Chop Wood, Carry Water 6/30

A VERY important day

From the Tennessee Holler

Hi, all, and happy Monday.

This is going to be a rushed version of the newsletter because today’s an extremely important day and we have some critical actions to take quickly. The Senate will vote on the Big BS Bill tonight (I think at 9PM ET) and from what I’m hearing right now they don’t yet have the votes. Let me be clear—I’m not saying we’re going to win this fight but we’re certainly still in it.

As such I’m going to give you some resources you can use and share to keep up with what’s happening and also help us try to win.

First, Punchbowl is keeping a running “whip count” of who isn’t a definite yes on the bill (on the Republican side. Democrats are united against it.) It’s useful for knowing who still needs maximum pressure and why. Find it here.

Second, the Times just came out with a good breakdown of what’s in the final version of the Senate bill. I’m not sure Senate Republicans even know, to be honest. But we should, and we can by taking a look at the article, so please do. (As always, I’ve given you the archive.ph link as I don’t pay for the Times. It works great but won’t include live updates. If you subscribe to the Times you can find their link, with live updates, here.)

And below you’ll see that I’m giving you some important actions to take around Republican Senators’ donors. We are hearing that this may be where we can exert the most pressure so please take as many actions as you can.

OK, all. We’re in this fight. The fact that Senate Republicans are taking their ten hours of debate—something they said before they wouldn’t bother doing—means they’re scrambling to get the votes. While they scramble let’s get loud. Who knows? It just might work.

P.S. — I will be doing my Live today at 4PM PT and should have a special guest worth watching but I also may hop on another time if a Dem Senator becomes available and wants to talk. So keep your eyes out for Live notifications—it’ll be updates on the bill and you’ll want to watch!

Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲

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

[If Democrat:]

I’m calling to thank the Senator for committing to opposing the awful Republican reconciliation bill. I know Democrats worked through the weekend to drag this process out and get as much bad stuff out of the bill as possible and I really appreciate it. Please keep holding Republicans’ feet to the fire. Do all you can. We’re counting on you to leave it all on the field, and we have your back in return. Thanks.

[If Republican:]

I’m calling to demand that the Senator vote no on this murderous budget bill. We all know it’s awful. We all know Republicans will pay dearly at the ballot box for passing it. We know it’ll cost lives, force children to go to bed hungry, cost hundreds of thousands of jobs, increase prices on pretty much everything, and destroy our healthcare system—especially in rural areas. I know the Senator is afraid to stand up to Trump but s/he can and s/he must—in fact s/he will be regarded as a hero for doing so. Please ask him/her to vote no. Thanks.

Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲

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

I’m calling because I’m terrified this budget bill could pass in the Senate later today. If it does I want the Congressmember to vote no and do everything in their power to stop it. We all know it’s awful. We know it’ll cost lives, force children to go to bed hungry, kill hundreds of thousands of jobs, increase prices on pretty much everything, and destroy our healthcare system—especially in rural areas. I expect the Congressmember to oppose it strongly if it makes it to the House.

[If GOP add:] Senators may have six year terms but Congressmembers don’t. Anyone who supports this bill will lose their seat next year. We will make sure of it. Please make the right choice. Thanks.

Extra Credit ✅

Insiders are passing around a google doc with the names of some of the biggest donors to Murkowski, Collins, and Johnson. We are being asked to contact them in every way we can—by phone, email, and especially on social media, and ask them to pressure the Senators to vote no. This is an easy way to help and we’re hearing it could make a huge difference so please do it!

You can share the doc with others, too. In this case the more the merrier, truly.

They give you contact links and a suggested script on the doc—it’s extremely short and sweet—but feel free to say what you want!

Messaging! Messaging! Messaging! 📣

Here’s CAP Action’s content guidance for today. Please repost anything in the doc. Flood the zone!

Give 💰!

K-Town for all continues its amazing work of raising money so immigrant street vendors can stay home here in Los Angeles. They money goes to volunteers and the volunteers pass it directly to street vendors who are terrified to go to work. So far these donations have enabled 40 families to stay home for the month.

I highly encourage folks to follow K-Town for all on Instagram so you can see when they post new fundraisers, but right now this is the one they’re running. Please give if you can. It’s where I’m donating every week.

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

[To: your Senators] [H/T

Coleman Rogers

] [Text SIGN PPWCSD 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.)

The "big, beautiful bill" is a deeply concerning piece of legislation that prioritizes corporate profits and tax cuts for the wealthy over the wellbeing of everyday Americans. While it contains some populist rhetoric about supporting Main Street and family farms, the reality is that this bill would transfer massive amounts of wealth upwards, exacerbating inequality.

The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office estimates it would increase the deficit by $2.4 trillion, burdening future generations. Perhaps most egregiously, the murder budget includes draconian cuts to Medicaid that could devastate access to healthcare for millions, including in rural communities that disproportionately voted for the President. Senators like Josh Hawley and Susan Collins have rightly objected to these provisions that could gravely harm their constituents and cripple rural hospitals. Yet the White House seems intent on ramming this bill through by July 4th regardless of public opposition or negative impacts.

This arrogant attitude of putting arbitrary deadlines and presidential vanity ahead of responsible legislating that serves all Americans is deeply troubling. The President's comments dismissing those with concerns as "grandstanders" who are "not good people" is the height of incivility and disrespect towards his governing partners in Congress.

Mitch McConnell's flippant remark that the American people will "get over" whatever gets passed into law is the precise kind of out-of-touch elitism that has bred so much mistrust of government.

I implore you to reject this reckless push and insist on a genuinely bipartisan process that puts the needs of your constituents first. Ramming through a partisan, deficit-exploding giveaway to the rich is exactly the kind of governance failure that will further alienate Americans who already feel their voices don't matter. Please put country over party and reject this misguided "big, beautiful" murder budget that will only exacerbate divisions.

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

Talk soon.

Jess