12/27/17

The Rogan’s List staff is taking a bit more time off

to spend time with friends and family and hopes you

can do the same.  Can’t spell RESISTANCE without R-E-S-T!

We will be back next Wednesday morning!

Should you feel generous and are able, you can donate to Rogan’s List at RISE Stronger:  https://www.risestronger.org/donate

Wishing you all a Happy Blue Year!

Contact Federal Government Officials

Find senator’s contact info here: https://goo.gl/RLiotu

Find representative’s contact info here: https://goo.gl/5i7SXC

Fax legislators for free:  Reps:  https://faxzero.com/fax_congress.php

and Senate: https://faxzero.com/fax_senate.php

********************************

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.       After a year in which Trump won victory after victory in his effort to permanently alter the federal judiciary, December brought signs that progressives have reason to hope. Three nominees, including the particularly objectionable Brett Talley, saw their confirmations fall apart (https://www.mercurynews.com/2017/12/25/inside-trumps-quest-to-alter-the-judiciary/). Let’s try to build on this momentum. Let’s contact our senators and tell them that these unqualified and unacceptable picks are the rule, not the exception in the Trump era, and we will be watching carefully this year for them to closely vet judicial nominees and block extremists from lifetime appointments.

2.      Brave young immigrants have been putting themselves on the line to keep the pressure on Congress to pass the Dream Act, risking arrest with sit-ins on Capitol Hill (https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix/2017/12/24/whats-next-dreamers-arrested-d-c-pushing-dream-act/979111001/). We need to have their backs. Let’s contact our members of Congress and ask them to make a New Year’s resolution to keep our promises to our immigrant friends and neighbors, end the uncertainty and pass a clean Dream Act ASAP.

Election 2017/2018

1.       Let’s all agree on one big New Year’s resolution this year – to work hard together to turn as many seats everywhere as we can to blue!  2018 will be our year to become proactive as well as reactive.

Other Actions

1.       As we consider our year-ending giving, let’s not forget this wonderful site that helps “teachers all over the U.S. need your help to bring their classroom dreams to life. Choose a project that inspires you and give any amount.”  We can find projects by topic, by school, by teacher, by geographic location.  Let’s give:  https://www.donorschoose.org/

2.      Over this New Year time, let’s remember to thank those wonderful people who keep trying to do what is right and run our government the way it is supposed to be run. The FBI is under much scrutiny from the right at this time.  http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/366309-republican-praises-fbis-amazing-work-amid-gop-scrutiny-of-agency  Let’s choose one or more of their offices to send messages of support and encouragement:  A) FBI Headquarters, 935 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20535-0001 or (202) 324-3000, or B) FBI field offices:  https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices,

3.      The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has been working overtime during this administration so far.  https://www.aclu.org/blog/president-trump-well-see-you-supreme-court  Let’s thank them and, if we are able, donate to help them do their work:  https://www.aclu.org/contact-us

4.      “Addressing the Iowa House Judiciary Committee during a 2011 public hearing on a proposed constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage in Iowa, Wahls, then a 19-year-old University of Iowa engineering student, argued that his family [that had two moms] wasn’t much different than most Iowa families.”  The young man, Zach Walls, is now a Democratic candidate for Iowa Senate District 37.  http://www.newnownext.com/zach-wahls-iowa-senate/12/2017/   Let’s thank him for his honest bravery then, and now:  zacharia.wahls@gmail.com  If we can help support his candidacy, we can do it here:  https://www.crowdpac.com/campaigns/378575/remember-the-video-of-the-young-man-from-iowa-with-two-moms-he-s-running

5.      Many attorneys around the country are part of the Water Protector Legal Collective, the on-the-ground legal support for the Dakota Access Pipeline resistance at Standing Rock ND.  They have worked tirelessly for over a year.  Let’s thank them and see how we can help:  https://waterprotectorlegal.org/contact-us/

6.      Exacerbated by the hottest summer on record, the “Thomas fire, which has torn through Ventura and Santa Barbara counties in recent weeks, has become California's largest in recorded history.” Fortunately, “the United Way of Ventura County has partnered with the American Red Cross of Ventura County and the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services to create a fund to help fire victims.” http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/366280-thomas-fire-becomes-largest-wildfire-in-californias-history and http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-california-fires-20171208-story.html Let’s chip in (online: www.vcunitedway.org, phone: (805) 485-6288, text: UWVC to 4144, mail: United Way, 702 County Square Dr., Suite 100, Ventura, CA 93003 [Write “Thomas Fire Fund” in the memo field of your check]). While we’re at it, let’s send some love to the Ventura County Fire Department on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/venturacountyfire/

7.      Apparently, the Russians are not done interfering with us.  It seems they are once again using social media to promote distrust in Mueller’s investigation.  http://www.newsweek.com/russia-wants-americans-doubt-mueller-experts-warn-759195  Let’s stay vigilant and use quality information sources.  If we are unsure of a particular story, let’s make sure that it shows up in at least three of our trusted sources before we share it. 

8.     Sheryl Crow wrote a song especially for Sandy Hook Promise called "The Dreaming Kind" to honor the memory of those killed five years ago at Sandy Hook Elementary.  Crow has now offer to match all gifts to Sandy Hook Promise up to $25,000. For every $1 we give to download "The Dreaming Kind," Sandy Hook Promise can now train two more students or adults on how to prevent gun violence thanks to Sheryl's match: https://sherylcrow.bandcamp.com/  

 Marches/events/webinars/Tweetstorms to attend/organize

1.       Tonight, Wednesday, December 27 from 8-9pm EST, if we are on Twitter (if not this is a good time to sign up!) we can join in a Twitterstorm to recognize the many women who are stepping up to run for office in unprecedented numbers and we can help support them by joining Action Together Network’s #FiveforHer.  We can learn about new candidates, support their campaigns and help to spread their message.   True grassroots people power!  More info, including link to a Tweetsheet here:  https://www.facebook.com/events/715758938622772/ We can also tweet directly from the sheet here:  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1pBgvelgqyixl3o5F_YAVawz4HcBVAgZRtxjm3Hevg8A/htmlview

2.      “Trump's opponents plan demonstrations if Mueller is fired”.  http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-trump-mueller-demonstrations-20171224-story.html If we have not yet signed up, let do so now:  https://www.trumpisnotabovethelaw.org/event/mueller-firing-rapid-response/search/

States

Reading/Watching

1.       “The Big Picture: How We Got into This Mess, And How Get Out of It” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSlHVZpNxMM

2.      Experts in authoritarianism advise us to keep a list of things subtly changing around us, so we’ll remember.  Amy Siskind is keeping that list for us. Amy writes, "This week Trump and the Republicans passed their first piece of major legislation, violating many democratic norms in the process: a wildly unpopular tax plan, which will massively redistribute wealth akin to an oligarchy. Polling shows the Republican Party could face a tsunami in 2018 as voters, especially women and voters under 35, are fleeing the party under Trump. This week the Trump regime escalated their attacks on Mueller, the FBI, and the DOJ, seeking to discredit the probe and these institutions. The country braced for the very real possibility that Trump could fire Mueller, or replace Jeff Sessions or Rod Rosenstein as a way to do so indirectly. Many voices voiced concern about broken norms and our eroding democracy."  Let's review Amy Siskind's list week 58.  The Weekly List is currently accepting donations of $25 or less to help with costs. We can donate here. 

3.      “The Year in Resistance” - https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/18/opinion/trump-2017-resistance.html

4.      When asked what he’d say to people who might be tired of protesting, tired of calling, Ady Barkan, the activist with ALS, replied:  https://twitter.com/PodSaveAmerica/status/943247203153227776   This two-minute clip was taken from a Pod Save America broadcast. 

5.      “A Seasonal Pause”, by Michele at Small Deeds:  http://mailchi.mp/9daaa843b24c/your-weekly-pep-talk?e=4a9124dbd5

We can do this.  We will all join forces. 2018 has our names written all over it!

12/22/17

The Rogan’s List staff is taking a few days off

to spend time with friends and family and hope you

are able to do the same

We will be back on Wednesday morning!

Should you feel generous and are able, you can donate to Rogan’s List at RISE Stronger:  https://www.risestronger.org/donate

Contact Federal Government Officials

Find senator’s contact info here: https://goo.gl/RLiotu

Find representative’s contact info here: https://goo.gl/5i7SXC

Fax legislators for free:  Reps:  https://faxzero.com/fax_congress.php

and Senate: https://faxzero.com/fax_senate.php

********************************

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.       Last evening, Congress passed a stopgap spending bill to keep the government funded through January 19. Among other things, it "includes a three-week extension of a government surveillance program" that was going to expire on January 1. 

http://www.cnn.com/2017/12/21/politics/government-shutdown-latest/index.html What is this, and why should we care? Well, there are currently "two bills in Congress aimed at extending NSA surveillance [that] would undermine Americans’ constitutional rights. These bills—H.R. 4478 and S. 2010—seek to reauthorize Section 702 of the FISA Amendments Act, a powerful surveillance authority that results in the collection of Americans’ emails, chat logs, and browsing history." That doesn't sound constitutional, or democratic, to us! We can use the suggested script here to contact our MoCs and tell them to vote "NO" on these bills. https://act.eff.org/action/stop-the-expansion-of-nsa-spying

2.      Part of the stopgap spending bill will extend the Children's Health Insurance Program

(CHIP) through March.  http://money.cnn.com/2017/12/21/news/economy/chip-funding/index.html It is not the best answer by any means, particularly since Congress has just given such outrageous tax breaks to large corporations and the wealthy and yet is not able to provide health coverage to nine million of our children, but it will keep the funding in place a bit longer.  Let’s make sure our MoCs know that our priority to have those children protected, not corporate interests.

3.      Unfortunately, the Congressional Republicans say that renewing DACA, the law that protects immigrants who were brought into the US illegally as children by their families (aka Dreamers), is not an urgent priority. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/dec/21/dreamers-fear-deportation-if-congress-delays-debate-on-daca-fix-until-new-year The truth, however, is that Dreamers are already losing their legal protections as their 2-year-long periods expire, and have been for months now. Actual deportation is the worst possible outcome, but the Dreamers who have lost protection and can't renew are already being punished by having to live in constant fear of arrest for living/working/driving in the US. Fixing this is an urgent priority, the deadline has already passed for thousands (and counting), so let's call our MoCs now and insist that a vote for a continuing budget resolution (which must pass within the next 2 days!) can only pass after the Dreamers get their protection back, with no strings attached.

4.      “Federal officials on Tuesday ended a moratorium imposed three years ago on funding research that alters germs to make them more lethal.” https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/19/health/lethal-viruses-nih.html Let’s contact our MoC to urge them to take steps to ensure appropriate oversight.

5.      Both the Senate and the House have passed the GOP tax bill, and we can help them celebrate by hosting a retirement party for them at their district offices. Indivisible has a Retirement Party Organizing Toolkit we can use to help these parties come to fruition, with creative ideas such as bringing cakes with "Happy early retirement," written on them, pink slip posters which explain why they will be out of office soon, and handouts with resume tips for our MoC. The goal will be to host retirement parties after our MoC come back from recess, the week of January 8-14th. Let's check out the Indivisible toolkit, then help organize some festivities https://www.indivisible.org/resource/retirement-party-organizing-toolkit/ 

6.      The Sierra Club is urging the Senate to reject the nomination of Kathleen Hartnett White as chairwoman of the White House’s Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ).http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/365993-greens-launch-ads-against-trump-environmental-pick Let’s contact our MoC to encourage them to reject Harnett White’s confirmation.

7.      Disappointingly but not surprisingly, Senator Collins of Maine went back on her promise of the necessary conditions for her favorable vote on the tax bill:

http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/365822-collins-lets-mcconnell-slide-on-promise-to-shore-up-insurance-markets-in-2017 Let’s take a moment to share our disappointment with Collins: https://www.collins.senate.gov/contact

8.     From Postcards for America:   Here are some “Pink Slips” that we can print as postcards for those MoCs who voted yes on the tax bill - Version 1:  https://drive.google.com/file/d/16YAwiMsV4yqKmg80OAN48Wi7B26YO7MR/view  and version 2:  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1z0i1sSSbGJdlX8_tV1fgGN9cv22LYzCG/view  

Election 2017/2018

1.       Every single vote matters, and can have a lasting impact. Virginia's recent election shows how true this is. A panel of election judges just ruled that the ballot that was thought to have gone towards the Democratic candidate should in fact be counted in favor of the Republican candidate, making the race for Virginia's 94th district a tie http://bit.ly/2BuLiNa Now, the winner will be determined by lot, and then the opponent may request another recount if they are unhappy with the results. If the Democrat wins, it will end the GOP's 17-year control of Virginia's House of Delegates.

2.      Margaret Good for Florida State House (https://margaretgood.com) campaign update:

They need canvassers and phonebankers ALL THE TIME, but especially need phonebankers December 27, 28, and 29.  Here are their volunteer signup links:  Phonebanking:
https://www.volunteersignup.org/T9PYR  Canvasing:  https://www.volunteersignup.org/93L7F

3.      We need to do more than thank black women in 2018 we need to back them and help them get elected.  Here is how we can help:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_e19ZEPTo4

 Other Actions

1.       “Catt Sadler, who has been with the network (E News) for more than a decade, wrote in a post on her personal blog that she left after recently learning that her co-host’s salary was nearly double her own. I learned that he wasn't just making a little more than I was,” Sadler wrote. “In fact, he was making close to double my salary for the past several years.” Sadler wrote that she requested pay that matched “what I know I deserve,” and was denied. She added that she started at the network at the same time as her co-host, whom she said she refers to as her “T.V. husband.” She co-hosted the show with Jason Kennedy, but did not name him in the post. E! released a statement on Tuesday saying that they compensate employees fairly.” http://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/365781-e-news-host-leaves-network-after-learning-she-was-paid-half-of-male-co Let’s hope this is our next “me too” Moment. Women deserve equal pay for equal work. Let’s tell E News that they don’t pay fairly and we can boycott the show. You can place a comment at this link: http://www.eonline.com/news/84070/contact or send an email here:  

appsupport@eentertainment.com

2.      New York Magazine broke a story that at the height of the campaign the Wall Street Journal axed an editorial about Trump’s mob ties:

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2017/12/wall-street-journal-killed-editorial-on-trumps-mob-ties.html Let’s be in touch with editor Gerard Baker to say that more is needed from his paper at this time in our nation’s history: The Wall Street Journal, 1211 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10036 or wsjcontact@wsj.com

3.      Ady Barakan, a tireless and inspiring activist with ALS, has been speaking out against the #GOPTaxScam, holding Senators wherever he finds them, on planes or on Capitol Hill. It's been a long, grueling fight and Ady has never faltered.   We can see Ady in action here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADWnt3_Xtjg&feature=youtu.be  and, we can read his tweets to Jeff Flake, after they shared a plane ride and health care discussion:  https://twitter.com/The_UnSilent_/status/939246166818131969  Let’s show Ady our appreciation with a postcard of thanks:  Ady Barkan, The Center for Popular Democracy, 1730 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20036

4.      On Wednesday evening, there was a Facebook Live event to learn what we can do to protect the Trump-Russia investigations.  This event featured commentary and discussion with experts, activists and special guests from the Congressional leadership.  In case we missed it, we can watch it here and get up-to-date on the situation:  https://www.facebook.com/actdottv/videos/728989113958324/ 

5.      Rapid Resist is hiring folks to send texts to launch a Rapid Response Team. They want to identify 150k activists in red areas who ask to get our texts in the future and they need our help send the initial texts to identify them!  They have until January 1st to reach about 1 million folks. We'll click enter over and over and then respond to folks that text back to opt them in.  We can work remotely from our own laptops and smart phones and make $15 an hour. We can email yoni@rapidresist.org with our availability if we're available between now and Dec 31st for more than 40 hours of texting (we're not texting on Christmas eve or day).  We can also check out other jobs with Rapid Resist when we click this link:  https://rapidresist.org/jobs/

6.      Many “national and state pro-democracy, civil rights, ethics, labor and advocacy groups are calling on congressional leaders to support Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, and to ensure that Mueller be allowed to conclude his work unimpeded.”  https://www.citizen.org/media/press-releases/nearly-80-groups-urge-congressional-leaders-strengthen-public-support-special  Let’s make sure that our group leader signs this, too:  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScs_lrPSy7Dg8qUtP_fvbScqWitZGzuRVXnhg0V5eR6abjXmA/viewform

Marches/events/webinars/Tweetstorms to attend/organize

1.       The number of rapid resist local rallies being organized should Mueller’s investigation be thwarted continues to grow every day.  Let’s get signed up for one here so we know what to do, and if there is not one near us, lets create one by using the instructions here as well:  https://www.trumpisnotabovethelaw.org/event/mueller-firing-rapid-response/search/

States

1.       FL - ELECTION 2018: Florida currently has closed primaries. Polls have shown that more than 70 percent of Florida voters, including the majority of Democrats, Republicans and independents, favor open primaries. The Constitutional Review Commission’s Ethics and Elections Committee will vote on the proposal within the next few months, where it will be sent to the full commission. We can read more at the Gainesville Sun. Let's show our support for open primaries by contacting: Hank Coxe, Commissioner, Ethics and Elections Committee, 400 S Monroe St, Tallahassee FL 32399 or call 850-717-9550.  Let's work together to get open primaries in Florida. 

2.      KY: ELECTION 2018.  Kentuckians: The last day to register to vote or change our registration for the May 22, 2018 primary is Dec. 31.  We can get on-line registration information here.  Let's check our existing information at the Voter Information Center.  Let's spread the word to our Kentucky friends and family. If we are independents or non-party affiliated voters, let's consider registering as Republicans to a) vote in the Republican primary (for the least-bad candidate) b) Mess with partisan gerrymandering.

3.      MA:  Huge budget cuts crippled outreach that lets people know when, how and where to sign up for the ACA, so Indivisible ACA Signup Project is spreading the word through social media.  They have 23 days to get 27 more supporters.  We can them reach their goal to set off a Thunderclap, a social media flash mob message blast. First, we can click, add our social media support on Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr.  THEN cut, paste and share:  https://www.thunderclap.it/projects/65115-massachusetts-enrollment-alert  We can find out more about how Thunderclap helps grassroots organizing here:  https://www.socialworkhelper.com/2013/10/02/thunderclap-can-help-grassroots-organizing/amp/

4.      MI: Today, December 22nd, is the deadline to submit a comment regarding Enbridge's Line 5 pipeline. We can read through Oil & Water Don't Mix's talking points, then submit a comment from their website:  

http://www.oilandwaterdontmix.org/submit_your_line_5_comment

5.      NY:  Huge budget cuts crippled outreach that lets people know when, how and where to sign up for the ACA, so Indivisible ACA Signup Project is spreading the word through social media.  They have 35 days to get 48 more supporters.  We can them reach their goal to set off a Thunderclap, a social media flash mob message blast. First, we can click, add our social media support on Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr.  THEN cut, paste and share:  https://www.thunderclap.it/projects/65573-new-york-enrollment-alert  Find out more about how Thunderclap helps grassroots organizing here:  https://www.socialworkhelper.com/2013/10/02/thunderclap-can-help-grassroots-organizing/amp/

Reading/Watching

1.       “As a Doctor, I’m Sick of All The Health Care Freeloaders“ -  https://www.texasobserver.org/chip-doctor-texas-kids/

2.      Here's a reflection on the economy and distribution of wealth BEFORE the tax bill: There are 14,321 Dollar General stores in America. According to the Wall Street Journal, the Dollar General company is worth $22 billion—far more than the nation’s largest grocery chain, Kroger, which has five times the revenue. Sadly, however, Dollar General is thriving because, as the Journal puts it, “rural America is struggling.” The chain builds stores where folks are down on their luck, where 20 percent of customers receive government assistance, and where even Walmart won’t bother doing business. By this time next year Dollar General expects to have nearly 1000 more stores. Let's read the full story at In These Times.

3.      “2017 Was the Year We Fought for Democracy — Now What?” - https://www.teenvogue.com/story/thigh-high-politics-2017-is-over-now-what

1.       And, as always, our weekly dose of Small Victories - http://mailchi.mp/peaceisloud/small-victories-in-the-face-of-this-we-will-fight?e=86890239c4

12/21/17

Contact Federal Government Officials

Find senator’s contact info here: https://goo.gl/RLiotu

Find representative’s contact info here: https://goo.gl/5i7SXC

Fax legislators for free:  Reps:  https://faxzero.com/fax_congress.php

and Senate: https://faxzero.com/fax_senate.php

********************************

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.       Now that the unequitable tax bill has passed and will soon be on its way to Trump to sign, let’s take this moment not to despair, but to promise to double down our 2018 efforts to flip both the House and the Senate next November so that it will be OUR turn to do our own replace and repeal.  To that end, the tax bill vote has shown us exactly whose seats we need to target.  Let’s contact those folks to thank them for showing their true colors and to let them know that they will be the ultimate losers as we go after their seats in full force.  Then, let’s sign up here:  https://indivisible435.org/replace-and-repeal

2.      “More than 300 Carrier Corp. workers were being laid off Thursday from the company's Indianapolis factory as part of an outsourcing of jobs to Mexico that drew criticism last year from then-presidential candidate Donald Trump. The nearly 340 workers clocked out after their final shifts at Carrier's gas furnace factory. Another wave of 290 workers will be let go by Dec. 22 under a timetable the company announced in late May. Although Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, the former Indiana governor, have been credited with saving Carrier's Indianapolis factory, employees don't have a sense of much job security, said Robert James, president of United Steel Workers Local 1999, which represents plant workers.
"They just don't have any faith in this plant staying in Indianapolis," he told The Indianapolis Star. "There's just too much uncertainty."  http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-carrier-plant-layoffs-20170720-story.html The “great negotiator” proves again he can neither negotiate or keep a promise.  Let’s ask Trump where the jobs are. 

3.      Myanmar has barred an UN investigator into human rights from entering the country to investigate alleged attacks on Rohingya Muslims. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-42425217 Let’s contact our MoC to ask them what they’re doing to take action on what’s beginning to look like genocidal acts of violence against the Rohingya Muslims.

4.      We are witnessing the wholesale looting of America, unprecedented since at least the Gilded Age, complete with Rupert Murdoch and the Koch brothers as modern-day robber barons. The GOP, instead of restraining the exploitative excesses of Donald Trump and his crony capitalist cabinet, has instead taken their rise to power as a cue to start a legislative smash-and-grab that will last until the (Republican) party ends (https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/12/19/16786006/looting-of-america). Any attempt by Republicans to govern in Congress is being forgotten in the rush to fashion golden parachutes or spin that government/industry revolving door into a future lobbying gig or seat on a board of directors. We mustn't let them get away with it. Let's call our Democratic MoCs and demand that they, after we get our government back next year, prosecute these opportunists en masse for corruption under the statutes mentioned here:    (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_prosecution_of_public_corruption_in_the_United_States). As for those of us with kleptocrat Republican MoCs, maybe just let them know that we're watching, and taking notes.

5.      Although the FCC just voted to end Net Neutrality, we still a have chance to save it.  We can demand our Senators use the Congressional Review Act (CRA), which allows them to review and overturn regulations it doesn't approve of, to pass a “resolution of disapproval” to overturn this vote.  We only need 30 Senators to get the bill to the floor and a simple majority to pass it.  We can use this call tool to be connected to our Representatives with just one click.  https://act.freepress.net/call/internet_nn_call_congress/?t=5&akid=7705%2E9629701%2ExhDhvt

6.      Scott Pruitt, head of the EPA, spent nearly $9,000 of our tax dollars “to have his office swept for hidden listening devices and bought sophisticated biometric locks for additional security.” Is he afraid of us finding out about his secret meetings with the lobbyists he’s supposed to be regulating? 

https://www.apnews.com/242fd35342c34a41b2e2db69b64c44d1 Let’s contact our MoC to ask them what they’re doing to ensure that Pruitt isn’t misusing his office (and our tax dollars).

7.      LINK CORRECTION: “The Trump administration is rolling back Obama-era rules for how animals should be treated if their meat is going to be sold as “certified organic.”” The rules would “govern an animal’s access to outdoor space, transportation and slaughter, among other things.” http://thehill.com/regulation/365432-usda-withdraws-welfare-rules-for-animals-certified-organic  We have until January 18 to protest the withdrawal of this rule. Let’s submit our comments here https://www.regulations.gov/comment?D=AMS-NOP-15-0012-6686

8.     While we are seeing heartening signs of the beginnings of a long-needed cultural shift in how Americans deal with sexual harassment in the workplace, there is still plenty of work to be done – and we certainly cannot count on someone with Donald Trump’s record of bragging about assaulting women to do it. A bipartisan group of lawmakers has put forward legislation that would end forced arbitration clauses in employment agreements that have been used to silence women in sexual harassment and gender discrimination cases:  https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2017/12/06/bipartisan-bill-would-eliminate-forced-arbitration-break-silence-sexual-harassment-cases/925226001/ We need to make sure they know this is the sort of leadership we want to see in Washington. Let’s contact our members of Congress and let them know we’d like them to sign on to the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Harassment Act. We can find out if they are already co-sponsoring here and here. (H/T Jessica Craven)

9.      Not content to isolate the US by pulling out of the Paris Climate Agreement, Trump, to the dismay of our allies, declared Jerusalem the capital of Israel, disregarding the history of Palestinian claims.  After 14 of the 15 members of the UN Security Council voted in favor of a resolution affirming that any decisions on the status of Jerusalem were "null and void and must be rescinded" and urging all states to "refrain from the establishment of diplomatic missions in the holy city," the US vetoed the resolution.  Today the 193-member UN General Assembly will hold a rare emergency special session at the request of Arab and Muslim states, who condemned Trump's decision to reverse decades of US policy earlier this month. Trump, true to form, has threatened to cut off American aid to any country that votes in favor of a resolution denouncing his recent decision; Ambassador Nikki Haley has said she will provide Trump with a “list” of those who vote in favor of such a resolution and has warned that “the President and the US take this vote personally:” http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-42431095  While diplomats doubt the US will actually cut aid, we need to tell Nikki Haley that US aid something other than a blunt instrument to use to bring the world into line with Trump: US mission to the UN, 799 UN Plaza, NY, NY 10017, 212-415-4062

10.  Yesterday, “Sen. Mark R. Warner, D-Va., warned President Donald Trump against firing Special Counsel Robert Mueller from his investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.”  http://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/2017/december/mark-warner-delivers-remarks-on-future-of-russia-probe  Let’s thank him for speaking on our behalf.

Election 2017/2018

1.       As we turn to the 2018 elections, let’s start becoming familiar with groups that we can help to turn seats blue.  For one, check out Sister District: https://www.sisterdistrict.com/what-we-do/  15 of the 15 seats they backed so far in 2017 have won.  They must be doing something right!

2.      Turnout matters. We've flipped a Red Senate seat Blue in Alabama and erased the Republican majority in the Virginia State legislature with just ONE vote. The road to Victory in 2018 starts today, and the more registered voters we can muster, the better. If we speak Spanish, we can help register Spanish speakers to vote in AZ, NV, & other key states for the 2018 elections.  Rapid Resist and TWW Albany-Berkeley are looking for SPANISH-SPEAKING volunteers for text campaigns. If we don't speak it, we can share this information with people who do.  We can sign up here.  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd5gW53c5dd8355ZI-LgvNhcKzl8m-IWvYLNDQBr3djK7Nk7Q/viewform

 Other Actions

1.       As we seek to collect ourselves after the very disappointing tax bill outcome, let’s pause to thank a journalist, an activist, a politician, or a friend who has kept us energized in 2017. We will need to continue to sustain each other in 2018.

Marches/events/webinars/Tweetstorms to attend/organize

1.       Yesterday, Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA), the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, took to the Senate floor and warned against the firing of Special Counsel Bob Mueller.  http://heavy.com/news/2017/12/mark-warner-mueller-investigation-speech-live-video/  Should this happen, there are rapid response, peaceful protests being planned all over the country.  Let’s sign up here to keep up on what we need to do, or if there is not an event planned near us, let’s create one:  https://www.trumpisnotabovethelaw.org/event/mueller-firing-rapid-response/search/

States

1.       ALL: “17 Democratic AGs are saying no thanks to Trump's decision to reverse an Obama-era mandate protecting consumers from hidden airline baggage fees.” https://twitter.com/DemocraticAGs/status/943266830361223170 If our state Attorney Generals have signed on (see the letter here:  https://www.attorneygeneral.gov/uploadedFiles/MainSite/Content/Related_Content/PressReleases/Letter%20on%20DOT's%20Withdrawal%20of%20Baggage%20Fees%20Rule.pdf), let’s thank them. If not, let’s ask them to add their names.

Reading/Watching

1.       Some communities are building their own internet. We can learn more about that here.

https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/7x4y8a/net-neutrality-fcc-community-networks

2.      Chelsea Clinton to Her Children: "My Hopes for Your Futures Haven’t Changed" - https://www.teenvogue.com/story/chelsea-clinton-to-her-children-my-hopes-for-your-futures-havent-changed

3.      What It’s Like Inside the Trump Administration’s Regulatory Rollback at the EPA -

https://www.propublica.org/article/inside-trump-regulatory-rollback-epa

12/20/17

Contact Federal Government Officials

Find senator’s contact info here: https://goo.gl/RLiotu

Find representative’s contact info here: https://goo.gl/5i7SXC

Fax legislators for free:  Reps:  https://faxzero.com/fax_congress.php

and Senate: https://faxzero.com/fax_senate.php

********************************

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.       Last night the Senate passed the tax bill. The House will re-vote on it today after the Senate parliamentarian ruled that three provisions would have to be removed from the bill because they did not fit the rules of a reconciliation bill requiring only 51 votes.  https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/these-3-provisions-are-forcing-a-house-revote-on-the-tax-bill    If our representative voted no, we can thank them and make sure they will do so again. If they voted yes, we can use this script from Celeste Pewter to demand that this time, they vote NO.  https://mobile.twitter.com/Celeste_pewter/status/943266574948909057/photo/1 

2.      Steven Gardner is a longtime coal industry consultant, and he has called the agency’s marquee Obama-era regulation the product of “one of the most disingenuous and dishonest efforts put forward by a government agency.”  But in Gardner’s case, there is an unusual — and contentious — twist: He runs an engineering firm that produced a report as part of the process of preparing that regulation, and the agency deemed it so shoddy that it cut ties with Gardner’s company. Now he’s the nominee to head that agency, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement. (In broad terms, OSMRE — pronounced “oz-muhr” — focuses on mining’s effect on the environment, while the other key regulator, the Mine Safety and Health Administration, focuses on the welfare of miners.) We can read the whole story at ProPublica.  Let's tell our senators that Gardner is the wrong choice to head OSMRE.

3.      The Republican regime's mining regulators are reconsidering rules meant to protect underground miners from breathing coal and rock dust -- the cause of black lung -- and diesel exhaust, which can cause cancer. An advocate for coal miners said Friday that this sends a "very bad signal." The Mine Safety and Health Administration has asked for public comments on whether standards "could be improved or made more effective or less burdensome by accommodating advances in technology, innovative techniques, or less costly methods." Let's read more at ABCNews.  We can submit public comments on the Exposure of Underground Miners to Diesel Exhaust until January 9, 2018.

4.      “The Trump administration is rolling back Obama-era rules for how animals should be treated if their meat is going to be sold as “certified organic.”” The rules would “govern an animal’s access to outdoor space, transportation and slaughter, among other things.” http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/365613-ta-nehisi-coates-deletes-twitter-account We have until January 18 to protest the withdrawal of this rule. Let’s submit our comments here https://www.regulations.gov/comment?D=AMS-NOP-15-0012-6686

5.      “A group of small farmers filed a petition in a federal appeals court last week in hopes that the USDA will reinstate an Obama-era rule that it revoked in October. The rule, which had not yet taken effect, would have made it easier for independent farmers to sue big agriculture companies for whom they raise livestock.”

http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/365627-farmers-sue-usda-over-obama-era-litigation-rule-that-trump-revoked Let’s contact our state Attorney Generals to ask them to support this challenge to the withdrawal of a rule that would have helped small farmers. 

6.      Although the FCC voted to repeal net neutrality, there is still more that we can do; we can contact our MoC and ask them to support a Resolution of Disapproval to overturn the FCC vote http://reut.rs/2BzbHss Battle for the Net has a form letter that we can edit and send to our MoC https://www.battleforthenet.com/ We can also check out which of our MoC have either spoken out against net neutrality, or not stated a position either way, then call them to ask that they change their position and support a Resolution of Disapproval.

7.      The Senate Banking Committee has voted to reject Trump nominee Scott Garrett to head the Export-Import Bank http://bit.ly/2BNmteD Garrett had previously been vocal in his desire to shut down the Ex-Im Bank altogether. While we can thank all the Democrats of the Banking Committee for opposing the nominee (http://bit.ly/2sxD4e1), let's also make sure we send a "thank you" to the two Republicans who rejected Garrett: Senators Mike Rounds: (202) 224-5842, Hart Senate Office Bldg., Suite 502 Washington, DC 20510 and Tim Scott: (202) 224-6121, 717 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510

8.     One of the NSA's most powerful surveillance tools, the Section 702 power to allow collection of Americans’ electronic communications, is scheduled to expire on December 31st. With Congress divided on the future of Section 702, some are trying to sneak an extension through, attaching privacy-invasive riders to must-pass funding bills (http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/article190614254.html). This would rob surveillance reform of its own vote and the opportunity for a real and much-needed debate. Let’s join the Electronic Frontier Foundation in calling our members of Congress to urge them to oppose expanding the surveillance state and ask them to insist that this issue be addressed on its own and not tacked on to government funding bills. We can learn more and get connected at this link: https://act.eff.org/action/stop-the-expansion-of-nsa-spying.

9.      Congressional Republicans are continuing to prioritize cutting taxes for the rich over ensuring our children have health insurance, rushing forward their Reverse Robin Hood tax scam while ignoring the need to finally extend funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program. CHIP helps almost nine million children and pregnant women access health care, and states are being forced to prepare to shut down their programs with Congress more than two months late on reauthorizing it (http://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/20171218/NEWS/171219890). 5 Calls is organizing people across the country to call their governors and asking them to join the bipartisan coalition putting pressure on Congress to act. We can join them and make the call at this link: https://5calls.org/issue/pressure-governors-support-chip.

10.  “President Donald Trump is trying out a new campaign slogan: “How’s your 401(k) doing?” The answer for more than half of Americans is that they don’t have one.”  https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-12-19/trump-asks-how-s-your-401-k-but-most-voters-don-t-have-one  Perhaps Trump does not realize this.  Let’s tell him:  1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20500 or (202) 456-1111

Election 2017/2018

1.       Just in case we feel our single vote doesn’t count, or we hear that sentiment from someone else, remember that yesterday, in the Virginia State House, a seat flipped to blue by one vote making that House ratio now 50/50.  “After a recount conducted Tuesday, Democrat Shelly Simonds had 11,608 votes to Republican incumbent David Yancey's 11,607 votes …”  https://www.politico.com/story/2017/12/19/democrats-tie-virginia-house-of-delegates-244598  Let’s make sure in 2018 that we put helping with voter registration and getting out the vote at the top of our resolution list. 

2.      One productive way to react to this heinous tax bill is to donate to the eventual Democratic candidates who will run against the Republicans who voted for the bill. This campaign allows us to do exactly that. "Your donation will be evenly split among the eventual Democratic nominees in the GOP-held Swing Left Swing Districts where the Representative votes for a bill that would result in a net tax reduction for the richest 1 percent of tax units, on average, as determined by the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center, on or before 12/31/17."  

https://secure.actblue.com/donate/notonepennyfund We can refer to the full list of potentially-targeted districts here.

 Other Actions

1.       Had there been an office pool about which newspaper would have important and critical editorials/op-eds during this political era, probably none of us would have chosen USA Today but they have been stepping up consistently and with great clarity. The most recent example is this one by Sally Q. Yates (former Deputy Attorney General who was fired by Trump):https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2017/12/19/what-kind-country-we-speak-out-core-american-values-sally-q-yates-column/951828001/  Let’s find ways to share this with friends and family who may roll their eyes at the NYTimes and Washington Post but might hear it in this venue. And then we can thank Yates on Twitter @SallyQYates and take a moment to say thanks to USA Today who have mercifully veered from neutrality:  http://marketing.usatoday.com/contact

2.      Let's join the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) is calling on Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rosselló to veto a bill passed by the Puerto Rico Senate that could allow anyone who claims a religious exemption the right to discriminate against the Commonwealth’s LGBTQ community and visitors. San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz, currently focused on Hurricane Maria recovery efforts in her city, stated: "Discrimination--whatever it may be--disguises hatred, fear, and ignorance. There will never be a justification to hide it behind any law." Let's read more at HRC.  At a time when Puerto Rico is struggling, this discriminatory bill does not seem like a smart move.  Gov. Ricardo Rosselló, La Fortaleza, P.O. Box 9020082, San Juan, PR 00902-0082;  Phone 787/721-7000;  Fax:787/721-5072.  We can also contact him on his website (note: Spanish only). 

3.      The Hill has always been a center/right publication, but now former Trump advisor, Sebastian Gorka, is being given space as an opinion contributor: http://bit.ly/2oNb75d If we want to stop normalizing racism and bigotry, we should at least make sure we are not giving white supremacists a platform http://bit.ly/2vpGGRk Let's make sure to contact The Hill to let them know how we feel about this: http://thehill.com/contact 

4.      If we find ourselves with lots of shipping boxes at our houses during the holiday season, we can either recycle them or use Give Back Box to ship our no-longer-needed clothing and household goods at no cost to an agency that can use them.  Let’s get more info here:  https://givebackbox.com/

Marches/events/webinars/Tweetstorms to attend/organize

1.       Tonight, December 20th at 8 pm EST let’s join in on the Facebook Live event to learn what we can do to protect the Trump-Russia investigations.  This event will feature commentary and discussion with experts, activists and special guests from the Congressional leadership.   More info here:   https://www.facebook.com/events/1329588500503206/

States

1.       MN:  Huge budget cuts crippled outreach that lets people know when, how and where to sign up for the ACA, so Indivisible ACA Signup Project is spreading the word through social media.  They have 20 days to get 31 more supporters.  We can them reach their goal to set off a Thunderclap, a social media flash mob message blast. First, we can click, add our social media support on Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr.  THEN cut, paste and share: https://www.thunderclap.it/projects/65114-minnesota-enrollment-alert  Find out more about how Thunderclap helps grassroots organizing here:  https://www.socialworkhelper.com/2013/10/02/thunderclap-can-help-grassroots-organizing/amp/

2.      WA: Huge budget cuts crippled outreach that lets people know when, how and where to sign up for the ACA, so Indivisible ACA Signup Project is spreading the word through social media.  They have 21 days to get 23 more supporters.  We can them reach their goal to set off a Thunderclap, a social media flash mob message blast. First, we can click, add our social media support on Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr.  THEN cut, paste and share  https://www.thunderclap.it/projects/65113-washington-enrollment-alert  Find out more about how Thunderclap helps grassroots organizing here:  https://www.socialworkhelper.com/2013/10/02/thunderclap-can-help-grassroots-organizing/amp/

Reading/Watching

1.       CREW (Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics) is reminding us that it wouldn't be so easy for Trump to fire Mueller from his investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election (and the possible collusion of the Trump campaign in this)   https://www.citizensforethics.org/trump-cant-easily-remove-mueller-happens-tries/ There are growing rumors, however, regarding the possibility that Trump may just do that. Even the authors of the CREW white paper are behind the nationwide preparations for rallies should that happen.  We can register at  

https://act.moveon.org/event/mueller-firing-rapid-response-events/search/   

2.      Naomi Klein has penned a stirring piece for Sierra Club titled “Hope Trumps Nope: A Blueprint for Resistance: https://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/2018-1-january-february/feature/hope-trumps-nope-blueprint-for-resistance

3.      Offered a deal that could have created 3,500 good jobs but ruined the beloved rural character of a corner of Bourbon County Kentucky, Fiscal Court members did a remarkable thing in this money-obsessed age: They said no.  It helped that this courageous act was popular with their constituents: More than 150 people packed the courthouse Thursday night to make sure magistrates killed this risky deal, which had been sprung on them only a week earlier. With their unanimous action, magistrates struck a blow against corporate welfare. They also set the stage for a conversation many Kentucky counties need to have: How can they grow and prosper in the 21st century without losing their identity, sacrificing their quality of life and selling their soul to multinational corporations that are here today but may be gone tomorrow? Let's read more at Herald-Leader.  Let's be inspired to protect our own town's from corporate take-overs in 2018.

4.      “19 Acts of Heroism in 2017 -- Many unheralded moments of courage, altruism and sacrifice lurk behind news stories. Here are some of our favorites.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/18/world/heroism-altruism-courage-compassion-2017.html?smid=fb-nytimes&smtyp=cur&_r=1 A nice reminder of the good, unselfish and kind people in this world. We can return to a better Country.