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Many newspapers, including New
York Times and Washington Post require
subscriptions, but without one we can see a few articles each month. We can also check with our local libraries to
find out how to get online access through them.
1.
With the arrests yesterday of former Trump campaign
manager Paul Manafort and former Trump campaign official Rick Gates, along with
the admission of guilt by former Trump foreign policy advisor, George
Papadopoulos, concern is growing once again that Trump will act to obstruct
justice by firing the special counsel: http://www.newsweek.com/trump-impeachment-fire-mueller-republicans-696675 It’s going to take a strong demonstration of
public will to make sure that Congress takes the necessary steps to stop this
from happening – or ensures justice will prevail if Trump moves before they
have a chance. Every Voice is
among the many organizations organizing resisters to contact our reps and tell
them to support bipartisan bills (S. 1735,
S. 1741,
and H.R.
3654) that would protect the investigation. Let’s call our MoCs, then let
Every Voice know the results of our calls here:
http://salsa4.salsalabs.com/o/51152/p/salsa/web/common/public/signup?signup_page_KEY=11030.
Let’s also ask our MoCs to make a strong public statement warning Trump there
will be real consequences if he fires Mueller before this legislation is passed
into law.
2.
Although the Healthcare Marketplace 2018 plans are now
online (https://www.healthcare.gov/see-plans
), enrollment does not start until tomorrow.
Due to Trump’s removal of subsidies, costs are predicted to sky-rocket
in many places as we can see here: https://www.kff.org/health-reform/issue-brief/how-the-loss-of-cost-sharing-subsidy-payments-is-affecting-2018-premiums/ The Murray-Alexander healthcare bill is a
2-year fix that will address issues and keep people covered. http://www.king5.com/news/politics/bipartisan-murray-alexander-bill-gains-support-in-senate/484703534
We need to keep on our MoCs to get this bill brought to the floor for a vote.
3.
"A federal judge in Washington on
Monday blocked the Trump administration from enforcing a ban on
transgender people serving in the military, writing that the presidential memorandum
issued by President Donald Trump in August would likely be found to violate the
due process clause of the Fifth Amendment.'
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.usnews.com/news/national-news/articles/2017-10-30/federal-judge-blocks-trump-administration-from-banning-transgender-people-from-military%3fcontext=amp. The courts come through for us again. See item 6, 7 and 8 from yesterday's Rogan’s List for the next confirmation appointments for judges and what we can do.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.usnews.com/news/national-news/articles/2017-10-30/federal-judge-blocks-trump-administration-from-banning-transgender-people-from-military%3fcontext=amp. The courts come through for us again. See item 6, 7 and 8 from yesterday's Rogan’s List for the next confirmation appointments for judges and what we can do.
4.
In response to Trump's rolling back of the
contraceptive coverage mandate, Senator Patty Murray and Representative Diana
DeGette have introduced legislation in the Senate and the House, which would
repeal religious exemption rules in the ACA. Protect Access to Birth Control
Act has 37 cosponsors in the Senate, and 74 in the House. Let's check to see if
our members of Congress are cosponsors, and if they are, thank them https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/4082/cosponsors https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/1985/cosponsors If
they are not, let's be sure to call and tell them that we want them to support
this legislation. Nancy Kaffer, of the Detroit Free Press, lays out some great
talking points we could mention during our calls, on why contraceptive coverage
is essential: http://on.freep.com/2zZ42zL
5.
This ACLU resource page helps us call the Office of
Refugee Resettlement to demand release of Rosa Maria Hernandez (10 year old
with cerebral palsy taken into ICE custody after surgery): https://www.aclu.org/issues/release-rosa-maria-hernandez?redirect=ReleaseRosaTW&ms=TW_171027_immigrantrights_rosamaria This
Time article has more information about Rosa’s situation: http://amp.timeinc.net/time/4998940/girl-detained-cerebral-palsy-texas/?source=dam
6.
The Heartbeat Protection Act (H.R. 490),
introduced back in January, would ban abortions once a pregnancy reaches six
weeks, or when a heartbeat is detectable. While the legislation went
months with no action, the House has now scheduled a hearing with the Judiciary
Committee for Wednesday, November 1st to discuss the bill https://www.teenvogue.com/story/six-week-abortion-ban We
can contact Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte ((202) 225-5431) and Ranking
Member John Conyers ((202)
225-5126) and ask that they oppose this incredibly dangerous legislation.
Let's also be sure to call our own representative to make sure that they oppose
H.R. 490
7.
The Trump tax plan is gearing up and will be introduced
on Wednesday. http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/scheduling/357593-this-week-republicans-to-unveil-long-awaited-tax-bill
Here is a link to the updated tax bill timeline: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1GVH1VkonJG0ZT-fKk6usAO8zoDTbJPY5-GOEEa3s4Hc/edit Thursday, November 2 is National Call In Day
to defeat the #TaxReform bill. We need to let our MoCs know that this is not
a plan that will benefit most Americans and we don’t want it. Let’s take a look at the Not One Penny’s toolkit and use it to get
the word out: https://docs.google.com/document/d/19G0tMLn5l291J4vxUQemb22y0HUvXTws3j6hr9RuFPc/edit
8.
“Before Rep. Pat Tiberi takes a lucrative job heading a
major Ohio business organization, he will spend a couple of months helping
revamp the federal tax code in ways that likely will directly affect his future
private-sector employer. They say that by agreeing to take a job at the Ohio
Business Roundtable, an organization representing some of the most powerful
business leaders in the state, Tiberi, a senior member of the House tax-writing
committee, appears beholden to his new bosses as he begins the hard work of
rewriting the tax code. Tiberi will begin his job at the roundtable sometime
around Jan. 31, 2018 — after the new tax bill is scheduled to be
finished. The reality here is that there is an enormous focus in this tax bill
on how it will treat and benefit corporations and other business interests,”
said Fred Wertheimer of the watchdog group Democracy 21. He said Tiberi “is a
lame duck member of Congress. He has made the decision to leave Congress and go
out and function in the private sector. ... He should not be reaching decisions
that would benefit them at the expense of all taxpayers.” http://www.dispatch.com/news/20171030/ethics-problem-tiberi-helping-change-tax-laws-that-could-affect-future-employer Tiberi
should not be revamping the tax code with this huge conflict. Let’s call our
Reps and ask he be removed from crafting the tax plan due to his conflict.
9.
We need a clean Dream Act before December. This program should not be allowed to fade
out. So many young people are in limbo
at this moment after coming forward in hopes of a new, legal life here. http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2017/10/making_hostages_out_of_dreamer.html The necessary legislation is languishing in
both houses: S. 1615
and H.R.
3440. Let’ use this from United We Dream to contact our
legislators to impress upon them the benefits of making sure that the DREAMers
can stay: https://unitedwedream.visitthem.org/campaigns/clean-dream-act
10. On
Oct. 19, over the objections of Democrats, black lawmakers and some civil
rights groups, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted 11-9 to recommend
the nomination of Thomas Farr to the full Senate. If confirmed, he'll
serve on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina for
a lifetime appointment. We can read the full story at WUNC. Farr is one of the judicial nominees that Senate
Majority Leader Mitch McConnell may try to push through. The Leadership Conference on Civil
and Human Rights, a coalition of more than 200 national organizations
committed to promoting and protecting the civil and human rights of all persons
in the United States wrote a letter to the Senate detailing their opposition to
Farr: "Mr. Farr has devoted much of his 38-year legal career to
restricting voting rights and defending employment discrimination. As the
Congressional Black Caucus wrote in a letter last month opposing Mr. Farr’s
nomination: “It is no exaggeration to say that had the White House deliberately
sought to identify an attorney in North Carolina with a more hostile record on
African-American voting rights and workers’ rights than Thomas Farr, it could
hardly have done so.” NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF)
also wrote a letter of opposition to the Senate. Let's call
our Senators to tell them to oppose discriminatory Thomas Farr for US District
Court.
11. From
one of our own: I wrote NPS earlier in the week to ask them not to increase the
admission price to national parks, but we should also write Michael T.
Reynolds, Acting Director of the US National Park Service, National Park
Service, 1849 C Street NW, Washington, DC 20240 to reinstate the grant for
documenting the Black Panther Party’s legacy. They were on the forefront
of providing meals and education to their communities and pointing out
structural issues. http://www.eastbaytimes.com/2017/10/27/amid-uproar-national-park-service-yanks-98000-grant-for-black-panther-party-legacy-project/
[and https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/national-park-service-drops-funding-for-black-panther-party-project
]
12. Trump
and Congressional Republicans are continuing their attack on our public lands
with H.R.
3990. This bill would make it impossible to designate special landscapes as
national monuments, and dramatically broaden the president’s authority to roll
back existing monuments, which is why opponents have deemed it the “No New
Parks” bill. http://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2017/10/11/house-committee-advances-bill-to-limit-presidents-monument-creation-power-under-111-year-old-antiquities-act/
Let’s contact our reps and tell them to publicly commit to opposing this and
other efforts to block new national parks and repeal protections for the places
we love, and instead work to permanently protect our public lands and waters.
(H/t RESISTBOT)
13. The
resolution to cut off U.S. support for the Saudi-led coalition’s war in Yemen
may be voted on as soon as this week. Our assistance has enabled the coalition
to continue a conflict that has led to thousands of civilian deaths, famine and
epidemic: http://www.businessinsider.com/lawmakers-want-the-us-to-stop-helping-saudi-arabia-in-its-war-on-yemen-2017-10
Let’s contact our reps and let them know
that if H.
Con. Res. 81 does come up, we want them to support it, along with other
measures to take away Trump’s blank check to make war.
14. One
of Trump’s biggest accomplishments, and one that will be most difficult for us
to roll back, is his success in moving forward lifetime nominations on the
federal bench. Four extreme right-wing nominees are up for confirmation votes
for seats on U.S. courts of appeals this week, starting with Amy Coney Barrett
(https://www.politico.com/story/2017/10/26/judicial-nominees-mitch-mcconnell-244210).
The lower courts don’t often receive the attention that Supreme Court seats do,
and Republicans are trying to take advantage of that by pushing through these
nominees without garnering much public attention. Let’s contact our senators
and let them know we’re paying attention, all four of these nominees are
unacceptable, and we will hold them accountable if they do not vote against
them. We can find talking points and send an e-mail to them with People for the
American Way at this link: http://act.pfaw.org/sign/oppose-trump-coa-noms.
New Section: Election 2017
1.
All States: Our colleagues at Flippable found that at
least 100 million Americans have a state, city, or district election
on November 7. That’s about 1 out of every 3 people
nationwide! They’ve compiled a handy list of these elections. Let's check
it out to make sure we are aware of all of our own local elections and make our
plans for voting. Let's check out the information here and be sure to share it with other voters.
State Actions
1.
CO: Those of us who live in Denver and participate in
online activism may want to consider registering for a free digital strategy
training session being offered by CREDO
Action. "CREDO Action is
launching a targeted program that will train and equip grassroots leaders with
digital organizing skills to strategically support the resistance efforts in
their state and build a stronger progressive movement. Colorado activists
are invited to apply now for this free training, which will be held the weekend
of November 18th-19th, 2017 in the greater Denver metro area."
Apply here: https://actionnetwork.org/forms/colorado-credo-digital-strategy-training-application
2.
MA: Last week, the State Senate voted for sweeping
criminal justice reform. Now the measure heads to the House of Representatives.
http://www.wbur.org/news/2017/10/27/mass-senate-approves-justice-reform
If we’re in Massachusetts, let’s contact
our State reps and tell them that we support legislation that will reduce
incarceration, including ending mandatory minimum sentencing for drug offenses,
diverting young people and people ill with drug addictions away from the
criminal justice system and toward rehabilitation and treatment, ending
solitary confinement, and enacting prison programs that will reduce recidivism
rates. We can find our state reps here:
https://openstates.org/find_your_legislator/
or use this ACLU site to contact them: http://www.wbur.org/news/2017/10/27/mass-senate-approves-justice-reform
Other Actions
1.
Hopefully, now that former Trump campaign manager Paul
Manafort has been indicted, Trump will not be foolish enough to fire Special
Counsel Robert Mueller but none of us are holding our breath! Let’s keep this
mobilization resource nearby in case we face this eventuality and share with
people in our communities: https://act.moveon.org/event/mueller-firing-rapid-response-events/search/
2.
Since Trump is sabotaging the ACA Open Enrollment
Period, Rapi Castillo has created an app that gives us another to get our
message out, by taking a Google Spreadshet and turning it into a Social
Media Toolkit. Create your own memes and resources to spread the word here:
3.
The EPA is facing the gravest threat to its existence
in the form of its lead administrator, Scott Pruitt, who is ousting or
silencing the agency’s scientists and replacing them with personnel straight
from the industries that the EPA is supposed to regulate (https://www.vox.com/energy-and-environment/2017/10/27/16552766/epa-science-advisory-board-scientific-counselors).
This is a textbook example of regulatory capture, a form of political
corruption, and while we have no direct means of removing Scott Pruitt from the
EPA, we can lend our support to the organizations fighting his dangerous
pro-polluter and anti-environment agenda. For example, the Natural Resources Defense Council has a handy
list of actions to take (https://www.nrdc.org/actions),
and a donation link as well.
4.
Under the pressure of terrible publicity, the governor
of Puerto Rico has cancelled the power authority’s $300 million contract with
Whitefish Energy Holdings to restore power to the 70% of Puerto Ricans still
without power six weeks after Hurricane Maria: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/29/puerto-rico-governor-whitefish-power-contract-cancelled
Quite aside from whatever links Whitefish may have to Interior Secretary Ryan
Zinke, the Army Corps of Engineers, ordered by Trump to restore
power within 40 days, has just 7 engineering crews in PR; FEMA has not
confirmed the legitimacy of the prices listed in the contract; the House
Committee on Natural Resources, which oversees Puerto Rican affairs, has
demanded that the power authority turn over all records connected to the
contract; the inspector general’s office at Homeland Security is investigating
as is PR Governor Rosselló, who has ordered an audit of the contract; and the
board Congress created to oversee Puerto Rico’s financial affairs has asked a
federal court to appoint a new manager to supervise the power utility. It
is heartening that those in hopes of privatizing public services are being
questioned, but it is imperative that we offer our support to those who are
using the hurricane damage to rethink long-term disaster preparedness and clean
energy solutions in Puerto Rico as well as supplying solar generators to the
most underserved areas:
Resilient Power Puerto Rico
Resilient Power Puerto Rico
5.
Republicans are trying to steamroll TrumpTaxScam
through very quickly, with a release of the initial House Bill from Ways and
Means Committee this Wednesday, November 1. The Bill is a stealthy, terrifying transfer
of wealth from all of us to corporations and the 1 percent, so let's make as
much noise about it as possible. In addition to calling your Reps, you can join
#TheResistance’s “Halloween Tweetday” against Tax Scams. You can use the
tweets here, prewritten and ready to go with just a click: https://resistancetweetsheets.wordpress.com/2017/10/30/halloween-scary-taxtricksnottreats-say-no-to-gop-taxreform/ We can write our own tweets using the
hashtag #TaxTricksNotTreats. Here's a list of House Ways and Means Members
to tweet at ,too:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1wfrlLf4hF4v6VvRFw6Pap4QW1g-mFC0e-wSPGpdsNDI/htmlview#gid=0 Happy trick or tweeting!
Petitions
1.
"The National Collegiate Wrestling Association
(NCWA) is discriminating against women and violating its legal obligations by
blocking star wrestler Marina Goocher from competing because of her
gender. The courts have consistently struck down policies excluding women
athletes based on gender stereotypes. Judges have held that women should be
given equal opportunity to participate in athletics, including contact sports
like wrestling, even if there are no women’s teams." Let's join the ACLU
in asking the NCWA to let wrestler Marina Goocher complete by signing this
petition. We can also write to the NCWA , Attn: Jim Giunta,
Executive Director, 13111 North Central Expwy, Fifth
Floor, Dallas, TX 75243. Phone: 214-378-9900.
2.
Let’s join MomsRising
and sign this petition concerning the special-needs child ICE targeted,
separating her from her family and the special medical care she needs! As soon
as she was discharged from emergency surgery, this beautiful young girl with
cerebral palsy was taken away from her family, her doctors and community, and
placed in a facility over 150 miles away. Let’s tell ICE to return Rosa Maria
Home to Her Family NOW: http://action.momsrising.org/sign/Rosa_Maria
Marches/events/webinars/Tweetstorms
to attend/organize
1.
This afternoon, Win
Without War will be hosting a Q&A with Representative Ro Khanna about
his legislation, H.Con.Res.81, which would
remove United States Armed Forces from Yemen. Rep. Khanna will discuss the
legislation, as well as what we can do to help make sure that it passes. If
we'd like to submit a question, we can do so here http://bit.ly/2ydPIWR Then,
let's be sure to tune in from 1-1:30pm ET this afternoon (October
31st) on Win Without War's Facebook page for the Facebook Live with Rep.
Khanna https://www.facebook.com/winwithoutwar/ Finally,
if we have not yet done so, let's make sure we call our representatives to ask that
they support H.Con.Res. 81
2.
For those who can make it, there is a “Rally to Resist
the Republican Tax Bill” on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, November 1, sponsored by
Not One Penny. Here is the link to the Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1914463498815726
3.
On Thursday, November 2nd, resistance groups will
be participating in a National Call In Day, where we will call our MoC to voice
our opposition to the tax bill. Trumptaxscam.org
has offered call scripts for our Democratic MoC http://bit.ly/2zQQx4B and
Republican MoC http://bit.ly/2zRDWxU Let's
participate in the National Call In Day, then check out Indivisible Guide's
resource on other ways we can help stop the tax bill https://www.indivisible.org/resource/trump-tax-scam-happens-next/
4.
Operation Dream Act Now, sponsored by United We Dream, is scheduled for November 9 at
1pm in DC, but “young immigrants and allies across the DMV area (and nation!)
will be leading school walkouts and mobilizing thousands to Capitol Hill to
demand that Congress pass a clean Dream Act by December.” We can learn more here: https://www.facebook.com/events/385869448496851/
Reading/Watching
1.
Paul Manafort’s central role in the Trump-Russia
investigation, explained: https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/8/31/16125776/paul-manafort-russia-trump-mueller
2.
“Only an hour after former Trump campaign chairman Paul
Manafort was indicted on conspiracy against the U.S., money laundering and
other charges on Mondaymorning, President Donald Trump’s son sent out a
campaign fundraising email asking for contributions. The mass email from Eric
Trump makes no reference to charges against Manafort and his former business
associate Richard Gates, but the subject line reads “Still standing,” and
the timing speaks volumes. “Thanks to your constant support, we have the
momentum to combat their vicious attacks, and we’re working day and night to
deliver on each and every promise made last November,” the site also
states.”
http://www.newsweek.com/eric-trump-using-manaforts-indictment-raise-cash-loyal-republicans-696265Targeting
the trump base, Eric is asking for $1.00 donations by the end of the
month.
3.
Member of Congress Michael Capuano (D-MA) is keeping a
running list of actions taken by the Trump Administration and the House of
Representatives that are hacking away at our social safety net, civil rights
and liberties, environmental and workplace protections, and so much more. The
list is at 177 and counting. Let’s check it out: http://capuano.house.gov/news/curtain.shtml
4.
It is looking all the more likely that Watergate
story-breaker journalist Carl Bernstein may well be right in suggesting that Trump wants to sabotage’ Mueller
investigation: http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/357624-bernstein-trump-trying-to-sabotage-mueller-investigation
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