Chop Wood, Carry Water 7/3
Breath.
Hi, all.
I can’t say happy Thursday, of course. A House vote is imminent, and it sounds like Republicans are going to be able to pass Trump’s vicious bill. It’s heartbreaking, enraging, and devastating. I’m going to encourage you to keep calling until the thing is done, but then we’ll move on to consequences. We must thank Democrats for their heroic efforts to stop this bill, and let Republicans know that they’ll be losing their seats over their votes for it.
I know the feelings on a day like today are difficult to bear. We’ve worked so hard to stop this legislation. Most of us have called dozens, scores, or even hundreds of times about it. I’ve made 40 or more videos on the subject. Many of us have attended town halls or protests to try to stop it. Every one of us will be harmed by it—some gravely. I desperately wish this was a fight we’d won. There’s really no way to sugarcoat the damage that will ensue, so I won’t try.
Instead I’ll do this: I’ll thank you. I’ll thank you for continuing to fight when everything seems hopeless. For not giving up on our democracy even when a good portion of our country apparently has. I’ll thank you for believing in love, community, compassion, and empathy. For opening your wallets, when you can, to those in need. For making your neighborhoods better, as I know you do, for planting gardens, rescuing animals, running for office, caring for your families, cooking lovely meals, checking on lonely friends, and for otherwise participating in events that bring joy—whatever those may be. These are life-affirming acts, and we need them more than ever right now.
Thank you, too, for subscribing to this newsletter and taking the actions I suggest. I know it would be easier to forget about politics entirely right now—to throw your hands up and say “there’s no point!” But you keep coming, you keep calling, you keep working to win races (which we keep succeeding at, by the way), and you keep showing up to protests. It is the opposite of cynicism—it’s the most practical kind of optimism, in fact—and the world needs it desperately.
You are hope in action. You are patriotism embodied. You are the heroes of this story. Truly.
This is likely going to be a tough day. We will see lots more tough ones, but this one may mark a certain kind of low. Trump won this round, for sure. He will gloat, and preen, and bask in his “victory.” It’s going to be hard to watch.
While the consequences of this bill will devastate us for years, however, I’m also cautiously optimistic that this may mark Trump’s “high water mark.” He won this round, but he will NOT win the war. I’m not sure he’ll even pass any more bills. For Americans are quickly going to realize what their lawmakers have done to them; the consequences at the ballot box next year will be fierce.
So today we lick our wounds. We grieve. We scream into pillows. We gather with friends and mourn.
Tomorrow, and the next day, and the one after that, we rest.
Then next week we get back up, dust ourselves off, and try again.
Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
[If Democrat:] I’m calling to thank the Senator for their hard work trying to stop this bill. While I’m devastated that it looks likely to pass, I want them to know that their efforts didn’t go unnoticed. I hope Senate Democrats will take the weekend to rest, then come back and redouble their efforts to stop this fascist regime. Please make it your jobs to throw sand in the gears of every single thing they try to do. No more cooperation. No more “working across the aisle.” More more Democratic YES votes on ANYTHING. These are vicious people and should be treated accordingly. Thanks.
[If Republican:] Shame on the Senator for voting for Trump’s bill. A rural Nebraska clinic has already announced that they’re closing as a direct result of it. Our healthcare system may never recover from what Republicans have done. Children won’t have enough to eat. Hundreds of thousands of people are going to lose their jobs. And the ICE raids that are destroying our communities will also devastate our economy. I want the Senator to know that I’m going to dedicate every resource at my disposal to making sure s/he loses his/her seat over this vote. Thanks.
Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
[If Dem:] I’m calling to thank the Congressmember for voting no on Trump’s awful budget bill. I want them to know that their efforts didn’t go unnoticed. I hope House Democrats will take the weekend to rest, then come back and redouble their efforts to stop this fascist regime. Please make it your jobs to throw sand in the gears of every single thing they try to do. No more cooperation. No more “working across the aisle.” More more Democratic YES votes on ANYTHING. These are vicious people and should be treated accordingly. Thanks.
[If Republican:] I’m calling to say shame on the Congressmember. Just shame on him/her. Our healthcare system may never recover from what Republicans [are about to do/ have just done]. Children won’t have enough to eat. Hundreds of thousands of people will lose their jobs. The ICE raids that are destroying our communities will also devastate our economy. I want the Congressmember to know that I’m going to dedicate every resource at my disposal to making sure s/he loses his/her seat over this vote next year. And if s/he calls himself/herself a Christian s/he should stop doing that right now. This is the most un-Christlike bill you could design. Shame. Shame. Shame. Thanks.
What’s the Plan?
Today and every Thursday at 3pm ET the Indivisible co-founders hold their weekly discussion “What's the Plan?” It’s great and will be particularly helpful, I think, today. It’s good to gather together and Leah and Ezra have great strategies for, well, what’s next. I’ll be there.
Get Smart! 📚
Subscriber Joe E. sent me this:
I just wrote the attached for The Nation on how we can keep expanding the circle by using QR codes to help engage new participants at demonstrations, and keep them involved by connecting them with the sponsoring organizations.
It’s really good! Please read!
Give 💰!
I went to another prayer vigil in Downtown Los Angeles yesterday. This one featured the usual roster of incredible faith leaders, but also a young lady whose dad was recently taken by ICE. I urge you to not only watch the video of her short speech but also share it with folks who may not understand how awful things are in Los Angeles—and our country—right now. Especially with the budget bill likely passing we have to face the fact that this kind of story will be repeated tens of thousands more times in the coming months and years. It’s awful, but we have to try to help.
If you’re moved by Francis’s story and you want to donate to help families like hers, LA Voice (the host of the prayer vigils I attend) has set up a “Love Fund” to channel funds directly to them. You can give here.
Grab Your Wallet! 💳
Immigrant advocate groups are calling for a boycott of Home Depot due to their silence in the face of ICE raids in their parking lots. This is really important. Home Depot is already on my boycott list as they’re big donors to Republicans, but now there’s a wider call to stop shopping there. Please participate in this boycott and spread the word.
Resistbot Letter (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.) 💻
[To: your HOUSE rep] [H/T
] [Text SIGN PTXKTH 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 Republican's proposed budget reconciliation bill (HR1) would inflict catastrophic harm on millions of Americans. Voting for this bill means depriving kids of meals at school in your district, causing soaring healthcare costs that will price families out of coverage in your district, and forcing nursing homes to shut down in your district - leaving our most vulnerable without care. All of these things will be on YOU, if you vote to pass.
Representative Underwood rightly warned that communities could lose access to emergency medical services altogether if nearby hospitals are forced to close. As Representative Jeffries stated, this represents "the largest cut to healthcare in American history" and "people are going to die." Voting in favor is tantamount to a crime against our citizens. Nearly 500 amendments proposed by Democrats to improve this legislative disaster have been blocked from consideration. This is an unconscionable silencing of the people's voices.
With up to 30 Republicans reportedly opposed, there is a real chance to defeat this bill — but only if you join them in voting no. Prioritizing draconian budget cuts over the wellbeing of your constituents is an absolute dereliction of your sworn duty. I implore you to stand on the right side of history and emphatically reject HR1. The human cost is far too high.
OK, you did it again! You’re helping to save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk soon.
Jess
Thank you... Everyday!!
For everyone reading this, thank you for what you do every day. We are shoulder and shoulder in this fight and will not give up despite our tears today.