Chop Wood, Carry Water 3/14
Remember to Dem-scroll.
Hi, all, and happy Thursday!
I’m running out to attend a Democracy Matters Summit in Beverly Hills, so this opening is going to be quick.
Every day the stakes feel like they get higher, don’t they? The warnings about Trump’s intentions get more dire, the indications that “normal” Republicans are no longer welcome in the GOP get more pronounced, and the signs that Christian Nationalism is rising get more clear. It’s discomfiting, to say the least.
On the other side, however, we see Democracy defenders everywhere! Do we pay them enough attention? The remarkable Americans throwing their all into saving our freedoms? I think not. And yet they are legion!
You’ll see them at today’s Field Team Six summit—some of you are likely there now.
You’ll see them at local postcarding parties.
You’ll see them in your inbox—Robert Hubbell, Heather Cox-Richardson, Simon Rosenberg, Joyce Vance, David Pepper, and so many others.
You’ll see them at the polls.
You’ll see them in the comments of this newsletter.
You’ll see them everywhere, if you start looking for them. So do that. Remember: what we focus on grows. So don’t only doomscroll, my friends. Dem-scroll, too. Be proud of the movement that’s building around you. Look for it. Highlight it. DWELL on it! Know that it’s enormously powerful. And smart. And strategic. And growing.
And know—really, really understand in your soul—that YOU are a central part of it.
Doesn’t that feel good?
Now let’s get to work.
Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
I want the Congressmember to support House Resolution 1016, Representative McGovern’s discharge petition bill to force a vote on the foreign aid bill already passed in the Senate. While I have real concerns with parts of that legislation Ukraine must get the funding it needs, and we need humanitarian aid for Gazans now, desperately. Please get this done now. Thanks.
Extra Credit ✅
Let’s call Chuck Schumer about Senator Menendez. (212) 486-4430 or (518) 431-4070 or (202) 224-6542 or (914) 734-1532. We can say:
My name is _____ and I’m calling Senator Schumer in his capacity as Senate Majority Leader. I’m deeply frustrated that Senator Menendez still has his committee assignments and access to classified information given the federal bribery and corruption charges against him. I’m also disappointed that Senator Schumer just re-appointed him to the Senate’s National Security Working Group. It’s truly outrageous. Senator Menendez needs to resign, and Senator Schumer should call for him to do so immediately. But in the meantime please strip him of his committee assignments. The evidence against him is overwhelming, and his continued presence on these committees is a national security risk. Thanks.
Get Smart! 📚
Introduction to STUDENTS FOR VOTING JUSTICE: Thursday, March 21, 5PM PT/ 8PM ET
Since 2020, SVJ has provided young people training to Get Out the Vote and become future leaders through paid internships. Interns are recruited largely from Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the South. Voter outreach for 2024 will be focused on Georgia and North Carolina, two of the states whose voters will likely decide the outcome of the presidential election and determine the balance of power in Congress.
Please join them to see the amazing work they have accomplished and what still needs to be done.
Spread the Word! 📣
THIS IS SO IMPORTANT! President Biden’s efforts to fund the IRS have resulted, among other things, in the development of a new free tax filing system called Direct File. It’s piloting in 12 states this year, and by all reports it’s fantastic. Please help us spread the word. Share something like this on your social media:
TODAY: The IRS just launched its #DirectFile program! 🎉🎊🍾
Taxpayers in 12 states now have the option to file their taxes for FREE, saving an average of $150 a year and up to $3 billion in filing fees this year.
File for free at http://directfile.irs.gov TODAY! This is a huge, huge, deal, and it's all thanks to President Biden and the Democrats, who passed funding for the IRS in part so they could do exactly this.
I used this graphic, which you should be able to save or screenshot.
Give 💰!
You guys! The States Project just added matching grant money to our Giving Circle for Arizona and Pennsylvania and we’re up to 36K!! This is amazing but we’re still a long way off from our 100K goal. If you’d like to share this Giving Circle link with friends and family I’d be most grateful. You can say something like:
If you’re looking for a strategic place to give money for this election cycle I highly recommend funding state-level elections in key swing states. Two that are particularly important are Pennsylvania, where we’re trying to hold the House and work towards flipping the State Senate, and Arizona, where we’re trying to win a Democratic trifecta in the statehouse. These wins will be hugely important for the people in those states, but will also have a “reverse coattails effect” that will help us win key U.S. Senate races in those states and, of course, win them for President Biden.
You can give to a States Project Giving Circle, “Chop Wood, Carry Statehouses,” here: https://www.grapevine.org/giving-circle/KXMhoaJ/Jess-Craven-s-Giving-Circle and all the money will go towards winning in these two states.
Win Races—Pennsylvania! 🗳
For my female-identifying subscribers:
Super Majority is phone banking into PA EVERY Saturday from noon to 2pm ET beginning THIS Saturday!! Come hang out with them - and lets talk to some women!
Women are the strongest force for necessary change, and we know that together, we really can create meaningful progress in our lives.
Click on the link to sign up for Superwoman Saturday!!!
Win Races—Wisconsin! 🧀
This weekend, March 16th & 17th, WisDems volunteers are calling Wisconsinites to both encourage them to vote in the spring election on April 2nd and identify their support level for our candidates now through November!
They will have phonebanks throughout the weekend, with a special guest - Senator Tammy Baldwin - joining them on Saturday at 4pm Central Time!
Resistbot Letter (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.) 💻
[To: all 3 reps] [H/T
] [Text SIGN PYIXVY to Resistbot at 50409 or via Apple Messages / WHATSAPP / MESSENGER]Food insecurity burdens far too many American children. Universal free school meals were a huge success story during the pandemic, with students earning better test scores and less stigma and schools cutting down on bureaucracy for only $11 billion more than pre-COVID school meal programs. With the current extension of the Farm Bill expiring on September 30th, we have the opportunity to make this success permanent. Please support efforts to include universal free school meals in the next Farm Bill.
OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk soon.
Jess
Dem scrolling. I LOVE that.
... and I LOVE LOVE LOVE "Dem-Scrolling"!! You are the BEST!!