Chop Wood, Carry Water 6/17
Have heart--you already do.
Hi, all, and happy Monday!
Also Eid Mubarak! Wishing a very happy Eid al-Fitr to everyone celebrating.
Hope you all had a restful weekend. God knows we needed one.
Something that helps me when I’m feeling discouraged is to make gratitude lists in my head. These are short lists—usually twenty items—of things in my life I know I’m lucky to have. I often do these lists when I’m trying to fall asleep.
A few things make it onto every list: my kid, my husband, my extended family, our pets, my health, the roof over our heads, living in a democracy…and always, all of you. It’s true! You make it onto every one!
I was thinking about this when reading your comments last night on “Extra! Extra!” Because a cool thing has started to happen: some of you are dropping more things to celebrate in the comments section! This is so great, because as hard as I try I can’t cover every good thing in the week’s news. The fact that some of you are now adding wins is just wonderful. A few of you send me good news items throughout the week, too—and I use them—but the wins in the comments are a new phenomenon, and I so appreciate it! Others of you have started using the comment section during the week, too, to add opportunities for engagement I haven’t covered. It’s all terrifically helpful, and reminds me again of what a collaborative process this all is.
It’s also a process with so much heart, and that is one thing the other side can’t say. They can brag about their money, their devious plans, the powerful entities working on their behalf…but they can’t say their movement has heart. Because it doesn’t. No one iota of it.
The heart we bring to this work is one reason I know we’ll win. Don’t underestimate its power, the drive it brings, or its creative force. They are legion.
One last thing: thanks so much for getting us almost halfway to our goal for the States Project matching campaign. We still need to raise $6500, though, to meet the match.
Just this morning I read an email from the States Project that taught me something I didn’t know: that Pennsylvania, one of the states for which we’re raising money, is one of three swing states whose legislators will be sworn in before those states send Presidential electors to Congress. Whoa!
The email went on to quote a recent New York Times article about The States Project’s work:
The article states, “a wrinkle in how state legislatures are seated means that elections in 2024 could directly affect the security of this year’s election.”
In competitive chambers in New Hampshire, Nevada, and Pennsylvania, lawmakers elected this November could take office before those states send presidential electors to Congress. Rightwing majorities could attempt to cause chaos and delays to give a federal court or Congress a basis to ignore who voters choose, decide who won each state, and undermine a free and fair Presidential election. Our goal is to elect majorities that will use their power to uphold the voices of voters and protect our democracy — as they should.
Those are some high stakes! If you feel more motivated to give now—I know I was—you can do so here.
OK, everyone. Let’s get back to work on this damaged but beautiful democracy of ours. Thanks for collaborating with me on this most important of pursuits. Your efforts matter so much, and so do you.
P.S. — My husband has offered to help with the audio version of this newsletter so starting today you will frequently hear his voice instead of mine reading it. Enjoy! He’s the best!
Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
I understand that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer will call for a unanimous consent vote on restoring the ban on bump stocks this week. I’m assuming the Senator will vote yes? I very much want him/her to.
[If Republican add:] I will be watching this vote very closely. If the Senator votes against this bill I will assume s/he supports mass shootings, since there is no other legitimate use for bump stocks. That would be a shameful thing, and I will remember it on Election Day.
Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
I understand that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer will call for a unanimous consent vote on restoring the ban on bump stocks this week. There is a House version of this bill, too—it’s the Closing the Bump Stock Loophole Act of 2023—HR 396. I want the Congressmember to demand that Speaker Johnson bring this bill up for a vote.
[If Republican add:] If the Congressmember won’t push for this I will assume s/he supports mass shootings, since there is no other legitimate use for bump stocks. That would be a shameful thing, and I will remember it on Election Day.
Extra Credit ✅
From Po Murray at Newtown Alliance:
We have been working with Global Exchange, Forum Arms Trade, and other allies to advocate for reforms to the U.S. gun export regulations. On April 26th, the Biden-Harris Administration took crucial first steps towards curbing the use of U.S.-made firearms in crimes and human rights abuses abroad and bolstering national security interests. Under the Interim Final Rule published by Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), exporters will be required to undergo more stringent vetting processes for their customers and tighten sales to 36 countries identified as “high-risk” for the illicit diversion of firearms. Additionally, the length of export licenses will be reduced from four years to one, and the State Department will be granted greater authority to block sales.
The public comment period for the revision of Commerce Department's firearms license requirements for gun exports will end in 14 days (on July 1, 2024). We urge you to submit your support for the changes HERE.
The NRA is fighting tooth and nail to stop this rule, folks, so we need as many comments in support as possible. If you need talking points here are a few resources:
You can read Newtown’s press statement HERE.
You can read Po Murray’s Substack piece on NSSF HERE.
Read THIS Bloomberg News report on “America, the Global Gun Pusher”
Get Smart! 📚
Friends, I am speaking at this year’s Women’s Summit (June 28-29, 2024, at Capital One Hall in Tysons, VA). The Women’s Summit is produced by the unstoppable women of Network NOVA to inspire, unite, and engage grassroots activists who are the force behind the historic Democratic wins since 2017. Now in its 8th year, this year’s Women’s Summit’s theme is “It’s Up to Us” to defend democracy, safeguard our liberties, and ensure Democrats win in 2024 and beyond. I am one of dozens and dozens of phenomenal speakers, including Jamie Raskin, Simon Rosenberg, Jess Piper, and so many more.
Join me! The best part will be actually meeting up with activist friends in-person and making new connections. To learn more, go here.
Spread the Word! 📣
The Center For American Progress has a whole section of their website dedicated to Project 2025. It’s really clear and helpful. Please check it out and see if there are parts you can share.
Give 💰!
Join Walk the Walk today at 5:30pm PT / 8:30pm ET and learn about their democracy investment portfolio designed for us to collectively achieve maximum impact with our limited political dollars.
They’ll be in conversation with their amazing partner New Pennsylvania Project, exploring what we can do together right now to help win the U.S. presidency, U.S. Senate, U.S House, and critical state legislatures.
Sign up here for the Zoom.
Win Races! 🗳
One of my favorite postcarding orgs, Blue Wave Postcards, is asking for our help to get voter registration postcards to Wisconsin voters ASAP. The cards urge unregistered Wisconsinites to register now so they can vote in the August 13 primary and the general election in November. A lot is at stake!
Registering voters and encouraging them to sign up for an absentee ballot are two of the most effective actions you can take at this stage of the election year. In this campaign, BWP asks voters to do both, as newly registered voters are much more likely to cast their ballots if they can do so from the comfort of their homes.
When you write for Blue Wave you do have to buy their cards, but they are very reasonably priced, and they send them with pre-printed address labels! Also, the script is only one line—to be written in colored ink.
If you can afford to help and have the time, please do! Order your cards here.
Resistbot Letter (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.) 💻
[To: all 3 reps] [H/T Newtown Action Alliance] [Text SIGN PEMYPD to Resistbot at 50409 or via Apple Messages / WHATSAPP / MESSENGER]
Last week six NRA-endorsed Supreme Court justices ruled in favor of mass shooters by overturning a Trump-era ban on bump stocks. On October 1, 2017, a 64-year-old gunman used bump stocks on AR-15s to fire more than 1,000 rounds to kill 60 people and wound over 400 at the Route 91 Harvest music festival in Las Vegas. This bump stock mass shooting was the deadliest in modern history.
I am profoundly disheartened by the Supreme Court’s ruling on bump stocks. This decision not only disregards the deadly potential of these devices but also jeopardizes the safety of our communities. Bump stocks serve no purpose other than to transform semi-automatic weapons into instruments of mass destruction.
I urge Congress to pass the Closing the Bump Stock Loophole Act of 2023—the bill number is HR 396 in the House; Senator Schumer has announced he will bring the Senate version (as yet unnumbered) to the floor under Unanimous Consent this week—to permanently ban these dangerous and deadly devices. Our nation's lawmakers must prioritize the safety and security of all Americans over the interests of the gun lobby. The horrific events in Las Vegas, Uvalde, Parkland, Buffalo, El Paso, Sandy Hook, and many other communities serve as stark reminders of the urgent need for common-sense gun reforms. Thanks.
OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk soon.
Jess
The YouTube channel "Republican Voters Against Trump" features short videos by former Trump voters who are now adamantly opposed to Trump. It's another thing to be thankful for.
These voters recognize the dangers of a 2nd Trump term. Many are lifelong Republican voters, walking away from decades of allegiance to the GOP.
Another group that has been working for years on electing state legislators and has been pretty successful flipping sate houses from red to blue is The Sister District Project.. I am volunteering through the MA-RI Sister District. The method is to link very blue districts that don't need as much attention with districts in purple states. Right now we are raising money and doing GOTV tasks for Patty Kim who is running for the state senate in PA district 15. Other chapters are working for other candidates. Check them out if you are in a safe district.