Chop Wood, Carry Water 5/10 🙌🏼

Hi all, and happy Wednesday!

Every once in a while we get a really good day, and yesterday was one of them.

I need hardly repeat the litany, but I will, because it’s fun!

Trump was found liable for both the sexual abuse and defamation of E. Jean Carroll. He was fined 5 million dollars. 🙌🏼🙌🏼

George Santos has been charged with 13 counts of fraud, money laundering, and other financial crimes. He’s in federal custody! 🙌🏼🙌🏼

Dianne Feinstein returned—many thanks to those of you who made calls demanding she either do so or resign—and the Committee on the Judiciary can now get back to work referring previously blocked nominees to the full Senate. But that’s not all! Dick Durbin can subpoena Chief Justice Roberts. Democrats can confirm Juli Su. The Senate can pass a clean debt ceiling bill. I could go on. 🙌🏼🙌🏼

The three events listed above could all have seismic consequences. And yet none of them seemed possible—or even likely—two days ago. Let this be another reminder that the currents of history are turbulent, turbid, and usually run deep below the surface. We can think we know what’s going to happen next; in almost every case we will be wrong. That’s why panicking over predictions of the future is largely a waste of time. We are almost always panicking over figments! The future never plays out in quite the way we think it will.

So let’s focus on the day we have and enjoy our schadenfreude while it lasts. We should celebrate the judges who are about to be confirmed, the wonderful Labor Secretary we’re (hopefully) about to get, and the justice that has finally come—in part, at least—for two very bad men.

Then, of course, let’s continue to take the actions that we take every day—on good days and bad. After all, that’s what chopping wood and carrying water is all about!

And you, my friends, are very, very good at it.

Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲

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

I’m calling to ask the Senator to prioritize confirming Juli Su to chair the Board of Labor. She is pro-worker, pro-union, and advocates for benefits for working families. Will the Senator support her? [If yes thank. If no demand to know why not.]

Speaking of labor, is the Senator yet a co-sponsor on S. 567, the Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2023? This bill is supported not just by me but by most Americans—I’m sure the Senator knows that approval of labor unions is at the highest point since 1965. Will the Senator support it? [If yes thank. If no demand to know why not.]

Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲

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

First, is the Congressmember yet a co-sponsor on H.R. 20, the Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2023? This bill is supported not just by me but by most Americans—I’m sure the Congressmember knows that approval of labor unions is at the highest point since 1965. Will the Congressmember support it? [If yes thank. If no demand to know why not.]

One more thing: the House needs to raise the debt ceiling now with no strings attached. [If GOP add:] Americans are angry that Republicans are playing politics with our financial futures. We will punish them at the polls if they don’t knock it off. Thanks.

Extra Credit ✅

Let’s call Dick Durbin—again!—at 217-492-4062 or 312-353-4952 or 309-786-5173 or 618-351-1122 or 202-224-2152 and say:

I’m calling Senator Durbin in his capacity as Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Now that Dianne Feinstein is back I want him to immediately subpoena Chief Justice Roberts. It’s unacceptable that he declined your recent invitation to testify before the Committee regarding ethics violations amongst his justices. The grave and widespread nature of the corruption that’s coming to light demands that Roberts testify. If he refuses to do so voluntarily then Chairman Durbin needs to make him. Please take the gloves off. Our highest court is broken. Thanks.

Extra Extra Credit ✅✅

I just sent the below to CNN through their feedback form. Join me if you feel the same, but please personalize.

I'm writing to demand that, in light of the fact that he's just been found liable for sexual abuse and defamation, you cancel the Town Hall with Donald Trump tonight. It was already an outrage that you gave him this forum when he's trafficked with Nazis and led an insurrection against the US government. But with this new verdict it's clear he must not be treated like a "normal candidate." Allowing him this platform would be a slap in the face to victims of sexual abuse all over the country. I fully intend to boycott your channel if you go through with this, and I can assure you I'm not alone. Trump is a serial sexual predator, an insurrectionist, and a white supremacist. He should be nowhere on your primetime lineup. Thanks.

Get Smart! 📚

Worried about Biden’s re-election chances? Read this and share it—you’ll feel so much better! I would have saved it for “Extra! Extra!” but I figured y’all could use it sooner. Then share it with everyone you know!

Spread the Word! 📣

If you didn’t get to watch Simon Rosenberg’s updated “With Democrats Things Get Better” presentation yesterday I encourage you to do so here—it’s only 1/2 hour!—then please share, share, share! These wins are literally the most important message we can spread—they need amplification.

Help Pass an Assault Weapons Ban!!

Sam Schwartz is a teenager whose cousin Alex Schachter was murdered with an AR-15 at Parkland. He has decided to lead a sit-in in DC the entire week of June 6th to demand that Congress finally takes a vote to ban assault weapons. He is asking you to join him.

If you are interested in attending, please fill out this Google form. He has also set up a Go-fund-me for the event.

Please help spread the news.

Win Races! 🗳

Tomorrow I’m phonebanking for Donna Deegan with the Duvall Dems. Simon Rosenberg has told us repeatedly how important this election is. Will you come help? Thursday, May 11, 4:30 – 6pm EDT.

Use this link to sign up.

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

[to your HOUSE rep] [H/T] [Quick send: text SIGN PCRCJT]

As your constituent, I am urging you to become an original co-sponsor to forthcoming legislation from Rep. Steve Cohen that would seek to tax private jet usage.

When flying commercial, we all pay a 7.5% tax on the price of the ticket, plus a passenger facility charge of up to $4.50. But private jet fliers? They only pay a fuel surcharge tax of just $0.22 per gallon of jet fuel -- and thanks to the Trump Tax Cuts in 2017 -- businesses can deduct 100% of the cost of a private plane from their tax bills. They do all this while being serviced by municipal airports and runways that are funded with public dollars.

Private jets are also responsible for roughly half of all aviation carbon emissions.

A global transfer tax on all private jets and a private jet fuel tax would force ultra-wealthy polluters to unburden taxpayers from subsidizing their plane costs. For example, in 2022, Musk bought a $78 million private jet, took 171 flights, contributed to the consumption of 837,934 liters of jet fuel, and was responsible for 2,112 tons of carbon emissions. A 10% sales tax on the purchase of pre-owned aircraft, plus a 5% sales tax on new aircraft transactions, would have resulted in billionaire Elon Musk owing a $3.9 million tax bill in 2022.

If the ultra-wealthy want to fly in their private jets, they should pay their part, and Rep. Cohen’s legislation would make them do just that.

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

Talk soon.

Jess