Chop Wood, Carry Water 9/9 🦸🏽
Hi, all, and happy Friday!
Yesterday was a busy day for me. Aside from publishing this newsletter I made two Tiktoks, ran the “See Jane Resist” event I mentioned in my last post, did an author interview with Marta Tellado from Consumer Reports, (she just published a great new book about consumer activism), ran my two-hour Arizona phonebank, and finished the day by moderating a Red, Wine, and Blue fundraiser.
Phew! And in the midst of all that I got my teeth cleaned.
It was exhausting, but at pretty much every phase of the day—aside from the dentist’s appointment— I was gifted with new bursts of hope and gratitude. And then more hope again.
Hope at seeing working moms come together to call their reps on Zoom.
Hope at hearing a consumer advocate talk about the power we purchasers have to fight back against giant corporations.
Hope at seeing volunteers show up to call strangers in another state, some for the first time ever.
Hope from talking to voters, explaining the stakes in November, and hearing them commit to voting for Democrats.
Hope at hearing Katie Paris, the truly incredible founder of Red, Wine, and Blue, talk about the AMAZING work they’re doing in swing states. (Donation link here, in case you have spare cash. They’re an excellent investment.)
Everywhere I turned, in short, I saw regular Americans standing up and saying: “I’m not going to take MAGA’s attacks lying down. I may be scared, but I’m here for the fight.”
It was truly inspiring.
Some people think my work must be exhausting. I can’t fathom doing anything else. I consider myself the luckiest person on earth! After all, I get to meet actual superheroes EVERY DAY.
You all, of course, are among them. Thanks for that.
Call Your Senators (find yours here)
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
I’d like the Senator to support the bipartisan, common sense Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (S. 4431). This bill prohibits employment practices that discriminate against making reasonable accommodations for qualified employees affected by pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. It is urgently needed and ready for a vote. Please prioritize its time on the floor and vote yes on its final passage as quickly as possible. Thanks! [H/T]
Call Your House Rep (find yours here)
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
I’m frustrated to see our military budget increasing so dramatically. We could see it reach one TRILLION this year. It’s unacceptable, particularly while we lack critical funding for health care, education, climate action, and more here at home. I want the Congressmember to work to cut the Pentagon budget and cosponsor H.R. 8040, the People Over Pentagon Act of 2022. This bill would cut $100 billion from the Pentagon budget and put that money where it’s needed most: our communities. Thanks. [H/T]
Extra Credit ✅
High School Voter Registration week is almost here! I’m about to call my local high school and see if they have a registration event planned. Join me!
Email or call your local high school principal or school administrator (look up).
Script:
Hi, I’m writing/calling from [TOWN] to ask what you are doing for High School Voter Registration Week, September 19-23. Young people in the U.S. generally have a low rate of election participation, and the youth vote could be decisive in the 2022 midterms. That’s why I am asking you to invest even more fully in your students’ futures and voices and host a voter registration drive before the November election. Thank you. [H/T]
There are lots more resources for this week of action at the Civics Center’s website. Check it out and see how you can help!
Get Smart! 📚
Y’all, Movement Voter Project, my absolute FAVORITE org raising funds for the best grassroots groups in battleground states, has a briefing coming up next Wed, 9/14 that will focus on their Federal electoral strategy and how they’ll hold the line on the House & Senate in November. I will be attending. The speakers sound amazing. Highly recommend.
Wednesday, September 14th, 7 – 8pm CDT
You can register here.
Give 💰!
Y’all, the Environmental Voter Project is having their annual fundraiser next Tuesday. I LOVELOVELOVE this organization. They’re smart, data-driven (always a must) and they’re getting stuff done! Plus there’s a great speaker at this event—some of us wrote postcards to help her get elected!
Tuesday, September 13th, 8PM ET. RSVP for the zoom link
Only 45 minutes long!
Lots of fresh voter data!
Amazing guest speaker Boston Mayor Michelle Wu!
Peek behind the scenes of EVP's elections research, data-crunching, and volunteer operations!
After the event, join an optional "extended" Q&A with Nathanial Stinnett — EVP's Executive Director!
Win Races! 🗳
Are you a Hamilton fan? And/or a fan of saving democracy from your couch? Read on!
Vote Forward really, really needs more people to write letters. Letters, mind you, that couldn’t be more easy, efficacious, or fun to write. They have a goal of 10M letters for the Midterms, but they’re going to need a lot more folks to step up if they’re going to reach it.
⭐️ Fortunately, they are having a letter writing event with Hamilton cast members on Thursday, September 15th! Woot! It’s from 6 – 7pm EDT. Sign up here! ⭐️
Can’t attend? No problem! You can still get started right now! Watch this quick video to learn how to write VF letters. Then sign up here and get to work!
Resistbot Text (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.)
[to all 3 reps] [H/T and more info] [quick send: text SIGN PVMQPL to 50409]
I agree with President Biden’s January 2021 declaration at the start of his presidency that we need, “to combat the climate crisis [by implementing] a Government-wide approach that reduces climate pollution in every sector of the economy.” This must include the Defense Department.
While both the FY23 NDAA and last year's Climate Adaptation Plan (DOD-CAP) contain necessary provisions for protecting our military from the effects of climate change, neither include any significant provisions for protecting the rest of us by either reducing DOD greenhouse gas emissions or redirecting defense resources and personnel towards combating the most dire consequences of global warming. I’m writing to ask you to push Congress to amend the FY23 NDAA to include reducing DOD fossil fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions as urgent, essential steps.
The FY23 NDAA and the DOD-CAP must be amended to include significant Level 2 and Level 3 climate-defense provisions. Please make sure this happens. Thanks.
OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk tomorrow.
Jess
You are the BEST!! Thank you very much❤🌟🌟
awesome