Chop Wood, Carry Water 3/18
We must rebuild it.
Hi, all, and happy Monday!
Whoops! Running especially late today—sorry. I agreed to record a podcast interview this morning with the folks at Branding Democrats and the conversation ran long. What can I say? There’s a lot to talk about!
We discussed many sobering topics, as one does these days. Just this weekend, after all, Donald Trump promised a “bloodbath” if Joe Biden wins, said that some undocumented immigrants were “not people,” and again referred to the rioters and attackers on January 6 as “hostages.” That, alone, would fill a podcast episode, but it was just one of the many recent alarming developments. We have much to make us worried.
And yet! We also have the glorious luxury of still living in a democracy—if a weak one. We can fix this. We “have the technology,” as it were. We can beat Donald Trump, flip the House, hold the Senate, and begin to aggressively repair the infrastructure of our very government—just as, under Biden’s watch, we’ve started the painstaking work of repairing our roads, tunnels, and bridges. Like them, our democracy is old, outdated, and in great disrepair, but we are equal to the task of rebuilding it and making it better and stronger than it was before.
Every crisis, after all, is also an opportunity.
So let’s not fall into cynicism, nihilism, or paralyzing fear. Let’s instead shake ourselves off, take a few deep breaths, and get to work, relishing the fact that we can vote, can protest, can organize, can support great candidates, and can run for office ourselves!
And then let’s do those things, with the zeal of those fighting for the very life of the country they love.
Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
I’m calling about two things:
First, I understand that some Senators are using anti-Muslim rhetoric to try to block the confirmation of Adeel Mangi, President Biden’s excellent nominee to the federal appeals court in the Third Circuit. This is truly awful. Mangi is qualified and capable and should be confirmed. I want the Senator to support him.
Second, I know there are two dueling assault weapons bans under consideration—S. 3369, the Gas-Operated Semi-Automac Firearms Exclusion Act (GOSAFE Act), and S. 25, Senator Feinstein’s Assault Weapons Ban Act. The GOSAFE Act would ban some semiautomic firearms that utilize certain types of gas operating systems but would leave a common caliber of assault rifle and a popular type of assault weapon on the market. In comparison, S. 25 would ban all categories and calibers of assault weapons. That’s what we need. I support S. 25 and the Senator should, too. Thanks.
Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
I understand that the House has nearly finished negotiating their second tranche of budget bills but that negotiators are stalled on the DHS bill because Republicans are demanding huge cuts to the FBI’s budget and draconian immigration policies that even Senate Republicans won’t support. There are also more anti-abortion poison pills in it…
[If GOP add:] Republicans need to stop doing this. The policies they’re trying to ram through are unpopular for a reason: because they’re bad. Voters are fed up with our wills being ignored. Tell the Congressmember I want him/her to support a clean budget bill. And if there is a government shutdown on Friday I will make sure that everyone knows that Republicans caused it.
[If Dem add:] Please ask the Congressmember to stand strong and not cave to Republicans’ demands. If there is a government shutdown on Friday they should make sure that everyone knows that Republicans caused it. Thanks.
Extra Credit ✅
The folks at Climate Action Now are asking us to reach out to Mainstream Media and make sure they’re talking about the amazing things accomplished by the Inflation Reduction Act. Please consider personalizing the below letter and sending it (individually) to: sally.buzbee@washpost.com, EIC@usatoday.com, editorial@nytimes.com, letters@chicagotribune.com, and wsj.ltrs@wsj.com
I'm writing to ask you to inform your readers about the powerful impacts of the Inflation Reduction Act on the American economy.
A Yale University poll released in December found that 58 percent of Americans had heard only “a little” about this landmark law. As the pivotal 2024 election approaches, voters need to be aware of the tremendous benefits brought by the current Administration's landmark bill.
Since its passage in 2022, the IRA has:
- Created 170,000 good, green jobs, with more than 1.5 million more projected over the next decade
- Attracted more than $110 billion in private sector investment in the American clean energy economy
- Provided billions in incentives to help Americans purchase heat pumps, electric vehicles, energy efficiency upgrades, and more, which are expected to save families a total of $27–$38 billion on their energy bills by 2030.
- Jump-started the deployment of renewable energy and other green technologies that will reduce climate emissions by 1 billion tons by 2030, safeguarding the health of our planet for current and future generations.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/08/16/fact-sheet-one-year-in-president-bidens-inflation-reduction-act-is-driving-historic-climate-action-and-investing-in-america-to-create-good-paying-jobs-and-reduce-costs/
The House GOP recently released their budget blueprint for 2025, which they would pursue if Trump is re-elected. Unsurprisingly, it aims to dismantle the IRA and erase the many the boons it is providing.
A fully-informed electorate is vital to a functioning democracy. Please use your platform to ensure the public knows about the Inflation Reduction Act, what it has done for Americans, and how the upcoming election will determine its future. Thanks![Name]
[City, State]
Get Smart! 📚
Tomorrow, Tuesday, March 19 at Noon ET, Big Tent is thrilled to host a Tent Talk with VoteRiders’ CEO and Executive Director, Lauren Kunis.
Attendees can also write some letters into North Carolina, which has very strict voter ID laws. These letters will help to ensure that every voter in North Carolina has the ID they need as they prepare for the upcoming election season.
VoteRiders is a non-partisan, non-profit organization with a mission to ensure that all citizens are able to exercise their freedom to vote. VoteRiders informs and helps citizens to secure their voter ID as well as inspires and supports organizations, local volunteers, and communities to sustain voter ID education and assistance efforts.
🪪 RSVP (and sign up for letters if you like) HERE: 03.19 | 12:00PM ET
Spread the Word! 📣
Social Security Works has a great toolkit we can all use to amplify Trump’s threats to cut Social Security. Please consider posting some of this content. You and I know Trump is coming for our retirement funds, but the average American doesn’t.
Win Races! 🗳
Any Postcards To Voters [www.PostcardsToVoters.org] writers in the group?
There is a new campaign for an upcoming special election on March 26th so time is of the essence! Please help if you can!
🚩🚩🚩Democrat Marilyn Lands for AL State House District 10
Watch her moving video on YouTube from her campaign website here.
Marilyn and her team enjoy the backing of heavyweights like the House Minority Leader, the County Commissioner, Planned Parenthood, Everytown For Gun Safety, and former Senator Doug Jones, just to name a few.
And now, she also has us in her corner. With a highly-targeted list of Democratic voters prepared by her team and an extended list of other Democratic voters if we finish the target addresses, we're ready to play a meaningful role in their comprehensive Get Out The Vote campaign.
Resistbot Letter (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.) 💻
[To: your HOUSE rep] [H/T] [Text SIGN PIUROM to Resistbot at 50409 or via Apple Messages / WHATSAPP / MESSENGER]
I am writing to urge you to cosponsor H.R.4052, the National Infrastructure Bank (NIB) Act.
The National Infrastructure Bank would provide $5 trillion in low-cost loans for a broad range of public infrastructure projects – including massive water systems – without the need for increasing taxes or any deficit budget spending. This has been done previously in US history—this bill is modeled on the successful Reconstruction Finance Corporation (RFC) started by President Herbert Hoover and used by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to build Hoover Dam and bring water and electricity to the Southwest.
Infrastructure investment is crucial in the US. We have an immense backlog of infrastructure needs including: affordable housing, total broadband coverage, bridge and road repair or replacement, lead service line replacement, high-speed rail, mass transit, etc. The NIB would finance all these projects—it picks up where the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act left off.
There is wide-ranging support for this. Twenty-seven state legislatures have introduced resolutions of support, and eight passed at least one chamber. Dozens of city and county councils have endorsed including: Chicago, Philadelphia, Seattle, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Detroit, Cleveland, and many more.
Please add your name to cosponsor H.R.4052. And, many thanks again for all your work on behalf of the citizens of our state and the Nation.
OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk soon.
Jess
Being from Minnesota, I have to mention our very loved (and left this Earth way too soon), Senator Paul Wellstone, who had many favorite quotes, but in answer to this newsletter, Jessica, this is my favorite - "WE ALL DO BETTER WHEN WE ALL DO BETTER".
Thank you for this Kathleen. I don't live in MN but my mom was born and grew up in Minneapolis, so I keep track of y'all. <3 Thank you for the quote from Senator Wellstone. It deserves a big banner and would be at home in any gathering. Thanks again!