Chop Wood, Carry Water 4/3

Another great one from the Visibility Brigade!

Hi, all, and happy Thursday.

Hope you’re holding up OK.

I’ll start with a couple of corrections to yesterday’s newsletter. First, my profound apologies for never saying Susan Crawford’s name—yikes! Thanks to everyone who wrote in to point it out; it was an odd oversight on my part. So let me state it clearly: the candidate who won the Supreme Court race in Wisconsin on Tuesday was Susan Crawford! Susan Crawford! Susan Crawford! There—I’ve said it many times to make amends. Sorry, Judge Crawford!

The second correction came in via reader Kate L. She said:

I live in Dane County, WI and we didn't "flip" the county executive position - the Democratic incumbent won. She was endorsed by our last county executive, a Dem who served for 13 years. I don't think there's been a Republican in that position since... at least the 80s?

Good to know. Sorry I got that wrong as well! I try hard to get my facts right but occasionally I goof. I’m so glad you folks always set me straight.

Now on to “ordinary” business—as if anything that’s happening right now is ordinary. Trump announced his “Liberation Day” tariffs yesterday; today the markets are crashing. Chaos is ensuing, and that’s what happens when you put a repeated bankrupt in charge of the U.S economy. It’s a stressful moment, but we still have our voices, so we’ll use them. There should be an absolute uproar about this madness, and that’s one thing we’re very good at providing.

On another note, Unrig the Rules is out with a new explainer about the budget resolution the Senate will vote on any day now. It’s an unbelievably helpful post—I can’t recommend reading it highly enough. Honestly, it’s mindblowing what Republicans are trying to pull off, and Senate Republicans are being especially sneaky and duplicitous about it. It’s important that we understand what’s happening so we don’t get gaslit by lawmakers or their staffers when we call. Please take a read if you get a chance.

I’m also trying to arrange having Catherine Rowland, who writes these updates, on my Live on Monday so she can answer all of your budget bill-related questions. Hopefully we can work out the logistics—she’s an absolute font of good information. I’ll let you know soon.

OK, all. Things are really rocky right now, but we will continue taking our hopeful actions. Instead of worrying about what happens tomorrow, let’s focus on what we can do today. That’s how we stay sane…and also how we win. Don’t forget it!

Now let’s get to work.

Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲

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

First, I’m calling because I’m furious about Trump’s tariffs. They are going to crash our economy, destroy our standing in the world, and financially wreck Americans like me. Congress has the power to repeal them by ending Trump’s so-called emergency, and they must. If Congress doesn’t step in right now to protect working Americans we will never, ever forget it.

Second, I know that Senate Republicans plan to use sneaky tricks to pass a budget resolution that will slash Medicaid and SNAP and blow up the deficit. They are even talking about going around the Parliamentarian in order to do so. How dare they? I expect the Senator to vote no on any reconciliation package that gives tax cuts to rich people and corporations while gutting programs that help regular Americans— all while exploding our deficit. All the tricks in the world won’t make this OK. Vote no. Thanks.

Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲

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

First, I’m calling because I’m furious about Trump’s tariffs. They are going to crash our economy, destroy our standing in the world, and financially wreck Americans like me. Congress has the power to repeal them by ending Trump’s so-called emergency, and they must. If Congress doesn’t step in right now to protect working Americans we will never, ever forget it.

Also, I want the Congressmember to vocally oppose the recent cuts to the Department of Health and Human Services. These cuts endanger everything from infectious disease control and cancer research to essential programs like Head Start and Meals on Wheels. I also want the Congressmember to demand Secretary Kennedy attend congressional hearings to explain the reasoning behind these dangerous changes. Thanks. [H/T]

Extra Credit ✅

Subscriber Pam T. wrote to say that her local political group is asking people to contact their alma maters to ask them to stand strong against the Trump regime. Let’s join them!

Look up the president of your alma mater (search “contact president ________ college/university”). You can use your own words or simply say,

My name is _____. I graduated from _____ in [year].

I’m writing because I know higher education is under attack by this presidential administration. It’s crucial that instead of obeying in advance, you work with other higher education leaders to speak out strongly against the authoritarian tactics of the Trump administration. Please be on the right side of history, not the wrong one.

Thank you for doing your part to protect our freedoms.

Great idea! I sent my note to Northwestern University’s president yesterday. Now it’s your turn.

Get Smart! 📚

Public Education Is Under Attack.

➡️ Do you care about your local public school?
➡️ Do you rely on financial aid to go to college?
➡️ Do you want youth with disabilities to get the support they need?
➡️ Do you believe teachers deserve job security and fair pay?

If you said yes to any of the above, join Popular Democracy for a national organizing call to discuss what’s happening, what it means for you and your community, and how to take action.

🗓 Wednesday, April 9

⏰ 7 PM ET / 6 PM CT / 4 PM PT

Register here.

Messaging! Messaging! Messaging! 📣

As we get close to Saturday, here’s another DemCast toolkit to promote Hands Off events. Try it! It’s so easy to use!

Save Social Security!

My informant at the SSA sent me a document they wrote explaining how to protect both your own SS benefits and the institution as a whole. It’s in a docX form, which I can’t attach here, so I copied and pasted it onto a google doc, which you can find here. Please share!

(Sorry about the formatting—I couldn’t get it exactly right, but all the info is there. If someone knows how to fix it let me know and I’ll make you an editor.)

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

[To: your HOUSE Rep] [H/T Retired teacher activist Erich M.] [Text SIGN PDQARR to 50409, or to @Resistbot on Apple Messages, Messenger, Instagram, or Telegram]

Please ask the Congressmember to vote yes on S.1077, the 2025 District of Columbia Local Funds Act.

This act will allow the DC mayor to spend local DC tax revenue that has already been collected. The act does not draw on federal tax revenues. If not allowed to spend the $1B already collected, the DC Council and mayor will have to slash funds for teachers, police officers, fire fighters and other emergency staff, reduce funds for the Metro bus and subway service, as well as health services and even retirees’ pensions! The resulting disruption to city services would harm residents and people who work in the city. It would also discourage Americans from visiting their nation’s capital. Please vote yes! Thanks.

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

Talk soon.

Jess