Chop Wood, Carry Water 7/22
They can't win if they don't cheat. But we'll still beat 'em.
Hi, all, and happy Tuesday.
Wild times. House Republicans are canceling several votes before the August recess to avoid having to vote on bipartisan legislation on releasing the Epstein files. It really does make you wonder what Mike Johnson, in particular, is hiding. He is singlehandedly blocking this vote—perhaps someone powerful has something on him? Or, equally plausible, he’s just pandering to Trump, who definitely has much to hide in this instance. Either way, it’s shameful.
In other sleazy news, yesterday, during the first day of Texas’s special legislative session, Republicans took the first steps to try to redraw the legislative map in their favor. Governor Greg Abbott is bending the knee to Donald Trump and trying to rig Texas’ maps to try to protect Republicans’ House majority. It’s gross, and Texas Democrats are fighting back hard. Not just Texas Democrats, either! There’s word that California will redraw its maps to counteract this move if Texas goes through with it. Good!
The biggest takeaway from the Texas fiasco, in my view, is that we can all stop saying “we’re not going to have midterms.” Nonsense. Look no further than the fact that Republicans are desperately trying to rig maps to hold seats they know they’ll lose otherwise due to the massive unpopularity of their policies.
They can try every trick they know. We’re still going to beat them. Some supporting facts for that assertion? Democrats now lead the House "generic ballot" 47% to 43%, with 9% undecided. That’s the generic ballot. Polls look better when you swap in actual candidates. Also, Democrats are far more motivated than Republicans for next year’s midterms. And that’s now! Trump still has a year plus to become less popular. Finally, polling confirms that Trump’s disastrous bill is the most unpopular piece of legislation of the 21st century. It’ll only get less popular over time.
We’re going to destroy them at the ballot box. And I can’t wait.
OK, all. Despite that fact that Mike Johnson is stopping all business in the House we’re going to call and push our lawmakers to do their jobs. Why? Because that’s our job. In fact, as I like to remind anyone who’ll listen, Congress works for us!
So let’s be good bosses and get to managing our employees.
Call Your Senators (find yours here and/or use this list to find legislative staffer contact info) 📲
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
First, please ask the Senator to protect the availability of affordable healthcare by extending the ACA tax credits. Millions of us rely on the ACA for coverage, and a 75% increase in the cost of premiums on January 1st will be financially devastating for so many people. [H/T and more info]
Second, I want the Senator to vote no on Emil Bove’s nomination for a lifetime judgeship. He’s utterly unqualified and very dangerous. Please vote no. Thanks.
Call Your House Rep (find yours here and/or use this list to find legislative staffer contact info) 📲
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
First, I’m furious that Speaker Johnson is blocking the Massie-Khanna discharge petition (H.Res. 581) from getting a vote. This is the one demanding the release of all Epstein files. Speaker Johnson has said he thinks the files should be released. What changed? Does he have something to hide? Because it’s now looking like he’s part of the coverup. Regardless, 89% of Americans believe Trump should release all the Epstein files. Congress needs to make it happen. Is the Congressmember a co-sponsor of this Resolution? If not I expect them to be.
Also, please ask the Congressmember to protect the availability of affordable healthcare by extending the ACA tax credits. Millions of us rely on the ACA for coverage, and a 75% increase in the cost of premiums on January 1st will be financially devastating for so many people. Thanks. [H/T and more info]
Extra Credit ✅
[Thanks to subscriber Kathy for this great action!]
Florida now has the “model concentration camp” and they plan to do more! DeSantis is trying to remove info, required by law to be publicly available, about the contractors.
Investigative reporter Jason Garcia has accessed info on some of the detailed purchasing orders. A quick search and I found contact info for the top six companies. Send them a short email to make a comment about them profiting off this atrocity. Takes minutes!
Critical Response Strategies click here
LTS: email info@LTS.com
Gothams click here.
Doodie: email info@doodie-calls.com
SLS click here.
Garner: email info@garner-es.com
I’ll let you compose your own note, but once you’ve written it once you can copy and paste it for all the companies. I’m simply going to tell them that their company will forever be known for aiding and abetting torture—shame on them.
Get Smart! 📚
A conversation about the Voting Rights Act with Heather Cox Richardson and Justice Anita Earls.
Wednesday, July 23 from 5 – 6pm EDT.
Facilitated by Kate Barr with Can’t Win Victory Fund, this will be a conversation about the Voting Rights Act with historian Heather Cox Richardson and Justice Anita Earls, a civil rights lawyer and the only Black woman on the NC Supreme Court. She is also up for reelection in 2026 and her race is a must win in the path to fair maps.
Sign up here to get reminders, but this event will be hosted by Heather Cox Richardson on her YouTube channel.
Learn more about Can’t Win Victory Fund here.
Messaging! Messaging! Messaging! 📣
Please share the new Trump Tax website on your social media. It’s got fact sheets for every state detailing just how the Big BS Bill will affect it.
I looked up my state, California, and found out:
Nearly 2.4 million Californians will lose health insurance
368,000 Californians are at risk of losing food assistance
Combined with Trump’s reckless tariff agenda, the median household in California will lose over $1,300
28 rural hospitals in California are at risk of closing
Californians’ electricity bills will rise by 10.3%
Trump’s reckless tariffs have already cost California businesses $11.3 billion
Check out what damage Republicans are doing to your state.
Get in the Streets-TEXAS! 🪧
You all know about the insane gerrymander Republicans are attempting in Texas. There are rallies coming up all over the state. Here’s info about three from a Texas activist friend of mine.
Austin: Thursday, July 24 @ Texas State Capitol
12:30pm rally: Mobilize Link
Houston: Saturday, July 26
9:30am rally: Mobilize Link
Arlington: Monday, July 28
3:30pm rally: Mobilize Link
Win Races! 🗳
Postcards to Swing States needs more writers, soon!
They need your help to write get-out-the-vote (GOTV) postcards to rally Democrats to vote on Nov. 4 in Virginia, New Jersey and Pennsylvania! Their research proves that their GOTV postcards increase Democratic turnout by 1.3% and added an estimated 200,000 votes in 2024. Write GOTV Postcards
Sign up now to help write their innovative News Boosting postcards to spread the truth to voters across Virginia. Target voters will receive 10 postcards between July and October — each volunteer will send just one headline and have at least four weeks to write their 100+ cards before the assigned mailing date.
Resistbot Letter (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.) 💻
[To: all 3 reps] [H/T
] [Text SIGN PGEZML 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 actions by the Department of Housing and Urban Development to drop seven major housing discrimination cases are deeply concerning and a significant setback for civil rights protections. These cases involve serious allegations of state and local governments discriminating against people of color by placing polluting industrial facilities and low-income housing disproportionately in minority neighborhoods while steering them away from white areas. In some instances, HUD had already determined civil rights violations occurred.
Abandoning these long-running investigations undermines decades of fair housing laws and enables the perpetuation of residential segregation and environmental injustice. Places like Chicago, Memphis, Cincinnati, Corpus Christi, and Flint will continue facing the harms of having industrial plants and unwanted facilities clustered in minority communities without accountability.
The decision disregards evidence of wrongdoing and dismisses the very mission of HUD to promote fair housing. It is imperative that Congress use its oversight authority to demand answers from HUD leadership on this abrupt policy reversal. Fair housing advocates and impacted communities deserve a transparent explanation for dropping legally and ethically justified enforcement actions.
Furthermore, Congress must uphold our nation's commitments to anti-discrimination by ensuring federal agencies properly investigate civil rights complaints and pursue violators. Allowing HUD to abandon these cases greenlights discriminatory practices that relegate minority neighborhoods to substandard living conditions while protecting more affluent white areas.
Housing segregation has generational impacts on health, education, employment and generational wealth in minority communities. Lack of enforcement entrenches systemic racism. As a co-equal branch of government, Congress has a duty to defend civil rights when the executive branch will not. Fair housing laws exist to dismantle institutionalized discrimination - Congress must compel HUD to uphold those laws. The very integrity of federal anti-discrimination policies hangs in the balance.
OK, you did it again! You’re helping to save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk soon.
Jess
...and about that Big Ugly Bill. Why don't we start calling it the Big Billionaire Bill? That's what it is and "Big Billionaire Bill" makes it very clear who benefits. Big Ugly Bill is just the opposite of the Big Beautiful Bill. I get why it was easy to rename it that, but for people who don't know what's in it, it doesn't really provide any context. We need to start sharpening up our messaging. The GOP has figured that out (for better or worse).
Clearly, Mike Johnson has a personal stake in derailing the Epstein investigation. It is unclear if it is because he is in the files or because he is protecting those who are in the files. Either way, he is blocking the administration of justice that is due the sex traffickers.