Chop Wood, Carry Water 7/26
Hi, all, and happy Wednesday.
Oof. There’s so much going on—every time I think the news cycle can’t get any crazier it goes ahead and does just that. Let’s remember to all take our breaks—I’ll be doing so next week (for the most part); but all of us should make sure we’re getting some down time from this constant barrage of insanity.
When we’re done resting, however, it’s important that we make our calls, send our letters, and keep helping with elections. There are tons of really big decisions being made right now about future spending, for example; Republicans are hoping that Americans on summer break won’t notice that they’re trying to gut every program we care about, and seeking to absolutely decimate Biden’s climate programs. We can’t let it happen, and we need to make sure our friends and family know about it so that they can help us stop it.
So do put your feet up. Do lie in the sun with your loved ones. Do ride a bike. Do put up a tent. Do swim!
And then, if at all possible, keep taking action. Because those attacking our democracy won’t rest for a minute.
Remember: we’re smarter than them. There are more of us. We’re younger, more creative, more diverse, more savvy, and more determined.
We will win.
We just can’t quit before the miracle.
Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
I understand that Section 620 of the FAA Reauthorization Act (S. 1939) would prevent airports receiving federal Airport Improvement Program funding from banning leaded gas — some provisions even require airports to continue to provide leaded gas, locking the airports and the surrounding communities into more lead emissions. This is nuts. These emissions have a measurably negative impact on the health of children living near flight paths. Please ask the Senator to push to eliminate Section 620 from the FAA Reauthorization Bill. Thanks. [H/T
]Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
I’m calling because I’m furious that House Republicans have introduced provisions in the appropriations process to cut vital programs. These include Head Start, programs to address the climate crisis, SNAP, funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, funding for the National Institutes of Health, funding for Public Broadcasting, funding for LGBTQ Americans, and more. This is not OK. These are programs I support. As for gutting climate funding, that’s an existential attack on me and my children.
[If GOP add:] I want the Congressmember to know that unless Republicans back off on these cuts right now I will be volunteering to make sure s/he loses his/her seat next year.
[If Dem add:] I want the Congressmember to do everything in his/her power to block these provisions, and ensure that his/her colleagues in the Senate do as well. Thanks.
Extra Credit ✅
The GTN Xpress Pipeline expansion is on the agenda for the monthly FERC commissioners meeting this Thursday. If the expansion is built it would add more than 3.47 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions per year. No way!
Let’s call and/or email FERC. Instructions for both below.
Call 202-502-8004 or 202-502-6595 (I got through on both) and say:
Hi this is ____ from ______. I’m calling to urge FERC to deny TC Energy the permits needed to build the GTN Xpress methane gas pipeline expansion. If the expansion is built it would add more than 3.47 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions per year. This expansion would accelerate climate change and harm public health in communities across the pipeline route. Please shut this project down. Thanks.
If you prefer to send them an email I made a click-to-send here (it won’t work if you have a VPN). Please personalize it—they’ll disregard a bunch of identical emails.
Or go to the full toolkit to find the email addresses and a sample letter, as well as more info.
Give 💰!
Come to a Zoom fundraiser tomorrow for two outstanding grassroots organizations working in Arizona and Nevada! Strongly endorse!
Executive Directors Alex Gomez of LUCHA (Living United for Change in Arizona) and Leo Murrieta of Make the Road Action Nevada will join the Flip the Vote community Thursday, July 27 at 5:30pm PT / 8:30pm ET to discuss their year-round organizing, why early investment is essential to their work, and their ambitious plans for the election cycle.
You don’t have to give to attend, but you’ll likely want to after hearing from these folks.
Chop Wood, Save the Earth! 🔥
With the latest news on ocean currents reminding us again what a critical and frankly tenuous moment we’re in, this seems like a good time to remind everyone that a few months ago I put together a resource document with lots of small ways you can make a difference on climate. We’re talking human survival, here. Please take a look if you’re a newer subscriber and please share!
Win Races—WRITE! 🗳
There are a few more days to write letters into Ohio with Vote Forward, and they’ve got tons more addresses to give out. Please adopt even five letters if you can!
If you prefer to work in a group, Stand Up America is having a letter writing party later today, from 8-9 EDT! You can sign up for that here.
Win Races—CALL! ☎️
The Ohio Democratic Party invites you to join The Great Ohio Dial-Off this weekend, for Saturday and Sunday phonebank shifts! Sign up here!
• Or sign up to make dialer calls with the ODP every Tuesdays and Thursday at 5:30! Sign up here!
• Or join Swing Blue Alliance on Mondays to make dialer calls to voters! Sign up here!
• Or join Bay Area Coalition on Wednesdays to make dialer callers to voters from 5:30! Sign up here!
There is training at the beginning of every shift. Y’all, GOP megadonors are POURING money into this race. We need you!
Resistbot Letter (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.) 💻
[to all 3 reps] [H/T but then rewritten by Resistbot’s AI tool] [Quick send: text SIGN PUMUTT to 50409]
The GOP’s proposed cuts to Head Start funding are deeply concerning. This program plays a crucial role in providing early education and health services to children from low-income families, thereby fostering a more equitable society. Reducing its funding could have detrimental effects on these children's futures and exacerbate existing socio-economic disparities. I urge you to oppose these cuts and instead, advocate for increased investment in Head Start. Our children's well-being and our society's future prosperity depend on it.
OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk soon.
Jess
Just dropped off another batch of Vote Forward letters for Ohio. Also at lunch yesterday a coworker brought asked the group what they thought of No Labels. No one had much of an opinion so I politely told them they’re a Republican funded spoiler group operating in bad faith and explained why. It was only 4 people but every person counts.
I lived near Ellsworth Air Force Base (SD) for years. End of the month black smoke covered the area. The fuel that was not used during the month was burned so the next months funding and allocation was not jeopardized (reduced). How do we find out if this still is a practice and stop that waste?