Chop Wood, Carry Water 2/9
Hi, all, and happy Thursday!
I just got finished reading Navigator’s “dial polling” results from the State of the Union, and wow, is it encouraging!
What’s a dial poll? To quote from their email:
29 Nevadans [soft partisans and independents] watched the State of the Union while holding a dial with values ranging from 0 to 100. As President Biden spoke, participants continuously adjusted the dial, moving it toward 100 when they felt positively about what President Biden said and toward 0 when they felt more negatively. We’ve analyzed those reactions and distilled them into a few key findings.
You can see the report here, and here’s the summary they posted at the top of their email:
Soft partisans and independents in Nevada reacted positively to the State of the Union address delivered by President Biden, with a majority of participants believing the country is “headed in the right direction” after hearing his speech. Overall, a majority of participants had a positive reaction to the State of the Union (62 percent); after the speech, the share believing the country is “headed in the right direction” moved by 38 points (from 17 percent to 55 percent). Participants' trust in President Biden’s handling of the economy increased dramatically, from 31 percent approval before to 52 percent approval after, as a majority (55 percent) believe he is “up for the job,” a net 21-point increase from prior to the speech. Further, following the speech, majorities believed Biden is “trying to bring people together” (from 34 percent to 66 percent), that he “stands up for the middle class” (from 41 percent to 59 percent), and that he that he is “trying to do what's best for the country” (from 48 percent to 62 percent).
There’s lots more fascinating stuff in the report—including that viewers’ already low expectations for Republicans’ behavior during the speech were sent crashing as they watched. Americans are really not fans of those sorts of shenanigans—the proof is in the polls.
The information contained in this report can help all of us understand what messaging works best (spoiler alert: Biden’s speech was a master class in it) so that we can help amplify it going forward. The good news is when Americans are informed of both what Biden has done and what he wants to do their views of him—and of Democrats—improve dramatically. The bad news is not everyone watches State of the Union addresses. So we must continue to spread the word every way we can.
So much to do, so little time! Let’s get to work!
Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
I checked, and there are 41 co-sponsors on Dianne Feinstein’s S. 25—the Assault weapons Ban. I just wanted to make sure the Senator is one of them. Is s/he? [If yes thank. If not add:] Would you mind asking the Senator how many more mass shootings we will have to have before s/he signs on? Because they’re just going to keep happening. This is a top priority for me and nearly all Americans. Please sign on to this bill right now! Thanks.
Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
I’m calling to ask the Congressmember to co-sponsor H.R.345, the TRUST in Congress Act. Members of Congress should legislate on the basis of sound policy, not on whether they will see benefits in their stock portfolios.1
I’d also like to know if the Congressmember is yet co-sponsoring H.R.715, which would require a background check for every firearm sale. If not will they, please?
[If GOP add:] Also, we need a clean debt ceiling increase and we need it now. No more shenanigans. Americans are counting on Congress to get this done and we know it’s Republicans who are holding it up. Enough is enough.
Extra Credit! ✅
OMG you guys, Gen Z for Change just put me to shame! Remember my click-to-send email to the College Board? They’ve done me one better. Their tool, https://teachthetruth.co/, autogenerates a message to send to the College Board by email or contact form. But here’s the thing: this isn’t a uniform mass email. Each response is unique. As their tool notes: “Now let’s say, hypothetically, you want to send more randomized emails. Each time you refresh the page, you’ll get a new email template. I promise you won’t get the same result; there’s over a septillion combinations.” GENIUS! Please send an email or two!
[H/T Small Deeds Done]
Extra Extra Credit ✅
Last Tuesday Representative Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) held a press conference with House and Senate members announcing new joint resolutions (SJ Res 4 and HJ Res 25) to remove the deadline that’s hindering us from passing the ERA.
Let’s raise our voices to make sure this is a priority in 2023. Head to Vote Equality’s Take Action Page and find the Do tab. They have lots of ways to get involved. Find an action that suits you! You can pass a resolution, chalk the town with ERA=28, or host the Artists4ERA collection in your community. We CANNOT let another 100 years pass!
Get Smart! 📚
Interested in climate justice?
There’s a White House briefing today, Thursday, February 9th at 4 pm ET where you can hear more about the historic Biden-Harris climate and environmental justice agenda to invest in a clean energy economy and what work remains to finish the job.
Speakers:
Senior Advisor to the President for Clean Energy Innovation and Implementation John Podesta
Assistant to the President and National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi
White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Brenda Mallory
Submit questions and register in advance for this briefing here.
Spread the Word! 📣
I have to hand it to the DNC. This is EXCELLENT. Please share.
Win Races! 🗳
Friendly reminder: on February 21st, Virginia will hold a special election to fill a vacancy in the U.S House of Representatives left by the late Rep. A. Donald McEachin.
Please join a Wednesday or Saturday phone bank to mobilize Black voters with the non-partisan group Center for Common Ground. New to phone banking? No problem. There will be a training session. Also, these are WONDERFUL phonebanks—the people you’re speaking to generally receive very little electoral outreach so they’re grateful for your help. Also you can leave voicemails!
Protect the Vote in PA!
ATTENTION TEXTERS!
Join Turn PA Blue, on Saturday, Feb. 11th, 18th and 25th from 1 - 4 PM EST, to text voters important information about re-applying for their annual Mail-in Ballots for 2023! We know voting by mail is safe, secure, & convenient. It helps establish good voting habits and increases voter turnout!
Help make a difference in 2023 and beyond!
Resistbot Letter (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.) 💻
[to President Biden] [H/T Labor Lab] [Quick send: text SIGN PFNRDQ to 50409]
During this year's State of the Union address to Congress, it was wonderful to hear President Biden say that he's "sick and tired" of union busting. I’m also glad he called on Congress to pass the PRO Act. However, if the Biden Administration really wants to tackle union busting, it can start right away and without the help of a dysfunctional Congress.
FIRST, U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Marty Walsh could direct his agency to crack down on the union busting industry's intentional disregard for transparency laws. Under the law, professional union busters are obligated to disclose their activities to the public within 30 days of being hired. However, according to an unprecedented analysis conducted by the LaborLab, union busters violate this rule over 80% of the time! This gives them an unfair and illegal advantage over workers.
The U.S. Department of Labor and the Office of Labor Management Standards must do everything in its power to force the union busting industry to disclose any and all of its activities as mandated by the law.
SECOND, the Biden Administration must return to the definition of reportable union busting as originally intended under the Labor Management and Relations Disclosure Act (LMRDA). You must also stop the flow of federal tax dollars to union busting employers. These are real solutions that are accessible now. Please use them! Thanks.
OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk soon.
Jess
Rogan’s List, February 8th
Jess, YOU ARE AMAZING!!!!
Don't know if you're on the Resistbot Discord server, but you're famous 💜
Anyone can join, and the #getting-started channel is here:
https://discord.com/channels/781201604119887872/1068809059484041257
Anyone here already know you can be alerted to any petitions filed by Jess?
Simply text to Resistbot at 50409
Follow jesscraven101
And you'll be sent the links as petitions are filed, and choose to add your signature or delete if not interested.
I made the calls to my Senators and House Representative. This was a pleasant call to make, as both Senators were already sponsors of S.25 -- so I thanked them profusely and then firmly stated that I wanted to see the bills passed in the Senate, and "filibuster" does not excuse non-passage. I gave my representative partial credit as a co-sponsor of H.R.715 but a bit of a chide for not already being behind H.R.345.
I find the links to the bills that Jess provides to be very helpful, and perhaps it is worth noting that if you scroll down there is a tabbed section on the page that includes a tab for Co-Sponsors. This allows filtering by State and Party, and makes for a quick way to add a bit of personalization to the script, such as the Thank You's that I offered today.