I knew the postcard campaign would have limited impact BUT — I wrote them with my kids and their friends, ages 7-11. They were SO fired up and thrilled to have an opportunity to finally use their voice. It was a great opportunity to talk to them more deeply about the issues and about what other kind of activism we can do. They see me call our reps a lot, but this activity felt more concrete to them. So thanks for the educational exercise even if we’ll never hear what happened to them!
100%! I actually came here to share the same thing. My 6-year-old was so excited to be able to participate and we had so much fun thinking of creative things to write and draw on our postcards. He's now completely stoked to join me for the April 5th protests and is already working on a design for his sign. These smaller actions, though probably less effective, are perfectly kid-sized for the next generation of the resistance!
🤷🏼♀️ Hey! Knowing full well that it'd never be read, nor would he give flying flip, we sent postcards to the White House anyway. $1.02 worth of catharsis never hurts now and then. In the meantime, I'm finishing my batch to mail to WI tomorrow. 🤗
I applaud your effort. No matter whether the idiot ever reads them , he knows that MANY motivated citizens dislike him enough to send a raft of postcards to clog up his mailbox. Or even if he doesn’t know (living in a MAGA bubble) his staff knows how much he is despised, and someday they may just turn out to be our allies in this fight. Any effort that helps us to express our outrage at this dictator wannabe cannot be wasted.
Thank you for sharing, I thought about them as I sent mine! Think about the people taking down my messages or reading my emails, too & wonder if it gives them a little boost.
Honestly, that's kind of why I sent mine too. I know the USPS has also been targeted and it felt like a little gesture of solidarity to anyone who might read it along the way. I 100% do not think it will make it to Trump, but I don't care.
Last fall we ran out of postcard stamps all around Charlotte (NC). Our local Indivisible group took on writing 130K+ postcards -- most of which got mailed out in October! It got to the point that the post office employees knew that any women coming in asking for more than a single book of postcard stamps were writing GOTV postcards.
Encourage seniors who use rollators or walkers to go to your nearest Republican representative’s office to rally for Social Security survival! Stand in front, sing a song, lift the rollators a little bit off the ground and “pound” them on the ground at the same time. Make a
I sent a postcard knowing it would go straight into a shredder, the recycling or the trash and we'd never know anything about any postcards (and neither would DJT). Why did I? Because it felt good. Because whoever at the WH has to process the mail would feel some scintilla of its message. Because letting my words fly out into the wild meant I could let 'em go and get back to work.
I would encourage you to think more broadly about the postcards. All across the country people sat down with friends and family and used the post cards as a teaching moment on the importance of taking action in the face of dictatorship. All across the country post office workers saw those post cards come in, White House staffers or others saw them. Maybe even the Chief of Staff. All along the way a message was passed to all that these postcards represent people unhappy enough to buy, write and send those postcards. No one ever expected Donald Trump or Musk to care. I posted mine to my social media. Sure it was a stunt. Any publicity is good publicity. So I was glad you passed along the opportunity.
Sure. And I took off work to go to Congress to lobby Democratic senators to not vote for the CR. I could also call that a failure. The point is, almost no one writing the post cards thought any White House staff would care - do they just refuse mail delivery? That’s a win too. I just bristle at the idea that we know what works and what doesn’t. Frankly when I read today that the Democratic Party is accepting 100/ of millions of dollars from the same lobby group that is Musk friendly, I start to think that nothing but hitting the streets works until we elect new progressive democratic senators and reps. Or - better example - was it obvious that the first TESLA protest would lead to a huge, effective pressure campaign? We need to keep experimenting with all kinds of protest because you never know what will ignite the public’s imagination. As we tip into, or rather hurtle towards fascism, only people power (and lots of it) will save our democracy.
Leah Greenberg said the exact same thing about trying lots of stuff and see what sticks. Someone had asked what tactics they recommended and her response was that it needed to rise from the bottom up. She wanted to hear from chapters about what they tried and how it worked and then the national group could help pass along the ideas that resonated so other groups could try them if they wanted.
No, unfortunately. I’m always amazed at the power of a single protester holding up a sign. There was someone who rode the metro in DC a few days with a protest sign and everyone noticed - I figure 100 people. Imagine if 10 people did that every day in cities with mass transit across the country? Maybe focus on “Don’t cut social security, don’t cut Medicaid”
I really think you did the right thing by telling us about the postcard campaign, Jess. It doesn't matter if Trump doesn't acknowledge them. The point is he knows that millions of people don't like what he's doing. We should always speak up. Do not obey in advance!! Please think about this. And what difference does it make if we contact representatives who aren't ours? We're all Americans and everything every representative does affects us. Ray Bradbury and the butterfly. Seriously.
I am a new subscriber and while I have agreed with many of your comments and support the actions you recommend, I must take exception with your regret about sending postcards to the WH. Expressing my feelings in two postcards to Trump (on two different topics) was great therapy! I had no illusions that the postcards would actually be seen or read by Trump, but it felt so good to tell him just what I thought about him. And I also have signed petitions for years and frequently hear from the organizations and/or my Senator and Congresswoman that this form of lobbying made a difference.
I rarely comment on anything but your apology is not necessary. I knew, and told my family members, sending postcards wouldn't change anything and the orange menace would never know about it. I still consider it cathartic to express my disdain for this entire maladmnistration.
I write with Postcards to Voters since 2017 - they do make a difference!
Did you know that you can get your history of postcards written with PTV? one of the options from the Abby bot is "Volunteer Support" - Ithink it is 99 on the menu. That opens another menu which has an option for "stats".
I agree with the consensus: just the act of sending those postcards was empowering, cathartic, mobilizing, and energizing. Definitely not a waste of time!
Hi Jessica, please don't feel bad about the postcards. It became a bonding activity with my friends and family. We didn't think they'd read; but getting together to write out our frustrations, talk about what's stressing us out, and reaffirming that we all feel the same way, made it all worth it.
I’m sorry that you apologized for the postcards, because it was a cathartic experience. I never once thought that Donald Trump would see any of them, perhaps he would hear about it, but if not, it still was worthwhile to me.
Someone recommended your substack to me very recently, and I am finding it such valuable reading! You are doing amazing work!!! Just wanted to mention that I have been writing postcards for the WI Crawford Supreme Court election as well as both US House Rep special elections in FL as a volunteer for Postcards to Voters, an excellent, well-organized effort. Hope it is OK to give them a shout out here in the comments? (website is postcardstovoters.org I believe).
I''ve been a subscriber since early 2024 and can tell you that Jessica likes reader shout outs about activist groups and opportunities for reader engagement - I do it all the time!
Catharsis is good sometimes! Knew no one but me would ever lay eyes on them, before I dropped them in the box. Still worth doing. . . will stand on a street corner near our post office with a sign this weekend, too.
I knew the postcard campaign would have limited impact BUT — I wrote them with my kids and their friends, ages 7-11. They were SO fired up and thrilled to have an opportunity to finally use their voice. It was a great opportunity to talk to them more deeply about the issues and about what other kind of activism we can do. They see me call our reps a lot, but this activity felt more concrete to them. So thanks for the educational exercise even if we’ll never hear what happened to them!
Great idea to get kids involved! My four year old put ‘VOTE’ stickers on all my Vote Forward letters. 🇺🇸😊
100%! I actually came here to share the same thing. My 6-year-old was so excited to be able to participate and we had so much fun thinking of creative things to write and draw on our postcards. He's now completely stoked to join me for the April 5th protests and is already working on a design for his sign. These smaller actions, though probably less effective, are perfectly kid-sized for the next generation of the resistance!
🤷🏼♀️ Hey! Knowing full well that it'd never be read, nor would he give flying flip, we sent postcards to the White House anyway. $1.02 worth of catharsis never hurts now and then. In the meantime, I'm finishing my batch to mail to WI tomorrow. 🤗
I applaud your effort. No matter whether the idiot ever reads them , he knows that MANY motivated citizens dislike him enough to send a raft of postcards to clog up his mailbox. Or even if he doesn’t know (living in a MAGA bubble) his staff knows how much he is despised, and someday they may just turn out to be our allies in this fight. Any effort that helps us to express our outrage at this dictator wannabe cannot be wasted.
For what it’s worth, USPS employees noticed the postcards! :)
https://www.reddit.com/r/USPS/comments/1jcdjmt/the_ides_of_trump/?rdt=59663
Thank you for sharing, I thought about them as I sent mine! Think about the people taking down my messages or reading my emails, too & wonder if it gives them a little boost.
Honestly, that's kind of why I sent mine too. I know the USPS has also been targeted and it felt like a little gesture of solidarity to anyone who might read it along the way. I 100% do not think it will make it to Trump, but I don't care.
Fabulous! Some of these comments are hysterical!
Love the comment later in the thread about saving the post office by sending post cards!
Last fall we ran out of postcard stamps all around Charlotte (NC). Our local Indivisible group took on writing 130K+ postcards -- most of which got mailed out in October! It got to the point that the post office employees knew that any women coming in asking for more than a single book of postcard stamps were writing GOTV postcards.
That is fabulous! Thank you.
Thanks--got me to get serious about Reddit as a resource.
Encourage seniors who use rollators or walkers to go to your nearest Republican representative’s office to rally for Social Security survival! Stand in front, sing a song, lift the rollators a little bit off the ground and “pound” them on the ground at the same time. Make a
“Senior Noise” no matter how you get it done!!
I sent a postcard knowing it would go straight into a shredder, the recycling or the trash and we'd never know anything about any postcards (and neither would DJT). Why did I? Because it felt good. Because whoever at the WH has to process the mail would feel some scintilla of its message. Because letting my words fly out into the wild meant I could let 'em go and get back to work.
Thanks for all you do. Onward!
I would encourage you to think more broadly about the postcards. All across the country people sat down with friends and family and used the post cards as a teaching moment on the importance of taking action in the face of dictatorship. All across the country post office workers saw those post cards come in, White House staffers or others saw them. Maybe even the Chief of Staff. All along the way a message was passed to all that these postcards represent people unhappy enough to buy, write and send those postcards. No one ever expected Donald Trump or Musk to care. I posted mine to my social media. Sure it was a stunt. Any publicity is good publicity. So I was glad you passed along the opportunity.
No Chief of Staff ever saw them either! Nor any White House staffers who have any clout.
Sure. And I took off work to go to Congress to lobby Democratic senators to not vote for the CR. I could also call that a failure. The point is, almost no one writing the post cards thought any White House staff would care - do they just refuse mail delivery? That’s a win too. I just bristle at the idea that we know what works and what doesn’t. Frankly when I read today that the Democratic Party is accepting 100/ of millions of dollars from the same lobby group that is Musk friendly, I start to think that nothing but hitting the streets works until we elect new progressive democratic senators and reps. Or - better example - was it obvious that the first TESLA protest would lead to a huge, effective pressure campaign? We need to keep experimenting with all kinds of protest because you never know what will ignite the public’s imagination. As we tip into, or rather hurtle towards fascism, only people power (and lots of it) will save our democracy.
"We need to keep experimenting with all kinds of protest because you never know what will ignite the public’s imagination." ✅✅✅
Were you on the Indivisible call this afternoon?
Leah Greenberg said the exact same thing about trying lots of stuff and see what sticks. Someone had asked what tactics they recommended and her response was that it needed to rise from the bottom up. She wanted to hear from chapters about what they tried and how it worked and then the national group could help pass along the ideas that resonated so other groups could try them if they wanted.
No, unfortunately. I’m always amazed at the power of a single protester holding up a sign. There was someone who rode the metro in DC a few days with a protest sign and everyone noticed - I figure 100 people. Imagine if 10 people did that every day in cities with mass transit across the country? Maybe focus on “Don’t cut social security, don’t cut Medicaid”
I really think you did the right thing by telling us about the postcard campaign, Jess. It doesn't matter if Trump doesn't acknowledge them. The point is he knows that millions of people don't like what he's doing. We should always speak up. Do not obey in advance!! Please think about this. And what difference does it make if we contact representatives who aren't ours? We're all Americans and everything every representative does affects us. Ray Bradbury and the butterfly. Seriously.
I am a new subscriber and while I have agreed with many of your comments and support the actions you recommend, I must take exception with your regret about sending postcards to the WH. Expressing my feelings in two postcards to Trump (on two different topics) was great therapy! I had no illusions that the postcards would actually be seen or read by Trump, but it felt so good to tell him just what I thought about him. And I also have signed petitions for years and frequently hear from the organizations and/or my Senator and Congresswoman that this form of lobbying made a difference.
I did write a postcard to trump and it was cathartic! I knew it would be ignored but it felt good to send it.
No apologies necessary Jess!
I rarely comment on anything but your apology is not necessary. I knew, and told my family members, sending postcards wouldn't change anything and the orange menace would never know about it. I still consider it cathartic to express my disdain for this entire maladmnistration.
I write with Postcards to Voters since 2017 - they do make a difference!
Did you know that you can get your history of postcards written with PTV? one of the options from the Abby bot is "Volunteer Support" - Ithink it is 99 on the menu. That opens another menu which has an option for "stats".
Every single person who touched my postcards got an eyeful of resistance! Plus, I supported the USPS.
I agree with the consensus: just the act of sending those postcards was empowering, cathartic, mobilizing, and energizing. Definitely not a waste of time!
Hi Jessica, please don't feel bad about the postcards. It became a bonding activity with my friends and family. We didn't think they'd read; but getting together to write out our frustrations, talk about what's stressing us out, and reaffirming that we all feel the same way, made it all worth it.
I’m sorry that you apologized for the postcards, because it was a cathartic experience. I never once thought that Donald Trump would see any of them, perhaps he would hear about it, but if not, it still was worthwhile to me.
Someone recommended your substack to me very recently, and I am finding it such valuable reading! You are doing amazing work!!! Just wanted to mention that I have been writing postcards for the WI Crawford Supreme Court election as well as both US House Rep special elections in FL as a volunteer for Postcards to Voters, an excellent, well-organized effort. Hope it is OK to give them a shout out here in the comments? (website is postcardstovoters.org I believe).
I''ve been a subscriber since early 2024 and can tell you that Jessica likes reader shout outs about activist groups and opportunities for reader engagement - I do it all the time!
Excellent! Thank you so much for the information :)
Catharsis is good sometimes! Knew no one but me would ever lay eyes on them, before I dropped them in the box. Still worth doing. . . will stand on a street corner near our post office with a sign this weekend, too.