Chop Wood, Carry Water 9/2

Hi, all, and happy Friday!

It’s the beginning of a holiday weekend and my kid is home from school, so I’m leaving calls to Congress out of today’s newsletter. There are still good actions to take below, though. And an excellent event—one I’m co-hosting—to sign up for!

So before you start grilling your veggie hotdogs please check it all out.

After all, as Joe Biden reminded us so eloquently in his brilliant speech last night, our democracy is under attack, and only we can save it.

He urged us to vote.

I’m urging us to do more. Because voting alone won’t do the trick.

We must get others to vote, too. It’s imperative. Existential.

So let’s do that. Let’s wake up on November 9th knowing we did all we could to save our country.

Extra Credit ✅

Call Missouri Governor Mike Parson and ask him to grant clemency to a prisoner scheduled for execution. (I just did this. It took two seconds and she said she’s getting lots of calls. By the way, consider reading the backstory on this before you call. Heartbreaking.)

Call (573) 751-3222 then press 2.

Script: “Hi, my name is _____. [If you live in Missouri, share town and zip code.] I am calling to ask that Governor Parson grant clemency to Kevin Johnson who is scheduled to be executed on November 29th, 2022. In solidarity with the many people who oppose the death penalty, I am asking Governor Parson to stop this execution and commute Kevin’s sentence to life without the possibility of parole. Thank you. [H/T]

Get Smart! 📚

As some of you know, I recently attended an amazing one-hour Zoom presentation by Focus 4 Democracy. There were 700 participants (!) there—including some of you. What I heard there made so much grounded good sense that I volunteered to co-host another event on Wednesday, September 7th at 5pm PT/8pm ET. Please join me if you can—you won’t be sorry.

Register here.

F4D will provide updated information on two of their top donor recommendations—as in where best to give money to get more Dem votes. The first organization they’ll be talking about is Working America, an incredible group that can produce more Democratic votes than Biden's margin of victory in 2020 in each battleground state. In addition to Working America’s amazing persuasion programs, they’ll be presenting on an exciting NEW program from Movement Labs that will mobilize many thousands of voters, especially Black, Latino and Asian American voters.

This will be a real treat. Hope to see many of you there!

Message! Message! Message! 📣

Submit Content For the One Dem Minute Film Festival

Their mission in a nutshell: Crowdsource original and impactful video content (3 minutes or less) that refutes right-wing propaganda and encourages their audience to vote for Democrats in November!

They have two incredible judges on board (Kirsten Vangsness of CBS’s Criminal Minds and PA Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta), and a partner organization in Civic Power of Change, who will help pair winning content with local and national campaigns this fall.

Call for Submissions is open through September 12. Go here to learn more.

Win Races! 🗳

There’s a critical U.S. House race in California’s Central Valley that needs a boost of volunteer energy. It’s been called the most important CA Congressional race you’ve never heard about. State Assemblyman Adam Gray is running for Congress in the new 13th Congressional District, a contest widely seen as a toss up.

As the most competitive House race in California without an incumbent, this election hasn’t seen as much attention as many other House races which is exactly why volunteer efforts can make the difference. It’s the kind of seat we can and must hold, IF we put in the work. Democrats hold a 5.9 point voter registration advantage and Biden won the district by 2.9 points, but Republicans have seen success across CA-13’s smaller cities and vast rural and agricultural communities.

Activate America is making this a high priority. Starting this Thursday, September 8th, they’re devoting a week’s worth of scheduled phone banks to help elect Adam Gray to Congress. You can sign up for a phone bank session HERE or call on your own time by signing up HERE. 

Additionally, they’re launching pro-choice postcards in support of Adam Gray TODAY. Sign up HERE to postcard. (You need to provide your own cards—buy them on Etsy!)

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

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

I’m writing as a constituent—and someone who strongly supports unions—to ask you to co-sponsor the No Tax Breaks for Union Busting Act (S. 4192 and H.R. 8448).

CEO Howard Schultz has declared that he will not recognize or negotiate with the Starbucks Workers United union. Starbucks, under Schultz’s leadership, is engaged in a company-wide pattern of union-busting including illegally firing union organizers, worker intimidation, and essentially “bribing” workers to not join the union.

Unfortunately, much of this blatant union-busting is not only legal, but also tax deductible! Right now, corporations spend at least $340 million a year on anti-union activities, which they can write off when calculating their taxes. These union-busting activities include pressure tactics, hiring anti-union consultants, anti-union advertising, so-called “captive audience meetings,” and even violations of the National Labor Relations Act.

The No Tax Breaks for Union Busting Act would change that. Good! Corporations shouldn’t be able to write off union busting as a business expense.

It’s critical that our federal laws prevent corporations from deducting the cost of their union-busting activities from their taxes each year. Please co-sponsor the No Tax Breaks for Union Busting Act (S.4192 and H.R.8448) today.

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

Talk tomorrow.

Jess