Chop Wood, Carry Water 2/20
Right makes might.
Hi, all, and happy Tuesday.
Hope you had a good Presidents’ Day weekend. Since months in the MAGA era feel like years, a three-day weekend, to me, at least, feels like a fortnight vacation. This one, due perhaps to the rainy weather here in L.A., was particularly tranquil. I managed to work only a little and get a decent amount of rest in.
The way I rest, of course, is to read. And this weekend I was able to not only finish one superlative novel, (Daniel Mason’s “North Woods”), but also start a non-fiction tome I’ve long been dying to read: Jon Meacham’s Lincoln biography “And There Was Light.”
My husband teased me when he saw me cracking it open. “Haven’t you read enough books about Abraham Lincoln?”
The answer? Particularly at this moment in history? Never.
And what a book! In just the first few pages there were so many keeper lines I had to get out of bed for a pencil. One quote I particularly needed to see again was the full text of a line we hear often in its fragmented form. These sentences were spoken by Theodore Parker, a Unitarian preacher and contemporary of Lincoln’s. He said:
Look at the facts of the world. You see a continual and progressive triumph of [what is] right. I do not pretend to understand the moral universe; the arc is a long one, my eye reaches but little ways; I cannot calculate the curve and complete the figure by the experience of sight; I can divine it by conscience. And from what I see I am sure it bends toward justice.
Beautiful.
I’ve sung the praises of reading history many times. I’ll do it again. It’s spiritually medicinal—at least to me—to be reminded of how often human societies are riven by conflict. It’s oddly reassuring to recall that there have always been religious hypocrites—after all, it was Shakespeare who said “The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose.”
We know all about that, right?
Finally, it’s terribly important to remember that every era provides brilliant, resplendent, and utterly human heroes. Portraits in courage, grace, and indefatigableness. Lincoln was one. Frederick Douglass was another. Every soldier who fought for the Union stands in those ranks.
Today we have Alexei Navalny. Joe Biden. Thousands of young women in Iran. Liz Cheney. Justin Pearson. Adam Kinzinger. E. Jean Carroll. The list is literally endless.
In fact, perhaps instead of ruing the darkness of the times in which we live, we ought to celebrate the stunning number of heroes who have risen to restore the light.
After which, of course, we can—and ought to—light our little candles and join them.
Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
I want Congress to immediately pass clean government funding legislation that invests in vulnerable people and communities, and that rejects “poison pill riders” that put politics ahead of people and our planet. Riders that would never pass as standalone legislation have no place in must-pass government funding bills.
Also I want the Senate to pass the expanded Child Tax Credit bill now. Thanks.
Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
I want Congress to immediately pass clean government funding legislation that invests in vulnerable people and communities, and that rejects “poison pill riders” that put politics ahead of people and our planet. Riders that would never pass as standalone legislation have no place in must-pass government funding bills.
Also please ask the Congressmember to do whatever is necessary to pass Ukraine funding. Shame on Republicans who are blocking it. History will not be kind to them. Thanks.
Extra Credit ✅
If you have the Climate Action Now app you will have already taken this action. If you don’t you should get it! Either way, please send a PERSONALIZED version of the below email to any or all of these press emails:
I'm a _________ (say something about who you are and why climate matters to you).
I'm writing to ask you to educate your readers this year on Trump's anti-climate agenda and its devastating implications for all Americans. This couldn’t be more important, and no one is talking about it!!
According to political analyst Michael Podhorzer, most voters "know next to nothing about what Trump has said on the campaign trail and what he will do if elected again."Some of his most alarming policy plans include: Ending the IRA's historic deployment of billions in federal funding for clean energy, gutting the EPA and squashing emissions rules for cars, trucks, and power plants, withdrawing the U.S. once again from the Paris Agreement, nullifying President Biden's electric vehicle plan on Day 1, and opening the floodgates for oil and gas companies to "drill, baby, drill."
Trump's policies would gut all of the climate progress of the past four years, trading clean air, good jobs, and a livable future for even more pollution and climate chaos.
A fully-informed electorate is vital to a functioning democracy. Please use your platform to ensure the public fully understands Trump's anti-environmental intentions and what they would mean for America.Thanks,
[Name]
[City, state]
Get Smart! 📚
Care about SCOTUS reform?
Join United For Democracy for their monthly, off-the-record coordinating call on, Wednesday, February 21, at 12:30 pm ET to get the top lines on what’s moving at the Court and how you can engage. These calls are jam-packed with great information. You’ll be blown away.
Also, Alliance for Justice has released its report detailing the progress of federal judicial nominations during 2023 and forecasting what can be achieved in 2024. Courting Change: 2023 Momentum for Movement Law includes in-depth statistics about the progress that the Biden administration has made in adding both professional and demographic diversity to the federal bench.
Spread the Word! 📣
Please read and share this excellent piece everywhere you can: The Real Way to Think About Biden’s Age This Run.
Give 💰!
Here’s a really good event to attend if you want to help us win in NY this November.
Join Force Multiplier at a fundraiser to support groups that helped flip one NY district last week and are working to flip four more this November: The Flip the Districts Fund: NY.
Speakers include MATT NOWLING, National Development Manager at America Votes, GABBY SEAY, Co-Director of Battleground New York, and MARIO YEDIDIA, National Field Director of the hospitality workers union UNITE HERE.
Thursday, February 22, 7:00-8:00pm ET
Win Races! 🗳
🚨 *VERY* LAST MINUTE POSTCARDING NEED!! 🚨
Postcards for this campaign must be sent by EOD tomorrow!! Yes, I know, crazy, but Activate America really wants to get all these cards out. Maybe we can all do 5?
You’ll be writing postcards to infrequent Democratic and Democratic-leaning voters in CA 47. Katie Porter is running for Senate so this is an open seat in a very competitive district. People who vote in the Primary are much more likely to vote in November, and support for Democrats in the primary also strengthens candidates for November.
Mail postcards by tomorrow at the latest.
The link to request them is:
Postcard Sign Ups — Activate America
**There are lots of other great campaigns available at this link that aren’t on such a short timeframe, so while you’re there grab some addresses for PA, NV, or OH, too!
Chop Wood, Save the Planet 🔥
Can you imagine Valentine’s Day without chocolate? Rising temperatures could wipe out a third of cocoa production worldwide by the middle of this century, and climate change is already impacting crop yields.
Fortunately, the Climate Basecamp has just the campaign for you this month. They’re asking people to reach out to their favorite chocolate brand via email or on social media and urge them to add a “Chocolate is Threatened” label on their packaging. This will raise awareness of this problem and the climate change that is causing it. [H/T Talking Climate]
Resistbot Letter (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.) 💻
[To: your Senators ] [H/T Move On] [Text SIGN PSIIAG to Resistbot at 50409 or via Apple Messages / WHATSAPP / MESSENGER]
It has been almost a year since Julie Su was first nominated as secretary of labor. But despite the fact that Su is already excelling at the job as acting secretary, Senate Republicans have shamefully worked to undermine her confirmation throughout 2023. However, President Biden’s commitment to working people has never wavered, and he renominated her this year. Julie Su is beyond qualified for the role.
Julie Su has decades of experience advocating for workers’ rights and civil rights, including fighting on behalf of Asian Americans and garment industry workers. She previously excelled as the California labor commissioner and as secretary of the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency. But Senate Republicans, determined to advance their anti-worker agenda and block President Biden's nominations, refuse to confirm a qualified Asian American woman to the job.
Despite stiff resistance from Senate Republicans, Su hit the ground running and has been a key part of the Biden administration's historic remaking of our economy from the bottom up and middle out. The Department of Labor plays a crucial role in creating more just and fair workplaces for people across the country. There is no one more qualified and dedicated to improving the lives of working families than Julie Su, and the Senate must approve her nomination immediately.
OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk soon.
Jess
Another fantastic post. Thank you for being one of the heroes in this era.
Ahhhh, Jess, you manage to open our eyes and ease our hearts simultaneously. You are - and have - a gift❣️ Thank you. SCS