Chop Wood, Carry Water 7/15
Hi, all, and happy Tuesday,
I have a million things going on this morning, so I’ll keep this brief.
A few things you should have on your radar:
The latest CPI numbers are in and they’re bad—they show that Trump’s bananas tariff policies are causing price hikes on everyday goods that Americans depend on. In general Trump is looking awful on the economy—all while he continues to claim that “inflation is dead.” Please make sure to amplify his failures in this area. High prices and inflation were largely why people voted for Trump. His unwillingness to even try to help bring them down is something every American should know about.
There’s more! Republicans in Congress voted last night to block the release of the Epstein files. Then they did so again just now! This is something we can and should shout about from the rooftops. The MAGA base cares deeply about this issue, and they’re furious that Trump won’t release the files. Let’s make sure they know that Congressional Republicans are in on the con, too.
We can point out that the Epstein cover-up exposes how the rules are rigged in favor of the wealthy and powerful. Jeffrey Epstein had financial ties to prominent Trump donors and there are serious accusations regarding the president himself, yet Trump continues protecting his elite circle while working families struggle under his failed policies. Make sure his voters know it!
Finally, we have some critical votes coming up in the Senate this week—on Emil Bove’s confirmation, for one, and on the rescissions package that will gut funding for public broadcasting and PEPFAR. (I highly recommend the Progressive Caucus Center’s quick explainer on the rescissions vote—it’s quite helpful!)
Lots to do today, in other words. So let’s get to work!
Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
I’m calling to ask the Senator to vote no on the rescissions package. Clawing back funding for public broadcasting could shut down public radio and TV stations, threatening life-saving emergency broadcasts that rural communities in particular depend on during disasters.
Rescinding global health funding will similarly be life-threatening. PEPFAR alone is estimated to have saved 26 million lives. Ending the program could lead to an additional 4 million deaths in sub-Saharan Africa annually. Don’t do it. [H/T]
Also, please reject Emil Bove's nomination to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. He has a pattern of disqualifying conduct that threatens judicial impartiality and the rule of law. Thanks.
Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
I want the Congressmember to call for an investigation into Kristi Noem’s cost-control measures and how they may have affected FEMA’s ability to respond quickly to the flooding in Texas. Senators Gallego and Blumenthal have already called for such an investigation. The American people deserve answers and more importantly, we deserve accountability. While we are still waiting for all the facts to come out, what is clear is that FEMA couldn’t respond as swiftly as they needed to because of Noem’s policies. Who knows how many lives were lost as a result? Please investigate. Thank you.
Extra Credit ✅
Vincent Jobo is a South African professional rugby player seeking asylum in the U.S. After being wrongfully arrested and transferred to ICE custody in 2023, a judge denied his asylum claim and ordered his removal to South Africa in October 2024. ICE has still not released him from detention, where he continues to endure abuse and declining mental and physical health.
Please consider signing the Immigrant Justice Network petition demanding ICE release Vincent back to his community in Austin, TX.
[H/T]
Get Smart! 📚
Good Local News: Four Outlets Blooming in a Hostile Environment
Thursday, July 17, 7 pm ET
Local journalism matters! Let’s talk about how it can flourish. In this event, put on by the Media and Democracy Project and Markers For Democracy, you’ll hear from four exceptional news organizations that are thriving while covering the diverse communities they serve. Their editors will discuss what they are doing to connect to their communities and to cover the news in these difficult times, including how they are assessing the impacts of the MAGA cuts and how they are covering the growing movement to defend our democracy.
The panelists are:
Angela Kuper Copeland, Editor of The Paper, Morganton NC
Nina Misuraca Ignaczak, Founder and Editor of Planet Detroit
Donna Ladd, Founding Editor and CEO of the Mississippi Free Press
Akash Mehta, Editor-in-Chief of New York Focus
Stefanie Murray, director of the Center for Cooperative Media will moderate the panel.
Messaging! Messaging! Messaging! 📣
Here are some talking points for today from the DNC, along with sources.
Trump Promised To Usher in a Golden Age — but His Economy Says Otherwise
Americans across the country agree: this is Donald Trump’s economy, and he owns the chaos.
As families bear the costs of Trump’s failing economy, it’s no surprise that close to 70% of Americans see a recession on the horizon.
For unemployed Americans, it hasn’t been this hard to find work since 2021.
As consumer spending plummets, Americans are traveling less this summer in an effort to save extra cash.
Layoff announcements are at the highest level since the first half of 2020, and June saw the manufacturing sector lose 7,000 jobs — the second straight month of decline, despite Trump’s now-broken promise to create a manufacturing boom.
Trump’s Unhinged Trade War is Raising Prices for Consumers
Trump’s erratic trade war is raising costs for businesses — who are passing them along to customers as Trump puts allies like Canada, the EU, and Brazil in his crosshairs by threatening massive, reckless tariffs.
Everyone from chief financial officers to everyday Americans are feeling the effects of Donald Trump’s economic rollercoaster from hell.
A report from KPMG found that 77% of companies are considering price increases in the next six months.
From shoes and coffee to utilities and used cars, the cost of living is going through the roof — and experts warn it’s only set to get worse.
A majority of Federal Reserve officials are warning that Trump’s reckless policies are going to have “persistent effects” on inflation.
ONE NUMBER TO KNOW: $2,500 — that’s at least how much more the average household will lose because of Trump’s reckless trade policies.
Get in the Streets! 🪧
There’s no escaping it; Trump and his enablers are becoming bolder and our slide toward authoritarianism is accelerating. With institutions failing to meet the challenge, it falls to us -- the pro-democracy majority -- to defeat fascism.
Join this training to help lead the fight within your networks and pass on these skills to others. Wednesdays from 8 – 9:30pm ET.
Resistbot Letter (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.) 💻
[To: your HOUSE rep] [H/T Coleman Rogers] [Text SIGN PSDHOP 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 disheartening influence of powerful corporate lobbies on the legislative process is deeply concerning, as it compromises the fundamental principle of government serving the interests of the people rather than moneyed special interests. The "Crypto Week" initiative, driven by the cryptocurrency industry's lobbying groups that poured tens of millions into electing sympathetic lawmakers, epitomizes this corrosive dynamic.
The marquee CLARITY Act exemplifies how industry lobbyists shape legislation to serve their narrow agenda at the expense of robust consumer protections and sound regulation in the public interest. This bill, as warned by experts like Amanda Fischer of Better Markets, would erode crucial disclosure standards, weaken liability provisions, incentivize regulatory arbitrage, and strip safeguards against market manipulation – all to grant the crypto industry its preferred, lax oversight by the CFTC. Such industry capture makes a mockery of the democratic process and betrays the trust of the constituents you represent.
It is imperative that Congress resists the siren song of deep-pocketed lobbyists and legislates independently to uphold the principles of transparency, accountability, and the common good. The crypto industry's relentless pursuit of deregulation, facilitated by its lobbying blitz, poses systemic risks to market integrity, financial stability, and consumer welfare. Meaningful guardrails and robust oversight are essential to mitigate these risks and protect individuals from predatory practices, fraud, and exploitation.
I implore you to break free from the stranglehold of corporate influence peddlers and craft legislation that prioritizes the long-term well-being of citizens over the short-term profits of special interests. Reject the CLARITY Act and similar industry-driven bills that undermine fundamental protections. Instead, champion comprehensive, evidence-based regulation that safeguards the public interest, fosters responsible innovation, and upholds the highest standards of transparency and accountability.
The integrity of our democracy hinges on your ability to legislate independently, without undue influence from moneyed lobbyists. Rise to this challenge, and restore faith in a government that truly serves the people.
OK, you did it again! You’re helping to save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk soon.
Jess
Jess
Thx to your inspiration, This is the message I left for my 2 FL Senators:
The concentration camp operating just down the highway from my home is horrifying.
Forcing largely nonviolent people into unsanitary and unsafe conditions simply because Stephen Miller is offended by their skin color is wrong.
This must stop.
Every person in this country is entitled to due process and humane treatment. The fact that ICE is providing neither is shameful. Congress needs to rein them in and shut down the Everglades gulag immediately before someone else dies.
The day before funds were cut by the Dept. of Education, Jeff Jackson, AG of NC, received a three-sentence letter letting him know. Mr. Jackson and other AGs are suing based on the illegality of bypassing Congress. Mr. Jackson has made a YouTube video, which I saw in his email to North Carolinian voters.