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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.
“Trump Associate Boasted That Moscow Business Deal
‘Will Get Donald Elected’” With headlines like these about Trump’s
interconnections with Russia, it is hard to imagine what is coming in the
Mueller investigation: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/28/us/politics/trump-tower-putin-felix-sater.html
However, GOP Florida Rep. Ron DeSantis has proposed an amendment to curtail
funding for the investigation after six months: http://www.politico.com/story/2017/08/28/mueller-investigation-republicans-russia-242108 Let’s let Rep. DeSantis know why we think his
actions are shady: https://desantis.house.gov
2.
During a press conference, Trump explained about his
purposeful decision to announce the Arpaio pardon at the start of Hurricane
Harvey because, “In the middle of the hurricane, even though it was
a Friday evening, I assumed the ratings would be far higher than they
would be normally.” https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-finland-president-sauli-niinisto-meeting-live-updates/ The
marriage of a despicable pardon with a deadly storm and the word “ratings” is
really hard to swallow. Let’s remind Trump that he is POTUS, not the host of
The Apprentice: The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Washington, DC
20500
3.
Additionally on the Arpaio topic, White House adviser
Tom Bossert has defended the Arpaio pardon as being “pretty
straightforward”: http://abcnews.go.com/amp/Politics/trump-adviser-defends-arpaio-pardon-pretty-straightforward/story?id=49439894 We
can share our perspectives on what we do and do not find straightforward about
it with him: The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20500
4.
Amid noisy conflict over raising the debt ceiling (http://www.businessinsider.com/debt-ceiling-countdown-trump-congress-raise-2017-8 ),
Republicans and conservative Democrats have joined forces to put forward the
Social Security Commission Act of 2017 (H.R. 3423). This act would establish a
13-member commission, made up of seven Republicans and six Democrats, tasked
with developing a proposal for ensuring Social Security’s solvency for the next
75 years. Congressional leaders would then fast-track the commission’s proposal
without amendments, with limited debate, and with only a simple majority’s
approval in the Senate. Its object would seem to be to justify and force cuts
in Social Security: https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/3423/text
We should tell sponsor Maryland Democratic Rep. John K. Delaney we oppose this
act: 202-225-2721 (Fax: 202-225-2193) or 1632 Longworth House Office Bldg.,
Washington DC 20515
5.
At a moment when everything seems urgent, we should
make sure not to let the small but important steps be crowded out of focus.
U.S. Rep. Louise Slaughter and political scientist Norman J. Ornstein recently
wrote a column about how holding our elections on Tuesday drives down
turnout and recommended allowing citizens to vote on the weekend. Let’s
read and share their words:
6.
www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2017/08/05/fight-voter-suppression-move-election-day-to-weekend-slaughter-ornstein-column/537456001/.
And then let’s contact our members of Congress and ask them to sign on to the
Weekend Voting Act (H.R. 1094).
7.
The FCC comment period regarding net neutrality closes
today, August 30th. Let's brush up on the ins and outs of net
neutrality http://bit.ly/2l6zvwd Then
let's head over to the FCC to let them know why net neutrality is essential
(click on "+ express" to submit a comment) http://bit.ly/2vdD70c
8.
Trump has lifted the limits on military gear for police.
While helmets and bulletproof vests can certainly be of great use to local
police forces, grenade launchers, high-caliber weapons, bayonets and armed
aircraft are unnecessary, dangerous, and will only serve to heighten the
tensions between police and local communities. Meanwhile, Jeff Sessions has
brushed off concerns over local police forces having militarized gear as being
"superficial" http://n.pr/2iB6Y11 Let's
make sure Jeff Sessions and the Department of Justice know how we feel about
giving police military equipment, then give our own MoC a call to ask them when
they plan on drafting legislation to stop the militarization of our local
police. 5calls has scripts we can use as we call the DOJ and our MoC
9.
Federal funding for the Children's Health Insurance
Program (CHIP) is set to expire on September 30th http://bit.ly/2iwl2ZMLet's
make sure our representatives know that we want them to make funding for CHIP a
priority, and to get it approved before the deadline so that children across
the U.S. do not see a drop in coverage. 5Calls has a call script we can
use https://5calls.org/issue/recOlc0pl4JKvJA4H
10. Even
Republicans can support helping the Dreamers, those immigrants without
documentation who arrived here as children with their parents: https://www.facebook.com/AmericanProgressAction/videos/10154998004665847 We should not deport these young people, but
rather create for them an honest pathway to citizenship. Let’s see how we can
help: http://defenddaca.com/
11. "The
Exchange Visitor Program fosters global understanding through educational and
cultural exchanges. All exchange visitors are expected to return to their home
country upon completion of their program in order to share their exchange
experiences," a statement read on the State Department's visa site.” These
J-1 visas affect students, camp counselors, as well as work-based
programs. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/report-trump-to-consider-cuts-to-cultural-exchange-visa-program/
This type of visa provides life-changing experiences for both the traveler as
well as our citizens here who encounter them.
Let’s join in with the American Camp Association in expressing our
support for this valuable exchange program:
https://www.acacamps.org/resource-library/public-policy/current-action-alerts
12. From
Postcards For
America: 120+ Representatives signed
a letter to 45 requesting him to abandon the #transban Transgender
Military Ban. Is yours one? Write them a thank you postcard. Not one? Ask them
why not. Let’s check the letter and look
for our rep: https://gomez.house.gov/sites/gomez.house.gov/files/wysiwyg_uploaded/The%20letter%20is%20avaliable%20here_0.pdf
13. Let's
support Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) and Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) by encouraging our MoCs
to support a bill they introduced. H.R. 669 would "prohibit the President
from using the Armed Forces to conduct a first-use nuclear strike unless such
strike is conducted pursuant to a congressional declaration of war expressly
authorizing such strike." https://www.abqjournal.com/1050952/trumps-nuke-option-needs-to-be-reined-in.html
Let's tell our MoCs that they should support this bill, because we don't think
Trump should have immediate access to nukes.
14. With
Congress reconvening next week, let’s support the National Education
Association’s campaign to protect public education and reject the
Trump/DeVos/Republican agenda. That agenda would slash education funding by
more than $9 billion, cut funding to poor and disadvantaged school communities
and special education, eliminate 8,500 teachers, and increase college costs. It
would also create a $250 million private school voucher program that would
divert public funds from public schools. Let’s visit http://edadvocacy.nea.org/recess and
follow the instructions under “Take Action Now!”
State Actions
1.
MO: Advocate for workers in Missouri aren’t letting the
right-to-work-for-less attack on unions go into effect without a fight. They
started a drive to give the voters a say on the recently passed SB 19, and they
collected three times as many signatures as they needed to get it on the ballot
next fall (https://ballotpedia.org/Missouri_Right_to_Work_Referendum_(2018)).
Those of us in Missouri can get involved with this fight by signing up with We
Are Missouri at this link:http://www.wearemo.org/get-involved/.
2.
MA: Even in Massachusetts, there’s work to be done to
stop commemorating the racist legacy of the Confederacy – there’s a Confederate
memorial on Georges Island in Boston Harbor, put up by the Boston chapter of
United Daughters of the Confederacy during the heart of the Civil Rights
movement (http://www.wbur.org/artery/2017/08/16/boston-confederate-monument).
The state has been considering what to do about this monument for some time.
Let’s make sure they know we want it removed, and removed as soon as possible.
We can contact the state Department of Conservation and Recreation, which
manages the site, by phone at 617-626-1250 and by e-mail at mass.parks@state.ma.us .
And we can reach the Massachusetts Historical Commission, which must approve
any changes to the site, by phone at 617-727-8470 and by e-mail at mhc@sec.state.ma.us .
3. TX: “Once Republicans lose Texas, they lose their path to the White House,” says the ambitious grassroots organization Battleground Texas, which is working to turn Texas purple, and ultimately blue. Let’s check out their website and sign up to help: https://www.battlegroundtexas.com/ More info here: https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2013/08/02/texas-is-not-innately-conservative
4.
ID: The Idaho Fish and Game Commission has rejected
wolf-baiting as a form of hunting as reported by the Idaho State Journal. This appears to be a temporary
decision so if we are Idaho residents, let's contact the Idaho Fish and Game
Commission and our state senators to let them know that we oppose wolf-baiting.
They won't know we care about wolves unless we tell them. Idaho
Dept. of Fish and Game, PO Box 25, Boise ID 83707 or call: 208-334-3700.
5.
AZ: One of Trump's favorite senatorial candidates is
republican Kelli Ward who is one of the challengers for Jeff Flake's (R-AZ)
senate seat. We may recall that Trump does not like Flake who has been
outspoken in opposition to Trump. Here's a little background from CNN. Let's keep our eyes on this senate race.
6.
TX: If we have insurance claims because of hurricane
damage, it's important to get those claims submitted before Fridaybecause
of Texas legislation, HB1774. "The new law, set to take
effect Friday, aims to crack down on frivolous insurance lawsuits.
But House Bill 1774 also reduces the penalty fees that insurance
companies face for late payments if the policyholder files a lawsuit." We
can read more from the Texas Tribune. Let's alert our affected Texas friends
and family in case they are not aware of the upcoming law change.
Other Actions
1.
We know from watching the horrors of Hurricane Katrina
that the most vulnerable people rarely get the government help they need during
and after disasters. The Hurricane
Harvey Community Relief Fund is a joint effort of progressive organizations
dedicated to providing access to critical services—from first response and
basic needs to healthcare and housing and legal aid--to the nearly a quarter of
Houstonians living in poverty and the 575,000 undocumented immigrants in the
Houston metro area: https://act.myngp.com/Forms/-3833118145683060992 Portlight Inclusive Disaster Strategies and
the Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies Hurricane Harvey Disability
Hotline are trying to provide the particular help needed by the disabled in
Houston: http://www.portlight.org/hurricane-harvey-announcement.html Let’s help these efforts.
2.
“Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner (D) said Monday that he
will represent any immigrant who faces deportation after seeking help during
Tropical Storm Harvey.” http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/348340-houston-mayor-to-immigrants-if-you-face-deportation-for-seeking Let’s thank Mayor Turner for his commitment
to humanitarianism: https://cityforms.houstontx.gov/component/rsform/form/31-contact-us-mayor
or mailing address: City of Houston,
P.O. Box 1562, Houston, TX 77251
3.
HD Action Network, dedicated to organizing grassroots
conservatives and supporting conservative campaigns and causes, is asking for
views on the state of the conservative movement since Trump took office. Let’s help them out: https://secure.hdaction.network/survey
4.
From RISE Stronger: Do you know Ruby-on-Rails? RISE Stronger
needs web developers! Help develop web-based tools for the resistance while you
build your resume and meet like-minded friends! Learn more & apply here: https://risestronger.org/volunteer/10
5.
“In response to Hurricane Harvey in Houston, Texas, our
CEO Roddy Lindsay announced today that Hustle will be free from now until
September 30th for any organization using Hustle for Harvey-related disaster
coordination or fundraising.” If we are
involved in this kind of work, let’s take a closer look at how the Hustle app,
a grassroots mass-texting too, might be able to help us: https://medium.com/hustle/hustle-stands-with-houston-announcing-hustles-disaster-relief-efforts-for-houston-dca6c0a59221
6.
From Together Rising: Together Rising stands with Texas. We
know that they not only need our love and support now, but in the weeks, months
and years ahead. Today, we made a $20,000 donation to the Houston Food
Bank, and we are challenging all of us to do more for our brothers and sisters
in Texas. We will match any donation you make up to $100,000. Every
penny we receive from you will go to those suffering in Texas. Please let
us not allow the fact that we cannot fix everything keep us from fixing something.
Give a little with great love. That's how we heal the world. You can give HERE or Text TR4TEXAS to 41444 to get a text to make a
tax-deductible donation.
Petitions
1.
Let’s join MomsRising
in telling Congress to pass emergency funding for victims of Hurricane
Harvey: http://action.momsrising.org/sign/Harvey/
2.
Friends of the Earth
are asking us to join them in telling Congress not to unfund the EPA: http://action.foe.org/p/dia/action4/common/public/?action_KEY=22292
Marches/events/teleconferences
to attend/organize
1.
The march from Charlottesville to Washington, D.C. has
begun. We can check here to see how we
can join it at any point or other ways to be involved: http://www.cville2dc.us/
Reading/Watching
1.
Black Lives Matter leader Deray Mckesson has written a
letter to the late Jordan Edwards in Teen Vogue that is worth the read: http://www.teenvogue.com/story/dear-jordan-deray-mckesson-honors-jordan-edwards-life-in-this-powerful-letter/amp
2.
“#BotSpot: Twelve Ways to Spot a Bot: Some tricks to
identify fake Twitter accounts” - https://medium.com/dfrlab/botspot-twelve-ways-to-spot-a-bot-aedc7d9c110c
3.
“Interactive Timeline: Everything We Know About Russia
and President Trump” - http://billmoyers.com/story/trump-russia-timeline/
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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