6/13/19

NATIONAL ISSUES

VIOLATING THE RULE OF LAW:  Not that more proof was needed that Trump and his administration hold themselves to be above the law, but now they are refusing to turn over subpoenaed materials related to the census question issue and are citing “executive privilege”:  https://apnews.com/292e6a9a05f345ae83bff304efebf76b  Let’s let our MoC that we are more than tired of the repeated notion that Trump is above the law and let’s take to the streets on Saturday to say so with our bodies:  https://act.moveon.org/event/impeachment_day_of_action_june15/search

THE MUELLER REPORT:  Shep Smith, of Fox News, yes, Fox News, took to the airwaves to exhort his listeners to read the Mueller report: 

https://thehill.com/homenews/media/448051-fox-news-shep-smith-tells-viewers-everyone-in-america-should-read-mueller  Let’s let Smith know that we appreciate that he continues to try to break through the noise:

https://www.foxnews.com/contact or in writing at Fox News, 1211 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10036.Oh, and let’s read the Mueller Report ourselves!

9/11 FIRST RESPONDERS:  On Tuesday, tireless advocate (and comedian) Jon Stewart went to Capitol Hill to point out the naked emperor that is the Congress when it comes to permanently funding the September 11^th Victim Compensation Fund Act. His full nine minutes are here and are very worth watching:

https://twitter.com/NBCPolitics/status/1138486609324777473  Let’s take a moment to honor the bravery and sacrifice of our first responders by calling our MoC and asking them to support the Never Forget the Heroes: Permanent Authorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Act (HR 1327/S. 546) now.  Then, let’s contact our senators and ask them to do their part. 

IMMIGRATION--DEATHS IN ICE CUSTODY: 24 people have died in ICE custody under the Trump administration. Overcrowding of prisons, lack of access to medical care, and reports of abuse continue to proliferate, and this number does not even include the deaths of 5 migrant children. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/immigration/24-immigrants-have-died-ice-custody-during-trump-administration-n1015291. Many of these detainees are being held in for-profit prisons that lack federal oversight. Let’s make sure our MoCs know we are hyper-aware of this issue and that we demand an immediate end to these abusive and dangerous practices.  

ENVIRONMENT--URANIUM MINING: The Trump administration is signaling support for a policy that would allow uranium mining on lands surrounding the grand canyon. Conservationists had pressured former Secretary of the Interior, Ryan Zinke, to continue the ban, but the new Secretary of the Interior, David Bernhardt, has made no such promise. https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/448069-trump-signals-support-for-uranium-mining-near-grand-canyon. Let’s contact the Department of the Interior (feedback@ios.doi.gov, (202) 208-3100, Twitter: @Interior, 1849 C Street, N.W. Washington DC 20240) and tell them this move would be devastating to the beautiful natural habitat they seem to like to post on social media, and would pose a significant threat to the area’s groundwater. Let’s also pressure our MoCs to pass legislation to extend the moratorium on uranium mining in the area.  

IMMIGRATION--CHILD MIGRANT DETENTION: The Trump administration is planning to use the grounds of a former Japanese internment camp in Oklahoma as an “emergency facility” to host more migrant children. https://time.com/5605120/trump-migrant-children-fort-sillDesignating these facilities as “emergency shelters” allows the government to incarcerate children for more than the 20 days mandated by the Flores Act. Let’s express our outrage to our MoCs at this horrible way history is repeating itself and ask them to immediately pass (HR 1069/S 397) Shut Down Child Prison Camps Act and (S388) the Families Not Facilities Act.

DISABILITY RIGHTS/SUBMINIMUM WAGE: From the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network: The Department of Labor is seeking public comments on section 14(c), the outdated system companies and providers use to segregate disabled workers while paying us less than minimum wage—sometimes less than a dollar per hour. The sheltered workshop industry will be flooding the comments, trying to drown out the voices of people with disabilities who want real work for real pay. Help us make sure our community is heard by submitting a comment The comment period has been extended to June 21.

ROAD TO IMPEACHMENT: Rep. Justin Amash (R-MI) quit the conservative House Freedom Caucus on Monday night, weeks after becoming the lone Republican to call for President Donald Trump’s impeachment. Let's read more at Politico. Let's thank Rep. Amash for taking this stand and encourage our own representatives, both Republican and Democrat, to stand with him.

SAVE BIG CYPRESS NATIONAL PRESERVE: The Burnett Oil Company claimed it could explore for oil in the Big Cypress National Preserve with no significant, long-term impacts to sensitive wetlands. However, its work to date has caused significant damage. Let's read more at NRDC.  Let's contact Florida Governor Rick DeSantis (R)  ,who ran on an environmental platform, to demand that Burnett Oil Company be halted from doing further harm to this sensitive habitat, given the severity and extent of the wetland damage it has caused through its seismic activities. Since this is a national preserve, we can also contact our MoCs.

GET OUT THE VOTE!: Postcards to Voters volunteers write to Democratic voters year round to get out the vote for local and special elections. Recent campaigns include two June 18 special elections for Florida state house seats (Campaign 161: Kelly Smith;Campaign 162: Ryan Terrell) and the continuing Florida vote-by-mail campaign. Let's check out Postcards to Voters today. If we are already volunteers, let's request 5 addresses for one of the open campaigns.

CLIMATE CHANGE:  Facing a perilous moment, when bold action was needed, Ben Franklin once said, "We must all hang together or, most assuredly, we shall hang separately." The threat of climate change has put us in similar bind, and our choices now will decide what kind of future awaits our descendants. Some people think we are doomed to hang separately, like this: https://thenib.com/how-to-survive-climate-change However, others see a brighter future if we can pull together, and this is the simple idea behind the Green New Deal:

https://www.facebook.com/Vox/videos/2344592079150701/. Let's tell our MoCs to cosponsor Senate Resolution 59 and House Resolution 109, and share this vision for our future with everyone we know.

STATE SPECIFIC ISSUES

NY: RESTORE PAROLEES’ VOTING RIGHTS:  It’s time to grant voting rights to the over 30,000 people on parole at any given time. Criminal disenfranchisement laws disproportionately impact people of color, removing the voice of entire communities. We have a chance to help fix that with S1931/A4987, which would make voting rights for people on parole permanent, and automate and simplify the process, and fix a discriminatory system.  As the end of the legislative session nears, time is running short, so we must act now. We can click this link to find scripts, links numbers and more in the outreach package inside the doc, and then call our State Legislators to restore parolees’ voting rights now:  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/17-ZPFAfMC-vaaPWItyswpEtR-QDnZXEEWpsP6OLOzrA

TX: GET CAMPAIGN WORKER TRAINING:  The next Arena Academy, held in Houston, TX from September 13-17 2019, will be offered to aspiring campaign managers, organizing directors, finance directors, communications staffers, digital directors, data directors, and organizers. Each track will be tailored to these roles, but all will incorporate a heavy emphasis on digital, data, leadership, and management. Application deadline is July 19, 2019.  If we a planning to work on a campaign in Texas, or know someone who would be a good staffer, we can click here to find out more about The Arena Academy for campaign staff:  https://arena.run/academy

RALLIES/GATHERINGS/TRAININGS

RALLY IN SUPPORT OF MIGRANT CHILDREN: The American Friends Service Committee, Bend the Arc, and several other organizations are sponsoring a week of events to end child detention form June 9-16, ending with a march at the Children’s Detention Center in Homestead, Florida on Father’s Day, June 16. Let’s check out this and other related events and consider attending if we’re able to travel, or if there’s an event in our area.

IMPEACH TRUMP PROTESTS:  MoveOn.org is hosting a National Day of Action on Saturday, June 15 with nationwide protests with a unified message to “Impeach Trump”:  https://act.moveon.org/event/impeachment_day_of_action_june15/search/

Let’s get inspired by the recent protests in London against Trump and the protests in Hong Kong against extradition to China and take to the streets to say “Impeach Trump”. We can join or host an event in our area to send a strong message to Congress: Trump is not above the law.  We can also use this toolkit:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1X2X7fa3lulvxQdN4E75Fe87IckFrHslrW9xDByVVpX4/edit

NATIONAL NETWORK ASSEMBLY:  The first National Network Assembly, made up of hundreds of local grassroots leaders organizers from around the country is happening in Des Moines, IA, August 22 to 25.  There will be workshops, sessions, and meetings in which participants will strategize, plan, and learn skills to take home to their groups.  The 2019 National Network Assembly will strengthen the connective tissue between grassroots groups by bridging multiple networks and organizations that represent over 1,000 leaders across all 50 states.  We can find more information, register to attend, and donate to the scholarship fund here: https://www.nationalnetworkassembly.org/ We can use this document to invite others to attend: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1oKWdGLESqQYFVIa3JXQrtsXO9zrZv7ihCdGfnmSZ0-M/edit

 TO READ           

Want to beat Trump? Learn from workers in Republican states - https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jun/10/want-to-beat-trump-learn-from-workers-in-republican-states

Donald Trump Attacks Joe Biden, While Heaping Praise on Kim Jong Un - https://www.newsandguts.com/video/donald-trump-attacks-joe-biden-while-heaping-praise-on-kim-jong-un/

Donald Trump has done less to destroy democratic norms than Mitch McConnell - https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/donald-trump-has-done-less-destroy-democratic-norms-mitch-mcconnell-ncna1011451

 Jurors refuse to convict activist facing 20 years for helping migrants - https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jun/11/arizona-activist-migrant-water-scott-daniel-warren-verdict

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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

6/11/19

CONGRESSIONAL SCHEDULES:  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.

FOREIGN POLICY/SAUDI ARABIA: At the end of April, Trump vetoed S.J.Res.7, which would have directed the U.S. to end military support for the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen. Now, Trump is taking his support for Saudi Arabia's military forces in Yemen even further, approving an $8.1 billion arms deal , which would include precision-guided bombs and access to other sensitive technology. While the Senate did not have the votes to override Trump's veto, it is still pushing back against continued arms deals. A bipartisan group of senators are cosponsoring a series of joint resolutions of disapproval over the export and transfer of defense services with Saudi Arabia and other countries.  "Sens. Chris Murphy (D-CT) and Todd Young (R-IN) are using a provision in the Foreign Assistance Act to request a report from the administration on Saudi Arabia’s human rights record, which could eventually trigger a vote to halt billions in arms sales which Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is moving forward despite congressional opposition."

 https://www.politico.com/story/2019/06/09/arm-sales-senate-saudi-arabia-1358440 Let's contact Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, Senator James Risch (R-ID), and ask him to pass each of these resolutions out of committee, for a full Senate vote: 483 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510, Phone: 202-224-2752, Fax: 202-224-2573.  Let’s also contact our House Reps and Senators to tell them we agree that Congress should have a say in such deals. We can do so by phone or send a message to our reps through this convenient form set up by Win Without War: 

https://act.winwithoutwar.org/act/dear-congress-ban-arms-sales-now

CLIMATE CHANGE: “The White House blocked a State Department senior intelligence analyst's congressional testimony on climate change being "potentially catastrophic" this week because it didn't "jibe" with the Trump administration's views on the matter. . . The move comes as prominent scientists, senior military officials and intelligence staffers have doubled down on their efforts to warn the White House of the potentially disastrous impacts of climate change on America's national security, a position that Trump has vehemently opposed.”  https://www.newsweek.com/white-house-blocks-testimony-calling-climate-change-possibly-catastrophic-because-it-didnt-1442964 Trump may not believe in climate change, but scientists do and their information needs to be made public so that proper steps can be taken to mitigate damage.  Let’s tell our MoCs that we are counting on them to make sure that the blocked testimony is made public and included in the Congressional Record. 

DISABILITY RIGHTS/SUBMINIMUM WAGE: From the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network: The Department of Labor is seeking public comments on section 14(c), the outdated system companies and providers use to segregate disabled workers while paying us less than minimum wage—sometimes less than a dollar per hour. The sheltered workshop industry will be flooding the comments, trying to drown out the voices of people with disabilities who want real work for real pay. Help us make sure our community is heard by submitting a comment before June 14th.

MUELLER REPORT HEARINGS: House Judiciary Committee meetings began Monday to explore the findings of the Mueller Report and include interviewing John Dean – a pivotal figure in the Watergate hearings: 

https://apnews.com/df1bd1a601fa4ce688eda76178244332 Let’s continue to let our MoC know that we expect a continuous and forceful response to the corruption and lawlessness of the president.

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST--MITCH MCCONNELL: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s wife, Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao, has fast-tracked all projects concerning Kentucky in order to help get her husband re-elected.  https://www.politico.com/story/2019/06/10/mcconnell-elaine-chao-1358068?. Let’s complain to our MoCs and the Office of Government Ethics and ask them to investigate this clear conflict of interest.

MUELLER REPORT: Additional ways to have access to the Mueller report include:  1) a free pdf version here:  https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/5955118-The-Mueller-Report.html , 2 ) a facsimile reproduction of redacted edition, including both Volume I and II, is available on Amazon for about $10 in both Kindle and hard copy, and 3) a graphic novel version:  https://minsky.com/muellerreportgraphicnovel.htm

PROPOSED RULE CHANGES - PUBLIC COMMENTS NEEDED:  Here is this week’s list of comments and actions week ending June 16, 2019 includes Sage Grouse Habitat, Redefining how the government measures things - poverty rates, pollution index. LGBTQ and Trans rights, RoundUp, HUD targeting undocumented residents, exposing miners to diesel exhaust, ACA, Election integrity & voting systems:  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kxBvnHgkj9xCOb4q7BqVP2m5J2_Ggs7X/view

TELL THE NEW YORK TIMES NOT TO BAN POLITICAL CARTOON:  In a stunning act of self censorship, the New York Times will no longer publish in house political cartoons after this July. Acting in response to a controversial cartoon it published, then disavowed, the paper has chosen not to improve its editorial process but to abandon in house political cartoons altogether. As long time cartoonist Patrick Chappette states, “Political cartoons were born with democracy. And they are challenged when freedom is.”  We can read more of Chapette’s take on the issue here, then contact Editor Dean Baquet dbaquet@nytimes.com  to demand that The New York Times reverse its ban on in house political cartoons:  https://www.chappatte.com/en/the-end-of-political-cartoons-at-the-new-york-times/

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST--TRUMP: Trump’s detour to Ireland to play golf at one of his own properties and produce a promotional video of himself teeing off cost taxpayers $3.6 million. https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-travel-costs-ireland-trip-2019-6 In all, Trump’s golf trips to his own properties since he took office have cost over $100 million. Furthermore, Trump continues to benefit economically from hosting foreign dignitaries and their large staffs, which is in violation of the emoluments clause. Let’s make sure our MoCs know that we are disgusted by this ongoing corruption and that we support them in investigating these ethical violations and misuse of our tax dollars.

IMMIGRATION--MIGRANT CHILDREN: The U.S. just opened a new “emergency” detention center in Texas for unaccompanied migrant children, and is planning to open up more in Georgia, Oklahoma, and Montana. https://apnews.com/259d11069cbd4a34be9b4e7a187352da Classifying these detention centers as emergency facilities allows the government to keep children here for more than the 20-day limit imposed by the Flores Act. Furthermore, the U.S. has just cut the budget for education, legal services, and recreation at these centers https://www.npr.org/2019/06/05/730082911/administration-cuts-education-and-legal-services-for-unaccompanied-minors, making them even more prison-like. Let’s keep calling our MoCs and tell them that they need to call unequivocally for a shut down of all these centers, and ask them to do whatever they can to make sure that new centers aren’t built. If we live in GA, OK, or MT, let’s contact our state officials and ask them to intervene in creating new facilities. We should also ask the what they are doing to make sure that any child held in detention, at any facility, is not held for more than 20-days in accordance with federal law.

POSTCARDING ISSUES:  For a ready-made list of issues for our postcarding groups, we can take a look at this and consider using it:  https://www.whatifknits.com/

CLIMATE CHANGE CANDIDATE DEBATE:  The leadership of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) has determined that there will not be a Democratic presidential candidate debate devoted to climate change, however some members of the DNC are urging the group to do so.  https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/447528-members-petition-democratic-chairman-to-hold-presidential-debate-on-climate Given what we know now about climate change and the fact that climate change was virtually ignored in the 2016 presidential debates, it is important that we learn more about how candidates will address this crisis.  Let’s contact the DNC and ask that they reconsider their decision or at least include climate questions in all the debates:  https://my.democrats.org/page/s/contact Let’s also sign this petition:  https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/tell-the-democratic-national-committee-hold-a-climate-debate

STATE SPECIFIC ISSUES:

LOCAL & STATE ELECTIONS: Everyone wants to dump Trump in 2020, but focusing too hard on this one race undermines what made us so successful in the 2018 midterms: the overwhelming energy we brought to local & state races. To really undo the damage of the last 2 years, and to truly point ourselves towards an ethics/science/fact-based future, let's each commit some of our time (and treasure!) to races & issues close to home, with coordinating organizations like Every District (https://www.everydistrict.us/) and Future Now (https://www.futurenow.org/) as our guides.

VA:  REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS AND VOTING:  With reproductive rights and freedoms being attacked every week in state legislatures across the country, it is more important now than ever to elect Prochoice Champions at every level of office to stand for the 7 in 10 American voters who believe in the right to bodily autonomy.   With the Virginia Primary elections today, let’s use this voter guide and social media toolkit to inform our choices and get the word out.

WA: HELP RESTORE OVERTIME PAY PROTECTIONS:  If we are wondering why it seems people are working more, yet earning less, we can look at what has happened to overtime pay. The national overtime threshold, the salary level at which businesses can force people to work more without paying any additional wages, is urrently $23,660 (the equivalent of $11.38 an hour) and it covers less than 7% of workers. Fortunately, our Washington State Department of Labor and Industries announced a rule change to restore overtime regulations within the state, raising the overtime threshold to 2.5 times the minimum wage in 2025, a salary of about $73,000. In the coming weeks and months, the State will hear public comment and provide the opportunity for testimony at public hearings, setting the example for states throughout our nation.  We can click here to learn more about the Restore Overtime Campaign, get information on submitting public comments, attending  local hearings, and  find talking points, videos and graphics to share on social media, developed by Civic Action and DemCast:  https://demwritepress.com/restore-overtime/

RALLIES/GATHERINGS/TRAININGS

RALLY IN SUPPORT OF MIGRANT CHILDREN: The American Friends Service Committee, Bend the Arc, and several other organizations are sponsoring a week of events to end child detention form June 9-16, ending with a march at the Children’s Detention Center in Homestead, Florida on Father’s Day, June 16. Let’s check out this and other related events and consider attending if we’re able to travel, or if there’s an event in our area.

IMPEACH TRUMP PROTESTS:  MoveOn.org is hosting a National Day of Action on Saturday, June 15^thwith nationwide protests with a unified message to “Impeach Trump”:  https://act.moveon.org/event/impeachment_day_of_action_june15/search/

Let’s get inspired by the recent protests in London against Trump and the protests in Hong Kong against extradition to China and take to the streets to say “Impeach Trump”. We can join or host an event in our area to send a strong message to Congress: Trump is not above the law.

TO READ:

 

Why Elizabeth Warren Matters: She is, by far, the most important Democrat running for president - https://thebulwark.com/why-elizabeth-warren-matters/

Better Schools Won’t Fix America: Like many rich Americans, I used to think educational investment could heal the country’s ills—but I was wrong. Fighting inequality must come first - https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2019/07/education-isnt-enough/590611/

Call immigrant detention centers what they really are: concentration camps - https://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-katz-immigrant-concentration-camps-20190609-story.html

6-6-19

Beginning next week Rogan's List will be publishing on 

Tuesdays and Thursdays throughout the summer.  

CONGRESSIONAL SCHEDULES:

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.

MEXICAN TARIFFS:  On Tuesday, Trump said the gradually escalating Mexican tariffs he has threatened are “likely” to go into effect next Monday and that his party would be unwise, “foolish,” to defy him; nonetheless it appears likely that Congressional Republicans—most interested, as always, in the corporate bottom line—will, for once, oppose him.  Even the Koch brothers’ Americans for Prosperity has said that “it is time for Congress to reclaim its constitutionally mandated authority to impose tariffs, and to prevent further unilateral tariff increases by the president”: https://www.politico.com/story/2019/06/04/trump-mexico-tariffs-senate-1353180 or https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/446912-trump-floats-new-emergency-declaration-to-impose-mexico-tariffs  or https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/mexico-sees-80-percent-chance-of-a-deal-to-head-off-trump-tariffs/2019/06/04/53bdce08-86c4-11e9-98c1-e945ae5db8fb_story.html Trump wants Mexico to serve as his Wall:  to “strengthen” its border with Guatemala, stop the bus caravans, and (though Mexico has said it won’t) accept asylum seekers rather than allow them to continue to the US border. Let’s encourage our MoCs, of whatever party, to oppose Trump’s latest fake “national emergency”.

ELECTION SECURITY:  Despite Special Prosecutor Robert Mueller’s warnings that Russia indeed hacked our elections, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has refused to let bipartisan election security bills come to the floor.

https://thehill.com/policy/national-security/446257-mueller-remarks-put-renewed-focus-on-election-security-bills and https://politicalcharge.org/2019/06/05/why-is-mcconnell-blocking-election-security-bills/  Let’s put pressure on our Senators to insist that McConnell allow a vote on the bi-partisan For The People Act of 2019 (H.R. 1(passed in House) /S. 949), which the White House also seems to be intent on blocking.  The American people need to see where our senators stand on election security.

HOLD BARR ACCOUNTABLE: The House will hold a full floor vote on June 11th to hold AG Barr and Don McGahn in contempt for defying Congressional subpoenas. 

https://www.politico.com/story/2019/06/03/house-dems-set-barr-contempt-vote-on-mueller-report-for-next-week-1352442. Let's call our House Reps to tell them we want them to vote in favor of holding them both in contempt. No one is above the law.

REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS:  Macon, GA District Attorney David Cooke (contact@maconbibb.us or 478-751-7400) is the latest prosecutor to say he will not bring charges under what he deems the “unconstitutional” anti-abortion passed by the Georgia legislature: https://www.npr.org/2019/06/03/729390565/georgia-prosecutor-says-he-wont-bring-charges-against-doctors-who-perform-aborti  Others who will not prosecute women under this law are Paul L. Howard, Fulton County District Attorney, 136 Pryor St. Atlanta, GA 30303;  Danny Porter, Gwinnett County District Attorney, Gwinnett Justice & Administration Center, 75 Langley Drive, Lawrenceville, GA 30046; Sherry Boston, Office of the DeKalb County District Attorney, 556 N McDonough Street, Suite 700, Decatur, GA 30030; John Melville, Cobb County District Attorney, 70 Haynes St., Marietta, GA 30090.; Darius Pattillo,  Henry County District Attorney, 1 Courthouse Sq., McDonough GA 30253: 

https://www.11alive.com/article/news/politics/district-attorneys-from-across-metro-atlanta-say-they-wont-prosecute-women-for-abortions/85-1e28f2d7-188c-45ca-b136-31e7c1f917c5  In addition to thanking them, let’s tell the National District Attorneys Association that we expect them to use what clout they have to let the DOJ and Congress know that these anti-abortion laws—in 9 states as of now—violate not just the rights of women but the US Constitution, and to fully support state DAs in their unwillingness to prosecute:  NDAA, 1400 Crystal Drive, Suite 330, Arlington, VA 22202, 703-836-3195

ABORTION RIGHTS BILL:  “A bill that establishes a “fundamental right” for women to get an abortion in Illinois cleared the state Senate late Friday night, sending the sweeping measure to Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who already has signaled his support. As the clock approached midnight Friday, the Senate voted 34-20 in favor of the abortion legislation, which comes amid an increased sense of urgency among advocates looking to protect abortion access as a series of states have passed laws essentially banning the practice. “I believe, frankly, there’s a war against women’s rights going on,” Sen. Melinda Bush, the Grayslake Democrat who sponsored the bill in the Senate, said about the restrictive laws other states have passed.”  

https://www.chicagotribune.com/politics/ct-met-illinois-abortion-legislation-senate-20190531-story.htm. Let’s ask our state reps to pass similar bills in our own states to protect a woman’s right to choice over her own body.

ASK LOCAL DISTRICT ATTORNEYS NOT TO ENFORCE ABORTION BANS:  Color of Change is calling on District Attorney's to refuse to enforce laws that criminalize women based on their pregnancy outcomes and use their discretion to decline to prosecute. Laws like this disproportionately harm women of color. For example, Black Mississippi Mother Latice Fisher, is facing a 2nd degree murder life sentence and separation form her children after having a still birth. The DA in her case could have prevented all of this by following the Salt Lake County attorney’s lead and refusing to charge her. We can click here to sign Color of Change’s petition asking DAs to refuse to enforce abortion bans here, then share the link with our friends and family: 

https://act.colorofchange.org/sign/district_attorneys_abortion

IMMIGRATION--CHILD SEPARATION: Recent court documents from a suit challenging the Migrant Children’s Detention Center in Homestead, FL for violating the provisions of the Flores Act, reveals a grim, prison-like atmosphere, where children are being traumatized to the point of cutting themselves.

 https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/immigration/article231075518.html. We must tell our MoCs to insist on closing his facility down immediately and holding HHS and DHS accountable. Pressure worked to close the facility in Tornillo, Texas, and we can’t give up hope when children’s lives are at stake. 

CHILD DETENTION/SAFETY:  Hurricane season began last weekend and hurricane preparedness is a given for people in areas that may be hit.  However, there is no plan yet for the thousands of immigrant children currently being housed in tents in the government detention shelter in Homestead, FL, which is “is set in the second most vulnerable hurricane zone in coastal South Florida, an area that bore the full fury of Category 5 Hurricane Andrew, leaving it in utter ruin.”  https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/immigration/article231035753.htmlHaving a plan for the safety of these children is imperative. Homestead is the only immigrant child shelter that is run by a for-profit corporation, Caliburn. It is also the only one that does not require state licensing and oversight.  Let’s contact our MoCs and ask them about the plans for safety on site and for evacuation.  Let’s also contact the Office of Refugee Resettlement, which oversees these child immigrant detention centers:  https://www.usa.gov/federal-agencies/office-of-refugee-resettlement

IMMIGRANT CHILD ASSISTANCE:  It seems as if funds are running low for the care of and support for detained immigrant children.   “The Office of Refugee Resettlement has begun discontinuing the funding stream for activities — including soccer — that have been deemed “not directly necessary for the protection of life and safety, including education services, legal services, and recreation,” said U.S. Health and Human Services spokesman Mark Weber.”  https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/trump-administration-cancels-english-classes-soccer-legal-aid-for-unaccompanied-child-migrants-in-us-shelters/2019/06/05/df2a0008-8712-11e9-a491-25df61c78dc4_story.html?utm_term=.c3e2e131fbea or https://www.sltrib.com/news/nation-world/2019/06/05/trump-administration/ While the Trump administration authorizes money to be taken from other accounts to build a wall, one would think it could do the same to benefit children.  Let’s tell our MoCs that this is yet another injustice to these children and ask why they are doing about it.  Let’s also ask the Dept. of Health and Human Services to fully fund all that is needed for these children:  https://www.usa.gov/federal-agencies/u-s-department-of-health-and-human-services

READ THE MUELLER REPORT:  Join the Mueller Book Club and read the report: 

https://www.muellerbookclub.com/.   Mueller Book Club FB Page is here:

https://m.facebook.com/muellerbookclub/.   We can click this link to download a free audio book copy from Audible, then share this link with our friends on social media:  

https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Mueller-Report-Audiobook/B07PXN468K. We can download a searchable pdf here: 

https://cdn.cnn.com/cnn/2019/images/04/18/mueller-report-searchable.pdf. Let’s tell our MoCs know that we’ve read it and tell them to read it, too.

IMPEACH TRUMP:  MoveOn.org is hosting a National Day of Action on Saturday, June 15^th  with nationwide protests with a unified message to “Impeach Trump”:

https://act.moveon.org/event/impeachment_day_of_action_june15/search/  Let’s join or host an event in our area to send a strong message to Congress: Trump is not above the law.

REGISTER VOTERS BY MAIL: Vote Forward makes it easy for us to write letters from home to unregistered but likely Democratic voters in swing states and urge them to register to vote. This video demo shows how it works (it’s from 2018, but the basics still pertain): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCPb-SFWYB4 . Let’s watch it, and then let’s sign up and get started at https://votefwd.org/

GET OUT THE VOTE!  Postcards to Voters volunteers write to Democratic voters year-round to get out the vote for local and special elections. If we are new to Postcards to Voters, let’s check it out and sign up. If we are already volunteers, let's request 5 addresses for one of the open campaigns.  Either way, let’s check here:  https://postcardstovoters.org/volunteer/

IMMIGRATION—DONATE FREQUENT FLYER MILES: Immigrants, refugees, asylum seekers, and attorneys providing immigration services free-of-charge are all in need of travel assistance. If we have frequent flyer miles to spare, we can donate them to the Travel Bank coordinated by Lawyer Moms of America here: https://www.lawyermomsofamerica.org/travel-bank,  or Project Corazon (of the Lawyers for Good Government Foundation here:

https://www.lawyersforgoodgovernment.org/project-corazon) or here: 

https://www.lawyersforgoodgovernment.org/donatemiles 

VOTING: The Movement Voter Project funnels donations to grassroots groups geared to get out the vote in their communities. Their mission is to “support the best and most promising LOCAL community-based organizations in key states with a focus on youth and communities of color…[that can] turn out unlikely voters AND organize communities to grow their power and create transformation – from policy to the streets.” This was the strategy that led to Doug Jones upsetting Roy Moore in the Senate Race in deep red Alabama, and it needs to be our strategy in 2020. Let’s visit their website and find out more about how we can help this important strategic initiative: https://movement.vote/

IMMIGRATION--HUMANITARIAN AID VOLUNTEER ON TRIAL:  Scott Warren, a volunteer with “No More Deaths,” which provides food, water and medical assistance to migrants at the border, is going on trial for felony charges and facing 20 years in prison if convicted. https://tucson.com/news/local/smuggling-trial-for-border-aid-worker-comes-down-to-intent/article_09eb279f-29ed-5f7c-8726-c846661708b7.html. We have truly reached a new low when humanitarian assistance to prevent people from dying in the desert is a prosecutable offense. Let’s tell the Department of Justice to drop the charges against Warren (202-353-1555; 950 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC, 20530-0001; website form; Facebook; Twitter: @TheJustice Dept.) and let’s also visit the No More Deaths website to find out how we can help this important humanitarian effort.

READING, WATCHING, ETC.

Vox.com reminds us to be aware when watching the news: You're Watching Fox News. You Just Don't Know It. "This one idea – the hack gap – explains how and why conservative nonsense dominates American politics." 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzoZf4IAfAc

“The NYT just published the biggest political news since the Mueller Report was published: we now know at least 3 of the federal probes still ongoing post-Mueller—and all involve election interference.”  https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1135202383800262656.html

“Russia's infamous troll farm conducted a campaign on Twitter before the 2016 elections that was larger, more coordinated and more effective than previously known, research from cybersecurity firm Symantec out Wednesday concluded.”  https://www.politico.com/story/2019/06/05/study-russia-cybersecurity-twitter-1353543

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.  Let's review the latest one: Amy Siskind's Weekly List: https://theweeklylist.org/weekly-list/week-133/

5/30/19

CONGRESSIONAL SCHEDULES:

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.

TRANSGENDER RIGHTS:

Out beyond Trump’s horrible military ban for transgendered service members, there is a new effort to roll back healthcare protections as well: https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/445511-advocates-vow-to-fight-trump-rollback-of-transgender-protections We can submit comments to the Department of Health and Human Services via this helpful website from the Transgender Law Center:   https://protecttranshealth.org/ 

 

IMMIGRATION--CHILD SEPARATION:

Over 2,000 migrant children, many of whom were separated from parents or other relatives, are being housed in a detention facility in Homestead, Florida.  Because the facility is considered a privately run “emergency influx facility,” the government is arguing that it is not subject to the provisions in the Flores Act, and as a result, children there are incarcerated for an average of 58 days (the Flores Act limit is 20 days) before being released to a sponsor. Part of the problem is that sponsors who are undocumented are being detained and deported, leaving the children without a place to go. This private for-profit facility is costing taxpayers $750/day, compared to $250/day it costs to detain individuals in government-run facilities. https://www.afsc.org/blogs/news-and-commentary/why-its-time-to-shut-down-homestead-detention-center. The American Friends Service Committee has been working with other interfaith groups to provide a consistent witness presence at the site, an a larger action is being planned in Homestead for Father’s Day, June 16. We can help by donating money, and telling our MoCs to support (HR 1069/S 397) Shut Down Child Prison Camps Act and (S388) the Families Not Facilities Act. These bills would assure that all facilities complied with the Flores Act and they would also bar sharing information with ICE that could lead to the detention and deportation of sponsors in the community. We can also put pressure on banks that are financing private prisons.

IMPEACHMENT:

Now that Mueller himself has made it very clear that his probe did not exonerate Trump (https://www.apnews.com/94323cfc164c4759ba6bf84ad2a46203) and that his work is done and the process should continue in the proper venues, it is important that we listen to and support Michigan GOP Congressman Justin Amash who has doubled-down on his statements about the Mueller Report, AG Barr’s actions, and the need for impeachment hearings to move ahead: https://thehill.com/homenews/house/445786-amash-accuses-barr-of-deliberately-misleading-the-public-on-mueller-report  If we have Republican MoC or Democratic MoC who have not come out in favor of impeachment hearings yet, let’s ask them to follow Amash’s lead. If we have Democratic MoC who has come out in favor of impeachment hearings, let’s say thanks.

HONORING HARRIET TUBMAN:

The Trump administration is refusing to follow through on putting Harriet Tubman’s image on US currency:  https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/22/politics/mnuchin-pressley-harriet-tubman-20-dollar-bill/index.html . Let’s let Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin know that we see through this transparent effort to uphold Trump’s racist agenda: https://home.treasury.gov/utility/contact  And let’s use this as an opportunity to support causes that honor Ms. Tubman’s life work. Here are some suggestions:

·         NAACP, https://www.naacp.org/

·         Higher Heights, http://www.higherheightsforamerica.org/

·         Woke Vote, https://wokevote.us/

·         Tubman, https://www.tubman.org/

·         End Slavery Now, http://www.endslaverynow.org/

CAMPAIGN HELP:

Getting your message heard is hard when campaigns are strapped for cash and unaware of new ways to communicate online. Learn how to reach and persuade more people with free, innovative apps widely used in business, but not well known in politics and advocacy.  If we are in D.C. on June 7, let’s check out the “Hands-on Workshop:  Five Free Campaign Apps” by Democracy Labs: https://www.facebook.com/events/352783585382573/  If we can’t make it to D.C., let’s contact Dem Labs for help with our campaign:  https://thedemlabs.org/

BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP FOR CHILDREN OF MARRIED LGBT COUPLES:

A child born overseas to a married American may be entitled to American citizenship. But that child is less likely to receive birthright citizenship if his/her/their married parents are an LGBT couple. https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/u-s-appeals-ruling-granted-gay-couple-s-son-citizenship-n1002916  and   https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2019/05/24/my-wife-had-our-baby-abroad-us-says-he-isnt-american/?utm_term=.8a55843d8305. Let’s tell our MOCs that this discriminatory policy is unconscionable, and that we want them to sponsor and pass legislation guaranteeing birthright citizenship equally to all children born overseas to a married American.

 

REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS:

House Judiciary Committee Chair Jerry Nadler has the authority to request the documents on Brett Kavanaugh’s past judicial thinking that Republicans deliberately concealed during Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court hearing. These documents could show bias on the abortion issue that would force Kavanaugh to recuse himself, should a challenge to Roe v. Wade head to the Supreme Court: https://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/ny-jerry-nadler-brett-kavanaugh-supreme-court-roe-v-wade-blumenthal-20190524-kinsrg2fczfhfg6vdhkasu2b74-story.html. Let’s put pressure on Nadler to obtain those documents. We can contact him at 202-225-5635 and https://nadler.house.gov/contact/

SUPPORTING ABORTION ACCESS GROUPS:

There have been some new and well-meaning efforts to support people in obtaining abortion care while some states move swiftly to make it illegal. These efforts can have the effect of duplicating preexisting efforts and diluting the power of people who have been building a strong network together to ensure abortion access is there for all of us. For decades, local abortion funds have been helping make sure access remains open and they have learned a lot along the way. We can help by making a donation to an established group: https://abortionfunds.org/need-abortion/#funds

CLIMATE CRISIS:

Only scientists and schoolchildren seem to be willing to call the state of the global climate a “crisis”. Trump and his lackeys, on the contrary, are escalating their war on climate change science and renewing their efforts to deregulate fossil fuel pollution. Here are some highlights: the US refused to sign an international communiqué to protect the rapidly melting Arctic region unless it made no allusion to climate change; National Security Council officials have recently been told to “strip references” to climate change from their speeches; the U.S. Geological Survey is changing its methodology to project the impacts of climate change only through 2040 instead of through the end of the century when these might actually occur; Trump hopes to create a new climate review panel headed by William Tapper, famous for claiming that “The demonization of carbon dioxide is just like the demonization of the poor Jews under Hitler” and for challenging the science of man-made climate change; and, this summer, the EPA plans to undo critical regulations limiting vehicle tailpipe and power plant emissions:  https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2019/05/even-steve-bannon-thinks-trumps-latest-climate-change-plan-is-too-extreme   and   https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/27/us/politics/trump-climate-science.html   Let’s tell the EPA (202-564-4700 and https://www.epa.gov/home/forms/contact-epa ) what we think about their continuing climate denial and, perhaps more importantly, let’s write to our news sources to demand they acknowledge the climate crisis in their coverage.

                  

2020 ELECTION CAMPAIGN VIOLATION:

Three Florida radio stations are planning to broadcast 2-minute segments of Trump’s speeches every hour of everyday up until the 2020 election https://thehill.com/homenews/media/443732-florida-radio-stations-to-broadcast-trump-speeches-every-hour-until-2020  which is in direct violation of FCC rules which require giving all candidates equal time. Let’s complain to the FCC [esupport.fcc.gov or (888)225-5322, option 4]

 

VOTING RIGHTS:

"Not one single voting rights question was asked during the presidential debates in 2016. Not one single question. Voting is one of our most fundamental rights, yet voter suppression and gerrymandering continually threaten our democracy." (quotation from petition below) So let's tell the Democratic National Committee to include voting rights in the upcoming debates! We can sign the petition here: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/sign-the-petition-tell-the-dnc-to-include-voting-rights-in-the-debates?source=2019VotingRightsinDebates_VRA&referrer=group-voter-rights

REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS:

In a Tuesday statement, Planned Parenthood said it would have to close its last abortion clinic this week because Missouri’s health department is "refusing to renew" its annual license to provide abortion. If the license is not renewed by May 31, that closing would make Missouri the first state to have no functioning abortion clinic since the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/planned-parenthood-missouri-last-abortion-clinic-says-it-may-lose-its-license-this-week-exclusive-2019-05-28/ Let’s join Missouri women in letting Dr. Randall Williams, Health & Senior Services director, know what we think of his department’s unconscionable delaying tactics: Williams (573) 751-6001 (Debbie Mebruer, Executive Assistant) or Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, 912 Wildwood, PO Box 570, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0570,  (573) 751-6400. We can also support Planned Parenthood’s Missouri lawsuit here:
https://www.weareplannedparenthood.org/onlineactions/

STOP LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ACTING AS ICE AGENTS:

287(g) agreements allow local law enforcement to take on certain duties of ICE agents.

nationwide, and, after creating 49 of the current 78 agreements, the Trump administration is pushing for more. Right now, we have a chance to intervene, as all of these agreements are due to expire on June 30, 2019. We can use this link to check out the Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC)’s toolkit on how to end 287(g) and prevent the continuation of immigration enforcement at the hands of local law enforcement: bit.ly/287g-toolkit

PLEDGE TO REJECT COLLEGES IN STATES WITH SEVERE ABORTION LAWS:

As restrictive and punitive abortion laws are being passed in several states, some potential college students are refusing acceptance to colleges in those states. If we are future college students, or know some, we can join this action to let colleges in those states that we will not be applying as long as these laws are in place. We can check out this link to find out more about pledging not to attend college in states with restrictive abortion laws and then share this information with our friends on social media:  https://actionnetwork.org/forms/my-college-my-choice

 We can also read more at this link. https://nyp.st/2I6bbTZ

AMY SISKIND'S LIST:

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.  Let's review the latest one: Amy Siskind's Weekly List.

GET OUT THE VOTE!

Postcards to Voters volunteers write to Democratic voters year-round to get out the vote for local and special elections. Let's check out Postcards to Voters today. If we are already volunteers, let's request 5 addresses for one of the open campaigns.

 

STATE SPECIFIC ISSUES:

CA: JOIN HUMAN IMPEACHMENT BANNER TO RALLY DEMOCRATIC LEADER SUPPORT
If we want to speak out about impeachment, we can join a peaceful, family-friendly, no-cost, pro-impeachment event in San Francisco on Saturday,  June 1, hosted by IndivisibleSF.org and organizer Brad Newsham. We hope to gather at least 5,000 people at Ocean Beach in SF to form a giant human banner spelling out the word, “IMPEACH” which will be photographed from above by a helicopter. California Democratic Party officials, MoveOn, and several Democratic Presidential Candidates will be in town that day, and this is chance to show them strong support for Impeachment. We can find out more about joining this human impeachment banner by checking out these links:  https://www.facebook.com/events/480297136237064/ and
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/impeach-on-the-beach-tickets-62277183733
We can also amplify this on social media using the hashtag #ImpeachOnTheBeach

 

CT: MAKE PRISON PHONE CALLS FREE: Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont, a Democrat who grew his personal fortune through the telecommunications industry, is stonewalling a bill, CT state bill HB6714, that would establish Connecticut as the first state in the nation to make phone calls from prison free for incarcerated people and their families. We can read more at The Intercept. The legislation was approved Tuesday by the Legislature's Appropriations Committee and heads to the full General Assembly. (Source: USNews & World Report.) Let's contact our CT state legislators and Gov. Ned Lamont to let them know that we support HB6714.

 

NY (& OTHERS) VOTING RIGHTS: A dangerous new kind of voting machine has been introduced in several states. This voting system has the capacity to mark votes onto paper ballots *after* the voter votes! This opens up dangerous pathways to fraud and must be stopped. A protest is being planned in New York, where this machine is currently being considered. If we live in New York, let’s consider attending this action on June 6. Let’s also contact our State Election Commissioners (40 NORTH PEARL STREET, SUITE 5, ALBANY, NY 12207-2729; (518) 474-6220); Email: INFO@elections.ny.gov) and demand that they reject the Dominion ICE voting machine. Those of us in other states should contact our Board of Elections and find out if these machines are being considered.

 TX: PROTECT FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS: Environmental activists, indigenous protesters, landowners and others who damage or “impair or interrupt” operations of oil and gas facilities will be charged with a felony under a bill, state bill HB3557, finalized and approved by the Texas Legislature. That’s despite public pressure, protests and legislative attempts to soften penalties in the industry-backed bill, which now heads to Governor Greg Abbott’s desk, where it is expected to become law. Let's read more at Texas Observer. If we are Texans, let's contact Governor Abbott to let him know that we oppose HB3557.

TO READ:

Walter Shaub, former director of the Office of Government Ethics, has written an easy-to understand Twitter thread on exactly why it's dangerous that AG Barr has just been granted authority to selectively declassify national security-related intelligence. The news barely made a wave, but we should understand what's really happening here: https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1132706393805475840.html  or https://twitter.com/waltshaub/status/1132706393805475840