Hi, all, and happy Tuesday.
There are two big elections happening today.
The first is Wisconsin’s Supreme Court primary. I’m going to hop on the phones for it and stay on as much of the day as I can. It’s that important, y’all.
This is a top two primary, so we are working to ensure that one of our two liberal candidates, Judge Everett Mitchell or Judge Janet Protasiewicz, makes it through to the general in April. Getting shut out—there are also two VERY conservative candidates running, and the election is technically non-partisan—would be catastrophic. So please, if you know anyone in WI make sure they get out to vote today. Tell them they can find their polling place at myvote.wi.gov. And if you have any time at all today please consider joining us on the phones. More on that below.
There is also a special Congressional election happening in VA-04 today. If all goes well and Jennifer McClellan wins, Virginia will be sending its first Black woman to Congress! Of course all will only go well if we make it do so, so there’s information below on making calls there as well.
The future is what we make it, folks. It’s not enough to bemoan the damaged state of our democracy. We must pull our boots on and do something about it.
So let’s get to work one more time.
Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
I’m calling to say that we need to regulate the railroads! The Norfolk Southern derailment wasn’t just an “accident.” It was a function of our out-of-control corporate culture, which has neutered effective government oversight of hazardous activities, including the rail transport of highly flammable and carcinogenic chemicals. This same culture has allowed railroad owners to eliminate safety protocols, cut their staff, and gut worker protections, all to maximize profit. Congress needs to step in and fix this mess now. Thanks.
Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
I’m calling to say that we need to regulate the railroads! The Norfolk Southern derailment wasn’t just an “accident.” It was a function of our out-of-control corporate culture, which has neutered effective government oversight of hazardous activities, including the rail transport of highly flammable and carcinogenic chemicals. This same culture has allowed rail owners to eliminate safety protocols and gut worker protections, all to maximize profit. Congress needs to step in and fix this mess now. Thanks. [H/T]
Extra Credit! ✅
Let’s call the Senate Judiciary Committee at (202) 224-7703 and say:
I want the Senate Judiciary Committee to open an investigation into the unethical, corrupt behavior on the Supreme Court. Its justices are not above the law. They are not immune to accountability. It’s been one scandal after another and nothing is being done. We’re tired of it. Americans have lost faith in our highest court and we want accountability. Thanks.
Extra Extra Credit! ✅✅
Let’s send this Resistbot to President Biden (I took the text from this excellent Op-Ed in the Guardian) by texting SIGN POVZVE to 50409:
The catastrophe in Ohio is a major, unprecedented public health crisis. The President must publicly recognize it as such and act to protect the people who live in the affected area. This requires a rapid, all-of-government response overseen not by the EPA but by independent scientists and environmental experts who will be immune to pressure from industry. This sort of taskforce must be willing to threaten the suspension or even nationalization of Norfolk Southern if it does not cooperate.
The EPA can help, but must not oversee a clean-up. Corporate lobbying in recent years has undermined the ability of the EPA to regulate industry. Under the Trump administration, chemical lobbyists took over important jobs on the inside and the agency is severely understaffed. Further, the EPA is required by Congress to “balance” industry needs with public safety. It is not focused solely on protecting the community.
It’s not too late to do this right. President Biden must declare a state of emergency and send in an independent taskforce to oversee cleanup now. Thanks.
If you prefer to customize the text just copy and paste the above into the White House contact form, then edit away!
Write Postcards to Oust Santos!
Join Concerned Citizens of NY-03 & Markers For Democracy in writing to voters across Long Island to call their freshman Republican representatives to ask them to press Speaker McCarthy to place the resolution to expel George Santos on the House floor for a vote. Santos is a national security risk. They are beginning with Rep. Anthony D'Esposito (NY-04), whose district voted for Biden.
There are two ways to participate:
1. MarkersForDemocracy's digital distribution system is here (one-time account set-up); or
2. Concerned Citizens of NY-03 request form (manual distribution) is here.
Get Smart! 📚
Sorry for the late notice on this, but it’s going to be great!
Tomorrow, Wednesday, February 22, 7:00-8:00pm ET, Force Multiplier is having its next Community Conversation, and I can vouch for the speaker. He’s amazing.
It’s called: Red Wave, Blue Undertow—How Democrats won the battleground states, but still lost the House with Mike Podhorzer.
Conventional wisdom predicted a red wave in the midterms but in the 15 states on which MAGA was on the ballot, the outcome for Democrats was as good as – or better than – the 2018 Blue Wave midterm. Yet, in the other 35 states, the outcome was just as bad as most models forecast. Mike Podhorzer will analyze the currents + crosscurrents of the 2022 elections + what they mean for 2024.
Podhorzer has been a guiding force in progressive politics for 45 years, including 30 years in the labor movement + 10 as Political Director of the AFL-CIO. He helped found several progressive organizations, including America Votes. He is recognized as an early pioneer in evidence-driven politics. His research examines voting data in 2022, voting trends by state, the continuing threat of the MAGA movement and the emerging majority that opposes it. In short, he will address how we can use the “holy mess” of the midterms to understand the past and shape the future.
Spread the Word! 📣
President Biden Makes Historic Trip to Kyiv, Highlights Democracy in Ukraine:
Yesterday, President Biden made a historic and unprecedented trip to Ukraine to demonstrate his unwavering commitment to Ukraine’s democracy, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. He sent a clear and important message that the United States will continue to support Ukraine – for as long as it takes. See full talking points below.
Talking Points: President Biden’s Bold Visit to Kyiv
Yesterday, President Biden made a historic and unprecedented trip to Ukraine to demonstrate his unwavering commitment to Ukraine’s democracy, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. He sent a clear and important message that the United States will continue to support Ukraine — for as long as it takes.
When Putin launched his invasion nearly one year ago, he thought Ukraine was weak and the West was divided. He thought he could outlast us. But he was dead wrong.
During the trip to Kyiv, President Biden met with President Zelenskyy and announced another delivery of critical equipment, including artillery ammunition, and anti-armor systems that Ukraine is using so effectively on the battlefield, and air surveillance radars to help protect the Ukrainian people.
Later this week, President Biden will announce additional sanctions against elites and companies that are trying to evade or backfill Russia’s war machine.
It was logistically challenging and required careful planning for a sitting president to visit an active warzone, given the U.S. does not have a military presence on the ground. But this was a risk President Biden wanted to take, to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with President Zelenskyy and remind the world that Kyiv still stands - and the United States will not be deterred from standing with Ukraine.
Win Races! 🗳
Y’all if you have ANY time at all today WisDems volunteers will be calling voters all day to remind them to vote in the Supreme Court primary tiday! SOOOO IMPORTANT! Last time we had a Supreme Court race in WI the liberal candidate lost by 5,000 votes—which amounted to ONE VOTE per precinct. 😩
Sign up here to make calls. We need you!
You can also make calls into either Wisconsin or Viginia all day today, and on your own time, with the Center For Common Ground. You’ll be helping Black and Brown voters overcome voter suppression so they can use their voices in these important elections. Go here to get started (there’s a training video if you’re new to phonebanking).
Resistbot Letter (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.) 💻
[to your Senators] [H/T] [Quick send: text SIGN PFUTBD to 50409]
For the last three decades, Gigi Sohn has worked tirelessly to make broadband access more universal, competitive, affordable, open and protective of user privacy. Her experience and insight will help the deadlocked Federal Communications Commission (FCC) move forward on a number of critical issues. We need her experience and insight on the Federal Communications Commission.
Please do all you can to confirm Gigi Sohn to the FCC quickly. Thanks.
OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk soon.
Jess
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Great wins in Virginia and Wisconsin. And great examples of how our work phoning and texting works when we can't be on the ground!
The correct ResistBot code for railroad safety is PDPZMH