Chop Wood, Carry Water 7/24

download this image here.

Hi, all, and happy Thursday!

Hope you’re enjoying your week, as far as it’s possible. At the very least, I trust you’re basking in Trump’s ever-growing discomfiture as he gets hit with wave after wave of bad Epstein-related news. While the backstory on Trump’s long relationship with that loathsome pedophile is sordid, heartbreaking, and tragic, the satisfaction I, for one, am feeling at seeing him finally face blowback for his despicable behavior is huge.

Meanwhile, the tariffs continue to bite, prices are skyrocketing everywhere, Pete Hegseth has another Signal scandal on his hands, and more and more people are deciding that Trump is a failure as a President—across the board. Good!

We are nowhere near winning this battle, folks, but we’re moving in the right direction, and that’s because of your hard work.

Thank you for everything you do. When the history of this epoch is written, you’ll be the heroes at the center of it, and I’ll be proud to say I knew you.

Let’s get to work.

Call Your Senators (find yours here and/or use this list to find staffer contact info) 📲

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

First, I understand that a final vote on Emil Bove could be coming as soon as Monday. I expect the Senator to do everything in his/her power to ensure that this unfit, corrupt man doesn’t get anywhere near a lifetime appointment on our federal courts. Vote no.

Also, I’m angry that Texas is holding a special legislative session to try to redraw the legislative maps in their favor. Instead of focusing on responding to devastating floods in central Texas, Governor Greg Abbott is trying to rig Texas’ maps to push Democrats out of office and preserve Republicans’ majority. It’s repugnant and anti-democratic. I want the Senator to make a statement denouncing it. Thanks.

[If Democrat add:] And I support Democrats in “going nuclear” to counteract this threat in any way they can. Take the gloves off. Thanks.

Call Your House Rep (find yours here and/or use this list to find staffer contact info) 📲

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

I’m furious that Speaker Mike Johnson and House Republicans have shut down the work of Congress to protect Trump from accountability over the Epstein files. They are abandoning their constitutional responsibilities in order to serve Trump’s personal interests. Americans demand the truth. We will settle for no less.

[If GOP add:] And we will never forget the Republicans who blocked the release of these files.

Also, I’m angry that Texas is holding a special legislative session to try to redraw the legislative map in their favor. Instead of focusing on responding to devastating floods in central Texas, Governor Greg Abbott is trying to rig Texas’ maps to push Democrats out of office and preserve Republicans’ majority. It’s repugnant and anti-democratic. I want the Congressmember to make a statement denouncing it. Thanks.

[If Democrat add:] And I support Democrats in “going nuclear” to counteract this threat in any way they can. Take the gloves off. Thanks.

Extra Credit ✅

I try not to publish Middle East-related material in this newsletter—I typically keep it in the global edition—but the famine in Gaza has grown too horrifying to ignore. If you want to push our lawmakers to help get food aid into Gaza I’ve written a Resistbot letter you can read here, then send it, if you like, by texting SIGN PFONLN to 50409.

Thanks to Marisa Kabas of the Handbasket, whose great article I used to craft the Resistbot.

Get Smart! 📚

On July 30 Indivisible is hosting their next One Million Rising call. OMR is a national effort to train one million people in the strategic logic and practice of non-cooperation, as well as the basics of community organizing and campaign design.

This is the second session, where you’ll learn not just Indivisible’s strategy, but how you can lead a discussion with others and get them on board with taking action in your community. You'll host your first community resistance gathering after this session, before the next session.

You can sign up here.

Did you miss Session 1? Watch the recording here!

Messaging! Messaging! Messaging! 📣

This Framelab piece explaining what’s happening with Trump’s base right now around the Epstein coverup, how it could be dangerous for democracy, and how we can counteract Trump’s next attempts to make it so, is really worth a read.

Get in the Streets! 🪧

This weekend, Families First (a collaboration of AFSCME, AFT, Caring Across Generations, Community Change, Fair Share America, Families Over Billionaires, Family Values Work, Moms Rising, MoveOn, National Domestic Workers Alliance, NEA, People’s Action Institute, Planned Parenthood, SEIU, and Working Families Power) is hosting events across the country to say: our families come first, and we will protect each other.

You can find an event near you here. And learn more here.

[H/T Small Deeds Done]

Chop Wood, Save the Planet 🔥

Join the Southern Environmental Law Center Thursday, July 31, at 12:30 P.M. ET for a webinar focused on key efforts to advance protections for clean air and water across the South — even as critical federal safeguards are under attack.

From federal litigation to local advocacy, SELC experts will share how they are stepping up alongside communities, partner organizations, and state leaders to protect what matters most.

Check out the speaker list and/or register here.

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

[To: all 3 reps] [H/T] [Text SIGN PFSJOQ 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.)

I’m writing to demand that Congress act to repeal Trump’s tariffs.

No matter how Trump tries to package his trade war, everyone from chief financial officers to everyday Americans is feeling the effects of his economic chaos.

Trump’s erratic trade policies are raising operating costs for businesses — who are passing them along to consumers. A new study from the Yale Budget Lab reveals the average household will pay $2,800 more per year because of Trump. A new report from Goldman Sachs estimates that 70% of tariff costs will be paid for by consumers. This is unsustainable!

We are already paying the price at the grocery store and soon could pay even more. Beef prices are hitting record highs, and orange juice prices are set to rise by as much as 25%. Trump’s tariffs are devastating us!

Congress has the power to stop this any time, and they must. Reclaim your constitutional power and stop Trump’s import taxes now!

---

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

Talk soon.

Jess