Chop Wood, Carry Water 3/18
Hi, all, and happy Tuesday.
Well. I took three days off for my birthday weekend and let’s just say that coming back is…a lot. The news, which I avoided completely while away, has continued to spin downwards in disturbing ways; there’s just so much of it, too.
Fortunately, however, a long weekend in Joshua Tree with my husband and child also helped bolster my energy, rest my body, and remind me of what I’m fighting for. Being in that majestic landscape also underscored how small we all are in the grand scheme of things. As awful as they are, and as powerful as they seem right now, Trump and Musk are small, too. I find some tiny consolation in the fact that they, too, will one day be forgotten.
For now, however, they are very much here, and they’re grabbing power lawlessly everywhere they can. It’s a lot, and it’s scary. I’ll remind you one more time to try to stay in the day and remember that we simply have no idea how any of this will end. It feels dark right now—and it is—but I’ll keep believing in our power and resilience until my dying day—not because I’m an optimist (although I am) but because I’ve seen real, concrete, undeniable evidence of it over and over again.
So let’s take deep breaths and get to work. Remember, we can only do what we can do today. Tomorrow will have to sort itself out. So let’s make our calls, send our letters, and volunteer to help with April 1’s elections, then try to let the rest go.
I like to bear in mind that the person who wrote the Serenity Prayer was himself a political author. He meant his words to be practical as much as spiritual.
In its original form, in fact, this “prayer” simply said:
The victorious man in the day of crisis is the man who has the serenity to accept what he cannot help and the courage to change what must be altered.
We are in “the day of crisis,” indeed, and we will be victorious in the end. We’ll do so by following the above advice, and by caring for ourselves and our loved ones as much as possible.
Bearing that in mind let’s get to work!
Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲
[If Democrat]
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
First, I am calling to urge the Democratic party to form a shadow cabinet in order to help Democrats control more of the narrative, show that they have a plan to fight Project 2025, and showcase future leaders of the party. I want the Senator to publicly express support for this idea and work to build consensus among colleagues. It’s time. [H/T]
On a related note, I also want the Senator to call for Senator Schumer to step down as Minority Leader. We deserve leadership that will fight for our democracy. Schumer showed last week that he’s not up for that fight. I want to see the Senator call for him to step aside now. Thanks.
[You can also use Indivisible’s form to send an email to your Democratic senator to ask them to call on Senator Schumer to step down as Minority Leader.]
[If GOP say:]
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
I’m calling because we have entered a constitutional crisis. On Saturday evening, federal judge James Boasberg unambiguously ordered the Trump administration not to deport any Venezuelans using the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. The administration ignored him. This is terrifying. No American and especially no president can ignore a judge’s order. We have a system of checks and balances! Without it we cease to be a democracy. What is the Senator doing about this? Has s/he made a statement condemning it? I’d like an answer in writing. Thanks. [H/T]
Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
I’m calling because we have entered a constitutional crisis. On Saturday evening, federal judge James Boasberg unambiguously ordered the Trump administration not to deport any Venezuelans using the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. The administration ignored him. This is terrifying. No American and especially no president can ignore a judge’s order. We have a system of checks and balances! Without it we cease to be a democracy. What is the Congressmember doing about this? Has s/he made a statement condemning it? I’d like an answer in writing. Thanks. [H/T]
Extra Credit ✅
Late on Friday, March 14, Trump issued an executive order attempting to dismantle the only federal agency dedicated to funding library services, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).
Millions of people, myself included, love public libraries and rely on their services and programs. Now we need to show up for them. The American Library Association is asking us to send a letter to Congress—personalized, ideally— asking them to overturn the March 14 executive order, and to continue at least level funding for IMLS in fiscal year 2026. THIS IS SO IMPORTANT!
Get Smart
I continue to highly, highly recommend these weekly calls:
Process the news with Indivisible co-founders Ezra Levin and Leah Greenberg this Thursday at 3pm ET/12pm PT. Every Thursday at 3pm, we take a step back to absorb the news of the past week, draw inspiration from the work Indivisibles and allies are doing all across the country, and talk about how we fight back.
Spread the Word! 📣
VoteVets just launched a six-figure ad blitz—TV, streaming, digital, and billboards—to expose GOP Veterans in Congress dodging their constituents while Musk’s DOGE fires thousands of Veterans. They’d love our help amplifying this new video, which has a call to action at the end.
Give 💰!
We raised almost 125K for MVP recently. Now let’s hear about what they’re going to do with it!
The Comeback Campaign: A Volunteer-Led Kickoff for Movement Voter PAC
Sun, Mar 23 ⸱ 7-8pm ET • 6-7pm CT • 5-6pm MT • 4-5pm PT
Join this volunteer-led event in support of Movement Voter PAC’s Comeback Campaign: An effort to fund grassroots groups working to protect communities, block MAGA, and plant the seeds to win back power in 2026 and beyond.
Speakers:
Regina Clemente • Director of Donor Organizing, Movement Voter PAC
Emilia González Avalos • Executive Director, Unidos MN
Corinne Rosen • State Director, Wisconsin Working Families Party
Jessica Craven • Activist, organizer, author of “Chop Wood Carry Water” Substack
More speakers to be confirmed
RSVP here — and forward this invite to anyone who might breathe a sigh of relief when they learn there is a real way they can make a difference right now.
Take to the Streets! 🪧
On April 5, national and local organizations (including Indivisible) are coming together across the country for Hands Off, a national mass activation to stop the Trump-Musk billionaire takeover.
As of today, you can already register to attend protests in cities across the country, with more being added daily. If there isn’t yet an event scheduled where you live, you can organize one! Find a toolkit here to help you do that -- and RSVP to join a Host Call this Friday, March 21, at 3 pm ET/12pm PT.
This is the big one, folks! Let’s make it spectacular!
Grab Your Wallet! 💳
The folks organizing the #TeslaTakedown movement are having a mass call tomorrow, Wednesday, March 19 at 8:30 p.m. ET, with Jasmine Crockett and other special guests! You'll hear from experts, leaders and grassroots protest organizers—and be the first to know about their major national call to action!
Win Races! 🗳
Elon Musk has now put 12 MILLION dollars into buying the Wisconsin Supreme Court seat.
Fortunately, Indivisible has six upcoming phonebanks to help boost turnout and keep our liberal majority on the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Sign up for a shift today!
Seed the Vote and Working Families Party are also doing phonebanks on Wednesdays and Sundays. Sign up here.
A few more options:
In-State Canvassing Form
More out-of-State Virtual Calls
Donate Here
WisDems' People v. Musk
Resistbot Letter (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.) 💻
[To: all 3 reps] [H/T] [Text SIGN POZXCJ to 50409, or to @Resistbot on Apple Messages, Messenger, Instagram, or Telegram]
I'm writing because President Trump’s efforts to dismantle the Education Department pose a threat to public school students all across the country and to education as we know it, especially for students with disabilities, people with student loans, and students’ civil rights.
I want you to oppose Trump’s destruction of the Education Department and do everything you can to protect our public schools from being sold to billionaires. Right now, you have the power to protect public schools and students by preventing any cuts to education in the reconciliation and appropriations processes. Please do so. Thanks.
OK, you did it again! You’re helping to save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk soon.
Jess
Here is how I personalized my email regarding the federal funding for library science agency. I MEAN EVERY WORD!
The Public Library helped keep me sane during a childhood that was chaotic and scary. My habit was to go to the public library, pick out 6 books and read them all cover to cover in the following week while the fighting and the drinking raged around me where escaping into books was the one place of sanity and relief from the unrelenting chaos of my homelife. Without my books to escape into and the anticipation of the next 6 books in the coming week would have made little in my life joyful. I want every American to have the opportunity to escape to the public library when they need to. Continue federal library funding!
Birthday blessings, Jessica!
You have been doing heroic inspiring and practical work making it much easier for me and others to take action. It matters a big bunch! Thank you very much...