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8/29/17                                                            http://roganslist.blogspot.com/

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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.      Since Trump’s only unifying thread in his policy efforts seems to be rolling back anything Obama did, let’s let our MoC know what we think of actions like this (rolling back flood standards for new infrastructure efforts) at times like this:http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/08/16/543712263/trump-rolls-back-obama-era-flood-standards-for-infrastructure-projects

2.      Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was interviewed on Sunday by Fox News’ Chris Wallace. Wallace pressed him about whether Trump’s speeches mentioning Charlottesville represent American values. Tillerson replied, “The President speaks for himself.” https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/aug/27/rex-tillerson-donald-trump-charlottesville Let’s let the Secretary know that we appreciate him not following Trump down his racist rabbit hole but that serving this president allows the presidency to continue: The Honorable Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson, U.S. Department of State, 2201 C Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20520

3.      Under the threat of litigation from ten state attorneys general, Trump is considering ending the DACA program http://cnn.it/2vB9pSD http://wapo.st/2vku0ze Let's make sure the DREAMers retain the protection that was promised to them under DACA. We can call our MoC and tell them to cosponsor and support the DREAM Act of 2017 (S.1615 and H.R. 3591). Let's read Indivisible Guide's explainer of the DACA program http://bit.ly/2uZyz1b then use the call script at 5Calls as we contact our MoC https://5calls.org/issue/recq0O67VoMFFRQZo

4.      Before his despicable pardon of AZ Sheriff Joe Arpaio, Trump asked Attorney General Sessions to drop the charges against Arpaio which was refused:http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/348138-trump-asked-sessions-to-drop-charges-against-arpaio-months-ago-report Then when Trump went forward with the process of the pardon, he circumvented the norms of involving the Department of Justice in the process. Let’s ask AG Sessions why he continues to serve a racist president who flouts the rule of law with this pardon: https://www.justice.gov/contact-us

5.      Trump had a busy day on Twitter on Sunday. While Hurricane Harvey was creating “unprecedented” flooding in Houston, Trump sent out a series of Tweets that included poking at Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill and promoting a book written by the dreadful Sheriff David Clarke: http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/348167-trump-targets-mccaskill-reelection-bid-in-tweet and http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-pardoning-arpaio-plug-polarizing-sheriff/story?id=49447952  Let’s let Trump know that this country needs a leader and that it is past time for him to resign: The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20500.

6.      If the Republican Party really wants to stand in opposition to white supremacy, they can start by coming together with Democrats and restoring the Voting Rights Act – a law that as recently as 2006 was renewed by an overwhelming bipartisan majority (http://www.caller.com/story/opinion/columnists/2017/08/12/lewis-keeps-refighting-battle-voting-rights/560716001/). Let’s contact our members of Congress and tell them we want action to #RestoreTheVRA – and let’s tweet at Paul Ryan and Judiciary Committee Chairman Rep. Bob Goodlatte to tell them to stop standing in the way. (We can tag #RogansHeroes when we do!)

7.      Folks across party lines should be able to agree that it’s important that our elections be safe from hackers. Members of Congress led by Rep. Keith Ellison have proposed the SAFE Act (H.R. 1562) to help secure our elections infrastructure (http://thehill.com/policy/cybersecurity/324510-dem-reps-bill-would-codify-elections-as-critical-infrastructure). Let’s call our reps and let them know we want them on board with this effort. We can find a script from our friend and ally Jen Hoffman here:https://docs.google.com/document/d/1KJMwJVhKw9VOoms2sZy9WP2Q0R5ACqzXfKrwWAH1Hx8/edit.

8.      "For more than 80 years, tribes and conservationists have worked to protect this stunning red rock landscape full of ruins, rock art and other cultural sites. Thursday, Secretary Zinke concluded his “review” of 27 national monuments by sending a set of recommendations to President Trump. While the Trump administration is keeping the report secret, press reports from the Washington and New York Times have confirmed that Secretary Zinke is recommending drastic steps to eliminate large swaths of multiple national monuments, including Bears Ears. The solution is simple: President Trump should put these recommendations where they belong — in the trash can." Let's tell Zinke and Trump to dump that idea. Our parks are really the true history of this country. We need to continue to let them know how we feel about our real resources.  https://medium.com/westwise/trump-administration-aims-to-eliminate-90-percent-of-utah-park-protecting-archaeological-sites-5635224a5a74  Secretary Zinke feedback@ios.doi.gov  twitter contact: @SecretaryZInke and White House: https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/write-or-call


9.      The US maternal mortality rate is the highest among affluent nations—and the rate is growing. “An estimated 700 to 900 women die in the US every year from pregnancy- and childbirth-related causes and 65,000 nearly die, according to the Centers for Disease Control. The rates are highest for black mothers and women in rural areas.” https://www.propublica.org/article/many-nurses-lack-knowledge-of-health-risks-for-new-mothers-study-finds Let’s tell our MoCs its time to pass the bipartisan HR 1318—Preventing Maternal Deaths Act of 2017. https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/1318“The measure would authorize funding for states to eliminate disparities associated with pregnancy-related deaths and improve health care quality for mothers.” http://www.stltoday.com/opinion/editorial/editorial-why-are-there-more-maternal-deaths-in-the-u/article_017ef943-d98f-570f-b038-213d998aae8d.html

10.  On Monday, Trump rescinded the limits Obama had placed on military hardware the Pentagon could give to police departments.  Now military surplus, including grenade launchers, armored vehicles, and bayonets, will be accessible to local police—what Jeff Sessions describes as “lifesaving gear”: http://www.npr.org/2017/08/28/546743742/trump-administration-lifts-limits-on-military-hardware-for-police  We must object.  Since Trump and Sessions seem determined to militarize the police, let’s let the Pentagon know what we think: 703-571-3343 or 1400 Defense Pentagon, Washington DC 20301-1400.

11.  "A Republican lawmaker has put forth an amendment that would stop funding for the special counsel’s Russia investigation 180 days after it becomes law.  The amendment from Rep. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.) would also prevent special counsel Robert Mueller from probing “matters occurring before June 2015,” which is the month Trump announced his presidential bid.  The amendment was submitted as part of the upcoming spending package the lower chamber is expected to weigh after the congressional recess."  http://thehill.com/homenews/house/348343-gop-lawmaker-proposes-amendment-that-would-stop-funding-for-special-counsel  We need to call, email, and tweet out our reps that we want the Mueller investigation to conduct its job without interference from the House. 

State Actions

1.      TX:  From one of our own:  A few of us in Southeast Texas with specific concern about our undocumented immigrant communities during unprecedented flooding have put together this dynamic resource. You can access it from the Pantsuit Republic website. Please share with everyone you know in the region.   support.pantsuitrepublic.com

2.      FL: Representative Brian Mast (R-FL) has filed a bill, HR3665, to combate algal blooms as reported in TCPalm (part of the USAToday network) . Let's tell our own representative to co-sponsor the South Florida Coastal Clean Waters Act, HR3665.  We can thank Brian Mast for looking out for Florida waters: Brain Mast, 171 SW Flagler Ave, Stuart FL, 34994-2139.

3.      ALL:  Illinois has become the 10th state to offer automatic voter registration.  https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/illinois-governor-signs-automatic-voter-registration-law/2017/08/28/7b3960c0-8c00-11e7-9c53-6a169beb0953_story.html?utm_term=.1f373f1c284d  Let’s check here to see which states now have automatic voter registration and which states are considering it:  https://www.brennancenter.org/analysis/automatic-voter-registration  Now, if we live in a state that has approved it, let’s send a thanks to our legislators; if our state has not, let’s write and encourage them to do so.

4.      ALL:  Trump is expected to lift a ban on military gear to local police forces. http://www.cnn.com/2017/08/28/politics/police-military-gear-ban-lifted/index.html. This reverses an executive order Obama issued in 2015 after Ferguson, where, he said, "We've seen how militarized gear can sometimes give people a feeling like there's an occupying force as opposed to a force that's part of the community that's protecting them and serving them." We agree. Let's call our state/local reps and demand they pass legislation banning police from receiving military weapons from the federal government. Here's an example of legislation passed in Montana that we can suggest be adopted by our state legislatures/city councils: 
5.      https://legiscan.com/MT/text/HB330/id/1198338.  *Credit for some details in this item go to scientist and activist Samuel Sinyangwe, who posted a detailed thread on this issue on Twitter - @samswey

6.      NY:  Apparently the Dreamers are just counters in Trump’s game.  Reportedly he will save the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)program only in exchange for passage of the RAISE (Reforming American Immigration for Strong Employment) Act, which would halve the number of legal immigrants to the US; otherwise he is supposedly “likely” to end DACA in early September: https://www.hrw.org/news/2017/08/28/us-trump-threatening-expel-dreamers
Make the Road NY has joined with allies to organize a march in defense of the 800,000 young immigrants brought to the US as children and now threatened with deportation or separation from their families.  The march will assemble at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, 8/30, at the Trump Hotel at Columbus Circle (southwest corner of Central Park).  Let’s check for other local protests and, if we’re in New York, join the defense of DACA on Wednesday!

7.      ALL:  Since it seems we can no longer depend on the federal government to protect our human rights if we are members of the LGBT community. http://www.businessinsider.com/trump-doj-lgbt-employment-discrimination-civil-rights-act-2017-7 Let’s all of us, gay or straight, make sure our states take up that mantle. Let’s contact our state reps and ask them to pass legislation that:  1) Bans state-funded and state-sponsored travel to those states with laws that repeal LGBT protections, attacks the rights of same-sex couples or their families, or singles out same-sex couples or their families for discrimination. (California has led the way on this) and 2) Outlaws so-called “conversion therapy” for minors.  We can look up our state reps here: https://openstates.org/find_your_legislator/

Other Actions

1.      If you are looking for a way to lend financial support to the people struggling with the effects of Hurricane Harvey in Texas (in addition to supporting the Red Cross), NBC has put together a list of charities working in the region: https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/hurricane-harvey/hurricane-harvey-how-help-storm-victims-n796406 Let’s give as generously as our circumstances allow.

2.      The Midland School is a New Jersey approved private special education school for children with developmental disabilities.  On September 25, 2017, the Midland School will host its annual fundraiser at Trump National Golf Course.  Here's the event announcement.   It's too late to make changes this year.  Let's tell Midland School that we expect them to choose a different location next year.  We can use the Midland School web contact form or write to Midland School, PO Box 5026, North Branch NJ 08876 or email: info@midlandschool.org or call: 908-722-8222

3.      The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) has published a new interactive map that displays every wind farm and factory in American.  We can check it out here.  Let's bookmark this as an energy information resource.

4.      Tony the Democrat has another postcard-to-voter campaign in which we can participate!  Let’s go here for more information:  http://mailchi.mp/ind-d6/lets-go-to-florida  We can also keep track of what’s happening on his Facebook page “Postcards to Voters”:  https://www.facebook.com/TonyTheDemocrat.org/

5.      Lori Hutcherson has a website called Good Black News that is dedicated solely to publishing the positive things black people do.  In this editorial she responds to a friend's opinion on white privilege:  https://goodblacknews.org/2016/07/14/editorial-what-i-said-when-my-white-friend-asked-for-my-black-opinion-on-white-privilege/  Let's use her insight to improve our own lives and help our friends understand, too.  

6.      Here’s the GOP “Official Weekly Presidential Approval Poll”:  https://gop.com/official-weekly-presidential-approval-poll/ Let’s help by filling it out.


Petitions

1.      Even if we are not able to part of the Charlottesville to Washington D.C., we can sign her to show our support for the march and civil disobedience in confronting racism:  https://campaigns.organizefor.org/petitions/charlottesville-call-to-conscience

2.      Let’s join the Democratic Governors Association in calling for the end of Citizens United which has opened “the floodgates on a torrent of unlimited, anonymous money and allowing special interests and billionaires to buy our elections.”   https://surveys.signforgood.com/DA-overturncitizensunited

Marches/events/teleconferences to attend/organize

1.      Starting today through Sept. 6th folks are marching from Charlottesville to DC to demonstrate our commitment to confronting white supremacy wherever it is found. -See: Facebook event and full details here

Reading/Watching

1.      Nina Simone corrected link:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVNmvhX-aOQ

2.      “No Single-Issue Politics, Only Intersectionality: An Interview With Kimberlé Crenshaw” - http://www.truth-out.org/opinion/item/40498-no-single-issue-politics-only-intersectionality-an-interview-with-kimberle-crenshaw

3.      “The Simple Psychological Trick to Political Persuasion” – https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2017/02/the-simple-psychological-trick-to-political-persuasion/515181/


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




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