Chop Wood, Carry Water 2/6
It's happening.
Hi, all, and happy Thursday!
Whew. What a week. So much happening—including so much that’s horrific. But in the midst of it all I feel the stirrings of hope. Because Americans are waking up, getting loud, exploding the Congressional switchboard, and taking to the streets. Even Senate Democrats are starting to flex their power. Bravo!
We had, as you can see above, an amazing turnout—in the rain!—at our office visit with Senator Padilla’s folks yesterday. It was a totally successful event. We didn’t actually get to enter the building—there were too many of us—but four of the Senator’s staffers came down and spent about an hour with us, listening to our concerns, acknowledging what we were saying, and asking us to write down our biggest asks so they could take them to the Senator. It was democracy at its best, and I was deeply honored to be part of it.
Our general message, of course, was that Democrats need to grow a spine, channel their inner Mitch McConnell, and essentially shut the Senate down until Musk is out, the purges stop, and Russell Vought’s nomination is withdrawn. That they should place “blanket holds” on all Trump’s nominees, refuse unanimous consent, and force quorum calls. We also asked that the Senator—and all Democrats—get better at communicating with the press, the American people, and us about what’s happening and what they intend to do about it. And we asked them to please answer their phones!
On that note, by the way, they informed us that they’re having a hard time keeping up. They said that just that morning they had received 700 calls at their one office alone. And this seems to be happening everywhere. Later in the day I saw this post by Lisa Murkowski:
1600 calls a MINUTE! You guys! That’s YOU!
But it’s the street actions that really made my day. I went online yesterday and saw picture after picture of people—including many of you—protesting at Senators’ offices, or for the 50501 Movement’s protests (which turned out to be totally legit, contrary to some people’s fears) across the country, or to support immigrants here in Downtown LA. There was a protest at the Department of Labor, too! THIS is what we need, and we’re only getting started! I’m really really proud of you, folks. Let’s do more!
Finally, Democratic Senators are already listening to us and improving their performances dramatically! As we speak they are filibustering Russell Vought’s nomination. I haven’t listened to many of the floor speeches but I’m told they’ve been great. We should make sure to thank our Dem Senators for this when we call.
Speaking of our calls, a word about today’s scripts: you’ll notice in today’s script to Republican lawmakers I’ve mentioned a general strike. I’m starting to think this may become necessary if all other measures fail, but for now I’m only including it as a threat. They don’t care what we think; they’ve abandoned their oaths of office, but they do care, very much, about the economy. We have the purchasing power to hurt it, and they know it. It’s time we start to use that leverage.
Finally, I was particularly inspired by two posts today, and have implemented some of their contents in the below actions. They are Jennifer Rubin’s “Democracy is Fighting Back,” and Robert Reich’s “What You Can Do.” I highly recommend reading both.
OK, dear friends. Some of us will be meeting with Adam Schiff’s Chief of Staff imminently; I promise to deliver your many messages of outrage and frustration, and to report back.
I know this is hard. It’s enraging. It’s overwhelming. But we’re doing this. We are rising.
And when we rise there is nothing that can stop us. Never forget it.
Now let’s get to work.
Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
I’m calling because we’re in a constitutional crisis. Elon Musk and a team of unvetted kids are operating outside agency rules and constitutional checks on executive power. He is rampaging through government without clearances and in potential violation of numerous laws and regulations.1 Is Trump even the President anymore? He looks weak and enfeebled. The American people have had enough. We didn’t elect Elon Musk. He needs to be ejected from the government. Furthermore, all purges like the ones at the FBI need to be reversed, and Project 2025’s Russell Vought must NOT be confirmed to the OMB.
[If Republican add:] If these conditions aren’t met we will organize a general strike and shut down the economy. Remember how much purchasing power we have. If you give us no other choice we’ll use it. Thanks.
[If Democrat add:] Democrats need to work in lockstep and grind all Senate business to a halt—ALL OF IT—until these conditions are met. And thanks for filibustering the Vought nomination. More like this, please!
Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
I’m calling because we’re in a constitutional crisis. Elon Musk and a team of unvetted children are operating outside agency rules and constitutional checks on executive power. He is rampaging through government without clearances and in potential violation of numerous laws and regulations. Is Trump even the President anymore? He looks weak and enfeebled. The American people have had enough. We didn’t elect Elon Musk. He needs to be ejected from the government.
[If Democrat:] Democrats need to work in lockstep and vote no on EVERYTHING Republicans introduce. And get loud about what’s happening, please. Also when is the Congressmember’s Town Hall?
[If GOP] If Musk isn’t gone immediately we will organize a general strike and shut down the economy. Remember how much purchasing power we have. If you give us no other choice we’ll use it. Thanks.
Extra Credit ✅
Robert Reich wrote a great piece called “What You Can Do,” and yesterday he revised and expanded it. This is one of his new suggestions:
Contact your state’s attorney general and urge them to file complaints, injunctions, and restraining orders against Elon Musk and his tech goons for committing identify theft, violating the Privacy Act, and riding roughshod over Congress’s spending power in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution.
You can find your state attorney general here. I found mine in CA, dug around on his website for a few seconds, and clicked on the “general contact” link. Then I sent this:
I'm writing in great alarm because Elon Musk and a team of unvetted kids are operating outside agency rules and constitutional checks on executive power. He is rampaging through government without clearances and in potential violation of numerous laws and regulations. He also has access to all of my personal data! I want the Attorney General to file complaints, injunctions, and restraining orders against Musk and his team for committing identify theft, violating the Privacy Act, and riding roughshod over Congress’s spending power in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution. You have great power to protect us and you must! Thanks.
Let’s all do it!
Get Smart AND Save the Planet!
Because we can walk and chew gum at the same time…
On Valentine's Day, 92% of Americans purchase candy, including 58 million pounds of chocolate. Unfortunately, chocolate production is far from romantic. It generates large greenhouse gas emissions compared to other foods and frequently relies on exploitative labor practices.
Join Climate Action Now on Thursday, February 13 at 7 pm ET to learn about how chocolate can become more sustainable. You'll take a fun quiz about the history of chocolate and Valentine's day, learn from a dynamic panel of chocolate experts from Tony's Chocolonely and Mighty Earth, and you can help make a difference by taking action through the free Climate Action Now app!
The Action Party will be moderated by me!
Messaging! Messaging! Messaging! 📣
Post this on your social media:
As Robert Reich wrote this week:
“It’s time to get serious about boycotting companies that are enabling the Trump regime, starting with Elon Musk’s X and Tesla and any companies that advertise on X or Fox News.
Never underestimate the effectiveness of consumer boycotts. Corporations invest heavily in their brand names and the goodwill associated with them. Loud, boisterous, attention-getting boycotts can harm brand names and reduce the prices of corporations’ shares of stock.”
Please download the app Goods Unite Us and use it. We may not have a lot of government power right now, but we have a majority of the purchasing power. If we use it with discipline we can make them feel the pain. Let’s do so.
https://www.goodsuniteus.com/
Give 💰!
Join Downtown Nasty Women on Wednesday, February 12 at 6pm ET on Zoom
to meet and support Judge Susan Crawford, candidate for Wisconsin Supreme Court.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court election on April 1st is the first pivotal race of 2025, with the balance of the court at stake and a profound influence on the future of redistricting—a key issue for ensuring fair electoral maps and equitable representation in the U.S. House and beyond. This state court seat will also play a pivotal role in deciding critical issues like abortion and voting rights. Winning this election offers a unique opportunity to secure a liberal majority on the court through at least 2028.
Judge Susan Crawford has dedicated her career to upholding the law, protecting constitutional freedoms, and ensuring public safety. As a former prosecutor, state leader, and now a Dane County Circuit Court Judge, she has consistently demonstrated an unwavering commitment to justice and fairness.
RSVP to meet her and/or donate here.
Resistbot Letter (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.) 💻
[To: your HOUSE Rep] [H/T] [Text SIGN PKFOYU to 50409, or to @Resistbot on Apple Messages, Messenger, Instagram, or Telegram]
I am writing to express my strong opposition to H.R. 22, the so-called “Safeguard American Voter Eligibility” (SAVE) Act. While this bill is framed as a measure to combat voter fraud, it is, in reality, a voter suppression effort that creates unnecessary barriers to voting and disenfranchises millions of Americans.
The SAVE Act would require voters to present narrow forms of “documentary proof of citizenship,” such as a passport or birth certificate, to participate in federal elections. This would disproportionately harm:
- Up to 150 million Americans who do not have a passport.
- Approximately 69 million women citizens who do not have a birth certificate with their current legal name on it.
- Elderly Americans, who are the least likely to hold passports.
Additionally, in 7 states, less than one-third of citizens have a valid passport – Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and West Virginia.
The SAVE Act is a solution in search of a problem. Worse, it would erode the fundamental right to vote, silencing the voices of vulnerable communities under the guise of election security. Rather than advancing harmful legislation like the SAVE Act, Congress should focus on protecting and expanding voting rights by supporting measures such as the Freedom to Vote Act and the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.
One of the foundational values of our democracy is the idea that every person is entitled to a vote – a say in the direction of our nation. I urge you and your colleagues to work towards that founding ideal. Thanks.
OK, you did it again! You’re helping to save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk soon.
Jess
I went to a protest outside a MAGA congress woman’s office yesterday. I live in a red county in California and it was nice to see so many fellow dems and progressives making our voices heard 💙
I just want to add that I dropped Amazon--a place I bought loads of things because I'm a retiree and it was easy. Well, it's fine. I'm shopping locally just as my parents did. It works and makes me feel I'm doing something.