Chop Wood, Carry Water 7/12

Be the message.

Hi, all, and happy Friday!

I spent a decent part of yesterday afternoon trying to get a video past the censors on TikTok. It was the new Project 2025 post I’d been promising, and I was quite excited about it. I’d been gathering information on it for a few days, and felt, when the video was completed, that I’d created something worthwhile and important.

The video posted to YouTube without a problem, and did so on Instagram, too. But TikTok, where I have by far the most followers, kept flagging it for unnamed “content violations” and wouldn’t put it up.

Determined to succeed, I edited the video, taking out references to “elections,” the word “abortion,” and even the word “pornography.” TikTok still wouldn’t post it.

I added my cat Walter—I’ve found in the past his presence can help with the algorithm. Still no. I re-edited it again, adding more Walter and putting words like “miscarriage” in script, on cue cards. I contacted TikTok’s support line. I contacted it again.

Finally, after hours, it went up. Phew!

I share this with you to let you know how unbelievably difficult it’s become to get basic information up on the nation’s biggest social media platform—the one where a huge majority of young people are getting their news. There are countless “forbidden” words—words that TikTok’s AI will pick up and flag, and suppression of abortion-related content is well known. Last month I made a video highlighting Biden’s success on lowering the crime rate. Despite repeated attempts, I was never able to edit it to TikTok’s satisfaction—to this day it has only 3,000 views.

We are in an information war on many fronts, folks. It’s not just that the mainstream media isn’t talking about the issues that matter in this election cycle. It’s that the social media platforms to which people are turning for their news are manipulating which content people get to see. TikTok’s leadership, of course, despises the Biden administration. They are also at least partially controlled by an authoritarian government that has a vested interest in seeing Trump re-elected. Their desire to de-prioritize content touting Biden’s successes, then, as well as to downplay videos highlighting Trump’s many lies and liabilities, is real. Such suppression IS happening.

All of this is to say that our job as messengers is more important now than it’s ever been. Content creators are doing their part, and the White House is doing its part, too. But the information environment requires each of us to add our voices to the mix, to become well-versed in what a second Trump administration would look like, and to become walking billboards for Democrats’ accomplishments, so we can share all of that where it can be heard: at our book clubs, at the grocery store, at work, over family dinners, and everywhere else we encounter Americans who can vote.

We. Are. The. Message. Each of us! So let’s make sure we’re using our platforms, whatever they are, to keep highlighting the stakes of this election and the great work the Biden Harris Administration is doing. If our friends and family don’t hear about it from us they literally may not hear about it at all.

Oh, and speaking of great work, here’s the promised recording of the Blue NM event Robert Hubbell and I spoke at on Tuesday. We both make (fairly passionate) remarks in it, plus you’ll get to hear about the Blue NM team’s amazing approach to winning in this district. They’re doing a lot of billboards, for example, which can’t be suppressed by any algorithm!

The whole video is worth a watch.

Never forget how important you are, friends. Every single one of you has the ability to change minds, open hearts, and fire up your “I don’t do politics” acquaintances. Without you we are weakened.

WITH you we are strong.

Now let’s get to work.

Call Your Senators (find yours here) and Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲

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

I’m calling because I just read that extreme heat killed 28 Americans this week, and the toll will almost certainly rise. Climate change is here and its effects are starting to really scare me. I’d like to know what climate legislation the Congressmember/Senator has introduced or co-sponsored? Because I expect my lawmakers to act.

Also, I’m aware that Republicans are trying to kill funding for climate measures in next year’s appropriations bills, as well as in the Farm Bill. I know that Project 2025 promises to get rid of the National Weather Service and that Trump is vowing to repeal all of President Biden’s climate policies. Are you kidding me? We are in a climate crisis. It’s real. We need to be throwing the whole of our government into finding solutions. Lawmakers who won’t do that need to lose their seats—and they will. Thanks.

Extra Credit ✅

Let’s contact the DOJ about Clarence Thomas using this form; choose as your General Topic “Messages to the Attorney General.” Say something like this (script largely taken from Jay Kuo’s recent post on this subject):

I understand that Senators Whitehouse and Wyden recently sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland requesting a special counsel to investigate possible violations of law by Justice Thomas. I want to express my strong support for such an investigation.

Clarence Thomas has almost definitely broken the law. He has accepted luxury vacations, super yacht cruises, private jet rides and bookings at exclusive resorts from Harlan Crow. Contrary to federal disclosure laws, Thomas reported none of this.

Crow ordered and paid for expensive improvements on the Thomas’s house—a carport, roof repair, new fence and gate. And he assumed the property’s tax bill, which the Thomases used to have to pay. Thomas disclosed none of this.

Four other wealthy men, whom Thomas met after becoming a Supreme Court justice, showered lavish gifts upon him for years, including 38+ destination vacations, 26 private jet flights, 12 VIP passes to pro and college sporting events, 2 stays at luxury resorts in Florida and Jamaica, and 1 standing invite to an exclusive golf club. None of this was disclosed.

It goes on and on. There is more than enough here to justify the launch of an investigation. Attorney General Garland must act. If one of our Supreme Court justices broke the law he should face consequences, the same as any of us. Thanks.

Don’t forget to hit “Preview” and then scroll down and click “Submit” after you comment. Otherwise it won’t go through!

Get Smart! 📚

There are TWO amazing Heather Cox Richardson events next week! WOW!

1. Join NOPE and a bunch of grassroots co-sponsors, including this newsletter, on Wednesday, July 17 at 7PM ET for an evening with historian Heather Cox Richardson. Richardson will discuss the importance of grassroots political organizing in setting and correcting the course of American history. She’ll also provide time for questions and answers. NOPE will also give you information on volunteering and you’ll have the opportunity to help flip the U.S. House by donating to a slate of key House candidates selected by NOPE and Silver Spring Progressive Action. Sign up here.

2. Heather Cox Richardson Talks Project 2025 (with Red Wine and Blue)

   Monday, July 15, 2024 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM ET

   Project 2025 threatens our democracy. While we know that Project 2025 will destroy civil rights, reproductive freedom and turn our country towards extremist Christian Nationalism – too many of our friends and family are completely unaware. But we can change that together! No one is better equipped to help us meet this challenge than our favorite historian Heather Cox Richardson. Join us to hear from Heather on what we can do together to win this battle in November. Register here.

Spread the Word! 📣

Talking Points: Economic Progress Under President Biden This Week

• President Biden’s economic plan is delivering for the middle class and working families. Just this week:

  • The President announced a historic investment to help ensure the future of the auto industry is made in America by American workers—creating and retaining thousands of union jobs by helping auto companies retool, reboot, and rehire in communities from Lansing, Michigan to Fort Valley, Georgia.

  • The Administration announced the recovery of $1 billion in unpaid taxes from millionaires thanks to the President’s Inflation Reduction Act—which is helping crack down on wealthy tax cheats.

  • Inflation fell to 3% and overall prices fell last month—with wages rising faster than prices for 16 months in a row, and prices down for cars, appliances, and groceries since the start of the year.

  • A new report found that communities left behind by the previous administration are making a “remarkable comeback,” creating new jobs five times faster under President Biden.

Give 💰!

Please join the Chop Wood, Carry Statehouses Giving Circle and 23 other States Project AZ Giving Circles in an exciting event on THURSDAY, JULY 18 at 5 p.m. Pacific/8 p.m. Eastern. So far, these 24 AZ Giving Circles have jointly raised more than $850,000 towards flipping the Arizona legislature, and we hope you'll join us on July 18 to learn more about why this is so crucial — and how we’re helping.

Plus: The States Project 2024 Million Dollar Match is still on, so that every dollar raised by our Giving Circle will be doubled! So if you've been considering making a donation, it's a great time to do so.

Thanks so much for all your support as we turn Arizona blue!

REGISTER HERE 

Win Races! 🗳

Activate America invites you to meet one of the most promising new candidates running for Congress this year. 

Derek Tran is the Democratic running to defeat CA Rep. Michelle Steel, a MAGA extremist whose co-sponsorship of the Life at Conception Act proves that she will support a Republican national abortion ban.

Tran is an Army veteran, consumer attorney, city commissioner, and small business owner whose family achieved the American Dream when they came here as refugees from Vietnam. He will be the special guest during a webinar on July 18th at 5 PM Pacific.

Flipping this district is well within reach. We won in a very similar district as part of the 2018 Blue Wave.

There is no cost for attending this webinar, but this is a fundraiser for Activate America, and your generous support now or during the event is much appreciated.

So sign up today.

Chop Wood, Save the Planet!

Amazing! The folks at Climate Action NOW have introduced a new, free Substack newsletter: Your Daily Dose of Climate Hope. Every weekday, CAN's new Editor-In-Chief, Sam Matey, will blast a 1-2 punch of positivity into your inbox with a quick positive action you can take in the CAN app or on the Internet (no app necessary) in just seconds, AND a Reason For Hope section that takes you on an illustrated tour of a trend, technology, or development that will lift your spirits.

I am VERY excited for this and I hope you will be, too. Sign up here!

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

I didn’t have time to craft a new Resistbot letter this morning, but if you want to send the message to Congress I gave you above—the one I offered as a call script— in Resistbot form you can do so! Just text SIGN PJAGGZ to 50409. Thanks! Imagine if all of our lawmakers got both a call AND a letter from us! The impact!

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

Talk soon.

Jess