Chop Wood, Carry Water 6/27

A tough day.

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Hi, all, and happy Friday.

This has honestly felt like one of the longest weeks of my life. I suspect I’m not alone. It’s not just the (continued) loss of my beloved cat, for me. It’s that it feels like the news—mostly bad—is accelerating at an almost impossible-to-believe rate. So much is happening, and a large majority of it is unbelievably dark. The forces of evil seem to be gaining footholds everywhere. My inbox is absolutely inundated with articles bearing alarming headlines—it’s an absolute deluge of grimness.

And yet, here all of us are. We are still showing up. We are still in this fight. Each of us is tired, each afraid, each heartbroken, and yet we wake up each day and make a conscious decision to return to battle. Why? Because we know the stakes. We love humanity, we love our children, and we love each other. And we refuse to let the forces of greed and oppression win.

Sometimes, these days, our side reminds me of the residents of Whoville. Remember how, in Dr. Seuss’s poem, they hold hands and sing Christmas carols, even after the Grinch has stolen all of their gifts? The sound of that singing, fictional though it may be, keeps ringing in my ears. For collectively, we are doing the same. We are insisting on joy. We are clinging to community. We are cleaving to a vision of unity even when powerful forces are trying to stop us from doing so.

This isn’t just beautiful—it’s how we will prevail.

So while the Supreme Court issues disastrous rulings, Fox News spews lies, and Republicans foment racism and hate, we will keep doing what we do.

We will stand steadfastly on the side of right. We will help those targeted by this regime. We will repeat the truth to whomever will listen. We will love. We will care. We will honor those who came before us in this fight. We will continue their work no matter what our chances of success.

Because that’s what patriots do.

This is harder than we expected it to be —and we knew it would be brutal. But for one day more we can return to the front, knowing that not just our country but the world is depending on our courage. It feels bleak as hell right now, but feelings aren’t what determine the future. Our actions are.

So let’s keep acting like patriots until this thing is won.

Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲

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

First, I want the Senator to support Tim Kaine’s War Powers resolution when it comes up for a vote. Donald Trump and his administration launched an attack on Iran without Congressional approval and then lied about what they achieved. He’s out of control. The Senator must support the Resolution.

Second, I’m upset about the Supreme Court’s ruling yesterday allowing states to block Medicaid recipients from using Planned Parenthood. And I’m extremely upset that Republicans are trying to defund Planned Parenthood in their vicious budget bill—which I oppose, by the way. Defunding or otherwise limiting access to Planned Parenthood would put over a million patients at risk of losing access to health care. It's chaotic, cruel, and dangerous. Congress needs to stop these attacks and support access to Planned Parenthood. [H/T]

Finally please tell the Senator to vote no on Emil Bove. He’s a fundamentally dishonest and corrupt person and cannot be confirmed as a judge. Thanks.

Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲

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

I understand that the Trump administration plans to deport Kilmar Abrego Garcia as soon as he’s released on bail. So let me get this straight: They wrongly deported him because of an administrative error, then refused for months to bring him back despite court orders to do so, then finally brought him back so they could criminally prosecute him on made up charges, and now that a judge has shown those charges to be nonsense they’re going to deport him—again with no due process? Why is Congress not stepping in to protect this man? And more importantly, what has happened to due process in our country? I’m appalled at the Trump administration’s abuse of Abrego Garcia and so many others. Congress needs to stand up for the Constitution and stop these abuses now. Thanks.

Extra Credit ✅

As you likely know, Rep. Al Green brought up a privileged resolution to impeach Trump over his illegal bombing of Iran. It failed to pass, partially because 128 Democrats voted to table the resolution. Please see if your rep was one of them, (again, because they were voting on whether or not to table the resolution the AYE votes are the bad ones), and if so call and say this:

I’m calling because I understand that the representative voted against impeaching Donald Trump this week. I am flabbergasted. To say that that was the wrong vote is a massive understatement. Trump has already committed at least 19 impeachable offenses. Nineteen! He’s a disgrace. I feel totally betrayed by the representative’s vote and expect him/her to make a better choice next time. Thanks.

If your rep is a Democrat and they voted AGAINST tabling —and therefore FOR impeachment—please call and say:

I’m calling to thank the representative for voting the right way on Rep. Green’s impeachment resolution. I’m horrified that more Democrats didn’t support it but I’m glad s/he did. I expect him/her to keep voting for impeachment every time it’s brought up. Trump has committed 19 impeachable offenses so far and every day it gets worse. The fact that Congress is allowing him to stay in office is an outrage. Thanks.

Get Smart! 📚

My friend

Qasim Rashid, Esq.

wrote a great post called “How to Protect your Neighbors From ICE Raids.” Please read, please share, and please use his instructions to help make sure that if your locality has a 287g agreement, they repeal it.

How To Protect Your Immigrant Neighbors From ICE Raids

Give 💰!

Sister District has announced their second wave of endorsed candidates for 2025. These progressive incumbents and challengers will be critical to protecting Virginia’s Democratic Majority in the State Legislature.

Sister District is one of the best organizations out there helping great candidates win in state legislative elections. They have a stellar track record and their endorsees are always incredible. This is a really great place to give.

Support the entire wave 2 candidate slate HERE.

Win Races! 🗳

Remember, you can phone bank to help Abigail Spanberger win the governor’s race in Virginia several days a week with the Grassroots Dems HQ. We need big wins in November badly, y’all. Please take a shift! They’ll train you!

Sign up here.

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

[To: your Senators] [H/T] [Text SIGN PESGRU to 50409, or to @Resistbot on Apple Messages, Messenger, Instagram, or Telegram]

(Note that for the most effective RESISTBOT it’s best to personalize this text. More about how to do this here. But if you’re short on time just send it as is using the above code.)

As your constituent, I urge you to vote NO on the nomination of Emil Bove to the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. The integrity of our judiciary rests on judges who can be trusted to honor the Constitution and faithfully administer equal justice under law. Bove falls far short of that standard.

In his brief tenure at the Deputy Attorney General’s office over the past five months, Bove has allegedly engaged in multiple unprecedented abuses of power. He reportedly led an effort to identify and purge FBI agents and federal prosecutors involved in cases regarding the January 6th insurrection. Bove allegedly pushed a “bargain” to extract public policy concessions from the Mayor of New York City in exchange for dropping a corruption prosecution that could be resumed later, leading to resignations in protest by senior DOJ attorneys in both New York and Washington. Just this week, a DOJ whistleblower wrote that Bove plotted to defy, circumvent, and lie to federal courts regarding illegal deportations.

In all three of these recent and well-documented cases, Bove’s alleged conduct demonstrates a disqualifying degree of bad faith toward the Constitution that all lawyers and all government employees swear to protect. Many honorable jurists of different ideologies and parties serve with integrity, but it is the Senate’s duty to ensure only nominees of good character are confirmed, and that those who abuse their power are not rewarded. Bove thoroughly fails this test.

For all of these reasons I beg you to vote no on Bove’s nomination. Thanks.

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

Talk soon.

Jess