Chop Wood, Carry Water 2/23

Hi, all, and happy Thursday.

I seem to have the flu, so wasn’t planning on doing a newsletter at all today. But then I opened my computer—my first mistake—started reading the news, and thought “What the heck. I’ll do a quick one.” So here I am.

Because every day is a day that at least some of us can fight. So while I may be laid up, I’ll trust y’all to carry the torch for me today, provided I provide the match.

Consider it lit. 🔥

Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲

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

I’m calling to ask the Senator to support the bipartisan DREAM Act of 2023 (S. 365), which was just re-introduced by Senators Durbin and Graham. This bill would give almost 2 million undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children a path to U.S. citizenship. The extremist Supreme Court is considering cases that could end DACA at a moment's notice. We need the DREAM Act now.

Also, please confirm Gigi Sohn to the FCC now! Thanks.

Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲

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

I’m calling in strong opposition to H.R. 812, a bill that would repeal the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. Over 100,000 jobs have already been created across America because of the IRA, and up to nine million more jobs are forecast. These good jobs are threatened by H.R. 812. Please speak out in opposition to this terrible bill and in support of the Inflation Reduction Act’s phenomenal job-creation. Thanks. [H/T]

Extra Credit ✅

Employees at Hearst Magazines unionized with the Writers Guild of America East, AFL-CIO in 2019, and have been in negotiations for over two years. These workers simply want a fair contract that reflects the standards set across the media industry, but Hearst management is still holding out on several issues that are important to the union; in fact Heart’s behavior throughout the bargaining process has lived up to its anti-union reputation.

Let’s help to make sure the union can win a fair contract before their last day of negotiations on March 28th by personalizing and sending this letter to Hearst asking them to stop union-busting!

Get Smart #1! 📚

Interested in Ohio politics? Support abortion rights? Want to hear more about the Norfolk Southern derailment? Blue Ohio is having their next virtual lunch tomorrow, February 24, and it’ll cover all of the above! From them:

Right now there are many groups uniting to put choice on the OH ballot. So we're really excited to have guest Dr. Marcela Azevedo, an interventional pulmonologist and critical care physician who serves as the President of the Ohio Physicians for Reproductive Rights. We'll hear from her about the coalition that's forming and how you can get involved.

We'll also hear from statehouse leaders about their response to the crisis in East Palatine. We hope you can attend!

Friday, Feb. 24, 12PM ET. Register for the Blue Ohio Virtual Lunch

Get Smart #2

Join NDN tomorrow at 1pm ET for Simon Rosenberg’s monthly live political briefing. He’ll start with about 12-15 minutes of remarks and open it up for discussion until 2pm ET.  You can RSVP here. 

Spread the Word! 📣

Please amplify this horrific news.

ABC 15 News: Women who seek abortion in South Carolina could face death penalty

Key Point: “Following the overturning of Roe v. Wade, state lawmakers passed a Fetal Heartbeat Bill, which banned abortions after a heartbeat was detected. But, in January, the South Carolina Supreme Court blocked the abortion ban, deciding that it limited a woman's right to privacy and violated the state's constitution. … ‘This one is particularly concerning because it would impose the death penalty on women who have abortions. It removes all exceptions including for rape, fetal anomaly, and even the health of the pregnant person,’ says Vicki Ringer spokesperson for Planned Parenthood's Atlantic Region."

Win Races—WRITE! 🗳

✍🏼 Ready to postcard for Wisconsin’s Supreme Court election? Consider doing so through the Blue Wave Postcarding Project! You have to buy cards from them, but they’re offered pretty much at cost, and BWPP will send you everything else you need—scripts, addresses, and instructions. You can even order stamps from them! Sign up at: Wisconsin Supreme Court Voter Mobilization Campaign

✍🏼 Prefer to write letters into WI? Starting today, you can do so via Vote Forward! Sign up here!

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

[To President Biden] [H/T] [Quick send text SIGN PJSOPM to 50409]

We have reached a pivotal juncture in our country’s long journey towards a fully inclusive democracy and are at risk of losing the gains we have made.

Senate Republicans filibustering the transformative legislative package known as the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act has left our elections vulnerable to threats on multiple fronts. And GOP-led states continue to attack voter access.

Using executive orders President Biden has the power to make important changes and take powerful steps that can help protect and strengthen our democracy and rebuild public trust in our government right now.

These include, among others:

• Requiring government contractors to disclose their political expenditures

• Directing the Department of Justice to create a high-profile task force to protect voting rights

• Directing the Department of Justice to use its various new tools to fight the influence of corrupt and/or illegal money on our democracy

• Restricting the expansion of executive power over spending authorities and leadership vacancies

• Enhancing transparency at the Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel

Please take the lead with immediate, decisive actions to bolster our democracy’s defenses and proactively strengthen our country’s commitment to civil rights. Thanks.

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

Talk soon.

Jess