Chop Wood, Carry Water 4/12

Hi, all, and happy Wednesday!

Lots to do, as always. Fortunately you—yes, YOU—are brilliantly suited to do it. What a strong, smart, brave, and determined team this is. And steadfast! You are the reason we’re winning against the forces of evil, y’all. Stand up a little taller knowing that. It’s pretty damn cool.

I’m so proud of this warrior team. You’re changing history. Heck, you’re making it.

Let’s keep it going.

To quote Coach Taylor, “Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose.”

Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲

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

I understand that Senators Schumer and Warnock have written a letter to the Department of Justice demanding that they open an investigation into the expulsions of two Tennessee state representatives to determine whether their removal violated the Constitution or federal civil rights law. I’d like the Senator to support and amplify this request. What happened in Tennessee is un-democratic, un-American, and unacceptable, and the U.S. Department of Justice should investigate whether it was also unlawful or unconstitutional. Thanks.

Also, the Senate still needs to pass a code of ethics for the Supreme Court. We aren’t going to stop demanding this until it happens. Thanks.

Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲

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

I’m calling to ask the Congressmember to help stop the MAGA plan to cause a completely unnecessary, catastrophic default crisis and then stick regular Americans with the bill. Please don’t agree to any demands to cut Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid. If cuts have to be made to federal spending, cut the bloated and fraud-riddled defense budget and eliminate corporate subsidies to the fossil-fuel industry. And please protect the Inflation Reduction Act’s provisions making prescription drugs more affordable, creating green jobs, and compelling the wealthy to pay their fair share of taxes. The fact that Republicans want to roll back these wildly popular provisions is pure insanity. Thanks. [H/T]

Extra Credit ✅

Let’s send a formal letter to the Missouri Bar asking them to disbar Clarence Thomas. He doesn’t need to be a lawyer to sit on SCOTUS, of course, so even were this to work it wouldn’t rid us of our problem. But if enough of us write it could generate some excellent press and pressure Justice Roberts to actually do something about his renegade member.

Go here, copy the letter (written by subscriber Elenor Denker’s sister-in-law, who is a lawyer) and paste it into a new document. Edit the two highlighted sections to add the date and your name—I also typed my full address at the top and edited the first sentence slightly just to personalize—then print your letter and send it to the address at the top.

And please share! Let’s deluge them!

Extra, Extra Credit ✅✅

“Mutants, demons, and imps,” that's what a Florida GOP lawmaker called transgender people in a committee hearing this week. Representative Webster Barnaby used these transphobic slurs to support criminalizing transgender people for using the restroom that matches their gender identity. GOP leadership, including Speaker Paul Renner, has remained utterly silent. Nada. Let’s tell him that’s not OK.

CALL Speaker Renner at (850) 717-5019 and say:

I am calling to request the censure of Representative Webster Barnaby for his outrageous comments in the House Commerce Committee on April 10, 2023. His deeply offensive and improper conduct reflects on the House as a whole, is unbecoming of a Representative, and constitutes grounds for a formal complaint under House Rule 18.1(a). The leadership of this Chamber and this State has a responsibility to address such egregious, transphobic, and hateful behavior. Thanks.

You can email him a message as well—please personalize it. 

[H/T Equality Florida]

Get Smart! 📚

Reclaim Our Vote’s work to get out the vote by calling, texting, and postcarding Black and Hispanic voters across the state contributed to the record-breaking turnout in last week’s Wisconsin election. 

Join them tomorrow, Thursday, April 13, 2023 at 8:00 PM ET, to celebrate their collective efforts to mobilize Black and Hispanic voters to the polls. 

During this webinar, they will debrief the election by: 

• Analyzing the election and general voter turnout 

• Breaking down their voter contact numbers from phone banking, postcarding, and texting

If you care about helping Black and Brown Americans overcome voter suppression this is an organization you should connect with. Hope to see some of you there!

Sign up here.

Give 💰!

From an activist friend with close ties in Tennessee:

The following two organizations are central funding sources for the myriad of groups doing effective community organizing in TN – and are a great way to make sure you’re devoting dollars to responding to the current crisis in the state.

TN Investor Fund (501c4)
contribute online here

CivicTN (501c3)
contribute online here

My friend adds:

The easiest thing you can do to help [these groups in Tennessee] now is to provide some financial support. Every bit they get helps them keep the work going.

Just as importantly, though, your donations will help them with something we often overlook: moral support. The more they know folks are supporting them now, the more strength they can gain from the extended network, and the easier it will be for them to struggle forward in the next few weeks. All of them asked for anything and everything you can give.

Win Races! 🗳

Next week is Earth Week AND National Volunteer week, and the Environmental Voter Project has opportunities for you to mobilize environmentalists almost every day! 

Celebrate by calling low propensity environmental voters in Georgia on Monday, April 17th at 4pm PT / 7pm ET; Kansas on Tuesday, April 18th at 9am PT / 12pm ET; Nebraska on Wednesday, April 19th at 3pm PT / 6pm ET; Florida on Thursday, April 20th at 4pm PT / 7pm ET; Florida on Sunday, April 23rd at 11am PT / 2pm ET; or another time. 

I did Kansas calls a couple of days ago and there were only 9 of us on the phonebank. Y’all, these calls are SO EASY! But we need more volunteers!

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

[To the Supreme Court] [Quick send: Text Sign PNWDHO to 50409]

I’m writing to express my extreme outrage at the corruption and blatant disregard for ethical norms being shown by members of this Court, especially Clarence Thomas. I won’t list the scandals—you’re well aware of them. Luxury trips with a GOP billionaire are only the latest example of how ultra-wealthy right-wingers gain access and potentially exercise influence with Justice Thomas and others. It’s despicable.

Know this: Americans no longer trust the Supreme Court. We don’t believe it’s impartial. We don’t believe it’s apolitical. We don’t believe it is just. We now know, in fact, that it is the opposite of all of those things. How incredibly sad.

Many, myself included, are advocating for Congress to pass a code of ethics for your court, but unfortunately Senator Durbin has opted to ask Justice Roberts to take this task upon himself. I have exactly zero faith that he will.

But I’ll ask all the same: for God’s sake, do something about the rot in your court.

Otherwise we voters will not stop until Congress does. Thanks.

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

Talk soon.

Jess