Contact Federal Government Officials
Find elected officials: https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials
********************************
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. This
week in Congress: The House is on recess until Tuesday, June
5 (House 2018 calendar)
and the Senate has a state work period till Monday, June 4 (Senate
2018 calendar). Let's try to see our legislators in person
if they have any events in our states.
2. There
was a lot going on over the weekend. One especially strange thing that happened
is that Trump cried “fake news” via Twitter about a White House source he
claimed did not exist although there is audio of the briefing: http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/389526-audio-revealed-from-source-trump-claimed-doesnt-exist Let’s
let our MoC know that the constant lying and gas-lighting are hurting our
nation.
3. The
story that the government lost 1500 unaccompanied refugee children is getting a
lot of press and public outrage, as it should, however the situation is
complicated. An immigration attorney
offers some insight: https://www.bustle.com/p/the-us-lost-1475-migrant-children-this-twitter-thread-explains-what-that-actually-means-9219673 and in response, a border legal services
worker offered even more: https://twitter.com/AlOtroLado_Org/status/1001182863025364993 Let’s tell our MoCs that it is time to
redesign how these children are handled and treated.
4. Patrick
Wyrick, who is on Trump’s Supreme Court shortlist in spite of having only served
as a judge since last year, has been nominated to be a federal judge in the
Western District of Oklahoma. (https://abovethelaw.com/2018/05/more-judicial-nominations-from-president-trump-and-more-judicial-emergencies/). A
member of the ultra-conservative Federal Society, Wyrick repeatedly worked with
Scott Pruitt to sue the EPA, defended unconstitutional limits on contraception,
and was accused of actively misleading the Supreme Court on a death penalty
case. Let’s tell our senators we want them to hold him accountable and vote no.
5. The
Trump administration is continuing to try to wall us off from the rest of the
world, proposing that anyone seeking a visa to visit the United
States be required to allow the State Department to review their last five
years’ worth of social media posts (https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2018/03/trump-admin-wants-to-track-14-million-us-visitors-social-media-history/).
This invasive step is likely to drive away students, tourists and business from
our country. Today is the FINAL DAY to submit comments in opposition to this
change. Let’s make sure we do so here.
6. No one
crossing the border to seek asylum is breaking any law. Trump is trying to make us think it so. It is a policy his administration put into
place in early May and if these people have children, they are being separated
from their parents. http://thehill.com/opinion/immigration/389101-immigrant-women-children-need-protection-from-gangs-not-to-be-treated “Angered that the flow of refugees does not
stop and that Congress will not give him his wall, the president has devised a
policy that turns the bodies and psyches of refugee children into battlefields.
The people of the United States must not allow him to implement it.” Let’s let our MoCs that we do not condone
this at all and want to see legislation to stop it.
7. After
the “gang of eight” meeting last week, McConnell said he supports the Mueller
investigation. http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/389314-mcconnell-says-he-backs-mueller-probe-after-classified-briefing Let’s ask him to show his support by bringing
the Special Counsel Independence and Integrity Act (S.
2644) to a vote.
Let’s also ask our own senators to co-sponsor the bill.
8. Alida Garcia, a political & public affairs strategist
who focuses on immigration shared this tweet on May 24: “I work full time on
federal immigration policy - like it’s literally how I spend 70-80 hours a
week, and I can’t even keep up with the velocity of policy changes from his
administration. They are on a clearly delineated mission to cause tremendous
harm & no one seems to care.” Let’s see what else Alida Garcia has to say
and follow her suggestions for what to do:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=145lEflkeItahY9Zp3XZERm_aFb_QwFYv
9. The ACLU
is warning that the 17+ year-old Project Safe Neighborhoods grant program is up
for reauthorization, and under US Attorney General Jeff Sessions, will feed the
failed war on drugs and exacerbate mass incarceration. Let’s read about it
here, https://www.aclu.org/blog/criminal-law-reform/reforming-police-practices/house-could-soon-give-jeff-sessions-50-million ,
and let’s tell our US House reps that we don’t want them issuing a $50 million
check for Session’s war on drugs.
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. On
Tuesday, Postcards to Voters volunteers will be watching for results for Campaign 87: Tracey Rosebud for Mississippi State House, District
30. Tracey is the pro-Public Education candidate and only Democrat
running. We can sign up as a Postcards to Voters' volunteer here. Other campaigns are currently open. Let's
help get out the Democratic voters. When we vote, we win.
Election 2018 –
By State
1.
Voting
dates and deadlines this week:
May 28
|
Washington D.C.
|
Voter Registration Deadline
|
Primary (in person)
|
May 29
|
Washington D.C.
|
Voter Registration Deadline
|
mail (received)
|
May 30
|
Arizona
|
Filing Deadline
|
|
May 30
|
Utah
|
Last day to change party affiliation
|
Primary
|
May 31
|
Vermont
|
Filing Deadline
|
|
June 1
|
New York (Federal)
|
Voter Registration Deadline
|
Primary
|
June 01
|
Alaska
|
Filing Deadline
|
|
June 01
|
Kansas
|
Filing Deadline
|
|
June 01
|
Wisconsin
|
Filing Deadline
|
|
June 01
|
Wyoming
|
Filing Deadline
|
|
June 2
|
New Mexico
|
Early voting ends
|
Primary
|
2. ME: Introducing FLIP MAINE , a Facebook group dedicated to winning
elections! It's part of a 50-state project that came out of the success of FLIP
ALABAMA in helping to get Doug Jones elected by squeezing every possible vote
out of the state. We can join here, get some new ideas and meet new folks.
Together we can turn our beautiful state Blue, so let’s start getting our
country back, state by state! We can check the group out, then, if we like it,
join here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/FlipMaine/
(primary on June 12)
3. NV: Introducing FLIP NEVADA , a
Facebook group dedicated to winning elections! It's part of a 50-state project
that came out of the success of FLIP ALABAMA in helping to get Doug Jones
elected by squeezing every possible vote out of the state. We can join here,
get some new ideas and meet new folks. Together we can turn our beautiful state
Blue, so let’s start getting our country back, state by state! We can check the
group out, then, if we like it, join here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/FlipNevada/
(primary on June 12)
4. ND: Introducing FLIP NORTH DAKOTA , a Facebook group dedicated to winning
elections! It's part of a 50-state project that came out othe success of FLIP
ALABAMA in helping to get Doug Jones elected by squeezing every possible vote
out of the state. We can join here, get some new ideas and meet new folks.
Together we can turn our beautiful state Blue, so let’s start getting our
country back, state by state! We can check the group out, then, if we like it,
join here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/FlipNorthDakota/
(primary on June 12)
5. SC: Introducing FLIP SOUTH CAROLINA ,
a Facebook group dedicated to winning elections! It's part of a 50-state
project that came out of the success of FLIP ALABAMA in helping to get Doug
Jones elected by squeezing every possible vote out of the state. We can join
here, get some new ideas and meet new folks. Together we can turn our beautiful
state Blue, so let’s start getting our country back, state by state! We can
check the group out, then, if we like it, join here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/FlipSouthDakota/ (primary
on June 12)
Other Actions
1. Hundreds
of groups and organizations nationwide in calling for a public health approach
to preventing school and community gun violence. https://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2018/03/07/590877717/experts-say-here-s-how-to-prevent-the-next-school-shooting Another school district in MI just joined
in: http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2018/05/treat_gun_violence_like_public.html
Let’s call our local school districts and see if they have signed on yet.
2. On
Sunday, China granted the First Daughter's company final approval for its 13th
trademark in the last three months, trademark office records show. Over the
same period, the Chinese government has granted Ivanka Trump's company
provisional approval for another eight trademarks, which can be finalized if no
objections are raised during a three-month comment period. Taken together, the
trademarks could allow her brand to market a lifetime's worth of products in
China, from baby blankets to coffins, and a host of things in between,
including perfume, make-up, bowls, mirrors, furniture, books, coffee, chocolate
and honey. Ivanka Trump stepped back from management of her brand and placed
its assets in a family-run trust, but she continues to profit from the
business. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ivanka-trump-wins-13-new-trademarks-from-china-in-3-months/ Like
father, like daughter . . . the Trump family continue to take advantage
of political connections for personal profit. We can continue to boycott
her brand here in the US.
3. One
significant bulwark of resistance to arming teachers as a way to stop school
shootings is the insurance companies, some of which have concluded, as one
Kansas school insurer puts it, that “concealed handguns on school premises
[pose] a heightened liability risk.” United Educators, which specializes in
insuring schools and currently serves 1600 of them, remains “agnostic” on the
subject of arming teachers: http://www.post-gazette.com/news/nation/2018/05/28/Insurance-companies-become-a-big-roadblock-to-plans-to-arm-teachers/stories/201805020397
Let’s tell United Educators that we are not agnostic--and hope they will
refrain from offering insurance to “concealed carry” schools: UE President and
CEO Janice M. Abraham, jabraham@ue.org or
7700 Wisconsin Ave. # 500, Bethesda, MD 20814 or 301-907-4908.
4. Remember
these awesome women in West Virginia?
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/features/trump-west-virginia/ They
are still here, still fighting the good fight, and they’re starting up a local
newspaper called Appalachian Views: 2nd Story Press to fight the
censoring of progressive voices in rural West Virginia. Let’s help them launch
their first issue by donating to their crowdfunding effort: https://www.gofundme.com/AppalachianViewsfromthe2ndStoryPress
Marches/events/webinars/Tweetstorms
to attend/organize
1. Grabbing
Back
is the documentary following Tanzie Youngblood, Tamara Harris and Stephany Rose
Spaulding on the campaign train. The film's historical contribution is
invaluable as we witness a rise in women candidates, especially black women
candidates work to level the playing field for all Americans. We can join
Action Together Network’s Twitterstorm to spread the word about this film and gain
support for it this evening, May 29, from 8-9 pm Eastern
Time. We can click here for prewritten tweets to send out then: Tweetsheet bit.ly/2J2y2SX We can learn more
about the film on their kickstarter page here:
https://kck.st/2krILsc
2. June 1st has been designated the National Day of
Action for Children by, among others, the National Domestic Workers
Alliance. There will be protests around the country of the new Homeland
Security policy which separates undocumented children as young as one year old
from their parents--even legitimate asylum seekers--at the border, and puts
them, according to John Kelly “in foster care or whatever”: http://www.businessinsider.com/john-kelly-family-separation-policy-illegal-border-crossing-2018-5 For more
information, we can check here: https://actionnetwork.org/event_campaigns/families-belong-together
3. This weekend, June
1-3, “People around the country are coming together with a simple message:
there's more we can do to end gun violence.” Let’s check here to find a Wear
Orange Weekend” sponsored by Everytown for Gun
Safety and Moms Demand Action for
Gun Safety event near us: http://act.everytown.org/event/wear-orange-2018/search/
4. Rallies, on June
14, in support of the missing immigrant children are being coordinated all
over the country. “The March for Stolen
Children is a peaceful event. Everyone participating in this event will be
required to abide by all applicable laws and lawful orders of
authorities." We can use this link to create a rally near us: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeFqhCwGsoZOua_tompfPhoPmi0Qx9je3iAskumf3ZhflhvWg/viewform
States
1. FL: Publix supermarkets says its suspending political contributions
after Parkland students called for a boycott and staged "die in"
protests at several stores Friday. Let's read more here. Along with the students' efforts, our
phone calls, emails and postcards helped Publix get to this position. If we are
Floridians who want to see Publix give the same contribution to an anti-gun
group that they gave to NRA "A+
rated" gubernatorial candidate Adam Putnam, let's keep
boycotting and keep the pressure on. We can see their statement about the
contributions and contact Publix on-line here. Please note Rogan's Listers: we
CAN make a difference with our wallets.
Reading/Watching
1. Experts in authoritarianism advise us to keep a
list of things subtly changing around us, so we’ll remember. Amy Siskind
is keeping that list for us. Amy writes, "This week had numerous
examples of assaults on the First Amendment, including arrests of high school
students protesting gun violence, media outlets being barred from an EPA event,
and NFL owners banning public protests by their players in an effort to appease
Trump." Let's review Amy
Siskind's list week 80.
2. The Christian divide as played out on the
football field: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2017/09/24/colin-kaepernick-vs-tim-tebow-a-tale-of-two-christianities-on-its-knees/?utm_term=.c4330a84347e
3. As usual, our weekly dose of Small
Victories: https://mailchi.mp/peaceisloud/small-victories-initiate-change?e=86890239c4
