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12/17/19

Here's a fun way to support groups working to increase voter participation!
 It would make a fun holiday gift to our favorite activists! 
 Click here for info:  bit.ly/dirtytrickskickstarter


 NATIONAL ISSUES




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/



IMPEACHMENT RALLIES AND VOTE:  Momentum is building as the House vote on impeachment is tomorrow: https://apnews.com/cebb308b1c7bd81e715da5d2bd51a47a  and  https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-impeachment-poll/trump-campaign-says-impeachment-backfiring-not-really-polls-suggest-idUSKBN1YK0XP  In addition to attending one of the Tuesday evening  www.impeach.org  rallies, let’s stay connected with our MoC in the lead-up to the vote to show our support and gratitude or to implore them to do the right thing depending on their stance.

CONTRIBUTE OUR IMPEACHMENT RALLY VIDEOS TO A NATIONAL VIDEO: With Impeachment rallies set for TODAY, 5:30 local time. DemCast will be working with Eleven Films to do up a video of events tomorrow.  We can find our Impeach Rally at https://www.impeach.org/event/impeach-and-remove-attend/search/ After the event, we can email our videos to Jamie@Demcastusa.com

DEMAND THAT MITCH MCCONNELL AND LINDSEY GRAHAM RECUSE THEMSELVES FROM THE SENATE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL: Anyone who has been called for jury duty knows that there are tons of small reasons that jurors might not be able to serve on a case due to pre-established bias. In fact, at the time of the OJ Simpson trial, the standing joke was that they wouldn’t be able to find people to be on a jury because nearly everyone had read the newspapers and already made up their mind. Yet Senator Lindsay Graham has publicly said he’s already made up his mind, https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-impeachment-trial-lindsey-graham-senate-republicans-ukraine-biden-a9248336.html and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has gone even further, coordinating with the White House on the parameters of the trial. This is not what a jury does, and this was not the intent of the founding fathers, who are probably rolling in their graves. Let’s join the call by Florida Congresswoman Val Demings https://floridapolitics.com/archives/313523-val-demings-charges-mitch-mcconnell-cannot-take-oath-for-impeachment-must-withdraw? and ask our MoCs to demand that both McConnell and Graham recuse themselves from the proceedings because we expect a fair trial that upholds the Constitution.

ASK PELOSI TO APPOINT JUSTIN AMASH AS AN IMPEACHMENT MANAGER: Congressman Justin Amash (I-MI) is an Independent Congressman who, since leaving the Republican Party, has made strong, clear arguments in favor of impeachment. He has also taken Senators McConnell and Graham to task for their stated intent to acquit Trump no matter what the evidence shows. For these reasons and more, over 30 Democratic Members of Congress support making Amash an Impeachment Manager, who would argue the case for impeachment to the Senate. The Clinton trial had 14 Impeachment Managers, so there is plenty of room, also adding Amash to the team would make it bi-partisan, and potentially more credible with some conservative voters.
We can read more about Amash and the reasons 30 MOC’s are calling for him to be an impeachment manager in this Newsweek article. https://www.newsweek.com/30-democrats-push-ex-gop-lawmaker-justin-amash-become-impeachment-manager-trump-senate-trial-1477360 We can then call our reps, or Speaker Pelosi directly,  at  202-224-3121 to ask that Speaker Pelosi appoint Justin Amash to be one of the Impeachment Managers.

IMPEACHMENT TEXTING:  From one of our own:  IMPEACHMENT TEXTS ARE LIVE! This is our chance to make our mark on the impeachment vote. We’re texting 100,000 contacts in thirteen key congressional districts. Help us put pressure on vulnerable Republicans and keep the Democrats united ahead of this important vote! Can you send texts today?  Start texting: https://rr.team/spoke  Instructions: 

HOW TO WRITE IMPEACHMENT OP-EDs:  Indivisible has put together a short guide to help people write op-eds in support of impeachment for their local paper. It's a great way to be seen by your Congressperson but also by the local community. There is power in seeing that you have neighbors who feel the way you do about impeachment. The national news conversation may or may not match what you're seeing locally. Indivisible's guide includes a tool to help you find local papers that will accept your op-ed, talking points to include, writing tips, and a sample op-ed to give you some ideas. (h/t Political Charge)

HELP PERSUADE REPUBLICAN SENATORS TO IMPEACH:  From one of our own:  I heard two Republicans say (on George Stephanopoulos) that if more than TWO Republicans vote for impeachment, Donald Trump will be in serious trouble. So, I’m suggesting a new goal for us – to persuade THREE Republicans to vote for impeachment.  Let’s click here for instructions:   https://drive.google.com/open?id=1USoTO6RGswkzv-NKm0DsxL9uFBxOS9Dp

DEMAND FAIR ASYLUM HEARINGS FOR MIGRANTS STRANDED IN MEXICO. Since the Remain in Mexico Program took effect, only 0.1% of the cases heard have resulted in asylum being granted. Meanwhile, 636 cases of kidnapping, torture, and violence against asylum-seekers (including 138 cases of child-kidnapping) have been reported. Let’s make sure to read this eye-opening article from the LA Times about the many ways the system is now even more stacked against people fleeing their home countries because of violence. Then, let’s call our MoCs one more time and demand that they do something about ending this program. 

DEMAND CLIMATE ACTION: “Congress is currently considering legislation that would provide federal tax incentives for clean energy and electric vehicles—a critical down payment on our nation’s efforts to help limit climate change impacts.” Let’s send a letter to our Senators through the Union of Concerned Scientists and tell them to support clean energy and transportation incentives in 2019: https://www.ucsusa.org/

HOLD ICE ACCOUNTABLE: "The New Sanctuary Coalition (NSC) accompaniment program recruits and trains volunteers to accompany people facing deportation to their immigration hearings and ICE check-ins. This provides moral support to the person facing deportation and enables volunteers to hold immigration authorities accountable." 
https://www.newsanctuarynyc.org/accompaniment_training This group is based in NYC, but similar trainings are available in most states. For the nearest immigrants' rights group near us, check out this spreadsheet: 
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1onS-oiXj20IYTeaKNtan_4SB7ccv3Ypg5efqBRIkUgg/edit#gid=0 Let's consider becoming volunteers to help protect immigrants and bear witness to ICE's misbehavior!

ACCURACY OF 2020 CENSUS AT RISK:  The crucial accuracy of the 2020 Census, on the basis of which political representation and federal funding are allocated, is gravely at risk; California and some other states and cities will devote huge sums to counting their residents, but not surprisingly, 24 states, including population-heavy Texas, Florida, and Ohio, will spend nothing; 17 of the 24 have Republican governors and legislatures, while only 4 of the 26 states spending on the census are Republican-controlled. Excluding people from harder-to-count and heavily Democratic groups like Hispanics, African-Americans, Asians, and the poor, not to mention those without access to the new online census form, would shore up the Republican vote: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/money-power-fearing-undercount-states-cities-pour-millions-2020-census-n1061961 or https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/15/us/census-california-texas-undercount.html  It is urgent that we offer our support, time, or dollars to whichever private entities are working to ensure a fair count (In Texas, these include the Center for Public Policy Priorities, Communities Foundation of Texas, the Hogg Foundation, the United Way, and certain big cities).

HALLMARK AND DIVERSITY: “”The Hallmark Channel, reversing what it called a “wrong decision,” said Sunday it will reinstate commercials featuring same-sex couples that it had pulled following a complaint from a conservative group.”  https://apnews.com/97aa3098502ea48ef087f03ccdc29396  Let’s contact Hallmark (https://corporate.hallmark.com/contact/contact-hallmark/ ) to thank them for that reversal and to encourage them to be more inclusive in their movie-making.  Let’s also contact Zola, the wedding planning site in question, to thank them for a beautiful ad and the right decision: support@zola.com or 1-408-657-ZOLA  

WEEKLY POSTCARD WRITE-UPS:  From one of our own:  Here are this week's postcarding write-ups. Please use/share/distribute as you see fit. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1OaDoccF74M3KdmSlQWWPVTz_FB40j1koPWH4VRNo7LI/edit?fbclid=IwAR2vxhOeTAOTYDXA4amORb18vsBab0WxxXFnOmJBZgsRg30s1SW6HyZu7HY

LIE OF THE YEAR: “PolitiFact will soon announce our Lie of the Year -- the most significant falsehood of 2019, as chosen by our editors and reporters. We're also inviting PolitiFact readers to vote for the Readers' Choice award.” Vote here: use this link to our survey.”  https://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2019/dec/09/lie-year-2019-readers-choice-poll/

APP TO FIND A BLACK SANTA—A Texas mom has developed a free app to find Black Santas for children to visit. Here’s an article about it:

COMMUNITY SOLAR GARDENS—Last year, Shiloh Temple, a majority Black church in Minneapolis, MN, installed 630 solar panels on the roof of the church. Those panels provide green energy not only to the church, but also to a nearby mosque and 29 neighboring households—while also lowering utilities costs for low-income families. https://www.npr.org/2019/12/15/784483810/powered-by-faith-religious-groups-emerge-as-a-conduit-for-a-just-solar-boomLet’s learn more about community solar gardens and other community solar initiatives and think about starting something in our own communities: 

ELECTION/VOTING

WISCONSIN VOTER PURGE. Last Friday, a Wisconsin judge ordered the state to remove over 234,000 people from Wisconsin's voter rolls because they may have moved. We can read more at USA Today.  Wisconsin Democrats vowed Monday to double down on efforts to ensure that any voters whose registrations are nullified by a judge's recent ruling will be able to register again before the 2020 presidential election. (Source: Boston23News). Let's alert all the Wisconsin voters we know and encourage them to check their registration at My Vote Wisconsin (state gov. site)

ELECTION RESULTS: HOUSTON, TEXAS. Postcards To Voter's volunteers helped get out the vote for Houston's runoff election on Sat. Dec. 14 with Campaign 185 to re-elect Mayor Sylvester Turner and to elect Janaeya Carmouche to City Council. Mayor Turner has won a second term with 57% of the vote. Receiving 39% of the vote, Carmouche did not win her bid for the City Council At-large #3 position. We can review all of Houston's election results at KHOU.com.

2020 ELECTIONS: If we are looking for 2020 Election information or if we have some to share, we can check out Equal Vote Local’s BlueWave Database 2020. We can click here to find information about candidates, voting and more arranged by state. This editable document also allows us to add our groups and any candidates running for office:  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ir8YGs1F0Lfayl6T7XR7tklnYrEk4VcEzTkPumLVWAI  We can also find out more about Equal here at their website:  https://www.equalvotelocal.com/

STATE/LOCAL

MI: TRUMP RALLY PROTEST: From MI Resistance: "On December 18th, the actual day of the [impeachment] vote - Trump and Pence will hold a campaign rally in Battle Creek. Multiple groups are organizing a mass protest at a nearby park. Resisters are coming from all over the state to make a strong showing." Groups will be meeting at the Soujourner Truth Monument in Monument Park at 5pm., then marching to Wave Square. We can find the Facebook event here. For those of us who either need transportation to the event, or are able to offer a ride, we can check out GroupCarpool: https://www.groupcarpool.com/t/9tq853

WI: VOTER ROLL PURGES: Update- Circuit Judge Paul Malloy has ruled in favor of the conservative Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty, giving Wisconsin 30 days to remove more than 200,00 people from the voter rolls because they may have moved (https://bit.ly/35rOHHv). These voters have been identified as having possibly moved, and according to the Wisconsin Elections Commission, should have received mailers in October, asking them to confirm their address. If we received a postcard from the Wisconsin Elections Commission, let's be sure to confirm our address ASAP. If we have any questions, we can also contact the Elections Commission directly. Phone: (608) 266-8005, E-mail: elections@wi.gov, or in-person at 212 East Washington Avenue, Third Floor, Madison, Wisconsin 53703. Let's also double check to see if we are registered to vote here.

WI: GET FREE ORGANIZING TRAINING WITH A STIPEND: The 2020 election results may depend on one state: Wisconsin, so let’s get busy. If we are interested in working on the campaign, we can get paid training and organizing program to build our skills in these fundamentals: persuading voters, managing volunteers and using digital and data analytics tools. Post training, we will get help finding campaign jobs this summer. Organizing Corps is offering a 5-week Immersion program this spring, with stipends to help us through. We can learn more and apply at 

RALLIES/GATHERINGS/TRAININGS

IMPEACHMENT RALLIES: There are now nearly 600 Impeach and Remove rallies planned for this evening. Here is what we can expect: https://demcastusa.com/2019/12/15/what-to-expect-at-a-political-rally/  Let’s make sure we are signed up for one (or organizing one if none of them are near us):  https://www.impeach.org/event/impeach-and-remove-attend/search/

READING/WATCHING



Finland is winning the war on fake news. What it’s learned may be crucial to Western democracy - https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2019/05/europe/finland-fake-news-intl/


Increasingly a Necessity: A 15-Point Guide to Surviving Authoritarianism - https://billmoyers.com/story/increasingly-necessity-15-point-guide-surviving-authoritarianism/

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We can stay up to date on Congress by checking out their schedules. a) The House publishes a weekly schedule at The Weekly Leader (published and dated Friday) as well as daily schedules at The Daily Leader. b) The Senate updates their schedule daily at the Senate Floor Schedule

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