Chop Wood, Carry Water 3/28
On we march!
Hi, all, and happy Friday.
TGIF! We did it again! I consider every week we survive this administration to be a major victory, so congratulations on making it through another seven days.
This is going to be an abbreviated intro, as I’m racing off to my representative Jimmy Gomez’s Town Hall at 11AM. I’m thrilled that we were able to pressure him into doing it in person and I want to make sure I go support him. The topic is Social Security, so I’m also anxious to hear what plan, if any, he and other Democrats have to address the gutting of that agency from the inside.
I’m also going to be doing something new later today and I’d love for you to tune in. I was approached by House Minority Whip Katherine Clark’s office to do a short Instagram Live with her, and it’s happening today, at the rather specific time of 4:40 PM ET. So if you’ve got nothing better to do hop on Instagram and watch! (My account name is jesscraven101.) I’ll be asking Rep. Clark about the GOP’s attacks on Social Security, how Democrats plan to tackle DOGE’s abuses, how Jeffries and the rest of leadership are addressing our concerns about their response to Trump, and, of course, whether our calls work. Come check it out!
Meanwhile, anticipation continues to build around the special elections next week. I don’t know if any of you were on the Florida call last night but it was electric! It’s impossible to predict if we’ll win those seats on Tuesday, but at this point I wouldn’t be hugely surprised. The energy is real, our candidates are great, Democratic voters are very galvanized, and the GOP is clearly panicking. Good. If this is what it takes for them to finally get how angry we are then so be it.
I’ll close with a request: please drop in the comments what you’ll be doing this weekend to either help drive Tesla’s stock down further or to help win one of these elections. Let’s inspire each other! If you’re phonebanking let us know! Knocking doors? Tell us about it! Attending a Tesla Takedown tomorrow? I want to hear about it!
I am planning—back permitting—to hit the Old Town Pasadena Tesla protest at noon tomorrow and then to head to the Glendale Americana and attend the 3PM Tesla protest there. Gotta do it! It’s a big day of action. Please join us at a Tesla Takedown somewhere if you can!
Alright, folks. Thanks for being in this fight with me. You never cease to inspire. Now let’s get to work.
Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
First, I'm shocked and outraged over the careless use of a commercial app to discuss highly-classified military operations by Trump administration officials. I want the Senator to move to impeach Waltz and Hegseth for their complete disregard of national security protocols if they fail to resign. Americans in uniform deserve better. [H/T]
Second, what is the Senator doing to achieve the immediate release of Mahmoud Khalil, Badar Khan Suri, Rumeysa Ozturk, and other legal immigrants being punished for political views? It goes without saying that it is totally unconstitutional for these lawful residents to be detained without charges or due process for exercising their First Amendment rights. [H/T]
Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
I'm calling because I’m furious that the Senate voted this week to raise overdraft fees for American consumers. I want the Representative to oppose this resolution—S.J. Res. 18—when it comes up for a vote in the House. Overturning the CFPB’s rule limiting overdraft fees to five dollars is exactly the OPPOSITE of what Congress should be doing. This rule saves consumers five billion annually and protects people like me from unreasonable and unpredictable banking fees. It needs to stay. Thanks.
Extra Credit ✅
The Trump administration published a new rule, effective April 11, that tells undocumented immigrants to “register” with the U.S. government or face criminal charges or detention and deportation. It's a clear attempt to entrap people and target them for deportation.
We need as many people as possible to be on record before April 11 opposing the registration process, which reeks of our more shameful episodes in U.S. history, like Japanese internment. It’s clear this registration process will continue to create fear in our neighborhoods. People will become even more afraid to send their children to school, go to work, and contribute to our communities.
The National Immigration Law Center (NILC) has a form here for people to sign on to a public comment opposing forced registration. Alternately, people are welcome to draft their own, and in that case they’re free to use the NILC one as a template and personalize it. In case it’s helpful, NILC has also put together more info on registration here and here.
Extra Extra Credit ✅✅
Two high profile law firms, Keker, Van Nest & Peters and Wilmer Hale, are finally standing up to Trump. Let’s send them each an email at and thank them.
We can reach Wilmer Hale through its managing partner Anjan Sahni at anjan.sahni@wilmerhale.com and we can reach Keker through their parter Elliot Peters at epeters@keker.com.
I said something simple:
I’m writing to express my profound gratitude that your law firm has chosen not to capitulate to the Trump administration. History will remember you kindly for it and so will I. May your courage reward you many times over.
But I urge you to write your own.
Get Smart #1! 📚
On Tuesday, April 1, 3–4 p.m. ET the Brennan Center invites you to: Presidents Don’t Control Our Elections
This week, President Donald Trump signed an illegal executive order that threatens to disenfranchise millions of American citizens, undermine data security, and decertify voting systems across the country.
The order overlaps with a pending voter suppression bill called the SAVE Act, which would require every American to provide a document like a passport or birth certificate to register or re-register to vote. These moves could block millions of eligible American citizens from voting and upend voter registration as we know it.
Join the Brennan Center virtually to learn more about what’s at stake and what could come next. A panel of voting experts will discuss the executive order, the SAVE Act, and what we all must do to protect our elections.
Get Smart #2
Before we take to the streets on April 5th, sign up for a mass call this Tuesday, April 1st at 8 PM EST with MoveOn, Public Citizen, Stand Up America, and national labor leaders.
What can you expect to hear on the mass call?
Get updates on the legal challenges to Trump’s illegal moves—like the detention of Mahmoud Khalil.
Hear from national leaders fighting to protect our public services, like social security, public education, and more.
Find out how to get involved with the April 5th national day of action. If you want to learn more before deciding to join a rally, this call is for you.
Messaging! Messaging! Messaging! 📣
A new Third Way memo encourages Democrats to zero in on Donald Trump’s early economic actions — like auto tariffs that could add thousands to car prices — and to brand his first 100 days the “Trump Slump.” It’s worth a read. And I LOVE the ring of that phrase!
#TrumpSlump. Make it viral.
Give 💰!
If you’re not already a monthly donor to the ACLU and you can afford to be, please become one today. They’ve joined the lawsuit to save Rumeysa Ozturk, but that’s only one of literally hundreds of lawsuits they’re bringing across the country to protect our civil liberties. We need them now more than ever. Give here. I just did.
Get in the Streets #1! 🪧
MONDAY MARCH 30 4-6 ET: Trans Day of Visibility
After relentless attacks from the Trump administration on the transgender community, trans Americans and allies from across the country will convene in Washington DC to show they’re not going anywhere. Join them on March 31st at 4 PM to rally, hear from activists and over a dozen members of Congress, and show Donald Trump that we are not going anywhere.
RSVP at transdayofvisibility.com!
Get in the Streets #2! 🪧
THIS SUNDAY, MARCH 30, 12-1 PM: Mass Media March March 30th
MASS MEDIA MUST REPORT accurately about our protests across the country. Americans are rising and demanding that our Government of the People, by the People and for the People not be bulldozed by racist, fascist billionaires.
FOUR CITIES:
Washington, DC
FOX/NBC
400 N Capitol St NW Unit 550
Washington, DC 20001
New York City, NY
Fox-NOT-News HQ (News Corp.)
1211 Sixth Ave
New York, NY 10036
Atlanta, GA
CNN HQ
1050 Techwood Dr. NW
Atlanta GA 30318
Boca Raton, FL
Newsmax HQ
750 Park of Commerce Dr
Boca Raton, FL 33487
Win Races! 🗳
Join the DNC Call Crew to make calls with Wisconsin Democrats ahead of the April 1 election. Shifts will go all day every day starting Saturday and going until the election, and they will be virtual -- you can join from anywhere!
Once you RSVP, you will receive a confirmation email with the Zoom link to join the session and information on how to prepare to make calls. Don't worry if you've never done this before; we'll provide a full training for anyone who needs it!
Chop Wood, Save the Planet 🔥
All 50 states have now released voter data from the 2024 General Election, and the folks at the Environmental Voter Project have been able to review the data, crunch all the numbers, and determine their impact last year. They've got a lot of great information for you.
RSVP for their 2024 Voter Turnout Results & Learnings webinar
Thurs., April 3, 8pm ET / 5pm PT
Resistbot Letter (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.) 💻
[To: all 3 reps] [H/T CAP Action] [Text SIGN PEVZIX to 50409, or to @Resistbot on Apple Messages, Messenger, Instagram, or Telegram]
Since the moment President Donald Trump took office, we have witnessed an assault of authoritarian policies on our democracy. He has unleashed a barrage of executive orders targeting the communities most in need of protection—including transgender youth, immigrants, working-class Americans, and more—while dismantling programs that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion. These actions are stripping away essential protections and will undoubtedly lead to further divisiveness and violence in our communities.
Trump's likely illegal memos to freeze funding and even close entire government agencies have already caused irreparable harm. Tens of thousands of civil servants are facing job loss and financial insecurity. The key programs that keep vulnerable Americans afloat by providing assistance for housing, nutrition, child care, and more have been disrupted. These actions, which mirror the calculated agenda outlined in Project 2025, are likely an illegal act of political theater meant to create chaos and fear.
Our democracy is in danger. Americans are depending on Congress to protect our rights, freedoms, and livelihood. I write today demanding that you take immediate and decisive action to protect your constituents. In the face of authoritarian threats, it is your responsibility to ensure that the interests of the American people are safeguarded. I urge you to stand firm against this blatant assault on our democracy and do everything in your power to defend the American people from this authoritarian overreach.
OK, you did it again! You’re helping to save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk soon.
Jess
I traded in my Tesla earlier this week - got a Hyuandai Ionic 5 - good riddance.
This Saturday 5 cities in Spain are holding protests against the actions of the Trump Administration. The protests are sponsored by Democrats Abroad. I am part of the Sevilla organizing team. https://www.democratsabroad.org/es_events. I will also be calling my congressional representative to urge her to vote again the SAVE Act, which would disenfranchise millions of voters. Please consider doing the same. Vote is scheduled for Monday in the House. https://www.democratsabroad.org/