Chop Wood, Carry Water 3/8

Mar 08, 2023

Hi, all, and happy Wednesday!

Lots going on at the moment, so there’s a lot packed in to today’s newsletter.

I’ll start with the bad news: Gigi Sohn, President Biden’s stellar nominee to chair the FCC, withdrew her nomination yesterday. To say that this is disappointing is a breathtaking understatement. Sohn, a long-time consumer advocate and Big Cable foil, was the dream candidate. Net neutrality, affordable broadband, privacy protections—all of it was within reach. But Sohn was on the receiving end of a truly dastardly and coordinated smear campaign powered by Rupert Murdoch, the entire Republican party, Big Telecom, and even a few Democratic Senators (Sinema, Tester, Cortez-Masto, Rosen, and especially Manchin, to be precise). Dark money and lobbyists won the day; Americans lost.

Most of you will recall the many, many calls to action I’ve put in this newsletter on this nomination—going back two years. To say that I’m angry at this outcome is putting it mildly.

But I don’t just get mad. I get busy. I have put a letter to our representatives and President Biden about Sohn below, and will return in days to come with ways to support whomever the new nominee is. Big Cable won this battle; we will win the war.

In better news, President Biden has released an Op-Ed previewing his very shrewd and excellent budget, and he’s got the GOP back on its heels. It’s now our job to help him amplify what he’s calling for, as well as what our Republican foes want instead: cuts to programs we all need, care about deeply, and support strongly.

Remember, instead of bemoaning that “the Republicans have Fox and we have nothing!” it is incumbent upon all of us to be the mouthpiece our side needs. We all have a bully pulpit—whether it’s our Facebook page, our Tiktok account, or our book club. Let’s use it!

Again, let’s not just get mad. Let’s get busy. Channeling our rage into constructive action ensures that positive change will come. Never forget it.

Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲

Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.

I strongly support President Biden’s newly released budget proposal. I love that it would expand Medicare’s ability to negotiate prescription drug prices and close two tax loopholes exploited by wealthy business owners. This would extend the lifespan of the Medicare Trust Fund and lower out-of-pocket costs for older Americans. I’m all for it and I’d like the Senator to support it, too.

Also, I want the Senator to co-sponsor and vocally support S. 393, the Social Security Expansion Act. Not only do Americans NOT want Social Security cut—we want it expanded and protected. Thanks.

Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲

Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.

[Add For Democrat reps ONLY— 🚨 IMPORTANT! 🚨]

Also, I want the Congressman to join the sign-on letter from Representatives Boyle, Kuster, and Jayapal calling for a clean vote to avoid the US defaulting on our debts, and to oppose negotiating any cuts to Social Security, Medicare, and other programs our communities rely on. Democrats need to stand with President Biden in refusing to negotiate with GOP extremists over simply paying our bills. Will [Representative] join the letter? [H/T and more info at Indivisible]

Extra Credit ✅

Send this letter to President Biden either via his web form (if you want to edit it) or via Resistbot (if you don’t). To do the latter text SIGN PSSGFY to 50409. [H/T and more info]

President Biden, I commend you for issuing your March 2021 Executive Order on Promoting Access to Voting on the anniversary of the Selma voting rights march. I support the call of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights for renewed action by all government agencies to implement that order, because MAGA Republicans haven’t stopped implementing new ways to restrict our voting rights, with their latest efforts aimed at curbing the youth vote.
I urge your administration to make fulfilling the promise of the Executive Order on Promoting Access to Voting a top priority in the final two years of this term. Now is the time to finish the job by fully implementing this administration’s strong commitment to protecting the right to vote and to ensure all federal agencies are prepared to support their constituents in participating in our democracy. This couldn’t matter more. Thanks.

Get Smart! 📚

Please join Indivisible Truth Brigade today, March 8th at 6:30 ET to fight insidious, democracy-destroying lies about Latino communities in the US.

Join ITB to explore a dangerous plot that impacts everyone in America: the spread of insidious lies to and about Latino communities. Featured speakers: Roberta Braga from Equis Labs and Victor Guillen Febres from United We Dream. Bad actors are attacking on two fronts: sowing mistrust within communities and inciting racial prejudice outside communities. We can fight back–-learn how.

This one's important -- and too often overlooked.

Click Here to Register!

Spread the Word! 📣

The DNC has asked us to amplify any and all of the below articles.

Associated Press: Biden budget aims to cut deficits nearly $3T over 10 years

Financial Times: Joe Biden’s ESG rule is sound risk management

Reuters: White House urges states to join government-wide crackdown on 'junk fees'

New York Times: House G.O.P. Prepares to Slash Federal Programs in Coming Budget Showdown

New York Times: Debt Default Would Cripple U.S. Economy, New Analysis Warns

Win Races—Call! 🗳

Please join me for my Wednesday phonebank into Wisconsin today! It’s from 3:30-5:30 PM PT. This phonebank is fun and easy, and we DO NOT want to risk losing this election!

Win Races—Attend a Happy Hour! 🍷

Join the Grassroots Democrats HQ and the Wisconsin Democratic Party for a Virtual Happy Hour featuring Ben Wikler! It’s tomorrow, Thursday, March 9th, from 5:30-6:30 PM PT.

Learn about the upcoming election for Wisconsin's Supreme Court from the AMAZING leader of WisDems himself. The results of this election will have widespread effects on the 2024 Presidential Election, abortion access in Wisconsin, and more.

Resistbot Letter (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.) 💻

[to all 3 reps and POTUS] [Quick send text SIGN PVCNIM to 50409]

I'm writing to express my extreme outrage and disappointment that Gigi Sohn, President Biden's extraordinary and qualified candidate to be the next FCC Commissioner, had to withdraw her nomination after being blocked by lawmakers in the pocket of Big Telecomm. As Sohn herself said:

"The American people are the real losers here. The FCC deadlock, now over two years long, will remain so for a long time...it is ironic that the 2-2 FCC will remain sidelined at the most consequential opportunity for broadband in our lifetimes. This means that our broadband will be more expensive for lack of competition, minority and underrepresented voices will be marginalized, and our private information will continue to be used and sold at the whim of our broadband providers. It means that the FCC will not have a majority to adopt strong rules which ensure that everyone has nondiscriminatory access to broadband, regardless of who they are or where they live, and that low income students will continue to be forced to do their school work sitting outside of Taco Bell because universal service funds can’t be used for broadband in their homes. And it means that many rural Americans will continue the long wait for broadband because the FCC can’t fix its Universal Service programs.”

This is absolutely unacceptable. I want President Biden to swiftly nominate an individual to fill this role who puts the American people first over all other interests. And when he does I want Congress to support that nominee wholeheartedly. Remember, you work for us. Thank you.

OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.

Talk soon.

Jess

Chop Wood, Carry Water