Chop Wood, Carry Water 5/1

Special (late) May Day edition

Hey, all, and happy May Day!

I’m so sorry I didn’t send out a regular newsletter today! My May Day event started in Downtown L.A. at 9AM and went for hours—it was sponsored by about 90 different orgs, including basically every labor union in L.A., and it seemed every one of them wanted to field a speaker before we could start marching. By the time it was done I had to rush home to do my interview with Governor O’Malley, (see below) then rush out for an appointment. It’s been quite a day.

I very much look forward to hearing how your May Day events were—ours was a great success! We had a pretty big crowd, and the solidarity, determination, and sense of community amongst attendees were palpable. I’ve been too busy to check the news today, however, so I have no idea how things went in the rest of the country. Please let me know in the comments!

I also hope some of you, at least, will be interested in my very deep dive into Social Security, DOGE’s attacks on it, and what its future might be with former Governor Martin O’Malley of Maryland. We talked for awhile—there was a lot to say!—and I found it both sobering, informative, and at least slightly hopeful. O’Malley is a nice guy who really cares about this issue—he was the SSA administrator in 2024, and he’s been traveling around the country banging the drum about the danger this program is in; if we manage to save any of it he will be at least partially responsible.

He also kept himself busy by singing and playing the guitar in my "virtual recording studio” while he waited for me to get started recording—he’s good! I wish I’d gotten some of it on tape!

Anyway, enjoy the conversation. I’ll be back with a regular newsletter tomorrow AM.

Thanks!

Jess