Chop Wood, Carry Water 5/20
Bringing our A game, every day.
Hi, all, and happy Monday!
Whew! That weekend seemed to blow by! I hope you got some rest and were able to take a bit of time away from the news. It’s important to do so. But now that you’re back, I offer you a Marjorie Taylor Green dancing TikTok to kick off your day! Because why not? 👆🏼
In all seriousness, we’ve got a big week ahead of us. Trump’s trial is moving towards closing arguments, the Middle East is generating huge headlines, Democrats are bringing Republicans’ zombie immigration bill back up for a vote—it won’t pass, but it’ll give Democrats in tight races a good talking point to run on. Then there’s the stuff we can’t foresee, of which there’s always a lot.
Suffice it to say that we’ll need to bring our A game, and I know we will!
Because you don’t have any other kind.
Now let’s get to work one more time.
P.S. — I just found out I’m going to be speaking at the 8th Annual Women’s Summit “IT’S UP TO US” on June 28-29 in Tysons, VA. It’s organized by the grassroots women at Network NOVA. Hope to maybe meet some of you there!
Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
First, I urge the Senator to support and work to pass S. 359, the Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency Act. We need to protect the rule of law and the American people from the corruption in the highest court in the land. Please work to pass this bill.
Also, I want the Senator to call for Samuel Alito to be impeached. He openly supported the January 6 insurrection. He cannot rule on any cases related to it and he cannot continue to stay on the court. Thanks.
Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
I urge the Congressmember to support and work to pass H.R. 926, the Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency Act. The Supreme Court is in crisis. Two of its members, Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas, are insurrectionists and need to be impeached. Congress must act to protect the rule of law and the American people from corruption in the highest court in the land. Will the Congressmember co-sponsor this bill and call for its immediate passage?
Extra Credit ✅
Let’s call Dick Durbin and tell him it’s not enough for Justice Alito to recuse from cases involving Trump. The Senate Judiciary Committee must start an investigation into a possible impeachment.
(202) 224-2152 or (312) 353-4952 or (618) 351-1122 or (217) 492-4062.
We can say something like:
My name is _____ and I’m calling the Senator in his capacity as Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee. I am absolutely outraged that Samuel Alito hasn’t recused himself from Trump’s immunity case. His household’s flying of a Stop the Steal flag is not just a clear violation of the court’s own ethics rules, but is likely an impeachable offense. The Senate Judiciary Committee needs to start an investigation into a possible impeachment. Enough with the politeness. Alito supported insurrectionists and needs to be treated accordingly. Thanks.
Extra Extra Credit ✅✅
The folks at the Research Collaborative are asking us to sign MoveOn’s petition demanding that Sam Alito recuse himself from Trump’s immunity case or be removed by Justice Roberts. You can do so here.
Get Smart! 📚
Red Wine & Blue has a webinar on Tuesday May 21 about school vouchers! It’s at 7:30 pm ET and here’s the description:
Are you hearing a lot about school vouchers but aren’t sure what it all means? States across the country are implementing policies that divert funds from public schools and allow them to be funneled into private schools instead. Want to learn all you need to know about these school voucher programs? Join us to hear from Jessica Levin of the Education Law Center and learn how vouchers impact our public schools, what they mean for equality in education and the actual goals behind the voucher push.
Spread the Word! 📣
Here’s another great ad from the same folks who brought us “Keep Republicans Out Of Your Bedroom” and “Republicans Watching Your Daughter.”
This one is called “Republicans Stealing Your Baby.” Please share!
Give 💰!
Come hear Hakeem Jeffries, the next Speaker of the House,
introduced by Democratic Whip Katherine Clark, as they join Force Multiplier to support FM’s House slate for November!
Wednesday, May 22, 8:00-9:00pm ET on Zoom
REGISTER + DONATE TO THE FM HOUSE SLATE
Win Races! 🗳
Get Out the Vote in 2024 with FREE Postcards!
Are you a mom? MomsRising is making it super easy (and FREE) for you to participate in their powerful Get-Out-The-Vote effort for the 2024 election!
They'll send you a packet of 20 pre-addressed, pre-stamped postcards along with some quick instructions. All you'll need to do is write a quick note of encouragement (they'll provide sample messages) and send them back to them in a pre-paid envelope that they'll provide.
Chop Wood, Save the Planet 🔥
The Senate recently conducted a series of hearings into the fossil fuel industry's campaign to deceive the public and increase their profits at the expense of the American people. Their report is here. Let’s educate our Member of Congress, Senators and the President about this egregious hoax at our expense and encourage them to take action. Text SIGN PIMOEG to 50409 to send this email to your reps.
[H/T
]Resistbot Letter (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.) 💻
[To: your Senators ] [H/T] [Text SIGN PGJIGF to Resistbot at 50409 or via Apple Messages / WHATSAPP / MESSENGER]
Apple, one of the largest companies in the world, has announced the biggest stock buyback ever -- $110 billion. In fact, Apple holds the record for 6 of the top 10 largest stock buybacks. Google is a distant second with 3 out of 10.
But it’s not just Big Tech. This is happening in industry after industry. Companies are spending cash to repurchase their own stock and inflate CEO pay and stock value instead of making more productive investments in workers, wages, equipment, or safety upgrades.
In 2022, ExxonMobil made a record $56 billion in profits and spent $15 billion on buybacks. Chevron brought in $35.5 billion and then spent $75 billion. Starbucks has bought back more than $30 billion over the past decade. General Electric? More than $50 billion. Home Depot? $75 billion. The list goes on and on.
Senators Sherrod Brown and Ron Wyden have introduced S. 413 the Stock Buyback Accountability Act. It would increase the stock buybacks tax to 4%, discouraging corporations from inflating their stock price while encouraging investment in workers and innovation, not just wealthy CEOs and shareholders.
I support the Stock Buyback Accountability Act and call on the U.S. Senate to pass it immediately. Thanks.
OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk soon.
Jess
I tried calling Senator Durbin's number and calls are not being accepted. I was told to call back later so I emailed him instead.Same thing with the SCOTUS. I have not written to them. Justice Alito is clearly rogue and I think needs to be impeached. He has thumbed his nose at the American people and has irreparably damaged the legitimacy of the court. This presidential immunity decision will be invalid no matter which way it is decided. Both Alito and Thomas must recuse or resign or be removed.
FRIEND!!! I am going to be at NOVA network too!