Chop Wood, Carry Water 8/16 🔥
Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy.
– Dale Carnegie
Hi, all, and happy Tuesday.
This morning I went on Facebook to post on a few politics-themed pages about National Pollworkers Day. I was preparing to post on one of them—a page with the word “Persist” in its title—when I found myself looking at a thread about leaving the country. Not just one, but several women in the group were sharing their plans to do so.
I didn’t stay around for the discussion. I was too mad.
Look, I have no judgement about leaving the country once we’ve actually lost our democracy. It could happen.
Right now, though, we have an absolutely achievable way of saving it. So if we’re sitting around planning our move to Portugal when we could be volunteering for a campaign or helping to register voters in a swing state we’re definitely NOT persisting.
We’re also missing a larger truth. Actually, two.
The first is this: Being able to leave is a privilege. A massive one. Millions won’t be so lucky. Will we simply leave them to their suffering, knowing some of them will be our family and friends?
The second truth is this: the rise or fall of our democracy will have global consequences. Should it end, the repercussions will leave no one untouched. We can flee to another country, but we won’t be able to escape the devastating climate consequences, the emboldening of strongmen everywhere, the increased danger to marginalized communities, the weakening of democracy in every stronghold.
We’re not just fighting for our country, in other words. We’re fighting to save the world as we know it.
So do I think about moving to Canada? Every day.
Will I take the fear behind those thoughts and channel it into action here instead?
Yes. Absolutely yes.
I hope you will, too.
Call Your Senators (find yours here)
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
I want the Senator to support S.348, the U.S. Citizenship Act. We need to swiftly provide a pathway to citizenship for the hundreds of thousands of DACA recipients who have not only made a home in this country, but have actively worked to provide for its economy.
I also want the Senator to co-sponsor and work to pass the House bill H.R.5633 – the Department of Homeland Security Inspector General Transparency Act, which adds more oversight to what has become a rogue office under Homeland Security IG Joseph Cuffari. Thanks. [H/T]
Call Your House Rep (find yours here)
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
I want the Congressmember to support HR 1177, the U.S. Citizenship Act. We need to swiftly provide a pathway to citizenship for the hundreds of thousands of DACA recipients who have not only made a home in this country, but have actively worked to provide for its economy.
I also want him/her to support H.R. 8111, the My Body, My Data Act of 2022 to ensure Americans’ digital health privacy and modernize HIPAA protections. [H/t]
Extra Credit ✅
Let’s write to EPA chief Michael Regan at Regan.Michael@epa.gov
Say (please personalize)
Hello, I’m writing from [STATE] to express my support for government oversight of harmful factory farming practices. From skyrocketing asthma rates to a “dead zone” in the gulf, Corporate Ag practices compromise the health of people and our planet.
I stand with the environmental organizations urging you to use the EPA’s authority to regulate animal agriculture systems that ensure the health of surrounding communities and ecosystems. Thanks.
[H/T]
Get Smart! 📚
Interested in helping us flip North Carolina?
The All in for NC steering committee cordially invites you to their next monthly meeting on August 22nd at 2:30 pm ET.
You’ll meet two super-knowledgeable North Carolina leaders: Blair Reeves, founder of Carolina Forward, will give you the skinny on the latest polls and messages that are resonating with voters. Jillian Johnson is a Durham City Council member, founder of Durham for All, and the Movement Voter Project NC Advisor. She’ll talk about what they’re seeing on the ground and where volunteers are doing the most impactful work.
You’ll come away educated, inspired, and informed about what you can do to help.
Learn more about the event and register here.
P.S. If North Carolina is your jam don’t forget to sign up for my Adopt North Carolina newsletter!
Win Races! 🗳
Y’all, we have a national poll worker shortage. The good news is that today is national poll worker recruitment day! We are hearing that the need for volunteers is especially strong in AZ, FL, GA, MI, NC, NH, NV, OH, PA, TX, and WI. If you or anyone you know can give in this way it really is a powerful way to fight for our democracy. You’ll even get paid! Hop on over to powerthepolls.org and sign up. Please!
Bonus points: post this on social:
All, today is #nationalpollworkerrecruitment day, and we're hearing that we still have a strong need of poll workers—especially in AZ, FL, GA, MI, NC, NH, NV, OH, PA, TX, and WI. If you or anyone you know can do this, it really is a powerful way to fight for our democracy. You’ll even get paid!
It's easy, it's fun, and it'll help guarantee our elections stay free and fair.
Hop on over to www.powerthepolls.org and sign up. Please!
Resistbot Text (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.)
[to President Biden] [H/T] [Quick send: text SIGN PQZEFR to 50409]
Most Americans will go a lifetime without knowing the names of Inspector Generals. Unfortunately, we’ve had a political tragedy of a lifetime – a violent coup attempt to steal a presidency. Through the January 6th Special Committee investigation, we now know names of Trump appointees at DoD, DHS, and the Secret Service who helped in the cover-up of the coup plotting. Shamefully, these officials included DHS IG Cuffari and DoD Acting IG O’Donnell, both of whom had a sworn duty to prevent fraud and abuse, and to serve the American public in a non-partisan manner.
That these men broke their oath to us is bad enough, that they are possibly the subject of future federal indictments for violations of the Federal Records Act dictates that they be removed from their office now. Please immediately appoint new Acting IGs for DoD and DHS, while working with the Senate to confirm permanent appointees with professional integrity and no political agenda. Thanks.
OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk tomorrow.
Jess
Hear!! Hear!!
I try to counter this idea of moving to another country among my privileged friends all the time.
Hope is a discipline. Despair is a privilege!
Thank you for your newsletter! Let's all get to work!
AMEN!!! We absolutely have an achievable way of reclaiming our country and leaving it is not it. Also if the US calls to fascism, the whole world will be vulnerable. (The US has used its power in the past to protect democracies from authoritarian fascists. If we call to fascism, there will be no other country powerful enough to save us.) We must do the work my friends!