Chop Wood, Carry Water 4/27

Keep big oil and gas accountable / FISA vote tonight / Pass common sense gun laws / restore SNAP / Learn deep canvassing / Stop Broadnax's execution! / Attend a CA-22 fundraiser with Dolores Huerta

Hi, all, and happy Monday.

Hope you’re holding up OK.

Honestly, my first reaction upon learning of the attempted shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday night was just…exhaustion. The constant turmoil we’re living in is profoundly draining. Somehow we managed to get through four years of Biden’s presidency with zero assassination attempts, no threats of—or actual—war crimes, and very few even moderately dramatic days. During Trump’s second term we’ve been subjected to adrenaline-inducing headlines virtually daily. It’s not normal, and it’s not healthy for any of us. So again, I hope you’re holding up OK.

Other than the aforementioned event, I had a great weekend—primarily because I spent it doing things that fill me up. Mike and I attended a dance concert at Mj’s school that was absolutely spectacular—they attend a highly-regarded public conservatory-style school, so when I say the kids are talented I mean they are talented. We’ve started attending all of their events, be it plays, opera recitals, dance concerts, or orchestra performances, because they’re so extraordinary and so deeply inspiring. Seeing kids aged 14-17 bring such brilliance to the stage gives me hope for the future. Plus, of course, as I say often, art is an antidote to fascism. The two can’t meaningfully co-exist in the same space. So the more fascism we see, the more art I’m trying to take in. It helps!

I also spent my weekend reading—the thing I love most to do. I’m halfway through Rebecca Solnit’s new book, about which she and I will be speaking at Writer’s Bloc on Sunday. Whether or not you can attend—and I know the majority of you can’t—I urge you to read the book. It’s simply extraordinary. Solnit’s writing is always exquisite, but this work really takes it to a new level. It is exactly the thing we need. Solnit manages to both distill, create, and spread hope, all without ever straying into saccharine generalizations or wishful thinking. Rather, she pulls together evidence that is right in front of us but too easily ignored, weaving it into a thread that pulls us relentlessly towards uplift and determination. It’s truly a must-read.

I finished another nonfiction book this weekend that I loved, too. It’s called Darkology, by Rhae Lynn Barnes. My mother heard an interview with the author on NPR and told me about it; I immediately knew I had to read the book. I’m so glad I did! Darkology is a thoroughly-researched and comprehensive investigation into the “hidden history” of amateur blackface minstrelsy in our country. While the subject is deeply upsetting and shocking, it’s a story that desperately needs to be told, yet never has been. I’d go so far as to say that amateur blackface minstrelsy’s role in perpetuating and spreading White supremacy is so fundamental to our history that it’s impossible to fully understand who we are without knowing about it. And yet most of us have no idea it was so prevalent in our culture and government—and for well over 100 years! Just wild, wild stuff. I don’t have enough good things to say about the book.

Reading both of these works at the same time was fortuitous. They’ve both served as reminders that, as awful as things are, we’ve come a long, long way. And we’ve done so because incredibly brave people stood up and said “I will not tolerate this,” even when the thing in question seemed foreordained and immutable. Thank heavens for their courage. May we have even a fraction of the same.

On that note, let’s get to work. Because courage, as we know, isn’t a feeling. It’s an action. Let’s take some of it right now!

Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲

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

First, I oppose Senate Republicans’ newly introduced bill, the Stop Climate Shakedowns Act of 2026. It aims to give oil and gas companies the same protection from liability that the gun companies have. No way. These companies have knowingly dragged us into a climate crisis that will lead to billions of dollars in damage and the deaths of untold numbers of Americans. They’ve profited hugely from it and now they need to pay. Vote no.

Second, we need common sense gun laws and we need them now. How many mass shooting events will it take? We need to ban assault style weapons, pass universal background checks, and codify safe storage requirements. Thanks.

Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲

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

First, I know there’s going to be a vote any minute now for a clean extension on FISA Section 702. I expect the Congressmember to vote no. Speaker Johnson is offering fake reforms and hoping members will be fooled. Don’t fall for it. Take the time to get this right, please. Vote no on re-authorization until the data broker loophole has been closed and warrantless searches on American citizens are ended.

Also, vote no on more funding for ICE and CBP please. Those agencies are overfunded and out of control. We want them defunded, not pumped with more money while Americans starve.

Finally, we need common sense gun laws and we need them now. How many mass shooting events will it take? We need to ban assault style weapons, pass universal background checks, and codify safe storage requirements. Thanks.

Extra Credit ✅

The state of Texas plans to execute James Broadnax on April 30, 2026 for a double murder that he did not commit.

The actual shooter, a man named Demarius Cummings, was sentenced to life without parole for his role in the crime. Cummings admits that he, not James Broadnax, shot the victims. His admission is corroborated by the presence of his DNA on the murder weapon and on one of the victims.

The new evidence fundamentally undermines the State’s case for James’s murder conviction and death sentence. Public outcry has stopped executions before, and now we have 3 days to mobilize once again before it’s too late.

More than 50,000 Americans have added their names to call on Texas authorities to stop the execution of James Broadnax, and we need to keep up the momentum.

Sign the petition to urge Texas Governor Greg Abbott and the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles to commute James’s sentence!

Get Smart! 📚

In 5 days, over 1100 locations across the country are ready to make this the biggest May Day our country has ever seen and to unapologetically deliver the message that the people are united against the billionaire agenda.

The co-founders of Indivisible, Leah Greenberg and Ezra Levin, will be headlining a final mass call to get ready for May Day on April 29 at 8 pm ET. Join them to hear about the important connection being built between No Kings and May Day, between the pro-democracy movement and the pro-worker movement and our plans for this movement to build real power to stand up to billionaires and fight for our communities.

Register for the last call on April 29

Messaging! Messaging! Messaging! 📣

As the attacks by Trump on our vote continue to build, Americans are aware of possible additional attacks, ranging from purging voter rolls to law enforcement presence at the polls. Fortunately, many see elements of the SAVE Act for what they are: attempts to prevent eligible voters from exercising their democratic right to vote. A sizable portion of Americans are both concerned about ineligible people voting in elections and eligible Americans being prevented from voting. Despite this, there is broad rejection of Trump’s threats to cancel or redo the election if he is dissatisfied with the outcome.

Click HERE for ASO Communications messaging guidance on protecting our vote in the 2026 midterms.

Give 💰!

CENTRAL VALLEY MATTERS: “SUPPORTING VICTORY” and Flipping CA-22. Tuesday, April 28 at 5:30pm PDT via zoom.

The Central Valley is ready for change. You can help make that change happen.

Please join iconic organizer Dolores Huerta and other community leaders in CA22 at a zoom fundraiser where you’ll learn how local activists are working tirelessly to engage and energize people who have, for too long, been ignored and exploited. CA22 is rated nationally as a key congressional district that must be flipped if we are going to regain control of the House.

To join the zoom: Mobilize link to sign up

To donate: ACT BLUE link to donate

Win Races! 🗳

I highly recommend that we all learn how to participate in Ground Truth—Swing Left’s innovative, people-powered program that’s helping Democrats win back power by reimagining how we talk with voters. I’ve heard extraordinary things about this program and plan to try it myself!

And good news: Swing Left is holding short introductory calls about Ground Truth every Tuesday night! In this 30-minute orientation, you'll learn how to make an impact from anywhere, no matter your schedule or preferred type of action. Whether you want to knock doors, call voters, help recruit volunteers, or more, we need all hands on deck.

Every Tuesday from 8-8:30PM ET. Register here.

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

[To: all 3 reps] [H/T] [Text SIGN PARRWS to 50409, or to @Resistbot on Apple Messages, Messenger, Instagram, or Telegram]

(Note that for the most effective RESISTBOT it’s best to personalize this text. More about how to do this here. But if you’re short on time just send it as is using the above code.)

I am concerned about families struggling to put food on the table in my community, and urge you to restore funding to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) that was cut in the budget reconciliation package last July. SNAP provides many of our neighbors with vital food benefits to purchase groceries from food retailers. It serves people of all ages, staves off hunger, and promotes well-being.

The budget package cut $187 billion from SNAP — the largest cut in the program’s history. More than 42 million people rely on SNAP to help feed their families. But with these cuts, millions of people will go without and face food insecurity.

Families who need help putting food on the table are struggling here in my community and across the country. Over 1.6 million people have already lost access to SNAP benefits since enactment of the budget bill last summer as they face increased “red tape” that makes it harder for eligible families to access benefits. Last summer’s budget bill also took SNAP away from refugees and other legal immigrants, veterans, people experiencing homelessness, and young adults aging out of foster care. And this crisis will only get worse as the historic cuts to SNAP are fully implemented.

As policymakers look to enact a new Farm Bill and/or possible farm relief, you must also focus on helping families facing hunger. An important first step is to answer the call from the bipartisan National Governors Association and ensure all states have more time before imposing additional SNAP costs on their budgets. Please work with your colleagues in a bipartisan effort to restore funding to SNAP to address hunger in our community.

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

Talk soon.

Jess