Chop Wood, Carry Water 8/21
The joyfest continues!
Hi, all, and happy Wednesday!
I don’t know what to say. I am absolutely suffused with convention glee.
I truly didn’t expect to be watching every moment of this event, but honestly the organizers—who deserve an award, by the way—have made it “must-watch TV.” Yesterday’s roll-call alone was enough to send me into tears of joy, (you must watch it—or at least watch the above. Morning Joe nailed it.) But the combination of Doug Emhoff, whose love for his wife and family exuded from his pores, and then Michelle and Barack Obama, both of whom gave virtually perfect and deeply inspiring speeches, was enough to send me into a paroxysm of gratitude.
Words used repeatedly in these orations: “Dignity.” “Empathy.” “Decency.” “Goodness.” “Big-heartedness.” “Resilience.” And lots and lots of “hope.”
“Hope has stood its ground,” Barack Obama said.
“Hope is making a comeback,” his wife said before him.
And if those two things are true—and they are, of course—it is largely due to people like you. People who know that hope, in fact, is an action. In that sense, we who are here have never lost it.
Because we have never stopped acting.
And we’re certainly not going to stop now. After all, “Do something” has been our motto all along!
So let’s get back to it!
P.S. For those of you complaining about the bad punditry on cable, I am watching the convention on YouTube and it’s great! Join me!
Call Your Senators (find yours here) and House Rep (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
I understand that Donald Trump may have meddled in President Biden’s peace negotiations in the Middle East by calling Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss them on August 14. If true, it’s outrageous. It’s also a clear violation of the Logan Act, which prohibits unauthorized private citizens from negotiating with foreign governments on behalf of the U.S. Will the Senator/Congressmember call for an investigation? Lives are at stake—lots of them. For the former president to put his own failing political prospects over the success of these negotiations is beyond the pale and, if he’s done so, he should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Thanks.
Extra Credit ✅
Please post this on your social media:
Fired up by the DNC? The Harris-Walz campaign just launched go.kamalaharris.com, a one-stop shop for volunteers to find events near them, join online communities, get set up with organizing tools, and more. It’s super easy to use and I found an event right away—check it out!
[If you want to attach this or another Harris-Walz GIF there are plenty to choose from here.]
Get Smart! 📚
All Democratic eyes are on Chicago this week for the DNC convention, but next week please put your passion into action and join Activate America’s California webinar. It’s happening on Zoom next Tuesday, August 27th at 5 PM Pacific / 8 PM Eastern.
California could be the deciding factor in whether or not we flip the House. That’s because of the six most competitive California House races, FIVE are currently represented by MAGA Republican extremists and the sixth is an open seat (Katie Porter’s). They’ll share some recent polling numbers and assess the state of these critical races, plus share how you can get involved.
To join them next Tuesday, August 27th, at 5 PM Pacific / 8 PM Eastern, just sign up HERE.
Spread the Word! 📣
Today, the Harris-Walz campaign is launching “Foundation,” a new TV ad that spotlights Vice President Harris’ upbringing, values and leadership.
Part of a seven-figure paid investment in paid media for the remainder of August, this ad targets Black voters and exhibits the Harris-Walz ticket’s commitment to not taking a single voter for granted. Please watch, and please share!
Win Races AND Give 💰!
Join Climate Action Now—and me!—for a four-part series of How We Win events! In the final 10 weeks before the election, hear from a line-up of inspiring experts as they share on-the-ground knowledge that climate-conscious citizens need to win in November.
In this keynote event of the How We Win series, you’ll hear from David Callahan, Founder of Blue Tent, on vital questions like: Do my political donations really matter? Will they be well spent? What organizations will make the best use of them? I will be moderating the conversation!
Register for How We Win with Smart Donations to find out!
(And yes, this is right before the OTHER fundraiser I’m speaking at on Monday—for the Mecklenberg County Dem Party—which Rep. Jeff Jackson will also be headlining! Come to one, then the other!)
Win Races—Wisconsin! 🗳
The Great Rust Belt Voter Registration Chase - Wisconsin
You can help make sure every eligible voter in Wisconsin is registered, just by making calls from home!
Rust Belt Rising’s registration programs helped thousands register in 2020 and 2022 and will do so again this year. Partnering with Civitech, they target people who would likely vote our way but are unregistered at their current address. They will mail these targets a pre-filled voter registration form with a motivational flyer and postage to their clerk. That's where we come in! In addition to texting them, we need volunteers to call these targets to encourage them to complete the easy process of registering.
To sign up, click on this link.
Win Races—Everywhere!
The wonderful group The Union has created state teams through which to take action and build consistent engagement in some of the most important battlegrounds for democracy. They meet once a month, and the next round of meetings is right around the corner! In these meetings you'll have the opportunity to connect with Union state leads, partners, and fellow community members, and you’ll learn how to organize effectively within your local community and state.
Please pick a state and join! We need you!
Resistbot Letter (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.) 💻
[To: ] [H/T] [Text SIGN PVZRVP to Resistbot at 50409 or via Apple Messages / WHATSAPP / MESSENGER]
Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, Medicare recipients will begin to see lower costs for prescription drugs as well as a cap on out-of-pocket expenses—saving families millions of dollars each year.
While allowing Medicare to begin negotiating drug prices is a crucial first step, it’s critical that Congress do more. The $35 monthly cap on insulin must be extended to all Americans as well as the annual $2,000 cap on out-of-pocket prescription drug costs.
For the 3rd Quarter of 2023, manufacturers for the first 10 drugs selected for Medicare drug price negotiations made $100.7 billion in revenue and spent $19.96 billion of that revenue enriching shareholders via stock buybacks.
Big Pharma price gouging is directly responsible for the U.S. spending $1,126 per capita on prescription medications vs. $522 per capita in comparable countries.
Several bills before Congress will begin to reverse this trend, including the Lowering Drug Costs for American Families Act (H.R. 4895), the INSULIN Act of 2023 (S.1269), and the Affordable Insulin Now Act of 2023 (S.954). Please cosponsor these bills and work to pass them ASAP.
I strongly encourage Congress to take on Big Pharma and lower prescription drug costs for everyone. Thanks.
OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk soon.
Jess
The theme that kept playing through my mind as I listened to Doug, and Michelle, and Barack, is just the power that simple respect generates and multiplies as it spreads. It can do great things and is now called upon, yet again, to deliver. These are powerful messengers. Their authentic substance, not as principals on the world stage, but rather as caring, flawed, accomplished, warm individuals, was inspiring in the extreme. I did not intend to watch the entire sequence; I had no choice. Once begun, leaving was not an option. The warmth is not unlike coming home after a long journey and it is the kind that lasts. And motivates as it comforts. Because it is real. And we never have to apologize for it, because it exploits no one; it only enhances. How special to be reminded by such effective messengers. This is actually the fuel that drives Our Great American Experiment on its wobbly, yet persistently upward trajectory. Simple. Difficult. Brilliant. Enduring. As long as we act, for that is the proof of listening.
Last night was amazing! The musical roll call! Doug! Michelle! Barack! Michelle Obama was so good that I said to my husband "Barack better bring his A game." And he did. But I think Michelle brought her A+ game last night. (Plus she looked amazing!) My daughter has been listening to the playlist all day. Thank you for all you do!