Chop Wood, Carry Water 3/7
Hi, all, and happy Friday.
I called my mom this morning after dropping Mj off at school—it’s a 25 minute drive so it’s a great time to catch up. We talked about this and that, but eventually settled on our favorite topic: politics. At some point in the conversation mom mentioned that she’d called her Republican representative Mike Lawler’s office yesterday about Social Security and that the staffer had more or less shut her down.
“I told her I was worried about Republicans cutting Social Security,” mom said, “and she told me that Representative Lawler does not support that and never would.”
“And that was it?” I asked.
Mom told me that yes, that was it. She’d hung up, because she hadn’t been sure what to say back.
I told mom that the staffer was gaslighting her, and explained exactly how she should respond next time she calls. And then I made a video. And now I’m telling you. Because one thing I cannot tolerate is Republicans doing awful things and then trying to pretend they’re not. And it’s happening too much these days.
I also don’t like when people lie to my mother.
Anyway. The script is below. If your Republican lawmaker dares to say they “would never touch Social Security” please say those words back to them. They are gaslighting us again, and our best defense is to come right back at them with a clear response. We should also ask them to stop lying to us.
And here’s the thing. It’s not just Social Security. Republicans lied to us about Medicaid last week, right? They’re lying about cutting 80,000 jobs at the VA by saying, and I quote, “This administration is finally going to give the veterans what they want,” even though no veteran anywhere has asked for the VA to lose staff—especially considering that 25% of those workers are veterans! The opposite is in fact the case—veterans are “speaking out against” these cuts. But no matter. “This administration is finally going to give the veterans what they want.” Sigh.
It’s happening with abortion, too. We’ve heard Trump say he wouldn’t support a federal ban. He doesn’t have to! Abortion rights can—and likely will—experience death by a thousand cuts under his watch. We saw a big “cut” yesterday—Trump’s DOJ dropped the lawsuit the Biden Administration had brought to try to force Iowa (and other red states) to provide emergency medical care to pregnant people who might need an abortion. It’s a huge setback for abortion rights, but Trump “doesn’t support a federal ban.” He will lie women right into their graves.
But we can fight back against this Orwellian doublespeak. Our job is to “translate” it for the people who don’t understand. That’s why I made a video explaining how to respond to Republicans’ Medicaid lies, and it’s why I made another one about Social Security right after talking to mom this morning. We have to get the word out as widely as we can and make Americans understand that not only are Republicans attacking everything we hold dear, but they’re lying through their teeth about it. It’s shameful and needs to be called out.
On a more positive note, I’m going to the Women’s Day March here in L.A. tomorrow and maybe, if my shoulder allows it, a Tesla protest on Sunday. I hope many of you will be doing one or both as well—you can look up your local Women’s Day March here and your local Tesla protests here. And whatever you’re doing, please drop it in the comments! Let’s inspire each other.
One last thing: I ordered 5,000 Postcards to Swing States postcards for the Wisconsin election, and have them here on my porch. It’s a LOT of cards, and they all need to be mailed on the 14th exactly. If any of you are local and want to come get some let me know—I have a convenient pickup spot for you in Northeast Los Angeles. I’d offer to ship them to those of you who aren’t close, but there are over 100K of you now! That would turn into too big of a job.
OK, all. Please take care of yourselves this weekend. If you’re exhausted get some rest. If you’re lonely make time to be with friends. If you’re burnt out on the news take a break from it!
And if you’re fired up and in a fighting mood please get in the streets! Hope to see some of you there!
If your Republican Lawmaker Lies about SS
If your Republican Senator or Congressmember’s staffer says “[lawmaker’s name] would never support making cuts to Social Security” please use this script to respond.
I know s/he won’t support a frontal assault on Social Security, because s/he knows that would be highly unpopular. But I also know that s/he supports Elon Musk and DOGE, and that they are defunding the Social Security Administration, cutting thousands of jobs there, and shutting down huge numbers of offices. People working within the SSA, as well as its former administrator, are warning that we could see the entire system collapse within 30-90 days. So please stop telling me that the Senator/Congressmember doesn’t support cutting Social Security. Until they take action to get Elon Musk and DOGE out of our government that is a lie. Thanks.
Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲 and Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
I’m calling because I am horrified by the Trump Administration’s cuts to the NIH. These cuts are a major attack on our nation’s scientific medical research program, which has been, until now, one of the best in the world. I’m told that NIH is basically frozen right now - they are not receiving grants even though courts have said the Executive Orders against them were illegal. Career scientists are being fired. NIH staff is not communicating with scientists. Our ability to do cutting-edge medical research is under major threat. If career scientists and NIH staff leave now that will be decades of experience that we can never get back. Funding science has always been a non-partisan endeavor; the refusal to fund it is just plain dumb. Congress needs to get this funding restored now, please!
[If you can, add something personal—say how you've benefited from medical research. If you've ever had a vaccine or any kind of medical or mental health treatment, you have.]
Extra Credit ✅
Represent US is an amazing organization—they describe themselves as “a leading nonpartisan grassroots organization fighting for a government accountable to the people.” Right now they are working hard to stop the SAVE Act by running phone banks in which volunteers call people in red districts and help them call THEIR reps to ask them to oppose the bill.
They need more volunteers! I know things like this are outside of many of our comfort zones, but the SAVE Act is awful (read about it here) and if we want to save our democracy we need to stop it. Plus, you’ll feel great after your shift!
Get Smart! 📚
A LOOK BACK & AHEAD with GALVANIZE ACTION — Thursday, March 27, at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET
Join Galvanize Founder & Executive Director Jackie Payne to hear her analysis of the 2024 election and get a first look at their roadmap for cultural programming in the new media ecosystem. Galvanize works solely on getting white women to stop voting against their own interests—they do amazing work!
Can’t make it? Register anyway and they’ll send you the event recording.
Give 💰!
YOU GUYS. We have raised 96K for Movement Voter Project! In three days! Talk about blowing our goal out of the water!! And you’d think we would stop, right? But instead my matching donor has offered ANOTHER 20K if we can get to 125K! WOW!
You can read MVP’s strategic 2025-2026 plan here.
Then you can give to the matching campaign—if you haven’t already—here. And if you’ve already given THANK YOU!!! Whether or not we make this second goal, 96K is an AMAZING accomplishment!
Win Races! 🗳
Don’t forget I’ll be hosting a phonebank today into Wisconsin with the Grassroots Dems HQ! Please join us from 3-5 PT / 6-8 ET as we call WI voters and make sure they know about this all-important race! Register here! I may even be doing the training.
There are more ways to help in Rogan’s List’s amazing Wisconsin doc!
Chop Wood, Save the Planet 🔥
A National Parks employee on Blue Sky is asking us all to sign this petition from the National Parks Conservation Association. It asks the Trump Administration to reverse their draconian cuts to National Parks staff. Please sign and share.
Resistbot Letter (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.) 💻
[To: all 3 reps] [H/T subscriber Kristin E.] [Text SIGN PHZABO to 50409, or to @Resistbot on Apple Messages, Messenger, Instagram, or Telegram]
The Trump Administration’s plans to cut 80,000 employees from the Department of Veteran Affairs are alarming and I oppose them strongly. Not only does the VA provide critical services for U.S. servicemembers—people who have put their lives on the line for all of us—but 25% of its entire workforce are veterans!
The Administration’s reasoning for these cuts, that there is inefficiency at the Department, may be true, but since that same Administration illegally fired the VA’s Inspector General, who saved the agency $45 billion during his tenure, we know this has nothing to do with waste or fraud. It’s about funding tax cuts for billionaires, and that’s repugnant.
There is no price that can be put on the sacrifices our veterans have made for this country. They have given all that can be given to keep the rest of us safe; the least we can do is provide them with employment, healthcare, and the best-quality service at the agency created to help them.
Please speak out forcefully against cuts to the VA. Protect our veterans—just as they have protected all of us. Thanks.
OK, you did it again! You’re helping to save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk soon.
Jess
Unfortunately, Elise Stefanik is my representative. I just called her office and spoke with a very nice young man - Drew. I used your script - thank you - and then asked Drew if his grandparents were still alive. Yes, he has 1 grandmother. I asked him if he's asked her what she thinks about Social Security and how she would feel if it disappeared. Drew hasn't asked her about it, but he talks to her every Sunday. I said he now has something to talk to her about this Sunday!
Today I made a donation to Al Green and called his office and left a message thanking him. I then left a comment for Newsome expressing my disgust at his interview with Charlie Kirk that included throwing the trans community under the bus. I did some email organizing with a local activism support group of 100 a friend and I started after the election. I walked at the dog park - ahhhh. Tomorrow I'll attend the rally at my state capitol.