Chop Wood, Carry Water 4/29

Oh Canada!

Photo by Justin Tang/the Canadian Press AP

Hi, all, and happy Tuesday!

Also, happy Canada election result day! What a sweet relief! In case you haven’t heard, Trump managed to do something no Republican president has done before: help win an election for a previously doomed liberal in a country not his own. A remarkable achievement.

There’s more: Canadian Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre didn’t just lose his bid to become Prime Minister — he lost his own seat in Parliament. He’ll apparently still remain the opposition leader—a conservative in a safe seat will step down so he can have his or her seat. Still, it seems like it was a pretty humiliating night for him. Good.

If there’s anything positive to come out of our awful situation, then, it may be a resurgence of liberal governments not just here, eventually, but worldwide now. One can hope! At the very least this is a giant humiliation for Trump and a clear rejection of everything he stands for. It’s also very good for Canada, period.

On an unrelated note, thanks to those of you who came to my Live yesterday. It was lovely to see so many of you there from all across the country. I think we had someone from every state in attendance! Yes, including Alaska.

For those who didn’t watch, one of the subjects I covered in the Live was Rep. Thanedar’s newly introduced articles of impeachment. I was unaware, when I wrote my call script yesterday, that these articles were coming, but it was thrilling to learn of the coincidence. The introduction of these first articles—and there will be more—is an important turning point. Of course we won’t be able to impeach Trump without a majority in the House. That’s not why we’re calling for it. We’re calling for it because a) it’s the right thing to do b) there is such a thing as building momentum and c) it’s a way to draw public attention to the terrible things he’s doing.

I do, however, want to address the viewers who said, in effect, “of course I want him gone, but then we end up with Vance and Mike Johnson and that's worse!” So here’s my response:

Yes, were Trump to be impeached—which, again, isn’t happening any time soon— we’d get Vance, and Vance is awful. Nevertheless, no one has the cult-like support that Trump does. Vance is roundly disliked, even by people in his own party. Voters won’t follow him blindly off a cliff they way they will Trump. Most importantly, Trump has committed multiple impeachable offenses. We’d be abdicating responsibility not to say so.

Also? Republicans started calling for Biden's impeachment BEFORE HE WAS EVEN SWORN IN. Once he was president they spent years holding hearings about it, while never finding a shred of evidence against him. We are not going to do less when Trump has actually violated the constitution.

Again. Trump will not be impeached in the House and removed by the Senate right now. There are all kinds of reasons for that, including that we don’t have majorities in either chamber. But that doesn’t mean that we should let his lawlessness and dictatorial impulses go unchallenged. Calling for impeachment allows us to highlight all he’s doing that is simply wrong. It is morally incumbent upon us to do so.

Of course we will not only focus on this. We can walk, chew gum, juggle plates, and dance a tango at the same time. We have long practice at it. But impeachment is an idea we must not dismiss, no matter how remote the chances of it now. We’ve all said the Pledge of Allegiance. We all owe our country at least this much.

OK, enough on that! A friendly reminder that I’ll be doing a Substack Live with

Qasim Rashid, Esq.

at 2PM PT today. Hope some of you can watch!

And Thursday at 1PM PT I’ll be doing a Substack Live with former SSA Administrator Governor Martin O’Malley! Bring your Social Security questions!

OK, my dears. Deep breaths. Know that, as hard as this is, we’re up to it. Know that we’re making progress. Know that we’ll win.

Then let’s get to work!

Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲

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

I know the Senate is set to vote as soon as today on S.J. Res. 49, a bipartisan resolution of disapproval that would block Trump’s use of a national emergencies statute to justify his tariffs. I want the Senator to support it. These tariffs are a new tax on Americans and a disaster for people like me—economists are now predicting they’ll put us in a recession by summer. Consumer confidence is at its lowest level since May 2020. We’re in dangerous waters. Congress needs to act. Thanks.

[If your Senator is a Democrat add**:]

Also, I want the Senator to support the growing calls for Senator Schumer to step down from his leadership position. We’re in a constitutional crisis; we need leadership to act accordingly. Strongly worded letters will not suffice. Democrats need someone who is fierce, courageous and willing to act outside of the box. He has to go. Thanks.

[**This is part of a nationwide day of action by Indivisible and other groups.]

Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲

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

[If your Congressmember is a Democrat start with this:]

I’m calling to ask the Congressmember to urge Speaker Jeffries to appoint Alexandria Ocasio Cortez to the ranking position on the Oversight Committee being vacated by Rep. Connolly. She’s the right person for the job and the messenger we need. Voters like me will be very disappointed if she doesn’t receive it.

[Then for everyone:]

I’m calling to urge the Congressmember to oppose any budget reconciliation bill that cuts Medicaid, reduces Medicaid expansion, or imposes Medicaid work requirements. Medicaid is a lifeline for millions of Americans and rural health systems. Reducing its federal budget would cut off millions of people from needed health care and destroy lives and local economies. This is a program that works. Don’t mess with it! Especially not to give tax cuts to rich people. Thanks. [H/T]

Get Smart! 📚

Join the Congressional Progressive Caucus Center for Resisting the Rollback: Defending Public Education With Resolve and Resilience on April 30 at 3PM ET!

This Zoom briefing will bring together leaders from across the education landscape to break down how the Trump Administration has targeted students and educators, from K-12 to higher ed. They’ll discuss these threats’ real-world impacts on families and communities, as well as models for navigating these challenges with resilience.

You’ll hear from:

* Princess Moss, Vice President, National Education Association
* Uriah Ward, Board Member, Saint Paul Public Schools
* Dr. Jill Penn, Treasurer, United Campus Workers Southeast
* Chenelle Hammonds, Senior Policy Associate, CPC Center (moderator)

Register here.

Messaging! Messaging! Messaging! 📣

America’s Voice is out with a new polling memo that shows that Americans’ support for mass deportation is far less robust than it may seem at first glance— it starts to break down the minute you explain what Trump’s actual mass deportation program is.

The short memo is worth a read so you can frame the way you talk about this issue with less-informed Americans.

Grab Your Wallet! 💳

The Good Newsletter published “the guide you’ve been waiting (and asking) for: Target alternatives (that aren’t Walmart or Costco).” There’s some great stuff there.

Win Races! 🗳

Tomorrow I’ll be interviewing New Jersey gubernatorial candidate and Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill on Instagram Live at 1:10PM PT / 4:10PM ET. She’s likely to win the Democratic primary for NJ Governor and, if we’re lucky, then prevail in the race!

She’ll be more likely to do so with early support, so come check her out and see what you think! (I think you’ll be impressed.)

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

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

The so-called "Strengthening and Unleashing America's Law Enforcement" executive order represents an alarming escalation of authoritarian overreach and a blatant violation of the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878, which strictly prohibits the use of military forces for domestic law enforcement purposes. The very notion of deploying troops to "prevent crime" on American streets is anathema to the core values of a free and democratic society. Such a move would only sow further division, mistrust, and animosity between the people and those sworn to protect them.

The American public resoundingly rejects the deployment of a militarized police state under the guise of maintaining order. We demand that Congress take immediate and decisive action to nullify this unconstitutional executive order and reaffirm the fundamental principles of civil liberties and democratic governance. Any attempt to circumvent legal constraints and exploit military capabilities for repressive domestic policies must be unequivocally denounced and struck down.

The founding ideals of this nation stand in stark opposition to the imposition of jackbooted authoritarianism. Congress must rise to defend the rights and freedoms that millions have fought and died to uphold. Failing to do so would be a unconscionable dereliction of duty and a betrayal of the democratic mandate.

I call upon my elected representatives to show true leadership and moral courage in the face of this egregious executive overreach by swiftly nullifying this order and reaffirming our nation's commitment to liberty, justice, and the rule of law.

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

Talk soon.

Jess