Chop Wood, Carry Water 3/31 🏳️⚧️
Hi, all, and happy Friday!
Also, happy Trans Visibility Day! This is a big day in my house. If it is in yours, too, I see you and I appreciate you. For the rest of you, here are some ways to celebrate this very important day.
Finally, happy indictment week! My goodness. There’s no denying that seeing “Teflon Don” begin to face legal consequences is deeply satisfying for those of us who’ve been waiting, seemingly forever, for it.
Having said that—and I don’t mean to be a party pooper—please remember that no matter what happens to Donald Trump next, we have a whole lot more to do to beat MAGA. Trump may not even be our top problem anymore. MAGA has metastasized, and no single person’s arrest is going to change that.
This turn of events, furthermore, seems likely to bring out the darker side of an already malevolent party.
All of this is to say that it’s great to see some accountability, and these next days, weeks, and months are going to be tumultuous. We’re going to see some advances, and we’re likely going to see some alarming backlashes as well.
Remember, the way we stay sane through the uproar is to keep it simple, focus on our feet—figuratively speaking—and do the next right thing in front of us, good news or bad.
Same as we always have. Chop wood. Carry water.
After all, it’s the fair weather citizen who bows out ofter one good election, one satisfying poll, or one indictment.
We’re in this for the long haul. We have to be. So let’s take our actions today, and not let anything that happens lure us into a sense of false complacency.
In other words, take comfort that that no one is above the law…and FORWARD!
Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
With yet another train derailment yesterday, this time in Minnesota, it is clear that our country needs upgrades in railway safety. S.576 – The Railway Safety Act of 2023, was introduced in the Senate following the East Palestine train derailment in February, but still has only five co-sponsors. Is the Senator one of them? [If yes thank. If no add:] So what’s it going to take? The American people overwhelmingly favor such legislation. As do I. Will the Senator side with the rail overlords or will s/he side with us? [H/T Rogan’s List]
Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
With yet another train derailment yesterday, this time in Minnesota, it is clear that our country needs upgrades in railway safety. H.R.1238 - the Decreasing Emergency Railroad Accident Instances Locally Act, which was introduced in the House following the East Palestine train derailment in February, still has only 28 co-sponsors. Is the Congressmember one of them? [If yes thank. If no add:] So what’s it going to take? The American people overwhelmingly favor such legislation. As do I. Will the Congressmember side with the rail overlords or will s/he side with us? [H/T Rogan’s List]
Extra Credit ✅
Yesterday I listened to the latest episode of the How We Win podcast with hosts Steve Pierson and Jenifer Fernandez Ancona. Their special guest was our cherished Simon Rosenberg! I’m not a big podcast person, but this episode was great. You get to hear an extended interview with Simon, as well as a great recap of what’s important in politics this week from two seasoned activists and organizers—I highly recommend taking a listen!
Get Smart! 📚
On Monday, April 3rd at 7pm ET, join BigTentUSA as they welcome former Ambassador Norm Eisen. He’ll provide an update on all of the current investigations and the indictment by the Manhattan DA.
Eisen is the Co-Founder and Executive Chair of the States United Democracy Center. An attorney and author who has served in a broad array of government roles, he was special counsel and special assistant to President Barack Obama for ethics and government reform from 2009-11. Following his service in the White House, he was the US ambassador to the Czech Republic from 2011-14. In 2019 he was special counsel to the House Judiciary Committee for the impeachment and trial of President Donald J Trump.
Spread the Word! 📣
Anat Shenker-Osorio from the Research Collaborative has put together some messaging around the Trump indictment. It’s really helpful, data-backed stuff, and I highly recommend we all read through it so we can craft our responses well. They’ve tested messaging to help voters connect MAGA Republicans’ ongoing attacks on our freedoms to real-life consequences. Please use them to shape this moment. Here's a PDF version.
Also, here’s a DemCast social media toolkit about the indictment with posts ready to go for almost any social media platform. They implement Anat’s idea’s in their messaging so it’s a great combo!
Also, here’s some interesting new Navigator polling on holding Trump accountable for his crimes. (Spoiler alert: Americans support it!)
Give 💰!
One way to help trans people? Donate to organizations like the Equality Federation. The Equality Federation amplifies the power of state-based LGBTQ+ movements to work on issues like workplace fairness, HIV criminalization laws, and anti-transgender bills. With anti-trans bills being proposed all across the country, it is more important than ever to ensure LGBTQ+ advocacy groups have the resources they need to keep up the fight for trans rights.
Win Races! 🗳
Activate America is helping to amplify a texting opportunity organized by For Our Future, a group that sits with them on the America Votes Wisconsin Table.
These text banks are focused on getting out the vote before this Tuesday’s election.
They’re happening Saturday, April 1st at 3 PM Pacific / 5 PM Central (RSVP HERE) AND Monday, April 3rd at 3 PM Pacific / 5 PM Central (RSVP HERE). If you are part of a group interested in texting but can’t make either of those times, contact Rowan Abbot at rowan@forourfuturefund.org and she may be able to set you up with a different time. Thanks!
Resistbot Letter (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.) 💻
[to all 3 reps plus Biden] [Quick send text SIGN PJASEA to 50409]
I’m writing to say that I oppose S.686, the Restrict Act. This bill will endanger private information, allow the government to spy on us with almost unfettered access, criminalize privacy mechanisms like VPNs, and provide a conduit by which the government can interfere with technology development. It’s breathtaking overreach; it violates the First and Fourth Amendments, and it’s just wrong.
America has real problems right now—assaults on our democracy, a gun violence emergency, a climate crisis, income inequality, unfettered greed leading to harm to American workers, attacks on LGBTQ people, and more. Banning TikTok and decreasing out digital privacy is NOT where Congress should be focussing their energy.
Don’t pass this bill. Thanks.
OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk soon.
Jess
Thanks for all you do and for making it easy to be active politically.
Thank you, Jess. Have a good weekend.