Chop Wood, Carry Water 7/19

Our community is our power

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Hi, all, and happy Friday!

Good Lord. What a week. I’m pretty sure—and I’m not exaggerating—that entire portions of my hair have gone grey over the last few days. To say that it’s been stressful is an understatement.

But we’re all here, we’re all hanging in, and we’re going to be OK. How do I know that? Because we’re together— connected by an invisible but real web of care, compassion, and concern for our democracy. It’s a web that may look frail but that is, in fact, powerful beyond description. It bends easily, true, but breaking it is surprisingly hard.

We will not be broken.

I am hearing from so many of you. You are exhausted, yes. You are scared. But you are more determined than I’ve ever seen you.

We’re going to do this.

I’m dismayed at Democrats’ disarray during this pivotal moment, but I also know that it will pass. We’ll have clarity soon, and when we do we will work like we’ve never worked before. We already are!

And we. Will. Win.

If you need comfort, read the comments from the last few days’ posts. They are incredible.

We are a community, all. The roots of that word go all the way back to the Proto-Indo-European communis, for "common, public, general, shared by all or many."

Our desires for freedom, justice, and equality are common. They are shared by many. Most importantly, this concept, community, is ancient. It goes as far back as humanity itself, or at least as we can trace it through language. We have always needed each other, thrived with each other, counted on each other.

It is how humans have survived. It is how we have flourished.

We have it on our side now. If we lean into it, we will win.

Extra Credit ✅

The Washington Post’s “Early Brief” newsletter led with this headline:

I posted at them on both Threads and, yes, Twitter, (which I’ve just returned to extremely reluctantly.) Please repost or write your own message.

And let’s contact them via email, also:

matt.murray@washpost.com is the Executive Newsroom Editor. krissah.thompson@washpost.com is the Managing editor. erika.allen@washpost.com is Head of Audience Strategy and Growth.

There are a whole bunch more addresses here, depending on how many people you want to bcc.

I simply said:

To see the Washington Post claim in its “Early Brief” newsletter today that “Republicans Stuck to Winning Issues” at the Convention was shocking. The RNC Convention was a hotbed of election denial, misinformation, xenophobia, and authoritarian wannabeism.

Which of those did your headline writers think was the “winning issue?”

Or was it when the crowd chanted “Mass deportations now!” Or when Trump talked about the "China virus?" Or said that"Democrats used Covid to cheat?" Or went on yet another incoherent rant about "Hannibal Lecter?"

Your headline—especially considering the terrifying moment we’re in—is journalistic malpractice. I’m not sure how much longer I can stand to support such irresponsible reporting with my subscription dollars. Shame on you.

You can write what you want, if you want. But honestly, I think I’m cancelling my subscription.

Extra Extra Credit ✅✅

Anyone can now join the 1400+ Black women leaders who have signed a letter supporting Biden-Harris 2024 and urging them to stay in this race.

The form is here.

If you are with them, please sign. If you disagree, no need to chastise me. This is an optional action. I signed. If you don’t want to, feel free to skip. We are a big tent.

Get Smart! 📚

JoeandRoe is a community resource to help women and those who love them to be active, informed and engaged voters. They aggregate and centralize information daily on all issues related to the campaign against women’s freedom of choice and related voting rights.

Their focus is on providing information on the issues, the science and the facts via Latest News, important podcasts, essential ads and posts not to be missed in Know This, a broad and inclusive list of Resources and a Glossary of Terms, with links to source material in both written and video format. The Candidate Comparison feature is updated weekly for voters to better know who will stand with them in legislating on behalf of women’s rights and who will not. Lastly they created a playbook of resources for How We Win, with methods and resources to help get out the vote.

Those who seek to control us want us to be uninformed and afraid. The purpose of the JoeandRoe site is to change that... together. Check it out!

Spread the Word! 📣

Again, the Seneca Project knocks it out of the park. Watch and share this, please!

Give 💰!

On Wednesday July 24 at 7PM ET come to a Force Multiplier fundraiser to hear Jamie Raskin speak about Project 2025 and how we win!

Rep. Raskin will speak and take questions about the urgency of flipping the House in 2024, recent SCOTUS decisions, Project 2025, and the changing landscape of the 2024 elections.

Your donation will support 21 candidates in critical House battleground districts across the country.

We need a Democratic majority in the House to protect our freedoms, our families, our future.

REGISTER + DONATE TO THE FM HOUSE SLATE. It’s a $100 suggested donation but give whatever you can and be welcomed!

Win Races—Postcard! 🗳

Activate America has got so many good postcarding campaigns right now, folks! They need more writers! They’re not only focussing on Ohio and Nevada, but NY and CA, too. These blue states are where the Congressional races are that will determine whether or not we win back the House.

Interested? Request a list HERE. You must provide your own cards (I order mine on Etsy).

Win Races—Phonebank! ☎️

We can make a difference by recruiting volunteers for campaigns in competitive districts. Pat Ryan's seat in NY Congressional District 18 is a critical hold if we are to win back the House. Swing Blue Alliance needs your help with this recruiting work.

They've had only a handful of callers the past two weeks but have still been able to make a meaningful contribution by recruiting 10 local canvassers, 10 phone bankers, and 9 workers for the Ryan campaign office.  They're calling strong Democrats, many of whom have volunteered in the past, and their callers have reported lots of pleasant and constructive conversations.

Please join them in the coming weeks on Tuesdays 5-7pm Eastern. This is a phenomenal group—their phonebanks are my all-time faves.

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

[To: all 3 reps] [H/T] [Text SIGN PRSWQH to Resistbot at 50409 or via Apple Messages / WHATSAPP / MESSENGER]

I urge you to repeal 39 usc 404 section (e) of the 2006 Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act (PAEA), so the USPS can provide basic checking and savings accounts as well as other new products and services that bring in new revenue.

The USPS Office of Inspector General reported that non-bank financial services provided through the Post Office could generate $8.9 billion per year–and this estimate doesn’t even include postal banking or other services and products that are possible. According to the OIG, financial services are the biggest source of new revenues for post offices around the world, and most U.S. post offices are already located in banking deserts.

Over 1,200 underserved communities have been identified as “banking deserts,” and more than 7 million individual American households currently are “unbanked,” with no access to a checking account or basic financial services. Postal banking can also offer alternatives to predatory fees of private banks and fringe financial markets like check cashers and bill pay services at liquor stores.

USPS needs a forward-thinking, public-service minded plan include everything from bringing back postal banking to hunting licenses, checking on seniors, adding value to bus and subway passes, providing office services and a WiFi signal in the parking lot, even electric vehicle charging stations.

These services are all potential sources of revenue to sustain one of the nation’s most trusted institutions, and enhance access to essential public services for communities across every ZIP code.

Thank you for helping to protect and expand the US Post Office as an invaluable public service.

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

Talk soon.

Jess

Chop Wood, Carry Water is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲

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

Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲

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

Extra Credit ✅

Get Smart! 📚

Spread the Word! 📣

Give 💰!

Win Races! 🗳

Chop Wood, Save the Planet 🔥

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

[To: ] [H/T] [Text to Resistbot at 50409 or via Apple Messages / WHATSAPP / MESSENGER]

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

Talk soon.

Jess