We're pleased to
announce that Rogan's List is now officially on Twitter!
We will be featuring
actions from each day's List and other vetted items at twitter.com/roganslist. Please follow,
retweet and share!
Contact Federal Government Officials
********************************
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.
With the
CR budget running out tomorrow night and despite Congress’ willingness to forge
a bipartisan DACA bill and the country’s overwhelming support for it, Trump
keeps changing his stance and now says he’d love a government shutdown if an
immigration deal does not “get rid of these loopholes where killers are allowed
to come into our country” http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-42954910 Research shows that immigration does not bring
crime: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/fact-check-immigration-doesnt-bring-crime-u-s-data-say Let’s
tell our MoCs that we expect them to vote for and put forward a clean DACA
bill. If Trump does not sign it and
there is a shutdown, it will be on him.
2.
With two
days to go until the current budget resolution ends, Trump tweeted again his
vehement opposition to the visa lottery program, designed to diversify the US
immigrant population, and to “chain migration,” the putatively family-friendly
White House’s pejorative name for what is elsewhere called “family
reunification.” Likewise, he has made it clear that he prefers a government
shutdown to not getting his way on defense spending. His Defense
Secretary Jim Mattis told the House Armed Services Committee that Congress
should “not let disagreements on domestic policy continue to hold our nation’s
defense hostage”; apparently holding underfunded domestic programs that serve
Americans “hostage” is okay.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/spending-plan-remains-unsettled-as-clock-ticks-toward-shutdown-deadline/2018/02/06/1639ab26-0b53-11e8-8b0d-891602206fb7_story.html We need to let our Democratic
senators—and especially Chuck Schumer (202-224-6542)—know that we are watching their votes and
will not countenance their giving in on funding domestic spending, selling out
DACA, or funding the “wall” in order to demonstrate a sham “bipartisanship.”
3.
Now that
the House Intelligence Committee has unanimously voted to release the 10-page
Schiff memo that rebuts the Nunes doctored memo, Trump has five days to decide
to release it. http://www.newsweek.com/trump-will-have-consider-releasing-democrat-counter-memo-800155 Let’s
contact our GOP MoCs who called for the release of the Nunes memo to now also
call for the release of the Schiff memo.
4.
When
Trump said that Democrats who did not applaud for him at the State of the Union
marked them for treason, it became apparent that he’d never watched one
before. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/02/05/trump-blasts-treasonous-democrats-not-applauding-his-state-union-address/301962002/ Loyalty
is owed to country, not party, not person. Applause is a demonstration of
approval, appreciation, acclamation, or the like. No approval, no applause.
Let’s let our MoCs know that we know this and are not falling for this
authoritarian version of our presidency and hope they are not either.
5.
Multiple
states are seeking exemptions from the Interior Department's proposed offshore
drilling http://wapo.st/2ELydNY We have until March 9th to
comment on Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke's proposed rule:
http://wapo.st/2B2L8aH http://bit.ly/2FF6Gxq Let's leave a comment, voicing our
opposition to offshore drilling expansions here: http://bit.ly/2CWJi0F
6.
“Epidemiologists
at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health say they've
identified the largest cluster of advanced black lung disease ever reported.” "We've
gone from having nearly eradicated PMF [the worst form of black lung] in the
mid-1990s to the highest concentration of cases that anyone has ever seen.” https://www.npr.org/2018/02/06/583456129/black-lung-study-biggest-cluster-ever-of-fatal-coal-miners-disease This
is while Trump is considering backtracking on regulations/protections for these
coal miners. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-12-15/trump-reconsiders-rules-protecting-miners-from-black-lung Let’s
contact the White House and our MoCs to ask for more and better protection for
these workers. White House: https://www.usa.gov/federal-agencies/white-house
7.
Activists
across the country are stepping up the pressure on the Senate to block Thomas
Farr from getting a lifetime appointment as a federal judge. As Delegate
Eleanor Holmes Norton put it, Farr has spent his entire career “working against
the rights of African-Americans,” with a record of not only defending racist
voter suppression laws but actually participating in efforts to suppress black
voters (http://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article195344959.html). Let’s call our senators and tell them the
right to vote is sacred, and we want them to oppose Farr and any other federal
judge who can’t be trusted to protect it for everyone. We can use this script
from 5 Calls:
8.
Perhaps
as a response to Trump not enforcing the Russia sanctions that overwhelming
passed both houses of Congress, last month Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL)
and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) introduced the “Defending Elections from
Threats by Establishing Redlines (DETER) Act,” S.
2313,
which lays out specific foreign actions against U.S. elections that would
warrant penalties from the federal government.
http://thehill.com/policy/cybersecurity/369056-bipartisan-senators-move-to-deter-future-election-interference Now, Reps. Ileana
Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) and Brad Schneider (D-IL) have
now introduced the House version of the bill, H.R.
4884. http://thehill.com/policy/cybersecurity/370870-house-lawmakers-introduce-bill-to-deter-election-meddling andhttp://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/foreign-policy/372394-taking-a-strong-stance-to-protect-election-integrity Let’s encourage our MoCs to sign on as
co-sponsors and to support this legislation.
9.
He liked
what he saw in France and now Trump wants his own military parade and show of
American might. http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/372634-pentagon-planning-grand-military-parade-for-trump-report and https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trumps-marching-orders-to-the-pentagon-plan-a-grand-military-parade/2018/02/06/9e19ca88-0b55-11e8-8b0d-891602206fb7_story.html?utm_term=.60554fd86387 The
last such military parade was in June 1991 to celebrate the end of Operation
Desert Storm. Let’s let the White House
and our MoCs know that we do not support such a parade. If we do not have the money to help provide for
our most vulnerable, including children, the elderly, and veterans, we certainly
do not have the money to satisfy a show off.
Let’s tell the Department of Defense the same thing: https://www.defense.gov/Resources/Contact-DoD/
10. Representative Devin Nunes, Chairman of the
House Intelligence Committee, has failed to act in accordance with his recusal
from the Russia investigation (http://read.bi/2nE4aA6), and now Ranking Member Adam Schiff is
voicing his concern that Nunes may have worked with the White House in creating
controversy with the GOP memo http://bit.ly/2GNDzJ9 We have been derailed for long enough;
Representative Nunes needs to be removed from his position as Chairman of the
House Intelligence Committee. Let's contact Speaker of the House Paul Ryan ((202) 225-3031), Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi ((202) 225-0100), and our own representatives, letting them
know that we no longer trust Representative Nunes to lead the Intelligence
Committee.
Election 2018 -
General
1.
Almost
before we could celebrate our victory over Roy Moore, ex-sheriff Joe Arpaio
announced his intention to run for Senate in Arizona: https://www.economist.com/blogs/democracyinamerica/2018/01/good-our-country Unrepentant in the wake of his conviction
for contempt of court (and his subsequent pardoning by Trump), Arpaio is set to
weaponize his racist, xenophobic base and nationwide fundraising ability
to keep the Senate seat in Republican hands. He has a realistic chance of
gaining the Republican nomination, and although he would
probably face a strong Democratic candidate (Krysten Sinema), note
that the state hasn't sent a Democrat to the Senate since 1988.
Arizona deserves better than Joe Arpaio, so let's find a way to help Dems turn this
seat blue – no matter where we live! http://www.azdem.org/volunteer
2.
Postcards
to Voters is on its 52nd campaign, this time in support of Phil Spagnuolo in NH
where Dems flipped 6 of the last 8 special elections. Their next try is on 2/27
in Belknap County District 3. Let's do this! Get in on the fun! Text JOIN to
(484) 275-2229 or email Join@TonyTheDemocrat.org
Election 2018 –
By State
Other Actions
1.
Sean
Hannity tweeted yesterday, “Have something you want to say to me? Just call the
#HannityHotline (877) 225-8587 and leave me a message.” Let’s politely do so.
2.
We know
social media helped to spread disinformation during the election. But YouTube
has not been as much in focus. This eye-opening and deep piece should get our
attention: “'YouTube is the most overlooked story of 2016,' Zeynep
Tufekci, a widely respected sociologist and technology critic, tweeted back in October. 'Its search and
recommender algorithms are misinformation engines.'" Let's read
this well-researched article to understand better how YouTube works -- and
how we might be manipulated by it. Let's be more careful about what we
click:
3.
Vanessa
Otero has come out with version 3.1 of her media bias chart. Find it and read about it here: http://www.allgeneralizationsarefalse.com/chart-3-1-minor-updates-based-constructive-feedback/
4.
“CODEPINK is a women-led grassroots organization
working to end U.S. wars and militarism, support peace and human rights
initiatives, and redirect our tax dollars into healthcare, education, green
jobs and other life-affirming programs.”
CODEPINK is sponsoring a “Divest from the War Machine” effort the week
of Feb. 5-11. Let’s sign up for daily
actions here: http://www.codepink.org/woa_signup
5.
The
Austin, Texas city council has passed a resolution "not to procure services
from
any company involved in the design,
construction, or maintenance of the border wall," with support from Austin
Mayor Steve Adler:
http://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=292157 http://bit.ly/2nKvJqG Let's send a big "Thank you!"
to the Austin City Council for taking a strong stance against dangerous
nationalism and anti-immigration efforts https://www.austintexas.gov/email/all-council-members
6.
From one
of our own: The University of Chicago
has invited Steve Bannon to campus to debate an expert on immigration and
globalization. Alumni unhappy with their alma mater legitimizing Bannon are
pushing back, and looking to send a message to Bannon that they’re going to
stand with the communities he attacks (https://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago-politics/1000-u-of-c-alums-sign-letter-to-protest-invitation-to-steve-bannon/). They’ve launched a #SouthSideNotSteve
fundraiser where we can pledge money to community organizations on the South
Side of Chicago for every minute Bannon speaks at the U of C campus. Let’s
consider joining them at this link: https://pledgeit.org/southsidenotsteve
Marches/events/webinars/Tweetstorms to
attend/organize
States
1. AR:
Those of us who vote in Arkansas must verify our voter registration when we go
to the polls. Here are the new rules: https://static.ark.org/eeuploads/elections/Verification_of_Reg._Rule_FINAL.PDF If
we are voters in Arkansas, let’s be ready to meet these requirements, and let’s
make sure our fellow voters are ready, too.
2.
GA:
Spread the Vote https://www.spreadthevote.org/ fights voter suppression by helping
people get the IDs they need to register to vote. A volunteer training session
will be taking place at the Athens-Clarke County Library, 2025
Baxter St, Athens, GA on Monday,
February 26, 6PM-7PM. If we’re in Georgia, let’s sign up here:
Reading/Watching
1.
“Boycott
the Republican Party: If conservatives want to save the GOP from itself,
they need to vote mindlessly and mechanically against its nominees” - https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2018/03/boycott-the-gop/550907/
2.
“Fake news sharing in US is a rightwing thing,
says study” - https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/feb/06/sharing-fake-news-us-rightwing-study-trump-university-of-oxford
3.
Turns out the macroeconomic effects of a
one-time student debt cancellation are not what we might have thought.
Take a look at this report from the Sanders Institute, prepared by Stephanie
Kelton, professor of public policy and economics and formerly a minority party
chief economist for the Senate Budget Committee:
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.