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Yesterday was a great day to be a grassroots activist. First Jim Prokopiak wins by a lot in purple Bucks County and then Tom Suozzi wins by 8 in NY-03 (that has been trending red for the past 3 elections). Markers For Democracy wrote postcards for both campaigns and phonebanked and canvassed for Suozzi. We hosted 5 Sundays For Suozzi virtual postcarding events with visits from Tom Suozzi, campaign staff and volunteers, and special guests including Simon Rosenberg, David Pepper, Representatives Grace Meng (who was an amazing advocate for Tom Suozzi with the large Asian community in the district), Ted Lieu (who came to the district twice to canvass!) and Joe Neguse. It was great to see Simon acknowledge the work of the grassroots on Lawrence O'Donnell and Tom Suozzi acknowledge us twice during his victory speech. Here is a video compilation of the two prepared by Robbin Warner of Network NOVA (another amazing grassroots group): https://youtu.be/1tLf1xHHO74?si=GtNq7UXxXH-97pLi We are, of course, still writing postcards (we never really stop) and we have Zev Shapiro from TurnUp joining us on our Friday morning Zoom and all are welcome. https://www.mobilize.us/markersfordemocracy/event/604164/

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Honestly, Markers For Democracy is saving the country. You guys are just astonishing. Thank you.

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We are all in this together. This one happened to be in our backyard so it was personal (plus I've known Tom since 1986 when we were first year law students). And we have friends who live in that district and had no representation for over a year because of Santos. We had folks going out to knock on doors, other folks handing out Suozzi literature at Penn Station, folks phonebanking (one posted in our Slack "I'm on a Suozzi phonebank and Jessica Craven is there!"), and so many postcards. We were also super-motivated because we had worked on several Long Island campaigns last year and saw wonderful candidates lose. So the win last night gives us some hope to keep going. As a young friend who has been working in politics on Long Island since he was in high school wrote: "Hard to understate what a needed jolt this was for LI Dems. 3 years of losses have demotivated volunteers, grassroots, and critically: donors." https://x.com/AnalystAtADiner/status/1757631916168171919?s=20

This is just what they needed to rally for 2024.

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Hi Jess, I’m new to your Substack, got referred by a commenter on Abortion Every Day. How do we get word to the powers in the Dem machine that we do not want them backing, endorcing, Dem candidates who are anti abortion?

I still remember how gut-punched I was when I found out that Speaker Pelosi had endorsed a long time Dem Rep, Henry Cuellar of Laredo, TX, who is anti-abortion over a younger Latina challenger, Jessica Cisneros in 2020 & 2022

Gosh darn it, we will never get our rights back if our own party is working against us. 🤬

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Hi P.J. Love Abortion, Every Day. And yes, I phonebanked for Jessica Cisneros a ton. I was devastated when she lost. I think Cuellar is the only remaining anti-abortion Dem, no? Maybe Manchin, but he's leaving. I think this is a problem that will take care of itself--public opinion has chnaged dramatically even in the last two years, but if you know of other candidates who oppose abortion that the Dems are supporting let me know!

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There is never a bad day to be a grassroots activist, some are just much better than others, and yesterday was one of those.

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Agree!

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You nailed it, Dave!!!

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100%!

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I really enjoyed the Sundays for Suozzi and the inside glimpse of the Suozzi campaign - esp. learning how many events Tom attended to meet with all his different constituents even though many (most?) were already familiar with him from his earlier service to the district.

I signed up for your Friday meeting this week.

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Thanks, Cheryl! I hope other campaigns will consider having these zoom events with grassroots volunteers and constituents. I think a lot of people were inspired to write postcards for Tom after he dropped by every week. I know Postcards To Voters wrote to over 200,000 in the district, Activate wrote to over 100,000 and there were all these side hustle campaigns too. Look forward to seeing you on Zoom on Friday!

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Thanks!

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The Markers for Democracy leaders have some WILD connections. I'm ALWAYS impressed by who comes to speak!!

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They sure do!

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In response to your wish that the punditry and others would acknowledge the tremendous amount of work we have been doing, I have a different take and would love your feedback, Jessica. A couple of weeks ago, a subscriber of Robert Hubbell took offense at PBS's Lisa DeJardin referred to us as ragtag groups of activists. Here is my take. Perhaps we would do well to maintain our reputation as being ragtag groups. If even PBS does not recognize our power, that means the Republicans are even farther from understanding the work we have done, are doing, and will do. Let’s keep it this way. What do you think?

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That's exactly why I said it's a strategic advantage that they can't or won't see us. 100%.

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I agree…let’s fly under their radar for as long as we can!

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Don't 'rouse the sleeping giant'!

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Jennifer,I’ve vacillated on this and decided the Republicans are smart enough to know what we’re doing…but at this point, too weak and broken to create their own Resistance.I still have my NYt subscription and have continued to comment on articles and write to their authors and editors. My comment on Cohn’s article today: “Why no mention of the massive grassroots effort by the Democrats ?? People are fired up and fighting for democracy vs. autocracy. This election, as Tom Keen’s and Donna Deegan’s in Florida, is only the beginning…

I sent similar NYT Letter To Ed ending with…Which side do you want to be on ?

I’m hoping for more recruits to the 🌊Resistance !

P.S. I take no offense at ragtag💙

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I'll take ragtag, means we're real people. But yes, let's not let them in on our secret sauce (though no way they could replicate it).

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Yes!

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Jessica...Thanks for your tireless efforts to win. Like all of us, I've been concerned by the obvious anti-Biden and anti-Democrstic bias of the New York Times. I've been writing in comments to Times articles almost daily. I encourage you to do the same. Nate Cohn, the chief political analyst and polling guru at the Times published another story today attempting to understate yesterday's highly significant Suozzi victory. Below is what I wrote to the Times today in response to,,..............................................

Not an Ordinary Special Election, and Yet a TypicalResult ,..................................................

.Mr. Cohn Your analysis of the Suozzi victory, like earlier interim election victories for Democrats, is misguided. Last week you described a mysterious "resistance" as the reason for these Democrat victories, kind of like the ether. As one of the 81 million majority that elected Joe Biden, in 2020, I can clear up this mystery for you. The "resistance," is the Democratic party and many unaffiliated voters blocks who are working to rid American government of the Trump/MAGA party. As this election cycle moves forward, the Times would be wise to take into account that we are America's responsible majority. The same energy that just supported Suozzi's victory is building every day to bring a bigger Biden victory in 2024 than 2020. The Times should spend more effort to get to know us better ............................................

Thanks Merrill Weingrod 401-480-8003 ................................................. If you want to make a comment too, email: Nate.cohn@nytimes.com david.halbfinger@nytimes.com Joe.kahn@nytimes.com David halbfinger is the Times political editor Joe Kahn is the executive editor

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Yeah, Cohn said Democrats got the messaging right on immigration (I agree) but what about Dobbs? Souzzi nailed his opponent on that. Yet, Cohn probably thinks that's not a factor. These people.

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Cohn is oblivious in so many ways. I totally ignore that guy.

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Well done!

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This is so great, Merrill!

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Jess, I am a recovering journalist and I can tell you, you probably know this, that political reporting is as macho as it gets. Yes, there are many women who do it and do it well, but the people at the top, the editors, are there because they followed the white-male centric system that was established long ago (Yes, I know NYT Dean Banquet is Black but he still had to rise through the ranks in this system). These people cannot fathom that people, especially women, are sitting at home writing postcards, making calls, knocking on doors and that this could actually work. And why can't they fathom it? Because they have not faced losing their rights. They've had it easy in life. They quite simply cannot see us.

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Oh my God this is so insightful and helpful, thank you!

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I agree that must be a big part of it, Nancy. I would add that there is still the overwhelming push to create headlines that garner clicks, and bad news does that. What Trump and Republicans are doing is itself bad, so just describing it is enough to generate clicks, like the insane hubbub over Taylor Swift, or Mike Johnson now refusing to bring the funding bill for Ukraine to a vote because, wait for it, it doesn't include immigration, right after they just killed the best immigration legislation they could ever get so Trump can continue to scream about it (that can only work for people who are paying zero attention to the reality). When Democrats accomplish huge legislative wins that actually help Americans and push back against climate change, which Biden and Pelosi managed despite a super-narrow margin, and the economy continues to do phenomenally well coming out of risky downturn/inflation episode, that is just not click-generating enough. They have no doubt found that anti-Democrat articles are better for business, just like virtually anything-Trump. We just have to keep doing the work, just like Jessica and Robert Hubbell and HCR and others keep reminding us.

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I agree 100%!!

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Just one comment really. I know a lot of Trump voters are older ('elderly'). But, a high portion of the folks I know working with Indivisible fit that description too. I'm 70 for instance. Is that elderly yet? My husband is 77. I've hated Trump since before Day 1 of his emergence. I've written hundreds of postcards and made dozens of phone bank calls. Make Democracy Great Again is my new slogan.

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Hi Catherine, I refer to myself as a creaky boomer. You have a couple of years on me ;-)

My late mother always made reference to "young people" and I was never quite sure what the upper cut off was for "young". I finally figured out it was probably my age or younger - in other words it was a moving target over time. So I have adopted this in reverse - someone is only "elderly" if they are old enough to be my parent!

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Fair point! I'm no Spring chicken either and I know most of the Resistance is not young.

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Even the top pollsters admit their polls are crap. They cannot attain a random mix (essential for good stats) and cannot massage the data to fix that. They said as much after 2016 election & HAD NO FIX. I worked in surveys & polls for several years and can tell you all these big-deal polls are junk. Ignore them.

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Thank you!

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YOU did it again!!!!!!!!! Our tireless cheerleader! I just called Johnson and all the GOP on the list and it was AWESOME. THANKYOU for providing the list! It felt good to do it. THANK you a hundred times over for helping us do this. Signed up for event tomorrow night but need a clone to be at all the great events happening- let's do this!

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I know, tomorrow night, as is true on all Thursdays, there are a glut of good events. I truly wish organizers would sometimes book on other nights!

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Importantly Suozzi himself did not ignore us. He embraced us and called us his “secret weapon” in an interview with Simon.

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Agree. More candidates should do the same.

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After the delightful coverage of the win via Lawrence O’Donnell graciously hosting Simon, I took leave of my senses to peak at what CNN was doing at top of next hour. Good grief! Where do they find even more of those people to squash around the big table? Have mortuaries checked to find if they’ve lost some from their embalming lineup? Yikes.

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😂😂😂

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hahaha!

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"I find it endlessly confusing and astonishing that the political punditry won’t acknowledge the existence, let alone the power, of the so-called Resistance."

I can't decide if it is ego and they simply refuse to believe that they are wrong about their basic thesis that Trump is still a juggernaut and Biden is weak and unpopular. Therefore it must be a fluke or due to weather or some other unforseen force that a Democrat could flip a House seat decisively. I'm not sure that they are reconciled yet about how wrong they were about that 2022 "Red Wave'.

The other possibility is that the corporate owners of the Washington Post, NY Times, CNN, etc. don't want Biden to succeed and therefore the pundits don't want to rock the boat and give encouragement to the Dems.

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Could be.

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I have read the the “polls” are largely conducted via LAND lines. Is that true? If so it might help explain why the polls have been so wrong

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Yes, although supposedly they "weight" for that. But not well, obviously.

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Thank you again! I shared your election take-aways with fellow activists.

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What's/who's our next candidate push, Jess?

Asking the same of Simon.😁

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Good question. I don't know of any other specials coming up, but I know Postcards to Swing States is about to launch their program for November, and I, of course, will be posting every other opportunity I can find. Believe me, we'll stay busy.

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Thank you. Jess. I'm getting deluged with requests out of

CA and I guess this is for their state senate and congress elections?

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If it's for U.S. Senate please don't give! They have all the money they need!

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Ok! That's what I'm getting. I already donate to a couple.

It's the House we need. Right?!

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Yes! The Senate races are highly overfunded.

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Really! You'd never know it by

the texts and emergency emails I get. Whoa!

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I just left a voicemail for Speaker Johnson: Hello. My name is Gary Stewart. My zip code is 92651. I am calling Speaker Johnson in his capacity as House Speaker. If he does not bring the Senate bill funding Ukraine to a vote, and claims that is because it doesn’t include immigration provisions, that is just plain shameful hypocrisy, and he knows it. It is a form of lying, and is un-Christian. It shows fealty to Donald Trump, the most un-Christian, lying, dangerous and personally repulsive politician the U.S. has ever seen, and to offer that support for Trump makes sense because God works in mysterious ways, oh my Lord, is an insult to all Christians. God does not work in perverted ways. If bringing this bill to a vote means that the small minority of the most radical anti-government Republicans since the Civil War will take Speaker Johnson’s position away, that so be it. At least he will be able to say he did the right thing. Have the Speaker bring the Ukraine funding bill to a vote.

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Love this!!

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Thank you so much, I’ll do the same.

I just cry when I think of those poor Ukrainian soldiers fighting in the cold against all odds, waiting for us to send weapons that aren’t coming.

Just kills me.

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A Republican won a special election in Oklahoma by only 5% in a Trump+26 county. It's a small reminder to vigorously support Democratic candidates wherever they run. There are cracks forming, even in MAGA counties.

https://www.newsweek.com/oklahoma-special-election-district39-republican-trump-1869840

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When was that? Yesterday?

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Yes

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also to run Democrats for every race that you can!

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YES, I just read about Holy Moses Mike ran unopposed!!! A Democrat must challenge him in his next election

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Yet again, we see the traditional media totally missing the story on Suozzi. I listened today to an interview of a knowledgeable journalist in New York that took place the day prior to this election, and all he kept talking about was the "challenges", "pitfalls", "minefields" and "bad luck" that the Democrats were facing. (As if the Republicans don't have one giant minefield, that's exploding every day, for a presidential candidate.) The topic of immigration was said to be a terrible danger for Democrats now, which is effectively appropriating the fear-mongering talking points of Republicans, such as immigrants are responsible for high crime rates and economic harm, which is laughably false on both counts (plus, Suozzi's district is mostly upscale with effectively no serious crime issue), and this was even AFTER Trump shot the Republican claims to be concerned about immigration in the foot by insisting, for craven political purposes, that they not pass the ridiculously conservative immigration deal worked out in the Senate, which gave the Republicans as much as they will ever get on immigration, and I mean EVER. The journalist was talking about the Jewish community being concerned about Gaza, and so forth, and so on, and essentially turned everything into a negative for Democrats, even the bad weather. After listening to him, you would never think Suozzi could win, much less dominate the race by 8-points. Jessica makes a good point that the grassroots strength of Democrats, including progressives and moderates, is overwhelming once an issue gets their attention and they turn out. Then the minority status of Republicans becomes obvious - that is the reason for voter suppression and gerrymandering - the Republicans learned long ago they need that to hold onto power. So, those who don't want anti-book, anti-science, anti-race awareness and tolerance, anti-LGBTQ, anti-immigrant, anti-woman, anti-gun control, anti-health care availability, anti-safety net (gee, that's a lot of anti-stuff, isn't it?), just need to get out and vote PRO - pro-book availability, pro-science, pro-race awareness and tolerance, pro-LGBTQ tolerance, pro-humane treatment of immigrants and a path to citizenship, pro-women's rights to live a full, safe life that they determine, pro-health care availability, pro-safety net, pro-environment (including ambitious climate change legislation and regulation) - WE JUST NEED TO MAKE OUR PREFERENCES KNOWN BY VOTING. All the other "challenges" the journalists obsess over get blown away.

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YES! I love this whole speech!

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"I listened today to an interview of a knowledgeable journalist in New York that took place the day prior to this election, and all he kept talking about was the "challenges", "pitfalls", "minefields" and "bad luck" that the Democrats were facing".

Some stories just do NOT age well, do they?

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