Chop Wood, Carry Water 3/11

Art by Misha Zadeh via @amplifierart

Hi, all, and happy Friday!

I drove up to Santa Cruz yesterday for a long weekend with old friends, so I’m writing this and then going off to spend the day with them in a botanical garden. As I like to remind myself (and you)—there is a time to work; there must also be a time to play.

I’ll be back on Monday with my usual long pep talk. For now I leave you with this:

We are watching history being made. We are also making history. Life is short and can be unpredictable, but at the end of ours we will be able to say that we fought—HARD—on the side of good.

It’s literally the best thing one can do with one’s life.

I’m so proud of every one of you for being in this fight with me. And grateful, too. I, alone, can do so little.

But we, together?

Can bend the arc of history with our many, many hands.

So let’s do that one more time.

Call Your Senators (find yours here)

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

First, I’d like the Senator to put out a statement calling on President Biden to sign an executive action cancelling at least $50,000 of student loan debt before the end of the repayment pause. Nearly 45 million individuals and families are unnecessarily burdened by this debt, and Biden has the authority to provide them with this needed economic relief. Please speak out publicly to encourage the President to take this critical action.  [H/T]

Second, I want the Senate to immediately confirm Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court. She is highly qualified, brilliant and perfect for the job. I support her 100%.

[If GOP add:] It’s shameful that Republicans are trying to slow walk this confirmation process. Judge Jackson's record has been reviewed by the Senate 3 times and she was confirmed on a bipartisan basis each time, most recently last year when she was confirmed to the D.C. Circuit.  It’s time to get this done. Thanks.

Call Your House Rep (find yours here)

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

I’d like the Representative to put out a statement calling on President Biden to sign an executive action cancelling at least $50,000 of student loan debt before the end of the repayment pause. Nearly 45 million individuals and families are unnecessarily burdened by this debt, and Biden has the authority to provide them with this needed economic relief. Please speak out publicly to encourage the President to take this critical action. Thanks! [H/T]

Extra Credit ✅

Please send this to President Biden either through the WH web form or via Resistbot (quick send text SIGN PEHMGF to 50409). [H/T]

I’m calling on President Biden to sign an executive action cancelling at least $50 thousand of student loan debt before the end of the repayment pause. Nearly 45 million individuals and families are unnecessarily burdened by this debt, and the President has the authority to provide them with this needed economic relief. Please let the President know I think it’s very important that he take action to cancel student loan debt immediately. Thanks.

Fight Disinfo!

Two weeks ago, Demcast launched a new project they’re calling The Digital Front. Their mission is to win the propaganda war that Putin is waging against Ukraine and the West on the social media battlefield.

Thus far, they are going toe-to-toe with Putin's troll farms. Last week, Russian trolls’ hashtag #IStandWithPutin garnered 400 million impressions, while Demcast’s hashtag #DemocracyNotAutocracy outperformed them with 570 million.

To win the digital war, they need to increase their volume and coordination. Join the team here if you haven't already. 

Win Races! 🗳

Calling all volunteers to join an EPIC textbank this Saturday, March 12th, 12-2PM EST!

Movement Labs is hosting two simultaneous text banks to push out over 3 Million texts! One is on behalf of Black Voters Matter for voting rights; the other is for Run For Something for candidate recruitment. Upon signing up you will receive an email with each zoom link, join the link that coincides with the campaign you would like to text for.

Sign up here.

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

[to all 3 reps] [H/T] [Quick send: text SIGN PKNXGP to 50409]

There are 3 anti-democracy “riders” buried in the “must pass” omnibus funding bill before Congress right now that would damage political transparency and violate voters' right to know who is spending big money to influence our government.

The first would stop the SEC from finalizing a rule requiring corporations to disclose their political spending to shareholders and the public. The public petition for this rulemaking at the SEC has received 1.2 million public comments — the most in the agency’s history.

The second would stop the IRS from creating clear definitions for nonprofit engagement in politics. Without clear guidance defining what nonprofits can and cannot do in elections, groups wanting to influence our elections with secret money can abuse the system without consequences.

Finally, the third rider would prohibit a requirement that federal contractors be transparent about their political spending. But it's just common sense that a company getting tax dollars for doing business for the government should be forthright about its political engagement.

Voters have a right to know who's spending big money to influence our votes and our government. Congressional leadership must ensure these anti-democracy riders don't remain in the bill. Thanks.

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

Talk tomorrow.

Jess