Chop Wood, Carry Water 2/28

Winning is something that builds...

Hi, all, and happy Monday!

There’s so much going on, and I’m running behind as usual, so I’ll make this quick.

I came across a quote by a football player named Emmitt Smith today. He says:

For me, winning isn’t something that happens suddenly on the field when the whistle blows and the crowds roar. Winning is something that builds physically and mentally every day that you train and every night that you dream.

This is an excellent reminder that victories are never achieved overnight. Every win comes after days, months, and years of grueling work on the proverbial field.

I say this now because we are in “training season” in so many ways. It feels relentless, and exhausting, and depleting, and pointless. But folks? It’s for a game that’s pretty much the biggest we’ll ever play.

If we win—and we must—the crowds will roar indeed.

So today let’s get out and do the drill. It’ll hurt; it’ll be tiring; it may feel like the last thing we want to do. Of COURSE we’d rather sit on the couch and watch Netflix.

But no one ever won anything worth having by refusing to break a sweat.

So let’s put on our uniforms—figuratively speaking—and go do the work one more time, knowing that it’s the only way to achieve a sure win.

And remembering how sweet that victory will be when we finally get there.

Call Your Senators (find yours here)

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

I know the Senate will vote today on the Women’s Health Protection Act, and I want to reiterate my strong support for this bill. Protecting reproductive freedom is one of my top priorities and it should be the Senator’s as well. [If GOP add:] I will be watching the Senator’s vote carefully. If s/he votes against this bill I will be extremely disappointed; they will absolutely lose my support going forward.

One more thing: I 100% support the confirmation of Judge Kentanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court, and want the Senator to as well. Thanks.

Call Your House Rep (find yours here)

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

I support HR 748, Ethan’s Law. Gun violence is a huge concern for me, and this bill would create safe storage protocols that would stop a lot of unnecessary gun deaths. Has the Congressmember co-sponsored it yet?

Extra Credit ✅

From my USPS coalition group:

Despite challenges from labor groups, environmental organizations, and the Biden administration, DeJoy is moving forward with the Oshkosh gas vehicle contract. 😱

Press coverage has been damning, and this does not mean that the contract is finalized and unstoppable, but it does mean that it is time to put on more pressure. United Automobile Workers of America is organizing daily around making these trucks electric powered and built by union labor in Wisconsin.

Please support them by signing and sharing their petition! 

And join an all-hands call to push for electric vehicles built by union workers, happening this Thursday at 4pm ET. I’ll be there! Here’s the link to RSVP

Get Smart! 📚

Like text banking? Become a super-texter! Campaigns tell us that a single hour spent by a texting “moderator” is worth 20 hours of regular texters’ time. Moderators answer other texters' questions, review sent texts for quality control, and provide support to texters during texting events.

Demand for their skills is high, so a wonderful organization called NOPE is focussing on developing a small group of super-texters to expand the reach of their texting partners in target states. Come to a 45-minute informational meeting on March 12 at 3:00 p.m. ET to learn more about their plans. One of their Pennsylvania partners, TurnPABlue, is itching to put NOPE moderators to work! Send any questions to Elena MacFarlane (nopetexttroops@gmail.com) and sign up here.

Win Races! 🗳

Want to help stop election interference in New Hampshire?

New Hampshire towns will be holding elections on March 8th. Help make GOTV calls to towns that have a warrant article (ballot initiative) to remove voting machines and return to hand counts. These warrant articles that have been filed by the radical right are designed to sow confusion and make it easier to manipulate election results. It is crucial that residents of these towns vote no!

Register here. Training provided.

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

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

During your joint address to Congress last year, you promised to “do everything in your power to protect the American people from this epidemic of gun violence.” As gun deaths and injuries reach crisis levels across the country and congressional Republicans continue to block lifesaving legislation, I urge you to live up to your words and prioritize gun violence reduction in your SOTU address.

With nearly 50,000 Americans dead as a result of gun violence since your administration came to power, survivors and impacted communities want you to act boldly by announcing a real plan of action to reduce gun deaths at the State of the Union. Such a plan must include:

A federal office of gun violence prevention and a Director of Gun Violence Prevention to streamline the federal, state, and local government’s efforts to reduce violence, recognize gun violence as a national security crisis and a public health and prevention priority, and establish a long-term sustained effort to reduce gun deaths.

A commitment to prioritize $5 billion in funding for community programs that help disrupt cycles of interpersonal gun violence and ensure that such funding is  included in must-pass legislation.

The nomination of a new director to head the ATF who will effectively regulate gun manufacturers and dealers and guide ongoing efforts to reduce firearm trafficking.

Use the presidential bully pulpit to actively engage with Congress on the issue, take additional executive actions to reduce gun violence, including the promotion of safe firearm storage practices, travel to impacted communities, and unveil a comprehensive plan to reduce all forms of gun violence.

I urge you to lay out a concrete plan of action for saving lives at the State of the Union Thanks.

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

Talk tomorrow.

Jess