"In a letter obtained by Axios, Senate Democrats urged the..." I'm all in favor of the hearings, but why wasn't the letter just sent or hand delivered to the 3 Chairpeople with copies to every media outlet anyone could think of? That kind of coverage greatly restricts the ability of the recipients to do anything other than agree and puts the sender in a position of relative power. Democratic Senators and others have to realize that things are bloody serious and collegiality is not getting the job done any more than currying favor with a particular outlet is.
That said, rant over, I've started planning my calls to stay within the 2 or 3 minute time limit that Senators have on their voice-mail. Today's topics were Signal-gate, hands off Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, VA benefits, and SNAP, Musk and DOGE out of government and Musk-related contracts canceled, due process and no masks for ICE, and no extensions for the 2017 tax cuts. I almost made it; Hawley didn't get the tax cut part. Had a nice chat with Wagner's staffer, although he seemed a bit taken aback by the number of topics and/or my vehemence.
I understand your frustration. You can certainly say that when you call--the sad truth is if you say you're a donor they may actually listen in some cases.
Thank you, Jess. Got through to Padilla's and Mullin's staffers on both issues. Just voicemail at Schiff's, as usual. Voicemail at Tom Cotton's and Wicker's. Spoke to a staffer at Risch's. It is a very strange experience to be thanking a Republican Senator for anything. I wouldn't have been any more surprised if I'd seen pigs flying by outside my window.
With practice, I am getting much better at calling. I feel less anxious and more able to add my own "spin." Thank you for all you do! Without these daily actions, I wouldn't know what to do! I'll be in Pasadena on Saturday at the Takedown. Perhaps I'll see you there. Again, THANK YOU.
One additional thing: My son is an active duty Marine and so I'm able to add that to my messaging. Hopefully, that gives my personal message some added power.
I just yelled at the young woman who answered the phone at my senator's office, ofc he and the other senator from Ohio are a**holes but she' probably didn't deserve it--though she did try to gaslight me with "I haven't spoken with the senator (about whether he's called for Hesgeth and Waltz resignations) so I told her to put down the phone and ask her supervisors.
Fully understand Nancy, Ohio here also, in addition to these 2 a**holes as you so aptly described them, I get the supreme a**hole, Gym Jordan as my rep. I call them the 3 stooges although that is too kind. Did you call a local office to talk to someone?
The person answering the phone is probably an intern and doesn't talk with the Senator about things like that. She almost certainly didn't deserve to be yelled at. You could ask to talk to the staffer who deals with defense issues. Probably, they won't be available, but it doesn't hurt to try.
Hi Jess – thank you for this. I called my reps in both places ! last night. I was so enraged. I called Republican reps on the Armed Services Committee and left messages. I wrote my own script -I did get asked during the day if I was calling with the chop wood carry water speech.? 😆-
I think if people are uncomfortable calling during the day or just not into it it’s OK to leave a message on their answering machines in the evening.
It is easy to look up a ZIP Code in their area if you feel inclined - I usually just say I am concerned citizen calling them about their role on the such and such committee because they speak for all of us in that role!
Our representative to congress (NC) who was gerrymandered out of her seat gave us some guidance on using scripts when you call or email your representatives. She said she read the ones in the callers own words very carefully, and tended to skim the scripted ones.
Thank u for the work you’re doing! Are the actions u list in ur emails listed in order of importance/urgency? Sometimes I might only be able to take one action in a day, so I want to make sure it’s getting the most bang for its buck so to speak. Any guidance would be appreciated. TY!
I just read your afternoon letter with information about Democracy Forward's letter that is being signed by attorneys. I believe that there is a place at the bottom that can be checked for someone who is not an attorney. Let's try to get as many signatures as possible before it is submitted tomorrow.
Jess, I live in the UK. Any idea if or how I can use Resistbot here? (I'm a member of DAUK Democrats Abroad UK and I think a lot of them would like to know about it, if they don't already. IF we can use it from here. ) Wonder if it's just a case of a different #?
I very much appreciate the work you do and the scripts you provide. I’m wondering what a good non gendered alternative to “men and women in uniform” is. I’m non binary and using gendered language makes me uncomfortable because it erases any non binary people in uniform. As I understand it your kiddo is NB so I’m hoping you get from where I’m coming. Again, thanks so much for all you do.
Oof! I'm the mom to a nonbinary kid! I should know better. I used the phrase because most of the people we're calling about this (Republicans) are very sensitive to "woke" verbiage and I didn't want them closing their ears to us if they heard a phrase that they interpreted as such. But screw that! We can just say "our servicemembers" and that's what I'll write going forward. Sorry about that!
The Democrat party here in Florida is sending out postcards welcoming new registrars to the party. You might want to check if your Democratic Party is doing the same.
I have a general question. You always provide scripts for telephone calls to our Representative and Senators. Are phone calls better than emails? Which communication method do Congressmen pay more attention to?
"In a letter obtained by Axios, Senate Democrats urged the..." I'm all in favor of the hearings, but why wasn't the letter just sent or hand delivered to the 3 Chairpeople with copies to every media outlet anyone could think of? That kind of coverage greatly restricts the ability of the recipients to do anything other than agree and puts the sender in a position of relative power. Democratic Senators and others have to realize that things are bloody serious and collegiality is not getting the job done any more than currying favor with a particular outlet is.
That said, rant over, I've started planning my calls to stay within the 2 or 3 minute time limit that Senators have on their voice-mail. Today's topics were Signal-gate, hands off Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, VA benefits, and SNAP, Musk and DOGE out of government and Musk-related contracts canceled, due process and no masks for ICE, and no extensions for the 2017 tax cuts. I almost made it; Hawley didn't get the tax cut part. Had a nice chat with Wagner's staffer, although he seemed a bit taken aback by the number of topics and/or my vehemence.
Love it!
So, if congress people who are not my reps won’t ‘count’ my calls, how come they all continue to ask me to donate to their campaigns? Just curious
I have the same question. In our current crisis, it feels terribly frustrating and restrictive to limit calling and writing to my reps.
I understand your frustration. You can certainly say that when you call--the sad truth is if you say you're a donor they may actually listen in some cases.
Good to know. 🙏
Yes, and they also make laws that affect all Americans, not just those in their states.
Thank you, Jess. Got through to Padilla's and Mullin's staffers on both issues. Just voicemail at Schiff's, as usual. Voicemail at Tom Cotton's and Wicker's. Spoke to a staffer at Risch's. It is a very strange experience to be thanking a Republican Senator for anything. I wouldn't have been any more surprised if I'd seen pigs flying by outside my window.
Indeed.
With practice, I am getting much better at calling. I feel less anxious and more able to add my own "spin." Thank you for all you do! Without these daily actions, I wouldn't know what to do! I'll be in Pasadena on Saturday at the Takedown. Perhaps I'll see you there. Again, THANK YOU.
One additional thing: My son is an active duty Marine and so I'm able to add that to my messaging. Hopefully, that gives my personal message some added power.
Perfect! I'm the granddaughter of a veteran and I always add that.
I just yelled at the young woman who answered the phone at my senator's office, ofc he and the other senator from Ohio are a**holes but she' probably didn't deserve it--though she did try to gaslight me with "I haven't spoken with the senator (about whether he's called for Hesgeth and Waltz resignations) so I told her to put down the phone and ask her supervisors.
At this point I'm afraid we'd have to be saints not to raise our voices. Don't beat yourself up.
Thanks, Jess. That’s very true
Fully understand Nancy, Ohio here also, in addition to these 2 a**holes as you so aptly described them, I get the supreme a**hole, Gym Jordan as my rep. I call them the 3 stooges although that is too kind. Did you call a local office to talk to someone?
I was calling Husted, who so far just has a DC phone line. I have Warren Davidson as my rep—as bad as Gym but less well known 🤣
Ohio here as well. They are both such a**holes. The bills Merano is introducing...🤦🏻♀️ugh. He's awful
The person answering the phone is probably an intern and doesn't talk with the Senator about things like that. She almost certainly didn't deserve to be yelled at. You could ask to talk to the staffer who deals with defense issues. Probably, they won't be available, but it doesn't hurt to try.
Sent a Resistbot letter thanking my Senator, Adam Schiff for yesterday's f-bomb! Outstanding commentary from him on Signalgate.
I heard it was good!
Hi Jess – thank you for this. I called my reps in both places ! last night. I was so enraged. I called Republican reps on the Armed Services Committee and left messages. I wrote my own script -I did get asked during the day if I was calling with the chop wood carry water speech.? 😆-
I think if people are uncomfortable calling during the day or just not into it it’s OK to leave a message on their answering machines in the evening.
It is easy to look up a ZIP Code in their area if you feel inclined - I usually just say I am concerned citizen calling them about their role on the such and such committee because they speak for all of us in that role!
OMG really? Wow! I'm famous! Lol.
Is there a reason we should call the DC office with one script and the local office with the other?
I often call the DC office with five calls on five issues in an evening haha.
No...I have been trying to stick more to one subject per call but tbh if you're comfortable lumping them all in I am too!
Same, I do one call per subject. But I tend to call the same office multiple separate times.
Just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing a strategy by rotating which office I call haha
Our representative to congress (NC) who was gerrymandered out of her seat gave us some guidance on using scripts when you call or email your representatives. She said she read the ones in the callers own words very carefully, and tended to skim the scripted ones.
DNC Chair Ben Martin is coming to Fl-06 to campaign for Josh Weil this w-end and the Orlando Sentinel just gave Josh a wonderful endorsement.
💙
Ken Martin yes! He'll be on the call tonght too!
Thank u for the work you’re doing! Are the actions u list in ur emails listed in order of importance/urgency? Sometimes I might only be able to take one action in a day, so I want to make sure it’s getting the most bang for its buck so to speak. Any guidance would be appreciated. TY!
I'd say always the calls to your reps are the most urgent.
I just read your afternoon letter with information about Democracy Forward's letter that is being signed by attorneys. I believe that there is a place at the bottom that can be checked for someone who is not an attorney. Let's try to get as many signatures as possible before it is submitted tomorrow.
Jess, I live in the UK. Any idea if or how I can use Resistbot here? (I'm a member of DAUK Democrats Abroad UK and I think a lot of them would like to know about it, if they don't already. IF we can use it from here. ) Wonder if it's just a case of a different #?
The problem is you need a US address?
I very much appreciate the work you do and the scripts you provide. I’m wondering what a good non gendered alternative to “men and women in uniform” is. I’m non binary and using gendered language makes me uncomfortable because it erases any non binary people in uniform. As I understand it your kiddo is NB so I’m hoping you get from where I’m coming. Again, thanks so much for all you do.
Oof! I'm the mom to a nonbinary kid! I should know better. I used the phrase because most of the people we're calling about this (Republicans) are very sensitive to "woke" verbiage and I didn't want them closing their ears to us if they heard a phrase that they interpreted as such. But screw that! We can just say "our servicemembers" and that's what I'll write going forward. Sorry about that!
I said service members. And mentioned my family members.
The Democrat party here in Florida is sending out postcards welcoming new registrars to the party. You might want to check if your Democratic Party is doing the same.
Wonderful idea!
I have a general question. You always provide scripts for telephone calls to our Representative and Senators. Are phone calls better than emails? Which communication method do Congressmen pay more attention to?
Thanks.
Scott Fisher
That's in my FAQs doc!
Former congressional staffers Leah & Ezra from Indivisible have a strong arguement for calling --