Chop Wood, Carry Water 2/4
Remain in your power.
Hi, all, and happy Tuesday.
Good God. It’s feeling blizzard-like out there, isn’t it? It’s a blizzard of epic proportions, too— of scary headlines, bad actions, criminality, outrage, brazenness, and fear. It’s a lot.
My friend Jen Levin, though, founder of the fantastic group Hang Out Do Good, posted a great piece yesterday that helped me gain perspective. In it she pointed out that during blizzards bisons are the one animal that turn and walk into the storm. She suggested that we “be the bisons.”
She writes:
For me being the bison has meant taking in the news, head on. Not looking away from stories about tariffs, about justice department firings, about drilling in Alaska and the removal of CDC web pages, and… and… and…
When all of that news overwhelms me, when I start to freeze up, I remind myself: that is the point. This administration is trying its damnedest to stun-daze-astonish us with their blitzkrieg of political and societal assaults so that we end up… doing nothing, except giving up our power.
When the storm comes, the bison doesn’t give up its power. I’ve watched video of the bison walking into the storm. It’s slow. It’s hard. It looks insanely uncomfortable. But my god, it’s fricking awesome. And that’s exactly how we have to be.
She’s right. They are trying to overwhelm us. That is their entire plan. So let’s not let them succeed. Instead, we will remain in our power and trudge ahead, come what may. We will make our calls, go to our Congressional meetings, share our feelings far and wide on social media, and make noise every other way we can. Elon Musk is trying to orchestrate a coup. Are we going to lie down and take that?
Hell no. We are not.
If you’re in Los Angeles a large group of us are going to Alex Padilla’s office tomorrow at 1PM. Email me for the address at hijesscraven101@gmail.com. We likely won’t be going inside, but a staffer has promised to come out and hear our concerns. Good! I am also going to be attending an Indivisible Zoom call with Adam Schiff’s staff on Thursday at 10:30 AM (he doesn’t yet have district offices set up). If you’d like to attend that and live in CA feel free to email me for the link to join. I can’t promise you’ll get to speak—you likely won’t—but it’s still important we have a good crowd.
Oh, and don’t forget, those of you in DC—there’s a massive rally at Treasury at 5PM! Please, please go and/or send your people! Info and RSVP here.
OK. I am sending so much love and strength. Also, a big welcome to the almost 35,000 of you who’ve joined this list in the last month! Wow! We should all take those numbers as huge encouragement. Americans are waking up quickly to what’s happening and realizing they must act. So are Democratic lawmakers, by the way. So are lawyers, activists, parents, people with disabilities, students, veterans, content creators, scientists, doctors, national security experts, and all kinds of other regular Americans. The opposition movement is coalescing, and it’s massive.
Look. We are likely in the most dangerous moment this nation has ever faced. It’s overwhelming and deeply frightening. I don’t want to minimize that. But we are rising to the challenge. We’re doing it. This is it.
The situation is daunting, but so are we. More than anyone likely knows. Yet.
Breathe. Act. Rest. Repeat. We’ve got this.
P.S. — Again, I am rushing like crazy these days, and have no editor. I’m doing my best to stay on top of typos but please forgive any you find.
Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
I’m calling about two things. First, I want the Senator to vote NO on the nomination of Tulsi Gabbard to be the Director of National Intelligence. Running the DNI requires an unwavering commitment to evidence-based decision-making, national security, and independence from political or foreign influence. Tulsi Gabbard has none of that. She is completely unfit for this position. [H/T]
Second, I’m calling to express my great concern regarding Elon Musk’s access to various federal payment systems. Musk was not elected and DOGE is not a legal entity of the US government. I believe this represents a grave threat to our economy as Musk has promised to illegally stop lawful payments being made to fund critical services. I am further concerned with him accessing the personally identifiable information for all Americans as he has access to the social security database. As your constituent I want you to understand how alarmed I am about this situation – it is totally unacceptable. [H/T HODG]
Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
First, I’m calling to ask the Representative to oppose HR 32, a bill that deprives sanctuary jurisdictions of federal funds. This bill would compromise the health and safety of communities. It’s awful. Please vote no.
(Apparently these Dem lawmakers—and all Republicans, of course—especially need pressure: Figures (AL-2); Gray (CA-13); Whitesides (CA-27); Tran (CA-45); McBride DE-1; Case (HI-1), Delaney (MD-06), Golden (ME-2), Morrison (MN-3), Davis (NC-1), Goodlander (NH-2), Conaway (NJ-3), Lee (NV-3), Gillien (NY-4), Mannion (NY-22), Kaptur (OH-9), Bynum (OR-5), Cuellar (TX-28), Johnson (TX-32), Vindeman (VA-7), Subramanyam (VA-10), Perez (WA-3)
Second, I’m calling to express my great concern regarding Elon Musk’s access to various federal payment systems. Musk was not elected and DOGE is not a legal entity of the US government. I believe this represents a grave threat to our economy as Musk has promised to illegally stop lawful payments being made to fund critical services. I am further concerned with him accessing the personally identifiable information for all Americans as he has access to the social security database. As your constituent I want you to understand how alarmed I am about this situation – it is totally unacceptable. [H/T HODG]
Extra Credit ✅
[Again, from Jen Levin of HODG]
Let’s call the Chairs of the Finance Committees in the House and Senate. Below are their names, numbers, and an example call script:
Financial Services Committee - House
French Hill, R-Chairman - (202) 225-2506 (warning: this guy’s staffer lied to me and said “no one’s personal information is being accessed.” Tell him he’s lying. I did.)
Maxine Waters, D-ranking - (202) 225-2201 (very nice staffer. Happy to take comments)
Financial Services – Senate
Ron Wyden, D – ranking - (202) 224-5244 (haven’t been able to get through but will keep trying)
Mike Crapo –R, Chairman - (202) 224-6142 (ditto)
For French Hill / Mike Crapo: (Republican Chairs)
“[Rep Hill/Sen Crapo] – I’m calling to express my great concern regarding Elon Musk’s access to various federal payment systems. Musk was not elected and DOGE is not a legal entity of the US government. I believe this represents a grave threat to our economy as Musk has promised to illegally stop lawful payments being made to fund critical services. I am further concerned with him accessing the personally identifiable information for all Americans as he has access to the social security database. As Chairman of the Finance Committee, you have a lawful responsibility to oversee the Treasury. You are accountable for Musk’s actions. Do something – get Musk and his affiliates out of these systems and investigate whether or not they stole sensitive information.”
For Waters / Wyden: (Dem Chairs)
“[Rep Water/Sen Wyden] – I’m calling to express my great concern regarding Elon Musk’s access to various federal payment systems. Musk was not elected and DOGE is not a legal entity of the US government. I believe this represents a grave threat to our economy as Musk has promised to illegally stop lawful payments being made to fund critical services. I am further concerned with him accessing the personally identifiable information for all Americans as he has access to the social security database. As ranking member of the Finance Committee, you have a powerful platform to express your opposition. I thank you for what you have already done. Please know that all Americans that are paying attention are terrified about the implications of Musk’s coup. Please continue to be as public as possible with your opposition and use every opportunity to raise the alarm."
Get Smart! 📚
Galvanize Action invites you to: A LOOK BACK & AHEAD
Thursday, March 27, 2025 at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET
Join Galvanize’s Founder & Executive Director Jackie Payne for a research-packed exploration of what they learned last year and how we’ll collectively strengthen and protect our democracy in 2025. If you don’t know, Galvanize is an amazing organization working to move white women voters away from Trump.
You’ll hear Galvanize Action’s analysis of the 2024 election and get a first look at thier roadmap for cultural programming in the new media ecosystem.
Can’t make it? Register anyway and they’ll send you the event recording.
Messaging! Messaging! Messaging! 📣
DemCast sent out a social media messaging toolkit from the Press event in front of the USAID office yesterday. Why? Because Dems are fighting back and we need to make sure everyone sees it!
I’ve already posted a couple of clips on Bluesky and Threads. It’s easy! Let’s all try to do that.
After all, if a tree falls in the woods and no one is on social media to see it…
You get the point. Toolkit is here.
Resistbot Letter (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.) 💻
[To: your Senators] [Text SIGN PYEICM to 50409, or to @Resistbot on Apple Messages, Messenger, Instagram, or Telegram]
I’m a constituent writing to say that I’m outraged that Trump is working with Elon Musk to shut down the functions of our federal government. I’m also furious about the attempts to “freeze” federal spending. And I know that all of this goes straight back to Trump’s nominee for OMB Director, Russell Vought. If confirmed, moreover, I know that Vought will further enable Trump’s and Musk’s unconstitutional power grab.
Vought has made it clear in his confirmation hearings that his allegiance is to Trump and not to our Constitution. If he is put in charge of OMB, he will greenlight Trump and Musk’s coup which would cause devastating harm to millions of people in our communities.
Please stand up against Trump’s assault on our democracy. I expect the Senator to call for Vought’s nomination to be withdrawn and to vote NO if his confirmation moves forward. Remember that you work for us. Thanks.
OK, you did it again! You’re helping to save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk soon.
Jess
Yup. We are the bisons. Scene from an hour ago in my local Trader Joe’s. Older woman is buying herself flowers. I am an older woman beside her, also buying flowers. I test the moment. I say, We need our flowers right now, don’t we? Yes. She says, adding: I don’t know what else to do after calling my local rep. I say four words. Chop wood. Carry water. Tell her how to find you. We raise our fists. We smile. Good chat, she says. Good chat, I answer.
Hey All and Jess, Simon Rosenberg had a sober warning about marching and gathering at protests - especially in DC. You all know him and can go to today's newsletter. It's at the bottom. He is pulling NO punches. Stay safe everyone. Also Heather Cox Richardson seems to be having a politics chat every evening to go over what has happened during the day. Last night she had 41,000 folks on with her. Very heartening. Thanks for all you do. Keep calling.