Chop Wood, Carry Water 2/14 💝

Hi, all, and happy Valentine’s Day.

Hope you’re having a sweet day, literally and/or figuratively.

Let’s show a little love for our country, and especially for East Palestine, Ohio today, shall we? My sister-in-law lives 65 miles from where the train derailed, so this is personal for me. And it should be for all of us, because—big surprise—deregulation ordered by Trump is the reason we’re here today. This story is getting less coverage than it should, and less attention from lawmakers, too. Let’s work to change that.

I want to say one word more to my paid subscribers. It’s a word of thanks. You may not realize this, but your paid subscriptions not only cover my gas and grocery bills, but they enable me to, for example, take a trip to the Mexico/US border to learn more about what’s happening there so I can better advocate on immigration policy. They enable me to spend $300 on postcards from the Civics Center so that my team of volunteers can write to young people in Wisconsin about the election coming up. They enable me to book plane tickets to Sacramento so I can participate in this year’s Moms Demand Action advocacy day and lobby for better gun laws.

Your paid subscriptions, in other words, are funding not just this newsletter, but my activism. And I’m immeasurably grateful. The more I get, the more I’ll do, I promise. I consider it a sacred trust.

And, whether you pay for this Substack or not, I consider YOU a massive gift. So thanks for being here either way.

Now let’s get to work. 💝

Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲

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

I’m calling about the train derailment in East Palestine. I understand that Donald Trump rescinded an Obama-era rule requiring special brakes on trains transporting flammable liquids. It seems clear that the horrific environmental disaster happening in East Palestine was caused by this lack of regulation. We need to tighten those rules up now. I’d like the Senator to direct the Federal Railroad Administration to proceed with regulatory action requiring the phased implementation of ECP brakes. Thanks.

Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲

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

I’m calling about the train derailment in East Palestine. I understand that Donald Trump rescinded an Obama-era rule requiring special brakes on trains transporting flammable liquids. It seems clear that the horrific environmental disaster happening in East Palestine was caused by this lack of regulation. We need to tighten those rules up now. I’d like the Congressmember to direct the Federal Railroad Administration to proceed with regulatory action requiring the phased implementation of ECP brakes. Thanks.

Extra Credit ✅

Let’s email Pete Buttigieg at the Department of Transportation about the East Palestine train derailment.

You can use my click-to-send at https://tinyurl.com/writetopete or, if you prefer to start from scratch, email Secretaryscheduler@dot.gov (apparently it IS case sensitive) and say something like:

I’m writing because I understand that Donald Trump rescinded an Obama-era rule requiring special brakes on trains transporting flammable liquids to reduce derailments near cities. It seems clear that the horrific train derailment and subsequent environmental disaster happening in East Palestine was caused by this lack of regulation. We need to tighten those rules up now. It’s time to stop giving in to corporate demands and start protecting the American people. Please direct the FRA to require the phased implementation of ECP brakes before more catastrophic derailments happen—and they will. We need to see a far more proactive and less industry-assuaging approach from you, Secretary Buttigieg, and we’d like to see it now.

Get Smart! 📚

Two critical elections are coming up on February 21st: the Virginia Special Election for the 4th Congressional District and the primary for Wisconsin's Supreme Court Race. Ack!

Join the Center For Common Ground this Thursday, February 16th, at 8 pm ET for a final update on both races before February 21st.

They are busy making calls to Black voters in both states and need your help. Learn more about the importance of reaching out to voters, and how you can get involved! 

RSVP HERE

Spread the Word! 📣

Chuck Schumer @SenSchumer

With the confirmation of Gina Méndez-Miró as a District Judge for the District of Puerto Rico: She now makes history as the first openly LGBTQ+ judge to preside in the Puerto Rico District Court. And she’s the 100th judge confirmed by this Senate Democratic Majority!

100th federal judge nominated by President Biden confirmed!

• 76% have been women and 68% have been people of color

• Yesterday, the Senate confirmed Cindy Chung to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit; in addition to previously serving as the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania, she will be the first AAPI judge to serve on this circuit court. Today, the Senate confirmed Judge Gina Mendez-Miro, who currently serves on the Puerto Rico Court of Appeals, to serve on the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico; she will be the first openly LGBT judge to serve on that court.

• The President is also proud to have confirmed 12 Black women to serve on federal circuit courts—more than all other Presidents combined.

Give 💰!

I’m co-hosting a Focus For Democracy presentation about why we need to jump in now to support Wisconsin's upcoming Supreme Court election. It’s this Sunday, February 19 at 5pm PT/8 pm ET! 

Here is the link to register

This seemingly state-specific race will actually affect all of us so I hope you’ll consider coming! Registration is free. You’ll be asked to donate to F4D’s chosen recipient at the end, but aren’t obligated to do so unless you can and want to.

Aaron Frank and the Focus for Democracy team's presentations are always informative, energizing, and exhilarating! Hope to see you there!

Win Races! 🗳

Can't attend the Center For Common Ground’s event on Thursday but interested in mobilizing Black voters for February 21st? Join a National Guided Phone Bank on Tuesdays from 3 - 5 pm PT/ 6- 8 pm ET and/or on Saturday, February 18th, from 10 am - 12 pm PT/1 pm to 3 pm ET. Or make calls on your own! Learn more via CFCG’s phone banking page.

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

[To President Biden and all 3 reps] [H/T] [Quick send text SIGN PAHJYB to 50409]

ExxonMobil just announced that it had $56 billion in profits in 2022 alone. That comes out to $6.3 million per hour, or more than $100,000 per minute.

Exxon’s news follows announcements that Pfizer raked in $31.4 billion in profit and Chevron ended 2022 with more than $36 billion in profit.

At a time when millions of Americans are struggling to get by and put food on the table, it’s obscene for big corporations to be price gouging consumers in order to maximize profit. Congress needs to pass a windfall profits tax to rein in excessive corporate profits.

In remarks at the White House last year, President Biden called on oil companies to "act beyond their narrow self-interest." If they don’t, he warned, "they’re going to pay a higher tax on their excess profits and face higher restrictions."

Now, as more and more evidence comes in showing that companies like Exxon, Chevron and Pfizer are greedily taking advantage of consumers, it’s time for Congress to move forward with a windfall profits tax on big corporations, and for President Biden to sign that bill into law. Show us the money, literally. Thanks.

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

Talk soon.

Jess