Chop Wood, Carry Water 4/24

Courage is contagious.

Hi, all, and happy Thursday.

First of all—and a bit belatedly—congrats on that Tesla earnings report! A 71% decline! Wow! THAT is an accomplishment we should all celebrate, because we literally helped make it happen. I can’t wait to go to my Tesla Takedown this weekend—I’m fired up by what we’ve been able to do and want to double down!

Second, hi. There’s so much going on. Every day I ask myself what I’m going to write to you about and then find myself utterly overwhelmed by the multitude of choices. So instead, today, I’m going to start by checking on you. How are you holding up? Are you taking care of yourselves? Do you feel good about our many recent small wins? I hope so. I’m aware that things remain awful in almost every regard, but I can’t be the only one who feels that the tide has started to shift, if only a little.

Regardless of how you feel I’m so grateful that you continue to show up here. The world will remember you for what you’re doing right now. History will, too. It matters.

Me, I’m encouraged today. Not because things aren’t bad—they are absolutely horrific. No, I’m encouraged because I sense a growing, widespread resistance to the Trump regime that’s a necessary precursor to change. Everywhere, we’re seeing more purpose, determination, and activation. People, groups, and organizations are stepping up, banding together for greater effectiveness, and modeling courage. This is all terrific stuff.

I’m especially pleased by what I see coming out of the DNC. While I’m still disappointed that Ben Wikler didn’t win the chair position, I’m happy with Ken Martin’s early moves. First, he’s made sure that Democrats are holding town halls all across the country, particularly in red districts where Republicans refuse to do so. So far, the DNC has done 80 of these ‘People's Town Halls’ in 39 states, and they have a number more lined up. That’s impressive!

The DNC is also holding weekly briefings with content creators—I know this because I’m part of them. They are finally, officially, using us to help Democrats amplify their message. This, too, is great news!

Finally, the DNC just announced that they’ll be upping their investment into state parties. Going forward each state party will receive a baseline of $17,500 a month—a $5,000 per month increase—and Democratic State Parties in Republican-controlled states will receive an additional investment of $5,000 a month through the DNC’s Red State Fund, putting their total at $22,500 every month.

From the press release:

The combined investments total a monthly transfer of more than $1 million from the DNC to state parties — the committee’s largest investment into Democratic state parties in history.

Strategic investments like these don’t just matter in presidential or statewide races. They have a powerful multiplier effect for Democrats down the ballot, too — which is absolutely essential as we work to elect more leaders who will check Trump’s power.

These investments will allow state parties to build critical infrastructure and hire more staff, strengthen their data and tech operations, strengthen their on-the-ground organizing programs, and better prepare for upcoming election cycles — not just in the months ahead, but in the years to come.

This is all very encouraging. Here at this newsletter we have worked hard on state legislative and other downballot elections, because we know they matter. We’ve done all we could to support strong state parties, and to raise money for organizations like the States Project who focus solely on state legislative races. But there’s no replacement for long term, robust investment from the top party apparatus, and it seems we’re finally getting that. Bravo!

This doesn’t mean, of course, that we’ll let up on our efforts. Quite the contrary! In fact I’ve got a States Project event in today’s newsletter. I hope you’ll attend!

Lastly, a couple of plugs, if you’ll forgive me.

First, the latest episode of my Practivist Pod just dropped. This week Steve and I talk about the April 19 protests, "Signal-gate" redux, and why state Attorneys General matter. Then we have a great interview with one of our frontline CA Congressmembers, George Whitesides. I hope you’ll check it out here (video) or here (audio).

Second, I’ll be doing a Substack Live with Susan Wagner from

The Grassroots Connector

later today—at 5PM PT / 8PM ET. The show is called “It needs to be said” — it’s billed as a “discussion between two activists.” Susan, of course, is more than an activist—she’s a force of nature; it should be a great conversation. Instructions on how to watch are here.

OK, all. Let’s get on to the most important part of all: our actions!

Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲

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

First, I’m disgusted by Trump’s approach to the Russia/Ukraine negotiations. He’s carrying water for Russia and absolutely betraying our ally. Any ceasefire agreement must insist on Ukraine's continued control over their own land, including all of Crimea. Putin can’t win unilaterally, here. Please ask the Senator to make a statement saying as much.

Second, we just learned that Pete Hegseth spent taxpayer money to put a makeup studio in his office and installed Signal on his government computer so he could send instant messages in a space where personal cellphones are not permitted. This guy is incompetent and an absolute buffoon. He’s also despised by everyone at the Pentagon, which means that the embarrassing leaks about him will continue. He makes us look weak, chaotic and inept on the world stage. The Senator must call on him to resign.

Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲

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

First, I’m disgusted by Trump’s approach to the Russia/Ukraine negotiations. He’s carrying water for Russia and absolutely betraying our ally. Any ceasefire agreement must insist on Ukraine's continued control over their own land, including all of Crimea. Putin can’t win unilaterally, here. Please ask the Congressmember to make a statement saying as much.

Second, I know that House Republicans are planning on achieving their 880 billion dollars in Medicaid cuts by slashing federal contributions to the ACA Medicaid expansion programs in the states. This cannot happen—it will knock between 10 and 20 million people off of their healthcare and be an absolute disaster for local hospitals and economies. No way. There should be no cuts to healthcare so that rich people can get more tax cuts. None! We’re watching. Thanks.

Extra Credit #1 ✅

Indivisible has dropped a new Attorney General toolkit in response to the wave of ICE abductions targeting residents (students, activists, etc.) for their political speech. It’s aimed at pressuring Democratic AGs to act — whether that means defending those already detained or putting real protections in place before this escalates further.

This is one of the clearest ways we can push back at the moment. Please use the toolkit to make a call and send an email if you have a Democratic Attorney General. Not sure if you do? The form will tell you!

Extra Credit #2 ✅✅

Gov. JB Pritzker announced that he is making moves to have the state of Illinois boycott companies controlled by El Salvador, as a way to push back against Abrego Garcia’s unlawful detention in the country. Let’s contact our governors and ask them to do the same. You can do this either by texting PNAQNO to 50409 or by sending the below—personalized as you like—to your governor through their official website:

I'm writing because IL Gov. JB Pritzker has announced that he is making moves to have the state of Illinois boycott companies controlled by El Salvador, as a way to push back against Kimlar Abrego Garcia’s unlawful detention in the country. I want our state to do the same. I'm sickened and disgusted by the Trump Administration's flagrant refusal to abide by a Supreme Court order, and by their refusal to give Abrego Garcia and others the due process guaranteed to them by our constitution. El Salvador is aiding and abetting Trump in his abuses. They should feel the financial consequences. Divest from their businesses at once, please!

Get Smart! 📚

Join the States Project on Thursday, April 24th at 8pm ET/ 5pm PT. They’ll share key insights about the impact of their work on the 2024 election results, including what worked, what didn’t, and the changes they’re planning to make to their program moving forward. The States Project is simply the best—the work they’ve done on state legislative races over the past eight years has quite simply helped to save our democracy (thus far). Let’s support them so they can continue to do the same.

RSVP here. If they ask you what Giving Circle you’re in you can say Chop Wood, Carry Statehouses.

Messaging! Messaging! Messaging! 📣

The Not Above the Law Coalition just released a great fact sheet on the ongoing Kilmar Abrego Garcia case, as administration officials continue to spread demonstrably false claims about his background while resisting court mandates to facilitate his return home to his U.S. citizen wife and children. If you’re hearing these false claims repeated, here are all the facts you need to rebut them—with receipts.

Also, don’t forget: this is about due process. The constitution says EVERYONE in the U.S. should receive it. Abrego Garcia has not. Period. Everything else is a distraction.

Get in the Streets! 🪧

On Thursday, May 1, legal professionals across the country will gather in cities nationwide for the Law Day of Action—a collective stand for judicial independence, American values, and the Rule of Law. The flagship event will take place at 12:00 PM on the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., with coordinated rallies from coast to coast. Find an event near you here or send in an event happening on Law Day here.

(This, of course, is also a big day of protest for non-lawyers, too, but it all goes together!)

A Call to Action For Maryland!

A special ask from a MD subscriber:

I just read that Maryland school superintendents have decided to capitulate to the Trump regime's demand that they get rid of all "DEI" in Maryland schools.

I called all three delegates, my state senator and Governor Moore. They are in recess now, but surely someone checks the phones?

Governor Wes Moore's number is: (410) 974-3901 or 1-800-811-8336 or you can contact him here.

This page lets you look up your representatives with your address and zip code. Click "Lookup" under Find My Representatives.

What I said was:

My name is _____ and I am calling from zip code ____. My number is ______ and I would very much like a call back. I just read that the Maryland school superintendents released a letter capitulating to the Trump regime's demand to get rid of all "DEI," whatever that means.

This is ridiculous. We are a Dem trifecta state. That means that we have power that many people in the rest of the country do not have, and we need to use it. If Harvard can stand up to this nonsense, so can we. And we must.

Maryland, hit the phones!

Win Races and Save the Planet! 🗳

Friendly reminder, I will be kicking off an Environmental Voter Project phonebank into San Antonio Texas later today! Join us! This is for a downballot race where our calls can really make a difference!

Thursday, April 24, at 7pm EDT / 4pm PDT

To sign up for this or another Earth Week phonebank with EVP please visit: EnvironmentalVoter.org/EarthWeek2025

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

[To: all 3 reps] [H/T the amazing Coleman R, who wrote this after I sent him this horrible article] [Text SIGN PJXUUW to 50409, or to @Resistbot on Apple Messages, Messenger, Instagram, or Telegram]

It is inexcusable that vulnerable migrant children are being deprived of legal representation due to the cruel March 21st termination by the Trump administration of a vital $200 million federal contract. The inhumane reality is that young kids, some as young as 4 years old, appear alone in court proceedings without an attorney to advocate for their rights and to explain the complex legal process. This egregious situation violates basic principles of justice and human rights.

The statistics are alarming: 96% of unrepresented individuals in New York immigration courts are ordered deported, compared to only 23% of those with legal counsel. Denying children access to attorneys virtually guarantees their deportation, regardless of whether they may qualify for legal protections like asylum. This constitutes a grave injustice and abject cruelty towards these vulnerable young migrants fleeing violence and instability. As a society that upholds human dignity and due process, we have a moral obligation to reinstate full funding for initiatives that provide free legal representation to unaccompanied migrant children facing deportation proceedings.

Leaving kids to navigate the daunting legal system alone is unconscionably cruel and unjust. Robust legislative action is urgently needed to enshrine the right to counsel for all children in immigration custody, ensuring they receive fair hearings and safeguarding their well-being. The harrowing accounts of children spinning toys, laughing in confusion, unable to understand the gravity of proceedings determining their futures vividly underscore the imperative to act swiftly.

Restoring the $18 million in funding for legal aid providers in New York alone is crucial, but a permanent legislative solution is required. Our principles and humanity demand we extend the constitutional right to counsel to every child ensnared in immigration courts through no fault of their own.

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

Talk soon.

Jess