—while meanwhile stymying actual immigration reform and neglecting every other piece of legislation they could be passing! It’s enraging, and we will be letting Republicans know it.
There’s much more, of course. There’s still Texas. There’s Ukraine funding, so desperately needed. There’s even, yes, Taylor Swift. Which I wouldn’t bother to mention except that it’s more proof that we’re watching half of the country—actually, about a third of it—descend into what seems to be actual madness. I know some of them were already there, but this feels systemic.
It’s all a lot.
When things are overwhelming, as some of you know, I like to turn to Marcus Aurelius. I just so happened to have my copy of “Meditations” sitting right here, so a minute ago I opened it at random. The passage I found myself looking at was one I’ve highlighted and circled on several occasions. It starts:
Be like the headland against which the waves break and break: it stands firm, until presently the watery tumult around it subsides once more to rest.
Then there’s a bit more about dealing with bad fortune in its various forms. Aurelius concludes this meditation with a (now) famous line:
So here is a rule to remember in future, when anything tempts you to feel bitter: not, ‘This is a misfortune,’ but “To bear this worthily is good fortune.’
Let’s use these lines to bolster us today. The MAGA insanity is breaking around us, but we don’t have to be moved by it. We are bigger than it. We are more solidly built. We’re stronger.
And their storm will, eventually, pass. It may not feel like it now, but remember the vast scope of history. MAGA may fill our lenses, but in the grand scheme of things they’re dust—just one of countless variations on evil, stupidity, and greed that’ve flecked the human timeline since, well, forever.
For now, though, let’s bear the trials they bring as worthily as we can. They want to drag us backward. But, undeterred, we can and must march steadily in the opposite direction. Towards progress. Towards inclusivity. Towards greater unity.
Towards a future we—not they—choose.
Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
First, I know the House is voting today on the bipartisan tax package that expands the Child Tax Credit. Please ask the Representative to vote yes.
Second, please ask the Representative to push hard for Ukraine funding. I am worried and exasperated that America appears to be taking Russia’s side in this fight. It’s so short sighted. Funding Ukraine is funding our own security. This shouldn’t be hard to understand.
[Last, and only for GOP reps—especially Reps. Tom McClintock and Ken Buck who are still considered undecided]
Finally, I am livid that Republicans on the Homeland Security Committee have voted to impeach Secretary Mayorkas. This is a flagrant waste of taxpayer resources. There are zero grounds for impeachment, and they know it. Republicans don’t care about the border—if they did they wouldn’t be threatening to tank a bipartisan immigration bill that by all reports gives them almost everything they want. Please tell the Congressmember to vote no on this impeachment or lose my vote forever. I’ll be watching his/her vote closely.
Extra Credit ✅
Subscriber Jeanne K. made this excellent suggestion—I’m going to take it! How about you?
I wrote a heartfelt thank you to E Jean Carroll and Robbie Kaplan on a lovely museum postcard and mailed to:
E Jean Carroll and Robbie Kaplan
c/o Kaplan Hecker & Fink
350 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10118
Send a postcard, not a letter, 'cause letters could be mistaken as unsafe to open. Let's cover them with love!
Get Smart! 📚
On Thursday of last week I was on the first call of what will ultimately be a six-session messaging series from Indivisible called Persuasion to Power. It was INCREDIBLE. I wish I’d known how good it was going to be, so I could have urged you all the be there. The speaker at this first one was Anand Giridharadas, author of The Persuaders, (a book I immediately ordered), and I can’t tell you what a fabulous interview it was. The good news is:
You can buy the Persuaders here or get it at the library. I just got it and it looks amazing!
You can sign up for the rest of the series here. If he’s any indication it’s going to be AMAZING.
I’m still on the lookout for a recording of the Giridharadas session. If I find it I’ll post.
Spread the Word! 📣
This new Third Way post about No Labels’ multiple recent fails is excellent—please share with interested friends! And don’t forget, if you want to stay up to date on their misdeeds, be sure to follow Third Way!
Give 💰!
Kirk Bangstad of the (amazing) Minocqua Brewing Company is asking for donations to put-up more anti-Trump billboards in Wisconsin, featuring the Wis. members of Congress who supported Trumps attempted coup. Here's a link to Bangstad's email about it or, skip the email and donate via ActBlue here.
Win Races! 🗳
From Activate America:
Please ask your volunteers to join us for Phone Banking for NY 03! Join us at a weekly phone bank: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 3-5 PM Pacific / 6-8 PM Eastern. Experienced callers can also sign up to make calls on their own time, any day between 11 AM and 8:30 PM Eastern. Thanks to you and your wonderful volunteers, we have given out all of our postcard addresses for NY 03! Thanks for following up on finishing all of those postcards and getting them in the mail according to the deadline on the scripts shared with you.
Now they need you on the phones!
Chop Wood, Save the Planet 🔥
Cool! Check out Rewiring America's Personal Electrification Planner! I need this!
From them:
Will it keep track of your dental appointments? No. Will it give you step-by-step instructions for your heat pump install? YES. If electrifying your whole home was a one-weekend job, everybody would be doing it. Every living situation is unique, which is why you need an electrification plan that fits YOUR life. Start your plan today.
Resistbot Letter (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.) 💻
[To: all 3 reps] [H/T] [Text SIGN PQKEYW to Resistbot at 50409 or via Apple Messages / WHATSAPP / MESSENGER]
Supreme Court decisions impact every American and every aspect of our lives. And yet, the majority of Americans have lost faith in the Court’s ability to act as a neutral arbiter of the law.
Each session, the Court hands down decisions that are increasingly divorced from the values and viewpoints of the American people. It’s time for Congress to restore public trust in the Court by creating term limits for the Supreme Court.
A supermajority of Americans—7 out of 10—support passing term limits for our highest court. The Supreme Court Biennial Appointments and Term Limits Act, introduced by Senator Whitehouse, would create 18-year term limits and give presidents two Supreme Court appointments during each term they are in office, creating a Court that is more representative of the American people.
No other major democracy in the world gives lifetime appointments to judges, and 49 of our states already have term limits, mandatory retirement ages, or elections for members of their highest courts. It’s time the federal government follows their lead.
As a constituent, I am urging you to become a cosponsor of the Supreme Court Biennial Appointments and Term Limits Act and build support among your colleagues in Congress. It’s time to restore trust in the highest court in our land.
OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk soon.
Jess
My stack of postcards to urge votes for Suozzi went out on the 26th!
On the postcard to E. Jeanne Carroll and Roberta Kaplan, I suggest adding Shawn Crowley and Mike Ferrara who were part of the firm’s litigation team👏