Hi, all, and happy Friday!
Hope you’re surviving the bedlam that is our current news environment.
Here in California, of course, we had some especially big news this morning with word of Dianne Feinstein’s passing. This is both a deeply sad—for obvious reasons—and politically seismic event. Governor Newsom is assumedly hunkering down as we speak to figure out who to appoint in Feinstein’s place, and Senator Schumer is scrambling similarly to figure out how to get another Democrat onto the Judiciary Committee before Republicans find a way to block them. Never a dull moment, y’all.
In the House, meanwhile? Pure chaos.
On that note, I saw an article on the shutdown this morning whose headline greatly annoyed me. It was a Washington Post piece entitled: “Amid GOP confusion, U.S. braces for ‘first-ever shutdown about nothing.’” It then added this subheading:
What’s the deal with this government shutdown? In a standoff even Republicans are comparing to ‘Seinfeld,’ it’s hard to tell.
The Republican quoted as having originated the “Seinfeld shutdown” descriptor is Michael Strain, director of economic policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute, a far right-leaning think tank.
Strain, apparently, thinks this debacle has the ring of the comedic. Cue the theme music!
Here’s what he thinks is funny:
7 million people losing nutritional assistance.
1.3 million active troops being forced to work with no pay.
Critical research on cancer being stalled.
10,000 children losing head start.
Families in rural areas being unable to apply for housing loans.
13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 T.S.A. agents having to work without pay when the air traffic control system is already dangerously understaffed and overextended.
Clean energy building projects being halted.
Food safety inspections being halted.
FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund being depleted and new emergency response efforts disabled for lack of funding.
A halt to EPA-led inspections at hazardous waste sites, drinking water and chemical facilities.
The IRS furloughing up to two-thirds of its workforce — 60,000 employees — as late-filing season closes out.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) being forced to limit workplace inspections.
The unemployment rate going up significantly as businesses lay off staff to make up for lost income during the shutdown.
And the American economy losing at least a billion dollars per week—the government shutdown in 2019 cost the government $11 billion.
Only a conservative could find humor in these sorts of consequences. Such a situation can only seem “funny” to members of a party that are so distanced from the realities of everyday Americans that they can’t conceive of relying on any single paycheck, worrying about missing a meal, or depending on a tax return to survive. Shame on them.
For those of us who understand how grim the ramifications of this shutdown will be for millions of Americans, including our valued service members, let’s get back to work trying to stop it.
And while we’re at it let’s make darn sure that more out-of-touch Republicans don’t win elections. They don’t deserve power—they’ve proven it!
Speaking of power, thanks for bringing yours to this fight. Because of it, we’ll win.
Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
I’m angry that our government is being held hostage by a small group of extremists who don’t believe in the basic functions of government. I want the House to immediately pass a clean Continuing Resolution that doesn’t gut programs for low- and middle-income people, doesn’t cut climate funding, and doesn’t attack abortion rights or LGBTQ people. And I want the Congressmember to reject attacks on immigrants seeking asylum within our borders. Please pass a clean Continuing Resolution and avert a government shutdown.
[If GOP add:] The Republican party is playing games with people’s lives. We won’t forget it on Election Day.
[H/T]
Extra Credit ✅
Under the leadership of the Biden-Harris administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) has proposed a rule that, if finally adopted, would require background checks on the sales of guns online and at gun shows. The ATF needs to know that there is overwhelming public support for this proposed rule, which would close dangerous legal loopholes and save lives. Believe me, NRA members are SWAMPING them with comments. We must, too!
Everytown for Gun Safety has made it easy for us to submit written comments to the ATF. We can do so using this form—please personalize your comments for greater impact!
Get Smart! 📚
Join Public Citizen on Sunday, October 1, at 6:00 p.m. ET/3:00 p.m. PT to learn how you can support striking auto workers and ensure they’re included in the transition to zero-emission vehicles.
Popular media narratives put striking UAW workers at odds with environmental activists, and their demands for fair wages and benefits at odds with the urgent need to transition to electric vehicles. But in reality, this strike is a moment where environmental activists and the UAW are coming together. Let’s find out how!
This call is sponsored by Public Citizen, United Auto Workers, Labor Network for Sustainability, Jobs with Justice, Working Families Party, Sunrise Movement and other organizations. Exciting!
Spread the Word! 📣
Please share this widely!
Run For Something Candidate Introduction Call - Wednesday, October 5
If you’re a young person who wants to run for office, join Run For Something’s Candidate Call to learn how RFS can support you in running for office, now or in the future. During the Zoom webinar, you'll hear from their staff members about how Run for Something works with candidates, and there is time for Q&A about running for office at the end of the call.
If you are thinking of running for local office or state legislative office as a Democrat, will be 40 or under on election day, and will be running for the first, second, or third time, this is the place to start working with Run for Something.
Join the RFS Introductory Candidate Call on Thursday, October 5.
Chop Wood, Save the Planet!
I just watched this Ted Talk and found it both heartening and instructive. It’s called “Are we the last generation -- or the first sustainable one?” Check it out!
Win Races! 🗳
Help make calls to stop Glenn Youngkin from suppressing the votes of Black Virginians with the Center for Common Ground on Tuesdays from 3-5 PM PT / 6-8 PM ET.
Use this link to sign up. I’ll be there for the first hour on Tuesday, before I hop off to run my phonebank.
Win Races—Write Letters! ✍🏼
Look, you guys. Vote Forward still has a LOT of letters to give out. I just took another 20 on the VA abortion campaign. Can everyone join me? THIS LIST ALONE could make a huge dent in those numbers if we all grabbed even 5!
Resistbot Letter (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.) 💻
[To your HOUSE rep] [Text SIGN PMZFVY to Resistbot at 50409 or via Apple Messages / WHATSAPP / MESSENGER] [H/T]
The vast majority of Americans across party lines, including 7 in 10 Republicans, don't want to see a government shut down and know it will hurt us and our economy. Do NOT shut down the government!
Also, I want you to reject extremist attempts to make deep cuts to climate, environmental, and public health protection programs. Did you know that a new Economist + YouGov poll finds that Americans are much more likely to say that the U.S. is doing too little on climate change than to say that the country is doing too much? Pay attention!
There’s more: Under a dangerous shutdown, the constituents you serve will be at risk. This reckless action would halt most EPA-lead drinking water inspections, inspections of hazardous waste sites and chemical facilities, and EPA oversight and review of permits and plans to ensure safe water and clean air in our communities. Additionally, it would stop efforts to address dangerous contaminants like PFAS—which are linked to severe health effects, including cancer—as well as most activities related to hazardous waste cleanups under the national Superfund program. Past shutdowns have also shuttered National Parks, which gateway communities depend on to thrive.
I urge you to do everything you can to avert a shutdown and execute your duty to keep our government funded. Thank you for responding.
OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk soon.
Jess
Hi Jessica,
Happy Friday.
I posted this on Robert Hubble's comment section last night and got a lively response. A kind person suggested I share it further so here goes:
I watched President Biden's speech last night and was again reminded of how much guts it takes to make speech after speech with a stutter. I couldn't do it without a stutter. I was also impressed by his ability to laugh at himself and with others. But mostly I was heartened to hear a call to common decency, love of country, and love for our fellow human beings voiced out loud. Because Donald Trump is such a bloviating cesspool of disinformation and chaos, we tend to forget the fact that Joe Biden is our President because the majority of Americans voted for him. Why are we playing defense? We won. President Biden is putting in place policies that We the People wanted him to. We won. Donald Trump lost. Joe Biden is a good president. Donald Trump is a train wreck. President Biden is competent. Donald Trump is a criminal. Joe Biden is supported by the majority of Americans and Donald Trump is supported largely by conspiracy theory-infested wingnuts and nay-sayers who want to tear the country apart. Get behind President Biden and his Administration and help us all out. We won. Let's do it again.
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I truly hope that Newsim and Schumer have had a plan in place for at least a year, given the declining health of Senator Feinstein.
The GOP confirmed Coney Barrett days before Trump's term ended.