Chop Wood, Carry Water 3/5
Screen out the noise!
Hi, all, and happy Tuesday!
I’m already tired of the Super Tuesday coverage, and we’re only just getting started.
Folks, after today we’re going to hear every major news organization out there wax poetic about what a “great week” Trump is having. They already are; Super Tuesday will just pour Miracle Gro on the phenomenon. We’re going to want to tear our hair out from the absurdity and perilousness of it.
It’s not fair; it’s not right, but it’s what we’re going to get, so let’s brace ourselves and prepare to ignore the noise.
Remember, our mandate remains the same no matter what the news environment is, no matter what the polls say, no matter what the media is doing or not doing: we must keep on doing the work.
Today that work looks like making calls for Rudy Salas if we possibly can, reminding our friends and family to vote, calling our reps about Republicans’ attempts to defund the DOJ’s antitrust division, and sending a Resistbot letter about militias. Maybe we’ll sign up for tomorrow’s Movement Voter Fund informational event (see below). Maybe we’ll sign up for Airlift’s fundraiser (also below).
The point is, we will do something. Sitting in fear, anger, anxiety, or outrage isn’t good for us, and it won’t help save our country, either.
Taking action, on the other hand, changes everything. It’s our superpower, a secret sauce, and the true north we must return to over and over again.
In so doing we will not only soothe our worried souls and remind ourselves of our power, but ineluctably move towards victory.
P.S. — Speaking of victory, on March 19 at 7:30 pm EST I’m giving my first Activism 101 of the electoral season for an Indivisible group who has kindly offered to open it up to my subscribers. Register here to receive a Zoom link.
Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲
[This is in the weeds but really important! Please call if you can.]
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
I’m furious to learn that Congress’s government funding bill cuts the Antitrust Division’s budget by 20 percent. On top of that, appropriators overwrote the Merger Filing Fee Modernization Act, denying DOJ Antitrust its share of filing fees for the first time in 35 years. I know Congress thinks Americans aren’t paying attention, but we are, and we want the Antitrust Division fully funded. Out-of-control corporate mergers hurt us all and I’m thrilled to see Lina Khan’s team going after them. Without proper funding she’ll be hamstrung just as the White House is beginning to lean in on competition policy and really score some wins. Please ask the Senator to push to reverse these cuts. Thanks.
Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
I’m furious to learn that Congress’s government funding bill cuts the Antitrust Division’s budget by 20 percent. On top of that, appropriators overwrote the Merger Filing Fee Modernization Act, denying DOJ Antitrust its share of filing fees for the first time in 35 years. I know Congress thinks Americans aren’t paying attention, but we are, and we want the Antitrust Division fully funded. Out-of-control corporate mergers hurt us all and I’m thrilled to see Lina Khan’s team going after them. Without proper funding she’ll be hamstrung just as the White House is beginning to lean in on competition policy and really score some wins. Please ask the Congressmember to push to reverse these cuts. Thanks.
Extra Credit ✅
Please post this on your social media:
Super Tuesday is TODAY, March 5th.
BE PREPARED!
Blue Voter Guide can help make voting easier.
Enter your zip code at bluevoterguide.org and all the races on your local
ballot will appear.Gather information and make your choices ahead of time. Then SAVE, PRINT,
and/or SHARE your guide with friends and family and take it to the polls. Blue
Voter Guide does not keep or share your information.
Get Smart! 📚
THIS IS GOING TO BE AMAZING!
Post-Super Tuesday Election Strategy Briefing with the Movement Voter Project.
Wednesday, March 6 at 11 AM PT / 2PM ET
Join MVP the day after Super Tuesday for a roundtable on how we win this fall — and elect a bold, Democratic Congress to pass game-changing progressive policy.
Featuring: Billy Wimsatt, MVP Executive Director, and MVP's four regional field directors, sharing candid analysis and "behind-the-scenes" strategic thinking.
Spread the Word! 📣
On the heels of border trips by President Biden and Donald Trump and ahead of Super Tuesday and a State of the Union address that promise to kick us into general election mode, America's Voice has issued a new political memo assessing the changed politics and way forward on immigration in the 2024 cycle. Well worth reading so that you can be armed with facts when you talk to friends about this top-of-mind subject. And be sure to subscribe to America’s Voice’s email list if immigration is a topic you care about.
Give 💰!
Please join Airlift’s Live from the Frontlines program on March 12, “Winning Reproductive Freedom State by State.” Aisha Mills of National Institute for Reproductive Health and its Action Fund will speak about the crucial issue of abortion in 2024’s elections, and what we can do about it. Aisha is a nationally renowned public affairs strategist with more than two decades of experience with federal policy, non-profit leadership, and advocacy for reproductive freedom.
Aisha will be joined by leaders from Airlift Partner Group Living United for Change in Arizona (LUCHA). An abortion initiative is headed toward Arizona’s ballot in November, and LUCHA will be putting the issue front and center in their massive million-knock organizing and turnout campaign. With more than a decade of extraordinary victories under their belt, LUCHA’s efforts will be key up and down the ballot, including flipping both state legislature chambers blue to further secure reproductive freedom in Arizona.
Register here for “Winning Reproductive Freedom State by State, March 12, 5:00 PT / 8:00 ET
Although this is a fundraiser for LUCHA, you need not make a donation.
Win Races! 🗳
The Environmental Voter Project’s next postcarding campaign will mobilize environmental voters for the June 11 Nevada state primary (and mayoral elections in Las Vegas and elsewhere). If you haven't yet written postcards with EVP, please join one of the following orientations (all postcard-writers must attend an EVP orientation):
March 8, 12pm ET / 9am PT Postcarding Orientation
March 19, 6pm ET / 3pm PT Postcarding Orientation
These campaigns are great—EVP sends you the cards, the script is really short, and it’s a social pressure script, which is data-proven to increase turnout.
Resistbot Letter (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.) 💻
[To: all 3 reps ] [H/T
] [Text SIGN PBNOWW to Resistbot at 50409 or via Apple Messages / WHATSAPP / MESSENGER]All fifty states currently prohibit people who are armed and acting as part of a private military organization like the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers from actions like intimidating state and local officials, interfering with government proceedings, pretending to be law enforcement, and infringing on the constitutional rights of their fellow citizens.
Unfortunately these bans are often outdated, under-enforced or ignored – and fail to account for public safety threats with national agendas and national activities.
Marking the third anniversary of the coup attempt on January 6th, Senator Ed Markey and Rep. Jamie Raskin have proposed the Preventing Private Paramilitary Activity Act (S.3589/H.R.6981) to address this gap in the law and add a federal prohibition on paramilitary conduct with civil and criminal penalties. With threats of such activity escalating greatly, I’d like you to support this legislation and push for it to be passed quickly. Please let me know in writing that you will. Thanks!
OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk soon.
Jess
Just want you to know that I've committed to taking a minimum of one action a week in response to your newsletter, which I so appreciate being able to rely on. Today I made phone calls on behalf of Rudy Salas in CA and also called my senators and congressional reps about the reduction in funding for the Antitrust Division. You're right; doing what we can do is the antidote for feeling helpless and afraid.
This is becoming my evening ritual where I leave voicemails for my elected officials. Doing something makes me feel like I’m supporting everyone else’s efforts. Thank you Jessica for these informative posts.