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12/21/18 

The Rogan’s List team is taking a short hiatus to give ourselves
and our followers time to rest and recharge. 
We will be back on January 4, 2019.

To our friends who celebrate, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Contact Federal Government Officials


Find elected officials: https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials

Fax legislators for free: 

Or use Resistbot:  https://resist.bot/

Or use StampsLicked to have messages hand-delivered to our own legislators:  https://stampslicked.org/


1.    As if we really need more drama, the president has once more changed his mind and is now saying he won’t sign the stopgap funding measure voted on by the Senate without increased money for border security.   https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/422311-trump-tells-gop-he-wont-sign-stopgap-threatening-shutdown  and  https://thehill.com/homenews/house/422362-gop-seeks-to-ram-through-trumps-5b-wall-demand  Let’s make sure our MoCs know that we object to any more funding for a border wall.

2.   Nearly 14,300 migrant toddlers, children, and teens are currently living in detention centers in the U.S., an increase of over 11,000 over the past year. https://www.apnews.com/a857e04de9bc4871995b65784ed7ccd8. While some crossed the border alone, others remain victims of the administration’s family separation policy. Professionals in human development have expressed grave concerns about the long-term impact these children will face due to this trauma. Let’s tell our MoCs now that dismantling these detention centers and finding more humane ways of treating these children should be at the top of their list in the 2019 Congress.  

3.   Want to give our senators a nice phone call, for a change? Let's leave them both a sweet thank-you for backing Charles Schumer's commitment to block the traditional year-end mass approval of federal judicial nominees.  https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/422085-democrats-to-block-end-of-year-judges-package For the past 2 years Republicans have been ramming large groups of conservative judges through the confirmation process, judges like the one in Texas who just ruled against the ACA and its protections for people with preexisting conditions. These judgeships are lifetime appointments, so this season let's give our country the gift of fewer radical conservatives in our judiciary. 

4.   “More than a dozen members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus called for an independent investigation into the death last week of a 7-year-old Guatemalan girl in U.S. custody, saying the absence of medically trained agents and a series of "disturbing systematic failures" prevented government officials from providing adequate care for the child.”  https://www.npr.org/2018/12/18/678035538/hispanic-caucus-calls-for-investigation-into-migrant-childs-death  Let’s thank them for wanting to shine a light on this tragedy:  https://congressionalhispaniccaucus-lujangrisham.house.gov/contact-us

5.   Despite the facts that at least 20 vets commit suicide each day and that the VA identified suicide prevention as its highest clinical priority in 2018, it appears that Trump's VA sat on $6.2 million in prevention instead of using it to improve the situation.  https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/feds-say-va-failed-to-spend-millions-allocated-for-suicide-prevention/  Let’s as the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs to investigate this matter:  https://www.veterans.senate.gov/chairman  Let’s ask the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs to do the same: https://veterans.house.gov/contact/  It is clear that our vets are not getting the help they need.

6.   U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross has repeatedly made sworn statements that are inaccurate or omit details about his financial holdings, including stating that he has divested from stocks that he still owns (https://bit.ly/2rLA9jF). In July, Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR). Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee, wrote to former Attorney General Jeff Sessions, asking that the Department of Justice investigate Ross's financial transactions and disclosures for criminal activity (https://bit.ly/2uKXgfs). That same month, Senator John Thune (R-SD), Chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, wrote to Inspector General Peggy Gustafson at the Commerce Department, asking that there be an independent review conducted over the conclusion that Ross's errors did not break conflict of interest laws (https://bit.ly/2O1zODB). In November, senators requested an investigation into both Wilbur Ross and his Chief of Staff (https://bit.ly/2z0bmP4). In the meantime, Ross's citizenship question for the 2020 Census is being challenged in court, and we can be reasonably sure that he does not intend to follow ethics rules and conflict of interest laws for the duration of his time as Commerce Secretary. Let's contact the Commerce Department and tell them that it is past time for Secretary Ross to resign. We can also contact our own MoC and ask them to push for Ross's resignation.

7.   Attention is finally being paid to the Israel Anti-Boycott Act, which advocates are trying to slip into the spending bill to be passed by midnight Friday: 
https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/1697; a legislative proposal sponsored by Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH), it would impose civil and criminal penalties on US companies and organizations that participate in boycotts supporting Palestinian rights and opposing Israel’s occupation of the West Bank. Senators Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), the editorial boards of the NYT.  (https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/18/opinion/editorials/israel-bds.html) and the Washington Post (https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2018/12/18/how-democrats-are-helping-right-stifle-debate-israel/), the ACLU, and reportedly even some within the Anti-Defamation League are making their opposition heard.  We should too!  Call your MoCs and let them know that we too oppose this—and any--violation of our First Amendment rights.

Election/Voting

1.    Postcards to Voters' volunteers are still working on a January 8 Virginia special election with Campaign 140: Jennifer Boysko for State Senate. Let's help finish the list by requesting 5 addresses today. Rogan's List and Postcards To Voters thank all our postcarding volunteers.  We made a difference in voter turnout in 2018. Let's keep up the good work of getting out the Democratic vote in 2019.

Other Actions

1.    In response to the GoFundMe to build the border wall... this one is for ladders to go over the wall, but the money goes to  Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services (RAICES):  https://www.gofundme.com/ladders-to-get-over-trump039s-wall

2.   Lawyer Moms of America  came together last June simply because they could not tolerate the separation of migrant children from their parents. They have tirelessly been working to help these families and now they want to bring some Christmas joy.  They've set up Amazon wish lists for families.  Here's how we can help:   https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/MD248T0D4IL2/ref=cm_go_nav_hz  We can also follow this amazing group on Facebook:  

3.   For the first time ever, the United States has been added to the list of the most dangerous countries for journalists.  https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/united-states-added-list-most-dangerous-countries-journalists-first-time-n949676  Let’s reach out to a few of our favorite journalists and thank them for the service they provide to our country. 

4.   From Sleeping Giants: We have word that Capital One is reconsidering their ad buy with Tucker Carlson Tonight. Help us help them make the right call by sending an email to their senior leadership. Contact: Lindsay Hansen VP Social Media, Capital One E-mail: lindsay.hansen@capitalone.com Template: Hi Lindsay, I'm reaching out to you as a member of the Sleeping Giants community to understand why Capital One is still advertising with Tucker Carlson Tonight. Tucker has long been distributing white nationalist talking points on his show. This week, he used his platform to claim that immigrants are making our country "dirtier." This seems completely at odds with your CEO's message on your Capital One's diversity page: "At Capital One, we aspire every day to create the best experiences for our associates and our customers. This begins with our commitment to build and foster a diverse and inclusive culture where every voice is heard and matters." If this is really what your company stands for, why are you putting your marketing budget towards supporting Tucker Carlson's white nationalist message on national TV every night? I encourage you to reconsider. Thanks [Your name]

5.   For the teachers among us, Southern Poverty Law Center's Teaching Tolerance has created a two-part series on teaching students about mass incarceration. The series highlights one teacher who explains the significance of the topic, and the activities she chose to help her students understand how our criminal justice system works. Let's check out the series (Part 1Part 2), then use the tools available at Teaching Tolerance to help build our own lesson plan.

6.   In November, after undergoing several rounds of chemotherapy and surgery for cancer, reporter Alex George received a call from her employer, Sinclair Broadcast Group, that they were terminating her contract before it was up. We can read more at Columbia Journalism Review.  Let's contact Sinclair to let them know we noticed what they did and do not approve. Sinclair Broadcasting Group is a right-wing media giant and largest television station owner in the United States. Last month they forced its nearly 200 local news networks to air a defense of Border Patrol agents tear gassing asylum-seeking migrants which they have defended as "commentary." (More at The Hill.)

7.   The United States Postal Service (USPS) rates are going up on January 27, 2019.  The rates described in this news release from USPS have since been approved. Notably for those of us who write to our legislators, the first-class mail rate will increase from $0.50 to $0.55. The postcard rate of $0.35 will remain the same. We can purchase "forever" stamps ahead of the increase at the current rate. Let's plan ahead for our 2019 mailing needs.

8.  From Living Room Conversations: Once again, The Daily Show is a role model for making comedic art that serves the purposes of positive social change.  http://www.cc.com/shows/the-daily-show-with-trevor-noah  Thanks also to Ally Tool Kit for giving some ideas that help people heal the wounds that hurt our nation and harm out families.  #TheRACEmethod#antiracism  Ready to learn more? Check out the Race and Ethnicity conversation guide Living Room Conversations created:  https://www.livingroomconversations.org/topics/race_and_ethnicity/

9.   The Arena is offering a training workshop for aspiring campaign staff from February 22-26, 2019 in Des Moines, Iowa. If we are interested in becoming campaign managers, organizing or financing directors, communications staff or organizers, we are invited to apply. Training will also include digital, data, leadership and management. The cost is $300, and aid is available. We can learn more about the workshop and apply here:  https://www.arena.run/academy

State Actions

1.    CA:  If we are a Veteran affected by the recent Camp Fire, or if we know people who are, we can check out this twitter thread for assistance. The Chico Veteran’s Resource Center is offering assistance with supplies and housing. We can also contact them to help out with their “Adopt a Veteran for Christmas “project and get a wish list for Veterans and their families who have lost so much in this fire:  https://mobile.twitter.com/Dobieblue/status/1075390820310671365  A thorough list of resources for fire survivors can be found in this thread:  https://mobile.twitter.com/planetscape/status/1062424214605627392

Marches/events/webinars/Tweetstorms to attend/organize

1.    Whether we align ourselves with the Women’s March, or March On, or Women’s March Alliance, or WoMen for All, or with no group at all, we have an opportunity to make history and march once again on January 19, 2019.  Check with your favorite organization or local folks to help or to find out what is happening.

Reading/Watching

1.    We're not done, but we worked hard and won back the House of Representatives -- and may local offices besides. But activism is tough work, and everyone needs a little down time. Curious what other resisters are doing to relax and recharge during the holidays? Check out this energizing piece from Political Charge, where "36 dedicated activists [discuss] how they’re approaching these final weeks before we ring in a new year."   https://politicalcharge.org/2018/12/18/36-activists-on-how-theyre-recharging-and-readying-for-2019/









12/19/18 

Contact Federal Government Officials


Find elected officials: https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials

Fax legislators for free: 

Or use Resistbot:  https://resist.bot/

Or use StampsLicked to have messages hand-delivered to our own legislators:  https://stampslicked.org/


1.    Savanna’s Act (S.1942), a bipartisan bill that would make it easier to track murders and abuse of Native American women, 84% of whom experience violence in their lifetime, is being blocked by House Judiciary Chair, Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), after passing by a voice vote in the Senate. https://www.westfargopioneer.com/news/government-and-politics/4543588-heitkamp-house-member-playing-petty-politics-blocks-savannas. Rep. Goodlatte, has not given a reason for blocking this relatively non-controversial measure that aims to substantially increase protections for Native Americans, and if the bill does not pass the House by the end of the year, it will have to be introduced all over again in the next Congress. Let’s contact Rep. Goodlatte (202-225-5431) and also tell our own MoCs to put pressure on him to stop blocking this bill.

2.   A group of bipartisan Senators is trying to inject language in a must-pass spending bill that would make it a crime for U.S. companies to participate in anti-Israel boycotts. https://thehill.com/homenews/house/421945-israel-boycott-fight-roils-democrats-in-year-end-spending-debate   Regardless of our positions on the Middle East, the right to engage in boycotts should not be a decision that is dictated by the government, and any law that attempts to challenge this is a dangerous threat to our human rights. Meanwhile, Bahia Amawai, a speech pathologist in the Texas public school system has just lost her job because she refused to sign an oath pledging not to boycott Israeli products. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/texas-speech-pathologist-fired-sign-israel-palestine-pledge-anti-bds-intercept-a8688031.html. Let’s tell our MoCs that we are against this ploy to sneak a controversial issue into a must-pass bill, and we want them to insist this language be taken out of any impending spending bills. Let’s also contact the Pflugerville Independent School District (512-594-0000) and ask that Ms. Amawai be immediately reinstated.

3.   Although no African American student has been implicated in any high-profile school shooting, Trump’s “school safety” commission formed after the Parkland, FL high school massacre--headed by Ed Secretary Betsy DeVos and including Acting AG Matthew Whitaker, HHS Secretary Alex Azar, and Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Neilsen--will formally recommend that the Trump administration rescind "groundbreaking" Obama-era policies that aimed to prevent disciplinary discrimination against students of color on the grounds that these make students less safe; no gun control provisions are recommended: 
https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2018/12/trumps-school-safety-commissions-strange-focus-on-discipline/578455/   Let’s tell these officials that we are not fooled: if “school safety” is really their object, they should disarm shooters, not permit the wildly disproportionate disciplining of students of color: DeVos 800-872-5327; Whitaker 202-353-1555; Azar 877-696-6775; Nielsen 202-282-8495.
  
4.   The Brennan Center for Justice has identified more than 100 emergency powers that “the president can invoke with the stroke of a pen.”  
https://www.brennancenter.org/press-release/president-has-extraordinary-authority-under-emergency-declarations-have-gone-unchecked Some of these powers “allow the president to shut down or take over radio stations and even suspend a law that prohibits government testing of chemical and biological weapons on unwitting human subjects.” Let’s join the Brennan Center in calling on our Members of Congress to review these powers and pass legislation to eliminate those that are not needed and to pass reforms to prevent their abuse.

5.  This month, the UN adopted the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR) and the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM). Although nonbinding, they include important commitments to uphold the human rights of refugees and migrants, support best practices, and work to end harmful ones. https://www.refugeesinternational.org/reports/2018/11/19/ensuring-that-the-global-compacts-on-refugees-and-migration-deliver  As a first step, governments must demonstrate political will by stepping up with funding to begin implementing the compacts’ commitments, and that requires action in Congress, so let's tell our MoCs to get busy writing and sponsoring funding legislation to support the GCR and GCM. 

6.   As the Mueller investigation continues to heat up and the Congressional session winds down, let’s take a moment to send holiday wishes to a MoC who has been serving admirably or an activist or journalist who helps keep us going.

Election/Voting

Other Actions

1.    As migrants like Jakelin Caal Maquin and her father make their way north through Mexico, they face constant danger from dehydration and exhaustion. Organizations like the Border Angels do their best to aid those arriving at the border through monthly water drops along common migrant routes and with free counseling and support for those who have recently crossed into the United States. If you have the resources to go to the border, or know someone who can, the coming months are the time to do it; the organization is looking for volunteers to help with water drops and lead tours of Friendship Park, where residents of the United States and Mexico can meet in person. We can read more about Jakelin's story here: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/dec/17/guatemalan-girl-jakelin-caal-maquin-death-crossing-us-border

2.   "Without a functional democracy in which everyone is included and represented, we can’t achieve any of our other priorities. All the issues we care about deeply: health care, immigration, ending wars, racial justice, climate change — fixing these things requires a democracy that is responsive to the people, not the powerful and wealthy." That's why House Democrats chose to make democracy reform the goal of their very first legislative act, H.R.1, and why Indivisible is working so hard to help us understand and demand that our MoCs support it.  Let’s read and understand:   

3.   From one of our own: Her death was not only preventable - it was predictable. 
http://time.com/5480503/jackeline-caal-death-dhs/   I have done enough work as a physician advocate with immigrants in detention - including children and dependent adults - to see this for what it is - a profound and ongoing humanitarian crisis. One that Flores Class Counsel has been litigating since the 1990s. This is NOT hyperbole. Our appeals will continue to fall on deaf ears unless we escalate. Instead of a women’s march, would physicians, faith leaders, and other friends be willing to engage in a coordinated sit-in at in district congressional offices around the country in January? The ask could be a triage nurse and state licensed physician on call (by telemedicine) or on site at every CBP/ICE facility (whether government run or subcontracted) where any immigrant is incarcerated for over 24 hours. If we feel we can be helpful, let’s contact Dona Kim Murphey on Facebook:  
https://www.facebook.com/dunkindona  or Twitter: @dunkindona

4.   While Cyntoia Brown is in the news right now as the governor of Tennessee considers clemency for her case, there are so many others in similar positions around the country who have been punished for trying to save themselves from an abuser.  Survived & Punished is a national project to end the criminalization of survivors of domestic and sexual violence.  Here’s a case in Wisconsin:  http://www.kenoshanews.com/news/local/defense-seeks-evidence-victim-in-homicide-was-under-investigation-for/article_39689544-b283-5b99-9025-5cfd75245c95.html There are so many in New York that Survived & Punished has a petition asking “Governor Cuomo to immediately use his clemency powers to free all criminalized survivors of gender violence who are currently held in New York state prisons”.  Let’s sign it:   https://campaigns.organizefor.org/petitions/demand-gov-cuomo-free-criminalized-survivors-of-gender-violence  Let’s be on the look out for these types of situations and see how we can help.

5.   From one of our own:  Although the Twitterstorm is over, we can still tweet from this Save Yemen tweetsheet:  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/196H-IKh1r2gp80vpMfiewasjm3ZvDRHHa6x7EQptKZw/edit?fbclid=IwAR1vbsKPKXAuqjtngDRuZaK6rDYmMsj4Z7AZCOFOH1b_wM_hLGoqDeWgoZg#gid=0

6.   Trump's new campaign ad asks that people to call and thank him for helping to make America great again (and then asks for a donation).  
https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-2020-ad-claims-he-achieved-more-any-president-history-urges-1262708  Instead of watching the ad, let's just call the number (800-684-3043) and tell him what's on our minds.  

7.   On Monday, two reports to the Senate’s intelligence committee were revealed; they show that Russian online propagandists aggressively targeted African Americans during the 2016 election campaign, using social media to “confuse, distract, and ultimately discourage” black people and other pro-Clinton blocs from voting.  The reports claim that the Russian social media campaign, conducted on Facebook, Twitter, Google, and others, was meant to inflame anger about skewed rates of poverty, incarceration and the use of force by police among black Americans in order to “divert their political energy away from established political institutions”; both fault social media executives who “misrepresented or evaded” and “dissembled” in their Congressional testimony and failed to turn over data: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/dec/17/russian-propagandists-targeted-african-americans-2016-election  We, the users, must pressure the social media giants to take responsibility for their sites: Google, 1600 Amphitheatre Pkwy, Mountain View, CA 94043 or 650-253-0000 or FAX 650-253-0001;   Facebook Board of Directors, Corporate Secretary, 1601 Willow Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025 or 650-308-7300;  Twitter, Inc., Corporate Secretary, 1355 Market St., Suite 900, San Francisco, CA 94103 or 415-222-9670

8.   A growing number of “advertisers have now dropped “Tucker Carlson Tonight” after the Fox News host said in a show last Thursday that immigrants to the United States made the country “poorer” and “dirtier.””  https://www.thewrap.com/tucker-carlson-dropped-advertisers-sponsors-immigrant-flap/  Let’s support those companies that no longer advertise there:  Pacific Life, Indeed, Bowflex, SmileDirectClub, NerdWallet, Minted, Ancestry.com and Jaguar.   Then, let’s start asking other advertisers on the show to stop:  https://www.foxnewsadvertisers.com/2018/10/22/top-tucker-carlson-advertisers-3q2018-quarterly-summary/

9.   From one of our own:  Michigan Support Circle is trying to raise rent for a very young family reunited in Michigan.  Let’s learn more about this family and see if we can help:  https://www.gofundme.com/fredy-and-family

10.  Indivisible.org has accomplished a lot in the past year and is looking to continue the good work of helping regular folks hone their activist skills. They’d like to expand the number of organizers they have on staff so that the number of local chapters can continue to grow. If we can, we can help them increase their staff by donating here: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/2019-orgteam

11. The Dutch-based organization "De Correspondent" provides an ad-free antidote to breaking news for more than 60,000 members, making it one of the largest and fastest growing member-funded journalism platforms in Europe. Now, the American version, "The Correspondent", will launch in mid-2019.   Media critic Jay Rosen discusses "The Correspondent", his work to bring it to English-speaking audiences and the benefits of member-funded journalism with Comedy Central's Daily Show host Trevor Noah here. We can contribute to its success by choosing what we pay for a one-year membership to their ad-free site at The Correspondent. Let's support quality in-depth reporting.

State Actions

1.    NY: Governor Cuomo’s 2019 legislative agenda calls for improvements to representative democracy, including allowing voting by mail, enacting early voting, instituting same day and automatic voter registration, synchronizing federal and state elections, and making Election Day a state holiday. In addition, Cuomo is proposing campaign finance reforms, including closing the LLC loophole, banning corporate campaign contributions, overhauling the campaign finance system, and ending outside income for lawmakers. https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-cuomo-unveils-agenda-first-100-days-2019-justice-agenda If we’re in New York, let’s tell Gov Cuomo (https://www.governor.ny.gov/content/governor-contact-form)  and our state legislators (https://openstates.org/) that we want these reforms enacted into law.

2.  VA:  VA ratify ERA is working to collect petition signatures to show that there is support by Virginians for the ratification of the ERA.  Here’s how we can help:  https://varatifyera.org/toolkit/collect-petition-signatures/

Marches/events/webinars/Tweetstorms to attend/organize

1.    Lifting Hands International, a small grassroots refugee aid 501c3, operates a refugee center in northern Greece, next to a municipal camp of Yazidi refugees (all survivors of genocide). Recently the population almost tripled and now the camp is way over capacity and experiencing shortages. We can help Lifting Hands clothe, shelter and succor these refugees when we join this Twitterstorm TODAY, Wednesday, December 19, at 8pm Eastern Time to spread the word. Action Together Network’s Twitter Warriors  have put this together and made it easy for us to join in. When we click on this link, we will find prewritten tweets that we can send out with just a few clicks. Every tweet counts, so let’s get busy! 

2.   Whether we align ourselves with the Women’s March, or March On, or Women’s March Alliance, or WoMen for All, or with no group at all, we have an opportunity to make history and march once again on January 19, 2019.  Check with your favorite organization or local folks to help or to find out what is happening.

Reading/Watching

1.    Quoting 'The Lorax,' Court Pulls Permit For Pipeline Crossing Appalachian Trail - https://www.npr.org/2018/12/14/676950106/quoting-the-lorax-court-pulls-permit-for-pipeline-crossing-appalachian-trail

2.   A Complete Guide to All 17 (Known) Trump and Russia Investigations -  https://www.wired.com/story/mueller-investigation-trump-russia-complete-guide/

3.   Our Government Is Deliberately Inflicting Suffering on Asylum Seekers -
https://sojo.net/articles/our-government-deliberately-inflicting-suffering-asylum-seekers

4.   What We Now Know About Russian Disinformation - https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/17/opinion/russia-report-disinformation.html