Chop Wood, Carry Water 5/24

Hi, all, and happy Tuesday!

It’s Election Day in Texas, Georgia, and several other places! Whoooo!

I’m feeling energized by the progressive wins we’ve seen in the last few weeks, and I’m cautiously optimistic that we’ll see another one tonight in TX-28. I phonebanked for Jessica Cisneros yesterday and there were 45 people making calls, so if we lose it certainly won’t be for lack of enthusiasm or effort!

Speaking of which, I’m about to hop back on and make more calls.

I’ll leave it at this: working to help elect ethical, smart, diverse, committed candidates who want to actually HELP their constituents is thrilling. When they win it’s even better. I can’t. Recommend. It. Highly. Enough.

So I’ll continue to give you opportunities to do it every day. Because calling our reps is critically important, but changing the reps who aren’t working for us may be even more so.

Sending hugs. Sending hope.

And, of course, sending actions. Let’s get to work. 💙

Call Your Senators (find yours here)

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

I’m really worried about deforestation and its impact on our climate crisis. I’d like the Senator to please cosponsor the bipartisan FOREST Act (S. 2950), which right now only has seven co-sponsors in the Senate! [optional add:] By requiring importers of high deforestation-risk commodities to trace where their products come from and confirm they are legally produced, this bill will help ensure the products American consumers buy are not contributing to the destruction of forests, perpetuating human rights abuses, and/or abetting other criminal activity.

Also? Please ask the Senator to vote to confirm Gigi Sohn to the FCC!!!! Thanks!

Call Your House Rep (find yours here)

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

I’ve called previously to ask the Representative to urge HHS Sec. Becerra and the administration to stop ACO REACH and any other programs that privatize Medicare. But I also want [him/her] to support and push through H.R.3 – the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act, which would protect Medicare enrollees from excessive costs and unfair prices. Thanks. [H/T and more info]

Extra Credit ✅

Thanks to the awesome Climate Action Now app for this action!

Please write to Procter & Gamble (at taylor.ds@pg.com) and ask them to stop using virgin Boreal trees for their Charmin toilet paper! (If you prefer to use a click-to-send I made one—it’s here—but please still personalize and sign.)

I said:

As a consumer concerned about our environment, I was upset to learn that Charmin toilet paper is still being sourced from 100 percent virgin trees, many of them from Canada's boreal forest. It's appalling that no recycled material is used to make Charmin.

Not only does the Canadian boreal forest store vast amounts of carbon, it's also home to hundreds of Indigenous communities and to the iconic boreal caribou.

It's unconscionable that majestic, old-growth trees are being cut down to make a product that's used once, then flushed down the toilet.

Procter & Gamble has the power to change this destructive paradigm on a massive scale by committing to not fueling deforestation or intact forest degradation in its entire supply chain. P&G must involve Indigenous communities in sourcing decisions, act to protect caribou habitat, and take other important steps toward sustainability.

Please move quickly to ensure that your products don't come at the cost of this globally important ecosystem. Thanks.

Get Smart! 📚

Y’all, a group I’ve heard fantastic things about, Force Multiplier, is having Zoom workshops today and tomorrow to welcome new members and give everyone a recap of where they are in their fight to win races in November.

If you don’t know, Force Multiplier is an independent, volunteer-run fundraising organization that supports candidates who will ensure a Democratic majority in the House and Senate, as well as groups that work to make sure that people can and do vote.

Come hear about the strong targeted messages of their candidates on the frontlines
 and learn important election facts that will help you be the messenger that inspires your friends and family.

Sign up for your preferred date:

Tuesday, May 24, 8:00-9:00pm ET (Pre-session for those new to FM at 7:30pm), or

Wednesday, May 25, 7:00-8:00pm ET (Pre-session for those new to FM at 6:30pm)

Get Social 📣!

A Koch-linked firm has paralyzed the US Solar Industry. The Commerce Dept needs to fix it, and they will if we call them out publicly!

Please use this EASY DemCast tool to help tweet at them. Takes two seconds!

Win Races! 🗳

I’ll be phonebanking for Jessica Cisneros for as much of today as I can. Election Day IS TODAY!! Want to hop on and join us for any amount of time? Go here!

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

[to your Senators] [H/T] [Quick send text SIGN PVXUUG to 50409]

Domestic terrorism is among the most serious threats now facing our nation. The recent racially motivated mass killing in Buffalo, New York, is just one more horrific example of the extremist violence that is devastating communities across our country. As your constituent, I’m asking you to please use your power and your platform to champion legislation that addresses this growing crisis -- legislation like the bill that just passed in the House— H.R.350 - the Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act of 2022.

The FBI and the departments of Homeland Security and Justice have all confirmed that the primary domestic terrorism threat in the U.S. comes from racially and ethnically motivated violent extremists who advocate for the superiority of the white race. To combat this threat, we need federal action.

As your constituent, I urge you to support the Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act when it is presented in the Senate. The bill is an essential first step to stopping domestic terrorism at its source, before more lives are senselessly lost. Please do all you can to support the passage of this act. Thanks.

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

Talk tomorrow.

Jess