Chop Wood, Carry Water 4/16
Another FISA delay / Protect the Boundary Waters in MN / Help with the CA governors' race / No funding for ICE / The DOJ must not vacate Seditious Conspiracy charges / A fundraiser for New Mexico!
Hi, all, and happy Thursday,
We’ve almost made it through another week!
Last night Senator Tina Smith of MN held the floor for hours in an admirable and valiant attempt to stop a bill that could allow mining near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA) in her state. Because that vote is coming up any minute now, and because Smith is working so hard to stop it, I am going to make this opening short. She’s working so hard to try to protect the natural resources in her state. Let’s call and lend her all the support we can.
Before I go, however, I wanted to tell you that Mike Johnson didn’t have the votes to pass a clean reauthorization of FISA yesterday so he had to delay the vote again. This is huge! While our chances of stopping it completely until reforms are made are still slim, we have to keep trying. Something we’re doing is working. So today please call your reps about it, whether Democratic or Republican.
And, of course, let’s keep calling about ICE and military funding. The reconciliation package containing such funding is another bill that will likely pass on a party-line vote, and I’m told there may be little we can do to stop it, but you never know. At the very least we should let Republican lawmakers know that their willingness to keep throwing money at ICE, CBP, and the Pentagon while cutting programs we rely on has been noticed, that it will be remembered, and that we will be voting them out over it in November.
It’s all a lot right now, but steadily, slowly, we’re moving the needle in our direction. After every new Republican outrage please remind yourself: “this is awful, but it will help us beat them in November. I must keep going. The only way out is through.”
Just ask the citizens of Hungary. Tyrants can be beaten. But only if we don’t give up. So let’s get to work.
Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I’m a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
First, I want the Senator to oppose Joint Resolution 140. Protect the Boundary Waters! This area is America’s most visited wilderness and a place I value. I want to see it, and all of our public lands in the headwaters, adequately protected from toxic copper mining. Please do NOT vote for this Resolution. [h/T]
Second, I oppose any more funding for ICE, the Pentagon, or CBP. They all have an obscene amount of money—meanwhile Americans are losing all the services and programs they rely on to survive. No more! Put that money towards healthcare instead!
Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I’m a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
First, I understand that House Democrats introduced six articles of impeachment against Pete Hegseth yesterday accusing him of abuse of power, war crimes and other serious wrongdoing. He’s obviously guilty of all of it. I want the Congressmember to support his impeachment.
Second, I strongly oppose a “clean” reauthorization of FISA. Congress should pass a two week stopgap bill and use that time to pass actual reforms that protect Americans’ data. No more “data broker loophole” and no more back-door, warrantless searches. I’ll be watching this vote closely. Thanks.
Finally, may I ask how the Congressmember voted on the War Powers Resolution yesterday? [If they supported it thank them. If they opposed it add:] I am really disappointed to hear that. The Congressmember is supporting an illegal war and ignoring the wishes of their constituents. We will not forget it in November.
Extra Credit ✅
It’s S.O.S. time on the CA governor’s race. I believe we need a nationwide campaign to get the lowest-polling candidates to drop out. I know some of you will disagree—I’m torn myself, as Betty Yee is my preferred candidate—but polling still shows the two Republicans at the top. We have limited time. Action is needed. California’s electoral college votes could be at risk with a MAGA in charge. This affects all of us. That’s why I’m asking all of us to take aciton.
Fortunately the good folks at Indivisible Alameda have put together a website with lots of ways we can help. The CA S.O.S. Campaign shifts emphasis from individual Democratic gubernatorial candidates to the unintended outcome of only Republican representation on the November ballot.
From them:
There are 10 candidates—two Republicans, both aligned with Trump, and seven Democrats—on California’s June 2 primary ballot. In the California primary, only the top two vote-getters, regardless of political party, will be on the November 3 ballot for governor.
The ballot is printed, and long. The weakening of votes spread thin among many Democratic candidates is still a real problem. The structure of the “top-two” primary sets the stage for disaster, leaving ~70% of the voting populace potentially un-represented.
Without solid evidence that a Democratic candidate will be in the “top-two”, and recognizing that Republicans are not sitting on the sidelines, we need to prioritize the safety of California’s gubernatorial seat. Redirecting votes and support from low-polling candidates—whose legacies and good work would be undone with a Republican governor—is how we protect California.
On the CA SOS Campaign website, we clarify how tenuous the situation is, and offer you powerful individual actions to ensure at least one Democratic candidate is an option on November’s ballot. Your actions will apply pressure in three key places: By urging the lower-polling candidates to withdraw, by pushing Governor Newsom to negotiate the consolidation of candidates, and by pressing the California Democratic Party to continue to push the low-polling candidates to drop out.
You’ll find forms and images to share on social media, scripts to use your voice and your network to press the low polling candidates to step down and throw their votes in with a leading candidate—and keep Californians safe.
Give 💰!
Democrats are winning special elections by big margins. But they still suffer from poor polls and low voter enthusiasm. LET’S FIX IT!
What new tactics are out there that get attention and elicit action at the ballot box? And is it too late to start using them?
You’ll get to ask Jessica Craven (me) these and other questions in an online fundraiser for Blue CD2 NM on Wednesday, April 22, 6-7 PM MDT.
Your donations will help them buy postcards they mail to reluctant voters, billboards throughout their rural district, social media, programmatic ads and texting to engage the reluctant voters who can make a difference.
Register here. No donation required to attend.
Get in the Streets! 🪧
Friendly reminder: On May 1, 2026, workers, students, and families will rally, march, and take action across the country to demand a nation that puts workers over billionaires, with many refusing business as usual through No School. No Work. No Shopping.
Find your local event—or plan your own—here!
Win Races! 🗳
I’m going to attend a GOTV phonebank with the Environmental Voter Project on Monday, April 20, at 3PM PT / 6PM ET. These are my favorite kinds of phonebanks—so easy, so pleasant, and you NEVER have to talk politics—they’re nonpartisan! Join me? Remember, 4 seats are at stake in this election. It’s vitally important.
Chop Wood, Save the Planet 🔥
Here’s an easy action for climate folks: Join Carbon CREW’s free monthly call and build your own Personal Climate Action Plan. No commitment. No cost. Just show up whenever it works for you, learn real ways to take climate action in your household and community, and become part of a growing community of people who care about the climate and want to learn from each other. One call a month, open to everyone.
Next call: Thursday, April 23 at 8pm ET / 5pm PT
Register here (this link stays current so you can sign up for any upcoming call):
Resistbot Letter (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.) 💻
[To: all 3 reps] [H/T] [Text SIGN PGQZIR to 50409, or to @Resistbot on Apple Messages, Messenger, Instagram, or Telegram]
(Note that for the most effective RESISTBOT it’s best to personalize this text. More about how to do this here. But if you’re short on time just send it as is using the above code.)
I understand that the Department of Justice has requested that a federal appeals judge vacate convictions for members of two far-right groups, the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers, who were found guilty of seditious conspiracy in connection with the violent January 6 Capitol attack. I find this absolutely appalling.
This is the Trump administration’s latest move to absolve the January 6 rioters, who stormed the Capitol in 2021 in an attempt to stop the peaceful transfer of power after Joe Biden’s election victory. What they did was shameful and illegal. They were tried and convicted. To overturn those convictions now is abhorrent.
The overt politicization of the DOJ, and their willingness to ignore or pardon real crimes while prosecuting Trump’s enemies, is dangerous, unconscionable, and frightening. Congress must push it to reassert its independence and focus on actually prosecuting criminals. Also, please make a statement opposing the vacation of these convictions. Thanks.
OK, you did it again! You’re helping to save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk soon.
Jess
I’m old. I hope I live to see our regime change.
Called my Senators (Slotkin and Peters). Thank you again Jess for your organizing!