Rogan's List

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: 

Reps:  https://faxzero.com/fax_congress.php

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

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

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

White House contact:  https://www.usa.gov/federal-agencies/white-house

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:  

https://www.facebook.com/lawyermomsofamerica/

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 1, Part 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/