Chop Wood, Carry Water 6/13

Hi, all, and happy Monday.

Hope many of you got to listen to day two of the January 6th hearings. Powerful stuff. Powerfully damning, that is. But damning isn’t enough. We must watch every hearing, then wield the facts strategically to turn out voters in November.

I’m on a call right now listening to a Democratic strategist talk about how to do just that. It’s critical, he says, that we make sure to not talk about January 6th in the past tense, but rather as something that is still happening, and will happen—with disastrous results for our democracy—in the future if we don’t act. We can’t—as Fox News and the Republican Party want us to—put it behind us because it isn’t over.

He also says everyone predicting doom for Democrats in November “needs to slap themselves.” (His words, not mine!) He reminds us that in 2018 turnout went up by 14% above the norm, and that this is proof that when voters understand that high stakes are involved they will turn out. Our job is to make sure to make sure every voter grasps how high the stakes are this go-around.

He adds there was a recent survey where swing voters were asked to pick either a generic Democrat or a generic Republican for the midterms. They chose the generic Republican by +3. BUT when asked whether they would choose a Biden-supporting Democrat or a Trump-supporting Republican in the midterms the numbers changed completely and Democrats gained a large advantage.

See what our job is? To simply portray Republicans as what they are: Inextricably tied to the MAGA cult. Extremists. Criminals. Trumpists. People willing to steal elections so they can block any attempt at addressing gun violence in schools, bully our kids, ban books, outlaw every right not explicitly listed in the constitution, and take away a woman’s right to decide when she starts a family.

So. We have our work cut out for ourselves. But it’s work we CAN DO.

The MAGAs have shown us who they are.

Now let’s show them who we are.

Call Your Senators (find yours here)

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

I want the Senator to vote yes on the bipartisan gun bill Senators Chris Murphy and others have announced an agreement on. It’s an important first step. But I want to be clear that it’s not nearly enough. We need safe storage laws, an assault weapons ban, expanded background checks, and the ability to hold gun manufacturers legally responsible for their products.

[If Democrat add:] Democrats need to make very clear that they will reform the filibuster and vote to pass those measures if we help them hold the House and gain two more Senate seats in November. If they want us to turn out for them they need to promise to deliver real gun reform. Thanks.

[If GOP add:] If Republicans won’t get serious about real gun reform I will do everything I can to make sure Democrats expand their majorities in November so we can get the provisions we want. Thanks.

Call Your House Rep (find yours here)

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

I’m outraged that Ginni Thomas, wife to Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, made even more extensive efforts than we previously knew to overturn the Arizona election results. The fact that her husband then failed to recuse himself on election-related cases is unacceptable. I believe he needs to be impeached, but in the meantime I want the House to immediately pass HR 7706, the Judicial Ethics and Anti-Corruption Act of 2022. Americans have utterly lost faith in the impartiality of the Supreme Court, and for good reason. This law will help us begin to regain faith in them.

[Sign MoveOn’s petition demanding that Thomas be impeached here.]

Extra Credit ✅

Send this letter to President Biden via Resistbot (text SIGN PAOTLH to 50409) or through his web form. [H/T]

Sir, your administration fought back against Big Pharma price gouging and wisely restricted the use of the controversial and ineffective Alzheimer's drug Aduhelm to clinical trials. Thank you.

Medicare’s own report calculated that this year’s premiums would have only increased 8% instead of the actual increase of 14.5% if seniors were not being ripped off by Big Pharma greed.

Now the media reports that the 57 million seniors who were overcharged by Medicare to cover the original expected costs of the drug won’t get that money back this year, maybe even never.

That is absolutely unacceptable. HHS must issue Medicare rebate checks immediately.

Even rebates as small as $100 received before November would have a real impact in the lives of millions of seniors. It would also be direct tangible proof to every Medicare recipient that the Biden administration is fighting for them. Do not let bureaucratic red tape keep seniors from getting back the money they deserve. Thanks.

Get Smart! 📚

I’m VERY excited about this one:

On Wednesday, June 15th, at 7pm ET, Big Tent will welcome Ryan Busse, author of Gunfight: My Battle Against the Industry that Radicalized America and Senior Advisor at Giffords: Courage to Fight Gun Violence. A former executive at one of the country’s top gun manufacturers, Busse reveals how his industry radicalized a large swathe of America. He explains how it will take just a few moderate Republican leaders to stand up for gun safety, for us to begin to stem the tide of gun violence. 

Sign up here.

Win Races! 🗳

Want to see Greg Abbott pack his bags? Sign up to join a Beto for Texas Letter Writing Party!

Letter Writing parties are a great opportunity to meet other Beto for Texas volunteers and get trained on the Beto letter writing process. After a brief training, you'll all write letters together!

Every Tuesday, Friday and Sunday. Sign up here.

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

[to your Senators] [H/T Everytown] [Quick send: text SIGN PDILPB to 50409]

As your constituent, I support the recently released bipartisan gun safety and mental health framework, and I am urging you to help turn it into legislation and pass it into law immediately. It’s definitely not enough, but it’s a start, and we should take it.

The mass shooting at Robb Elementary School, in which 19 children and two adults were murdered, was another instance of the tragic gun violence we witness in America all too often.

As an elected official, it is your job to take action to prevent these senseless tragedies from happening. It is past time that the Senate take bold action to protect our communities. That starts with urgently passing common-sense gun safety and mental health legislation outlined in the bipartisan framework agreement that was just released.

We cannot wait for more lives to be lost to take action. Please do the right thing—make this bipartisan gun safety and mental health framework into law now. Thanks.

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

Talk tomorrow.

Jess