Chop Wood, Carry Water 5/24

May 24, 2023

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Hi, all, and happy Wednesday!

Deep breaths. We’re probably in the worst part of this crisis right now. One way or another we should—hopefully—have some kind of resolution to the debt ceiling situation in the next couple of days. In the meantime, yes, it’s trying, and deeply aggravating, and scary. More deep breaths.

Some day we’ll look back and marvel at the tremendous stress we were living under at this moment in history. Worrying about the future of our country, our economic wellbeing, democracy and, in many cases, our own or a loved one’s personal safety— it’s beyond exhausting. Be kind to yourself, and to those around you.

Remember that you are not alone.

And know that you’re far more powerful than you realize because of that fact.

Everything we’re doing, we are doing in a growing, more seasoned, and more unified army. We are the many, fighting for the many. The other side, remember, is the few, fighting for the fewer.

We represent, and fight for, and embrace, the majority. The other side cheats, and backstabs, and steals, on behalf of the thinnest minority.

In our inclusiveness we build allies. In their exclusiveness the other side alienates even its former supporters.

In our unity we create an indestructible force. In their discord and meanness the other side creates brittleness.

Who do you think is going to win?

Exactly.

Now grab the hand of the fighter next to you, and let’s march towards victory one more time.

Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲

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

I’m calling about the letter Harlan Crow’s lawyers sent to the Judiciary Committee yesterday. It argues that the Senate can’t impose ethical rules upon the Supreme Court. This is wrong. Congress absolutely possesses the constitutional power to impose public disclosure requirements on the Supreme Court. We know this because that’s the federal law that Clarence Thomas has already broken.1 So I have a few comments. First, Clarence Thomas must recuse himself from any cases involving Harlan Crow or his law firm going forward. Second, the Senate Judiciary Committee needs to subpoena Harlan Crow. If he won’t testify voluntarily he needs to be forced to do so.

Finally, I want the Senator to support S. 359 the Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency Act of 2023. The Supreme Court is hopelessly compromised. Fix it, or Americans just may stop abiding by its rulings. Thanks.

Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲

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

I am deeply worried about Republicans’ brinkmanship with the debt ceiling. They are holding our economy hostage in order to extract cuts from President Biden that will deeply hurt people like me.

[If Democrat add:] Please ask the Congressmember not to allow Republicans to cut programs like Medicaid, Social Security, or SNAP. Please ask them to protect veterans’ benefits. And please ask them not to tolerate any rollbacks of environmental provisions. Democrats should keep pushing for a clean debt ceiling increase using the discharge petition. Thank you.

[If GOP add:] I am telling everyone I know that Republicans are responsible for this mess. We see what they are doing and if the economy crashes we will blame them directly. Raise the debt ceiling now. Thanks.

Extra Credit ✅

Nationwide is underwriting the Cop City project in Atlanta. Let’s call one of their top executives; her name is Vinita J. Clements and her direct line is (614)-677-2796. (I got a VM when I called.)

Say something like:

I am contacting you because I know Nationwide is providing insurance to the Atlanta Police Foundation for their Cop City project.
The Atlanta community has been speaking out against the construction of Cop City for years. They don’t want their forest cut down for a police militarization facility. On January 18th, police murdered forest defender Tortuguita who had been organizing tirelessly to Stop Cop City.
I want Nationwide to cut ties with the Atlanta Police Foundation and stop providing material support to this project. You need to do what is morally right. Thank you.

Prefer to email instead of call? Send an email to the executives at all three companies providing insurance to Cop City. [H/T]

Get Smart! 📚

Any day now, the U.S. Supreme Court will issue a ruling on Moore v. Harper, a case that has the potential to give state legislators unchecked power to manipulate our elections and undermine our votes.

Declaration For American Democracy will hold a call tonight (May 24th) at 8 PM ET/ 5 PM PT to tell you more about the potential outcomes and what we will need to do moving forward.

Legal experts and organizers from Common Cause will brief attendees on the plan for what's ahead, and how you can help defend our democracy in the coming days and weeks.

Spread the Word! 📣

Y’all! David Pepper’s new book is out! It’s called Saving Democracy. I told you awhile back that I read the first six chapters in draft form and it is EXCELLENT.

You can purchase the book here. (Sadly no Bookshop.org link yet. Please consider using B&N or asking your local bookshop to order it for you. Amazon is a union buster.)

Please share the news about this wonderful, hopeful, inspiring book to folks you know and groups you are in, especially if they read and enjoyed Laboratories of Autocracy.

Give 💰!

I just want to thank you guys. We had the most extraordinary fundraiser with Jamie Raskin and a bunch of North Carolina grassroots leaders yesterday. There were almost 300 people on the call, and as of this morning we’d EXCEEDED our goal of 150K!! It was another hugely successful “hope-raiser!”

Thanks to all who gave, or attended, or both. This was indeed excellent work all around! And if anyone you know wants to give, they still can here.

A Special Phonebank with AOC! 🗳

Join Indivisibles from across the country TODAY with SPECIAL GUEST: Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez at 5:30pm ET / 2:30pm PT. Hear from Rep. Ocasio-Cortez and Indivisible Co-Founder Ezra Levin about just how crucial this debt ceiling fight is to the global economy and the American people.

Then we will make calls into key swing GOP districts to encourage constituents to call their Member of Congress. The call will run for approximately 1.5 hours to leave time to make calls!

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

[to your HOUSE Rep] [H/T] [Quick send: text SIGN PPYQCG to 50409 or share.]

I’m writing to urge you to vote against H.J. Res. 45, the resolution to cancel student debt relief.

It’s not fair to send surprise bills to borrowers for loans that have been paused or forgiven already. Student loan relief has proven to be incredibly popular, and has allowed millions of people to better provide for their families and invest in their futures. If this resolution passes, many people would have to again make hard choices between paying their debts or affording life’s expenses.

Please vote no on H.J. Res. 45 and protect the tens of millions of Americans with student loans. We will be watching your vote closely. Thanks.

Thank you for your time.

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

Talk soon.

Jess

Chop Wood, Carry Water