Chop Wood, Carry Water 8/22

We're going to win.

From Silver Bulletin today. Just a friendly reminder that you’re not alone.

Hi, all, and happy Friday.

It’s the end of another tough week. Hope you’re holding up OK.

Despite the fact that things continue to be generally terrible, we have had a couple of meaningful wins in the last 24 hours. Like, really big!

First, a federal judge ordered Florida to stop all new construction and to cease admitting additional detainees at “Alligator Alcatraz.” This order appears to spell doom for the place. Thank God.

In other good news, Governor Newsom’s redistricting bill passed the CA legislature yesterday, which means we’re having an election on November 4! There’s a lot of work to do to educate California voters on why passage of this amendment is so important, but hopefully we’ll do it. Oh, and by the way, thanks to everyone who posted their CA League of Women Voters letters in the comments yesterday! So many good ones! If you haven’t written yours yet I highly recommend reading some of the samples readers posted for inspiration. A+ work all around!

Finally, U.S. citizens continue to fight back against Trump’s authoritarianism. DC residents, especially, are throwing down right now! Yesterday evening, for example, at the same time that Trump went out on “patrol” with the National Guard (insert eye-roll emoji here), a huge, defiant, jubilant crowd gathered for a Free DC dance party. It looked like a blast! Meanwhile, JD Vance is getting booed and heckled everywhere he goes, and the sandwich thrower has become an icon (and street art.)

I’m telling you, folks. We’re going to get through this. Trump grows more unpopular by the day (see above chart), we grow stronger, our voices get louder, and the tide continues to shift our way—partially because of your hard work!

I’m not just blowing smoke. I feel certain that we will win. Our country may be in ruins by the time we do, but we know how to rebuild and if we must, we will, far better than before, too.

The key thing is that we don’t give up. So let’s not.

With that said, let’s get to work.

Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲 and Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲

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

First, a global hunger monitoring group has finally confirmed what we already know—that famine is present in Gaza, with 500,000 people facing "catastrophic" hunger. The US is enabling this famine through our continued complicity with the Netanyahu government, which is systematically obstructing aid deliveries. It’s unacceptable. It’s time to ratchet up the pressure and make them allow aid in. Only our country has the leverage to do this, and we absolutely must.

Also, I’m horrified that Trump has sent the FBI after John Bolton. The fact that he’s weaponizing the government against his enemies is appalling, and the fact that Congress is allowing him to do so unchallenged is even worse. Everyone should be able to trust that the government isn’t using its law enforcement powers to target them for personal reasons. I expect the Senator/Congressmember to make a strong statement to that effect. Thanks.

Extra Credit ✅

It’s time for a round of gratitude!

Let’s call or write Gavin Newsom and thank him for fighting for us in California. He’s taking a lot of heat and this battle won’t be easy, but he’s taking the fiesty and out-of-the-box approach we need right now; we should uplift him for it.

Do we have to like every thing Newsom has ever done or said, by the way, to feel grateful to him right now? NOPE! We are acknowledging and celebrating his actions in this moment. It’s a credit where credit is due situation. Period.

So either call ‭(916) 445-2841‬, email him here (choose OTHER as the topic), or send him a letter at: Governor Gavin Newsom, 1021 O Street, Suite 9000, Sacramento, CA 95814

I said:

I'm writing to thank the Governor for his strong stance in support of democracy and against Trump's map rigging scheme. I know it can't be easy to take on this fight, but I am so appreciative that he has.

I have criticized the Governor many times--I am, after all, the mom to a trans kid. But he deserves great credit in this moment. His willingness to throw down for our democracy by initiating the CA "fire with fire" redistricting will not soon be forgotten. It's truly heroic. Thanks.

Obviously that’s personal to me but feel free to adapt and use. Or compose your own! I know what great writers you are!

Get Smart! 📚

This Mike Lux article is a must-read. I think he’s 100% right, and that we should be fighting like hell to flip the Senate. Because guess what? ALL THE REDISTRICTING IN THE WORLD CAN’T IMPACT THOSE RACES!

Please read this, share it, and let us know in the comments which race you’re going to “adopt.”

The Senate is now officially in play

Give 💰!

As I mentioned above, the Everglades Detention Center looks like it’s closing! This comes after Earthjustice sued on behalf of a group called Friends of the Everglades.

Remember a month or so ago I suggested donating to Earthjustice because they were working on this lawsuit? This is why! Overall they’re amazing, but this is a particularly huge win. If you feel inclined to thank them with a donation here’s that link again!

Get in the Streets! 🪧

Here’s the latest issue from K. Starling's "We the People Dissent." There are lots of great protests all packed into one issue. Check it out!

September = 2 Demonstrations + 160-Mile Philly to DC March

[H/T reader Cheryl Johnson]

Win Races! 🗳

EASY CAMPAIGN WE CAN HELP WITH!

Vote Forward still has 1.5 M PA voters waiting to be adopted! It's easy to sign up and you can adopt as few as 5 voters. The letters, which take about 3 minutes each to complete, provide a hotline number for up-to-date and nonpartisan information.

This judicial retention elected is really important! Can we all adopt just 5 or 10 letters? Do you realize that if every subscriber to this newsletter did ten we’d finish that list? WOW! LET’S DO THIS!!

Sign up here. (I just took my 10!)

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

[To: all 3 reps] [H/T Coleman Rogers ] [Text SIGN PCRVSM 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.)

I am writing to demand that Congress immediately initiate comprehensive hearings to uncover the full truth behind the Epstein files. The American public deserves complete transparency regarding this deeply troubling case that has implications reaching the highest levels of our society and government.

Jeffrey Epstein's crimes and the subsequent handling of his case represent a profound failure of our justice system. The recent release of court documents has only scratched the surface, raising more questions than answers. We need a thorough, nonpartisan investigation to expose the entire network of enablers and accomplices who allowed these heinous acts to continue for decades.

[read the full letter here—it’s a bit long to post in full here]

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

Talk soon.

Jess