Chop Wood, Carry Water 4/24
Light tomorrow with today.
—Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Hi, all, and happy Tucker Carlson Day!
Good Lord, what a way to start the week! I’m giddy with delight. Of course, Carlson will go on to find new ways to undermine democracy, but it’s hard to imagine him finding another platform quite as big as the one he just lost—at least not right away. Even if he does, for today the schadenfreude is delicious. And, to quote Robert Hubbell, “Next: Hannity.” YES!
All of this is an excellent reminder that, while we plot and scheme and work for goals we’ve carefully delineated, sometimes the universe tosses us a bone from an unforeseen direction. This is the X factor that offers us wins in unexpected places, and it seems to happen more when we’re busy taking action. So celebrate it! We may not have played a direct part in Carlson’s ouster, but our activism has created an atmosphere in which it was possible. I’ll take it!
Having said that, it is also possible that our phone calls to cable companies demanding that they not increase Fox’s carriage fees played a part in this! (If you haven’t yet made that call please do. Fox is asking for an astronomical increase!)
Whether we helped make this divine event come to pass or not, our mandate remains the same. Let’s keep on chopping wood and carrying water.
Meanwhile, the universe is encouraged to keep those “bones” coming!
Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
First, I understand that President Biden pledged $500 million last week to fight deforestation in the Amazon, but that Congress hasn’t yet approved the funding. I want them to. Our very survival depends on our preserving this forest. This shouldn’t be looked at as “foreign aid” but as a necessary investment in our own survival.
Second, has the Senator yet called on Clarence Thomas to resign? [If yes, thank. If no add:] What possible justification could s/he have for staying quiet in the face of such staggering corruption? If the Senate won’t hold him accountable who will?
Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
First, I understand that President Biden pledged $500 million last week to fight deforestation in the Amazon, but that Congress hasn’t yet approved the funding. I want them to. Our very survival depends on our preserving this forest. This shouldn’t be looked at as “foreign aid” but as a necessary investment in our own survival.
[If Dem add:] Also, I’m truly sickened by Kevin McCarthy’s budget proposal. Please oppose all of it, and hold fast for a clean budget ceiling increase. Thank you.
[If GOP add:] Also, please pass a clean debt ceiling increase now. I strongly, strongly oppose everything in Kevin McCarthy’s proposed budget plan and will be working to oust any Congressmember who supports it. I’ll be watching this vote closely. Thanks.
Extra Credit! ✅
Let’s call Dick Durbin—read this for background. 312.353.4952 or 202.224.2152 or 618.351.1122 or 309.786.5173
I’m calling Senator Durbin in his capacity as chair of the Judiciary committee to say that I’m deeply frustrated with his leadership. Why has Clarence Thomas not been subpoenaed? If it is, as Senator Durbin says, because Senator Feinstein is still out then what is he doing about that? Has he called on her to come back to work now or resign? Senator Graham has indicated that he will follow protocol and seat a new Democratic Senator on the Judiciary Committee if she does step down. We need Senator Durbin to push for it. We also need him to get rid of Blue Slips. We have a limited time to get things done, and we’d very much like him to stop playing softball. Thanks.
P.S. — If you live in California please continue to call Feinstein’s office to demand that she either come back to work now or resign. There’s no more time to waste! Here’s an article highlighting all the progressive groups asking her to step down.
Extra Extra Credit ✅✅
Happy National Library Week! 📚
I’ve been asked by a group called Every Library (they’re “the first and only national political action committee for libraries”) to share a petition asking Congress to stop book bans. The petition doesn’t endorse a particular bill, but rather tells Congress this is something we’re deeply worried about. Please consider signing—in so doing you’ll also sign up to receive alerts if there’s a book banning campaign where you live, so you can help fight it.
Get Smart! 📚
It’s all in the numbers, and Field Team 6, an amazing voter registration organization, is ready to unveil them at a special Zoom event on Tuesday, April 25.
How did we defy most analysts in the 2022 midterms, winning the Senate and outperforming in the House? And how can we do it again in 2024?
All will be revealed as Brian Tyler Cohen hosts an NPR-style version of a Strategy Briefing, "Wait, Wait, DO Tell Me!" Field Team 6 will unveil the number of confirmed Democratic voters they helped register in the 2022 cycle, most of whom live in swing states.
They’ll also present the results of a vigorous study that shows their effectiveness and their role in furthering the science of voter registration. Sign up today for this Zoom event, which takes place from 5 – 6pm PDT / 8-9 PM ET tomorrow.
Spread the Word! 📣
Please post this on your social media—and please sign up yourself! This is such a great service and I’m not hearing enough about it.
Did you know you can now sign up to text with President Joe Biden? Yes, really! Send the word “hello” to 302-404-0880. You’ll receive a link to quickly fill out your info, then from that point forward you can let him know what issues are important to you and you’ll also receive occasional updates about things he’s doing that are flying under the radar. It’s hard to find news about the many good things he’s doing—this is an excellent way to do so!
Enjoy! And spread the word!
Win Races! 🗳
Y’all, let’s all send postcards for Donna Deegan! Her election is on May 16th and postcards to voters needs more writers now! To join PTV, you can text “join” to Abby the Address Bot at 484-275-2229 or email join@tonythedemocrat.org. If you have already joined, then just text Abby to get addresses & script!
There are also phonebanks and textbanks to be found here! Let’s win this race, y’all!
Resistbot Letter (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.) 💻
[to all 3 reps] [H/T] [Quick send text SIGN PPGFFW to 50409]
I am your constituent and I am writing to urge you to raise the debt ceiling without any preconditions. The economy shouldn’t be held hostage to any policy agenda.
Greedy corporations and Wall Street are driving up the costs on the things we all need to survive: rent, health care premiums, groceries, and other basic costs. The government shouldn’t cut spending on programs that help me, my community or the planet.
After you raise the debt ceiling, Congress should get to work raising taxes on billionaires and corporations to increase funding for Social Security and Medicare and Medicaid and pay for other investments in our people and our planet.
In times like these, public programs like food stamps, Medicaid and housing supports help everyday people stay afloat.
OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk soon.
Jess
I'm unable to shake the notion that we've only heard one of Tucker's shoes hit the floor. There has to be something else coming.
Thanks for highlighting our Constituent Letter to Senator Feinstein!
Also, double thanks for driving sign-ups for Tuesday's Field Team 6 report. We commissioned a careful study to determine how many--and how--people got themselves registered to vote as a result of Field Team 6 ads, texts, emails, and postcards. This info will become very useful in the next cycle of grassroots work!