Chop Wood, Carry Water 4/26

Download this excellent GIF here.

Hi, all, and happy Wednesday!

Feels like a hump day, indeed. It’s hard to tell if this has been a “good” (in relative terms) or bad (again, in relative terms) week yet. Tucker Carlson’s Fox demise has been beyond scintillating and delightful, true, but awful laws are still coming thick and fast, and the latest anti-democratic outrage in Montana (read about it here) should have all of us worried and furious. Kevin McCarthy’s budget proposal is horrifying, and the odds of it passing in the House are still decent.

So what do we do?

We enjoy the wins—let the Tucker memes abound!—and continue to fight with all we have against the forces of evil—and I mean that literally—arrayed around us.

Never fear—this is something we’re well equipped to do.

So even though it feels like we’ve made these calls a thousand times, let’s make them one more time.

Even though it feels like we’ve sent letters a million times, let’s send yet one more.

Even though it feels like we’ve been working on “critical elections” for years now, let’s volunteer for another phonebank shift.

Even though we’re tired, let’s forge ahead with energy and determination.

Because the work of bolstering democracy never ends, and the work of stopping fascism must be done with the zeal and vigor that only you are capable of.

Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲

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

I’m calling again to ask the Senator to vote to confirm Julie Su for Secretary of Labor. She’s a fantastic candidate; she’s proven that she isn’t afraid to take on hard fights or stand up to corporations who exploit their employees. I urge the Senate to confirm her without delay.

[If Democrat add:] Also, please urge Senator Durbin to get rid of blue slips. They’re an antiquated tradition rooted in racism and they’re destroying our chances of confirming progressive judges. Blue slips need to go. Thanks.

Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲

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

First, I want the Congressmember to vote ‘NO’ on HR 2798, the CFPB Transparency and Accountability Reform Act, or ANY other legislation that would hamstring or weaken the funding and operations of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Americans love the CFPB and want it protected. Period.

[If GOP add:] Also, Congress needs to raise the debt ceiling now. No more games, no more negotiations. The American people will be furious if the economy crashes because Republicans wouldn’t do the right thing. We will blame you for the catastrophe that unfolds. Pass a clean debt ceiling increase now. Thanks.

[If Democrat add:] Also please tell the Congressmember that we want Democrats to continue to hold fast for a clean debt ceiling increase. Don’t negotiate with terrorists. Thanks.

Extra Credit ✅

Let’s call or write Montana House Speaker Matt Regier (pronounced REE-ger), R-Kalispell, and take him to task for his treatment of Rep. Zooey Zephyr, a Missoula Democrat and trans woman who is currently being silenced for speaking out against a trans ban. If you haven’t been following this story you absolutely should be. It’s every bit as outrageous as what just happened in Tennessee and deserves a commensurate level of outcry.

Let’s call the “general legislative questions” line and leave a message there: 406-444-4800.

Regier’s email address is Matt.Regier@legmt.gov.

Let’s say something like:

I’m calling/writing from _____ to express my outrage at Speaker Regier’s treatment of representative Zooey Zephyr. Refusing to recognize her as punishment for her speaking her mind is an appalling violation of the first amendment. Representative Zephyr is entitled to express her opinion, and frankly SB99, the bill that forcibly detransitions transgender youth, is vile. I agree with every word she said. But even if I didn’t, it’s horrifying to see a lawmaker silenced for expressing their opinion. Let her speak!

[If out of state add:] I, for one, will not be choosing Montana as a travel destination until Representative Zephyr is given her voice back and the Montana legislature stops passing hateful bills. Thanks.

Spread the Word! 📣

This “Flag” ad is really, really good. Mike Lux said this morning he thinks it’s one of the best political ads he’s ever seen. Yet many, many Americans won’t see it unless we share it. So let’s do that!

Get Smart! 📚 Give 💰!

Sick and tired of all the racist and anti-democratic attacks from right-wing legislators? Use your rage to engage by joining Airlift on May 4th as they present Steve Phillips, founder of Democracy in Color and bestselling author.

Steve will discuss his latest book, How We Win the Civil War: Securing a Multicultural Democracy and Ending White Supremacy for Good. He warns that we must recognize the true nature of the fight we're in--an existential battle between those who wish to make America a multiracial democracy and those clinging to the concept that this is fundamentally a white nation. Arizona, for example, has been a textbook state for voter suppression and election deniers.  But as Phillips demonstrates, progressive grassroots groups such as Arizona's Living United for Change have learned how to engage people of color to get to the polls to defeat these efforts.

We can win the Civil War. To learn how, and to help benefit LUCHA, please join Airlift on May 4, 8:00 pm ET / 5:00 pm PT by registering here. Feel free to spread the word!

Win Races! 🗳

MAKE CALLS TO PROTECT ABORTION RIGHTS & VOTING ACCESS in Pennsylvania! We must win the May 16th Special Election to keep our Democratic majority! Abortion and voting rights are at risk!

☎️ Help Promote the Vote make calls to PA voters. You’ll be giving voters important voting information and the access they need to successfully cast their ballots! Training and support will be offered during every phone bank. 

• Fri, Apr 28, 2:00pm–4:00pm EDT

• Sun, Apr 30, 2:00pm–4:00pm EDT

• Tue, May 2, 6:00pm–8:00pm EDT

• Thu, May 4, 6:00pm–8:00pm EDT

SIGN UP TO MAKE CALLS with Promote the Vote

☎️ The DNC is also holding Zoom Phone Banks into PA— this Wednesday April 26 and Saturday April 29. They will be adding additional Zoom Phones soon! 

Click here to sign up to call with the DNC.

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

[to your SENATORS] [H/T Public Citizen] [Quick send text SIGN PXUXTF to 50409]

I’m writing to ask you to co-sponsor S. 1171, Sen. Merkley’s ETHICS Act, to stop Congressional stock trading.

When members of Congress act as though they know what’s coming — dumping stock right before the pandemic, for example — it looks suspicious and makes it hard for me to trust them. No one in Congress deserves an advantage in the stock market over the rest of us.

That’s why legislation like the ETHICS Act is extremely popular, and why I support it. After all that’s happened, I can’t trust Congress to trade stocks fairly and with the same information I have access to.

So I hope to see your name as a co-sponsor of the ETHICS Act — it’ll be popular in our state and help rebuild Americans’ trust in Congress. Thanks!

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

Talk soon.

Jess