Chop Wood, Carry Water 7/25

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Hi, all, and happy Tuesday!

I’m off to lunch with my mom and step-father so no time to write an intro.

In lieu of one, I offer you positivity in the form of Simon Rosenberg! His July “With Democrats Things Get Better” is now on YouTube here. Please watch it if you’ve never seen it and missed the live version! So good!

We’re in the thick of it, folks, but at least we’re on the right side, and in the thick of it together. There’s no place I’d rather be.

Let’s get to work!

Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲

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

I know the Senate Appropriations Committee just passed an amendment to the Foreign Operations and Related Programs Appropriations bill that would provide an additional 20,000 Special Immigrant Visas to allies in Afghanistan. I support this provision and hope the Senator will as well. We need to keep our promise to those who served alongside us overseas. [H/T and more info at No one Left Behind]

Also, I understand that Sen. Jeff Merkley is reintroducing the Fair College Admissions for Students Act to stop universities from giving preferential treatment to children of alumni and donors. Please ask the Senator to sign on as a co-sponsor. Thanks.

Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲

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

I understand that House Republicans are attempting to cut $67 billion of the $80 billion investment in the IRS that we won last year. And they hope to pass these cuts out of the Appropriations Committee within the next week. I strongly oppose cutting IRS funding. Wealthy tax cheats must pay their taxes! Please tell the Congressmember I’ll be watching this vote carefully and expect him/her to oppose this provision. Thanks.

Extra Credit ✅

Read this SPLC report on Louisiana’s choice to imprison children at Angola, then please personalize and send this letter to Governor John Bel Edwards. Yes, we’ve already called him. Let’s send him a letter, too.

Get Smart! 📚

Interested in the Supreme Court? Join the Progressive Caucus Action Fund for a powerful and informative briefing entitled The People vs. SCOTUS: Understanding the 2023 Supreme Court Term on Thursday, July 27, 2023, at 1 pm ET.

Join moderator Gohar Sedighi, Executive Director of the Progressive Caucus Action Fund, as we dig deep into what the Court did this term, what it means for our rights, how it impacts progressive legislation, and what we can do next with experts, including: 

• Rakim Brooks, President, Alliance for Justice

• Chelsey Davidson, Policy Counsel, Take Back the Court

Don’t miss this breakdown of the most crucial cases this term! Space is limited, so sign up here today!

Spread the Word! 📣

This is a really effective ad for the Ohio Vote No on Issue 1 coalition. Please share it!

Give 💰!

Force Multiplier is having a fundraiser with Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (RI), author of The Scheme: How the Right Wing Used Dark Money to Capture the Supreme Court, on Monday, July 31, 7:00-8:00pm ET On Zoom. You’re invited!

Senator Whitehouse is a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and a leading Senate expert on SCOTUS. He will share his perspective on the evolution of the Court and will talk about how it can be restored to the independent body our founders intended.

The event will support four Senators in races we must win in order to keep our majority in the Senate--and protect our government as we know it: Tammy Baldwin (WI), Sherrod Brown (OH), Jacky Rosen (NV), and Jon Tester (MT). 

Sen. Whitehouse is appearing in support of the slate + is not receiving any of the funds raised by this event.

REGISTER + DONATE

Suggested donation $100. If you can give more, please do. If not, please give what you can and come!

Win Races! 🗳

I received the following request from Sue Dean Dyke, a Swing Left leader in Ohio. Her group needs our help.

We are an Indivisible group and Swing Left group in Northeast Ohio running a statewide phone bank to ensure Ohioans are aware of the election and have the information they need to vote.

I was wondering if you could promote our phone bank to your members. We are using a predictive dialer and trying to call as many Ohioans as possible to make sure they know to vote - this is not a persuasion phone bank.  We are still finding people unaware or confused about the election. The disinformation campaign is seeping into households all over the state.

We have a phenomenal script and are having some really effective conversations.  We hold the phone banks via zoom 3 times a week and provide solid training and support to volunteers.

Here is the link to sign up if you don't mind sharing. 

I don’t mind! Let’s help Sue out!

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

[to all 3 reps] [H/T] [Quick send: text SIGN PJSBJZ to 50409]

Families throughout the country are facing stubbornly high grocery prices, which makes it difficult for many people to put food on the table.

Please don’t forget our neighbors affected by hunger. Prioritize anti-hunger programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in upcoming legislation.

SNAP is the most effective hunger-relief program in the nation, and many people rely on their SNAP benefits to ensure their families can access the food we all need.

When people can focus less on food, and more on what they’re passionate about, everyone wins. Every dollar in SNAP benefits spent during a downturn helps generate an estimated $1.50 in local economic activity.

Please keep hunger relief at the forefront of your mind as you enact legislation in Congress. Please support and strengthen vital programs like SNAP.

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

Talk soon.

Jess