Chop Wood, Carry Water 4/17
Hi, all, and happy Monday!
It’s going to be a busy week. An eventful week. A possibly chaotic week. Let’s remember: we do best, in moments of upheaval, when we put our heads down, keep our thoughts in the day, and calmly take the next indicated action.
When we chop wood. Carry water.
This isn’t the fight of a day, a week, or even a year. It’s the fight of a lifetime, so let’s try not to be overly affected by any one victory or loss. Whatever happens, we will tackle it with the strength, agility and cohesiveness we’ve brought to every other fight so far.
We’re in it to win it, folks. Never forget it.
Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
I understand that the US Senate is preparing to vote on the RESTRICT Act (S. 686). I want to be clear—this bill is absolutely unacceptable — it’s government overreach, an invasion of privacy, and bad for business. It’s not OK, and I am extremely not OK with the Senator supporting it. Please ask them not to.
[If Republican, Kyrsten Sinema, or Joe Manchin please add:] One more thing: I support Juli Su for Labor Secretary and will be extremely disappointed if the Senator doesn’t as well. Thanks.
[If Democrat add:] One more thing: I find it staggering that virtually no Democratic Senators have yet called for Clarence Thomas to step down. If the situation were reversed every single Republican in office would be screaming about it nonstop. Thomas’s corruption is indisputable. He needs to resign. I want the Senator to publicly call for this now. If Democrats won’t stand up for the integrity of the court who will? Thanks.
[Note: if you live in CA please scroll down for an extra call script just for Senator Feinstein.]
Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
I'm calling regarding the Farm Bill. I’d like the Congressmember to help protect the climate smart agriculture and forestry funding that was allocated by the Inflation Reduction Act in the last Congress. Please ensure that forestry initiatives are fully funded this year. [H/T Climate Action Now App]
Also, has the Congressmember yet co-sponsored Rep Jayapal’s HJ Res 54? (It was formerly HJ Res 48.) This Resolution essentially reverses Citizens United. It’s extremely necessary and important. Will the Representative sign on? I’d like them to.
Special Call for CA residents only!
Please call Senator Feinstein (DC phone: 202-224-3841, SF phone: 415-393-0707, Fresno: 559-485-7430) and say:
I’m calling to respectfully ask the Senator to resign not just from the Judiciary committee—which, of course, she has already done—but from her seat as a whole. With the ever-escalating attacks on our democracy and a razor-thin majority we need a Senator who can show up fighting now, who can sit on committees, who can participate in floor votes, and who can actually represent the 39 million people who live in this state. I thank Senator Feinstein for her long service to our state, but I’m asking her to resign now. Thanks.
Extra Credit ✅
[H/T
]A 16-year-old Black boy named Ralph Yarl was attacked on Thursday, shot in the head twice by a white man after ringing the doorbell of the wrong home while trying to pick up his younger twin brothers. The man who attempted to kill him was taken to police headquarters to provide a statement and then released without charge. Let’s contact Clay County Prosecuting Attorney Zachary Thompson to push for an immediate arrest and appropriate charges.
Thompson’s office can be reached by phone at 816-736-8300 or via email at prosecutor@claycopa.com. If we’re able, we can also consider a donation to his family’s GoFundMe to help pay for Ralph’s medical bills.
Say:
I’m calling to demand an immediate arrest and appropriate charges for the absolutely unjustified shooting of Ralph Yarl in Kansas City on Thursday. The fact that his assailant was released without charges is inexcusable—this person is armed and dangerous. It is not a crime to knock on someone’s door and no one should be shot for it—least of all a child. Do the right thing, please. Arrest the assailant at once. The entire country is watching. Thanks.
Get Smart! 📚
The Movement Voter Project's next national briefing, "There’s No Such Thing as an “Off Year,” will be on Wednesday, April 19. In addition to presentations by MVP staff, this will also feature leaders from MVP grassroots partners in battleground states talking about their work—I suspect you will find this part particularly exciting and uplifting.
Y’all know that MVP is one of the three organizations I most highly recommend supporting financially. But even if you can’t give, you should know about the amazing work they’re doing. Please come if you can.
Further details about the event and an RSVP link can be found here.
Spread the Word! 📣
Here’s some fascinating new Navigator polling on Americans’ attitudes about gun violence (spoiler alert: vast majorities want action.) Please take a few minutes to study the messaging that polls best. I, for one, plan on using it.
The big takeaways: Three in four Americans view gun violence as a crisis or major issue; even more support a variety of policy proposals aimed at preventing future gun violence and mass shootings.
P.S. If you’re interested in receiving emails from Navigator when new polls are out you can sign up here. It’s fascinating.
Win Races! 🗳
Join the Environmental Voter Project (and me!) today, April 17th at 7PM ET to turn out low propensity environmental voters in Mableton, Georgia ahead of their April 18th municipal runoff election.
They'll start with an overview of their easy phone banking program and the scripts you'll be using, then we'll get to work calling voters. It’s so fun and easy, and elections like these have SUCH low turnout you can really make a difference by calling!
Resistbot Letter (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.) 💻
[to your Senators] [H/T] [Quick send: text SIGN PUSKFG to 50409]
I’m in great distress about the collapse of the integrity of our highest court.
First, Clarence Thomas MUST resign. And I want to hear you call for it.
Second, I urge you to pass the Johnson-Murphy Supreme Court Ethics Act (S. 325) to enact urgently-needed ethical standards for the Supreme Court. Jane Roberts, the wife of Chief Justice John Roberts, makes millions of dollars per year placing lawyers at top D.C. law firms, some of which argue cases in front of the Supreme Court. Chief Justice Roberts has not fully disclosed these conflicts of interest, and has failed to recuse himself in cases involving law firms employing his wife’s clients. This is only the latest in a series of ethics violations that have undermined public trust in the courts.
Please see to this before our system of checks and balances is hopelessly broken. Thanks.
OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk soon.
Jess
I love you! You help me feel like I am doing something even if it is only incremental... thank you thank you thank you for your work!!!
AND!!! Thank you for helping bring Chief Justice Roberts' "issues" to light. We need to hound him into submission, and perhaps then we can start to feel we're being heard, rather than herded.
You're the BEST, Jessica!