Chop Wood, Carry Water 3/12
Wednesday mini-edition
Hey, all. It’s my day off of the newsletter so I’ll just drop a few things here. The most important, of course, is that we ALL call our Democratic Senators about the stopgap funding bill, as the vote is soon and we really don’t know where a lot of them are going to land on it. I made a video last night explaining what’s in Republicans’ package and why it’s so important that Democrats filibuster it. You can watch it here. Or read about it here.
The important thing to know is that the bill is a disaster that gives Trump and Musk unfettered power to rip up our system of government. It can. Not. Pass.
Call Your Democratic Senators
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
I know Republicans are pushing a Continuing Resolution that puts Social Security, veterans’ benefits, and more at risk, and does nothing to rein in Elon Musk. Republicans can’t pass it without Democrat votes, so don’t give your votes to them. Democrats need to use their leverage and hold the line for a government funding deal that includes ironclad protections to stop Trump and Musk from hijacking federal spending. I expect Democrats to use their leverage to protect us from DOGE. Thanks
Call your GOP Senators about DC funding
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
I’m calling to say that I oppose the budget language in the Continuing Resolution that would strip over a billion dollars from Washington D.C.’s 2025 budget. These cuts will harm my fellow Americans and decrease funding for teachers, police, firefighters and other essential services. DC should be authorized to spend its locally generated revenue the way it wants. The balanced budget that they passed and Congress previously approved should be respected. Thanks. [H/T subscriber Charlotte B.]
The Big Trump Postcard Deluge 📮
I’ve received the below from countless readers:
On March 15th, many people will mail Donald Trump a postcard that publicly expresses our opposition to him. And we, in vast numbers, from all corners of the world, will overwhelm him with his unpopularity and failure. We will show the media and the politicians what standing with him — and against us — means. And most importantly, we will bury the White House post office in pink slips, all informing Donnie that he’s fired.
Each of us — every protester from every march, each congress calling citizen, every boycotter, volunteer, donor, and petition signer — if each of us writes even a single postcard and we put them all in the mail on the same day, March 15th, well: you do the math.
No alternative fact or Russian translation will explain away our record-breaking, officially-verifiable, warehouse-filling flood of fury. Hank Aaron currently holds the record for fan mail, having received 900,000 pieces in a year. We’re setting a new record: over a million pieces in a day, with not a single nice thing to say.
So sharpen your wit, unsheathe your writing implements, and see if your sincerest ill-wishes can pierce Donald’s famously thin skin.
Prepare for March 15th, 2025, a day hereafter to be known as #TheIdesOfTrump
Write one postcard. Write a dozen! Take a picture and post it on social media tagged with #TheIdesOfTrump !
Then, on March 15th, mail your messages to:
President (for now) Donald J. Trump
The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Tesla Bumper Stickers Redux
Many of us tried to order Tesla magnet bumper stickers last week only to find that the company making them had suddenly (and strangely) pulled the plug. Fortunately, the subscriber who designed them found a new vendor. She also added a sticker version for those worried a magnet won’t stick to their Tesla. Find and order them here.
Weekend Protests!
Here’s lots more information about this weekend’s marches in DC, which aren’t just on Friday, it turns out, but on Saturday and Sunday, too. Thanks to readers Anne W. and Katherine H. for sending me more details!
WE MUST ACT NOW!! DESCEND ON DC MARCH 14-15-16
March 14th at noon on the National Mall is a veteran centric protest but ALL are welcome. If you stand with Ukraine and the Free World, you are welcome. If you are a federal worker, you are welcome. If you don’t want to lose Social Security, you are welcome. If you were deprived of your vote in 2024, you are welcome. If you’ve changed your mind since the election, you are welcome. If you don’t want to lose your rights, your safety, your freedom, and your country, you are welcome. We are asking for veterans who oppose fascism to show up in uniform if they can. This country NEEDS to see veterans standing against these traitors. Please bring signs indicating why you oppose this administration and their fascism, oligarchy and treason.
March 15 join us at 12 noon at Fox News Headquarters (NBC and others are very close by) The media has ignored nationwide protests showing us the early signs of fascism. Let them try to ignore us when we’re outside their windows. Please bring signs and noise makers. Horns, whistles, drums etc. Sign ideas: “ignore us now, stop being cowards, don’t fear maga, fear us” etc.
Sunday March 16 at 12 noon at the Heritage Foundation. They are the authors of project 2025 and their entire goal is to topple our democracy.
More info here or here. Flyers below!
Protect Medicaid
Also, here’s an event in which many of you may be interested.
On Thursday, March 13 at 3 PM ET / 12 PM PT, Caring Across Generations is holding a webinar called “Protect Medicaid: Making Meaning of the Moment and How to Put On the Pressure At Home."
Learn effective strategies to influence your representatives through in-person meetings, local media, and digital campaigns. Our policy, communications, and digital experts will provide practical guidance on sharing your story and demonstrating the importance of Medicaid to our communities.
Together, we can turn this congressional recess into powerful advocacy to Protect Medicaid! RSVP here!
Give money💰
The Wisconsin Supreme Court election on April 1 is our first opportunity to build opposition power, protect important rights, and send a clear message of resistance against the new administration.
Flip the Vote’s Wisconsin grassroots partners Black Leaders Organizing for Communities and Voces de la Frontera are mobilizing thousands of voters to elect Judge Susan Crawford and maintain the 4-3 liberal majority on the state Supreme Court. These are EXCELLENT groups—I 100% vouch for them.
DONATE DIRECTLY TO THESE WISCONSIN PARTNERS
Fight Disinfo!
Help Combat disinformation with the Indivisible Truth Brigade
With social media companies dispensing with fact-checking and some platform owners/acting US presidents intentionally amplifying disinformation, we all have to step up to identify and combat propaganda and divisive lies.
Join Indivisible today, Wednesday, March 12 at 6:30pm ET/3:30pm PT to learn about the Truth Brigade -- Indivisible Civics’ grassroots disinformation-countering project. This event will feature a new member orientation, so it’s a perfect onramp into our work -- but we won’t stop there. We’ll be launching a new messaging campaign and providing specific actions you can take to defend truth online.
Resistbot
[Send this to your Senators by texting SIGN PPKENF to 50409.] [H/T]
A vote for the partisan six-month continuing resolution is a vote to greenlight Elon Musk’s continued attacks on government agencies and to flat-fund and cut services constituents like me need. This harms everyone from veterans to children to the elderly, while impacting virtually every aspect of our lives including public education and the staffing to help Social Security beneficiaries, including the aging and those with disabilities. It would allow drastic increases in funding for detention of immigrants with no oversight to prevent underfunding of efforts to combat illegal drugs or human trafficking.
Any member of Congress who votes for this CR is aiding and abetting attacks on public health and nutrition, affordable housing, substance use treatment, veterans’ care, and rural services. A vote for this CR is a vote for large-scale cuts to human needs programs and to continue indiscriminate firing of federal workers across the country including 6,000 veterans, entrenching Elon Musk’s attacks on our government and on civil servants.
I urge you to vote NO on the partisan continuing resolution that both enables Musk’s attacks and that flat funds and cuts urgent needs at a time of increasing need for our residents. Thanks.
OK, all. Have a great day! Back to a full newsletter tomorrow!
As many people as I could get a hold of are sending postcards. As suggested on March 15. Tell Don “you’re fired“! And I’m using my Ruth Bader Ginsburg stamps to mail it
Awesome video with details on the Stop Gap Funding Bill, Jess. You're amazing! Calling my Dem Senators now. I may attempt to be a little kinder in my messages than I've been lately. Well, since I'm practicing nonviolent communication. It's not working out so well. And will call Fetterman's office, yet again. Can't promise my tone on that one, either. And for good measure, I'm calling my full-out lacking in all integrity GOP representative who is all-in for whatever the utterances of the white house occupant. Now for that, I have zero tolerance. O well.