Chop Wood, Carry Water 8/16
Hi, all, and happy Wednesday!
I know I said yesterday I wouldn’t be heavily focussed on the indictments in this newsletter, but I didn’t say I’d refrain from posting silly graphics about them! With Mj finally set to see Barbie on Sunday I couldn’t resist this one.
Now on to more actionable—and less pink—items.
Let’s, in fact, start with something green: I’ve decided to make “Chop Wood, Save the Planet” a more regular part of the newsletter. I hate to lengthen what is already a too-long missive, but the climate crisis is just too grave to not prioritize. Mostly I’ll post easy ways to decarbonize your life, but I’ll also include actions from the Climate Action Now app and many other places. I promise to keep it quick and easy—my intention certainly isn’t to pile on—but I think if there was ever a time to ratchet up our climate work it’s now.
Please remember, though—and this is a standing exhortation—do what you can and don’t stress if you can’t get to all—or any—of my actions. The items listed below are suggestions, not mandates. The last thing I want is for anyone to feel guilty when they can’t get them done, or to use this newsletter as a reason to self-flagellate. I’m here to help, not harry. So know that anything you do is enormously appreciated and important, and that if you have to take a step back I’ll be here when you return.
This, after all, isn’t a marathon—it’s a 200 mile endurance race. (Those are a real thing; I have a friend who just completed one.) We are being called on to handle just an extraordinary level of stress, fatigue, fear, and outrage. Be kind to yourself, surround yourself with love to the best of your ability, and remember to enjoy what’s beautiful.
Just as I enjoy all of you, so much, every day.
Now 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 say that I’m furious about Tommy Tuberville’s continued blockade of military promotions. So far, it has left the U.S. Marines and U.S. Army without leadership and stalled promotions and raises for hundreds of service members. If Republicans allow this foolishness to continue, we'll soon find ourselves without a chair for the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Has the Senator made a statement denouncing Tuberville’s blockade? Has s/he asked Senator Schumer to consider revising the rules to go around it? Senator Tuberville is endangering national security. The Senate must act. Thanks.
Extra Credit ✅
If you haven’t yet heard about last week’s outrageous attack on a small paper in Kansas, please read Judd Legum’s recap here. Then let’s help. Rogan’s list has a great set of actions for this; you can find the whole list here. I’ve chosen one for today’s newsletter:
Let’s contact the DOJ here (I chose “Messages to the Attorney General” in the dropdown menu) and also Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach here (choose General Inquiries as the subject.) When you write the DOJ remember to hit SUBMIT a final time or it won’t save.
I simply said (and trust me, you can likely do better):
I’m extremely concerned about the search and seizure of journalistic work product that just happened in Marion, Kansas. Such a search is illegal without probable cause, and we now know that no probable cause affidavit accompanied the search warrant. What happened to the owners of the Marion County Ledger is a crime. The fact that this crime resulted in the death of 98-year-old Joan Meyer makes it doubly grave and worthy of investigation. Please open such an investigation immediately. Attacks on a free press—especially attacks based on corrupt motives and enabled by a conspiracy—cannot be tolerated. Attacks that lead to the death of an elderly person much be punished to the full extent of the law. Thanks.
If you do copy and paste this please personalize if you can.
Chop Wood, Save the Planet! 🔥
You likely know that 42% of energy-related emissions in the US come from individual households. And you know that EVs and electric appliances like stoves and heat pumps use less energy, don’t pollute our environment, and work better. But did you know that the Inflation Reduction Act contains billions of dollars in free money for regular Americans to “go electric?” From what I’m reading a lot of us don’t know which rebates—and how much money—we’re eligible for.
But good news! Rewiring America has a super cool and easy-to-use savings calculator. I’d used it myself a couple of weeks ago, so when they approached me and asked me to help amplify it I immediately said I would.
Try it out to see how much you’d get to upgrade your home! I think you’ll be surprised. Oh, and there are rebates for renters, too!
Also please share, y’all! We MUST get the word out about how much money is available to transition our homes! Our next move—when we can afford it—is a new electrical panel. What’s yours?
Spread the Word! 📣
Speaking of the IRA, today is its one-year anniversary! The White House sent me a bunch of stuff they’d like amplified, so please help if you can. Remember, over and over again polling tells us that when Americans know what the IRA is doing they love it—but most Americans have no idea what that is. It’s up to us to change that.
So here we go!
Clips:
CNN: Some of America's poorest communities are landing clean energy projects
Time: The Inflation Reduction Act Has Already Changed the World
Grist: Why John Podesta Thinks the Inflation Reduction Act is the next Obamacare
NYT: The Clean Energy Future Is Arriving Faster Than You Think
Check out our new Stories feature on Invest.gov that highlights stories of how the Inflation Reduction Act and Bidenomics are making a difference for Americans in all 50 states and U.S. territories.
Get Smart!
If you’re a young, disabled, chronically ill, or neurodivergent progressive interested in running for office, RSVP to Run For Something’s “Claim Your Seat” event happening tonight at 5PM PT / 8PM ET!
From RFS:
It’s far past time we have more progressive leaders with disabilities, chronic illnesses, and neurodivergence in the halls of power creating policies and supporting our communities. It is crucial that we are the people making the policies that affect us most – nothing about us without us.
Win Races! 🗳
For those of you who want to write postcards or letters into Virginia but didn’t find Swing Blue Alliance’s project to be a good fit, I’ve got the perfect thing for you! In fact, if your writing fingers are itchy, I have three perfect things!
✍🏼 Write letters into VA with Vote Forward! These are easy and really effective! Sign up here.
✍🏼 Write postcards into VA with Postcards to Swing States. (They also have addresses into Kentucky and Louisiana for their gubernatorial races.) You must provide your own cards. Sign up here.
✍🏼 Write postcards with Postcards 4 VA. You need to supply your own cards. To get started 1) sign up with them and 2) set up your address account.
I’ll post more projects as they arise.
Resistbot Letter (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.) 💻
[to all 3 reps] [H/T] [Quick send: text SIGN PIWDVY to 50409]
As your constituent, I am urging you to increase funding for energy assistance via the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) by $3 billion. We are experiencing the hottest summer on record, with millions of people dealing with multiple days of temperatures above 100 degrees. Hospitals and doctors offices are reporting spikes in the number of patients who come to them with heat related injuries and millions more face their fans and air conditioners being shut off due to not being able to keep up with soaring utility bills.
We must face this crisis head on by increasing funding to LIHEAP and helping millions of households avoid utility shut-offs. Please tell congressional leadership and colleagues on the Appropriations Committee that you support substantial new resources for home energy assistance in any emergency or disaster relief funding package. Thanks!
OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk soon.
Jess
8 billion people is too many people. Support contraceptive access around the world. Send a donation check your favorite family planning service provider.
What do you call a tire made out of 365 used condoms? A good year
Appreciate everything you send but especially appreciate this part: "Please remember, though—and this is a standing exhortation—do what you can and don’t stress if you can’t get to all—or any—of my actions. The items listed below are suggestions, not mandates. The last thing I want is for anyone to feel guilty when they can’t get them done, or to use this newsletter as a reason to self-flagellate. I’m here to help, not harry. So know that anything you do is enormously appreciated and important, and that if you have to take a step back I’ll be here when you return." Perfect timing as far as I'm concerned!