Chop Wood, Carry Water 4/4
America is not all bad!
Hi, all, and happy Thursday!
I don’t know about you, but I’ve been playing Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter” on repeat since it dropped last week. It’s a spectacular album—to me, at least. Listening to it this morning on my walk I had a moment of revelation: as broken as our country is, it is also capable of producing an artist like Beyoncé. No other country in the world would or could. She is uniquely American, as is her latest masterwork. This is something for all of us to be deeply proud of.
People regularly comment on my TikToks with the words “I hate it here.” And I get it. But I think we must resist the temptation to reduce our country to its worst elements. Yes, the U.S. is a mess. Some of the people who live here are awful. But we have also always had citizens bursting with creativity, genius, invention, beauty, leadership, persistence, and power despite, and perhaps because of their contact with our country’s most rotten parts. Beyoncé is one such citizen. There are countless others.
I’d go a step further and argue that the things about this country that Republicans hate—and which they are striving desperately to quell—are exactly the things we should love and celebrate about it. Our tolerance. Our diversity. Our pluralism. Our ability to be resilient in the face of obstacles. Our openness to at least talking about race—I’ve been reminded this week that for all of Europe’s delights it is far less open-minded where this issue is concerned.
So instead of “hating it here,” let’s focus on the best of what this country is—the countless, magnificent sparks that have risen from the ash heap of our history and created flames of exquisite, uniquely American genius. Talk about a Phoenix rising!
I re-discovered my patriotism this morning in a critically acclaimed, groundbreaking country record by a Black, female artist who was told she had no business being in country music.
Maybe you’ll find it there, too.
P.S. — I am trying my hand at reading the newsletter aloud this morning—please let me know how you like it if audio versions are your thing!
Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
I’m extremely concerned that there is a bill on the books, the Comstock Act, that can be weaponized at any time to essentially ban all abortions and maybe even birth control—without the need for Congressional approval! This law, which was passed 151 years ago, contains language that explicitly prohibits the shipment of “every article or thing designed, adapted or intended for producing abortion.” I understand that Senator Tina Smith is working to introduce a bill to overturn it—I want the Senator to sign on as a co-author. Will s/he do so right away?
Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
I’m extremely concerned that there is a bill on the books, the Comstock Act, that can be weaponized at any time to essentially ban all abortions and maybe even birth control—without the need for Congressional approval! This law, which was passed 151 years ago, contains language that explicitly prohibits the shipment of “every article or thing designed, adapted or intended for producing abortion.” I understand that Congresswoman Cori Bush wants to introduce a bill to overturn it—I want the Congressmember to sign on as a co-author. Will s/he do so right away?
Extra Credit ✅
Public Citizen has a new tool to help you send a letter to your local editor about Trump’s New York trial. Remember, most Americans are fuzzy on the details of Trump’s criminal trials; we can and should help educate them by posting a letter with more information, as well as a call to action demanding accountability.
Get Smart! 📚
TONIGHT, Thursday April 4, 8-9PM ET, learn how to counter Project 2025 to safeguard Social Security, IVF Access, and Affordable Healthcare.
MAGA Republicans have rolled out their 2025 agenda, including proposals to slash social security, restrict access to IVF, and dismantle the Affordable Care Act. We can take action right now to prevent Project 2025 from becoming a reality!
Join the DNC to hear about their strategy for disseminating on-message information on the necessity of re-electing President Biden and Vice President Harris and electing Democrats up and down the ballot.
Spread the Word! 📣
From the folks at Building Back Together. Please share.
Fact Sheet: House Republicans Propose Severely Undermining Fight Against Opioid Crisis in Latest Extreme Budget Proposal
The Republican Study Committee, which represents 100% of House Republican leadership and about 80% of their members, released a budget that would severely cut critical funding for states to respond to the overdose epidemic.
The budget would cut critical investments in families and communities by over 30 percent. That would include slashing funding for State Opioid Response Grants – the primary way the federal government helps states and territories fight the opioid epidemic. At a time when more than 27 million Americans had a drug use disorder in 2022, and when we are losing one American to drug overdose every five minutes, House Republicans are proposing to rip away life-saving treatment for opioid use disorder. These cuts are on top of the $4.5 trillion they want to cut from Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act, which would throw millions off their coverage and cut services for many more, including people who depend on these programs for mental health and substance use disorder care.
Under House Republicans’ latest budget proposal, nearly 39,000 fewer Americans across the country would be served by this critical program.
Give 💰!
I’ve had lots of folks writing asking for a link to my strategic giving webinar, so I’m going to include it here one more time. The webinar is here, and my Give Smart document, which contains links to all the organizations I talk about in the webinar (and a few others) is here. Enjoy, and please share!
Win Races! 🗳
We have a chance to flip (another) state house seat, this time in Pennsylvania!
Democrat Robin Skibber is running in a special election on April 23. The seat overlaps with Rep. Matt Cartwright’s 8th Congressional District and you'll speak with voters for both candidates! Matt's seat is critical to Democrats keeping the House. Both candidates are strong supporters of abortion rights. (Cartwright earned an “F” rating from national antiabortion groups.) And finally, these calls will fortify votes that will keep Pennsylvania in Joe Biden’s winning column in November.
Sign up for a calling shift here. Or make a donation here.
Resistbot Letter (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.) 💻
[To: your HOUSE rep ] [H/T] [Text SIGN PWAYKR to Resistbot at 50409 or via Apple Messages / WHATSAPP / MESSENGER]
As a constituent, I'm emailing to ask you to co-sponsor H.R. 732, the Save Medicare Act.
Medicare Advantage plans use deceptive marketing to oversell and overcharge for their private health care plans, and then underdeliver on care. These private insurers are using government funding to increase their own profits, at the expense of their patients. And they take so much from the Medicare trust fund, that it’s threatening the solvency and future of traditional Medicare.
Congress must act to rein in Medicare Advantage, and should start by giving it a more accurate name. It is not Medicare and should not be advertised as such. The Save Medicare Act would force these plans to stop using “Medicare” in their name and would establish penalties for private insurers who don’t comply. Seniors and people with disabilities deserve to have this level of transparency when choosing their health care.
Please protect traditional Medicare by cosponsoring this bill.
OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk soon.
Jess
We left in 2018 primarily for financial reasons. I was downsized at 54 and was unable to find anything other than short-term contract work. Needed to find someplace cheaper to live (first Guatemala then Mexico in 2021, and returned to the US last July as our financial situation improved). I did think that leaving would lead me to be less upset about 2016 and dump. Problem is, I’m still a US citizen, and watching from abroad isn’t any better. I did vote absentee and volunteered with Democrats Abroad. Living in the 3rd (and 2nd) world has its own myriad difficulties. I also grew up outside the US. It’s not necessarily better “over there.” A place is what we make it.
I think a lot of the people who talk about hating this country also assume that the other developed countries and problem-free utopias, which makes it seem even worse. But as you said, theres a lot of things to love about this country, and while we have a lot to work on, we also have the tools and the drive to do it. Just my two cents 😅