Chop Wood Carry Water 7/10

What's giving you hope today?

Download this meme here.

Hi, all, and happy Thursday.

And we did have a bit of happy news this morning—a federal judge has AGAIN blocked the Trump administration from enforcing his executive order ending birthright citizenship. This isn’t the end of the story—the judge, a Bush appointee, issued a 7-day stay in case the Trump administration wishes to appeal (they will), but it’s a start. My guess is this case will again land in front of SCOTUS; we can only hope that this time they do the right—and obvious—thing.

On the subject of hope more generally, I woke up this morning with an idea. Since this is such an unbelievably difficult moment I thought it might be good to do a “hope roundup” with you. So I’m going to suggest that everyone drop in the comments below one thing they saw, read, or experienced this week that gave them hope—or even just provided a momentary lift.

I’ll start!

On Sunday when I was driving back from dropping Mj in Maine I saw, as I drove South on Route 1, a group of people on an overpass above me with a giant sign reading “NO KINGS!” They were dancing and waving flags and having what looked to be a high old time. I gave a big honk as I sped underneath them, and grinned for about a half hour afterwards. That quick sight of fellow travelers all the way across the country from where I live gave me such hope, strength, and encouragement. If any of you were part of that effort please let me know!

That’s my story of hope for the week. What’s yours?

I can’t wait to hear.

I’ll say it again: this is tough, but we’re tougher. So let’s get to work, remembering that sometimes hope is a feeling, but other times it’s simply an action. That’s what we’re all about, in fact. So let’s take our hopeful actions and see if, at the end of them, we don’t feel a bit more hopeful as a result.

Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲

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

I understand that Senators Padilla and Booker have introduced a bill called the The Visible Identification Standards for Immigration-Based Law Enforcement (VISIBLE) Act of 2025 —S. 2212—which would require immigration officers to display clear identification and not wear face coverings. I cannot overstate how upset I am about masked ICE agents with no identification invading our neighborhoods. It’s outrageous and needs to stop. I want the Senator to strongly support this bill. Thanks.

Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲

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

I want the Congressmember to sign on as a cosponsor to a bill that requires ICE agents to show ID and not wear face coverings when doing their job. In the House that bill is the No Anonymity in Immigration Enforcement ACT— H.R. 4004. I cannot overstate how upset I am about masked ICE agents with no identification invading our neighborhoods. It’s outrageous and needs to stop. I want the Congressmember to strongly support this bill. Thanks.

Extra Credit ✅

The Trump administration is reshaping FERC. Democrat Commissioner Willie Phillips was pressured to resign with a year to go on his term. Highly-experienced and not-so-rigid Republican FERC chair Mark Christie is being jettisoned. And who have they nominated to replace Christie? Laura Swett.

Swett worked as an advisor to FERC Commissioner Bernard McNamee during Trump’s first term. McNamee is the primary author of Project 2025’s section on FERC, which called for downgrading renewables in favor of “coal, nuclear and natural gas to generate power.” For years Swett has represented fossil fuel companies before FERC on a range of issues.

Any day now the US Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee (ENR) will hold a hearing on this nomination. People in the states where there are Democratic ENR members need to call or email that Senator and demand they vote NO on Laura Swett! Here are the states and the ENR Senators to contact:

Arizona: Ruben Gallego: 202-224-4521
California: Alex Padilla: 202-224-0357
Colorado: John Hickenlooper: 202-224-5941
Hawaii: Mazie Hirono: 202-224-2126
Maine: Angus King: 202-224-5344
New Mexico: Martin Heinrich: 202-224-2841
Nevada: Catherine Cortez Masto: 202-224-3542
Oregon: Ron Wyden: 202-224-5244
Washington: Maria Cantwell: 202-224-3441

Your message can be very simple:

My name is ______ and I’m a constituent from [zip.] I’m calling to ask the Senator to oppose Laura Swett for FERC Commissioner. We need a just and reasonable national grid regulator. Swett will support the Trump Administration efforts to drastically weaken solar, wind and clean energy and strengthen the fossil fuel industry. She should not be confirmed. Thanks.

Get Smart! 📚

On Thursday, July 10th at 7:00PM ET, BigTentUSA will host legendary journalist Judy Woodruff and founder/publisher of Courier News, Tara McGowan. The conversation will be moderated by Gen Z journalist Rachel Janfaza.

Together, they’ll explore the challenges facing both legacy and emerging outlets, the growing cynicism among audiences, and the urgent need to rebuild trust in journalism as a cornerstone of democracy.

This discussion will highlight how data driven Courier is in meeting the moment with social-first, fact-based reporting designed to reach Americans who’ve been left behind by traditional media. The speakers will also examine how legacy voices like Woodruff’s continue to guide the public through complicated, high-stakes times with clarity and integrity.

This is more than a conversation about the media—it’s about defending truth and preserving democracy.

RSVP here.

Messaging! Messaging! Messaging! 📣

I had some slides made to explain when the various provisions in the OBBBA kick in. They are available to download here (I hope I did it right). Please share widely—this information is important.

Give 💰!

LA Taco has a great list of organizations in LA that need financial support and volunteers right now. Please give to any of them if you can and, if you’re in LA, consider volunteering. We are still completely under attack here and the misery, hardship, and fear are widespread. Please, please help if you can.

Get in the Streets! 🪧

Build Power: Start a Democracy Circle

On Tuesday, July 15 from 7-8pm ET on Zoom, join the Workers Circle to learn how to build grassroots power to demand the democracy we need.

A Democracy Circle is a small group of people you bring together — friends, colleagues, family — to take simple, concrete actions to demand the democracy we need and learn how to counter threats to our democracy today. Learn how people just like you have started circles across the country that are building community and having impact. There will be ample time for questions and discussion.

Sign up link is here.

Grab Your Wallet! 💳

We are boycotting Home Depot due to their complicity with—and silence about— ICE raids. Please shop elsewhere! They’re terrible anyway, as they’re huge Trump donors.

And spread the word! Read more about it here.

Win Races! 🗳

Amazing Arizona candidate Deja Foxx’s campaign needs help to knock doors before the 7/15 primary election— join them in AZ!

The campaign will provide you with a hotel and a $500 travel stipend to come out for GOTV weekend. You would be asked to stay from Friday to Wednesday, allowing you to attend their GOTV rally and their Election Night Watch Party. They ask that you knock 2 40-door packets per day (in the morning and evening) Saturday through Tuesday.

Please fill out this form if you are interested and available to be a part of this program and a team member will be in touch. (Note: there are limited spaces available, priority will be given to volunteers who can provide transportation and come the full 5 days.)

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

[To: all 3 reps] [H/T

Coleman Rogers

] [Text SIGN PLOPUE 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 alleged actions of Secretary Kristi Noem in accepting an $80,000 payment from a dark money group to her personal company while serving as governor of South Dakota are highly concerning and deserve thorough investigation. By failing to disclose this income on her federal financial disclosure form, she appears to have violated ethics requirements for federal officials.

It is unacceptable for an elected leader to secretly profit from political donations intended to promote their agenda and campaigns. The fact that the source of the $80,000 remains unknown due to the dark money nature of the group raises further issues around transparency and accountability.

There are also potential violations of South Dakota law, which mandates that top officials like the governor devote their full time and efforts to their official roles, not maintain undisclosed private businesses. Noem's creation of an LLC in Delaware to receive funds from this political nonprofit while she was governor warrants scrutiny.

This concerning situation, where donors may have had undue influence over an elected official through payments to her personal income, undermines public trust and the integrity of government institutions. I urge you to immediately open an investigation into Secretary Noem's actions and any ethics violations or corruption that may have occurred. If the allegations are substantiated, she should be immediately removed from her position to preserve the integrity of public service and send a clear message that such self-enrichment at the expense of donors will not be tolerated.

The American people deserve full transparency and leaders who are truly serving the public interest, not exploiting their positions for personal financial gain from unknown sources. Thorough oversight is needed to uphold accountability and ethical standards for those in power.

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

Talk soon.

Jess