Chop Wood, Carry Water 7/25
700%!!!!
Hi, all, and happy Thursday!
What a week! I’m still pinching myself. This “Democrats in array” thing is a bit unfamiliar, but I like it!
Actually, Democrats have been in array a lot in recent years. But it’s been a minute, and boy, does it feel good to be back in unity at such a pivotal moment.
Speaking of feel-good news, I’m assuming most of you heard the about the new voter registration numbers, but in case you haven’t, Vote.org reported a 700% increase in voter registrations in the 48 hours after President Biden made his announcement. Seven hundred percent! There were 38,500 new registrations—this is a record for the 2024 cycle. Better yet, a whopping 83% of them were of young people between the ages of 18 and 34.
Is that hope I feel?
Folks, let’s double down! This is a really good moment to ask the young people in your life if they’re registered. If they’re not, offer to help! Remember, not everyone has a parent or guardian who will walk them through the process. Offer to be their voting doula! Voter intimidation is a real thing, and knowing there is someone they can reach out to with questions will make a big difference!
Also, don’t forget to tell everyone you know about Blue Voter Guide! This amazing tool, which enables voters to learn about everyone and everything on their ballots—yes, even judges!—is simply incredible. And there’s a real hunger for it! I volunteered to make a TikTok about it for the founders, who are personal friends, and we were all pleasantly surprised at the absolute explosion of engagement it got. Interested parties almost crashed the site! (The video is here on YouTube if you want to share it.)
Finally, I want to acknowledge the eloquent, powerful, and important speech our President made last night. Words fail to adequately describe the class, dignity, and patriotism Joe Biden is showing at this moment. We should be proud beyond belief. His commitment to our democracy and freedoms is exemplary. He will go down in history as a true hero to our country.
Meanwhile, the Republican Party and their Fox News mouthpieces are resorting to a level of racism and misogyny that even I wouldn’t have thought possible. It’s sad, it’s pathetic, and it’s despicable. More than anything, it makes them look small. And they are!
This is where they are for one huge reason: they have absolutely nothing else. They are a party—and a set of candidates—devoid of a single attractive or admirable quality. They’re a morass of hate, fear, and ignorance. This is repellent to all but the most extreme voters. Don’t forget it.
Friends, we’re in a moment of strength. We should enjoy it. We’ve had so many bad, awful, and even hideous days that when we get wind in our sails we deserve to celebrate it.
But we mustn’t take it for granted. Let’s capitalize on our momentum and make sure we exploit it for all it’s worth.
Then let’s work to create more! ⛵️
P.S. — By the way, the Harris Team is hiring! They’re having a virtual Organizer Career Fair on Saturday. Here’s the signup link for anyone interested.
Call Your Senators and House member (find yours here and here) 📲
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
I understand that The Democracy for All Amendment is now live in Congress. This Amendment would empower Congress and states to set reasonable campaign finance rules and limit corporate spending. It would also establish the Constitutional right of the American people to regulate the raising and spending of funds in public elections. This essentially gives Congress and states the power to roll back many of the worst provisions that came out of the Citizens United ruling. I strongly support it and want the Congressmember/Senator to as well. I am distraught about the effect of money in politics. We have to fix it.
[By the way, Represent Us is holding a webinar about this Amendment, and how it effectively counteracts Citizens United, tonight! Should be good!]
Extra Credit ✅
Innocence Project client Robert Roberson could soon become the first person in U.S. history to be executed based on the discredited “shaken baby syndrome” hypothesis. Despite new evidence of Robert’s innocence, a Texas court has scheduled his execution for Oct. 17.
Innocence Project is asking us to join the fight to stop Robert’s execution.
Sign their petition to stop Texas from making an irreversible mistake.
Get Smart! 📚
On Monday, July 29 at 7:00 PM ET Red Wine and Blue is doing another Project 2025-themed event—this one with Elizabeth Warren!!! WHOOO! From them:
Kamala Harris says she’s taking on Project 2025. But too many Americans still don’t know about it. You can help change that — it's a huge threat, not just to our democracy, but our economy too. Who better to explain how we can reject division and build an economy that works for families than Senator Elizabeth Warren? Join us as we talk with her about the economic threat of Project 2025, the state of our economy today, and what our plan is for getting everyone what they need to succeed.
Spread the Word! 📣
Harris’s first ad just dropped and it is 🔥🔥🔥. Please share it!
Give 💰!
Heather Cox Richardson is doing a Zoom fundraiser for Kamala Harris! It’s on Thursday, August 1. I believe the minimum donation to attend is $25.
Win Races—North Carolina! 🗳
This Saturday, July 27, marks 100 days until the election and the NC Dems are having a huge grassroots Weekend of Action to show their support for Kamala Harris and Democrats up and down the ticket.
Sign up by clicking THIS link.
Win Races—White Women For Harris! 🗳
There’s another White Women For Harris event tonight, and I think it’s going to be the big one. It’s being thrown by Indivisible, Shannon Watts, (founder of Moms Demand Action), and other allies across the country. I’m hearing it’s going to be really good, and I’ll be there.
Invite all your white women friends!
Win Races—Do Voter Protection For Team Harris 🗳️
This one is so important that I’m putting it in the newsletter twice.
Sunday, July 28th, at 3:00 PM EDT — The Harris for President/Coordinated Campaign Voter Protection & Access team invites you to a volunteer kick-off event.
This is your opportunity to hear from the National Voter Protection and Access Director, Meredith Horton, and other special guests, including Former US Attorney General Eric Holder, about this year's voter protection programming and how you can help ensure all eligible voters are able to cast a ballot that counts.
Resistbot Letter (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.) 💻
[To: all 3 reps] [H/T Americans for Tax Fairness] [Text SIGN PCNPPR to Resistbot at 50409 or via Apple Messages / WHATSAPP / MESSENGER]
Americans for Tax Fairness reporting shows that just 50 billionaire families have already spent more than $600 million in an attempt to influence the 2024 presidential and congressional elections. Peter Thiel, a tech billionaire, has spent millions of dollars to influence our elections including investing millions to launch J.D. Vance's political career. Now, Vance stands as the Republican VP nominee alongside Trump, a stark example of how billionaire money directly shapes our highest offices.
I want Congress to enact comprehensive tax reforms that address the growing influence of billionaire wealth in our political system. This includes passing the Billionaire Minimum Income Tax, which would ensure the nation’s handful of wealthiest households pay at least a 25% tax rate on their total income each year, including unrealized capital gains. While applying only to the wealthiest 0.01% of Americans—those worth $100 million or more—this needed tax would generate over $360 billion in revenue over 10 years.
Every day we delay, billionaires further mold our politics to serve their interests. It's time for the wealthiest to pay their fair share in taxes and for our government to represent the people, not the powerful. Thanks.
OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk soon.
Jess
The enthusiasm is palpable. Markers For Democracy normally takes two weeks off at the end of August through Labor Day and we decided this week that we are going to keep going because people are fired up and there will be so many postcards to write. The Harris campaign is doing so many things well that we started at #cat-ladies-for-Harris channel to share all the videos and the memes.
Kamala's new ad is fantastic! I can't wait to see it in Michigan. She has really hit the ground sprinting -- in her high heels, no less ;-)! We are SOOOOO EXCITED in Michigan. She will win here. We will push back on the racism and misogyny already rearing its truly ugly head. The R's have no shame; we will call it out every time we see it.