Chop Wood, Carry Water 7/15
We will get through this.
Hi, all, and happy Monday.
Right before I sat down to write this the news came in that Aileen Cannon has thrown out the classified documents case against Donald Trump. Her argument— that Attorney General Garland’s appointment of a Special Counsel was unconstitutional—comes straight from Clarence Thomas’s concurrence in the Trump immunity case. It’s absolute garbage, but she’s hoping for a SCOTUS seat if Trump wins, so she’s doing her best to audition for the role.
It is easy, in a moment like this, to feel overwhelmed, or to fall into despair. The corruption is so rampant, and so far-reaching, that it can feel impossible to address, let alone remedy. Yet it’s not. This country is a huge mess, but any mess can be cleaned up, one piece of trash at a time, with sufficient patience, enough helping hands, and a vision for what a completed job should look like.
We have all of that.
So yes, this morning’s ruling, which will be appealed—is appalling and ignominious. But it’s also another excellent reminder that we can’t afford to take our foot off the gas—or the EV—pedal for one second. We are fighting a massive takeover attempt—an effort to place Donald Trump above the law and keep him there—and we simply must win.
On that note, I want to be very clear: it is entirely possible and necessary to deplore the violence over the weekend AND to keep calling out the corruption and hypocrisy of the Republican party, the MAGA justices in our federal judiciary, and, yes, of Donald Trump himself. Don’t let anyone tell you to back down or back off. We have never espoused violence and we never will. We have told the truth, and we must continue to. If you need this argument bolstered read Jay Kuo’s excellent piece from this morning. This piece from
of The Ink is also excellent—I hope it’s not paywalled.Finally, to quote another terrific Substack author and Congressmember,
:We should simply acknowledge that we are experiencing one of the darkest chapters of American politics that any of us has ever lived through - but we are going to get through it.
We can still write the next chapter in a way that makes us proud. We are an extremely powerful country and a good people and our union shall endure, as we endeavor toward its perfection.
Hear, hear. And on that note, let’s get to work.
P.S. — I’m told that the link I posted to CAP Action’s Project 2025 page was broken. Here’s the correct one!
Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
The horrifying events over the weekend prove once again that assault weapons have no place in our country. They are weapons of war and shouldn’t be in the hands of civilians. I want the Senator to call for an immediate vote on the Assault Weapons Ban Act — S. 25. We should also be requiring background checks and imposing an age limit of 21 on all gun purchases. In fact, let’s put all of that in a new bill and call it the “Trump Assault Ban.” Then pass that bill right away. Thanks. [H/T
]Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
The horrifying events over the weekend prove once again that assault weapons have no place in our country. They are weapons of war and shouldn’t be in the hands of civilians. I want the Senator to call for an immediate vote on the Assault Weapons Ban Act — HR 698. We should also be requiring background checks and imposing an age limit of 21 on all gun purchases. In fact, let’s put all of that in a new bill and call it the “Trump Assault Ban.” Then pass that bill right away. Thanks.
Extra Credit ✅
Fossil-fueled power plants are among the worst contributors to the climate crisis. Yet Republicans in the House and Senate have just introduced joint resolutions (H. J. Res 163/S.J. R 92) to repeal the EPA’s recently finalized standards to limit carbon pollution from coal and new gas-burning power plants.
Click here to send your Members of Congress emails to oppose those resolutions. [H/T
]Get Smart! 📚
They will:
Share their plan for creating content
Teach us how to start fact-based conversations
Cover best practices for social media advocacy and how to effectively engage with your audience
Spread the Word! 📣
This video from the Seneca Project is FANTASTIC! Please share it! Here it is on Twitter, here it is on YouTube, or you can share it straight from the newsletter. (And thanks to Janet, the subscriber who shared it with me!)
Give 💰!
We have another matching campaign, from yet another generous subscriber! It’s a 10K match for Run For Something! 🙌🏼
I don’t need to tell you how strongly I feel about this organization—they’re indispensable. I mentioned in “Extra! Extra!” yesterday that since the debates 1500 young people have reached out to them about running for office. That’s electoral gold, and RFS is one of the only organizations mining it.
The work RFS is doing is absolutely critical to our success in November. This election will come down to the “reverse coattails” effect, so we must make sure those downballot races have candidates in them that will excite and motivate the electorate. That’s what RFS is all about.
Please give if you can, and please tell your moneyed, democracy-supporting friends and family about this fundraiser. THIS IS HOW WE WIN!
Win Races! 🗳
Post the below on your social media or send it out in an email! [H/T Americans of Conscience]
Eighteen states will hold primary elections in July, August, or September. Even if your state’s primary has passed, you can prepare for November’s general election by verifying that your voter information is correct and that your registration hasn’t been purged. Take these five steps!
Take action:
Register to vote for the first time (make sure you meet your state’s deadline).
Update your address or re-register if you’ve recently moved.
Confirm that your voter registration is still valid.
Find out who and what is on your ballot.
Chop Wood, Save the Planet 🔥
Friendly reminder that I’m moderating the Farm Bill Action Party tomorrow with the folks at Climate Action Now. It’s going to be awesome! It’s Tuesday, July 16 at 4 pm PT / 7 pm ET on Zoom, registration here.
Resistbot Letter (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.) 💻
[To: your Senators] [H/T More Perfect Union] [Text SIGN PHWZMC to Resistbot at 50409 or via Apple Messages / WHATSAPP / MESSENGER]
A bipartisan group of senators led by Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) unveiled a new proposal on Tuesday morning that would ban members of Congress, along with the President and Vice President, from buying and selling stocks and other assets while in office. It’s called the ETHICS Act.
The proposal comes after years of increased attention on congressional stock trades. Nearly a hundred members of Congress between 2019 and 2021 or their close relatives made trades in industries impacted by their legislative committee work, a New York Times investigation found. Some investors even copy the stock trades of politicians who are highly successful in the market, including former Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
The new proposal would amend the STOCK Act passed in 2012, which requires financial disclosure forms to be filled out by members of Congress and fines them if they fail to comply.
The new bill would ban both members of Congress as well as the President and Vice President from buying and selling securities, commodities, futures, and other assets, according to a summary of the legislation provided by Merkley’s office. Starting in March of 2027, the bill would also require elected officials and their close family members (spouses and dependent children) to divest their assets. The fine for noncompliance with disclosure requirements would also increase from $200 to $500.
Additional fines, scaled to monthly salary or 10% of the value of the assets in question, would be imposed if an officeholder failed to divest from certain kinds of assets covered by the bill.
The American people strongly support a bill like this and so do I. Please co-sponsor it and push for its passage. Thanks!
OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk soon.
Jess
Great message, Jess, and I especially love this: "This country is a huge mess, but any mess can be cleaned up, one piece of trash at a time, with sufficient patience, enough helping hands, and a vision for what a completed job should look like." Yes, "one piece of trash at a time."
Thanks for highlighting Jeff Jackson. He's someone to keep an eye on, and he's a very good writer.
Anger is the biggest motivator.
We’re mad as hell and we’re not going to take it!!!!
Angry at SCOTUS for so many things.
Angry at Judge Cannon.
Angry at do nothing Congress.
Angry at religion in public life.
Angry at project 2025.
The GOP has plans for us. We’re not going to let other people run our lives!!