Chop Wood, Carry Water 6/11

Mea culpa

Hi, all, and happy Tuesday!

I’m sorry this is out so late today. I’ve been trying to post a TikTok about the new, stellar crime report, but, despite the fact that I’ve re-edited it three times now, it keeps getting suppressed. It’s led to a frustrating morning.

I do, then, want to keep this introduction brief, but there’s something that first must be said. Yesterday I posted a meme at the top of this newsletter containing a picture of Donald Trump being led away in handcuffs by uniformed officers while Stormy Daniels looked on, laughing. To the extent that I thought about it at all, which was very little, it seemed clear to me that the image of Trump wasn’t real. I didn’t see any harm in it, however, as it was clearly part of a meme, not a news article.

Well, some of you disagreed. As one subscriber pointed out:

Graphics and illustrations...these don't need to be identified as fake. In memes, altered photos are used all the time. But to be done right, there is always something alerting the viewer: In this case it would have been "I wish" or "I can't wait for the day" or some such. Or better yet, in my strong opinion, not used at all.

I am always watching out for "imitating our oppressors" or stooping to the level of those we oppose. Presenting falsehoods as truth, which photos do unless labeled as false, is going low. "When they go low, we go high."

It’s a fair point, and I apologize to any who felt offended or let down by my use of the image. I’ll be more careful going forward. And to be very clear, again, the image was NOT real. (Although of course, many of wish it were.)

One last thing: I’m hearing from many of you that you’re having trouble posting my newsletter on Facebook this week—even the “Extra Extra” posts, which are all positive news, are being taken down. Someone in the comments suggested that this had to do with people using the “Share” button on the Substack post. They recommend simply, instead, copying the link in the browser and sharing my posts that way. Please let me know if this helps! And if anyone has more insight please put it in the comments.

OK, everyone. I remain your humble and imperfect servant. Let’s get to work!

Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲

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

I’m calling because I know that the Senate will be voting this week on Tammy Duckworth’s Right to IVF Act, S 4445, and I want to make sure the Senator will be voting yes. [Share personal experience with IVF if applicable]. I want this treatment to be 100% protected. I will be watching this vote closely.

Also, yesterday we received more evidence that Samuel Alito is a religious extremist who is pursuing a Christian Nationalist agenda on our nation’s highest court. He must resign or be impeached. Will the Senator call for that?

Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲

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

First, I’m calling to ask the Congressmember to co-sponsor HR 5048 the Protecting Our Democracy Act. This bill would help prevent abuses of presidential power and restore checks and balances, accountability, and transparency to the presidential office. We need it, and we need it now.

Also, yesterday we received more evidence that Samuel Alito is a religious extremist who is pursuing a Christian Nationalist agenda on our nation’s highest court. He must resign or be impeached. Will the Congressmember call for that?

Extra Credit ✅

☀️ FOR CA RESIDENTS! ☀️

One of my subscribers just wrote and asked for our help. She said:

Over a year ago I reached out to share about the damage being done in my local school district (Orange Unified) by an extremist voting majority of trustees that took control of our school board. One of the things they did was to pass a forced outing policy that required teachers to inform parents if their child identifies as transgender. 

Our school district wasn’t the only one to pass a discriminatory policy like that. The same policy has been passed in Chino Valley, Placentia Yorba Linda, Temecula, just to name a few. 

To combat these horrible policies, some friends of mine got together to develop AB 1955 which would protect students from forced outing policies. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond supports this policy.

Would you please consider sharing the Resistbot [in support of] AB 1955 with your followers? The code is PYRCTF. Link to bill information is here.

Here’s the text of the letter.

I support Assembly Bill (AB) 1955, the Support Academic Futures & Educators for Today’s Youth Act (SAFETY Act). This bill would strengthen existing California protections against forced outings of LGBTQ+ students in schools; provide critical resources for parents and families of LGBTQ+ students to support them in working towards family acceptance on their own terms; and provide additional protections to educators who face retaliatory actions from administrators and school boards for seeking to create an inclusive and safe school environment. I urge you to support AB 1955.

If you’d be willing to send this letter to your CA state reps please text SIGN PYRCTF to 50409. Thanks!

Get Smart! 📚

THIS IS GOING TO BE SO GOOD!

Movement Voter PAC Briefing: "What the #@$% Are We Gonna Do??"

Thursday, June 13 at 2pm ET • 11am PT

From MVP:

Come hear MVP partners’ creative strategies to tackle the toughest questions in this dangerously volatile election year.

It’s an uphill battle to win this November — but our greatest hope is the grassroots ground game. Hear directly from MVP’s national partners about their plans to:

• Meet disaffected voters where they’re at,

• Remind voters of the real dangers of a second Trump term, and

• Close the “Biden Enthusiasm Gap” by sharing what we can accomplish if we elect a Democratic trifecta.

Featuring:

• Billy Wimsatt • Executive Director of Movement Voter PAC

• Abbas Alawieh • Uncommitted National Movement

• Dakota Hall • Executive Director of the Alliance for Youth Action

• Jennifer Knox • National Director of Organizing & Tech Innovation, Working Families Party

• Grecia Lima • National Political Director of Community Change Action

RSVP

Spread the Word! 📣

Yesterday we got new data showing that violent crime is way down in the first quarter of 2024.

To quote Talking Points Memo:

Overall violent crime is down 15.7 percent year-over-year for Q1 of 2024. Murders are down 26.4 percent. Rapes are down 25.7 percent. Property crime is down 15.1 percent.

It’s a massive, across-the-board improvement which follows the massive, across-the-board improvements in 2023, too. The story on crime is: During the final year of Donald Trump’s presidency, crime surged for the first time since the late 1990s. During Joe Biden’s presidency, crime rates have gone in reverse.

I can’t emphasize enough how important it is that we spread the word about this. Republicans are using “out of control crime” as one of their main (and only) campaign talking points. It’s a lie. Spread the word every way you can!

Give 💰 (and Save the Planet!)

Please join Nathaniel Stinnett of the Environmental Voter Project on Tues., June 18 at 8pm ET / 5pm PT for a briefing and fundraiser to support the Environmental Voter Project's voter mobilization work in North Carolina. Please RSVP here for the zoom log-in credentials, and all donations will be matched (up to $21,000) while matching funds last!

Aside from being crucially important to the Presidential election, North Carolina also has tight open races for Governor and other statewide offices. Please come if you can! And please consider donating either way!

Double my donation before matching funds run out!

Win Races! 🗳

Indivisible’s Neighbor2Neighbor program is now open!! This is the single most effective tool I know of for making sure Biden wins. And anyone—assuming they live in a swing district—can participate!

Neighbor2Neighbor is a highly effective community conversation program—if you live in a swing region Indivisible will send you a list of ten neighbors who are registered Dems. You’ll go talk to them about the importance of voting, and because you’re their neighbor they’ll be more receptive! That’s it! Indivisible provides you with a script.

If you want to have the biggest impact on voter turnout, this is the most effective way we’ve found to mobilize community members (Indivisible’s numbers prove it). Check and see if Neighbor2Neighbor is available in your area and, if it is, sign up today. 

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

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

I am writing today as your constituent to ask for your support of the Equality Act when it is reintroduced this Congress.

Despite a Supreme Court ruling affirming civil rights protections for LGBTQI+ people in the workplace, LGBTQI+ people still face widespread discrimination in all areas of life. This is why Congress must pass the Equality Act. By explicitly extending civil rights protections to LGBTQI+ people, this bill would provide clear and consistent protections and help ensure that all people are treated fairly under the law, no matter their zip code.

The Equality Act would prohibit discrimination in not just employment but also education, housing, public spaces and services, federally funded programs, credit, and jury service. These are all areas where LGBTQI+ Americans routinely face discrimination and abuse.

A growing majority of Americans—70 percent—support the Equality Act, as well as more than 500 major companies and 120 religious organizations representing diverse faith traditions from across the country. Last session, the House passed the bill with bipartisan support, but the Senate did not take up the bill. I am asking that you stand with the American people and constituents such as me and support this critical piece of legislation.

Every person should be judged on their merits, not their sexual orientation, gender identity, or intersex status. I urge you to co-sponsor the Equality Act and ensure that all Americans can live, work, and go to school free from harassment or discrimination.

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

Talk soon.

Jess