Chop Wood, Carry Water 5/3
Hi, all, and happy Tuesday.
Of course, it isn’t happy at all.
Look—I’m not going to sugarcoat it. The Supreme Court’s leaked decision is terrifying. Brutal. Enraging. Insane. I knew it was coming—we all did—and even so, the only word I could think of when I saw the headline drop last night was “chilling.”
It’s chilling to see religious extremism taking over our country. Chilling to see 6 too-powerful justices override the wishes of the majority of Americans. Chilling to see people who will never have to struggle with excruciating reproductive decisions make those decisions for others, with devastating consequences.
Chilling to know that the right wing is only getting started.
What gives me hope? You. Me. And the hundreds of millions of us who DON’T WANT THIS.
We’re down. But we’re not beaten yet. In fact, we may have just gotten supercharged.
It comes down to this: winning in November. Those of you who aren’t new to this list (and there are a LOT of new folks—welcome!!) have heard me say it a million times. November of this year is our last best chance to turn things around. We register voters, we rally voters, we turn our voters out and stop this tide in its tracks…
Or we don’t, and we see right after right after right stripped away.
But here’s the good news: we can DO THIS.
We have the candidates.
We have the policies.
We have the volunteers.
We have the money.
We have the field game.
We have the majority.
We have the youth.
We. Simply. Need. To. Get. Our. People. Out. To. Vote.
And that, ironically, just got a bit easier.
If you want to set up an Activism 101 workshop with me and a group of your newly outraged friends email me. We’ll get it on the books.
If you’ve never phonebanked or canvassed before but now realize that you’ve got to, I’ve got you covered with opportunities galore.
If you haven’t yet adopted a state go here and pick one now…then DO THE THINGS in the document—yes, it’ll be out of your comfort zone. Yes it might be awkward. Yes you may have to sacrifice some time.
Do it anyway.
Because you know what’s really uncomfortable? Losing our freedoms. But you already know that. Because it’s happening now.
So take a deep breath. Breathe in power—and breathe out fear.
Then chop wood and carry water with me. We’ll get through this.
And we’ll come out stronger…together.
Call Your Senators (find yours here)
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
I’m enraged and disgusted by the leaked decision from the Supreme Court overturning Roe v Wade. Like most Americans, I believe that abortion is healthcare and should be available to all Americans. The results of this decision will be catastrophic, particularly for already marginalized people. It will also open the door to overturning other basic rights. It’s horrific.
I want the Senator to fight like hell to pass legislation that codifies abortion rights. The Women’s Health Protection Act, S. 1975, would be a good place to start.
[If Democrat] Also? We need to expand the Supreme Court. With this decision it’s lost all credibility. I want the Senator to co-sponsor S 1141 the Judiciary Act today, please.
[If GOP or Joe Manchin add:] If the Senator refuses to support my rights by voting for all of the legislation I just mentioned then they should start looking for other work—we will vote them out when their term is up. I’ve had it, and I’m not alone. Thanks.
Call Your House Rep (find yours here)
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
I’m livid about the Supreme Court’s decision on Roe v Wade. Not only is it horrifying in its own right, but it opens the door to overturning many of our other fundamental rights. We need to expand the Court. With this decision it’s lost all credibility. I want the Congressmember to co-sponsor HR 2584, the Judiciary Act, today, please.
[If GOP add:] If they won’t support this bill, and/or if they support overturning Roe, I will work to vote them out. I’ve had it. Thanks.
Extra Credit ✅
Demcast has dropped a social media toolkit we can all use to get folks to register to vote while they’re outraged over Roe. It’s here. Lots of good click-to-post content for all of your social platforms.
Or just RT this:
Get Smart! 📚
As I’ve said, the stakes couldn’t be higher in 2022. We ALL need to help win. Fortunately, Crooked Media's Senior Political Director Shaniqua McClendon is live-streaming a webinar on YouTube later today to teach us all about the challenges and opportunities ahead in the 2022 midterm elections. Better yet, she’ll talk about how their Midterm Madness program is ready to help you get involved in the most important elections in 2022, from the Senate to your school board.
These guys are great organizers. I HIGHLY encourage you to attend.
It’s tonight at 7:30 EDT. Sign up here.
Give 💰!
One more thing you can do right now to vent your anger is donate to Jessica Cisneros. This is EXTREMELY relevant—Jessica is, as I’m sure you know, running in a special Texas runoff election on May 24th to unseat Henry Cuellar, one of the only Democrats in the House to vote AGAINST the Women’s Health Protection Act when it came up for a vote this year. He has said "abortion isn’t healthcare” and is, overall, a garbage human being. Jessica is EXTREMELY able to win this race, but she needs a last blast of money to get over the finish line.
I’m co-hosting a virtual fundraiser for her this Thursday. Come! Ayanna Pressley will be there! Tickets are quite reasonable. CAN WE PLEASE RAISE THE HECK OUT OF THIS?
Text Out the Vote! 🗳
Black Voters Matter needs your help! They’re helping reach out to millions of Black voters via text and urging them to get out and vote in the upcoming primaries in North Carolina and Georgia. They’re holding textbanks with trainings on Thursday May 5th (and two other dates in May) from 6-8 PM EDT. Can you sign up and help turn out the VOOOOTE?
This really matters. Sign up here.
Resistbot Text (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.)
[to all 3 reps] [H/T Robert Hubbell for some of the language] [quick send text SIGN PGQOPL to 50409]
I’m enraged and disgusted by the leaked decision from the Supreme Court overturning Roe v Wade. Like most Americans, I believe that abortion is healthcare and should be available to all Americans. Again, I unequivocally support reproductive freedom. The results of this decision will be catastrophic, particularly for already marginalized people. It will also open the door to overturning other rights—like the right to use contraception, to same-sex marriage, the right of unmarried couples to live together, the rights of LGBTQ people to be treated with equal dignity, and more. It’s horrific.
I want Congress to work like hell to pass legislation that codifies abortion rights. The Women’s Health Protection Act would be a good place to start. But we’ll take anything, as long as it gets done.
Also? We need to expand the Supreme Court. With this decision it’s lost all credibility. I want you to co-sponsor S 1141 / HR 2584 the Judiciary Act today, please.
I’ve had it, and I’m not alone. Please get this done. Thanks.
OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk tomorrow.
Jess
Jess, you are the best! Your energy & commitment ARE INSPIRING!!!🙏🏽❤️
We do not have the majority, Jessica. Manchin and Sinema said they will not support a Senate fillibuster. What kind of Democrats have they shown themselves to be?