Hi, all, and happy Monday!
Hope you had a great weekend and got to decompress a bit. Last week was draining—we all earned a rest.
What now? Well, we go back to advocating for the many other bills that should—and could—get passed this session. Sure, many of them are long shots, but it’s never been our job to deal in statistical probabilities. We traffic in hopeful actions, knowing just how powerful they can be. So we are going to keep taking such actions to pass paid family leave, common sense gun laws, a Congressional stock-buying ban, Medicare for all, a strong Farm bill, and so much more.
We will also get to work on important elections coming up in Ohio and then Virginia. Both will have democracy-altering effects. We must win them.
As for the debt ceiling? I’d like to go many months—years, even—without uttering those words again. And, thanks to the negotiating skills of team Biden, I can! We needn’t think of it again until after the 2024 elections. A blessing and relief, indeed.
So let’s get back to the work of tending to democracy, friends. Lord knows there’s plenty of it. And no one with whom I’d rather do it than you.
Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
I’m calling to ask the Senator to vote yes on the confirmation of Juli Su for Labor Secretary. She is unquestionably qualified, pro-union, and pro-worker. I know there is a lot of money being spent by giant corporations to bring down her confirmation; they don’t like the recent successes of unions and workers. But I expect my Senator to stand with people like me and confirm her. Thanks.
Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
I wanted to make your office is aware that today gun violence survivors and advocates will join Sam Schwartz, the cousin of a Parkland victim, as they begin an around the clock sit-in on the Capitol steps to demand a vote to ban assault weapons.
Has the Congressmember yet co-sponsored HR 698, the Assault Weapons Ban Act of 2023? [If yes thank. If no add:] Is there a reason for that? [Add a personal reason you want such a ban.] Recent polling shows Americans believe the most impactful way to reduce gun violence is to pass an assault weapons ban. And this is a priority for me too. Please ask them to co-sponsor this bill now, thanks.
Extra Credit ✅
Let’s call Dick Durbin in his capacity as Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. We’ll call the committee office itself at 202-224-7703.
Hi, My name is _______________ and I am a (gun violence survivor/student/gun owner/veteran/faith leader/educator/law enforcement family member/Gen Z voter/parent/whatever.)
I wanted to make the Chairman aware that today gun violence survivors and advocates will join Sam Schwartz, the cousin of a Parkland victim, as they begin an around the clock sit-in at the Capitol steps to demand a vote to ban assault weapons. I support them.
Is Chairman Durbin going to schedule a committee vote on Senator Feinstein’s Assault Weapons Ban? I’d like him to, and soon. Thanks.
Get Smart! 📚
Please join the Environmental Voter Project tonight — Monday, June 5, 8pm ET / 5pm PT — for a Special Briefing + Panel Discussion on the Rise of AAPI environmental voters.
You won't want to miss learning about their new data and hearing from their great panelists: Christine Chen of AAPIVote and Molly Kawahata of Systemic Impact Strategies. Please RSVP here to receive the zoom webinar credentials.
Spread the Word! 📣
Please post this video where you can, with a caption such as:
Mike Pence is officially running for President. This is the same man who said he will “always cherish” being part of an administration that appointed three justices who voted to overturn Roe. And the same man who supports a national six-week abortion ban. Don't let anyone forget it.
You can download the video from this newsletter, RT the DNC’s tweet here, or share the video from my IG here.
Give 💰!
Reminder: join Flip the Vote tonight for a lively political Trivia Night and fundraiser with Jon Lovett, former Obama speechwriter and co-host of Pod Save America. No donation necessary to attend, but it is a fundraiser.
June 5 at 5:30 pm PT/ 7:30 pm CT/ 8:30 pm ET (sorry, it does sort of conflict with the EVP event above.)
Win an Election in Ohio! 🗳
We have a great opportunity in the next two months to protect democracy and reproductive rights in Ohio, while building our capacity to keep the Senate next year.
On August 8th Ohio voters will cast ballots on an initiative to require a 60% majority to amend the Ohio Constitution. This hastily-scheduled vote by Ohio Republicans is intended to defeat the right-to-abortion constitutional amendment that is likely to be on the Ohio ballot this November. But that’s not all it is. It is also part of a right-wing national strategy to limit citizen initiatives in red states. Efforts to adopt similar restrictions are already underway in Missouri, Florida, Idaho, Oklahoma, North Dakota and other states.
You can help by donating to the Ohio Democratic Party here, volunteering for phone banks here, or signing up to write postcards into OH with either Postcards to Voters (if you have your own cards) or the Civics Center (you have to purchase their cards, and today is the LAST DAY on which to do so!) I’ve also put together an Ohio resource document with more ways to help—I’ll be updating it as often as I find new opportunities. The doc is here.
And please tell everyone you know in Ohio to make sure they vote on August 8th, or request their absentee ballots NOW if they won’t be in town then! If you know people that would prefer to watch a 2-minute video about the election rather than read an email, you can send them my TikTok here.
We only have 65 days to organize in a state with over 8 million registered voters, so please donate or volunteer right away.
Resistbot Letter (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.) 💻
[to all 3 reps] [H/T] [Quick send: text SIGN PGAXSG to 50409 or share here.]
I am your constituent and I’m writing to urge you to support The Opportunities in Organic Act of 2023.
The Opportunities in Organic Act reduces barriers and minimizes risks for farmers transitioning to organic by providing needed financial and technical assistance. Our communities and our state benefit when more farms go organic.
Farmers need financial and technical assistance to help address challenges encountered while transitioning to organic — a farming system that’s healthier and more resilient — and to create sustainable business models.
Organic farming benefits rural economies, the environment, and reduces exposure to toxic pesticides. We need more organic farmers. It also makes organic practices more accessible for community-scale farmers and producers from socially disadvantaged groups. It’s good all around! Please support it. Thanks.
OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk soon.
Jess
"We traffic in hopeful actions..." Sounds scandalous. I love it!
Ciao Jessica - would it be possible to add information in your "Adopt Ohio" briefing sheet for US citizens who are living abroad? Our deadlines a bit different for the State Special Election. You can direct people to the Vote From Abroad site here: https://www.votefromabroad.org/states/OH The details are as follows: Ohio citizens living or studying abroad can register using the Vote From Abroad site by July 10, if already registered, must request their overseas ballot (always using Vote From Abroad) by August 1. Their completed ballot must be returned BY POSTAL MAIL and received by August 12. There is also an option to return the completed ballot by Courier service, in which case it must be returned by August 8 at 7:30pm. Thanks for all you do!!