Chop Wood, Carry Water 5/16

Life is in full session!

Hi, all, and happy Thursday!

There’s lots happening, as always. Biden got Trump to agree to two presidential debates on his terms; if they actually happen I think it’ll be a really good thing for us. Trump sycophants continue to show up in court—many wearing the same Trump-inspired outfit! Gag! The CFPB got a break from the Supreme Court, as did Louisiana, for now, (although maybe for the wrong reasons), but we wait with bated breath for other, almost certainly disastrous decisions. The Biden-Harris Administration is taking a major step to reclassify marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug under federal law.

There’s more! A Kansas City Chiefs kicker made a graduation speech so jawdroppingly benighted, misogynistic and homophobic that he’s now, rightly, facing “intense backlash.” North Carolina Republicans are attempting to ban the wearing of face masks in public for anyone, and Florida is seeing record heat in the same week that DeSantis signed a law that will scrub all mentions of climate change from the state’s websites.

I could go on, but you get the point. And the upshot of all of it is the same: MAGA Republicans and their Christian Nationalist followers are a danger to our union, our system of justice, our freedoms, our health, and our planet. Our MAGA courts are as well—even though they occasionally don’t do the worst (a low bar).

As for President Biden and the Democrats? While far from perfect, they keep plugging along, doing the unglamorous, intelligent, dutiful work necessary to protect our freedoms, expand our rights, and bolster our democracy. They respect our system of laws. They believe in public health. They support and want to expand our freedoms. They acknowledge the reality of climate change and seek to address it.

In other words, they are working for us. What a concept!

And then there’s you. You, who are sending postcards, holding Vote Forward letter writing parties, starting Giving Circles, attending phonebanks, and meeting in clubhouses (shout out to the Pasco County Dems in Florida, with whom I visited on Zoom yesterday!) You’re knocking doors, sending texts, and registering voters. You’re calling your reps. You’re VOTING!

You’re doing the work of democracy, in short, when it needs you the most.

I know you are, because I see you doing it! And it makes me so proud to know you.

This is hard. It’s relentless. We’re in a world of crazy.

But the eye in the middle of the storm is you. And us. Holding together and doing the work. One day, one action at a time. It’s a long, hard slog, but we have everything we need to win—the smarts, the strength, the numbers. We just need to not “quit before the miracle.”

So let’s get to work one more time!

P.S. — If you missed the Run For Something webinar on “reverse coattails” yesterday the recording is here.

Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲

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

I’m horrified by the new report saying that as of early May fifty billionaire families have already injected over $600 million into this election cycle. The influence of billionaire money in our democratic process is a failure of public policy. Our campaign-finance system needs to be reformed to create real limits on political spending and full disclosure of campaign giving. And we need more effective taxation of billionaire wealth. It’s not a democracy when the richest few can buy elections. It’s got to stop. Thanks.

Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲

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

I’m horrified by the new report saying that as of early May fifty billionaire families have already injected over $600 million into this election cycle. The influence of billionaire money in our democratic process is a failure of public policy. Our campaign-finance system needs to be reformed to create real limits on political spending and full disclosure of campaign giving. And we need more effective taxation of billionaire wealth. It’s not a democracy when the richest few can buy elections. It’s got to stop. Thanks.

Extra Credit ✅

Did you know that we (citizens) can fill out a form for the removal of judge Aileen Cannon? It’s called the Judicial Conduct Complaint Form & can be downloaded at UScourts.gov. I haven’t tried it yet, but one of my subscribers found it and asked me to share. Maybe some of you will feel so inspired? If you do, please share what you wrote in the comments!

Get Smart! 📚

Are you concerned about the havoc Louis DeJoy is wreaking on the USPS?

The Save the Post Office Coalition represents over 300 public interest groups that came together when DeJoy was appointed Postmaster General and began slowing down the mail. They are fighting to protect and expand the postal service, but they can’t do it alone. Learn more about their work and actions you can take to Save the Post Office by clicking here.

Spread the Word! 📣

A new report released yesterday by Americans for Tax Fairness reveals the obscene amount of influence billionaire families are wielding over our politics.

DemCast created a social media toolkit based on the key findings in the report. This is an important moment to beat the drum in favor of a billionaire tax and campaign finance reform! Please share a post or two across social channels:

Also, Americans For Tax Fairness has a great Substack; their latest post beautifully explains the new report and how we got here.

Give 💰!

The Biden campaign is running a contest for one lucky winner and a guest to fly to Los Angeles and hang out with Pres. Biden, Pres. Obama, Julia Roberts, and George Clooney. Gimmicky? Yes. Did I fall for it? YES!

Enter at Biden Victory Fund — Donate via ActBlue before June 8. 

Win Races! 🗳

The Center For Common Ground is about to open up its first postcard campaign for North Carolina BIPOC voters - a "pledge to vote" campaign that encourages recipients to invite their friends to pledge to vote. If you are new to Reclaim Our Vote there are a few steps you must take to become a volunteer. (You also will need to buy approved Reclaim Our Vote postcards). The postcards are mail as you go up to July 1st. Learn more about ROV postcarding and find your regional organizer here!

(As posted a couple of days ago, the Center for Common Ground will also be meeting tonight at 8 pm ET by Zoom to discuss the elections in GA and NC. You can sign up here.)

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

[To: your SENATORS] [H/T] [Text SIGN PEWSAN to Resistbot at 50409 or via Apple Messages / WHATSAPP / MESSENGER]

A recent Washington Post investigation revealed that Trump summoned fossil fuel executives to his Florida home and suggested they pay him $1 billion. In exchange, Trump promised to roll back specific Biden Administration climate and fossil fuel regulations “on the first day.”

Congress is awash in fossil fuel money, and our campaign finance laws are badly broken. But that kind of quid-pro-quo arrangement is begging for a Congressional investigation and conversation into how to reform our campaign finance laws.

I’m your constituent and deeply concerned about the appearance of bribery. We need an inquiry, with subpoenas and findings of fact to create a public record and suggest how Congress can act to stop this kind of naked bribery. Please join other Senators in opening an investigation and hearings into the bribery scandal between big oil and Donald Trump.

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

Talk soon.

Jess