Chop Wood, Carry Water 7/8
Let's get to work!
Hi, all, and happy Tuesday.
Yikes. So much going on.
A few notable bits: Trump has announced new tariffs of up to 40 percent on a growing number of countries; implementation, however, has been delayed. Yes, again. The Dow fell more than 400 points as a result of the uncertainty; NASDAQ fell, too.
In other chaotic news, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced at a press conference this morning that mass deportations of farm workers would continue and that these migrant workers would be replaced with automation and an all-American workforce comprised mainly of Medicaid recipients. No, I’m not kidding. Watch.
I’ve got some family members who will be interested to know that they’re about to be picking vegetables so the Trump administration can continue its ethnic cleansing campaign. Sigh. Absolutely insane.
Speaking of ethnic cleansing, we had a huge ICE raid here in Los Angeles yesterday. It made no sense—there was literally no one in the park but kids at a summer day camp. The ICE officers and marines were heavily, massively armed—it would have been comical if it weren’t so dangerous. This is a situation that is utterly outrageous in every way, and we need to keep tying it to the rogue nature of Trump’s rule, the jawdropping human rights abuses they’re committing, the giant waste of federal funding this all entails, and the fact that it’s being paid for by cutting services vital to Americans. Hammer it home everywhere, folks.
And of course Texas remains devastated by the massive floods it saw over the weekend. As a mother I grieve especially for the children who were lost. As an American citizen, however, I rage at the government who failed to protect them.
Certainly no one can stop weather from happening, but strong climate policies can, over time, mitigate the strength and intensity of these storms, and good, well-funded science can help predict it. It is simply the fact that DOGE’s cuts have left critical forecast positions across the country vacant, undermining the early warning systems that save lives during natural disasters. Trump has eliminated 10 percent of NOAA’s workforce and is calling for further 17 percent cuts while slashing 20 percent of FEMA’s full-time staff, leaving Americans vulnerable during ever-worsening natural disasters.
The Trump administration also plans, by the way, to completely zero-out NOAA’s weather research, weather laboratories, and tornado and severe storm research budget while moving to phase out FEMA entirely – all to fund tax breaks for billionaires and mega-corporations. We will absolutely be calling about this, but it’s important that we also talk to friends and family about it. It’s not politicizing a tragedy to say that at least some of these deaths were preventable, and many more can be prevented in the future if we fully fund the NOAA and FEMA. So let’s push for that.
OK, my friends. Thanks for all you’re doing. I hope you’re managing to get some vacation time in this summer. Remember how important rest is to the resistance process!
Let’s get to work!
Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
I’m calling to ask the Senator to strenuously oppose the nomination of Josh Divine to be District Judge for the Eastern and Western Districts of Missouri. Divine is an anti-abortion extremist who believes in fetal personhood. He opposes access to birth control and even women’s health services. His nomination is dangerous—he absolutely cannot be confirmed. [All sources and more info here]
Also, we need to restore full funding to the NOAA and FEMA. I’m particularly worried about the cuts to the Nation Weather Service. At a time of extreme weather events their being understaffed is certain to lead to more tragedies like the ones we just saw in Texas. The federal government’s job is to protect its citizens from harm and help them after disaster has struck. It’s not to cut funding to the departments that do such things so billionaires and corporations can pay fewer taxes. Restore their funding now! Thanks.
Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
We need to restore full funding to the NOAA and FEMA. I’m particularly worried about the cuts to the Nation Weather Service. At a time of extreme weather events their being understaffed is certain to lead to more tragedies like the ones we just saw in Texas. The federal government’s job is to protect its citizens from harm and help them after disaster has struck. It’s not to cut funding to the departments that do such things so billionaires and corporations can pay fewer taxes. Restore their funding now! Thanks.
Extra Credit
penned a great Resistbot letter about restoring funding to the NOAA. I already had a Resistbot on a different subject planned for this issue, but I didn’t want to miss promoting Coleman’s, either, so here it is. Please send! Text SIGN PQHWQN to 50409 to do so.Get Smart! 📚
Join the Progressive Caucus Center this Thursday, July 10th at 3pm ET for “Due Process Denied: How the Trump Administration’s Immigration Policies Threaten Our Civil Rights.”
The panel will examine the ongoing harm caused by Trump’s enforcement regime, its lasting impact on families, and the Republican legislation that further entrenches this dangerous system. They will share how the Trump administration's attacks on immigrant communities are part of a broader assault on civil rights and democratic norms that threatens us all. Live Spanish interpretation will be available.
They’ll be joined by experts, including:
Kica Matos, President, National Immigration Law Center
Neha Desai, Managing Director of Children's Human Rights & Dignity, National Center for Youth Law
Lisa Sherman Luna, Executive Director, Tennessee Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition
Katherine Eyster, Chief of Staff, CPC Center (moderator)
Don’t miss this critical conversation! If you can't join live, please still RSVP as all registrants will receive a link to both the English and Spanish versions of the webinar recording.
Win Races! 🗳️
Silver Spring Progressive Action is hosting a phone bank to call Virginia voters on Monday, July 14, 6:30–8 PM ET.
They will be phone banking for Abigail Spanberger for governor and Kimberly Pope Adams for House delegate.
Whether you're a first-time caller or a seasoned pro, training will be provided. Please sign up here and let’s flip these seats!
Get in the Streets! 🪧
July 17 is a “Good Trouble Lives On” National Day of Action to respond to attacks on our civil and human rights by the Trump administration. More than 1,000 events are planned already!
To learn more, join the host call this Wednesday from 7 – 8pm EDT.
Resistbot Letter (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.) 💻
[To: all 3 reps] [H/T] [Text SIGN PEEYWE 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.)
Our country is experiencing the worst housing emergency since at least the great depression. From big cities to small towns and rural communities, families are struggling to pay their rent or mortgage, and far too many are living on the brink of eviction. Millions of Americans are homeless, living on the brink of homelessness, or unable to provide basic necessities to cover their housing costs. People feel abandoned by government and hopeless for any change. Local governments do not have the financial resources to fix this crisis.
In the face of this crisis, President Trump is proposing to slash the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) budget by $33.6 billion, or a whopping 44%. These cuts will eliminate or reduce funding for re-housing unhoused people, essential vouchers that make housing more affordable, funds for aging public housing and key resources for remediation of lead, mold and essential repairs needed for existing homes across this country.
These cuts must be stopped. They will be literally catastrophic for our country.
I urge Congress to oppose any cuts to HUD, and instead to increase funding for affordable housing and homeless programs, expand investments for public housing, housing vouchers and a national Whole and Healthy Home Repair program. These essential resources for our families and communities can be effectively funded by ensuring that private equity and corporate landlords pay their fair share.
Thanks for your consideration.
OK, you did it again! You’re helping to save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk soon.
Jess
The people I know who are on Medicaid, most are not well enough to work, they are elderly or truly sickly.
Some would just go without health care before they would pick vegetables.
These guys are so ignorant. Many people on Medicaid already have jobs that are low-paying. Those who don't work already are usually either elderly and/or disabled. This is not a pool of possible farm workers.