Chop Wood, Carry Water 3/4
Hi, all, and happy Tuesday.
There’s lots going on, as always. News about Musk’s attacks on Social Security is starting to gain traction, and that’s good, as it’s possibly the most dangerous thing we’ve dealt with yet. I watched a press conference yesterday with Senators Schumer, Klobuchar, Wyden and Murray, and they, too, look worried. They are trying hard to raise the alarm. I know we called about this issue yesterday but we’re going to call about it again today. The collapse of Social Security has implications too grave to contemplate—we’ve got to stop it.
This is a moment for real alarm. I still have hope we can staunch the bleeding, figuratively speaking, but it’s going to require a massive uproar not just from us, but from people who don’t usually raise their voices.
So show your friends and family the Democratic Senators’ press conference (it starts at the 10:45 mark), or this article in which SSA’s former Commissioner warns of the catastrophe coming if we don’t stop it, or my latest video. Just please make sure they know what’s happening. When they ask what they can do text them the below script. I find people are most likely to make a call if you send them a phone number for their representative, too. Try it! We need everyone raising their voices! 5 Calls has an excellent script, too, and they provide your reps’ phone numbers!
Folks, stuff is moving fast and it’s a lot. Please remember to breathe, to eat, and to take breaks. Know that yes, they are quickly breaking as much as they can. But we are quickly growing into a formidable opposing force. Americans are waking up fast to just how bad this situation is, and as they do they are signing up for Indivisible, or joining the 50501 movement, or deciding to get rid of Amazon and shop local, or attending their first protest, or calling their reps for the first time. Many of them are doing all of it! Bravo!
Of course nothing is happening as fast as we want, but remember, this is a marathon, not a sprint. Yes, Musk and Trump are moving quickly, but sprinters lose steam after their first burst of activity. Marathoners know how to pace themselves so they can outlast their opponents.
And that’s what we’re going to do. Hang in there, folks. As Joyce Vance says, we’re in this together.
And that “together” is getting bigger every day.
Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
I am deeply alarmed about DOGE’s attacks on the Social Security Administration. The former Commissioner is saying we’re going to see the system collapse and an interruption of benefits within the next 30 to 90 days. This is an emergency! Musk and Trump want to privatize Social Security so they’re hollowing it out from the inside. Stop them, now. I expect the Senator to make this a top priority. [Optional add:] I care about this deeply because [insert personal story about SS and how it affects you or someone you love.] Thanks.
[If Democrat add:]
Also, I want to request that the Senator boycott Trump’s address tonight. This is a corrupt government performing illegal, traitorous acts. The Senator shouldn’t legitimize it with her/his presence.
[If Republican add:]
I understand that Republicans aren’t speaking up because they fear for their personal safety, but enough is enough. We’re all afraid. We still have to be brave. It’s time for the Senator to summon his/her courage and speak out against what’s happening. S/he knows it’s wrong. If s/he can’t do that s/he should resign. Thanks.
Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
I am deeply alarmed about DOGE’s attacks on the Social Security Administration. The former Commissioner is saying we’re going to see the system collapse and an interruption of benefits within the next 30 to 90 days. This is an emergency! Musk and Trump want to privatize Social Security so they’re hollowing it out from the inside. Stop them, now. I expect the Congressmember to make this a top priority. [Optional add:] I care about this deeply because [insert personal story about SS and how it affects you or someone you love.] Thanks.
[If Democrat add:]
Also, I want to request that the Congressmember boycott Trump’s address tonight. This is a corrupt government performing illegal, traitorous acts. The Congressmember shouldn’t legitimize it with her/his presence.
[If Republican add:]
I understand that Republicans aren’t speaking up because they fear for their personal safety, but enough is enough. We’re all afraid. We still have to be brave. It’s time for the Congressmember to summon his/her courage and speak out against what’s happening. S/he knows it’s wrong. If s/he can’t do that s/he should resign. Thanks.
Extra Credit ✅
Congress is on recess and back in their home districts next week!
From Indivisible:
CALL YOUR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS RIGHT NOW AND DEMAND AN IN-PERSON TOWN HALL. If Republicans want to vote to gut the social safety net and hand billions to Elon Musk, they should have to face their constituents and explain themselves. As for Democrats, we need them to be out there, loudly, explaining to their constituents what’s going on and how they’re going to fight back.
Use Indivisible’s Town Hall call tool and scripts to:
Call your Republican Senator -- If they’re gutting Medicaid and Social Security, they should say it to your face.
Call your Republican House member -- They’re looting the government for billionaires. Make them explain why.
Call your Democratis Senator -- They need to hold the line against extreme MAGA cuts and demand real guardrails to protect against the Trump-Musk coup.
Call your Democratic House rep -- They need to hear from us. No deals. No blank checks. No business as usual.
🔎 FIND A TOWN HALL -- OR REPORT ONE. If you know of a town hall happening, tell Indivisible here.
IF THEY WON’T SHOW UP, START PLANNING YOUR EMPTY CHAIR TOWN HALL. We will call them out. We will invite the press. We will make sure every voter in their district knows exactly what kind of coward they are (just for fun, we came across this video we did back in 2017 on putting together an empty chair town hall, and figured you'd also like to see it). And if your Republican senator or representative is dodging, reach out to a neighboring Democrat to stand in for them at your empty chair town hall.
Marches and Protests!
A few upcoming events:
Today there are protests around the country with 50501. Find yours here.
Then in the next week or so:
Stand Up for Science on Thurs. Mar 7: At the National Mall in DC and all over the country! Look up your local protest here.
Join the Women’s March on Sat. Mar 8 for International Women’s Day to Unite & Resist: Find an event near you or sign up to host.
Get Smart #1! 📚
Protecting Democracy from Authoritarian Threat
With Tim Snyder, author of “On Tyranny” + Deana El-Mallawany of Protect Democracy
Our democracy is facing an unprecedented authoritarian threat for which most of our citizens + institutions are unprepared. Scholar, author + commentator Tim Snyder is uniquely qualified to help us understand the nature of this threat + the role ordinary citizens can play in countering it.
He will be joined by Deana Kim El-Mallawany, Counsel + a Director at Protect Democracy. Protect Democracy is a cross-ideological nonprofit group dedicated to defeating the authoritarian threat, defending the rule of law, protecting elections + public discourse + shaping the democracy of tomorrow.
Wednesday, March 5, 7:00-8:00pm ET on Zoom
REGISTER for this free event
Get Smart #2
Here are a few ways we can spend tonight—instead of watching Trump’s speech.
Working Families Party is giving a "prebuttal" to Trump's State of the Union tonight at 8:30p ET. It's going to be streamed live on Instagram in collaboration with Under the Desk News. The address will be given by Congresswoman Lateefah Simon (CA-12), who is a real rising star. WFP has used these addresses in the past to platform the next generation of working-class leaders. If you're able to tune in, they'd be thrilled.
MoveOn invites you to join them for “Calling BS” - a live virtual event to organize and mobilize the opposition, while providing truth, community, and a touch of humor. The lineup includes Senators Chris Murphy, Brian Schatz, Ed Markey, Angela Alsobrooks, Governor Matt Meyer, host Akilah Hughes, commentator Wajahat Ali, comedians Michael Ian Black and Sarah Cooper, Balls & Strikes’ Jay Willis, and more. Guests will offer a prebuttal to Trump's address, followed by a live chat during his speech to fact-check and discuss it in real-time. More Details at MoveOn.org/TrumpBS
Tune in to the State of the People, a 24 hour livestream marathon beginning with Joy Reid. Sign up to get the link here.
Do turn on your TV for the Democratic Party's response from Senator Elissa Slotkin, or tune in online for the progressive response from climate hawks Rep. Lateefah Simon, and Sen Bernie Sanders.
Spread the Word!
We need to frame Trump’s expansion of mass deportations and family separations in the context of the high cost to the American people. Such as:
Trump’s expanded mass deportation plan of law abiding families is:
Funded by cuts to Medicaid in the House budget
Leading to higher prices at the grocery store as produce rots in the fields
Diverting law enforcement resources away from violent criminals and fentanyl
That messaging has been spearheaded by the group America’s Voice, who announced today the "At What Cost" campaign in time with Trump’s joint address to Congress and the reconciliation fight.
Here is a toolkit for you to use, which includes a new digital ad and social media graphics for 22 House districts being targeted in the campaign. Please spread the word!
Win Races! 🗳
Environmental Voter Project volunteers are calling voters all month for elections across the country. They’re calling into Florida for their two Congressional Special Elections, into PA for its Special State Senate Election, and more. These calls are so easy and pleasant because they’re nonpartisan! You’re simply giving environmentally-oriented voters the information they need to cast their ballot. It’s so fun!
Please try a shift. We must win every election we can right now, and phonebanking is still one of the best ways we have to turn out voters.
Resistbot Letter (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.) 💻
[To: all three reps] [H/T
] [Text SIGN PZRNBN to 50409, or to @Resistbot on Apple Messages, Messenger, Instagram, or Telegram]I am writing to demand you take action to stop the devastating cuts to the Social Security Administration. Trump and Musk are dismantling the agency, and Congress needs to step in before anyone gets hurt. Millions of Americans rely on Social Security benefits to afford the basics - and we earned them. Firing up to half of the staff and closing field offices means benefits will be delayed, disrupted and denied. People will go hungry or get sick or die when their checks don’t come, and former commissioners are already warning that moment could arrive within 30-90 days. This is the exact kind of benefit cut Trump promised would never happen, and they are going about it in the most disastrous way possible. They are creating an emergency. I’m angry, I’m nervous, and I want to know what your office is going to do about it before it’s too late.
OK, you did it again! You’re helping to save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk soon.
Jess
Jessica: I think we need to stanch the bleeding. :-)
I must also disagree with the idea of boycotting tonight's spectacle. The GOPhers will have staffers sit in the vacant seats, so the House chamber will look full. A better, though more difficult tactic would be for Democrats to stand and turn their backs on Trump when he starts to lie (i.e., after the first 10 seconds or so). I realize that it's probably too late to organize this, but maybe for future occasions.
We need a rally cry like our Canadian friends “Elbows Up!”. It’s time we take our country back.