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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.
This is the last week of August recess for Congress.
Much has happened and we know much more will be happening once our legislators return. Let’s do what can this week, but also try to
get some rest for what is to come. Let’s take our encouragement from Joe
Biden: “You, me, and the citizens of this country carry a special
burden in 2017. We have to do what our president has not. We have to uphold
America’s values. We have to do what he will not. We have to defend our
Constitution. We have to remember our kids are watching. We have to show the
world America is still a beacon of light.”
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/08/joe-biden-after-charlottesville/538128/?utm_source=atlfb
2.
Trump’s pick for the top science spot at the Department
of Agriculture has no background in science, is a climate change denier, and a
“birther” conspiracy theorist. And the Senate could vote on Clovis’
confirmation in a matter of weeks (http://www.politico.com/story/2017/07/30/usda-sam-clovis-influence-trump-241114).
Let’s contact our senators now and tell them to reject a nominee who is both
unqualified and disqualified.
3.
Trump has pardoned former sheriff Joe Arpaio http://bit.ly/2wwqtgV Among
his many despicable actions, Arpaio headed up what he referred to as a
"concentration camp," Arizona's Tent City jail http://bit.ly/2wOOsI2 Let's
make sure that we call our MoCs asking that they not only publicly condemn the
pardon, but also take action against Trump. We can use the call script from
5Calls as a starting point in our conversations with our MoCs: https://5calls.org/issue/rec2JN6CphzCivgTK
4.
Congress will be back in session on Tuesday, Sept.
5. In addition to other business, the Senate will continue with
nominee hearings and confirmations. Trump has nominated sweat-shop
promoter Patrick Pizzella for deputy secretary of the Department of Labor. https://www.bna.com/abramoff-ties-mean-n73014453697/ Let's get ahead of this one, too, and contact
our own senators before the next session even starts. Let's tell them that we
oppose Pizzella for Labor deputy secretary.
5.
Sinclair Broadcasting is a heavily right-wing media
company that is working to acquire Tribune Media. Sinclair has a blatant conservative bias and
a history of overt favoritism toward Trump and Islamophobia. Already the nation’s largest local news
provider, with 173 broadcast TV stations in 81 markets reaching 38% of US
households, this $3.9 billion merger with Tribune Media would add another 42
stations in 33 markets, extending Sinclair’s reach to 72% of US TV
households. Although Congress imposed an
audience cap of 39% on media companies, the FCC revived a loophole to help
Sinclair skirt past the broadcast ownership rule and exceed restrictions on the
number of broadcast stations it can own.
http://thehill.com/policy/technology/346478-house-dems-press-fcc-for-answers-on-sinclair Let’s call Ajit Pai, FCC Chairman, to oppose
the merger. Contact by phone at 202/418-1000 by
email: Ajit.Pai@fcc.gov or by mail:
Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, SW, Washington, DC
20554
6.
The White House signed a directive on
Friday that precludes transgender individuals from joining the military,
but gives Defense Secretary Jim Mattis discretion in determining whether those
already in the armed forces can continue to serve. Mattis’s decisions
will be based on several criteria, including military effectiveness and
budgetary concerns. In addition, the military will no longer pay for sex
reassignment surgeries unless withholding such funds would harm the health of
someone already transitioning. Mattis has been given six months to
prepare to fully implement Trump’s directive, which also applies to the Dept.
of Homeland Security, where the Coast Guard is housed. According to a
2016 study by the RAND Corporation, an estimated 2,000 to 11,000 active duty
and reserve troops are transgender. 1) Please call the Dept.
of Defense at703/571-3343 and
tell Mattis to protect our transgender service members. 2)
Please also call/email Sen. John McCain, Chair of the Senate Armed Services
Committee at 202/224-2235,https://www.mccain.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact-form,
and urge that he include language in the National Defense Authorization Act to
protect our troops.
7.
The Census is required by the Constitution so that its
information can be used to allocate seats in the House of Representatives, for
state redistricting, and to provide demographic information for other
purposes. However, funding for the 2020 Census in both the Senate and
House 2018 appropriations bills is insufficient. http://bit.ly/2vfUPTO.
Without fair and accurate data, a flawed 2020 Census could be used to weaken
the voting power of voters of color through partisan gerrymandering. The
appropriations bills (S. 1662/H.R. 3267) have passed both House and Senate
committees and will go to the full bodies for debate and vote after the August
recess. Let’s call all our MoCs and let
them know that we support a fully-funded census.
8.
Trump has cut and diverted funds from this intended
purpose even after his law enforcement agencies showed him white supremacists
were the big threat. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/charlottesville-latest-donald-trump-slashed-funds-groups-fighting-white-supremacy-rally-riot-a7894271.html Let’s tell our legislators to make a big
increase in funding for Countering Violent Extremism funds for white
supremacists and neo-Nazis and require it to be spent on this domestic threat
not on Islamic radicals.
State Actions
1.
CA: From Chop
Wood, Carry Water - California Edition: Please take a moment to
write a comment asking the Department of Pesticide Regulation in CA to ban
chlorpyrifos in our state. http://earthjustice.org/features/what-you-need-to-know-about-chlorpyrifos Those
of you who get my Daily Actions email know this is a subject close to my heart,
and CA is considering a ban strongly enough that they've opened up a public
comment period. Here's the email address: chlorpyrifos@cdpr.ca.gov
Other Actions
1.
For those of us who can, much help is needed in the
aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. If we
need some guidance in how to help, let’s check here: https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2017/8/27/16211642/hurricane-harvey-donations-charities-disaster-relief
2.
The Charlottesville Boys and Girls Club is accepting
postcards of love and encouragement to be distributed to children and young
people of the city.Send your card(s) to Dear Young Person, PO Box 814,
Charlottesville, VA 22902
3.
If we are wanting to know some interesting people to
follow on Twitter, this article by a former CIA intelligence
analyst tells us about 10 we should follow to keep up on current
events: http://www.teenvogue.com/story/10-to-follow-current-events
4.
Let America Vote recently released a
report and case study on the voter suppression impact of Florida’s
felony disenfranchisement law, which bars one in every five black Floridians
from voting (http://www.wmfe.org/grassroots-campaign-to-restore-voting-rights-to-florida-ex-felons-convenes/75786).
Let’s read and share this report, and then let’s show some support to the folks
working to fix it. Those of us in Florida can sign the petition to get a
constitutional amendment changing the law on next year’s ballot at this link,
and all of us can follow the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition on Twitter and
donate to their work here.
5.
After months of inquiries, asking if/when they plan on
dropping their ads from Breitbart, Amazon has still not responded http://bit.ly/2ghc1TA They
have been contacted by their own employees, been tweeted, e-mailed, phoned,
protested during their shareholder meeting, and targeted with a billboard
campaign by Sleeping Giants, yet Amazon has been silent. Let's make sure we let
Amazon know that their silence will not stand. With a company their size, they
have nothing to lose by making the right choice and stopping their ad dollars
from funding a bigoted, hate-filled site such as Breitbart. Let's join Sleeping
Giants and #GrabYourWallet, and send Amazon our thoughts about their position
of silence. We can e-mail the PR team: amazon-pr@amazon.com and
contact the CEO, Jeff Bezos, directly: jeff@amazon.com
6.
The National Resource Defense Council (NRDC) has
submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for Zinke's Interior
Department's report on the national monuments that were just reviewed, as
reported in the Las Vegas Review-Journal. NRDC's mission is" to
safeguard the earth—its people, its plants and animals, and the natural systems
on which all life depends." If we are concerned about environmental
issues, let's read about the NRDC and the work they are doing and consider donating
when we can. We can also follow the NRDC on
Facebook. to stay up-to-date on their latest work.
7.
For those of us who missed the Burnout and Sustainability
Training for Activists webinar last Saturday, the video is now available on
YouTube: http://bit.ly/2wfVcwl We
can also check out host Aditi Juneja's Self Care Sundays podcast and make sure
that we're taking care of ourselves https://www.selfcaresundayspodcast.com/
8.
Several LGBTQ+ civil rights organizations are suing or
gearing-up to sue Trump over the transgender military ban as reported in The Hill. Let's check out these organizations and
their missions and consider donating to support their legal work.
1) GLBTQ Legal
Advocates and Defenders (GLAD), 2) National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR), 3) Lamda Legal
We can also find them on Facebook and follow their work there.
Petitions
1.
Let’s join 314 Action, a nonprofit political action
committee that seeks to elect American scientists to national office, and sign
the petition to stop Sam Clovis’ nomination/confirmation to the USDA: https://secure.314action.org/page/s/oppose-clovis
2.
Let’s add our names to Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) to
seek lowering of drug prescription prices:
https://stabenow.bsd.net/page/s/lower-prescription-drug-prices
Marches/events/teleconferences
to attend/organize
1.
Today, Monday, August 28th, marks the first day of
the March to Confront White Supremacy: Charlottesville to D.C. The march will
take place over a week and a half, culminating on September 6th in
Washington D.C. where the organizers will kick off a "sustained civil
disobedience campaign" http://www.cville2dc.us/ From the organizers:
"This is the time for us to stand up for justice and equality. This is the
time to confront white supremacy in our government and throughout our history.
We demand that President Trump to be removed from office for allying himself
with this ideology of hate and we demand an agenda that repairs the damage it's
done to our country and its people." Partners for the march include the
Women's March, the Movement For Black Lives, Color of Change, United We Dream,
One Million Hoodies, and others. Let's join in and help any way that we can;
those of us who are able can join the march and/or action in D.C., while others
with the means can donate to support the cause here: http://bit.ly/2vA03q2
Reading/Watching
1.
“George Lakoff: In Politics, Progressives Need to Frame
Their Values” - https://georgelakoff.com/2014/11/29/george-lakoff-in-politics-progressives-need-to-frame-their-values/
2.
Amy Siskind continues to track all of the not-normal
things happening each week. She writes, "Week 41 is full of content about
Trump-Russia, and indications that the Mueller probe is closing in on Trump and
his regime... he [Trump] continues his unimpeded march to authoritarian
power, neutralizing the judicial branch with an unethical pardon, and attacking
members of his own party to silence them. Let's review Amy Siskind's list week 41.
3.
And for a soulful reminder than we've been here before, how about Nina
Simone’s “Blacklash Blues”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVNmvhX-aOQ
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.
******
Rogan’s List is also part of RISE Stronger’s United States of Resistance
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