Hi, all, and happy Thursday!
After a number of days of awful heat news (and awful heat here in NY) I’m doubling down on climate-related calls in today’s newsletter. Feel an equal sense of urgency? Share this with a friend and ask them to make the calls, too. This situation is getting a little too “hot” for my comfort, and I suspect I’m not alone.
On a more positive note, it’s cooler in most heat-affected places—including here— today.
And on a wildly more positive note, a grand jury in Manhattan has returned criminal indictments against the Trump Organization and its CFO Allen Weisselberg. The Manhattan district attorney’s office is expected to charge them with tax-related crimes later today. I’ve got the (metaphorical) popcorn out—how about you?
If schadenfreude isn’t your thing, perhaps action is. If so, I’ve got you covered.
Let’s get this doooooone!
Call Your Senators (find yours here)
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
It’s clear that climate change will spell disaster for us if we don’t get aggressive about mitigating it. I want the Senator to support all of the climate provisions in President Biden’s Infrastructure Plan. We’re running out of time. The situation is beyond urgent.
[If GOP add:] This is not a partisan issue. This is about a livable future for ALL of our children. Stop putting party above survival. Thanks.
[If Dem add:] The Senator should bear in mind that a new analysis just found that turning out young voters in near-2018 levels will be critical to maintaining Democratic majorities in 2022, and recent polling has found that two-thirds of young Biden voters will be less motivated to vote for Democrats if they fail to pass bold climate measures. Also 70 percent of them say they don’t care if that action is bipartisan. Do what you need to do to get this done. Thanks. [H/t]
Call Your House Rep (find yours here)
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
First, I’d like the Congressmember to vote yes on H.R.3261 to repeal the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution.
Second, I’m disgusted by the breaking news that agricultural company Archer-Daniels-Midland sold land to Sonny Purdue at a tiny fraction of its estimated value just as it stood to benefit from a friendly Secretary of Agriculture. The USDA’s inspector general and the House Oversight Committee should probe the transactions. I’d like the Congressmember to call for this, please. Thanks.
Extra Credit
Climate Hawks Vote sent a link to new evidence this AM that 6 Democrats and 5 Republicans have been used by Exxon to help suppress climate information and stop climate legislation.
To quote RL Miller: “Exxon has been lying about climate science for decades, it owns eleven United States Senators, and its support for a carbon tax was always fake.”
We need to call these lawmakers out. CHV is asking us to tweet this to the #Exxon11:
Hey #Exxon11, why does Exxon say you're crucial to efforts to undermine climate action? @ClimateHawkVote and I are dying to know. @kyrstensinema @SenCapito @JohnCornyn @SteveDaines @marcorubio @SenJohnBarrasso @JoeManchinWV @jontester @ChrisCoons @CaptMarkKelly @SenatorHassan
Or share their FB post here.
And if any of these Senators represent you PLEASE call them and tell them you’re sickened by their choice to put their own greed over our planet’s—and our children’s— future.
Let’s Win Races!
The Environmental Voter Project has lots of great opportunities to mobilize voters in July. Can you sign up for one?
July 14: Kansas Municipal Primaries Phonebank. 7pm ET / 6pm CT / 5pm MT / 4pm PT / 3pm AKT. Starts with a training; no prior experience necessary.
July 18: Tucson, AZ Municipal Primary Phonebank. 7pm ET / 6pm CT / 5pm MT / 4pm PT / 3pm AKT. Starts with a training; no prior experience necessary.
July 26: Kansas Municipal Primaries Phonebank. 7pm ET / 6pm CT / 5pm MT / 4pm PT / 3pm ADT. Starts with a training; no prior experience necessary.
Training Webinars: All of the phonebanks listed above begin with trainings, but if you'd like to attend a training-only webinar (getting trained on calling, texting, and canvassing): please join them July 1 (today) at 12pm ET or July 19 at 12pm ET.
Resistbot Text (new to Resistbot? Go here!)
[to your HOUSE Rep] [H/T]
I’m writing to urge your support of the Saving America's Pollinators Act. Over the past decade, we have witnessed an alarming decline in honeybees and other pollinator populations. U.S. beekeepers continue to report annual honeybee colony losses of 40-50%, with some as high as 100%. Many species of native pollinators are also suffering population declines – for instance, in the last 20 years, four species of native bumblebees have declined 96 percent, and monarch butterfly populations have decreased over 80 percent.
The health of pollinators is directly linked to the health of our food supply. Pollination services are a core component of global agricultural production, valued at over $125 billion annually. In the U.S., the value of pollination services is estimated to be $20-30 billion annually. Moreover, of the 100 crops that provide 90 percent of the world's food, over 70 are pollinated by bees.
There is a wealth of peer-reviewed science linking pollinator declines to pesticide use, most notably a class of insecticides known as neonicotinoids. Neonicotinoids are up to 10,000 times more toxic to bees than other insecticides and their use can have immediate and long-term effects.
But neonicotinoids are not the only pesticides harming pollinators. The Saving America’s Pollinators Act would suspend the use of all pesticides known to cause harm to pollinators until reviewed by a pollinator health panel.
Please help protect bees and other important pollinators by cosponsoring the Saving America's Pollinators Act. Thanks!
OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy (and the planet)! You’re amazing.
Talk tomorrow.
Jess