Chop Wood, Carry Water 7/5

Hi, all, and happy Wednesday.

I hope you enjoyed your Fourth. I suspect many of you faced the day with ambivalence—I know I did. It’s never been a favorite holiday of mine, and the last few years have strained my ability to celebrate it almost to the breaking point. It feels too hard to separate our country as a whole from those who have taken it hostage. These hostage-takers have always been here, of course. But they have made such advances of late that it can feel that there’s nothing left worth celebrating at all.

Still, in its truest sense Independence Day is meant to lift up those who fought—and still fight—tyranny. It is meant to commemorate the efforts of people who wished—and still wish—for freedom. So while it’s always been complicated, and has only become more so of late, I remind myself that if it’s a holiday for patriots, for those fighting for liberty and equality, then it’s a holiday for folks like me and you.

So certainly we may dislike and even loathe the “Murica” version of the Fourth of July, but let us not cede the day to it entirely. America, the real, vibrant, radically tolerant, pluralistic and diverse country, is hidden somewhere within those nationalistic trappings. This “real America” is, as many have observed, little more than an idea, but it’s an idea worth fighting for, even now.

So that’s what we’ll keep doing here. Happy real Fourth of July to the real patriots. I see you, and I celebrate the work you do every day to raise this mighty nation to new, never-before-seen heights.

Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲

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

I strongly urge the Senator to oppose Senator Tom Cotton’s No START Treaty Act - S.1674. Withdrawing from the New START treaty would unleash a dangerous nuclear arms race and increase the risk of nuclear war. [H/T]

Also, Senator Tuberville’s hold to block military promotions is having growing consequences. More than 250 promotions are already stalled, and next week the U.S. Marine Corps will be led by an acting commandant for the first time in 164 years. Tuberville is holding our national security hostage. The Senate needs to force floor votes on these promotions immediately and it should cancel the August recess to get it done. Thanks. [H/TRogan's List]

Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲

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

I am calling today to ask your office to support two key bills in the 2023 Farm Bill: the Protecting America's Meatpacking Workers Act and the Justice for Black Farmers Act. These bills are important because they would protect working people, increase access to land and credit for producers of color, establish checks on corporate power, and protect the natural environment. [H/T and more info]

Get Smart! 📚

The highly entertaining legal eagle and SCOTUS expert Elie Mystal has launched a podcast to go through the various options for fixing the Court. It’s called Contempt of Court, and new episodes will drop each Tuesday.

“The unelected and unaccountable nine politicians on the Supreme Court comprise the most powerful policy-making institution in the United States; Contempt of Court seeks to grapple with this gross miscarriage of democracy. The original podcast series will explain how to reform the court with a focus on historical insights, fresh analysis of the latest SCOTUS news, and distinct avenues for change. In each episode, Mystal will speak with the experts and advocates working to reform the Supreme Court in order to restore American democracy.”

So far only the trailer has dropped, but I knew you’d be interested – so I wanted to share ASAP. Check it out here.

[H/T Small Deeds Done]

Spread the Word! 📣

I’m sharing the Research Collaborative’s excellent Freedom Over Fascism messaging toolkit one more time. They have updated it to reflect the recent attacks on our freedom from the billionaire-bought justices and have added even more content from their partners at IntoAction. Great stuff in there!

Give 💰!

This Blue Tent post about shifting our political donations in light of the Supreme Court’s awfulness is really worth a read. The TLDR—fewer donations to places like the Sierra Club and Planned Parenthood, and more to organizations doing electoral work. As always, my top three picks are Movement Voter Project, the States Project, and Run For Something. You really can’t go wrong giving to any or all three of them. And your money can’t be better spent.

Chop Wood, Save the Planet! 🔥

Habits of Waste has a great guide for going plastic free—technically it’s for Plastic Free July but it’s useful anytime. Remember, plastic is made from petroleum and is a fossil fuel product. It’s also absolutely destroying the ecosystem and our health. Any measures you can take to use less of it matter. And do check out Dropps for your laundry and dish soap. They’re great!

Check out lots of other ways to get started here.

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

[to all 3 reps] [H/T and more info] [Quick send: text SIGN PGEXNC to 50409 or share the link here.]

I understand that Congressman Bowman and Senator Merkley have introduced the Fair College Admissions for Students Act to get rid of legacy admissions and promote equity in the college admissions process.

Specifically, this bill would:

1. Amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to prohibit institutions of higher education participating in Federal student aid programs from giving admissions preference to students with legacy or donor status.

2. Grant the U.S. Secretary of Education the ability to waive the legacy preference prohibition for an award year for Historically Black College and Universities (HBCUs), Tribal College or Universities (TCUs), and Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs). To receive this waiver, the institution must demonstrate that its use of legacy preference is in the best interest of historically underrepresented students.

All students deserve an equitable opportunity to gain admissions to institutions of higher education. Legacy admissions can take up to 10 to 25 percent of available slots at top universities. Some estimates indicate that applying as a legacy student can double to quadruple one’s chances of getting into a highly selective university. This is not fair!

It’s time for legacy admissions to go. Please sign on as a co-sponsor to this bill right away. Thanks.

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

Talk soon.

Jess