Chop Wood, Carry Water 8/30
Don't agonize. Organize!
Hi, all, and happy Friday!
The Harris-Walz team met another challenge—and swimmingly—last night. I wasn’t able to watch the CNN interview, but by all reports it was a success. While Bash’s questions don’t sound like they were particularly probing, both candidates reportedly more than made the grade with their responses. Good! I likely won’t watch; I have better ways to spend my time—like helping to make sure Democrats win up and down the ballot, everywhere! I don’t need a CNN interview, after all, to convince me that that’s what I want. I imagine you didn’t, either. Still, I’m glad it happened, and that it went well.
Speaking of winning elections, who’s going canvassing this weekend? I know I am! I’ll be heading up to Antelope Valley tomorrow to knock doors for George Whitesides in CA-27. If you, too, have a canvassing shift scheduled somewhere let us know in the comments! If you’re phonebanking instead, let us know that, too! If you’re holding or attending a postcarding or letter writing party drop that in, too! Let’s inspire and motivate each other!
I’m going to be spending a lot of time in CA-27 over the next 60-odd days. We absolutely must regain the majority in the House, and that district is one of the ones we need to flip if we’re to do so. So while I want to support team Harris-Walz in swing states—and will spend time doing so—I also want to dedicate time to making sure my state delivers the House seats we need. If you live in California or New York state I hope you, too, will diversify your activism portfolio, as it were, to be sure that you’re helping us flip the many House seats in districts Joe Biden won that are held by Republicans in our states. There are so many of them!
One last thing: several of you have written to me about the Trump campaign’s despicable actions in Arlington Cemetery. I am well aware of them and, in fact, made a video about the incident yesterday. I’m as outraged as you. I have no intention of letting it go. As such, I’ve given you a few calls to make to about it today, and will continue to give you related actions as I find them. I’m not hopeful that Team Trump will face immediate consequences for it, but we’re going to call for them anyway. I think, moreover, that this incident stands to hurt him with at least some military voters—as well it should. Our job is to make sure they don’t forget about it. Vote Vets made a great video about it, too. You can find it here. Share it widely!
OK, everyone. Hope you have a great long weekend. And thank you in advance for everything you’ll do to help us win.
Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
I’m horrified by the Trump campaign’s violent and deeply inappropriate incident at Arlington National Cemetery. Setting aside the disrespect shown to our veterans and their families and the vile attack on a female military employee, the Trump campaign’s use of the cemetery for political purposes broke federal law. Has the Senator called for hearings and an investigation? This was unacceptable and illegal behavior and it needs to be addressed by Congress. I will be expecting a statement from the Senator. Thank you.
Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
I’m horrified by the Trump campaign’s violent and deeply inappropriate incident at Arlington National Cemetery. Setting aside the disrespect shown to our veterans and their families and the vile attack on a female military employee, the Trump campaign’s use of the cemetery for political purposes broke federal law. I know the Congressional Integrity Project has called on House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer to investigate the incident and I want to know if the Congressmember has made a statement calling for the same? Because if not I want them to.
Extra Credit ✅
Why not? Let’s call James Comer’s office, too! (202) 225-3115 or 270-408-1865 or (270) 487-9509
Say:
My name is ____. I’m calling Congressmember Comer in his capacity as Chair of the House Oversight Committee. I’m calling about the Trump campaign’s violent, disrespectful. and deeply inappropriate incident at Arlington National Cemetery. I know the Congressional Integrity Project has called on Chairman Comer to investigate the incident and obviously he must—it was, after all, a flagrant violation of federal law as well as of the rules of decency and respect. Chairman Comer is quick to investigate so many things. I’m wondering when he will launch an investigation into this actual violation of the law by a presidential candidate? Thanks.
Get Smart! 📚
From the Center For Common Ground:
As we approach Election Day, your participation is crucial. By springing into action and ensuring Black voters have the information they need to vote, you are directly contributing to making their voices heard on November 5.
We aim to reach 18 million Black voters with important election information by writing postcards, making phone calls, sending text messages, and knocking on doors and need your help!
We will cover:
Postcarding campaigns and the upcoming mail-by date.
Current and upcoming phone bank opportunities.
When we begin texting and the trainings offered.
Any questions you may have.
Spread the Word! 📣
The amazing folks at DemCast have put the top clips from Harris and Walz’s CNN interview into an easy-to-use toolkit so that everybody can share them. It’s a good opportunity to highlight how well our candidates did—let’s use it!
Give 💰!
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5 Contribute to change in California's Central Valley and hear Dolores Huerta and Julien Castro Speak!
5:30 pm to 6:30 PM PT - Online
Former Obama Cabinet member Julian Castro will lead a conversation with celebrated activist Dolores Huerta, the featured speaker at an online fundraiser for Central Valley Matters -- an organization that supports effective grassroots groups working for progressive change in the Central Valley. Your contributions will fund organizers in California's House District-22 (CD-22) who will energize underrepresented voters, leading to victories for leaders who will represent their communities. And your support helps hardworking residents find ways to improve healthcare, working conditions, and the environment.
Use this link to register: Dolores Huerta - Central Valley Matters
Win Races! 🗳
Swing Left has some amazing ways to help us win in November:
They have an awesome “activism concierge” tool that will give you nine strategic recommended actions based on your zip code. It recommends actions to help win not just the White House but also targeted Senate, House, and state leg races! Yes! Please use it and share it widely!
They’re having a call on September 5 called “Protect 2025” to explain ways you can take effective action for this election. Swing Left has some of the smartest political folks in the country on their team. Should be a great call. Register here.
Swing Left's Immediate Impact Fund offers the opportunity to donate to strategically chosen candidates in key races up and down the ballot, all across the country. Using research and on-the-ground knowledge from Swing Left’s political experts and partners, they update the Immediate Impact Fund each week, which means your donation always supports the candidates who need it most.
Win Races—Hold a Senate Seat in Montana!
From everything I’m hearing Jon Tester’s seat in Montana is the single most endangered Senate seat we have. I’ve signed up to phonebank for him next Tuesday—as well as for a whole bunch of other important Montana races—can anyone join me? If you’re not available that day they have shifts pretty much every day of the week! Find one here! This is so important!
Resistbot Letter (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.) 💻
[To: your house rep] [H/T Alan Unell’s Healthcare Advocacy] [Text SIGN PGAJRC to Resistbot at 50409 or via Apple Messages / WHATSAPP / MESSENGER]
I am your constituent and I want you to know that 100 million of us have medical debt we cannot handle. You can do something to help. I want you to cosponsor and support H. R. 9129 the Patient Debt Relief Act. It will make hospitals offer assistance with bills to those who need it before going to collection and it will allocate a grant to clear out $10 billion in medical debt for a penny on the dollar.
The best solution is Universal Health Care, like HR 3421, where patients won’t incur the debt in the first place, but until we have that I want you to support the Patient Debt Relief Act. Thank you.
OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk soon.
Jess
Hi! I have been holding two Postcarding parties a month where we write Field Team 6 postcards to likely Democratic voters in swing states encouraging them to register to vote. In October I’ll switch to GOTV postcards. We meet in my backyard, I have snacks and beverages available and we talk politics while we write. It’s a great way to get more people involved!
I’m holding my second postcard party on Sunday afternoon. The first was last Monday and five old ladies from Maine listened to the DNC Roll Call Playlist, ate and drank, talked about other opportunities to help Harris/Walz (and all Dems) win in November, and wrote 125 cards. We hope to do another 125 on Sunday.