Hi, all, and happy Monday! I missed you!
But I come to you quite restored.
Last week I went on a news blackout while reuniting with close family members I haven’t seen in two years. It was moving, delightful, and remarkably rejuvenating.
Having said that, I missed a big news week. Biden had a successful meeting with Putin, SCOTUS preserved the ACA, the Juneteenth bill passed (!!!) and Trump was exposed for having engaged in more unacceptable and illegal behavior.
And then there was “the Manchin news,” which is largely commensurate with what we thought would happen. I am, in fact, mildly encouraged. This is going to be a long process, and I know we’re all super tired of calling about S1, but I think more than ever that it’s worth it, and oh-so-necessary.
Remember, repetition was how we saved the ACA from a legislative demise. Now it’s the law of the land. This is life-altering for tens of millions of people.
Equally life-altering will be the passage of any of the provisions in the FTPA. So let’s keep fighting, knowing that there is little more important work we can do.
Call Your Senators (find yours here)
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
I’m glad the Senate voted to approve the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act. But, in a time when more and more states are passing Jim Crow-style voting laws, we need more than a federal holiday. Please tell the Senator to vote YES on S.1 – the For the People Act, removing dark money from politics, stopping partisan gerrymandering, and allowing every citizen to vote freely and fairly. And if the Senator really cares about racial justice they also need to support HR 51 and make DC a state. Thanks. [H/T]
[If Dem Add] And please ask them to vote to abolish the filibuster. It’s a Jim Crow relic that’s still stopping civil rights legislation. It’s got to go.
Call Your House Rep (find yours here)
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
First, racial justice is a top issue for me. Did the Congressmember vote to support the bill making Juneteenth a federal holiday? [If yes thank. If no add:] That’s VERY disappointing. While the Juneteenth bill was only a start, it was an important first step. I want the Congressman to know that I think this was a very bad vote.
On a similar note, I’d like the Congressmember to support H.R.1693, the Eliminating a Quantifiably Unjust Application of the Law (EQUAL) Act. This is bipartisan legislation that seeks to eliminate the disparity in sentencing for cocaine offenses, a major contributor to mass incarceration, and apply retroactively to those already convicted or sentenced. Thanks.
Extra Credit
Send the below to President Biden via Resistbot or this form. [H/T and petition]
First of all, thank you for announcing three new appointments to the USPS Board of Governors -- they’re all all great selections and I’m thrilled that all have been confirmed.
However, this might not be enough! Sitting board members have expressed hesitancy in firing Louis DeJoy. This is unacceptable. He MUST be fired. We must ensure we have a board who will work towards restoring the USPS, not privatizing it. One sitting board member and Trump appointee, Ron Bloom, is currently in a hold-over year and can be removed by you any time. Please do this now, and then nominate a replacement who will vote to fire DeJoy.
Also, why is the USPS negotiating to replace its entire postal truck fleet—600,000 trucks!—with gas-powered vehicles? They should be electric! Please intervene to stop the contract with Oshkosh and pursue a contract with an electric vehicle company instead. This is critical to achieving our climate goals. Thanks.
Get On the Phones!
Exasperated by Manchin mania? Me too! But good news! We can start to help elect more Democratic Senators in 2022 NOW! Activate America (formerly Flip the West) is phone banking to register voters every Tuesday from 1:30 - 3:30 pm PST and Thursday from 4:30 - 6:30 pm PST. They have really good lists and a wonderful calling tool.
Excellent training will be available at the beginning of each session if you have not phone banked on CallHub (or at all) before. It’s SO EASY!! Go here to sign up for any shift!
Resistbot Text (new to Resistbot? Go here!)
[to all of your DEMOCRATIC reps] ]H/T]
I voted for Democrats because our nation was founded on the principle that no one is above the law – not even the president. I don't want America to become a land where the politically powerful are granted immunity from the consequences of their crimes and misrule and the wealthy are allowed to loot, cheat, and exploit with impunity. I am deeply disappointed that Attorney General Garland is choosing to turn a blind eye towards Trump-era abuses and crimes while continuing some of the indefensible actions and policies of his predecessor AG Barr such as:
Concealing illegal spying on the phone records of journalists and members of Congress.
Shielding Trump from defamation lawsuits that have nothing to do with his presidential duties.
Withholding the OLC memo that AG Barr, his predecessor, cited as justification for not charging Trump following the Mueller investigation.
Blocking a subpoena requiring former Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos to testify in the for-profit-college student loan fraud case
Continuing the Trump/Barr legal efforts to maintain racist Social Security discrimination against Puerto Ricans.
Protecting discrimination against LGBTQ students by federally-funded religious schools.
Persecuting whistle-blower Natalie Edwards who exposed Russian involvement in the 2016 election and financial and political corruption by Trump cronies.
I want to know what corrective measures you will take to ensure that the DOJ upholds law and justice for everyone. Please respond. Thanks.
OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk tomorrow.
Jess