Chop Wood, Carry Water 5/6

Drip. Drip. Drip.

Download this GIF here.

Hi, all, and happy Monday!

Hope you got some rest this weekend—that you hugged your kids, played with your dog, cuddled your cat, had a meal with a loved one, read a good book, watched a great movie, went for a beautiful walk, or got a massage. These things are not just pleasant in and of themselves, but necessary for keeping ourselves in good form for the fight we’re undertaking.

Self care, in other words—or downtime, if you prefer—is a key part of resistance.

But now we’re back on duty, and I’ve got an action-packed newsletter for you today. I’ll keep this opening short.

In fact, I’ll simply leave you with Ovid’s timeless line:

Dripping water hollows out a stone.

I know it feels like we’re between a rock and a hard place, folks. The rough news coming from all sides seems relentless. But just keep the drops coming. Chop wood. Carry water. Take action. Rest. repeat. Drip, drip, drip. The rest is pure physics.

You’ve got this. You’re strong. You’re brave. You’re indefatigable.

You’re the reason we’ll win.

P.S. —There was a small error in the “Well then, do something” handbook I posted last week. They’ve corrected it, and the new link is here.

Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲

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

I understand that the Senate is considering a few amendments to the FAA authorization package. I’d like to express strong support for three of them:

1. The amendment from Sens. Warren and Hawley that would codify the Biden administration’s recently announced policy on automatic refunds for canceled or delayed flights.

2. The amendment from Sens. Welch and Vance that would extend the Affordable Connectivity Program with $7 billion.

3. Sens. Durbin and Marshall’s S. 1838, the Credit Card Competition Act.

Please ask the Senator to push hard for all three of these amendments to be included. Thanks!

Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲

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

I’m calling to ask the Congressmember to fight to pass the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA). I know the Senate passed a version that is awaiting a vote in the House—the bill number is S.3853. The program expires on June 7. Time is running out and too many people have already been cut off from RECA’s critical help. Communities around the country are depending on Congress to extend and expand this legislation without delay. Thanks. [H/T and more info]

Extra Credit ✅

[Thanks to subscriber Alexander Matthews for suggesting and co-creating this action!]

Last week Democrats held important Big Oil deception/disinfo hearings in Congress. The NYT, among other publications, still hasn’t done any coverage (after several days of eye opening hearings). Washington Post has barely touched it either.

This DeSmog piece gives an excellent summary of what the investigation has uncovered. The actual report prepped by congressional staff is available as a PDF here. Its title says it all — “Denial, disinformation and doublespeak — Big Oil’s evolving efforts to avoid accountability for climate change." It’s really, really damning.

Once you’ve read it please send a note to the editors at NY Times (editorial@nytimes.com) and WaPo (sally.buzbee@washpost.com), or any other publication you subscribe to that’s not covering this news. Here’s a suggested script:

Dear Editor

A new report from a multi-year joint House investigation has unearthed new and alarming information about Big Oil's decades-long campaign of climate denial, disinformation, and doublespeak. Despite the importance of these findings, publications such as your own have largely ignored them. It is in the public interest that your readers know about this bombshell report and of the congressional hearings at which it was discussed on May 1. Failing to do so only undermines the credibility and trustworthiness of your publication, creating the perception that you are prioritizing the interests of the fossil fuel firms featured in the report (a number of whom have been long-time advertisers in your publication). 

I hope to see more coverage about this important issue soon. Thanks.

Get Smart! 📚

TONIGHT! From 4-5PM PT / 7-8 PM ET, join Indivisible Marin, together with me, Jess Craven, as we launch six months of action to help save democracy and our freedoms.

I will open the meeting with (hopefully) motivating remarks about the stakes for this election and how we as citizens can galvanize our time and energy to help Democrats be victorious.

Then members of the IndiMarin Steering Committee will cover their election-year strategy and a range of voter outreach programs in which all can participate, including phonebanking, canvassing, postcard writing and texting voters.

Register here! It’s gonna be fun!

Spread the Word! 📣

I feel reluctant to tout my own videos but this one—about why voting for President is also voting for an entire administration—has generated a positive response and a lot of “I hadn’t thought about that!” So please watch and, if you feel like it, maybe consider sharing! I’m dropping the YouTube version below, but the IG version is here if it’s easier.

Give 💰!

Galvanize Action moves moderate white women in battleground states by focusing on issues that are most important to them (based on research): the economy, abortion/culture wars, and democracy/state of our nation. Their tactics are rigorously researched and tested. 

Galvanize will be featured this Tuesday by Focus for Democracy, which rigorously evaluates and selects groups to whom they determine are the best places to donate for democracy. The next Focus for Democracy webinar is this Tuesday, May 7. Register here. 

Win Races! 🗳

Sister District has launched their national phonebanks and they have shifts almost every day of the week. They need volunteers! These phonebanks are easy, well-run, and super important if we want to flip statehouses—no other organization does this kind of work for state legislative candidates.

I’m going to sign up for a weekly shift—who’s with me? (I picked Wednesdays.)

Chop Wood, Save the Planet 🔥

If you have a grass lawn, consider a “Slow Mow Summer.” A recent study found that even just letting your grass grow longer attracts anywhere between 18 to 93 percent more butterflies to your yard. Read more from Talking Climate.

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

[To: all 3 reps] [H/T] [Text SIGN PMPYCD to Resistbot at 50409 or via Apple Messages / WHATSAPP / MESSENGER]

I am your constituent and a firm believer that everyone deserves access to affordable, safe housing. Congress has underfunded housing and homelessness resources for decades and with escalating housing costs, more people need housing services than ever before.

I strongly urge you to push for allocations that address the gaps created from years of underfunding these essential programs by including these priorities in the FY2025 funding bills:

-Full funding to renew all existing contracts for the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program, and funding to expand assistance to at least 20,000 more households

-$6.2 billion for public housing operations and $5.1 billion for public housing capital needs

-$4.7 billion for HUD's Homeless Assistance Grants (HAG) program

-Increased funding for the Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP), the Fair Housing Assistance Program (FHAP), and especially to increase staffing at HUD’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO) – particularly important for victims of domestic violence

-$100 million for the Eviction Protection Grant Program (EPGP)

-At least $1.3 billion for Tribal housing programs, plus $150 million for competitive funds targeted to tribes with the greatest needs

-$800 million for the McKinney-Vento Education for Homeless Children and Youth (EHCY) program, administered by the U.S. Department of Education

-$304 million for the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (RHYA) program, administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

Please keep me updated on the actions you take to address our affordable housing crisis—many in our community are counting on your leadership. Thanks!

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

Talk soon.

Jess