Chop Wood, Carry Water 6/14
Hi, all, and happy Wednesday!
I’m doing a much-shortened email today, as I still have lots of family in town and multiple young humans running around my house.
In lieu of writing my own intro, furthermore, I’m going to offer these words from Jonathan Last of the Bulwark (the whole post is worth reading):
Is there bad stuff going on in the world? Sure. Plenty of it. The Biden administration is not perfect, the Republican party is still miles away from health, and the economy could always sour. We have a major European war in progress.
But you know what? There’s always bad stuff going on and the world is like fashion: It’s never finished. There’s always a new fight, a new crisis, a new problem to be fixed or challenge to be met. We have plenty of those.
Yet right now the economy is good. People who want jobs mostly have them. Inflation is in remission. Real wages are strong. The rule of law is holding. The justice system is functioning. The West is united against Putin. The president has been the steward of norms and wisdom that 81 million voters hoped he’d be. The Republican party may be improving directionally. And the Tampa Bay Rays are playing .700 ball.
My friends: This is what good times look like, so we ought to appreciate it.
He’s not wrong. There’s a lot going on at the moment, and much of it is going right. Let’s keep working to ensure it lasts.
But today, you’ll mostly get a break. Just a petition to sign and a few excellent upcoming events to sign up for! Enjoy the reprieve!
Extra Credit ✅
Judd Legum posted a piece recently describing how 25 major corporations are “rainbow washing” their reputations by talking a good game about Pride but then giving large sums to Republican legislators who are helping to pass anti-LGBTQ legislation.
Many of you asked for an action related to this post, but I didn’t have the bandwidth to gather contact info for 25 corporations.
Fortunately Care2 is doing a big petition drive to the top 3 offenders: Home Depot, AT&T, and United Healthcare. This is the kind of petition that can carry some weight if enough people sign, and I occasionally partner with the folks at Care2, so I happen to know that they’ll get the petition to the right folks at those companies. So sign here, please, and share! Let’s tell these three corporations to stop financing anti-LGBTQ+ politicians and take a genuine stand for equality.
Get Smart #1! 📚
Please join Big Tent US tonight June 14th at 7pm ET to welcome Academy Award-Nominated Screenwriter, Billy Ray, Public Opinion Researcher Gretchen Barton, and Rep. Susan Wild (D-PA), in a discussion about how to talk about key issues so that we can more successfully engage with people across the political divide. They’ll also explain how to achieve persuasion and mobilization among voters through effective messaging and storytelling. Moderated by Sanjyot P. Dunung.
Link to register is here!
Get Smart #2! 📚
Y’all, on Friday I’ll be joining Network Nova as a guest on their Friday Power Lunch. These weekly Zooms are energizing, fun, and super informative—they’re like a well-produced daytime talkshow about activism. The topic is Virginia politics but all are encouraged to attend—especially since the VA primaries are next week! Hope some of you can join us!
Friday, June 16, 9:00 AM PT / noon ET
Spread the Word! 📣
This Dan Pfeiffer piece about messaging the Trump legal case is essential reading.
OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk soon.
Jess
Thanks for the chance! ❤️