1/28/20
NATIONAL
ISSUES
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Contact all Federal
Members of Congress
(includes contact info and
links to social media)
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/
White
House contact: https://www.usa.gov/federal-agencies/white-house
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DEMAND THAT
FORMER NATIONAL SECURITY OFFICER JOHN BOLTON TESTIFY AT THE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL: Advance release of a book penned by former
national security officer John Bolton reveals that Trump deliberately held up
aid to the Ukraine until the government committed to investigating the Bidens
and that Trump’s lawyer Rudy Guiliani was pursuing a shadow Ukraine policy, possibly to benefit other
clients. Bolton’s account makes clear that (1) Trump in fact withheld financial
assistance to pressure Ukraine to investigate political rivals, and (2)
Secretary of State Pompeo, Attorney General William Barr, and White House Chief
of Staff Mick Mulvaney were all aware that Trump’s personal lawyer, Rudy
Giuliani, was meddling in and undermining official US policy toward Ukraine
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/26/us/politics/trump-bolton-book-ukraine.html
Meanwhile, reports from CBS news
claim that Republican Senators have received strict warnings not to vote
against Trump, “or your head will be held on a pike.” https://www.cbsnews.com/video/republican-senators-recieve-stark-warning-about-voting-against-trump/.
Let’s tell our Republican Senators that we are aware of their attempts to cover
up the evidence and demand that they do their Constitutional duty and call for
witnesses, starting with John Bolton. Let’s tell our Senators, both
Democratic and Republican, that these new revelations from John Bolton add to
the already clear need for the Senate to subpoena witnesses and evidence to
ensure a fair and thorough impeachment trial.
IMPEACHMENT: From MI
Resistance: "On January 29th, the U.S. Senate will vote to determine
whether witnesses and documents will be allowed in the removal trial of Trump.
You may not think your call, your voice, matters. But it does. Senators gauge
call volume." Let's take the #100SenatorChallenge and urge every
single senator to allow new witnesses and documents during the Senate
impeachment trial. We can find contact information for each senator at ContactingCongress (change
"Both Chambers" in the drop down menu to "Senate.")
IMPEACHMENT
TWITTER OPPORTUNITY: Here are direct quotes from GOP members on
impeachment that are ready to be retweeted:
https://twitter.com/postcards4USA/status/1221513824177741826
Let’s re-tweet! Make sure to tag appropriate senators. (h/t Postcards for
America)
HEALTHCARE/ABORTION
ACCESS: Access to safe,
legal abortion is becoming more restricted, and our current political climate
provides cause for concern; over 200 members of Congress filed an amicus brief
in favor of overturning Roe v. Wade, and our Supreme Court has become
significantly more conservative with the addition of Gorsuch and Kavanaugh (https://time.com/5769243/roe-v-wade-annniversary-abortion/).
On March 4th, the Supreme Court will hear June Medical Services v. Gee, a case
that may further restrict healthcare. Let's join UltraViolet and
the Center for
Reproductive Rights as they discuss the June case and
how it could impact our access to comprehensive healthcare. We can register for
their January 30th webinar here.
DEMAND THAT SECRETARY OF EDUCATION BETSY DEVOS APOLOGIZE FOR COMPARING ABORTION TO SLAVERY: At a recent event in Washington DC, Betsy DeVos compared a woman’s choice whether or not to bear a child as analogous to a state’s choice to allow slavery. https://www.politico.com/news/2020/01/23/devos-compares-abortion-rights-debate-to-slavery-102895. Representative Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) has taken the lead in challenging Secretary DeVos and calling her out for this insult to the generations of African Americans whose ancestors were slaves. https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/479692-pressley-slams-devos-over-abortion-slavery-comparison-would. Let’s thank Representative Pressley and also contact Secretary DeVos (1-800-872-5327; 202-401-3000; 400 Maryland Avenue, SW; Washington, D.C. 20202; betsy.devos@ed.gov) and demand that she apologize for this insulting false analogy.
SPEAK OUT
AGAINST ICE LOWERING STANDARDS FOR DETENTION FACILITIES: Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has
just lowered its already low standards for detention facilities, https://www.ice.gov/detention-standards/2019,
raising extreme concern from the ACLU. https://www.aclu.org/news/immigrants-rights/the-trump-administration-weakens-standards-for-ice-detention-facilities/.
Under the new standards, health assessments of detainees and outdoor areas for
recration are no longer required, and there are more allowable reasons to place
detainees in solitary confinement. In addition, the standards make it harder
for detainees to obtain legal assistance. Let’s read the ACLU’s summary of the many other problems with the
new standards, and then let’s contact our MoCs and reiterate the importance of
tighter legislative control and oversight on an agency that has gone
rogue.
POMPEO LIES
ABOUT NPR INTERVIEW: “Secretary
of State Mike Pompeo says an NPR host lied in setting up an interview with him
on Friday, but email records support the journalist’s account of how the
contentious exchange came to be. The emails, obtained by The Washington Post,
indicate that Pompeo’s staff was aware that NPR’s Mary Louise
Kelly would ask Pompeo about several topics in the interview and raised no objections, contrary to
Pompeo’s characterization. https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/emails-support-npr-host-after-pompeo-calls-her-a-liar-in-setting-up-contentious-interview/2020/01/26/d793cf0e-4071-11ea-b503-2b077c436617_story.html
and https://www.forbes.com/sites/stephaniesarkis/2020/01/25/kelly-and-pompeo-how-a-journalist-masterfully-combated-gaslighting/#1fa36ae78ba4
and https://www.npr.org/2020/01/25/799562818/after-contentious-interview-pompeo-publicly-accuses-npr-journalist-of-lying-to-h Let’s
show our support for NPR. We can make a comment here: https://help.npr.org/contact/s/contact?request=Comment-on-something-I-read
or tweet Kelly a note of support for truth in journalism to @NPRKelly. Let’s also send a donation to our favorite NPR
station in POMPEO’s name.
WE CARE
ABOUT UKRAINE: “Ukraine’s new
ambassador to Washington says the United States does indeed care
about his country, despite reports that the U.S. secretary of state
says otherwise.” https://www.defenseone.com/politics/2020/01/heres-what-ukraines-new-ambassador-asking-us/162684/ Sec. of State Pompeo told Mary Louise Kelly
on NPR that Americans don’t care about Ukraine.
Let’s let his office know that we DO care about Ukraine: https://register.state.gov/contactus/ContactUsForm
IMMIGRATION: If we wondered how the Border Patrol hopes
to overcome its bad press and its difficulty in hiring—and wondered how our tax
money is being spent—we might want to know about the Border Patrol Explorers, a
program for 14-to-20-year-olds, jointly run by the Boy Scouts and the Border
Patrol; its ostensible aim is to teach survival skills and first aid, and to
participate in training exercises in which they “play” either Border Patrol
agents or the immigrants they target: https://www.kveo.com/news/local-news/border-patrol-graduates-26-explorers/
Likewise, we might want to know that our government contributes spends millions
in support of a partnership between a sports league and the Border
Patrol:
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/2020/01/21/immigration-sports-league-has-unique-partnership-border-patrol/2798296001/
We should tell our MoCs, the Border Patrol ((877) 227-5511) and the Boy
Scouts (972-580-2000) that training more men with guns to chase those they
dislike does not have our support—and should not receive our money.
FIGHT
ANTISEMITISM AT THE WHITE HOUSE:
TruNews has called Trump’s impeachment a “Jew coup.” Rick Wiles, the pastor who
runs TruNews, has accused Jews of wanting to kill millions of Christians, of
being deceivers and liars, and of unscrupulously pursuing a political agenda.
Yet the White House has extended press credentials to this antisemitic media
outlet. https://www.jta.org/quick-reads/trump-white-house-reportedly-again-credentials-website-that-called-impeachment-a-jew-coup Let’s
tell our Members of Congress to publicly call on the White House to revoke
TruNews’s credentials, and let’s tell the White House the same.
NOMINATE
ADAM SCHIFF FOR A PROFILE IN COURAGE AWARD: Last week, Congressman Adam Schiff stood up to our nation, explaining,
defending and exemplifying moral courage. While he does represent a liberal
district, he has withstood many virulent attacks for doing his duty as an
Impeachment Manager so clearly, so effectively and so well. Over the weekend Trump
hurled another incendiary tweet, claiming Schiff has not yet “paid the price”
for impeachment. This bullying has to stop. Let’s stand up for Adam
Schiff and nominate him for a Profiles in Courage Award. We can click this link
to nominate him: https://www.jfklibrary.org/events-and-awards/profile-in-courage-award/submit-a-nomination
CALL FOR SUPPORT
FOR SOCIAL SECURITY 2100 ACT: “President Donald Trump’s Social Security
plan is in question after tweeting he is going to save the benefits program
Thursday, only a day after letting slip that overhauling the program, along
with Medicare, are on his administration’s docket for the future.” https://moneyandmarkets.com/trumps-social-security-plan/
Instead, we can urge our MoCs to support
The Social Security Act 2100 (S.269/H.R. 860). The legislation would provide an increase of
about 2% of the average benefit to all beneficiaries; would improve the annual
cost of living adjustment to better reflect the costs incurred by older
Americans; would protect low income workers by setting a new minimum benefit at
25% above the poverty line; would cut taxes for beneficiaries by raising the
threshold for non-Social Security income before benefits are taxed; and would
ensure that any increase in benefits from the bill don’t result in a reduction
in SSI, Medicaid or CHIP benefits. The measure would gradually phase in
an increase in the contribution rate to keep the system solvent (for the
average worker, this would mean paying an additional 50 cents per week every
year, but would result in higher payroll taxes on higher levels of income, from
the current $132,900 max up to a new $400,000); and establish a single Social
Security Trust Fund. Let’s urge our MoCs to support these bills to make
life easier for our seniors and make the program more sustainable.
PUSH FOR MEDIA
COVERAGE OF ALL THE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL: “Mitch McConnell and Senate
Rules Committee Chair Roy Blunt have instituted unprecedented press
restrictions in order to prevent the public from having full access to Trump's
Senate impeachment trial -- including limits on what the public can see and on
reporters' ability to talk to Senators.”
“No matter what happens during the trial, the American people deserve
every opportunity to witness it firsthand. We have a right to participate in
the impeachment process -- and make informed decisions for ourselves.” Let’s make our demands known to both
McConnell and the major TV news networks:
https://sign.moveon.org/petitions/remove-press-restrictions-for-president-trump-s-impeachment-trial
and https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/televise-trumps-impeachment-trial
THIS WEEK’S
READY-TO-GO POSTCARDING PLANNER: From one of our own: Here’s the list: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dasX9TC7o8OA8ACLG99c6eRJm1Oy6TKcEFesnNHwWmE/edit
ELECTION/VOTING
PRIMARIES/CAUCUS CALENDAR: From Ballotpedia:
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Iowa (statewide)
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Primary election
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February 3, 2020
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New Hampshire
(statewide)
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Primary election
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February 11, 2020
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Wisconsin
(statewide)
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Primary election
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February 18, 2020
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Nevada (statewide)
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Primary election
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February 22, 2020
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South Carolina
(statewide)
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Primary election
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February 29, 2020
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VOTER REGISTRATION: All the information we need about
deadlines for voter registration in all fifty states and links to further
information for each state is available here: https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-register-to-vote-when-to-register-deadlines Let’s
use this information to encourage our neighbors to register and VOTE.
GET OUT THE VOTE. Here are the most recent Postcards To Voters'
(P2V) campaigns: a) Campaign
191: Bill Redwine for KY state house; b) Campaign
192: Ellen Beraud for San Luis Obispo (CA) County Supervisor. (Her
name is pronounced "bay-ROW'); c) Florida Vote By Mail - Lee
County. This Ft. Myers area campaign is P2V's latest effort to reach all
Florida registered Democrats who are not yet signed up to vote by
mail. Let's request 5 addresses today for one of P2V's active
campaigns. Per Tony the Democrat, P2V now has over 70,000 registered
volunteers! One postcard at a time, we are reaching critical voters.
STATE/LOCAL
IA: IOWA CAUCUS -
FEB.3. Iowa’s
first-in-the-nation caucuses on Feb. 3 will set the tone for the rest of the
Democratic presidential primary. We can read about how they work and
why we still do them at Politico. If we are Iowa registered Democrats,
let's check out the information provided by the Iowa Democratic
Party to find our own caucus and satellite caucus locations. We can
also request an accommodation on this site. Let's share this information with
our Democratic friends and family in Iowa.
NH PRIMARY - FEB. 11. New Hampshire first instituted a
presidential primary for the 1916 election. We can read more about the history
at InDepthNH.org. If we are NH Democrats, let's check out the
information provided by the NH Secretary of
State regarding voting in primaries. We can look up our polling
places here. Let's share this information with our Democratic
friends and family in New Hampshire.
TX: From #VOTEPROCHOICE : Are you or do
you know an org in TX that endorses candidates? VOTEPROCHOICE is
looking to partner with organizations and feature their endorsements in our TX
Primary Voter Guide (available in English + Spanish). Please reach out to julielyn@voteprochoice.us
RALLIES/GATHERINGS/TRAININGS
SWARM THE CAPITOL: Day of Action:
On January 29, swarm the U.S. Capitol to voice your outrage about the
GOP cover-up and demand Trump’s conviction and removal from office. More
information here: https://www.remove45.org/post/trump-is-guilty-day-of-action
Sign up
here: https://act.indivisible.org/event/attend-impeachment-august/150781
Facebook
event page here: https://www.facebook.com/events/208927723607956/ Find an event near us: https://www.impeach.org/event/senate-impeach-events/search/
ALL RISE: Lawyers Demand Impartial Justice: Lawyers for
Good Government are asking lawyers and law students to show up in
Washington D.C. on January 31st to demand impartiality among the U.S.
Senate. The event will start at the U.S. Capitol building, then participants
will march to the U.S. Supreme Court. Let's check out the event details
and sign up here: https://www.lawyersforgoodgovernment.org/allrise
LAUNCH PARTIES FOR THE GREEN NEW DEAL—The Sunrise
Movement, a youth-led anti-climate change organization, https://www.sunrisemovement.org/ ,
is giving us a way to recruit millions of young people and their allies to
gather momentum for the passage of the Green New Deal. Let’s consider
organizing a 2020 launch party on January 29—we can sign up here: https://actionnetwork.org/forms/our-plan-to-win-the-gnd-2020-launch-parties
READING/WATCHING
Hymn
for the 81% - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GT-LfLpzzo&feature=emb_share
We Are
Republicans and We Want Trump Defeated - https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/17/opinion/lincoln-project.html
23
Effective Ways to avoid Political Burnout in 2020 - https://politicalcharge.org/2019/12/31/23-effective-ways-to-avoid-political-burnout-in-2020/
Senate
should remove Trump, majority of independent voters say in Fox News poll - https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/01/26/trump-impeachment-fox-news-poll/4581020002/
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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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