Chop Wood, Carry Water 6/20

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Hi, all, and happy Tuesday!

Hope you had a restful and pleasant three-day weekend—for those of you who had one. I did, and it was much needed. For anyone wondering, moreover, I did not get the stomach flu, for which I am infinitely grateful. My nuclear family remained unscathed while nine members of my visiting extended family got it, one at a time. Yikes! We finally got some health luck at our house, and we were grateful to have it.

In other news, Donald Trump continues to incriminate himself, House Republicans continue to make bad choices, and the Biden administration continues to do an extraordinary job. None of this should surprise us, of course. But it’s nevertheless our job to trumpet all of it, and loudly. The Republicans aren’t getting nearly enough negative coverage, and Biden, as usual, isn’t getting enough positive.

So let’s be the amplification we seek—after all, without a left-leaning version of Fox News it is us who will have to provide the drumbeat of opinion. If, that is, we wish there to be one at all.

And of course we do.

So let’s get vocal, stay active, and keep on relentlessly pursuing justice. We were born into tumultuous times, it’s true, but we have a say in how much more tumultuous they get.

So let’s go tug at the arc of history once again.

Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲

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

I understand that Senate Democrats are expected to mark the anniversary of the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision this week with a series of unanimous-consent requests on the Senate floor. They will try to pass bills that codify the right to contraception, allow women to travel across state lines to get an abortion, legally shield doctors who perform abortions for out-of-state patients and safeguard data privacy. Regardless of party, every Senator should be supporting these bills, whose provisions are widely popular with Americans. Will the Senator do so?

Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲

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

I understand that a bipartisan group of members has circulated a Dear Colleague letter looking for co-sponsors for the PRESS Act—it stands for Protecting Reporters From Exploitative State Spying. This is an important journalist shield law, which the House passed unanimously last Congress but was blocked by a lone senator. Will the Congressmember sign on? Freedom of the press is something I wholeheartedly support and hope s/he will, as well. Thanks.¹

Extra Credit ✅

Here’s a great and easy action from the Climate Action Now app. Let’s contact Bayer Crop Science here and ask them to pull their bee-killing pesticides off the market. PLEASE PERSONALIZE!

Many species of bees and other pollinators are on the brink of extinction. A key driver of their decline is the toxic pesticides your company manufactures, including neonicotinoids.

When bees are exposed to neonicotinoids, they can be killed directly, and their ability to forage, navigate, and reproduce can be impaired.

Without bees and pollinators, over 180,000 species of plants would not thrive, including many that provide food and natural resources for humans.

I am urging Bayer-Monsanto to take accountability for the toxic impacts of your products and immediately stop producing neonicotinoids and other highly bee-toxic pesticides. Thanks!

Get Smart! 📚

Have you wondered how anyone—especially anyone female—can be “undecided” in our current political climate? Then you won't want to miss Galvanize’s upcoming virtual event! Founder Jackie Payne will be joined by special guest Maya Bourdeau, CEO of FrameShift, to explore the surprising answer to this question and new insights into moderate women’s opinions and identities. Join them Thursday, June 22 at 12 p.m. Pacific / 3 p.m. eastern for Unlocking Moderate Women’s Subconscious Thoughts & Feelings. Galvanize is an amazing organization—highly recommend this event!

RSVP here

Give 💰!

Here’s a cool way to celebrate Pride month: Donate directly to LGBTQIA+ leaders running for local office!

Run For Something has 21 amazing LGBTQIA+ candidates currently running in CO, IN, MA, MS, MO, NY, NC, OH, PA, TX, VA, & WA. They could use your support! One donation gets split among them, helping build power & expand LGBTQ+ representation. Give here. (And if you want to read the latest roundup of great news generated by RFS alumni, read this!)

Chop Wood, Save the Planet! 🌎

Ridwell is a community-based, social purpose organization that helps people waste less by identifying recyclable and reusable items that the city doesn’t collect, picking them up from Ridwellers’ doorsteps, and matching them with local partners that can use them sustainably. Members (including me) have diverted more than 12 million pounds of waste from landfill so far. Last month they picked up all of our old eyeglass frames!

Please help bring Ridwell to your area by signing up! They are doing a ton of free pick ups prior to launching so get on their list to hear about when they are coming to where you live! LOVE THEM!

Win Races! 🗳

Activate America has announced their first gun violence prevention postcarding campaign! They are writing to voters in five critical House districts represented by Republicans who stand in the way of gun safety.

New York Congressmen Marcus Molinaro, George Santos, and Brandon Williams, along with California Congressmen Ken Calvert and Mike Garcia, all have terrible gun safety records, and they all sit in seats that Democrats can flip with sufficient energy and resources. Indeed, in 2020, President Joe Biden won four of these districts. Three are considered “toss ups”, one is considered “lean Democrat”, and one is considered “lean Republican”. All are within reach IF we put in the work. So let’s do that!

Sign up HERE to begin postcarding.

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

[to all 3 reps] [text SIGN PEROSA to 50409 or share here.]

I understand that Congressman Blumenauer has crafted and introduced “the Food and Farm Act,” a comprehensive alternative Farm Bill that advances four principles of agricultural reform: (1) focusing resources on those who need it most; (2) fostering innovation; (3) encouraging investments in people and the planet; and (4) ensuring access to healthy foods.

The Food and Farm Act will:

• Cut, cap, and clarify existing farm subsidy programs while increasing access for farmers who grow more than one crop (Title I);

• Expand conservation compliance and reform existing conservation programs to focus on performance to effectively achieve project goals (Title II); • Ensure our food assistance programs achieve maximum reach and efficacy by adjusting commodity requirements (Title III);

• Increase access to healthy food in food deserts and other underserved areas, schools, and at farmers markets through SNAP and other initiatives (Title IV);

• Provide resources to beginning, retiring farmers, and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers (Title V);

• Establish a Food Waste Title to better prioritize food waste reduction (Title VI);

• Invest in research programs related to sustainable agriculture and help farmers and ranchers succeed in the face of a changing climate (Title VII);

• Reform USDA research and organic programs to ensure the humane treatment of animals and increase support for pasture-based systems (Title VIII); and

• Expand and reform vibrant local and regional food systems (Title IX).

The result of years of consultation with a wide array of stakeholders, the Food and Farm Act puts farmers, families, and the environment first in our country’s food policy. I strongly urge you to support it. Thanks.

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

Talk soon.

Jess

1. First Branch Forecast