Chop Wood, Carry Water 8/9 🙌🏼

🎉 Full article here 🎉

Hi, all, and happy Wednesday!

And it is happy, indeed. We won in Ohio, and we won decisively. Thanks to every single one of you who wrote postcards, gave money, made calls, sent letters, knocked doors, or simply reminded friends and family to vote. This victory is yours, too, and I am so, so proud of you.

Republicans hoped for a 7% turnout, assuming such a lack of public participation would allow them to force through their democracy-gutting measure. Instead, 30% of eligible voters cast ballots, showing once again that “sneaking things through” is becoming impossible for the GOP. Americans are paying attention; we are angry, and we are voting.

Defeating Issue 1 is another notch in our belts, y’all. It won’t be the last one, of course, nor is it by any means the first. We are veteran fighters at this point, and there is abundant proof that when we show up we win. Know this, celebrate it, tell your friends.

Then get ready to notch the next one, for today’s Republican party will not be changed by this loss; they’re incapable of self-reflection. Like a zombie army, they’ll keep coming—mindless, vicious, and determined. Our job, like it or not, is to keep on knocking them back. While this may seem like an exhausting and endless exercise, at some point their already-dwindling ranks will disintegrate. It’s simple math.

I know it’s hard, but wins like this should bolster flagging spirits. Trust in the process, trust in yourselves, trust in each other. The war isn’t over, but a major battle has been won. History will remember it.

Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲

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

I’m calling in support of providing more transparency in federal courtrooms. I know that the Judiciary Committee is considering two different bills that would add cameras to federal courtrooms, and I think we need that legislation now more than ever. Both bills S. 833 and S. 858 would allow Americans to see for themselves what is happening in the most significant trial in our country’s history. What’s the Senator’s position on this issue, and what is s/he doing to move these bills along? [H/T]

Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲

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

I'm calling to ask the Congressmember to cosponsor the Increased Technical Service Provider Access Act of 2023 (HR 3036). This legislation will address the current Technical Service Provider shortage that is impacting the ability of agricultural producers to fully utilize current conservation and climate programs. [H/T and more info here—trust me, it’s important for climate.]

Extra Credit! ✅

Y’all, I’m partnering with the folks at Care2 on this petition—they are sending it to the FDA in the next few weeks. We’re trying to get them to approve abortion pills for over-the-counter use and we’d like as many signatures as possible before we send it to them. Abortion pills - primarily mifepristone and misoprostol - are safe, highly effective, and backed by decades of scientific evidence. Let’s make them easier to access!

Please sign if you can! Petition is here.

Get Smart! 📚

Run For Something is hitting the road to hold in-person events across the country where folks can learn more about running for office. They’ll be visiting states with critical elections in 2024. These panels sound incredible! Find out if there’s an event near you here.

Win Races! 🗳

Do you want to get trained to write postcards to Environmental Voter Project’s targeted voters? This fall, they’ll be sending postcards to voters in Virginia, and due to the unique nature of their messaging they require all postcarding volunteers to attend one of their trainings first. This will be their final postcarding campaign of 2023. The next training is on Monday, Aug. 14th, 12pm ET / 9am PT. Sign up below.

Virtual postcarding orientation signup.

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

[to all 3 reps] [H/T] [Quick send text SIGN PMZTZG to 50409]

I’m writing to you as a constituent to encourage you to cosponsor the Fossil Free Finance Act (S. 1138 / HR 2443).

The climate extremes this summer have been terrifying. I am afraid for my health and well-being and the devastating future that our children and coming generations will face if we don’t innovate quickly. I hope that you and your loved ones were able to stay safe this summer. But so many others were not.

These impacts will only get worse if we keep investing in the companies responsible for the climate crisis. Last year alone, the big banks poured $673 billion into fossil fuel companies and dirty energy projects!

That’s why we need the Fossil Free Finance Act, which will require big banks to stop financing greenhouse gas emissions and the expansion of polluting energy projects.

We know what more investments in fossil fuels looks like: more heatwaves, floods, wildfires, and smoke-filled skies. The Fossil Free Finance Act would require that all banks holding more than $50 billion in assets reduce financed emissions by 50% by 2030 and cease financing emissions by 2050. The legislation would require banks to align financing with science-based emission targets, prioritize withdrawing funding from companies and projects that have a disproportionate negative impact on low-income and minority communities, and prioritize lending to companies that provide benefits to workers impacted by the transition to a clean energy economy.

We need significant reductions in fossil fuel emissions to prevent further climate catastrophe. When big banks keep funding fossil fuel companies, their risky bets threaten our economy and climate progress as many of these projects will become worthless stranded assets and taxpayers will face bailing out banks yet again. Furthermore, the costs of climate disasters are growing every year - in financial terms and in lives lost.

The Fossil Free Finance Act has 19 co-sponsors and is endorsed by 64 organizations. I urge you to join as a co-sponsor to help reduce the financial risks of fossil fuel investments and accelerate investments in transitioning to clean energy jobs and climate adaptation. Thanks.

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

Talk soon.

Jess