Chop Wood, Carry Water 5/5
Hi, all, and happy Thursday.
And again, welcome to all of my new subscribers.
Because there are so many of you, I thought this would be a good time to remind everyone why this newsletter is called Chop Wood, Carry Water.
Some of you know the saying is of Bhuddist origin. I learned it from my father, who took it slightly out of context to give me a pep talk about getting through a personal crisis many years ago. I had asked him how I would endure the pain of a divorce—he’d been through a few himself—and he said:
“It’s going to hurt. But just chop wood carry water. Do the next right thing in front of you. Simple actions. Stay in the day. One day you’ll wake up and this will be behind you.”
It worked, of course. Even though at the time I knew it wouldn’t.
When Donald Trump was elected I remembered the saying and used it with devastated friends and family. Heck, I used it on myself.
It worked to get us through. It worked to get Trump gone. It worked to do much, much more.
But obviously we still have a long way to go.
I don’t know how long things will be this hard. I don’t know exactly what they’ll look like in even a month or a week, let alone a few years.
But I do know we can get through today if we chop wood and carry water. And I know if we do that for enough days in a row we’ll be in a different place.
Finally, I know that if we all keep taking these actions together? It will be a better one.
So let’s get to work one more time. 💙
Call Your Senators (find yours here)
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
First, I want the Senate to pass S 1975 the Women’s Health Protection Act. Government mandated birth should be the stuff of novels, not a reality in the United States of America. I also want the Senator to support S 1141 the Judiciary Act to expand the Supreme Court, which is utterly broken and has lost all semblance of impartiality.
On another subject, I understand Democrats are trying to give the Federal Trade Commission increased authority to crack down on companies that engage in price gouging. I support this. The FTC needs more tools, including stiffer fines and penalties and a team of dedicated experts to monitor markets and go after price gouging. Thanks.
Call Your House Rep (find yours here)
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
First, has the Congressmember yet co-sponsored the Judiciary Act, H.R.2584? [If yes, thank. If no add:] What this says to me is that they are OK with the Supreme Court’s leaked decision on abortion, and with a court stacked with religious extremists. Very disappointing.
Also, are they yet a co-sponsor on HR 7018, the Green Postal Service Fleet Act? [If yes thank. If no add:] I want them to sign on right away. There is no excuse for the USPS’s spending money on deeply inefficient, polluting vehicles that will be on the roads for 30 years. Thanks.
Extra Credit ✅
Post this on your social media (you can download the graphic here).
Hey Class of 2022 - will you be #ReadyToVote by graduation? Go to @theciviccenter’s voter registration portal using this QR code and do it now. Then share like your futures depend on it. (They do.)
If you prefer you can share my posts on twitter or IG.
Get Smart! 📚
This is going to be excellent:
The 2022 Midterms 101: Why the Road to the House Runs Through California - TODAY, 5/5 from 4 - 5 PM PT/7 PM ET - Via Zoom.
California is a now a 2022 battleground state with one of the earliest primaries - June 7th! Please join IndiMarin's Electoral and Voter Outreach Teams for an indepth discussion of the California midterms, why the road to maintaining our House majority goes through the Golden State, and how you can get involved to support our Democratic candidates and keep the House blue.
Give 💰!
Last chance to buy tickets to my Jessica Cisneros fundraiser…happening TODAY! Help unseat the last forced-birther Democrat in the House! Start the #RoeWave now!
Seriously, come if you can. Jessica is so inspiring to hear, and Ayanna Pressley, who will introduce her, is also amazing.
By the way, y’all? I just found out that I will be introducing Ayanna Pressley! Ack! I’m also moderating the conversation with Jessica. So if any of you can come just to support me I’ll be so grateful. 🥰
Tickets start at $27. Link to buy here. Event is today from 3-4 PT / 6-7 ET
Win Races! 🗳
My Arizona phonebank will be happening today from 3-5 PM PT, so if you don’t want to fundraise but you DO want to make calls, please come! I’ll be there for the second hour—after the Cisneros event.
Last week I had so much fun making these calls, and this week, post Roe explosion, it’ll be even more satisfying. Believe me when I tell you that people are FIRED UP.
Help. Us. Win.
Resistbot Text (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.)
[to President Biden] [Quick send text SIGN PLCPJA to 50409]
I’m joining the Congressional Progressive Caucus in asking that the President declare a national climate emergency, using the powers given to him, including the Defense Production Act and the National Emergencies Act, to supercharge our move to clean, renewable energy and to end our dependence on and use of fossil fuels.
We are in the midst of multiple interconnected national and global crises, from climate change to the war in Ukraine to public health and economic calamities. Ending our use of fossil fuels is a critical step in tackling ALL these crises.
Please, us this unprecedented moment to make things better, not worse. Declare a National Climate Emergency and take the actions our nation and planet desperately needs NOW.
OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk tomorrow.
Jess