Chop Wood, Carry Water 4/19
Hi, all, and happy Wednesday!
Yesterday was one of those days, wasn’t it? We’ve had so many—days that felt crushing due to the disappointment, grief, and rage-inducing injustice they contained.
I, like many of you, took the news of the Dominion settlement hard. Coupled with the senseless murder of a young woman who pulled into the wrong driveway and the continued barrage of bad news from red state legislatures it felt like an unbearable amount of bad news to sustain; even I had to take mental health breaks.
And yet, there were lessons to take from the day.
One was simply that self care matters, and we all need it. My paid subscribers will confirm that I started a mid-week discussion thread to ask how others handled “news overload.” The answers were plentiful and, in and of themselves, medicinal. The suggestions—from gardening, to listening to jazz, to baking, to doing Tai Chi—were helpful and inspiring. And occasionally funny. One reader said:
“I pull weeds and picture Republicans. Very satisfying.”
Hah! I like it! Both for the humor, and for the metaphor it supportd.
For our democracy is, after all, like a garden— one that’s been overrun by weeds, shot through with toxins, and utterly neglected. It won’t, and can’t, be restored overnight. Our work is that of many seasons.
But democracy, like nature, is also resilient. It wants to flourish. Given attention, nourishment, and constant care it can and will prosper—who hasn’t seen a first green shoot emerging out of formerly inhospitable soil?
On hard days we’ll do well to remember that we cannot force something to grow faster than nature directs. We can only prepare the ground and plant the seeds. Clear the weeds. Provide clean water and access to sun.
The rest is up to the mysterious force that forms blossoms, wraps vines around poles, and otherwise thrills the world with its power.
As for the Dominion settlement, let’s remember that no single event was ever going to save us. As much as we’d have liked this lawsuit to have been the thing that broke Fox financially and made them admit their malfeasance, that outcome was always unlikely, and would likely have taken years to play out.
The truth is that it is us who will have to save us. It has always been. Not Robert Mueller. Not Jack Smith. Not Dominion.
Us.
How? By “tending” to the garden of out democracy today, tomorrow, and always. So let’s put on our gloves, grab a hat, and get to work doing that one more time.
Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
I’m calling to ask the Senator to make passing gun violence prevention legislation a top priority. This week has proven once again that more guns do not make us safer. They make us, in fact, deeply unsafe. Americans are being shot for knocking on the wrong door, for driving up the wrong driveway— for simply wanting to live their lives. This is not sustainable. We have excellent bills, specifically S 25, the Assault Weapons Ban, S 173, Ethan’s Law, and S.951, Maxwell Frost’s Office of Gun Violence Prevention Act of 2023. Is the Senator co-sponsoring all three? [If yes thank. If no add:] Then they are betraying their constituents on the most fundamental level. We will not forget it. 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 make passing gun violence prevention legislation a top priority. This week has proven once again that more guns do not make us safer. They make us, in fact, deeply unsafe. Americans are being shot for knocking on the wrong door, for driving up the wrong driveway— for simply wanting to live their lives. This is not sustainable. We have excellent bills, specifically HR 698, the Assault Weapons Ban, HR 660, Ethan’s Law, and HR 1699, Maxwell Frost’s Office of Gun Violence Prevention Act of 2023. Is the Congressmember co-sponsoring all three? [If yes thank. If no add:] Then they are betraying their constituents on the most fundamental level. We will not forget it. Thanks.
Extra Credit ✅
Send this to President Biden, either through the White House Contact Form if you want to edit, or via Resistbot quick-send (text SIGN PLKFZO to 50409) if you don’t.
(This letter is sourced entirely—with light edits—from this article in the Lever. All credit goes to them.)
As concerns mount over an April 11 plastics recycling plant fire that spewed toxins and caused mass evacuations in Richmond, Indiana, the Biden administration has failed to take action on regulations proposed in the wake of the toxic train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, that could prevent similar chemical infernos from occurring in the future. I find this deeply disappointing.
By refusing to challenge the plastics industry the White House is overlooking the dangers of mass production and processing of plastics, beyond just how they contribute to water and land pollution. Only by preventing the creation of plastic waste at the front end— by reducing the types of production that contributed to the February train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio — can the type of fire that occurred at the Richmond warehouse be averted.
This toxic fire should be the last plastics disaster communities have to suffer. It’s long past time for the federal government to crack down on this harmful underregulated industry. There’s much the Biden administration can do under existing law, including denying permits to polluters and making them pay for accidents like the Richmond fire. Do it, please!
We must to stop coddling corporations and start dramatically reducing plastic production. Recycling isn’t the solution and shouldn’t be used to prop up this fossil fuel-based toxic industry. Thanks.
Get Smart! 📚
Is climate change a top issue for you? Were you devastated by Biden’s decision on Willow? Are you struggling with what to do next?
Today at 8pm ET / 5pm PT join the 350 Network Council, Center for Popular Democracy, Climate Organizing Hub, Honor the Earth, and People vs Fossil Fuel partners for the “End the Era of Fossil Fuels” mobilization call.
The call will highlight updates from frontline leaders of anti-fossil fuel fights across the country and share upcoming opportunities to skill up and take action as we escalate pressure for Biden to stop fossil fuels.
Spread the Word! 📣
DeSantis Brings His MAGA Anti-Choice Agenda to D.C.:
Ron DeSantis travelled to Washington, D.C. yesterday in an attempt to drum up support for his faltering presidential bid.
In response, the DNC released a new video blasting his latest extreme abortion ban. The law, which rips away a woman’s right to make her own health care decisions before many even know they’re pregnant, shows exactly what kind of national ban would be on the table if DeSantis and MAGA Republicans get their way. Read more from the DNC War Room and share the video!
Win Races! 🗳
El Paso has a huge opportunity to pass monumental climate legislation on May 6th, when El Pasoans will vote yes or no on the El Paso Climate Charter. The Climate Charter would expand the city’s ability to implement climate policy at a local level and implement innovative policies right now & it’s one of the most ambitious and sweeping pieces of local climate policy anywhere in the country.
I signed up to phonebank with Sunrise today to help get out the word. The shift is from 7-9 PM ET today—can you join me? There are lots of other shifts on other days, too.
Resistbot Letter (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.) 💻
[to all 3 reps] [H/T & H/T] [Quick send: text SIGN PURZPP to 50409]
As your constituent, I am writing to ask you to co-sponsor the Do No Harm Act, which was just reintroduced (it is as yet unnumbered).
The Do No Harm Act clarifies that the Religious Freedom Restoration Act is intended to protect religious freedom without allowing the infliction of harm on other people. It would amend RFRA in order to restore the original intent of the legislation by specifically exempting areas of law where RFRA has been used to bypass federal protections.
Our country is strongest when we are all free to believe or not, as we see fit, and to practice our faith without hurting others.
As you know, passage of the Do No Harm Act is more critical than ever. RFRA is being misused to allow discrimination against LGBTQ people, women, religious minorities, nonreligious people and almost anyone else – all under the guise of religious freedom. The Do No Harm Act would serve to prevent dangerous rulings and policies like these in the future. Please prioritize its passage. Thanks.
OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk soon.
Jess
I'm pretty pro-Dominion. Not sure what the expectations were, but they blew mine away. We got to see Trust Fund Tuckums dirty digital linens, and the Dominion suit has spawned the Bartiromo producer suit and a shareholder suit. Dominion were the first ones through the breach, and I respect them for that.
We need to remember that dominion is in fact, a business, and made the best possible settlement for the company. We can’t expect anyone to save us except us. The garden metaphor is beautiful and comes at a season of renewal and hope. And by the way as a psychologist, I highly recommend walking. Movement creates new neural pathways in our brains, and I find it particularly restorative to do move our bodies outside. Thank you, Jessica, for being our fearless leader!