Chop Wood, Carry Water 7/8

Hi, all, and happy Friday!

First the good news: As I’m sure you know, President Biden announced Executive Orders this morning to safeguard access to medication abortion, emergency contraception, and long-acting contraception, as well as to protect the privacy and safety of patients, providers, and clinics.

I want you to take a second and pat yourselves on the back. We have been asking for exactly this for weeks—perhaps months. You helped do this! Your. Voice. Matters.

Now the less good news: There’s much more to do. Last night, for example, in the small hours, Republicans in the PA statehouse added an abortion ban to a Constitutional amendment they hope to get passed at the ballot box. Such amendments are not subject to a Governor’s veto. Republicans are nothing if not crafty.

It’s all the more reason we need to absolutely destroy them everywhere, up and down the ballot, this November. And if the above information makes you angry, Pennsylvania is a great state to adopt (you can do that right here) or donate to (see below). We can WIN THERE.

And we will.

I’m not scared. I’m defiant. I suggest you adopt this stance as well.

We are on the side of Right. We are on the side of Freedom. We are on the side of Democracy. Who the hell knew that we’d be fighting for the stuff with capital letters?

But here we are. Let’s win, and let’s win DECISIVELY.

Call Your Senators (find yours here)

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

[to all Senators] First, I want to say again that I strongly oppose the nomination of Chad Meredith to the federal bench. No anti-abortion judges should be getting lifetime appointments right now. Or ever. If Biden does nominate him will the Senator promise to oppose him?

[to Dems only] On a related note, I want the Senator to pressure President Biden to continue issuing judicial nominations, even circumventing traditional processes to get it done quickly if necessary. And Democratic senators need to accelerate the confirmation process to get more pro-democracy judges on the bench quickly, please. Thanks. [H/T]

[to all Senators] On the subject of abortion, I want the Senate to pass S 4132 the Women’s Health Protection Act immediately. Americans do not support what the Supreme Court has done. The majority of us support abortion rights. Any lawmaker who doesn’t fight to give them back to us will pay dearly at the polls. Thanks.

Call Your House Rep (find yours here)

Instead of making an issue-related call to your House rep today please go to the Townhall Project’s website and find out if your Rep is having a Town Hall this summer. If yes please sign up to attend if possible.

If not please call their office and say:

I’m calling as a constituent because I am looking at the Townhall Project’s website and the Congressmember doesn’t appear to be having any Town Halls this summer. Can that be true? If so, may I ask why? Constituents like me want to hear from him/her. And we have a lot to say. When can I expect to hear that a Town Hall has been scheduled? [If leaving a voicemail leave your number or email and ask for a response].

Extra Credit ✅

[H/T]

Please write to EPA Administrator Michael Regan at regan.michael@epa.gov and say (feel free to personalize):

Administrator Regan,

I’m writing in light of the Supreme Court’s recent disastrous decision in West Virginia v. EPA. I know this decision has hamstrung you to a great extent, but there are still things you can do, and I’m writing to implore you to do them.

You and President Biden must act quickly to set new rules to limit greenhouse gas emissions using EPA’s remaining authority. Sections 111b and 111d of the Clean Air Act clearly allow EPA to regulate pollution from new and existing power plants, and EPA must act quickly to finalize new rules that address one of the largest sources of carbon pollution.

There is a suite of other rules EPA must enact to cut pollution from the power sector, as well. That includes updating the national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for ozone and small particulate matter.

You can also develop new Clean Air Act standards to accelerate a nationwide transition to 100% zero-emission cars and trucks.

And develop new Clean Air Act standards to reduce hazardous pollutants, like nitrogen oxide (NOx) and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), from building appliances.

These are just some of the ways we need you to get creative to protect our kids from the harms of climate change and pollution. Please do them all.

Thanks.

Get Smart! 📚

I think I posted this last week, but I’m posting it again, because it’s THAT important. We need everyone on the phones! Plus this training is supposed to be stellar.

Phone Bank Training for Introverts

I’ve heard nothing but amazing stuff about this workshop, y’all. Here’s the description:

Phone banking is the most effective way to connect with voters besides canvassing. But what if you're not very comfortable calling strangers? 

Graduates of this supportive workshop say it's one of the best trainings ever.  Led by three introverts-who-phone-bank, it begins with key skills that introverts already have and shows you how to build on them.

In this workshop you will learn:

📲 How to make use of key skills that you already have, such as the ability to listen thoughtfully and understand other introverts

📲 How to make meaningful one-to-one connections

📲 How to deal with common phone banking challenges

📲 How to make phone banking fun, even for introverts

The training is on Wednesday, July 13 from 5 – 6:45pm PDT. If you’ve never phonebanked before please consider signing up. You don’t even have to commit to using what you learn—just go find out more, please?

November gets more life-or-death by the day. We have to win big. Please consider taking this next step in your activism to help us do just that.

Sign up here.

Give 💰!

OK, I did it. I started a PA giving circle with the States Project. Anyone want to give? I’m going to start with a $1000 goal and see if I can hit it. ALL of the money will go to flipping statehouse seats in Pennsylvania this November (read more about how doable this is here.) But obviously this will also help us win the Senate, Governor and more.

Give here.

If you’d like to join me as a co-founder of this Giving Circle and help me spread the word please let me know! I’m swamped!

Win Races! 🗳

Y’all, I got to meet a few of you at our Arizona phonebank yesterday and it was AMAZING! And guess what? I have another one tomorrow! This one is with Sister District, and once again we are calling into AZ in support of a great State Senate candidate named Mitzi Epstein. Who’s gonna come?

I WILL TRAIN YOU!

This is really fun. Please come. Tomorrow from 10AM-12PM PT / 1PM-3PM ET. Register here.

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

[to all 3 reps and POTUS] [H/T] [Quick send text SIGN PROBVY to 50409]

Following the Supreme Court's litany of disastrous decisions this summer, the Court’s illegitimate extremist majority has now undermined all Americans’ access to a clean and safe environment with their West Virginia v. EPA decision. The ruling undermines federal climate action to boost fossil fuel companies’ profits.

But the West Virginia decision is not the last word in the fight against climate pollution. The Biden administration and Congress can still wield a great number of policy tools to fight the climate crisis. You have the power to act on climate now. You must use it, and show the country you understand the stakes of this moment.

Some things that ARE possible: Congress can get a reconciliation climate investment bill passed. President Biden can act quickly (working with Michael Regan) to set new rules to limit greenhouse gas emissions using EPA’s remaining authority and also develop new Clean Air Act standards to accelerate a nationwide transition to 100% zero-emission cars and trucks. President Biden and Interior Secretary Deb Haaland can and should swiftly and legally phase out all new fossil fuel leasing on public lands and waters. President Biden and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairperson Gary Gensler must finalize a strong climate disclosure rule that includes mandatory disclosure of Scope 3 emissions. President Biden and Administrator Regan must also develop new Clean Air Act standards to reduce hazardous pollutants, like nitrogen oxide (NOx) and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), from building appliances.

There are more ideas, but even the above would be a tremendous start. The stakes literally couldn’t be higher—we are talking about the survival of our planet and therefore our species. Please get to work. Thanks.

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

Talk tomorrow.

Jess