Rogan's List

7/22/17

Just a reminder that there will be no Rogan’s List tomorrow.

Contact Federal Government Officials

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Find representatives on Twitter here:

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If your senators and reps aren't saved in your phone yet,

text your US postal address to (520) 200-2223 and get a text back with your

STATE & FEDERAL legislative rep phone numbers.

1. The Trump team is saber-rattling about special counsel Mueller:  https://apnews.com/c24162eda00e4efd87bcf49493424090/Trump-legal-team-looking-to-investigate-Mueller-aides  and http://thehill.com/policy/national-security/343016-trump-mueller-tensions-escalate  While we can hope that Trump would not be so foolish as to take steps to fire Mueller, we could have hoped the same about his actions towards Comey. The resistance should be ready to take to the streets if he makes this move. In the meantime, we can contact our Members of Congress about Trump's continued flirting with flouting the rule of law and let them know that if Mueller is fired that we expect them immediately to form an independent investigation and hire Mueller as counsel so that he can finish what he started.

2. The Senate continues to plan to vote on their health care bill but it is unclear which version. This guide from FiveThirtyEight walks through the current three paths clearly for our information: https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-republicans-have-three-health-care-bills-and-no-clear-paths-forward/amp/  Let's please stay in touch with our Senators to say that this chaos is a dangerous and disrespectful way to approach such critical decisions.

3. After being thrown under the bus by Trump in the New York Times interview, Attorney General Jeff Sessions has stated that he will stay on in the role "for as long as that is appropriate": http://mobile-feeds.cbsnews.com/news/sessions-says-hell-continue-on-as-attorney-general-for-as-long-as-appropriate/  We can let him know that this marker passed months ago: U.S. Department of Justice 950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20530-0001   

4. “President Donald Trump’s administration has ended Affordable Care Act contracts that brought assistance into libraries, businesses and urban neighborhoods in 18 cities, meaning shoppers on the insurance exchanges will have fewer places to turn for help signing up for coverage.”  http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/trump-administration-ends-affordable-care-act-assistance-contracts-18-cities/ This is Trump starting to dismantle the ACA.  He wants the law to fail, but he will do things to fail the law.  Our MoCs need to know that we want people to have access to quality health care AND ways to find out about it.

5. From one of our own:  Here is another way to contact and thank Joel Clement, the Dept. of Interior whistleblower:  @jclement4maine 

6. Trump has nominated Michael Dourson for a key EPA position.  http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/49929/title/Trump-Nominates-Toxicologist-for-Key-EPA-Position/  Let's tell our Senators that we have concerns about Dourson's ties to the chemical industry and ask them to ask good questions about this at his hearing. We can read an environment assessment about Dourson here:  https://theintercept.com/2017/07/21/trumps-epa-chemical-safety-nominee-was-in-the-business-of-blessing-pollution/

7. This is NOT what America looks like.  We do not advocate civil war against ourselves.  http://www.newsweek.com/trump-alex-jones-infowars-violence-639912 Let’s make sure that our federal and state legislators know that we cannot condone this type of incitement.

8. Senators Lindsey Graham and Dick Durbin have introduced the Dream Act of 2017, which would bring legal status to immigrants who came to the U.S. at a young age http://bit.ly/2tKjtYz Let's call our Senators to make sure they cosponsor and support the Dream Act.    

9. AT&T and Time Warner are attempting to get approval from the Justice Department for a merger, which would essentially put control over content into the hands of a corporation that controls our broadband http://bit.ly/2uizuZ4 This conflict of interest raises serious concerns over equal accessibility of content across all networks. Let's call on the Justice Department to reject the proposal 202-353-1555 We can also thank the Democratic Senators who raised this concern, along with others, in a letter to the Justice Department http://bit.ly/2gQTWvl

10. This Monday, July 24th, the public comment period will close for those wishing to share their thoughts on the use of neonicotinoid pesticides. The EPA is considering a ban on some of the most commonly used neonics, which studies have shown to be harmful to some bee populations http://n.pr/2tpE4oU Sum of Us has some helpful talking points we can use, as well as an easy-to-submit comment form http://bit.ly/2gQW6v5

11. Senators Kamala Harris and Rand Paul have introduced bipartisan legislation to overhaul the bail system over a three-year period http://cnn.it/2tNiaYQ The Pretrial Integrity and Safety Act of 2017 is supported by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), NAACP Legal Defense Fund, and the ACLU. Let's call our Senators to ensure that they, too, support and cosponsor this bill.

12. The NRA was one of Donald Trump’s strongest supporters in 2016, and they’re trying to cash in on their investment now. They’re trying to push a bill through Congress that will allow people with no safety training and no background check to carry hidden, loaded guns in public in all 50 states. http://www.newsweek.com/mayors-oppose-concealed-carry-guns-629401 But the majority of Americans supports common sense gun control laws, and we need to make sure our representatives remember that. Let’s join Everytown for Gun Safety in sending postcards to our congressional delegations telling them to oppose this effort:  http://act.everytown.org/sign/postcards-dont-gut-our-gun-laws

13. “With one devastating flourish of the presidential pen, worldwide progress on family planning, population growth and reproductive rights was swept away. Now some of the world’s poorest women must count the cost.”  This global gag rule that Trump signed on his very first day in office has, and will continue to be, his most devastating attack on women.  Women will die, abortions will rise, girls will be forced to leave school, to marry.  https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2017/jul/21/trump-global-death-warrant-women-family-planning-population-reproductive-rights-mexico-city-policy  Let’s let our MoCs know that this does not sit right with us.  We need to find a way to help these women. 

14. “Mark Serrano was on the payroll of the Trump 2020 re-election campaign this spring, while also defending the president in political commentary on the Fox Business Network.”  Ethics has never been a strong suit of Trump, nor those who work with/for him.  http://www.npr.org/2017/07/20/538401459/fox-commentator-turns-up-on-trump-campaign-payroll  Let’s tell our MoCs that it is past time to come up with legislation so that ethics plays a more prominent role in our government.

State Actions

1. FL:  Help get FL ex-felon's voting rights on the ballot!  The League of Women Voters and other volunteers are working to collect 700,000 signatures to get ex-felon voting rights on the voters' ballots so the People of Florida can decide.  Read more and print the petition form here: http://thefloridavoter.org/the-florida-voting-rights-restoration-for-felons-initiative/  If we're in Florida, let's print, sign and send in this form.  This article goes into detail on how the "system" for regaining voting rights currently "works." http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article160996109.html    

2. UT: Senator Mike Lee has been outspoken against Attorney General Jeff Sessions' latest moves on police asset seizure. http://www.sltrib.com/home/5531589-155/utahs-mike-lee-splits-from-sessions  Let's thank Senator Lee for his leadership and let him know that we support his position on this: Mike Lee, 125 S State Ste 4225, Salt Lake City UT 84138-1188 or call this district office at: 801-524-5933.

3. IN &MI & Other Great Lakes States: Senators Todd Young (R-IN) and Gary Peters (D-MI) are "introducing bipartisan legislation to update the Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) maps in the Great Lakes to better address habitat restoration and potential ecological impacts in the event of an oil spill or a natural disaster." https://www.peters.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/peters-young-introduce-legislation-to-update-environmental-sensitivity-index-maps-for-great-lakes  We can send "thank yous" to: a) IN: Todd Young, 3602 Northgate Ct Ste 15, New Albany IN 47150.   b) MI: Gary Peters, 818 Red Dr Ste 40, Traverse City MI 49684. If we are in other Great Lakes States, or, just to show our support for the Great Lakes, let's tell our own Senators to support this legislation. We are on the front end of this process so postcards and emails are best. 

Other Actions

1. "I think we should march." When Teresa Shook, a retired lawyer and grandmother living in Hawaii, posted those five words in Facebook following the 2016 election, little did she know she’d given birth to the Women’s March.  http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/womens-march-on-washington-rights-feminism-donald-trump-1.3941997 Yesterday was the six-month anniversary of that historic march and the serious beginnings of the #resistance.  Let’s thank Teresa Shook for galvanizing a movement using this address:  P.O. Box 488, Hana, HI  96713-0488.

2. Exhausted from the chaos? Need to recharge? We recommend listening to the Self-Care Sunday podcasts hosted by Aditi Juneja, who is also co-creator of ResistanceManual.org. You can get the podcast on iTunes for free https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/self-care-sundays/id1231811517?mt=2, or listen here as well: https://www.selfcaresundayspodcast.com/ If we like her work, we can support her through Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/SelfCareSundays

3. The Sacramento office of CAIR (Council on American-Islamic Relations) was mailed a Koran submerged in lard: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0Vz26b2vSs  Notes of support can be mailed to CAIR at 1122 Del Paso Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95815

4. Tip: When we write to our MoC's offices, especially the district offices, we can write a little note on our postcards, as sidebar or PS, to the staffers at that location letting them know that we appreciate them and the work they do. They are most likely people to read our heartfelt messages to our MoC's. Even if they just read an angry note, we can still be kind to them. Remember: "When they go low, we go high."

5. No matter our talent, RISE Stronger needs our help!  Let’s check out their volunteer pages to see where we can be directly involved in the #resistance:  https://www.risestronger.org/volunteer

Petitions

1. Let’s join Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-NH) asking that Betsy DeVos be held accountable “for pushing a budget that would cut $9.2 BILLION from vital public education programs, and most recently for taking steps to diminish civil rights enforcement for students across the country.” http://act.maggiehassan.com/page/s/201707_DeVosCivilRights

2.      Trump signed an Executive Order that could allow drilling in Giant Sequoia.  Let’s tell Zinke, head of the Dept. of the Interior that we do not want that to happen:  https://petitions.moveon.org/sign/quick-signature-needed-8

Marches/events to attend/organize

1. “Recently local Young Democrats and Young Republicans groups got together for a community project. It helped to open the lines of communication, "Bridge the Gap," and find common ground. “  We know that this kind of collaboration will save our country.  Let’s join the Twitter Warriors on Sunday, July 23 at 8pm ET for a Twitter storm on this topic: http://mailchi.mp/9c03d8a43c9a/twkillthebill-238243?e=8cd66bd7d8

2. Monday, July 24 at 10:20am EDT, “WGBH News' Joe Mathieu welcomes U.S. Rep. Joe Kennedy III to our studio at the Boston Public Library for an exclusive interview for WGBH’s Morning Edition. Congressman Kennedy will discuss timely questions surrounding health care and the future of the Democratic Party, including his role as it relates to the party and Congress”  It will be streamed on Facebook Live here:  https://www.facebook.com/wgbhnews/videos/10155527340989609/

3. Women’s March is starting a series of #ResistanceRevival nights beginning on Monday, July 24 in NYC at City Winery.  Here is a sneek peak at the entertainment:  https://www.facebook.com/womensmarchonwash/posts/1607801555899784 Details and ticket information for The Resistance Revival: A Restoration of Force can be found here:  https://www.facebook.com/womensmarchonwash/posts/1607801555899784

Reading/Watching

1. This thought provoking editorial in the Washington Post juxtaposes what Trump said in his New York Times interview with what the answers of an ethical president would have been. The differences are stark: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/what-an-ethical-president-would-say-to-the-new-york-times/2017/07/20/cfc56e16-6d58-11e7-9c15-177740635e83_story.html?hpid=hp_no-name_opinion-card-f%3Ahomepage%2Fstory&utm_term=.6a7ded8afa38

2. A well-written (and lengthy) piece in Time Magazine about events in 2016 related to election interference efforts. It sets good context about the relationship between states and the federal government regarding elections: http://time.com/4865982/secret-plan-stop-vladimir-putin-election-plot/

3. Passing the health care bill just got harder:  https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/7/21/16012950/senate-health-care-bill-byrd-rule-rulings

4. And, our weekly dose of Small Victories, thanks to Peace is Loud:  http://peaceisloud.org/small-victories-issue-29/

Rogan’s List is a participant in and strategic partner of the Action Alliance,

         a loosely-federated group of organizations that, in the wake of the

2016 election, are sharing daily or weekly calls to action.

Other member sites are listed here: https://www.actionalliance.co/  --scroll down and click through and you'll find many more opportunities to make a difference.

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Rogan’s List is also part of RISE Stronger’s United States of Resistance

https://risestronger.org/resist