Chop Wood, Carry Water 6/25

Anxiety into action

Hi, everyone, and happy Tuesday!

Oy. There’s so much going on that trying to make sense of it in three to four paragraphs feels impossible. I could talk (more) about the two-year anniversary of Dobbs, or about the Israel-Hezbollah war brewing in the Middle East, or about the upcoming debate, or Trump’s “migrant fighting league” suggestion, or the heat dome under which we’ve all been suffering. I could find many, many other frightening, distressing, or anxiety-provoking topics, too. We all could.

Instead, I’m going to remind us of a few simple truths:

1. Predictions of the future are generally wrong, or at best largely inaccurate.

2. Our hard work has ALWAYS paid off.

3. Seemingly “hopeless” situations are often solved in ways we could never have imagined in advance.

4. There are more sane, decent people in the U.S. than there are vicious, small-minded ones.

5. The many have proven themselves to be more powerful than the money over and over and over again.

So let’s take deep breaths, put down the social media, and get to work. Because worrying never built anything, solved any problems, or created new power.

Action does all of that. And you’re very good at it.

That’s why I know we’ll win.

Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲

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

I understand that the biotech company Bayer is lobbying Congress to advance legislation in the Farm Bill—legislation that Bayer themselves crafted—that could shield them from billions of dollars in lawsuits over its weedkiller Roundup. I adamantly oppose giving them any such protection. Bayer knows this pesticide causes cancer and they keep selling it. They deserve lawsuits. Please ask the Senator to watch closely to ensure Congress doesn’t try to sneak this provision into the bill. Thanks.

Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲

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

I understand that the biotech company Bayer is lobbying Congress to advance legislation in the Farm Bill—legislation that Bayer themselves crafted—that would shield them from billions of dollars in lawsuits over their weedkiller Roundup. I oppose giving them any such protection. Bayer knows their pesticide causes cancer and they keep selling it. They deserve lawsuits. Please ask the Congressmember to demand that Reps. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) and Jim Costa (D-Calif.) pull their sneaky, corporate-friendly, consumer-harming provision from the Farm Bill. Thanks.

Extra Credit ✅

Please read—or at least scan—this Feathers of Hope post about two important provisions in the Farm Bill that need our support. Then make two calls for me.

1. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) Ph: (202) 224-4822 or (231) 929-1031 or (906) 228-8756

Say:

I’m calling the Senator in her capacity as chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee. I want to thank her for fighting to keep SNAP fully funded in the Farm Bill, and for her efforts to keep the climate provisions in it. But I’d also like her to fight to keep the animal welfare provisions AND the FULL Food For Peace program funding in it. These are so important; I don’t want them to be forgotten. Thanks.

1. Rep. David Scott (D-GA-13): Ph: (202) 225-2939 or (770) 210-5073 or

Say:

I’m calling the Congressmember in his capacity as the top Democrat on the House Agriculture Committee. I want to thank him for fighting to keep SNAP fully funded in the Farm Bill, and for his efforts to keep the climate provisions in it. But I’d also like him to fight to keep the animal welfare provisions AND the FULL Food For Peace program funding in it. These are so important; I don’t want them to be forgotten. Thanks.

Get Smart! 📚

Today marks the 11th anniversary of the disastrous Shelby County decision, which gutted much of the Voting Rights Act.

Please join the John Lewis Action Coalition for a virtual Voting Rights Teach-In TONIGHT from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. EST to highlight the urgent need for the following federal voting rights legislation to repair and strengthen our democracy:

• John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act

• Freedom to Vote Act

• Native American Voting Rights Act

• DC Statehood

You will be joined by movement leaders, Members of Congress, and voting rights experts to discuss how we can continue to fight for these critical pieces of legislation--and highlight the nationwide actions on July 17, the anniversary of John Lewis’ passing.

RSVP HERE!

Spread the Word! 📣

Looking for a way to talk to the young people in your life who have soured on Biden because of the war in the Middle East? This post is AMAZING. I really can’t recommend it enough.

An Open Letter to My Son on Gaza

Give 💰!

Have you been meaning to give to our Chop Wood, Carry Statehouses Giving Circle? Great news! You’ve got another chance to double your money! A group of donors who support the work of The States Project have offered to match every dollar raised by the giving circles community through August 31, 2024 (or until the match money runs out), up to $500,000 total across all giving circles!

This NYT article recently highlighted The States Project's critical and successful work flipping state legislatures from red to blue.

You can give, and have your gift doubled, here.

(And don’t forget, TSP is having an event this Thursday to talk about their work. Eric Holder will be there, and they’ve just added PA House Speaker Joanna McClinton, too. It’s going to be amazing. Sign up here.)

Win Races! 🗳

So, the Pod Save America guys are out with a new book: Democracy or Else: How to Save America in 10 Easy Steps. Full disclosure, their people hired me to make a TikTok about it so they sent me a free copy, which I read. But that’s not why I’m posting about it here. I’m doing so because it’s actually great and really helpful (although there’s a lot of cursing in it, so you have to be prepared for that.) It’s full of ways to help us win elections and strengthen democracy, and it’s quite funny, too.

In addition to their own insights, the authors talk to some of the greatest, most effective people in politics: Stacey Abrams, Danica Roem, Maxwell Frost, and more.

You can order it at crooked.com/books or wherever you buy books.

The best thing is, Crooked will donate its profits from Democracy or Else to support their great electoral org Vote Save America, (with which we should all be signed up!) as well as its partners. Win win!

Chop Wood, Save the Planet 🔥

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

Instead of a Resistbot letter today, please send a version of the below—it’s important to personalize—to CNN at community@cnn.com [H/T Barry Rosenberg]

Dear Debate Hosting Team,

Please be sure that you have real-time fact-checking during the upcoming debate between President Biden and former President Trump. The unprecedented volume and severity of lies and misinformation on the political scene has left many Americans misled and mistrustful of traditional news sources. Social media accounts spread lies and misinformation that no longer even parade as opinions. I have been unhappy with news sources failing to correct false news. The unfounded claims of 2020 election fraud is just one sad example of a lie that has gained bizarre credibility among too many congressmembers and constituents; it’s an example of what can happen once a lie is amplified and repeated without being refuted immediately.

The vital importance of instant fact-checking can’t be overstated. If you are to host as legitimate journalists, you owe it to your audience to fact-check and correct misinformation as quickly as possible. We do not need to hear a debate between the candidates regarding who is lying over what. For misinformation the host(s) are immediately aware of, I suggest corrections by the host in real time. For misinformation not screened immediately, I suggest both closed captions for the sighted during the debate and verbal corrections after the debate for the blind. CNN owes it to the American public to report what is true and what are lies, so voters can make informed decisions on Election Day.

I hope you have the courage to protect legitimate journalism and democracy. Thanks.

[name]

[city, state]

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

Talk soon.

Jess