Chop Wood, Carry Water 6/5
Because patriotism is an action.
Hi, all, and happy Thursday!
Well, events are flying thick and fast, as always. Elon Musk has come out—surprisingly strongly—in opposition to Trump’s bill, so that’s added a certain drama to the situation. This by no means guarantees, of course, that the bill will be defeated, but it adds a certain wearied levity to the situation, as it’s nice to see these two megalomaniacs turn on each other at last.
As I said, the bill does still have a good chance at passage, but we can also still stop it. Also, there’s a difference between the worst bill possible being passed and something that’s at least moderately less bad. We’re going to strive to “kill the bill,” as Elon said, but also to get the most poisonous stuff out so that even if it does pass it’s not quite as dangerous as it could have been.
And don’t get me wrong. Any version of this bill is unbelievably bad. I try to maintain a balance between optimism and pragmatism, however, and the reality is that Republicans a) control Congress and the presidency, b) have wanted a lot of the provisions in this bill for a long time, and c) do NOT want Trump’s tax cuts to expire. (Neither do their donors.) So, barring a miracle, they’ll likely pass something. It’s our job to a) work for that miracle, while b) also working to ensure that if something does have to pass there’s as much harm reduction as possible done first.
On that note, I hope you’ll join me in giving some extra love to the climate provisions in the bill. Abandoning clean energy at this moment in planetary history will have dire and irreversible consequences. It’s absolutely bonkers. So I’ll be focussing a lot on that aspect in the coming weeks and hope you will as well (more on that below!) Of course we’ll also keep fighting to protect Medicaid and SNAP, too, because hundreds of thousands of lives are at stake (literally). We’ll do all we can, in short, to stop this “Big BS Bill,” because taking right action is what we do.
It’s a lot to worry about, I know, but we don’t get to choose the times in which we live. So let’s shoulder our burden as cheerfully as possible, remembering that a life spent fighting for democracy, justice, and a livable environment is a life well spent indeed, regardless of our success rates.
And all things considered those rates, thus far, have been quite high. So let’s have faith in our abilities and keep doing what we do best: chopping wood, carrying water, and showing the world what it looks like to take patriotic action during tough times.
Glorious results will ensue—it’s just a matter of time.
Love you guys. Let’s get to work.
Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
First, I want to register my strenuous opposition to Republicans abomination of a bill. I genuinely fear for our economy if we take on 2.4 trillion—or likely much more—in debt. Also I just read that 51,000 people a YEAR will die from the cuts to Medicaid, Medicare, and SNAP. Also, killing clean energy tax credits at a moment when the whole world is transitioning to cleaner, cheaper energy is stupid and self-destructive beyond belief. I hate every part of this bill. It’s atrocious.
Second, I am sickened by the Trump administration’s new travel ban, and by the ICE abductions we’re seeing all over social media. The Republicans’ approach to immigration is disgusting, xenophobic, and cruel—like we live in a dictatorship. It’s also stupid economically. We are destroying our country’s good name, ruining lives, killing tourism, and shrinking our GDP. For what? There’s no payoff. Congress needs to push back. This is not who we are supposed to be. Thanks.
Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
I am sickened by the Trump administration’s new travel ban, and by the ICE abductions we’re seeing all over social media. The Republicans’ approach to immigration is disgusting, xenophobic, and cruel—like we live in a dictatorship. It’s also stupid economically. We are destroying our country’s good name, ruining lives, killing tourism, and shrinking our GDP—why? This is a shameful moment in our history. Congress needs to push back. This is not who we are supposed to be. Thanks.
Extra Credit ✅
I asked the wonderful Joe Katz from
if he’d be kind enough to work up a Resistbot letter about the Trump administration’s atrocious nominee to be Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, Anthony Tata. He did—you’ll find it in the Resistbot section below—but he then also worked up letters on a bunch of Trump’s awful judicial nominees, some of whom have hearings this week! Wow! Can you send one or all of these as well?Resistbot on Whitney Hermandorfer (hearing today): click here to read and send or text SIGN PMEFPL to just send.
Resistbot on Joshua Divine (hearing today): click here to read and send or text SIGN PEJTSS to just send.
Resistbot/script on Emil Bove: click here to read and send or text SIGN PECZAF to just send.
Get Smart and Save the Planet 🔥
Join Make Polluters Pay on June 9th, 2025 at 5:00pm PT / 8:00pm ET for a movement wide call to rally against the dirty budget bill in Congress.
The budget bill recently passed by House Republicans is the worst attack on our environment and climate in US history. Like, ever. But the fight isn’t over. The bill, as you know, now heads to the Senate, where key Republicans have indicated that they want to make significant changes, delaying the process and ultimately sending it back to the House. We have a critical window in the next month to apply massive pressure, especially under battleground states, to stop this bill or strip its worst provisions.
In the meeting we will be talking about ways to plug in and apply pressure on key members of Congress we need to get to oppose this attack on clean energy, climate, and so much more. I’ll be there!
Get Smart on Fascism 📚
Democracy on the Line: How We Got Here and How To Stop an Authoritarian Takeover (with Heather Cox Richardson!)
TUES JUNE 10, 1:00 - 2:00 PM ET | ONLINE VIA ZOOM
Please join the Center for American Progress for a virtual event featuring a conversation moderated by former Alabama Sen. Doug Jones featuring Heather Cox Richardson and Steven Levitsky, two renowned experts who will discuss the significance of what is happening to American democracy and how we can prevent authoritarianism from taking root. Should be amazing!
Messaging! Messaging! Messaging! 📣
DemCast wants us to call Trump and Republicans out on their big, ugly bill! So they’re holding a social storm TODAY at 2:30 ET! What does that mean? Just that everyone posts about it at the same time (anytime today, but closer to 2:30 is better than, say, late tonight). We’re trying to get the topic to trend on social media. It seems silly but it works!
Use this toolkit to post good, pre-written captions and graphics/videos on your favorite platform and let’s double down on attacking this bill!
Give 💰!
Please come to a States Project event that I’m moderating this Sunday! Daniel Squadron will be speaking—he’s amazing—and also Abigail Spanberger and a few other lawmakers. It’s going to be really, really good.
With the right wing in control of Congress and the White House, state lawmakers can protect the people they serve from the worst of Trump’s actions and act as a firewall against the rightwing's assault on democracy. Join me and my friends at The States Project, the leading experts on state legislatures, on June 8 at 3PM PT / 6PM ET to learn how you can take action right now in the states.
It is technically a fundraiser but you don’t have to give to attend.
Click here to RSVP.
Get in the Streets! 🪧
NO KINGS AMPLIFICATION PROJECT:
OK, folks. We’re one week out. It’s time to invite everyone we know to No Kings. Remember, most people who are unhappy with Trump have never been invited to a protest. The majority of them say they would go if they were asked. So please consider sending the below out as an email, or posting it on your social media along with a graphic from the No Kings social toolkit. And don’t forget to RSVP to a No Kings protest yourself if you haven’t yet. It really helps organizers to know how many people they have coming, and it helps with momentum, too.
You can simply say something like:
Join Me for No Kings Day: A Stand Against Fascism and Corruption
This Flag Day, June 14, as Trump holds a $46M military parade celebrating himself, pissed-off Americans across the country are saying enough is enough and taking to the streets. I will be one of them and I truly hope you’ll consider joining me. Things are bad now and they’re going to get much worse unless we show that we won’t tolerate it. Trump and his enablers have governed like they have a blank check and a mandate to crush dissent. The rest of us are paying the price as they slash services, defy the courts, and disappear people off our streets—all while orchestrating a massive giveaway to their billionaire allies.
We need to mobilize in huge numbers to reject this corruption and abuse of power—it's in our DNA as a country to do so. "No Kings" is a rejection of the anti-American excesses of this administration and a callback to our shared values of democracy, accountability, and genuine public service. For anyone who thinks Trump's gone too far, this day is for you. Please join me in standing united against this destruction. Even if you’ve never attended a protest before, this one matters so much. It will be a day of joyful defiance. It’ll also be historic. You won’t want to miss it, and frankly we need you. Find your protest at nokings.org or just click here.
Grab Your Wallet! 💳
Someone in the comments yesterday asked me to repost the link for the website that advertises Trump-supporting businesses. This is a great way to find out where NOT to shop in your community. The website is Public Square. Enjoy!
Resistbot Letter (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.) 💻
[To: your Senators] [H/T Rogan’s List — more actions on this nomination in their excellent toolkit here] [Text SIGN PATCKV 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.)
One thing that separates America from so many other nations is our firm belief in an apolitical military that must not be used against our own people. That principle is actively being undermined by the Trump administration, and real American patriots need to defend it rather than enabling its destruction.
Anthony Tata, Trump’s nominee as Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, has fully endorsed the abuse of our military as a political weapon. He backed a political purge of generals during his own confirmation hearing and called for the suspension of posse comitatus and using our troops as domestic law enforcement. This is not a man who respects the values that have preserved our democracy.
Furthermore, Tata has a long record of bigotry and extremism, along with a history of spreading conspiracy theories wildly out of touch with reality. He spread the birther lies about President Obama and accused him of being a “terrorist leader,” and claimed a former CIA director had ordered the assassination of Donald Trump. He has repeatedly made his racist and Islamophobic views clear, and dismantled desegregation efforts as a school superintendent, with multiple civil rights complaints following.
A bipartisan group of senators blocked Tata from serving in a top Pentagon job five years ago, and he’s only given us more reason to draw the line since. Please oppose Anthony Tata’s confirmation.
OK, you did it again! You’re helping to save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk soon.
Jess
Well said about not being able to choose the time we live in! It has given us one big beautiful fight to wage! (and an overdue one at that...)
Thanks for some more resist.bot codes, I share them with my family and subscribers to my newsletter!
There are so many that I think I am going to start collecting the ones I use into a Google Sheet to share with others (since I share a list of them weekly).