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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.
We’ve known
for a while that Stephen Miller is the ultimate racist behind the Trump
administration’s immigration policy, but now Miller’s own uncle has penned a
powerful op-ed about his infamous, disturbing nephew. Stephen Miller’s uncle, David Glosser, whose
family immigrated to the United States from eastern Europe at the turn of the
20th century is ashamed of his nephew’s leadership in the current
administration’s immoral and mean-spirit immigration policy. There’s a word for
this in Yiddish: shanda--which means shame. Glosser states, “I have
watched with dismay and increasing horror as my nephew, who is an educated man
and well aware of his heritage, has become the architect of immigration
policies that repudiate the very foundation of our family’s life in this
country. . .” Let’s read Glosser's article in Politico and
tell our MoCs that they need to do more to reverse this administration’s
immigrant and refugee policies.
2.
Unfortunately,
Secretary of Defense James Mattis has reversed his position on Space Force – he
had originally been against it: http://thehill.com/policy/defense/401501-mattis-defends-reversing-his-stance-on-trumps-space-force Let’s
let Mattis know that there are plenty of issues here on Earth that need our
attention without feeding into Trump’s madness: 1000 Defense Pentagon,
Washington, DC 20301-1000
3.
From one
of our own: Call your Senators and tell
them to vote against the confirming David Porter as a judge. More information
here https://www.afj.org/our-work/nominees/david-porter .
Also tell them to vote against appointment of Kathy Kraninger to head the
Consumer Financial Protection Board (CFPB). . http://thehill.com/policy/finance/400638-vulnerable-dems-side-with-warren-in-battle-over-consumer-bureau?userid=200565.
Kraninger has no experience in this area and is expected to follow Acting
Director Mick Mulvaney’s lead in limiting the board’s scope and power. Tell your
Senators that you want to see a CFPB head who will follow the Board’s original
mission of protecting consumers from corporate financial abuse of power, and to
vote no on Kraninger’s confirmation.
4.
Thanks
to our calls, the Senate passed a bipartisan Farm Bill in June that protects
SNAP (food stamps). Now the Congressional Conference Committee needs to work out the
differences between the Senate and the House bills, which takes away food
assistance from millions of hungry American families (http://www.agweek.com/business/agriculture/4482864-north-dakota-shape-new-farm-bill).
Let's make sure Congress knows we support the Senate version. Find scripts to
use and a petition to sign here.
5.
In yet
another example of Kavanaugh being unfit to serve on the Supreme Court, we can
take a look at his stance on disability rights and bodily autonomy. In a 2007
ruling, Kavanaugh overruled multiple court orders, and determined that those
who have been deemed "medically incompetent" can be subject to
elective surgery without their own consent or input (https://bit.ly/2B3tmJG).
The case had involved three intellectually disabled women who had been subject
to elective procedures: two abortions and one eye surgery. However, Kavanaugh's
ruling stated that the claim that their constitutional rights had been violated
was "meritless." Because of this, along with his opposition to the
Affordable Care Act, the Association
of University Centers on Disabilities is
opposing Kavanaugh's nomination:
https://www.aucd.org/template/news.cfm?news_id=13620&id=17 Let's
make sure that as we are calling our MoC, we are pointing out that Kavanaugh's
appointment to the Supreme Court would be a danger to disabled individuals
across the U.S.
6.
While
the Justice Department settlement to allow the distribution of blueprints for
3D printed guns has gained plenty of media attention, it is part of a broader
issue: accessibility, manufacture, and distribution of untraceable firearms, or
"ghost guns":
(https://www.wired.com/story/ghost-gun-machine-makes-untraceable-handguns/, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/27/us/ghost-guns-gabby-giffords.html).
Last month, Senator Blumenthal (D-CT), along with 15 cosponsors, introduced the
Untraceable Firearms Act (S.3300),
which would amend the current U.S. Code by amending the definition of an
untraceable firearm, and specifically include 3D printing as an example of
firearms manufacturing (https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/3300/text).
Let's call our senators and ask them to support this
7.
In yet
another example of legislative overreach, Congress is currently considering the
Preventing Emerging Threats Act of 2018 (S.2836/H.R.
6401). Thse
bills would give the Justice Department and Department of Homeland
Security, but not local officials, broad power to intercept, disable,
and/or destroy drones without warning or clear justification. https://www.aclu.org/letter/coalition-letter-opposing-s-2836-preventing-emerging-threats-act-2018 They would wield this power with zero
oversight beyond semiannual reports to Congress, during which they would have
no requirement to account for the damage done to private property or our
Constitutional rights. Numerous civil rights watchdogs oppose so let's give
these bills a big thumbs-down when talking with our MoCs this week.
8.
Not
content with the havoc they have already wreaked, Trump’s Dept of Homeland Security
is now proposing a change in the “public charge” rule that would make
recipients of children’s health insurance, SNAP, WIC, tax credits for low- to
moderate-income families, as well as housing and transit subsidies ineligible
to become permanent legal residents; currently, only cash benefits are
considered in determining whether an immigrant is a “public charge”: https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaViewRule?pubId=201710&RIN=1615-AA22
While meant, no doubt, to galvanize Republicans before the midterms, this
change could effect one million people in New York City alone:
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/13/nyregion/welfare-immigrants-trump-public-charge-rule.html
We must be vigilant and watch for the public comment period that should precede
a rule change of this kind. Let's comment and alert our MoCs.
9.
From one
of our own: Call your representative and
ask them to tell Ryan to ask for the resignations of Rep Collins and Rep Nunez.
Collins for insider trading and Nunez for defending Trump rather than the rule
of law. In a closed-door fundraising session last week, Devin Nunes (R-CA)
and Chair of the House Intelligence Committee, claimed that keeping a GOP majority
was the only way to protect Trump from the outcome of the Mueller investigation
since collusion can be a crime. https://www.newsweek.com/nunes-admits-collusion-can-be-crime-secret-recordings-1064999.
10. While headlines about immigrant family
separation are less prominent than they were a few weeks ago, we should not be
resting on this issue until every family is reunited. https://www.kqed.org/news/11683623/months-after-her-dad-was-deported-young-girl-still-alone-in-u-s-shelter Let’s keep leaning on our MoCs to do
everything possible to reunite families like the one featured in this moving article.
Election
2018 – General
An election guide
from Postcards
for America: In
this Google doc (updated regularly), each State shows ALL Democratic Candidates
running for Congress, Governor, Lt Gov, Attorney General, Secretary of State
(if applicable) with links to their websites and Twitter. Each has a link to a
Twitter Thread, a Shareable Facebook Post and a Document. For most States,
there are also Info & Links for Voter Registrations, Absentee Ballots,
Early Voting & Voter ID, Age Requirements and being a Poll Worker. Let’s
check this out and use and share it:
1.
Whether
it's emoluments, emissions standards or printable guns, Democratic state
attorneys general are on the front lines of the fight against Trump - and
they're earning plenty of victories for common sense and the rule of law (https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/politics/3D-Printable-Guns-States-Lawsuit-489617081.html). We have a chance to add to their ranks in November
and help Democratic candidates up and down the ballot in places like Nevada,
Texas and Georgia. Let's join Open Progress' text troop and text voters to help
elect more Democratic AGs! You can sign up here: https://www.openprogress.com/text-troop.
2.
As we
head into the last few months before the midterms, Republicans will be trying
to garner votes by touting the strong economy. However, the true facts are much
less rosy. Wages have fallen, http://thehill.com/policy/finance/401341-wages-drop-despite-economic-boom
3.
inflation
is higher, and the deficit, which the GOP was so concerned about during the
Obama years, has ballooned drastically. https://www.forbes.com/sites/chuckjones/2018/08/11/trumps-economic-scorecard-higher-inflation-flat-wages-and-a-ballooning-federal-deficit/#3a6bc9fa22fa. Let’s make sure to spread the true facts
about the economy when talking to our friends and family during this voting
season.
4.
The Coffee
Party is inviting us to become a #VoterBuddy and help our neighbors get registered,
get educated and get to the polls. We can sign up here: www.coffeepartyusa.com/voterbuddy
Election
2018 – By State
1.
Upcoming
voting dates and deadlines:
|
August 14
|
Vermont
|
Voter Registration Deadline
|
Primary
|
|
August 14
|
Wisconsin
|
Voter Registration Deadline
|
Primary
|
|
August 14
|
Connecticut
|
Election date
|
Primary
|
|
August 14
|
Minnesota
|
Election date
|
Primary
|
|
August 14
|
Vermont
|
Election date
|
Primary
|
|
August 14
|
Wisconsin
|
Election date
|
Primary
|
|
August 14
|
Arkansas
|
Election date
|
State Senate Dist 8
|
|
August 15
|
Massachusetts
|
Voter Registration Deadline
|
Primary
|
|
August 17
|
New York (state)
|
Voter Registration Deadline
|
Primary
|
|
August 18
|
Florida
|
Early Voting Begins
|
Primary
|
|
August 20
|
Wyoming
|
In person absentee voting ends
|
Primary
|
|
August 21
|
Wyoming
|
Voter Registration Deadline
|
Primary (same day registration)
|
|
August 21
|
Alaska
|
Election date
|
Primary
|
|
August 21
|
Wyoming
|
Election date
|
Primary
|
|
August 23
|
Oklahoma
|
Early Voting begins
|
Runoffs
|
|
August 25
|
Oklahoma
|
Early voting ends
|
Runoffs
|
|
August 25
|
Guam
|
Election date
|
Primary
|
|
August 25
|
Florida
|
Early Voting ends
|
Primary
|
(source: by date:
https://goo.gl/gjFv2u by state:
https://goo.gl/7gTzvE)
2.
Upcoming Primaries:
A)
Tuesday, 8/14
If we are looking
for a pro-choice voter guide for Tuesday, it’s here.
B)
Tuesday, 8/28
Other
Actions
1. Though
it is painful for us to be discussing Nazi rallies in our country, let’s just
take a moment to pause in gratitude for the people who made these words
possible “Massive counter-protests dwarf Unite the Right 2 rally”: http://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/401490-massive-counterprotests-dwarf-unite-the-right-2-rally Onwards Resistance!
2. Dr.
Dona Kim Murphey and immigration and human rights attorney Hope Frye have had
privileged insight into the issue of immigration detention. Together they have created Project
Lifeline and
are asking us to “apply pressure on the government to legislate the humane
treatment of detainees. Join all people of good conscience to shine a light on
a problem that well before and well beyond the family separation story, will
continue to cause profound suffering. 70,000 immigrant children were arrested
and detained in the last two years...” https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10105167745912561&id=7197 They
will caravan from Houston and San Antonio on Sat, Sept 29 to offer to address
the human rights violations of detained immigrants by delivering aid in a
classic relief effort - food, water, warmth, and basic medical care. White
coats, white collars, and people of good conscience will apply pressure on the
government to legislate the humane treatment of detainees with the launch of
Project Lifeline. Let’s help however we
can:
3. Last
week, ProPublica informed us about the Mar-a-Lago members influencing the
Veteran's Administration. Now, ProPublica
is providing us with a download that includes
hundreds of pages of documents obtained from the Department of Veterans Affairs
through the Freedom of Information Act. The data shows how three outside
advisers who often meet at Mar-a-Lago wield vast influence over the agency. If
we are data wonks, we'll want to check this out.
4. From
one of our own: So, this is fun.... take this quiz that asks NON-political
questions to predict your party affiliation. It predicted me. https://www.upworthy.com/these-27-non-political-questions-can-predict-whether-you-re-a-republican-or-democrat
Marches/events/webinars/Tweetstorms to
attend/organize
1.
On Thursday, August 16, join hundreds of
volunteers for a host call to learn how you can plan a successful Organizing
for '18 House Party on Saturday, August 25 at 8PM EDT, and start mobilizing
folks to volunteer for crucial campaigns this fall, and make their voices heard
at the polls this November. We can sign
up for the webinar here: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_4c4n3bQmROGtDI1PKRMpPw
2.
Evidence is piling up that Brett Kavanaugh cannot
be trusted to protect the right to choose or check executive power (https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/29/us/brett-kavanaugh-signing-statements.html). So activists across the country are coming
together for a 50-state day of action against his nomination on August 26th.
Let’s find an event near us or start our own here.
3.
Experts say we are already starting to see the
impacts of climate change playing out in real time with extreme weather
patterns: (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/jul/27/extreme-global-weather-climate-change-michael-mann). We cannot wait for action. On September
8th, people all over the world are coming together in a coordinated call
for local action for the climate, jobs and justice. We can find a Rise for Climate event near us here, or we can sign up to organize our own.
States
1.
CA: The federal
government has let us down on net neutrality, so now it's up to the states.
"California state senator Scott Wiener, a Democrat, re-introduced Senate Bill 822 this week, a bill that would establish the
most robust net neutrality protections in the country." https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/mb4x8y/californias-net-neutrality-bill-is-back-from-the-dead-with-the-help-of-its-biggest-detractor It could become a model for the other states,
but only if it passes! Let's find our state senate and assembly reps
here: http://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov and tell them California wants them to
support this bill.
2.
MOST: Last week, GOP Massachusetts Gov. Charlie
Baker signed a bill allowing for automatic voter registration (AVR). The
Massachusetts law expands opportunity for AVR beyond just motor vehicle offices
to health-provider MassHealth. Let's read more at Brennan Center for
Justice. We can check out AVR by state at
Ballotpedia. If our state does not yet have AVR, let's
encourage our state legislators to take up this issue in their next session. If
we are on Twitter, let's use #AVRforAll when we highlight the issue.
Reading/Watching
1.
“There Won’t
Even Be a Paper Trail”: Has Stephen
Miller Become a Shadow Master at the State Department - https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2018/08/stephen-miller-refugees-state-department
2.
My friend
Rashida: far more than the first Muslim American congresswoman - https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/aug/10/my-friend-rashida-far-more-than-the-first-muslim-american-congresswoman
3.
An example of how important the media is in
shifting the public conversation, with the hope of changing common practice, and
effecting policy:
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