Chop Wood, Carry Water 4/13

Hi, all, and happy Thursday!

I’m late with this newsletter today so I’ll keep it brief.

We’re living in tumultuous times. The political “churn” that’s happening everywhere is tiring, frazzling, and at times overwhelming. The attacks on our basic freedoms grow more prevalent by the day.

And yet, the surge of activism, engagement, and determination—especially from young people—across the country is palpable.

If you’re new to this newsletter, or to activism, or to politics in general, welcome. You are needed here. What we do is relatively easy. It’s quick. It’s achievable by almost anyone.

Yet—especially considering that we are thousands and thousands strong—it is powerful.

I’m so grateful for every single member of this team, new and veteran. Never forget: We’re on the side of right.

We’re on the side of public opinion.

And we’re absolutely on the side that’s going to win.

Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲

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

[If your Senators is a Democrat] I want to ask the Senator to urge Senator Durbin to do away with blue slips. Our judicial confirmations are moving too slowly, and while some of that is due to absences, a lot of it is due to Republicans’ abuse of an outdated and undemocratic rule. The blue slip tradition is severely curtailing Democratic progress toward transforming the federal bench to be more diverse and progressive. And we’re seeing in real time how extremist federal judges harm democracy. Will the Senator speak out about this? The time to end blue slips is now. Thanks. [More info and a good explainer on Blue Slips here.]

[If your Senator is a Republican:] I’m calling to see if the Senator has yet signed on to co-sponsor S. 25, the Assault Weapons Ban Act of 2023. We cannot continue to live with daily gun massacres. Americans want this ban and we will keep asking for it until we get it. Please ask the Senator to co-sponsor this bill or get ready to be voted out. Thanks.

Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲

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

I am filled with grief, fear and anger at the countless acts of preventable gun violence happening in communities across the country day after day. As your constituent, I urge the Congressmember to prioritize gun safety legislation when s/he returns from recess. Common sense policies on background checks on all gun sales, Federal Extreme Risk Protection Orders, and reinstating the Assault Weapons Ban will help prevent another tragic mass shooting, as well as the 120 gun deaths each day.

Please, ask the Congressmember to prioritize public safety and do something about guns. Thanks. [H/T Moms Demand]

Extra Credit ✅

The organization No Labels has launched a third-party bid that will put Donald Trump back in the White House. They won’t win, but with $70 million in anonymous, dark-money donations they would be a spoiler, splitting the anti-Trump vote in 2024. 

This is a serious threat to our democracy. Let’s call on No Labels to stand down and ask that all our Democratic, Independent, and anti-Trump Republican friends and family join us.  

✍🏼 Add your name to this petition,

📣 Get on social media to spread the word using this toolkit,

💻 And send a letter to your reps here asking them to speak out about the danger.

Extra Extra Credit! ✅✅

Please sign Planned Parenthood’s People’s Amicus Brief, which will be included in arguments submitted to the Supreme Court when the abortion pill case goes there. They need all signatures by tomorrow.

Get Smart! 📚

Want to learn more about the abortion medication situation?

Late Friday in an outrageous move, a federal judge in Texas invalidated the FDA-approval of the abortion drug mifepristone. Now the case seems to be headed for SCOTUS.

Anti-abortion politicians and judges will not stop at overturning Roe - they are actively working to dismantle sexual and reproductive health care nationwide. Join Planned Parenthood Action and ACLU VA for a Teach-in this Friday, April 14, from 1:00 PM -  2:00 PM ET to learn where this case will go from here, what it means for abortion access, and how to fight back and defend reproductive rights.

Register for the Zoom event at this link.

Give Money AND Spread the Word!

Please “restack” this post on Notes. (If you’re not there yet hop over and check it out!) Do read the article, too, please. It’s wild! And, if you can afford it, set up those recurring donations, even if they’re small.

March 🥾!        

The Women’s March National Mobilization is hitting the streets on Saturday, April 15th, to call on the FDA to keep mifepristone on the shelves. Find actions in your area or pledge to march here. I just RSVP’d for the Los Angeles event.

Win Races With Youth Voter Registration! 🗳

My School Votes (the youth voter registration arm of Michelle Obama’s When We All Vote) is having their Spring Voter Registration training on Tuesday April 18th, from 5-6PT / 8-9 ET, with an emphasis on registering high school students. Please pass this invitation on to any students, parents, PTA members, principals, or educators who might like to attend. THIS is how we make change.

Register here.

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

[to all 3 reps] [H/T] [Quick send: text SIGN PXHEBZ to 50409]

As your constituent, I am asking you to hold a public hearing on the collapses of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank. These were the second and third largest bank failures in our nation’s history and they happened soon after regulations in the Dodd-Frank Act were weakened during the previous administration.

These banks were bailed out by the federal government, so it’s critical that the American people hear directly from the executives; particularly those who received bonuses hours before the bank’s collapse. They must answer for their gross mismanagement.

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

Talk soon.

Jess