Hi, all.
Some days I can’t start my newsletter with the traditional upbeat salutation; today is one of them. Yesterday was a devastating day. The loss of life in Afghanistan—of not just our own 13 servicemembers, but SIXTY Afghanis—is gutting.
I won’t write more about it, but will recommend both Robert Hubbell’s and Heather Cox Richardson’s epistles from last night. Both writers are far better qualified to talk at length about what happened and how Americans are reacting. It’s well worth your time to read both.
I close with a wonderful quote from Mr. Hubbell. It’s not about Afghanistan, but rather the defeatism that comes over many of us in the face of multiple and concurrent national challenges. He writes:
Your judgment will be better informed if it is made from the trenches of the fight to preserve democracy rather than from a position of reflexive doom-saying. Let’s not fool ourselves—either positively or negatively. Nor should we give up the fight because we assume failure. Let’s assume victory—and go out to make it happen.
“Assume victory—and go out to make it happen.” I’m going to tattoo that on my right arm.
Or maybe I’ll just use that arm to make my calls. 📱
I hope you’ll join me.
P.S. — Speaking of taking action, tomorrow the March On for Voting Rights is taking place in cities across the country. Find your closest march here, and show up to make your voice heard for democracy.
P.P.S. — I did badly on the NYT news quiz again this week: 7.5 out of 11. It’s the culture questions that kill me. Hope you do better than I did!
Call Your Senators (find yours here)
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
First, the Senate needs to pass legislation—namely S1 and HR4—to protect all Americans’ right to vote. This should be the Senator’s top priority. [optional add:] The removal of critical protections from the Voting Rights Act of 1965 has been disastrous for voters of color. The House has done its part— now the Senate needs to act to restore these protections and guard the rights of all Americans. [H/T]
Second, I live in [state] and I have been affected by climate change [describe how]. We are looking at a bleak future if Congress doesn’t keep the strongest climate provisions in the infrastructure bills and work to pass them immediately. Also, we need to stop subsidizing fossil fuel companies and halt the construction of Line 3. Thanks.
Call Your House Rep (find yours here)
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
I’m calling to ask the Representative to put pressure on Speaker Pelosi to bring HR 3076, the Postal Reform Act of 2021, to a vote right away. This bill has wide bipartisan support and will go a long way to fixing what’s wrong with the Postal Service. While he/she is at it, I’d appreciate if s/he would also push President Biden to fire Ron Bloom so he can replace him on the Board of Governors with someone who will be willing to fire Louis DeJoy. Thanks!
Extra Credit
The Line 3 Enbridge project is a threat to all of us. This pipeline is designed to carry up to 844,000 barrels per day of crude tar sands oil a thousand miles from Alberta, Canada, to Superior, Wisconsin. The carbon emissions generated from this pipeline are the equivalent of fifty new coal fired power plants. This is exactly what the recent Intergovernmental Report on Climate Changes warns us to immediately halt.
Here are two ways that you can get involved, learn more, and take action on Thursday September 2nd:
Stop Line 3 Webinar, 5 PT/ 8 ET: Hear from Indigenous speakers who will give updates from the frontlines of this fight. We’ll learn more about what’s going on on-the-ground right now and how you can take action targeting “the Money Pipeline”- the banks that are funding Line 3 and contributing to the Legal Fund and Bail Fund.
SURJ Action Hour to #StopLine3, 12 PT/3 ET: In this action hour, you’ll receive education, training, and then take action to support the efforts to stop this pipeline and win other racial justice fights across the country.
Stop the Recall! ☀️
Ya’ll I’m hosting another weekly Stop the Recall phonebank! This one is on Fridays, and it starts today! It’s from 3-5 PM PDT. We’re worried it’s going to be small since we just added it today, so if you can come that would be great. I don’t want to be lonely!
Also? Many, many voters—millions—will fill out their ballots and mail them in the next few days. HOW (and in some cases WHETHER) they vote is up to us. Please join me.
Save the USPS!
If you haven’t already watched it, check out this video from More Perfect Union -- it focuses on Ron Bloom, his support for DeJoy and the ten-year plan, and why President Biden needs to replace him ASAP with a Democratic governor who is forward-thinking and not tied to DeJoy. (For the long-form version, be sure to check out True North’s Ron Bloom research.)
Then consider signing this petition asking President Biden to fire Ronald Bloom. You can also send him an email or Resistbot simply saying:
I’m horrified by how Louis DeJoy is ruining the USPS; I want him fired. But I understand that only the Board of Governors can do that. That’s why I am asking you to replace Ron Bloom -- who has now been exposed as a business colleague of DeJoy -- so we can get to work fixing the USPS. He’s termed out and there’s no reason in the world he still needs to be there. Please fire him right away and replace him with a board member who will be willing to fight for the USPS, not help Louis DeJoy try to privatize it. Thanks.
Resistbot Text (new to Resistbot? Go here!)
[to all 3 reps]
I am extremely upset that the Supreme Court just voted via “shadow docket” to end the eviction moratorium. It is becoming more clear with every decision that SCOTUS is now an extremist, reactionary body who is pursuing a political, not judicial agenda.
Even worse, they are a threat to democracy itself. As Rep Mondaire Jones said:
“Our democracy is hanging by a thread. And the far-right majority on the U.S. Supreme Court is cutting it. From Citizens United to Shelby County to Rucho, the Court has been hostile to democracy itself. If a law suppresses the right to vote, it is constitutional; if a law protects the right to vote, especially for Black and brown voters, it is unconstitutional. The American people have had enough. To restore power to the people, we must expand the Supreme Court.”
I agree wholeheartedly, and hope you do, too. I want you to co-sponsor H.R.2584 / S 1141, the Judiciary Act of 2021. If we are ever to have faith in this third branch of government again we must fix the Supreme Court. Thanks.
OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk tomorrow.
Jess