Save the Forest Service! / Learn how to stop mass detention centers! / STOP FISA CLEAN REAUTHORIZATION! / No more money for war / Impeach and remove / Drill down on Virginia please! / And more!
Today was the worst call YET. I said I was calling (my NYS MAGA Rep Tenney) with my opinion on several issues. That while I USUALLY keep it to two or three (using your script), today, besides your script, it added up to more--10 of them.
1) Reconvene Congress THIS week
2) Pass a war powers resolution
3) Pass the DHS budget minus ICE and CBP (here he began to talk over me, challenging my support of our country against illegal aliens)
4) Protect the USFS against Trump gutting it
5) That I didn't want her to vote for the FISA bill until the loopholes are removed
6) Vote NO on the SAVE America Act, since voter fraud is nonexistent and that is legalized voter suppression, that IS a problem
7) Release ALL the Epstein files
8) (EIGHT) no additional military funding (he started arguing with me again, interrupting, raising his voice, challenging whether I was a real American, and could I REALLY not want to fund them
9)Impeach Trump
10) Impeach Hegseth. He was strident that I NEEDED to give him the specific legal grounds for each, kept threatening to pass along that I COULDN'T give a list of legal reasons, then revised his threat to tell her that I REFUSED to do so.
I turned it back on him and said it's her job to know these things, to know what she swore to do to protect and defend the constitution, and I was sure she DID know the "legal reasons.) He kept riding me to provide reasons and if I didn't he would tell her I couldn't, or wouldn't. Shouting, with a few carefully chosen adjective-swear-words, and finally, my hangup in the middle of his arguing/blathering followed. Adrenaline (and anger) are still pumping, almost a half hour later. Oh, and I called Canandaigua this time. I'd previously had trouble with Oswego, and the DC, offices. Do you have any ideas what we can do about this, if anything? They maintain they are supposed to, and enabled to, correct factual errors.
I "beg to differ" that it's not in any way what they do.
So I called Mike Johnson and Hakeem Jeffries' offices, keeping to the issues in today's script. Also Thune, Schumer and Gillibrand. By the time I'd caught my breath from my clash with Rep Tenney's people, it was just past 5, so even if they did have staff there, they weren't answering calls after hours. Left voicemails. You know, Jess, your work is SO VALUABLE. I'm retired, spend 6-8 hours a day absorbing news and figuring out how to act on it. Thank you for the timeliness and directness you give us for action. I don't think a working person has even a hope, as fast as everything's always coming at us, and as bad as it is. You make it possible for all of us to show up, stand up, and speak out.
Gail, I also just wanted to say that it's really something that you're at it 6-8 hours a day. Do you give yourself breaks? I have devoted that much time, or almost that much, but have had to cut back a little. It depends a bit on home/life circumstances, taking care of my health etc.
Did you get the staffer's name? They shouldn't be hostile and/or threatening you!! The staffers at my MAGA Congressman's office quite often claim to be ignorant of their bosses viewpoint on key issues (IOW nothing at all obscure) which I find frustrating to say the least, but they are always polite and professional. And they always tell me that my message was recorded and will be passed along to my Congressman. Since I usually get an email the same or next day that only vaguely addresses my concern, I assume that they really did at least record my comment!
Have you tried calling a staffer at a satellite (i.e., NOT DC) office? When I have more than 2 issues I want to call about, I split them up and call multiple offices and leave messages (or if I am lucky) speak directly with a staffer.
It looks like Rep. Tenney has three offices in her NY District which list phone numbers:
I don't call my reps' offices. I email them. It makes it easier for me to take Jessica's suggested scripts and reframe them to better express what I want to say.
That's outrageous. I usually just leave a message on a recording, but I sometimes get a live person and they have always been courteous, even when they don't know or won't say their employer's stance on an issue. I know how upsetting the response you received is, and it's uncalled-for and unnecessary stress heaped atop more stress. You could follow up with an email if your blood pressure will take it.
Thank you, Jess! I've been calling about war, USFS, and FISA - thank you for your IG post with phone numbers of particular reps to call about that issue.
Also donated to Rural Ground Game and Common Cause for the Virginia GOTV here
Thanks for the links! I just emailed a company I’ve supported for decades, asking them to speak out about the decimation of the U.S. Forest Service. I hope they will take a stand.
Thanks for all you're doing! I use your scripts to contact my congresspeople regularly.
I do have a question - in general we're urging the Congressperson to do something.
Do you have any suggestions on how to thank Congresspeople who are already doing the thing? Elissa Slotkin is one of my Senators and I really appreciate that she's doing a lot of the things I'm writing about. I write anyway so she has evidence that people support what she's doing, and I try to include my appreciation in my messages, but a script for that would be great!
I completely understand if you don't have time for something like this.
I went to the Save the USFS site which listed all the companies that have made their fortunes by promoting the great outdoors. What if hundreds, or thousands of people wrote letters to the corporate head quarters? For example: L.L. Beans address is 15 Casco Street Freeport, Maine 04033. It serves as their primary office AND for communications and operations. I am writing today. And will write to companies. Soical media is great too.
As always... TERRIFIC! And you encourage me to folllow through - which I do. Yee, save the Forest Service and our public lands. Save them from Mike Lee of Utah!! Which environmental non-profit groups are suing? I spoke with my congressman and he said that being in the minority there's not a lot he can do, but groups like the Sierra Club and others can.
Trump threw a match in a powder keg, and barely contained hell has broken completely loose. I am slogging along doing postcarding every day, unsure how much difference I'm making but feeling like I don't have the choice not to.
Are we lost in the Doom Loop of DJT's brain? If I understand, he has sent JD, our VP, a strong advocate and crusader for Theocratic White Nationalism, Wittcoff, a Real Estate buddy and Jared, his son in law to negotiate with Iran. JD is as much a fascist as DJT, Wittcoff and Kushner are both ardent supporters of the Netanyahu government in Israel. So, I ask. What can go wrong with this strategy?
Is there a betting pool on how soon we're back to threats of TOTAL ANNIHILATION?
I guess this is what happens if you give a 1 trillion dollar war budget to temper tantrum drive baby. Oh. And he wants another $1.5 trillion for war in next year's budget🤯
Good work, Jess!🗽🗽🗽👏👏👏
Thanks! Trying!
YOU are the amazing one, Jess. I don't know how you can work up the energy for this every single day.
Hahaha I'm not super sure myself! (:
Today was the worst call YET. I said I was calling (my NYS MAGA Rep Tenney) with my opinion on several issues. That while I USUALLY keep it to two or three (using your script), today, besides your script, it added up to more--10 of them.
1) Reconvene Congress THIS week
2) Pass a war powers resolution
3) Pass the DHS budget minus ICE and CBP (here he began to talk over me, challenging my support of our country against illegal aliens)
4) Protect the USFS against Trump gutting it
5) That I didn't want her to vote for the FISA bill until the loopholes are removed
6) Vote NO on the SAVE America Act, since voter fraud is nonexistent and that is legalized voter suppression, that IS a problem
7) Release ALL the Epstein files
8) (EIGHT) no additional military funding (he started arguing with me again, interrupting, raising his voice, challenging whether I was a real American, and could I REALLY not want to fund them
9)Impeach Trump
10) Impeach Hegseth. He was strident that I NEEDED to give him the specific legal grounds for each, kept threatening to pass along that I COULDN'T give a list of legal reasons, then revised his threat to tell her that I REFUSED to do so.
I turned it back on him and said it's her job to know these things, to know what she swore to do to protect and defend the constitution, and I was sure she DID know the "legal reasons.) He kept riding me to provide reasons and if I didn't he would tell her I couldn't, or wouldn't. Shouting, with a few carefully chosen adjective-swear-words, and finally, my hangup in the middle of his arguing/blathering followed. Adrenaline (and anger) are still pumping, almost a half hour later. Oh, and I called Canandaigua this time. I'd previously had trouble with Oswego, and the DC, offices. Do you have any ideas what we can do about this, if anything? They maintain they are supposed to, and enabled to, correct factual errors.
I "beg to differ" that it's not in any way what they do.
So I called Mike Johnson and Hakeem Jeffries' offices, keeping to the issues in today's script. Also Thune, Schumer and Gillibrand. By the time I'd caught my breath from my clash with Rep Tenney's people, it was just past 5, so even if they did have staff there, they weren't answering calls after hours. Left voicemails. You know, Jess, your work is SO VALUABLE. I'm retired, spend 6-8 hours a day absorbing news and figuring out how to act on it. Thank you for the timeliness and directness you give us for action. I don't think a working person has even a hope, as fast as everything's always coming at us, and as bad as it is. You make it possible for all of us to show up, stand up, and speak out.
Thank you! That's the whole idea!
That sounds like an infuriating phone call today. That was unacceptable behavior on the part of the person you spoke to!
Gail, I also just wanted to say that it's really something that you're at it 6-8 hours a day. Do you give yourself breaks? I have devoted that much time, or almost that much, but have had to cut back a little. It depends a bit on home/life circumstances, taking care of my health etc.
I mean, if you record it, and if it's legal, I'll post a clip on social.
Did you get the staffer's name? They shouldn't be hostile and/or threatening you!! The staffers at my MAGA Congressman's office quite often claim to be ignorant of their bosses viewpoint on key issues (IOW nothing at all obscure) which I find frustrating to say the least, but they are always polite and professional. And they always tell me that my message was recorded and will be passed along to my Congressman. Since I usually get an email the same or next day that only vaguely addresses my concern, I assume that they really did at least record my comment!
Have you tried calling a staffer at a satellite (i.e., NOT DC) office? When I have more than 2 issues I want to call about, I split them up and call multiple offices and leave messages (or if I am lucky) speak directly with a staffer.
It looks like Rep. Tenney has three offices in her NY District which list phone numbers:
https://tenney.house.gov/contact/offices
I don't call my reps' offices. I email them. It makes it easier for me to take Jessica's suggested scripts and reframe them to better express what I want to say.
That's outrageous. I usually just leave a message on a recording, but I sometimes get a live person and they have always been courteous, even when they don't know or won't say their employer's stance on an issue. I know how upsetting the response you received is, and it's uncalled-for and unnecessary stress heaped atop more stress. You could follow up with an email if your blood pressure will take it.
Thank you, Jess! I've been calling about war, USFS, and FISA - thank you for your IG post with phone numbers of particular reps to call about that issue.
Also donated to Rural Ground Game and Common Cause for the Virginia GOTV here
https://www.virginiagrassroots.org/voteYES/voteyes_resources.php?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
Thanks so much!
A respite from the chaos:
visit https://www.dailyhaikuforyou2026.net
Thanks for the links! I just emailed a company I’ve supported for decades, asking them to speak out about the decimation of the U.S. Forest Service. I hope they will take a stand.
Thank you so much!
Thanks for all you're doing! I use your scripts to contact my congresspeople regularly.
I do have a question - in general we're urging the Congressperson to do something.
Do you have any suggestions on how to thank Congresspeople who are already doing the thing? Elissa Slotkin is one of my Senators and I really appreciate that she's doing a lot of the things I'm writing about. I write anyway so she has evidence that people support what she's doing, and I try to include my appreciation in my messages, but a script for that would be great!
I completely understand if you don't have time for something like this.
I went to the Save the USFS site which listed all the companies that have made their fortunes by promoting the great outdoors. What if hundreds, or thousands of people wrote letters to the corporate head quarters? For example: L.L. Beans address is 15 Casco Street Freeport, Maine 04033. It serves as their primary office AND for communications and operations. I am writing today. And will write to companies. Soical media is great too.
As always... TERRIFIC! And you encourage me to folllow through - which I do. Yee, save the Forest Service and our public lands. Save them from Mike Lee of Utah!! Which environmental non-profit groups are suing? I spoke with my congressman and he said that being in the minority there's not a lot he can do, but groups like the Sierra Club and others can.
Thank you for your intelligence, and your love and passion for our great Nation and democracy!
Trump threw a match in a powder keg, and barely contained hell has broken completely loose. I am slogging along doing postcarding every day, unsure how much difference I'm making but feeling like I don't have the choice not to.
#Repealthe19thWorldwide 🌝👍
Jess, I'm hoping you might amplify the need for the public to comment on three proposed HUD rules that will be, if implemented, devastating to all people who access federal housing benefits, particularly immigrants. More information is available here: https://nlihc.org/resource/take-action-oppose-harmful-hud-proposed-rules-would-jeopardize-housing-assistance
Are we lost in the Doom Loop of DJT's brain? If I understand, he has sent JD, our VP, a strong advocate and crusader for Theocratic White Nationalism, Wittcoff, a Real Estate buddy and Jared, his son in law to negotiate with Iran. JD is as much a fascist as DJT, Wittcoff and Kushner are both ardent supporters of the Netanyahu government in Israel. So, I ask. What can go wrong with this strategy?
Is there a betting pool on how soon we're back to threats of TOTAL ANNIHILATION?
I guess this is what happens if you give a 1 trillion dollar war budget to temper tantrum drive baby. Oh. And he wants another $1.5 trillion for war in next year's budget🤯
yes, mind-blowing
https://substack.com/@thewahine/note/c-240895789?r=5otbvt