Hi, all, and happy Friday.
I want to share an email I got from subscriber Annie Tomlin yesterday, after she’d watched the video I posted of Representative Larson.
She wrote:
John Larson is my rep and until yesterday, he had been extremely disappointing in his approach to Trump and Musk. I attended a town hall in person last month, and a virtual town hall about two weeks ago. At the town hall, I spoke to him and lamented his lack of urgency—I told him he was far too casual about the dismantling of our democracy. Two weeks ago, on the virtual town hall, he still didn't get it and was insisting that we have checks and balances, the courts would save us, etc.
I don't know what changed since then, BUT I would encourage people to show up and push for this sort of stronger response. We need more folks like him to get fired up.
I clicked on the link she sent and read the article about the Town Hall she’d mentioned. It was exactly as she said—in fact she herself is quoted in the article as saying to Congressman Larson:
I know that you have been in Congress for many years, and there used to be decorum [and] a level of professionalism that people like Marjorie Taylor Greene don’t have…But I need you to be our version of Marjorie Taylor Greene. I need you to … show up with this level of righteous fury.
And look at that! A few weeks later, he did! The video of him doing so, furthermore, has gone completely viral—not just on my Instagram account, where it has over a million views, but everywhere! The universal praise he’s receiving will hopefully inspire other Democratic lawmakers to bring that kind of fire to this fight.
And when they do, Annie will know that she played a small part in making it happen. You all did!
This is how it works, folks. Politicians are inherently risk-averse. They don’t move unless they’re pushed. So we must do exactly that—push them to get outside of their comfort zone and start throwing down. Rep Larson would never have sounded the way he did in that committee hearing if his own constituents hadn’t pushed him relentlessly to do so. Adam Schiff would never have started making his straight-to-camera videos if we hadn’t pushed him to do so. On-the-fence Senators like Jon Ossoff and Peter Welch would never have committed to opposing cloture on this Constinuing Resolution if their constituents hadn’t pushed them to do so.
Pressure works! So keep it up.
And let’s pressure Chuck Schumer most of all. He needs a giant dose of whatever Rep. Larson got, because he is failing us miserably in this moment. It’s not even his refusal to vote no on cloture that makes me so mad. It’s his weakness—his inability to come out strongly for one thing or the other. The waffling is killing us.
I will, therefore, be including in my scripts a call for new Democratic leadership in the Senate. As always, feel free to skip this ask—there’s no way this many readers will agree with every script I publish—but I’m done. Schumer has failed to meet the moment. He’s not, as they’d say in the Godfather, a “wartime Consigliere.” We need one. Now.
Speaking of which, Nancy Pelosi just issued a statement urging Schumer to vote no! She said:
Donald Trump and Elon Musk have offered the Congress a false choice between a government shutdown or a blank check that makes a devastating assault on the well-being of working families across America. Let’s be clear: neither is a good option for the American people. But this false choice that some are buying instead of fighting is unacceptable. I salute Leader Hakeem Jeffries for his courageous rejection of this false choice, and I am proud of my colleagues in the House Democratic Caucus for their overwhelming vote against this bill. “Democratic senators should listen to the women. Appropriations leaders Rosa DeLauro and Patty Murray have eloquently presented the case that we must have a better choice: a four-week funding extension to keep government open and negotiate a bipartisan agreement. America has experienced a Trump shutdown before – but this damaging legislation only makes matters worse. Democrats must not buy into this false choice. We must fight back for a better way. Listen to the women, For The People.
It’s going to be an interesting day. Keep calling!
One last thing: Monday is my birthday and I’m going away for the weekend with my family. I will be endeavoring to not work for three days (wish me luck). As a result, I will be writing and pre-setting “Extra Extra” to come out on Sunday morning. It will likely be missing important wins that occurred after I shut down office later today. Forgive me for that! Drop them in the comments and I’ll post them in next week’s edition!
There will also be no newsletter on Monday. I’ll publish emails Tuesday-Friday of next week, without taking Wednesday off, to make up for it.
In the meantime please use 5 Calls for scripts! They’re always a great resource.
Sending so much love and strength, my friends. This is tough, but we’re tougher. Keep up the amazing work—what you’re doing matters enormously. And know that whatever happens today we will find our way through it, together.
Because we are the heroes we’ve been waiting for. So let’s go act like it one more time.
Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
[If Democrat]
I’m calling to demand the Senator vote no on cloture for the House-passed Continuing Resolution, and move to pass a clean CR instead. It is vital that Congress take back their constitutional power of the purse and work to block Elon Musk's control of our government. [H/T]
[Optional add] Also, I won’t give Democrats a single penny more until you replace Chuck Schumer as Minority Leader. He is failing you and failing us. He cannot meet this moment. Thanks.
[If Republican]
I’m calling to say how disgusted I am that Republicans are supporting a Continuing Resolution that cedes all of their power to Donald Trump and Elon Musk. Congress is a co-equal branch of government! Trump and Musk are out of control, and the Senator knows it. DOGE is destroying our government institutions and dismantling Social Security, and Trump is running our economy into the ground while weakening the U.S. on the world stage. What is the matter with Republicans? When will they stand up for Americans? Fight for your constituents, rein in Trump and Musk, or resign. Thanks.
Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
[If Democrat other than Jaren Golden]
I’m calling to thank the Congressmember for voting no on the Republicans’ awful Continuing Resolution. I want Democrats to fight Trump and Musk tooth and nail, and a no vote on this CR was a great sign that they are. Please ask the Congressmember to keep aggressively fighting back against Republicans’ attacks on our system of government. Use every tool at your disposal. These are not normal times. Thanks again.
[If Republican or Jared Golden]
I’m calling to say how disgusted I am that Republicans/Rep. Golden supported a Continuing Resolution that cedes all of Congress’s power to Donald Trump and Elon Musk. Congress is a co-equal branch of government! Trump and Musk are out of control, and the Congressmember knows it. DOGE is destroying our government institutions and dismantling Social Security, and Trump is running our economy into the ground while weakening the U.S. on the world stage. What is the matter with the Congressmember? When will they stand up for their voters? Fight for your constituents, rein in Trump and Musk, or resign. Thanks.
Extra Credit ✅
Let’s call Chuck Schumer again.
(212) 486-4430
(518) 431-4070
(202) 224-6542
(914) 734-1532
(631) 753-0978
(315) 423-5471
We can simply say:
I’m calling the Senator in his capacity as Minority Leader. I’m incredibly disappointed in him for agreeing to vote for cloture on the CR. He has failed his constituents, failed voters like me across the country, and failed to meet the moment. He obviously cannot lead effectively in this moment. It’s beyond disappointing.
[Optional add:] With all due respect, if he really cares about saving democracy he should step down and allow someone to lead who knows how to fight. He clearly does not.
Extra Extra Credit ✅
From Rep Jamie Raskin:
Last night, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia issued an injunction commanding DOGE to comply with citizen requests under the Freedom of Information Act. FOIA encompasses the Federal Privacy Act of 1974, which entitles any citizen to access personal information held in any U.S. government records system.
By visiting the link on my website HERE, you can fill out the Privacy Act request form and mail it in directly to DOGE. This newly recognized federal agency, which has been systematically accessing government computer data systems, now has an obligation to respond to specific information demands from any of the 340 million U.S. citizens who exercise their legal right to defend their privacy and establish the security of their personal information.
I can’t wait to see what DOGE has been doing with all of our data, and I can’t wait to see what the courts will do if DOGE refuses to comply with the District Court’s injunction.
Get Smart! 📚
Trump’s plans to dismantle the USPS are an attack on our most treasured public institution that will leave everyday folks to pay the price while greedy corporate CEOs get richer.
The Save the Post Office Coalition and A Grand Alliance to Save Our Public Postal Service invite you to attend a virtual open convening for folks who are ready to organize and act to protect The United States Postal Service. It’s on March 19 at 11AM PT / 2PM ET.
Come hear from:
Mark Dimondstein, President of the American Postal Workers Union
Shawn Sebastian, Organizing Director at RuralOrganizing.org
Monique Morrissey, Senior Economist at the Economic Policy Institute
Brittany Price, Postal Worker, APWU Cleveland William H Burrus Local #72
Spread the Word!
The Coalition on Human Needs has created a toolkit that includes sample social media posts that you can use immediately, tagging your Dem Senator.
Click here to access the toolkit.
Win Races—write letters! 🗳
On Wednesday March 19 from 8-9PM ET please join Vote Forward, Stand Up America, and Indivisible to write letters to voters in Wisconsin!
On April 1, 2025, Wisconsin voters will choose either Judge Susan Crawford or Judge Brad Schimel to take an open seat on the state Supreme Court. This year’s election could either preserve the Court’s existing liberal ideological balance, or shift it to a 4-3 conservative majority. It’s a big, big deal.
I believe I may be speaking briefly at this event with my Practivist Pod co-host Steve Pierson. But either way come! It’s going to be fun!
Win Races—make calls!
A friendly reminder that on Fridays I join the Grassroots Dems HQ to kick off their 3PM PT / 6PM ET phonebank into Wisconsin. Last week we had a huge turnout and I’m hoping for even more today! Please come make some calls to tell people in WI about this all-important election!
And if you can’t do this phonebank remember there’s a whole doc full of ways to help us win in Wisconsin here.
OK, you did it again! You’re helping to save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk soon.
Jess
Schumer is a huge disappointment indeed. This is the 1-minute message I left him and Gillibrand today.
Senator Schumer/Gillibrand:
I can understand your fear of the uncertainties of a government shutdown.
But if you vote yes, these three things are certain
1. You will have given your imprimatur to the harmful moves of the administration since Jan 20
2. You will have harmed all the lawsuits against Trump EOs and Musk chainsaw moves
3. You will have signed on to Project 2025
Bottomline: What’s certain is that you leave NYers and my family undefended against looming cuts.
Vote NO to cloture, NO to CR bill.
I came here to say: WAY TO GO ANNIE TOMLIN! She should be (and I hope she is) proud of herself for helping get Rep Larson to that point! We NEEDED to see it!