Hi, all, and happy Monday!
Hope you were able to get in some R&R this weekend. Me, I’ve been enjoying a wonderful novel—”The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois”—and managed to squeeze in a few chapters between my phonebank to Arizona on Saturday and a Sunday-morning Activism 101. It’s an incredible book; I can’t recommend it highly enough. It manages to teach, move, and absorb the reader in equal measures all the way through. Stunning.
Speaking of excellent things, you’ll notice that “Extra! Extra!” went out to everyone last night. It will be available to all going forward. Those of you who pay for your subscriptions seemed overwhelmingly clear that your support isn’t contingent on perks. Thanks for that.
Having said that, I am going to create a special discussion thread every Friday for paid subscribers to drop questions into about activism, specific races, polls, politics, or anything else I can help with. I’ll answer them throughout the day. It’s not a huge bonus, but it’s something.
Meanwhile, thanks to all of you for being the best subscribers a writer could ask for.
Now let’s get to work one more time.
Call Your Senators (find yours here)
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
I’d like the Senator to support S. 445, the Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment Act, to ensure that the medication that best treats opioid addictions is widely available. This legislation will save lives and should have bipartisan support. Thanks.
Call Your House Rep (find yours here)
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
[To Dem House members only]
I’m concerned that Democrats are standing by in apparent inaction while Republicans at every level of government are demonizing and taking away the rights of transgender Americans.
Rep. Jayapal introduced a resolution back in June that would call for a federal Trans Bill of Rights. The House has passed numerous other resolutions to send a message about what Democrats stand for, but they have stayed conspicuously silent on this one. That sends a message, too, and it’s a message that concerns me.
It’s time for the House Democratic caucus to send the message that Democrats will protect trans Americans. Please pass House Resolution 1209. [H/T and more info]
Extra Credit ✅
The Office of Civil Rights at the Department of Education has published a proposed rule that clarifies Title IX’s protections of LGBTQ+ students, pursuant to Executive Order 14021, which President Biden issued last year. The president’s EO reverses actions by the Trump Administration to deny LGBTQ+ students the law’s protections.
The Department of Education is collecting public comment on the proposed rule through Monday, September 19. Unfortunately, the rule is currently being deluged with hate comments from bigots. Your comment can help balance out the garbage and reaffirm our nation’s support for freedom and opportunity for all.
Submit public comment on the Federal Register by Monday, September 19, 2022. Go here for talking points.
Get Smart & Give Money! 📚
Airlift—an amazing all-volunteer-run fundraising org that raises money for grassroots groups—is partnering with other major organizations for a special insider briefing on the current state of the six to eight winnable Congressional House races in California. Leaders from local grassroots organizations will tell us what it will take to win these races.
Please attend this exciting gathering produced by the California Donor Table. It’s on Wednesday, August 31, at 2pm PT/5pm ET.
When you 'Save Your Seat' please indicate:
Attendee Type: Allied Donor Network (Airlift),
Organization: Airlift,
How did you hear about this event? Airlift
When it asks for payment info you won’t be paying anything. You just have to enter your name and address a second time.
Get Social!
Please post this on your social media (and sign the petition if you haven’t already!)
📢SIGN THE PETITION to #SaveThePostOffice ➡️https://bit.ly/usps-biden-indivC3⬅️ @POTUS must appoint @USPS Governors who will stand up to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy’s destructive leadership and advocate strongly for the expansion of USPS services!
Write Postcards! 🌅
Y’all, Postcards to Swing States still needs volunteers to write cards to help hold the House majority!
Sign up now to write postcards to voters in 41 competitive House races across 19 states!
You'll need to provide your own postcards and stamps for this program. They recommend progressivepostcards, an online store that sells postcards with several of their designs for less than most sellers.
Win Races! 🗳
Are you—or do you know—a young person interested in combating voter suppression? If so, join the Center For Common Ground on Saturdays from 3-4:30 pm EDT to make calls to youth voters of color!
You'll be calling young people across the South to combat voter suppression and get out the vote! No worries if you've never phone banked before—they'll have a brief training on the call.
Sign up for the Youth Phone Bank to Combat Voter Suppression here.
Resistbot Text (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.)
[to all 3 reps] [Quick send text SIGN PBFEFG to 50409]
I’m very concerned about the attacks on Social Security we’re seeing from Republicans in Congress. I want to see this beloved institution strengthened, not gutted.
As such, I’d like you to support the Social Security 2100 Act (HR 5723/S. 3071). This bill would provide a benefit bump for current and new Social Security beneficiaries, improve the annual Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) formula to better reflect the costs incurred by seniors, set the minimum benefit at 25% above the poverty line and tie it to wage levels to ensure that the minimum benefit does not fall behind, repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) that currently reduces Social Security benefits for many public servants, including teachers, and so much more.
I’d like you to co-sponsor this bill and work hard to get it passed. As for those members of Congress who come after Social Security? We will vote them out. Period. Spread the word! Thanks.
OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk tomorrow.
Jess
I support what you do and thank you. I make phone calls as often as my life style allows. Thank you for what you are doing.
Hi Jessica,,,whats R&R ? you mean Rock & roll,? if so awesome,,.the .DuBois, novel,,sounds really interesting,,,their is a wine by the name "clos du Bois,, I think it means something in french,,,about ' the trees from/for the woods or forrest,,something along those lines,,speaking of lines,,,Im scratching my head trying to figure out how to send a e-mail to my senator,,from my laptop...signing the petitions you post is much easier for my neanderthal brain to process. and I much appreciate your making it accessible thank you ,.I confess preference to email rather than robots ,phones,,etc.thank you RM