10/6/20
“I think the importance of doing
activist work is precisely because it allows you to give back and to consider
yourself not as a single individual who may have achieved whatever,
but to be a part of an ongoing
historical movement.” —Angela Davis
NATIONAL ISSUES
Contact all Federal
Members of Congress (includes contact info and
links to social media)
|
VP DEBATE: The
vice-presidential debate is scheduled for tomorrow evening. We all know that Mike Pence has been in
contact with people who have tested positive for COVID and he should be in a
14-day quarantine period. https://www.cnet.com/how-to/vice-presidential-debate-2020-how-to-watch-pence-vs-harris-debate-live/ Let’s tell the Commission on Presidential
Debates that they should accommodate any and all requests by Kamala Harris on
the basis of public health. Let’s
contact the commission by email: media@debates.org, or phone (202) 872- 1020,
or Twitter: @debates
RE-OPEN THE MEXICO
BORDER AND ALLOW THE ASYLUM-SEEKERS DUE PROCESS: Vice President Mike Pence overruled CDC
scientists last March, who said there would be no increased risk of COVID
transmission and gave the order to close the Mexico border, suspending the
asylum process and expelling 150,000 people including nearly 9,000
unaccompanied children. https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-pandemics-public-health-new-york-health-4ef0c6c5263815a26f8aa17f6ea490ae.
Ironically, what the CDC said could slow the rate of COVID was a national mask
mandate, social distancing, and increased contact tracing, but these were not
part of the administration’s political agenda. Let’s share this story widely
and ask our MoCs to demand that a COVID-safe protocol for asylum-seekers. Let’s
also write
to the CDC and demand that they stop kow-towing to Trump, which is
putting their credibility in more and more jeopardy.
KEEP SPREADING THE
WORD ABOUT TRUMP’S TAXES: With
Trump’s COVID diagnosis dominating the headlines, let’s not forget the
bombshell that broke only a week ago, revealing that Trump paid only $750 in
taxes in 2016 and 2017, and may very well have committed financial fraud. Even
worse, Trump’s debts, if they are to foreign entities could be a national
security issue. https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2020/09/30/trump-taxes-conflicts-of-interest-national-security-threats-column/3578359001/.
Let’s keep putting pressure on our MoCs to investigate the ties between
Trump’s finances and our country’s security, and let’s keep this issue active
on social media so it doesn’t get dominated by the COVID crisis.
TRUMP’S “SURPRISE”
PUTS OTHERS AT RISK: Trump
demanded to be driven to wave at the small group of supporters gathered across
from Walter Reed hospital, regardless of the health of the Secret Service
employees who would have to accompany him: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-covid-19-walter-reed-wave/2020/10/04/12dbe38c-064f-11eb-a166-dc429b380d10_story.html and
https://www.npr.org/sections/latest-updates-trump-covid-19-results/2020/10/04/920181116/in-brief-drive-by-trump-waves-to-supporters-outside-of-walter-reed
Doctors objected: “Every single person
in the vehicle during that completely unnecessary Presidential ‘drive-by’ just
now has to be quarantined for 14 days. They might get sick. They may die.
For political theater. Commanded by Trump to put their lives at risk for
theater. This is insanity,” said one; and another, “By taking a joy ride
outside Walter Reed the president is placing his Secret Service detail at grave
risk. This is the height of irresponsibility.” https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/04/us/politics/trump-virus.html and https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/05/technology/far-right-sees-miracle-in-trumps-outing-medical-experts-see-recklessness.html
and https://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2020/10/05/walter-reed-attending-physician-calls-president-trump-coronavirus-drive-by-political-theater-and-insanity/
What negligence and disregard for what is now standard protocol. It is not
about rights, it is a public health emergency. Pursuing the illusion of normal
will get people killed. Let’s let the White House know just how
repellent we find this political stunt then let’s tell our MoCs we want them to
censure Trump for putting these lives at risk, and for policies that have
exacerbated the deaths of over 200,000 Americans.
TRUMP HAS BEST
HEALTHCARE, WHAT ABOUT THE REST OF US: President Donald Trump is in a unique position to recover from
the coronavirus. His role as one of the most powerful people in the country
means he'll have access to the best possible care, and his race and wealthiness
increase his odds of survival. Trump does face a relatively high risk of
developing serious symptoms because he is over 70, clinically obese, and male. But, as a white
person, he's less likely to die of COVID-19 compared to non-white
Americans, who are subjected to more health-affecting hardships. As a VIP
patient, the president had the privilege of getting tested often, leading to an
early diagnosis. He and the First Lady will have access to around-the-clock
medical care and can easily afford the latest experimental treatments. https://www.businessinsider.com/trumps-wealth-race-access-to-care-good-odds-against-covid-2020-10.
Trump gets the best medical care despite being careless and spreading
misinformation about COVID, creating super spreader events and suppressing the
real COVID experts. Let’s tell the GOP to pressure trump to drop the Supreme
Court case against preconditions in the ACA. If he gets excellent health care,
the citizens of this country should have access to that same healthcare.
WHITE HOUSE NOT
TRACING ITS OWN COVID SPREAD: Local
public health departments generally are responsible for contact tracing COVID,
but the White House has chosen to take this on.
However, “In the days immediately preceding President Donald
Trump’s COVID-19 diagnosis, he and his aides travelled
to five states, holding several rallies and crowded indoor events with
large groups of people. But there’s no clear indication that the White House is
playing its stated role as the coordinator of a critical contact tracing effort
that could help stem the spread of the virus, according to local and state
health officials.” https://time.com/5896064/white-house-contact-tracing/ The White House is a
super spreader and must contain and trace the spread. Let’s ask Congress and
the CDC (800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636) and ask for the Clinician On-Call Center) to
pressure the White House to do contract tracing and quarantine those who
attended the event. They should be leading by example.
MCCONNELL CLOSES
SENATE BUT NOT SCOTUS HEARINGS:
Now that Trump has produced what looks like a “super spreader” event in the
Rose Garden, Mitch McConnell plans to call off floor proceedings in the
Senate—including coronavirus relief discussions, presumably—until Oct. 19th but
not to cancel Barrett’s hearings, slated for Oct. 12: https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-donald-trump-confirmation-hearings-mitch-mcconnell-amy-coney-barrett-895466e80b67302a83e2abadafe585df or https://www.wnyc.org/story/mcconnell-closes-senate-floor-proceeds-with-barrett-hearings.
This, despite two confirmed cases among Republicans on the Judiciary Committee,
three senators infected, and others under voluntary quarantine while awaiting
the results of their exposure: https://www.npr.org/sections/latest-updates-trump-covid-19-results/2020/10/03/919878189/ron-johnson-joins-list-of-gop-senators-testing-positive-for-coronavirus or https://www.politico.com/news/2020/10/03/ron-johnson-tests-positive-for-coronavirus-425829
Some say saying that if the COVID threat is too great for Senate sessions,
Barrett’s confirmation is equally perilous and that questioning of a lifetime
appointee by video is wildly inadequate. We must push McConnell to
delay these hearings: 202-224-2541 or 317 Russell Senate Office Bldg,
Washington DC 20510 or https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=ContactForm Then let’s tell our Senators we are tired of
this sham, remind them that Trump shouldn’t even be making this appointment in
the first place, since in 2016 they insisted the voters should decide, and
demand that they delay this hearing until after the election and after the
Senate is no longer at risk of contracting COVID.
POLITICAL PURGE AT VOICE OF AMERICA: Political appointees,
including Trump's contentious pick, Michael Pack, who is CEO of Voice of
America’s parent agency, the U.S. Agency for Global Media (https://www.wbaa.org/post/voice-america-journalists-protest-trump-appointees-actions#stream/0 ),
have continued their purge of the VOA by launching an investigation into its
White House bureau chief Steve Herman, citing “conflict of interest” because of
his tweets and “likes” on social media and because, like almost every other
news outlet, VOA revealed that Pence had not worn a mask inside the Mayo
Clinic, despite his office's advance knowledge of the hospital's masking
policy; moreover, Herman filed a first-person dispatch about being barred from
Joe Biden's campaign plane over COVID concerns last week, despite having
traveled on Air Force One the day before. This investigation appears to violate
the laws and regulations intended to protect the federally funded news outlet
from political interference or influence: https://www.wnyc.org/story/political-aides-investigate-voa-white-house-reporter-for-anti-trump-bias
and https://www.voanews.com/usa/pack-expands-purge-us-global-news-agency
Let’s make sure that Pack understands that our voice in the world must not
now be--and was never meant to be--politicized in this way: @usagmceo or
202-203-4000 or 330 Independence Ave SW, Washington DC 220237
POSTCARDING
OPPORTUNITIES: From one of our own: Here are this week's postcarding write-ups—a
short list since we're all working on get out the vote drives right now (we
are, aren't we?). Please use/share/distribute as you see fit: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1gS5OE95qeAeBVSFowZO5zKtmhu2d4KxmitQtvLmEcMY/edit?usp=sharing
TRACK THE REGULATION
TRACKERS: Track the Trackers is a list of different websites tracking
deregulation in the era of the Trump administration. Of Federal sites, their
regulatory agenda which lists "regulatory reform" and what stage the
revision is at - notice, proposed rule, rule, or not published yet. Individual
federal agencies also often, though not always, post proposed regulations
and/or actions on their website. Click
here to check the regulation trackers: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Z-0C4ntd4uMrJMubCa3JyKVwotiNV_Vj/view?usp=sharing
BALANCING NEWS AND
ACTION: There is no end to the
news at this time. We could watch 24 hours a day and still not feel
"caught up" and there's not much to be done besides keeping our
shoulder at the wheel with getting out the vote and helping campaigns forge
ahead. Let's cut some deals with ourselves to not get paralyzed by the
news like "15 minutes of news then 15 Postcards To Voters" or
another option below.
ELECTION/VOTING
ELECTION - GET OUT THE VOTE (GOTV)
SPLC VIRTUAL PHONE BANK. Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC)
is organizing another Power Hour for Thursday, Oct. 8, from 3-4pm. Eastern.
Volunteers will be calling voters in Georgia to inform them about their state's
new online absentee ballot request portal. We can sign up at SPLC.
GET ENVIRONMENTALISTS TO THE POLLS: The Environmental Voters Project needs
phonebankers to contact 2 million environmentalists in 12 states who have never
voted before. We can sign up for shifts here: https://www.environmentalvoter.org/blog/sign-gotv-shifts-0#.X3tghayUQ-I.facebook
POSTCARDS TO FIRST-TIME VOTERS: The Civics Center needs volunteers to mail
postcards to recent high school graduates who are new to voting. Let’s
get our postcards and start writing: https://thecivicscenter.org/volunteer
BILLBOARDS AND RIDES TO THE POLLS: Reclaim Our Vote is raising $150,000 to reach
voters of color in the rural South via informative highway billboards, and to
fund covid-safe rides to the polls. Let’s chip in $10 or as much as
we’re able: https://actionnetwork.org/fundraising/billboard-campaign
ELECTION – SUPPORT CANDIDATES
TEXT FOR BIDEN/HARRIS: Let’s spend 4
minutes reading: https://politicalcharge.org/2020/10/01/lets-make-sure-joe-biden-wins-in-november/ and
then 1 hour learning how to text for Biden/Harris and remind people to
vote. Sign up for training at https://www.mobilize.us/2020victory/event/293967/
OHIO SUPREME COURT. Postcards to Voters' Campaign 216 is for the two Democratic
candidates running for Ohio Supreme Court, John O'Donnell and Jennifer Brunner.
The Ohio ballots do not list a party for these candidates so we are working to
inform voters how they can vote blue. Let's request 5 addresses today.
FLIP SENATE BLUE: Women’s March Action is hosting a
national textbanking on Saturday, Oct. 17, in honor of RBG. They are texting voters in all 15 of
the states with Senate races that could make a difference in this election and
are seeking helpers. Let’s sign up
here: https://www.mobilize.us/womensmarchaction/event/329779/
NATIONAL VOTER EDUCATION WEEK—"National Voter Education Week is a
nonpartisan digital voter education campaign that equips voters with the tools,
information, and confidence they need to cast their ballots.” https://votereducationweek.org/our-mission/ Let’s
get ourselves and others ready to vote by participating in these Days of
Action: https://votereducationweek.org/
PHONEBANK TO FLIP THE SENATE: Biden and Harris will need a strong Senate
Majority to get our country back on track, and Grassroots Democrats are hitting
the phone to give them the support they need. We can join them in making
phone calls to swing states, and getting the vote out to turn the Senate Blue.
After we sign up, we will get a Zoom link to join the phone bank. If we
are new to phone banking, we can receive a full training and all of us will get
the support we need to make it work. Shifts are available Mondays,
Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays through Election Eve. We can find
out more and then sign up to phonebank Swing States and turn the Senate Blue: https://www.mobilize.us/grassrootsdemocratslahq/event/319923/?
ELECTION - REGISTERING VOTERS
VOTER REGISTRATION ENDING FOR MANY: Voter registration
deadlines are looming in many states. Let’s
check ours and help anyone get registered who is not: https://www.eac.gov/voters/register-and-vote-in-your-state
ELECTION - OTHER
VEEP REUNION TO SUPPORT WISCONSIN DEMS: The Wisconsin Democratic Party is at it again!
This time, they’ve gathered the cast of Veep for a live cast reunion on Sunday,
Oct. 4 at 6 pm CT. According to Julia Louis-Dreyfus, the event will
include a discussion of the show and politics, a fan Q&A, and special
skits. Anything we donate, over $1.00, will be used to support the
Wisconsin Dems’ effort to defeat Trump. Chip in any amount at: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/veep-cast-reunion to
get the link to tune in.
THE TOP FIVE MISTAKES THAT DISQUALIFY MAIL BALLOTS: After all this work, we want to make sure
that all mail-in-ballots are counted. Let’s
read them and avoid those mistakes so our mail-in ballots are counted: https://www.businessinsider.com/mistakes-that-can-disqualify-your-mail-absentee-ballot-2020-9
#VOTEPROCHOICE's 2020 VOTER GUIDE: For each election #VOTERPROCHOICE creates a voting guide
for us. Not only can we check our own ballot
here: https://www.voteprochoice.us/voter-guide
but, we can also use their toolkit to share the news: https://www.voteprochoice.us/partner-toolkit
Let’s use and share this to help inform our choices on the ballot.
USE STATE-SPECIFIC FACT SHEETS TO PROTECT POLLS AGAINST
ARMED VOTER INTIMIDATION: With Trump stirring up his violent supporters and urging
them to show up at the polls to intimidate voters
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/10/05/how-trumps-remark-about-poll-watchers-threatens-another-election-norm/ it’s
a good time to know our rights and protections. Georgetown Law’s Institute for Constitutional
Advocacy and Protection has put together a series of fact sheets for
every state explaining the laws protecting us from militia groups and armed
individuals and telling what to do if we experience voter intimidation. We
can find out more about our rights and protections against voter intimidation
at the polls here: https://www.law.georgetown.edu/icap/our-work/addressing-the-rise-of-unlawful-private-paramilitaries/state-fact-sheets/
ELECTION PROTECTION: BECOME AN ELECTION PROTECTION HOTLINE CAPTAIN: The National Bar Association, our nation’s
oldest and largest network of mainly African American lawyers and judges, is
looking for Hotline Captains for Election Day. If we are lawyers licensed in
any state, we can receive training, then lead teams of 5-6 legal support staff
for the Election Protection Hotline. If we know any lawyers who might be
interested, we can pass this information on to them as well. We can click this link to find out more,
including other legal volunteer opportunities, and then, if we wish, sign up.
We can also share this info on social media to help recruit more volunteers: https://buff.ly/3jkN5Gh
MAKE SURE OUR MAIL-IN BALLOTS GET COUNTED—Some half a million
mail-in ballots were tossed during the primaries—far too many due to voter
error! The organization Spread the Vote has a fun new website called Read the
F*ing Directions, where we can look up the rules for filling out and returning
our mail-in ballots in every state. Let’s consult it, and let’s share
with others: https://readthefingdirections.com/?lang=en
STATE/LOCAL
ISSUES
MI - GOVERNOR LED COVID PROTECTION GONE: Last week the MI Supreme Court overruled Gov.
Gretchen Whitmer’s COVID emergency powers.
https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/10/03/919891538/michigan-supreme-court-rules-against-governors-emergency-powers Michigan has been performing very well under
Gov. Whitmer’s guidance, however the Republican lead state legislature has not
thought they have enough say in the past and now Michigan Senate Majority
Leader Mike Shirkey ® said, "We
need to now transition from a public health emergency to managing and learning
to live with this virus," https://www.bridgemi.com/michigan-government/gop-leader-no-mask-mandates-michigan-needs-learn-live-coronavirus Whitmer is attempting to appeal the decision,
but we in Michigan need to call Sen. Shirkey and Speaker Chatfield and demand
they protect Michiganders during this pandemic! With the MI Supreme Ct. ruling
that went against Gov. Whitmer our safety will be in the hands of Republicans
in the house and senate. If we flood
their offices with calls we can make a difference. We need to let them know WE
ARE WATCHING THEM AND DEMAND THEY PROTECT US by not opening up the state in a
reckless manner. Let’s contact
them: 1) Sen. Mike Shirkey:
517-373-5932, or 855-347-8016 or email:
mikeshirkey@senate.michigan.gov,
and 2) Rep. Lee Chatfield: 517-373-2629 or 855-737-4107 or email: LeeChatfield@house.mi.gov
RALLIES/GATHERINGS/TRAININGS/GROUP
ACTIONS/TWEETSTORMS
ATTEND WEBINAR
TODAY ON COMBATTING FACEBOOK DISINFORMATION: Despite its claims of reforms, Facebook remains a major source of
disinformation and inflammatory material. https://www.vox.com/recode/2020/10/1/21497453/facebook-democrats-2020-election-misinformation
With an election happening in less than a month, it may seem like there is
little we can do to stem this tide, but there are some strategies we can check
out, including government regulation, legal efforts, changes to company
policies, and pro-democracy activism. Corey Hill of the Protest Facebook coalition will be
moderating a panel of experts ready to share these ideas with us. Featuring
the former Global Head of Elections Integrity Operations for political
advertising at Faceboo, Yaël Eisenstat, now a public advocate for transparency
and accountability in tech, this webinar will be held TODAY, October 6th
at 11:30am Pacific, 2:30pm Eastern. We can learn more and then sign up to
attend here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_JvG0M4kQQJijhdjur5POCg
ACTIVISM 101
WEBINAR: Jess Craven, of Chop
Wood Carry Water, is continuing her Activism 101 sessions! Activism 101 is
a free, one-hour (ish) webinar for folks who have very little to no experience
with activism and/or political action. It’s a survey course with one goal: to
give those who are furious and sickened by the state of our, bite-sized actions
they can take to help vote Trump out, flip the Senate, win a bunch of
down-ballot races, and basically make good things happen in November and
beyond. Workshop will be led by Jessica Craven who is a mom, veteran activist,
elected member of the Los Angeles County Democratic Party Central Committee,
legislative chair of her Moms Demand Action chapter, and the author of daily
actions email “Chop Wood, Carry Water.” Let’s grab a few friends
and inquire about times: cwcwdailyactions@gmail.com
READING/WATCHING/LISTENING
Revealed: Trump
campaign strategy to deter millions of Black Americans from voting in 2016 - https://www.channel4.com/news/revealed-trump-campaign-strategy-to-deter-millions-of-black-americans-from-voting-in-2016
White House
pressured CDC on reopening schools, officials say - https://www.cbsnews.com/news/white-house-pressured-cdc-reopening-schools/
What Happened
with Merrick Garland and Why It Matters Now - https://www.npr.org/2018/06/29/624467256/what-happened-with-merrick-garland-in-2016-and-why-it-matters-now
The Supreme
Court: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkpfFuiZkcs
Trump criticized
by medical experts after leaving hospital to drive by supporters - https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/trump-criticized-medical-experts-after-leaving-hospital-drive-supporters-n1242081
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.