action

Stop Steve Bannon's Appointment

Steve Bannon is a white supremacist and misogynist who Donald Trump has appointed to chief strategist. CALL TODAY and demand action and accountability, and demand that they do everything in their power to prevent Bannon from being in any cabinet position under Trump. Be polite!

Keep calling until Bannon is fired!

What you can do

CALL
Paul Ryan: (202) 225-3031
Mitch McConnell: (502) 582-6304 / (202) 224-2541
Susan Collins (Maine Republican against Trump): (207) 622-8414 / (202) 224-2523
Lisa Murkowski (Alaska Republican against Trump): (907) 586-7277 / (202) 224-6665
Senator Schumer (or find yours HERE): (212) 486-4430 / (518) 431-4070 / (202) 224-6542
Senator Gillibrand (or find yours HERE): (212) 688-6262 / (518) 431-0120 / (202) 224-4451
Congress person (find yours HERE)
*call both their DC and state offices if you have the time

TIPS FOR ACCESSING & LOBBYING YOUR REPRESENTATIVES
SAVE THESE PHONE NUMBERS in your phone for future calls!

SCRIPT
(be polite, make this your own, leave a message if you don't get a real person)
“My name is and I'm your constituent from [leave out if calling out of state]. I was wondering when ___ was planning on releasing a statement condemning Steve Bannon, who Donald Trump has appointed as his chief strategist?" If they say the person is not planning on doing so, say "I will call back tomorrow".

action

Get Foster Campbell Elected

Let's help Foster Campbell get elected to the Louisiana Senate so we can tip Congress one vote further in our favor. That means Dems will be 49-51 instead of 48-52, with a better chance to filibuster. The Louisiana runoff is December 10. Republicans are worried about this: they just opened 10 offices in Louisiana dedicated to Campbell's opponent's campaign.

What you can do

1. CALL BANK next week with us from 6:00-6:20 Monday evening next week (we can create more slots if people can't do that one). You can do it from your cell and a computer anywhere, and we'll send you a text so we can all start together. You will be contacting people who volunteered for Hillary last year and asking them if they can call too. Email us with "Foster Campbell" in the subject line and your phone number in the body of the email and we'll send you specific instructions.
2. DONATE to the campaign
3. SIGN UP TO MAKE CALLS on his behalf yourself. Same as above but do it on your own.
4. REACH OUT TO FRIENDS in Louisiana on Facebook by typing "my friends who live in Louisiana" in the search bar and sending them a quick message to remind them to vote in this runoff!

MESSAGE TEXT
Hi, I am writing to you with an important election message. Louisiana will be having a senate run-off election on December 10th. Let's help Democrat Foster Campbell get elected to the Louisiana Senate. That means Dems will be 49-51 instead of 48-52, with a better chance to filibuster. It is one of remaining ways we can help keep the Trump administration in check. The Louisiana runoff is December 10. Please remember to vote in this election!

action

Support Keith Ellison for DNC Chair

The chair of the DNC plays an outsize part in determining the tone of the party's approach and helps to galvanize voter participation, all items that were in particular disarray this election cycle. We need strong leadership in this position moving forward from a Trump election. Keith Ellison is a progressive congressman backed by Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, and was the first Muslim-American ever in congress. You may have heard his name, and think that the powers that be would have gotten the message that the country is ready for a change after Hillary's defeat, but he's not in any way a shoe in for this position, if we want radical change we have to stand behind it.

What you can do

1. SIGN Bernie’s petition to the DNC
2. VOLUNTEER TO WORK ON THIS FURTHER We would like someone to spearhead this effort to move the Democratic party in a much more overtly liberal direction. Possibilities include contacting representatives and asking them to release a statement of support for Ellison. Since the chairman is selected by elected officials, putting pressure on them is key. If you have an idea or want to work on this project please email us with the subject "Keith Ellison." If Ilyse Hogue decides to run we will evaluate our support of her at that time...

action

Tell the House Oversight Committee to look into Trump's finances

Call the House Oversight Committee to support the call for a bipartisan review of Trump's financials and apparent conflicts of interest. This needs to ideally happen BEFORE he gets into office.

What you can do

CALL
Jason Chaffetz DC office: (202) 225-7751
Utah office: (801) 851-2500
Campaign office: (801) 701-8918
House Oversight Committee: (202) 225-5074

SCRIPT
(be polite, make this your own, leave a message if you don't get a real person)
Hello, my name is _____, how are you?
I'm calling to let the House Oversight Committee know I am in favor of a bipartisan review of Donald Trump's finances.

action

Help Stop the Use of Aggressive Tactics Against Peaceful Protestors

On November 20, 2016 law enforcement used water cannons and tear gas on protestors crossing Backwater Bridge in below freezing temperatures. We are asking people to call and ask for law enforcement to stand down from these life-endangering and combative tactics against the protestors of the North Dakota Access Pipeline. There is no room in democracy for water cannons, tear gas, or rubber bullets against unarmed and peaceful protestors and water protectors.

What you can do

CALL
Morton County Sheriff's Department (701) 667-3330 (701) 328-8118
North Dakota Governor Jack Dalrymple's Office (701) 328-2200
North Dakota National Guard (701) 333-2000
White House Comments Line (202) 456-1111
White House (202) 456-1414
US Department of Justice (202) 353-1555

SCRIPT
(be polite, make this your own, leave a message if you don't get a real person)
Hello, my name is __, how are you? I am calling to ask that law enforcement stand down and stop the use of combative and life-endangering tactics against peaceful and unarmed protestors at Standing Rock.

action

Tell Paul Ryan Not to Dismantle Obamacare

Paul Ryan is conducting a phone poll on the ACA/Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), hoping to hear overwhelming popular opposition to it. Let's overwhelm him with support for the ACA instead.

What you can do

CALL
Paul Ryan: (202) 225-3031 or (202) 225-0600
You should hear an automated voice menu with options (listen carefully in case the options have changed):
• Press 2 to weigh in on the issue
• There will be a brief recording about HR-3762, Paul Ryan's proposal to gut the ACA, PRESS 1 to support Obamacare

*KEEP CALLING UNTIL YOU GET THE AUTOMATED VOICE MENU where the ACA survey is an option, they have been rerouting the phone tree constantly.

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?
We want to explain our support in terms that everyone can understand, regardless of political leaning; we know everyone has a different experience.
• We firmly believe this policy to be one of Obama's greatest legacies and a gift to the country-many of us have experienced the benefits directly. Healthcare is not cheap, and onboarding an entire country to a system is a complex and bumpy road. The ACA should be honed and improved, not eliminated or slashed by conservatives who counter a policy based on the vague and incorrect notions that the poor are being given a handout and the ACA is a jobs killer.
• Obamacare is a net positive for the economy. US healthcare spending is the highest in the world: Obamacare aims to slow that.
• It does not put undue pressure on small businesses, since it doesn't require companies under the size of 50 to adhere to its policies.
• It helps all levels of income by eliminating the pre-existing conditions clause.

action

Have a Conversation With Your Loved Ones About What's At Stake

If the election proved anything, it's that issues were rarely the issue, and emotional appeals held sway over people's decisions. This will ring true as many of us head home over the holidays to encounter friends and family on the other side of the political divide. While it is all too easy to slide into the comforts of a holiday, we cannot normalize our current state of affairs, and whitewash the dangerous political, cultural, and social reality taking place.

What you can do

With the help of our friends at Flippable and guidance from therapists, we've put together some tips and resources for starting the conversation with family and friends:

Be prepared: Read this toolkit put out by SURJ, ask questions of those you don't agree with, work towards finding common ground, and if you feel up for counter argument try these.

Remember that hearing someone out is as important as being heard. A study shows that in-depth conversation moves people toward changing their minds.

Keep anger and hurt regarding the candidate separate from your feelings about the person because it's too easy to demonize someone.

Take into consideration that many of the people who voted for Trump didn't take his racist, sexist talk literally. They may have chosen to ignore it then, but don't let them ignore it now.

Challenge yourself to think in terms of both/and rather than neither/nor. Two things can be true at the same time rather than mutually exclusive.

If all else fails, text SOS to 82623, and SURJ will send you talking points to help you through these tough conversations (they'll even jump on a call to coach you through target: blank).

And remember to breathe.

action

Give Thanks

Today, we want to thank you for being a part of this group with us, your accounts of activism are lifting our spirits continually.

We'd like to acknowledge the history of this holiday and the continued struggle by indigenous and marginalized people, past and present.

We are thankful to be surrounded by loving family or friends, to breathe clean air and drink fresh water, and we'd especially like to thank those who are putting their lives on the line for protecting the essence of life for all of us.

What you can do

Give thanks.

action

Buy Nothing Day

Happy Buy Nothing Day! Money often speaks louder than words. We all need to examine what we are buying, where it came from, who made it, and how the proceeds are being used. If you can, abstain from buying anything today. And every day, follow the guidelines below.

What you can do

1. BUY LOCAL. The money you spend in your community stays in the community. How amazing is it to look around you and be able to say, "my neighbor made that"?

2. BUY ETHICALLY. Pro tip, if it's too cheap to be true, it usually is. Quality items cost more, but they last longer. If you buy only what you truly need and love, you can spend more on it.

3. USE THESE RESOURCES to find companies worthy of your support. HRC buyer's guide highlights companies that support LGBT workplace equality. Buycott lets you choose how to shop based on your own concerns by scanning barcodes and following the money.

4. BOYCOTT. Visit #GrabYourWallet for updated information on companies to boycott. (Boycotts work best when companies know they're losing money because of their actions. Call or write and tell them they've lost a customer. Personalize it if you love shopping there.)

5. ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS is donations to the ACLU, the Southern Poverty Law Center, Black Lives Matters, Planned Parenthood, Emily's List, NARAL, ProPublica, Everytown for Gun Safety, Sierra Club, NRDC, Brennan Center for Justice, Council on American-Islamic Relations, National Immigration Law Service, Earth Justice. Support the Sacred Stone Camp by sending them exactly what they need. Find the organizations fighting for what you are passionate about and set up recurring donations. (Recurring donations typically make the most impact because the organization can count you as a member for their political lobbying - so give to 4 organizations at $5/mo each ($20/month). That's the cost of one fancy cocktail, but adds up to $240 a year for causes you care about. If you can't do that much, choose 2 organizations that speak to you. If you can do more, do!)

6. DIVEST: Is your bank supporting the DAPL? Bank local or join a credit union instead.

7. Don't forget to SHOP SECOND HAND!

action

A Little Weekend Action for Standing Rock

Dear wonderful pals: We don't normally send on weekends, but in this case: got some extra supplies? Bring them to the places listed below so we can send them to Standing Rock. Thank you, as always, for your help!

What you can do

We've already donated and sent Amazon supplies, but maybe like us, you also have older sleeping bags, parkas, wool blankets, insulated boots, storage bins, etc., that are too costly to mail but you'd love to give to the cause? We have coordinated with friends to help fill a trailer that heads up Dec. 1st. See supply list below.

NOW-SUNDAY 8PM - Williamsburg, Brooklyn
MONDAY-WEDNESDAY - Locust, NJ
email us for contact info

TOP NEEDS
Firewood (oak, maple, ash) / Tipis/tipi poles/tipi liners for winter /Tire chains / Sleeping bags for subzero temperatures (inc. Military style) / Battery packs for charging phones /Heavy duty canvas / Propane / Fur blankets / Tesoro gas cards / Gas generators / Insulated carhartt type coveralls / Paint (inc. Spray paint) / Power inverter / Propane heaters (small) / Ropes, tie downs / Solar chargers for electronic devices / Solar panels, inverter / Storage bins - heavy duty - all sizes / Tarps - heavy duty only / Tents (for subzero temps) / Thermal bed rolls / Walkie talkies with long range, cb radios

action

Catch Up on Past Actions

Dear friends,
We know there has been a lot this last 2 weeks. We're making today housecleaning day: if you haven't been able to perform some of the actions we've sent out so far, now is a great day to look back on the emails and do that. You can just do a search in your inbox for "two hours a week" and our actions will pop right up! If your new and need us to forward any of them to you just let us know which by #. We've listed them by subject below. You'll see us start to move towards a more medium-term strategy in this week's emails--see you in a bit!
Love,
Two Hours a Week

What you can do

Action 1: Stop Steve Bannon's appointment
Action 2: Donate & make some calls for Louisiana Senate candidate Foster Campbell
Action 3: Support Keith Ellison for DNC Chair
Action 4: Tell the House Oversight Committee to look into Trump's finances
Action 5: Tell those in charge to stop the aggressive tactics against Standing Rock protesters
Action 6: Tell Paul Ryan not to dismantle Obamacare
Action 7: Have a conversation with your loved ones about the election
Action 8: Give thanks! We're so lucky to be in a place to take action
Action 9: Buy nothing! Guidelines for boycotting, spending and donating wisely
Action 10: A little weekend Action for Standing Rock for those in NYC

action

Ask Facebook to Implement Election Day Reminders for All State and Local Elections

Facebook has been in the news a lot after the election for it's share in creating the polarized political echo chambers that make up our news stream on both the left and the right. Facebook has an incredible influence on elections, not just in the form of news, but in the platform's ability to register huge numbers of voters and remind them to vote on election day.

WE HAVE CREATED A PETITION to Facebook, asking them to implement these voting reminders not just for the presidential election, but for all state and local elections from here on out, including the upcoming Louisiana Senate run-off.

What you can do

1. SIGN OUR PETITION

2. SHARE IT WIDELY on Facebook! The more shares, likes and comments that happen on facebook, the more noise it generates, which helps bring it to their attention. The best way to get their attention is if you interact with it and share directly from the 2hoursaweek original facebook post. Even better if you make it public.

This is YOUR petition, please help it grow.

action

We're Making Progress - And There's More You Can Do

Since last week, thousands of us have contacted the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee to request an investigation into president-elect Trump’s finances and conflicts of interest. And we’re having an effect:

"Americans across the country have flooded our Committee’s offices with thousands of calls in strong support of this investigation, jamming our phone lines with more calls than we have ever received in response to any other issue...For these reasons, we are now all writing to you in support of Ranking Member Cummings’ request, and we ask that the Oversight Committee begin its work as soon as possible."

What you can do

The above is excerpted from a powerful letter written by all of the Democratic members of the Oversight Committee to Chairman Chaffetz (R- Utah) outlining our concerns and demanding action. Thanks to the energized action of concerned citizens, this is now a frontline issue. But there’s more to be done: The Oversight Committee has to have a majority vote to open an investigation, and there are only 17 Democrats. We must convince the committee's Republicans to take action. With more troubling actions and conflicts of interest emerging, it is clear that this should be a bi-partisan issue.

1. CALL Chaffetz and the other 24 Committee Republicans and demand an investigation. Find their phone numbers here

2. TELL YOUR FRIENDS If you have friends in these states, ask them to call the local offices!

3. SUPPORT Elizabeth Warren's audit of Trump's finance by EMAILING Katherine Siggerud and Timothy Minnelli at the Government Accountability office.

SAMPLE TEXT (make it your own!)
"I'm writing in support of Senator Elizabeth Warren's request for an audit of our incoming President Elect's finances, to prohibit conflicts of interest that would prevent him from carrying out the responsibilities of the office without corrupt influence."

action

Personal Divestment Day - Undo Your Own Financial Ties to the DAPL

What's the point of protesting if our money is paying for the pipeline?

Companies building DAPL secured a $2.5 billion loan from over a dozen banks to build the pipeline, but that money won't be delivered until Standing Rock stands down, so we still have time to stop it. Standing Rock has asked us to join them today, on Divestment Day, to kick off a Global Month of Action, by calling our banks and pledging to move our money to banks that don't invest in DAPL. Send a message with your money and call on these lenders to cut off this line of credit and stop funding the DAPL.

What you can do

1. CHECK TO SEE if your bank supports DAPL

2. TELL YOUR BANK you reject the notion of your money supporting DAPL. Promise to remove your money if they do not withdraw their funding.
• CALL and ask them to divest
• WRITE and quote their own policies back at them

3. CHOOSE A BANK THAT ALIGNS WITH YOUR VALUES: Find a local bank or credit union. We recommend Amalgamated Bank (they offer online banking and deposits, have free ATM's all over the city and is one of the only unionized banks in the United States) or OneUnited, America's largest Black-owned bank.

4. MOVE YOUR MONEY: Most credit unions offer a switch kit and here's a step-by-step guide to switching banks. You'll need to open your new account before you close the old one. Publicly close your big bank account by taking a picture with a sign saying #DeFundDAPL.

BONUS Support Sacred Stone Camp and sign the Sierra Club petition to tell big banks to divest from DAPL. Join an action near you today. Want to do even more?

SCRIPT
FORM LETTER

action

Take This On As Your Own Project

1. Add our new email to your address book. Starting Monday we are switching to MailChimp. In order to keep receiving our emails, please add actions@2hoursaweek.org to your contacts. (Instructions on how).

2. Help us circulate our petition to help increase voter turnout. Decision makers we know at Facebook are willing to listen, IF we can demonstrate grassroots and nationwide support!

What you can do

PLEASE SIGN our petition, we had to move it to a new platform for better distribution.

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT
High voter turnout is a win for the democratic process; all voices are heard. Young voters use social media disproportionately AND also vote for Democrats disproportionately. And it happens that they have the lowest voter turnout of any age group. Why not give them a boost through social media reminders?

If we can get 100k signatures by Monday, it's possible to get this policy implemented in time for the Louisiana Senate election on 12/10. Regardless of when, this would be a huge step in reversing Facebook's steady erosion of democracy.

Please take this on as your own project, promote it on all platforms. Get 10 friends to tell 10 friends. Tell anyone you know who has a large following in the public sphere. Let's make this happen!

action

Establish a National Hate Crime Hotline

Since the election, there has been an explosion in hate crimes. The FBI has called on citizens to report them, but we currently do not have a simple way of doing that. A House bill has been introduced to create a National Hate Crime Hotline, similar to the New York state hotline that was just created. This is a no brainer and should be a bipartisan bill, but it isn't likely to get passed without some serious pressure. Congress goes into recess on December 19th so we need to let them know now that we want this bill!

ps...Congrats to everyone participating in our democracy, activism works!

What you can do

1. SIGN & SHARE this petition we created calling for the Hotline. Please make sure to confirm your signature in their followup email. And share widely!

2. CONTACT the following heads of the House Judiciary Committee, the White House and your representative, and ask them to expedite this urgent bill to a vote.

The House Judiciary Committee (202) 225-3951
Bob Goodlatte (VA R, chairman) (202) 225-5431 / (540) 432-2391
John Conyers Jr. (MI D, ranking member) (202) 225-5126 / (313) 961-5670
The White House (202) 456-1111
Please also contact any Judiciary Committee members from your state (click on their name to find their phone number)
And of course your own congressperson

2138 Rayburn House Office Bldg
Washington, DC 20515

USE THIS SCRIPT (make it your own & be polite!)
I am calling to ask Representative __ to support and expedite bill H.R.6332, calling for the creation of a national hate crime hotline. The FBI has asked us to report these crimes and we want a simple and direct way of being able to report incidents of hate in our country. It is vital that this happens before President Obama leaves office.

action

Support the Injustice Boycott

Join The Injustice Boycott organized by Shaun King. This is an organized, long-term, nationwide economic resistance to combat police brutality, racial violence and systemic injustice in the US.

What you can do

For now, all they're asking of us is to stand on the side of justice, loud & clear, and prepare:

1. JOIN the boycott here.

2. READ Shaun King's plan for an organized stand against racial injustice and police brutality.

3. INVITE those around you to join, and share widely on social media.

WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT
Phase one of the boycott began yesterday on the anniversary of the Montgomery Bus Boycott and will last until Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The first three cities put on watch will be the progressive cities of New York & San Francisco, and Standing Rock. These cities have 43 days to meet the reasonable and humane demands of local activists. While protests have brought increasing awareness to racial injustice, they have not brought about active change by our government and policymakers. From the organizers:

"One of the primary goals of the Injustice Boycott will be to unashamedly hold “progressive” cities, their elected officials, and the businesses in those cities responsible for the reputations they so enjoy."

If demands are not met in 45 days, The Injustice Boycott will call for:
• a tourism boycott of those cities
• pulling money out of banks and financial institutions that either support racial injustice and police brutality in those cities or have not come out against them
• a national boycott of large corporations headquartered in those cities
• protests in the city designed to shut down businesses and government

Join in & let them know they're on watch!

action

Stop the GOP from Gutting Medicare + Final Push for Foster Campbell

With the holidays right around the corner (and inauguration close behind) there's a lot to do and not a lot of time to do it. So, we've got two clicks for you today:

What you can do

CLICK 1: Paul Ryan has made ending Medicare a priority and we are going to stop him. A coalition of progressive groups will join Bernie Sanders, Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer at the Capitol TODAY to unveil a massive joint petition to GOP leaders. Sign and share the petition now. Bonus: call your senators and congressperson.

CLICK 2: On December 10th, the Louisiana runoff election will take place and if Foster Campbell wins, there will be one more Democrat in the Senate standing up to Donald Trump's agenda. Whether or not you're in NOLA, help Foster Campbell by digital phone banking or texting supporters - or go down and canvas if you can!

action

Ask Obama to Send Non-Violent Offenders Home for the Holidays

President Obama has granted more commutations than the previous 11 presidents combined) and as of Thanksgiving, he's granted clemency to more than 1000 non-violent drug offenders. He has 12,000 clemency applications to review in his 43 days left in office. He has the option to do this one at a time, or through a blanket commutation of inmates still serving time under an old, defunct law). Let's tell him to send non-violent offenders home for the holidays.

What you can do

1. CONTACT PRESIDENT OBAMA by email, phone (202-456-1111) or mail (President Barack Obama, The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20500) using the script below.

2. SIGN this petition from the ACLU

3. The United States is the world’s leader in incarceration. SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS fighting for criminal justice reform, like The Sentencing Projectand The Marshall Project

USE THIS SCRIPT (make it your own & be polite!)
"Thank you for making a historic effort to grant freedom to those serving sentences for non-violent drug crimes. Please sort through the remaining 12,000 clemency applications before December 30th to send non-violent drug offenders home for the holidays."

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT
While much of the country is celebrating the legalization of marijuana, it's worth remembering how many people wake up every morning in prison where they are serving often lengthy sentences for non-violent drug possession. Nearly half of all incarcerated Americans are in prison for drug offenses and 93% of those inmates are in for non-violent crimes. Keeping these people in prison does great damage to their lives and is a heavy economic and spiritual burden for our country to bear. Thank you for taking these steps.

action

Tell Gov Kasich to Veto the Heartbeat Bill

Ohio just passed the "strictest time-based abortion law", the Heartbeat Bill, making abortion a felony after the fetus's heartbeat is detected, typically at six weeks. This is a long-term strategy focused on attacking reproductive freedom in a right-leaning Supreme Court and outlawing abortion nationally. This is not only about Ohio, and none of us can afford to let this pass without a fight. Men, this means you too!

What you can do

1: CALL Kasich and ask him to veto the Heart Beat Bill & the 20 week ban. 614-466-3555

2: EMAIL his office, using Naral's handy form.

3. SIGN this petition from NARAL

4: SUPPORT organizations on the ground: Ohio ACLU, Planned Parenthood & NARAL

USE THIS SCRIPT (make it your own & be polite!)
I am concerned about the passage of the so-called "Heartbeat Bill." This bill threatens the safety of Ohio women, was passed secretively and unconstitutionally, and violates a woman's right to choose. I implore Governor Kasich to use his line item veto against the bill.

WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT
The "Heartbeat Bill" makes abortion illegal after a heartbeat is detected, typically 6 weeks. This is so early that many women don't know they're pregnant, and too early to make the often difficult decision, find a clinic, make an appointment, get time off of work, save money, and go in for a procedure. The ban makes all abortion illegal, even in the case of rape or incest. For all intents and purposes, this is a full abortion ban. Ohio legislators also passed a second bill banning abortions after 20 weeks. Kasich has 10 days to veto both bills or they automatically become law. The Ohio legislators who created this bill cite Trump's election as their motivation. They see that and Republican control of all three branches of government as a mandate to pass extreme laws against reproductive freedom. Their long term strategy, if this passes, is that a court battle would ensue which could lead to the overturn of Roe v. Wade in a right leaning Supreme Court, outlawing abortion in the entire US. The first shot has been fired, and we must make it clear that we won't give up without a fight.

action

Urge the Electors to Not Elect Trump

There are seven days before the electoral college votes on December 19th. American intelligence agencies confirmed that Russia intervened in the US elections to elect Trump. While the discrepancy between the popular vote and the electoral college vote questions the legitimacy of our electoral college system, this act of foreign interference undermines the integrity of the entire election. Some Republican electors are already pledging not to vote for Trump. We need to tell the other members that this election was not legitimate, and to join in voting against Trump.

What you can do

1. GO to makedemocracymatter.org to find the email, phone number and social media contact for all red state electors. If you are from one of these red states, start there.

2. CALL, EMAIL, TWEET & FACEBOOK message them. Use this great list of electors with notes on their stances and responses as a guide. Contact them by as many means possible.

3. PROTEST at your state capital on December 19th. Go here for more info.

USE THIS SCRIPT (make it your own & be polite!)
Hi, I’m reaching out to urge you to exercise your right to not vote for Donald Trump. It may seem presumptive of me to ask you how to fulfill your electoral duty, but please consider two important factors before casting your vote. American intelligence agencies have confirmed that Russia interfered in the US election with the goal of electing Donald Trump, and this act alone has de-legitimized the validity of his election. Secondly, The Democratic candidate won the popular vote by 2.84 million votes. That is a win margin larger than 11 previously elected presidents. Clinton is the clear choice of the people who voted, and it is your duty as an elector to honor the choice of the people.

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT
A new report out by the CIA this past week, confirmed that Russia intervened in the US election to help get Trump elected. Russia will have helped to elect the most pro-Russian US president to have as its ally. This is a wholly unprecedented act and it is unacceptable to allow a foreign country to interfere with US elections, and achieve their intended result.

action

Halt the Electoral College Vote Until We Get an Investigation Into Russian Interference

A bipartisan committee in the Senate has called for a comprehensive investigation into Russian interference with our election, and Trumps ties to Russia. A group of Electoral College members are asking for a full report before they cast their vote next week.

We must call on our representatives to postpone the Electoral College vote until we have a full and public investigation into Trump's ties to Russia, and Russia's interference with our election. This is a bipartisan issue to save our Democracy from the influence of a foreign power; it’s an issue of national security and national sovereignty that we ensure Trump does not take office until the investigations have concluded.

What you can do

1. CALL your senators & congressperson (find their number here)

2. SIGN these petitions to tell Congress that we want an
• Immediate investigation into Trump’s ties to Russia, an
• Investigation into Russias interference in our elections, a
• Briefing before the electoral college before they vote, and to
• Postpone the electoral college vote & inauguration pending these investigations.

3. SHARE WITH FRIENDS who have republican representatives. We need a bipartisan effort on this. Type "my friends who live in [state or city]" into the Facebook search bar to find friends in red districts & states.

USE THIS SCRIPT (make it your own & be polite!)
I'm calling to request that you do everything in your power to postpone the Electoral College vote until we have a full and public investigation into Trump's ties to Russia, and Russia's interference with our election. Please rally a bipartisan effort in congress and reach out to President Obama, as it should be a bipartisan issue to save the Democracy from the influence of a foreign power. Based on the CIA’s confirmation of Russian interference with the US election to elect Donald Trump, I feel it’s an issue of national security and national sovereignty that we ensure Trump does not take office until the investigations have concluded.

action

Ask Obama & Congress for Intelligence Briefings Before the Electoral College Votes

On Monday, electors will choose the next president of the United States. But they are doing it without all the information they deserve. After the CIA reported that Russia tampered with U.S. elections to elect Donald Trump, a bipartisan group of electors demanded an intelligence briefing in advance of their vote. The electors, and the American people, have the right to know the extent to which the integrity of our elections has been compromised, before the vote on Monday.

What you can do

1. CALL PRESIDENT OBAMA
(202) 456-1111 (if it's busy call again later)

2. CALL YOUR CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVES
Find their numbers here

3. WANT TO DO MORE? Catch up on this week's actions, which are all related to this topic

USE THIS SCRIPT (make it your own & be polite!)
The electors have a right and a duty to receive a full intelligence briefing regarding Russian interference in November’s election prior to casting their votes on Monday, December 19. The integrity of U.S. elections—and our democracy—depends on you taking this action now. Please do all you can do to ensure a full briefing before Monday, or halt the vote until it's able to happen.

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Contact These 40 Republican Electors Who Seem Open to Voting Against Trump

20 Republican Electors are considering voting against Trump. Our friends have compiled this list of 40 Republican Electors who seem the most open to this idea. They have either indicated dissatisfaction with Trump or are from districts that voted for HRC.Let's focus our energies through Monday on these people.

What you can do

1. CONTACT the electors who seem open to the idea of voting against Trump. It should take you about a half hour. Personalize it and please stay polite and respectful. Remember that you are contacting Republicans; do not try to persuade them of the Democrats superiority. Use words like "national security", "patriotic duty", "protection for foreign influence", "American values", "American sovereignty", "freedom", "Russia", etc.

Use this SELECTIVE LIST OF 40 ELECTORS TO CONTACT
Use this SCRIPT/FORM LETTER

2. ASK YOUR FRIENDS IN THESE STATES TO REACH OUT Their voice is louder, as a local voter. Call or send them this email or find them on Facebook by typing “my friends who live in [location]" into the search bar. Follow up to make sure they made the calls and trade stories.

3. WANT TO DO MORE? Catch up on the past week's actions, all were related to this topic.

WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT
Some Republican Electors have already pledged not to Vote for Trump, and after offering free legal advice to faithless electors, Lawrence Lessig has said that 20 others are considering casting a vote against Trump.

• Don't understand how the electors can vote against him? Read this or this
• Not sure you think they should vote against him? Read this

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Final Push Before Tomorrow's Electoral College Vote

Please take a few minutes today to make these last efforts to ensure that the electoral college votes with full knowledge and information into Trump's conflicts of interest and Russia's interference with the presidential elections.

Please call your friends in red states and ask them to do this with you.

What you can do

1. CALL and demand a full intelligence briefing for the electors before they vote, and a postponement of the vote until that's able to happen. Call today and leave a message so they get it early Monday morning. Use this script.
• Obama (202) 456-1111
• Nancy Pelosi (202) 225-0100
• Your Congressional representatives
• Attorney General (202) 514-2000 (press 4 for comment line)

2. CALL or EMAIL these 40 electors who seem open to the idea of voting against Trump. Use this updated contact list and this form letter. Be polite and respectful, and personalize your request.

3. Perhaps most importantly, GET FRIENDS IN RED STATES TO DO THE SAME. TODAY.
• Call them if you have their number, or type "my friends who live in [state or city]" into the Facebook search bar to find friends in red districts & states.
• Start here: Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Nebraska, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and Utah.

4. JOIN a protest on Monday.

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Pause to Reflect, and Prepare for the Future

We are here for each other. On this day we might have feelings of powerlessness, but we want to tell you that you are powerful. We are heartened by your outrage and your determination.

What you can do

1. Today, replace 15 minutes of reading the news with 15 minutes of proactive consideration of the following:
• Think about your personal civic activity going forward.
• Are you spending as much time as you want on being active?
• Why or why not?
• What small changes can you make that would help?
• Have you found a way to seamlessly integrate activism into your life?

2. RSVP to our next community meeting on January 15. We look forward to seeing you, hearing your stories, commiserating and holding community together.

We met with Howard Dean last Thursday. He told us that he sees the future of change as coming from the bottom up, and that we need to be thinking not only of the next 6 months, but also the next 6 years, and 6 decades. We're beginning to find experienced allies to work with, but in the end it's up to us to create the world we want to live in. It's vital that we support each other logistically and emotionally in the short, medium, and long terms. We are here for you, and we are so grateful you are there for us. Love, 2HAW

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Use Our Website to Collaborate With Us

Friends!
2hoursaweek.org is up and running! We’ve built the site to encourage collaboration. As we said from the beginning, we hope to inspire and encourage you to take action, and support your ideas and dreams. We do not aim to define what each action is from the top down, rather we are here to be your loudspeaker to the community. Please use it as a tool and a resource to become more involved if you feel inclined. We hope you do!
We’re so excited to share this and hear your feedback!
With love,
2HAW

What you can do

Here’s your activity for today:

BEGIN TO COLLABORATE WITH US! Have an idea for a daily action, an event to suggest, a story to share, or a group to connect us to? Tell us under Connect with Us!
CATCH UP ON ACTIONS that are still relevant; we’ve banked all of them to date on the site. Don’t forget to send actions to friends, that’s a huge help.
UPDATE YOUR PREFERENCES if you’d like to receive invitations to attend local meetings or information about joining the organizing committee. (Link in the footer of your daily action email, or do it below by filling out the sign up form again, it will take you to the link to update your preferences)

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Post-Election Holiday Gift Guide

American consumers will spend an average of $935.58 this holiday shopping season. Instead of spending our money on material gifts, let’s put it towards supporting causes that are important to us. Whether we ask friends and family to donate in our names or make the donation ourselves, here’s a list of organizations that could use our support.

What you can do

1. DONATE now or set up a monthly donation. Monthly donations give organizations a steady, predictable source of income allowing them to plan further in advance, and increase their membership count and lobbying power.

FUNDAMENTAL CIVIL LIBERTIES
ACLU
Bread and Roses Fund
Center for Constitutional Rights
Common Cause
Human Rights Campaign

RACIAL JUSTICE
The Equal Justice Initiative
Southern Poverty Law Center
Color of Change
Black Lives Matter

MUSLIM RIGHTS
Council on American Islamic Relations
Muslim Justice League

PROTECTION FOR UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS
Immigrant Defense Project
Families for Freedom
No More Deaths
MALDEF
National Immigration Law Center
Make the Road

LGBTQ
National LGBTQ Task Force
TGIJP [Transgender & Intersex Justice Project]
Trans Justice Funding Project
Transgender Law Center
Familia Trans Queer Liberation Movement
LGBT Books to Prisoners
Sylvia Rivera Law Project

WOMEN’S HEALTH AND REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS
NARAL
Planned Parenthood
Center for Reproductive Rights
Abortion Care Network

SEE MORE PRO-CHOICE WOMEN GET ELECTED
Emily’s List
She Should Run

EDUCATION
Stand Up For Public Schools
Union of Concerned Scientists

GUN SAFETY
Everytown
Moms Demand Action

ENVIRONMENT
Sierra Club
League of Conservation Voters
Greenpeace
Junglekeepers
Citizens Climate Lobby
350.org
EarthJustice
Also, while I have you; if you don’t already have green mountain energy, just make the switch. So easy.

ALTERNATIVE MEDIA SOURCES
Democracy Now!
Think Progress
The Intercept
The Marshall Project
ProPublica
Vox on Policy and Politics

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Don't Apologize for Talking Politics

As we enter the height of the holiday season, you may find yourself across the dinner table from friends and family who do not share your views on the election or who don’t want to talk about the incoming administration. Some of us may be chomping at the bit to get into an argument, and some will shy away under the pretense of holiday appeasement. Let’s have constructive conversations with everyone about what’s at stake for all of us under the Trump administration. And let’s not apologize for talking politics! This is our future we’re talking about.

What you can do

1. EMPATHY IS THE FIRST STEP and it is the hardest part of talking across difference. Fear is felt on both sides of this political divide and it is very hard to be open to new ideas when someone is fearful. Work towards empathy and finding common ground with those you disagree with. “If you are able to accept someone and validate how they see the world, even if it’s contrary to your own view, then they might actually stop feeling so threatened with you. And then, you could actually have a conversation with them about what they’re so scared about.”

2. VOICE YOUR CONCERNS clearly and advocate for yourself. Those who voted for Trump may not have taken his racist, sexist, and extremist speech seriously then, but don’t let them ignore it now.

3. THESE CONVERSATIONS ARE THE LONG GAME. You won’t change anyone’s mind over dinner or even a holiday weekend, but if you are able to direct the conversation towards an environment of tolerance, then you are at a good place for continued future conversations.

4. READ this conversation toolkit if you're a white person, which includes tips for speaking up for racial justice.

5. TEXT SOS TO 82623 if you get stuck with the above and SURJ will send you talking points to help you through these tough conversations (they'll even jump on a call to coach you through).

6. IF YOU ABSOLUTELY DO NOT FEEL PREPARED TO SIT DOWN WITH FAMILY OR IN-LAWS WHO SUPPORTED TRUMP, IT'S OK TO STAY AWAY THIS YEAR. If you do, it's important to tell them, unemotionally if possible, that you love them but that you feel hurt and scared and that their vote was one that affects you (or your friends) personally, and therefore feels like a personal affront, so you don't feel prepared to share a meal with them at this moment. Dan Savage says that our only leverage as adults is our presence in our family's lives, and when we use it we need to let them know that. A therapist we consulted also said its important to state your feelings about this situation clearly, but then avoid falling down the rabbit hole into a fight. So be clear, be kind, and let them know that their actions have consequences.

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Join us at the Women's March on January 21

The Women's March on Washington aims to send a bold message of defending women's rights, immigrant rights, LGBTQIA rights, and the rights of all those who have been marginalized by the rhetoric of the incoming administration. This is the first step in unifying all these communities to send a clear message to the president-elect that we reject his politics of fear. It is a chance to stand with others and know that we are the majority, and can accomplish much if we work together.

What you can do

1. RSVP here so the organizers can know how many people to expect. This is important for planning a safe and effective march.

2. MAKE A PLAN to get there. Carpool, caravan, get on a march bus from NYC or from elsewhere.

3. INVITE YOUR FRIENDS - this march is open to everyone, not just women - let’s make it a party!

4. FIND A SISTER MARCH IN YOUR CITY if you can’t make it to DC.

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT
This march follows a history of important civil rights marches that took place in our country's capital. Namely the March on Washington in 1963 and the Million Man March in 1995. Marches are powerful symbolic actions, but they are also an indicator of a greater social movement taking place. It can be a way to motivate others to action, and galvanize support among the issues we care about. All successful movements in American history have both an inside and an outside strategy. This is just the beginning of ours.

Thank you!

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Read Up in Preparation for 2017

Over this holiday break, and in preparation for 2017, we have some important reading for you to do. First up, is a clear, thoughtful, and tactical “how-to” manual for political engagement put together by former Democratic congressional staffers who provide an insider’s guide for effective activism.

What you can do

1. READ the Indivisible Guide It's an easy and accessible read with actions that can easily be implemented by all of us.

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT
This guide was put together by Democratic congressional staffers who share some of the lessons they’ve learned watching the Tea Party in action. The Tea Party was essentially a constellation of small groups of conservative activists, who were able to harness grassroots efforts to stymie the Democratic majority and challenge the Obama agenda throughout both his terms. With this guide, we can build a progressive movement that can be as, if not more effective, in stopping the Trump administration and a Republican Congress from passing the most dangerous and hateful laws on the agenda.

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Reading #2 in Preparation for 2017

If you haven't read Concrete Suggestions in Preparation for January 2017’s change in American Government yet, now is a good time to catch up on it. Take a look and see if there's anything concrete that you or your friends should do before laws begin to change.

What you can do

1. READ the new easily navigable website, or the live doc which still contains the Spanish version.

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT
This live doc was compiled by attorneys and other professionals all over the country. It includes concrete suggestions for preparation and empowerment organized for different groups and issues, including immigrants, LGBTIQ, people living with disabilities, women and allies.

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Movies to Inspire Activism

Sometimes we want to sit back and relax and binge on movies. If you want to be inspired as you do that, we've been compiling a list.

What you can do

1. CHECK OUT LIST OF MOVIES TO INSPIRE ACTIVISM - this is a live doc compiled by friends. Feel free to add to it!

We also found these lists here, here, here, here, here, & here.

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Readings to Inspire Activism

We'd like to hear what books, articles, essays, etc that have inspired you to activism. We have a long road ahead of us in this brave new world, and it will be great to have a growing list of inspirational readings to refer to.

What you can do

1. SHARE WITH US! We've started a doc that you can add to here.

2. BOOKMARK THIS comprehensive Reading List for Undoing Amerika, and this complete lesson plan for educating ourselves compiled by educators.

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Read the news mindfully

What was the first news story you read this morning and why?

Today we’re inviting you to think about your news consumption. We all saw how fake news, biased news, social media echo chambers and lackluster mainstream and TV news reporting misled voters and affected our election. We also know that Trump's attacks on journalists is a propaganda tactic employed by dictators to silence dissent.

We must now make it our personal duty to consume and support worthwhile sources in the future; fact checked, long form, independent and investigative journalism. Let's support each other in this endeavor.

What you can do

1. GET NEWS LITERATE. Use these tips to spot fake news. Or these, these or these.

2. PICK 1-3 NEWS PUBLICATIONS (digital, radio, print or TV) that you trust to guide you through the complexities of the world. Consider the explicit and implicit intentions and priorities of the writers and publishers. Check to see if your favored publications or broadcasters have fact checkers and editors. Look at these suggestions for good sources.

3. SUPPORT the organization financially – either by subscription or donation.

4. SHARE YOUR PICKS WITH US here.

BONUS : INSTALL THIS CHROME EXTENSION to rid your feed of fake news!

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

First of all, we allow our view of the world around us to be shaped by people whose intentions are “neutral” at best. Secondly, we train our brains to see the news as a free commodity, largely disconnected from the institutions that produce it. And we let ourselves get out of the habit of critically examining our sources. The truth is that no news is independent news. Every story gets written by someone, and published by someone, and may or may not get fact checked by someone.

None of us have an endless amount of time to spend reading up on every domestic and foreign issue that matters to us – we have to rely on other people to tell us what matters and why it matters and to give us enough of the facts of the matter than we might make informed decisions about how to live in and engage with the world. We have to pick our crew of informants carefully.

In exchange for this hard work, we need to pay these people so that they can travel around the country and the globe observing, interviewing and conducting careful research. We have to support the editing and production of the news and, of course, we have to make sure that the writers and publishers can feed themselves and their families.

We hope that this can be the beginning of a conversation about how the news itself constitutes one of the vital institutions in our Democracy, one which we must nurture, interrogate and protect over the next few years.

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Stop Republicans from banning live streaming in Congress

House Republicans are attempting to ban live streaming and taking photos from the floor of Congress. A law will be voted on tomorrow that would fine and punish our representatives for sharing images and videos with the public. Transparency and civilian and press oversight of government is at the heart of our national heritage, and this flies in the face of necessary and long-standing traditions that keep balance in our government.

What you can do

Call today and have your voice heard before the vote tomorrow!

1. CALL your local representative and implore them to vote against it. Find their numbers here

2. CALL Paul Ryan's office and call him out on attempting to silence the minority. (202) 225-3031 / (608) 752-4050 / (262) 654-1901 / (262) 637-0510

Suggested script for your representatives
I'm calling to urge Rep. _____ to vote against Rep. Ryan's proposal to ban live streaming and photography on the Congressional floor. It's an obvious attempt to silence and hobble the minority and goes against our Democracy's inherent spirit of transparency and openness with its constituency.

Suggested script for paul ryan
I'm calling to urge Rep. Ryan to withdraw his proposal to ban live streaming and photography on the Congressional floor. It's an unfair attempt to silence and hobble the minority and goes against our Democracy's inherent spirit of transparency and openness with its constituency.

Be polite, concise and personal.
Leave a message if you don’t reach a live person.

WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT

Republicans want to fine Congressmen who violate the ban $500 for a first infraction and then $2,500 for subsequent infractions. This is a response to Democrats live streaming their sit-in proteston gun control after the Orlando shooting. After the sit-in began, Ryan ordered the C-Span cameras shut off and Democrats responded by live-streaming the protest themselves.

It’s vital that in a Republican controlled government that has shown no commitment to playing fair or following long-standing traditions of government, citizens are able to keep an eye on the daily actions in Congress. Without transparency and access by press and citizens alike, we cannot trust that the members of our government will act in the best interest of the citizenry.

Additionally, the law will also impose punishments for legislators protesting in Congress. This is just a first step that Republicans are taking to curb the only power that Democrats hold now - the power to protest.

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Join us & Share--what will you fight for?

Happy new year! Thank you for being a part of 2 Hours A Week. We hope our daily action items have helped you focus efforts in this new reality. We’ve got a lot of plans for action in the new year, but first, we want to regroup with you, our community, to hear your progress, concerns, and ideas for action.

What you can do

It's time to begin thinking about what changes you want to make and where you want to take action. Bring these thoughts along with your questions and concerns to the meeting on the 15th. This is a collective effort and the more voices we have acting towards change, the stronger we will be. Come say hi, and, if you like, speak up!

1. RSVP TO OUR COMMUNITY MEETING on January 15th. You’ve been getting daily emails and doing your actions—now come meet us and find out how you can get more involved. RSVP here today so we know what size space we need to secure.

2. SIGN UP TO SHARE. If you’d like to speak about an idea, action item, action group you're involved in, or a concern, include it in the RSVP form (linked above) and we’ll be sure to make time for you to speak.

3. CONTINUE TO THINK ABOUT YOUR ACTIVISM IN THE COMING YEAR
• Think about your personal civic activity going forward.
• Are you spending as much time as you want being active?
• Why or why not?
• What small changes can you make that would help?
• Have you found a way to seamlessly integrate activism into your life?
• What are the issues you want to focus on?

INTERESTED IN HOSTING (or attending) A MEETING IN YOUR TOWN?
We've heard from a lot of you hoping to join meetings outside of NYC. If you'd like to host or attend one in your hometown, RSVP above, include your zip code and a note about hosting in your town.

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Oppose Rex Tillerson for Secretary of State

While the next President is not inaugurated until January 20th, the new Congress has already returned to work. The Senate will begin confirmation hearings soon thereafter of Trump cabinet appointees. As we have seen, Trump's picks have been uncompromising in their complicity with white nationalists, dangerous foreign interests, and big corporations. Rex Tillerson is the CEO of ExxonMobil, who has worked for many years in Russia and the Middle East, and has strong ties to Vladimir Putin. If confirmed, Tillerson would be the first secretary of state in decades who has not previously worked as a public servant or member of the military.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee will be holding a two-part hearing on January 11th to vet Tillerson on a number of his conflicts of interest. Democrats only need to persuade one Republican to oppose Tillerson in order to block his nomination.

What you can do

1. CALL the members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and tell them you oppose this nomination and ask what they plan to do at the hearing. If one of these Senators is from your state, even better! Marco Rubio (R- Florida) has voiced concerns about Tillerson.

2. CALL your own state Senator and ask them what they will do to oppose this nomination. Use this extensive google doc as a guide.

USE THIS SCRIPT (feel free to ad-lib, of course)
Hello, I am calling to ask Senator [name] to block the appointment of Rex Tillerson for secretary of state. Does Senator [name] have a plan to oppose this nomination? I am deeply concerned about Tillerson's private sector interests and his clear ties to Putin and Russia. Both ExxonMobil and Russia stand to greatly profit from the easing of sanctions on the Kremlin. This is a clear conflict of interest and the making of a business deal. We need the secretary of state to be someone who views the world with moral clarity, free of conflicts of interest, and who has the nation's interests at heart.

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How Cabinet appointments get confirmed and what we can do about it

Over the past two months, we have reacted with disbelief to the President-elect's cabinet picks. Many of these appointees come from the private-sector and from within an industry that presents a direct conflict of interest with the department they intend to oversee. Rather than "draining the swamp," Trump has filled his cabinet with billionaire CEO's, and corporate and Washington insiders.

As Congress gets back to work, a schedule of confirmation hearings has already been announced for some of these top positions. Here is a quick guide to how the confirmation process works. Over the next few days, we will be sending out actions to directly address individual appointees. For now, find some time to read up on how the process works and how Senate Democrats can possibly disrupt it.

What you can do

1. LEARN about all the cabinet appointees here.

2. READ up on the process of cabinet confirmation here.

Here's a quick breakdown of the above article:
a) A nomination is given to the relevant senate committee (made up of Republican and Democratic Senators).

b) That committee can then hold hearings, vote to move the nomination straight to the Senate floor for a vote or not move on it at all (in which case, the committee effectually kills the nomination).

c) After hearings, the committee votes to report a nomination to the full Senate. It may vote to report the nomination favorably, unfavorably or without recommendation. If a committee sits on an appointment, the full Senate may vote to invoke cloture and move the nomination along.

d) If a nomination clears committee, it moves to the Senate floor and can be confirmed by a simple majority Senate vote.

3. STRATEGIZE Although Democrats cannot block the vote, Senate Democrats can slow down the process by asking the the party leader, Chuck Schumer, to delay the vote. They can also ask for 30 hours of debate on each nomination. This is what Republicans did to obstruct and effectively kill Obama's Supreme Court Justice nomination. We must make clear to Schumer and other Democratic Senators, that we need them to employ all and any tactics to fight these nominations.

4. BEGIN TO ACT Find out if one of your state senators is on a relevant committee holding a hearing for the nomination, and start writing and calling any time. And look out for our detailed actions in response to many of these nominations over the next few days.

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Oppose Jeff Sessions for Attorney General

President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Senator Jefferson Beauregard Sessions for his Attorney General. Sessions was previously rejected for a federal judgeship by a Republican Senate because of disturbing allegations of racism. He believes that the Voting Rights Act is intrusive legislation, allegedly claimed that he wished he could decline all civil rights cases, openly opposes birthright citizenship, and consistently opposes pro-LGBTQ legislation.

The Judiciary Committee’s Democrats have asked for a four day hearing and the calling of multiple witnesses, but Republican Committee Chair Chuck Grassley has declined and limited the hearing to two days with only 4 witnesses from the Democratic side. On top of this, Sessions has submitted remarkably incomplete answers to the Committee’s questionnaire and also will not recuse himself from voting for himself.

What you can do

1. CALL the heads and ranking members of the Judiciary Committee. If one of these senators is from your state, make sure to provide your zipcode during the call. If you have friends and family from the states of any of these Republican senators, please ask them to call as well.

Here's a breakdown of asks to important committee senators:

Chuck Grassley - Republican Senator of Iowa, Chairman of the Judiciary Committee
202-224-3744 / 515-288-1145
We need to stress that Sessions and his background of intolerance and bigotry is un-American. Sessions’ cavalier attitude towards the confirmation process shows that he thinks he doesn’t have to play by the same rules. He must submit the missing records for 20 years of work as Alabama US attorney , attorney general, and senator before the hearing takes place. Sessions himself has put up a fight against Obama nominations when they were not comprehensive in their questionnaires. He is subject to the same rules.

Lindsey Graham - Republican Senator of South Carolina
202-224-5972 / 803-933-0112
Because Graham is considered somewhat moderate and bi-partisan these days, he is a good one to appeal to on basis of his dislike of Trump and his willingness to work with Democrats. His state also has a large African American constituency, whose vote would be assuredly undermined under Sessions. Stress Sessions past history of racially motivated litigation.

Patrick Leahy - Democratic Senator of Vermont, Ranking Member of the Judiciary Committee
202-224-4242 / 802-863-2525

Dianne Feinstein - Democratic Senator of California
202-224-3841 / 415-393-0707 / 310-914-7300

Chuck Schumer- Democratic Senator of New York
202-224-6542 / 212-486-4430 / 518-431-4070

2. CALL We need to press all Judiciary Committee Democrats to make this a tough non-conciliatory hearing on Sessions. Their constituents are comprised of diverse racial backgrounds, many of whom would be directly targeted and undermined by Sessions and his policies. If the nomination goes to the senate floor for a vote, they must put a hold on the nomination and delay the vote. States with Democratic representation in the committee: CA, CT, DE, IL, MN, NY, RI.

3. CALL If your Republican Senator in on the committee, put pressure on them to hold Sessions accountable to a full review and confirmation process at the very least (and vote against him at the most!). States with Republican representation in the committee: AL, AZ, GA, LA, NC, SC, TX, UT.

SCRIPT - please add relevant material from above depending on who you are calling (feel free to ad-lib, of course)
Hello, I am calling to express my opposition to the appointment of Jeff Sessions for attorney general. I believe his bigotry, record of intolerance, and racially motivated litigation to be unAmerican and unacceptable for the role of top law enforcement official in our country. In addition, his omission of decades of records shows his utter disrespect for the process of his confirmation. He must play by the same rules as all past nominations and be subjected to a full review of his record.

If calling a Democratic senator, add:
Please fight against this nomination and make sure that Jeff Sessions entire record is fully reviewed in the hearing. This is no time to be conciliatory. Your constituents are counting on you to serve them well and not confirm a man whose policies will directly harm them and their families.

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT
Read any of these articles
7 Big Areas Where Jeff Sessions Could Change Policy at the DOJ
Jeff Sessions is expected to bring sweeping changes
8 ways Jeff Sessions could change criminal justice

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Call to Oppose Jeff Sessions Today

Welcome to the first week of cabinet confirmation hearings. The first of which takes place January 10th-11th for Jeff Sessions as Attorney General. We can be really effective the next few days if you can call on the days you receive these emails. If you missed our last email, and want to review the reasons why we oppose and read details on the call, see Action 40.

What you can do

1. CALL the Senate Judiciary Committee: 202-224-5225
and call the individual senators that comprise the committee.

Here is the breakdown of 5 to call - if one of these senators id from your state, start there!
Chuck Grassley - Republican Senator of Iowa, Chairman of the Judiciary Committee
202-224-3744 / 515-288-1145
Lindsey Graham - Republican Senator of South Carolina
202-224-5972 / 803-933-0112
Patrick Leahy - Democratic Senator of Vermont, Ranking Member of the Judiciary Committee
202-224-4242 / 802-863-2525
Dianne Feinstein - Democratic Senator of California
202-224-3841 / 415-393-0707 / 310-914-7300
Chuck Schumer - Democratic Senator of New York
202-224-6542 / 212-486-4430 / 518-431-4070

USE THIS SCRIPT (feel free to ad-lib, of course)
Hello, I am calling to express my opposition to the appointment of Jeff Sessions for attorney general. I believe his record of intolerance, and racially motivated litigation to be unAmerican and unacceptable for the role of top law enforcement official in our country. In addition, his omission of decades of records shows his utter disrespect for the process of his confirmation. He must play by the same rules as all past nominations and be subjected to a full review of his record.

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT (UPDATE)
The Office of Government Ethics (OGE) has expressed real concern over the schedule that Republicans are pursuing for confirming Trump's cabinet appointees. Republicans are trying to ram through these confirmations as fast as possible before the OGE can fully vet the nominees and make sure they will remove themselves from conflicts of interest. Let these senators know now that we will hold them accountable for going easy on Sessions, and for endorsing a nominee who has a clear history of racism. We, voters, will remember which senators voted for Sessions when the time comes for their re-election.

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Call to Oppose Betsy DeVos!

The president-elect’s nomination for secretary of education, Betsy DeVos is a Michigan billionaire and heir to the Amway fortune. She has never attended nor sent her children to public school, and has no education experience. Despite having no background in education policy, she has spent years advocating for the use of public funds to pay for private school tuition in the form of vouchers, pressed to expand publicly funded but privately run charter schools, and tried to strip teacher unions of their influence.

Many public education advocates fear that she will defund public schools in her pursuit of a market-based privatized vision of education. She has no credentials in this field, only her immense wealth, which she has used to influence the conversation on education reform. Wealth should not buy a seat at the head of any policy-making table.

What you can do

1. CALL the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions (HELP)
202-224-5375

2. CALL the individual senators that make up the committee, start with the senators from your state. Pass on to friends and family who live in these states - they need to hear from their constituents!

Republican committee senators:
Lamar Alexander - Tennessee 202-224-4944 Chairman of HELP
Susan Collins - Maine 202-224-2523 Considered a moderate Republican
Lisa Murkowski - Alaska 202-224-6665 anti-Trump in the past, but accepted money from DeVos
Tim Scott - South Carolina 202-224-6121 accepted money from DeVos
Bill Cassidy - Louisiana 202-224-5824 accepted money from DeVos
Orrin Hatch - Utah202-224-5251
Richard Burr - North Carolina 202-224-3154 accepted money from DeVos
Michael B. Enzi - Wyoming 202-224-3424
Johnny Isakson - Georgia 202-224-3643
Rand Paul - Kentucky 202-224-4343
Pat Roberts - Kansas202-224-4774

Democratic committee senators:
Patty Murray - Washington202-224-2621 *Ranking member of HELP
Bernie Sanders - Vermont 202-224-5141
Robert P. Casey Jr - Pennsylvania202-224-6324
Al Franken - Minnesota202-224-5641
Michael F. Bennet - Colorado202-224-5852
Sheldon Whitehouse - Rhode Island202-224-2921
Tammy Baldwin - Wisconsin202-224-5653
Elizabeth Warren - Massachusetts 202-224-4543
Christopher S. Murphy - Connecticut202-224-4041
Tim Kaine - Virginia 202-224-4024
Maggie Hassan - New Hampshire202-224-3324

3. CALL your own state senator if they are not already listed above, and tell them you oppose this nomination, and ask them what they will do to oppose it as well.

USE THIS SCRIPT (feel free to ad-lib, of course)
Hello, I am calling to register my strong opposition to Betsy DeVos as secretary of education. I want to let you know I am watching the confirmation hearings closely. Betsy DeVos has never worked in a school in any capacity. As a proponent of charter schools and voucher programs, she shows her lack of interest in supporting poorer communities, the ones with parents who work full-time and struggle to simply keep up. The president of the National Education Association has said that DeVos "“has done more to undermine public education than support students". As a firm believer in the American dream, I do not feel that the United States of America will be a country of equality, or be poised to be a globally competitive producer of strong, educated minds with Betsy DeVos' combined set of values and lack of experience. I would not feel proud to call her my secretary of education.

action

Call to Oppose Ben Carson!

You know how you usually have to have experience in a field in order to get a job? Apparently that doesn't apply to Ben Carson!

Ben Carson has NO HOUSING POLICY EXPERIENCE. Full stop. On Nov 15, he issued a public statement in that he wasn't qualified to lead a government office because of his complete lack of experience. Now he has done an about-face. One of the few public statements he has ever made about public policy has compared housing regulation to communism. He would be the head of an organization of 8,000 employees, and an office that is responsible for 5 million people who need assistance avoiding foreclosure and finding affordable housing.

His hearing for Secretary of Housing and Urban Development is tomorrow. Call to oppose him, and offer questions to your members of the committee that you'd like them to ask him.

What you can do

1. CALL your own state senator and tell them you oppose Ben Carson's appointment.

2. CALL the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs (202) 224-7391.

3. CALL the individual senators that make up the committee, start with the senators from your state. Pass on to friends and family who live in these states - they need to hear from their constituents!

Republican committee senators:
Shelby - AL
(202) 224-5744 / (205) 731-1384
Cotton - AR
(202) 224-2353 / (479) 751-0879
Perdue - GA
(202) 224-3521 / (404) 865-0087
Crapo - ID *Chair
(202) 224-6142 / (208) 334-1776
Kennedy - LA
(225) 930-9033
Tillis - NC
(202) 224-6342 / (704) 509-9087
Sasse - NE
(202) 224-4224 / (402) 476-1400
Heller - NV
(202) 224-6244/ (702) 388-6605
Toomey - PA
(202) 224-4254 / (814) 453-3010
Scott - SC
(202) 224-6121 / (803) 771-6112
Rounds - SD
(202) 224-5842/ (605) 224-1450
Corker - TN
(202) 224-3344/ (901) 683-1910

Democratic committee senators:
Schatz - HI
(202) 224-3521 / (404) 865-0087
Donnelly - IN
(202) 224-4814/ (812) 425-5813
Warren - MA
(202) 224-4543/ (617) 565-3170
Van Hollen - MD
(202) 224-4524 / (410) 962-4436
Tester - MT
(202) 224-2644 / (406) 252-0550
Heitkamp - ND
(202) 224-2043 / (701) 258-4648
Menendez - NJ
(202) 224-4744 / (973) 645-3030
Masto - NV
(202) 224-3542 / (702) 527-1634
Brown - OH *Ranking Member
(202) 224-2315 / (216) 522-7272
Warner - VA
(202) 224-2023/ (276) 628-8158
Reed - RI
(202) 224-4642/ (401) 943-3100

USE THIS SCRIPT (feel free to ad-lib, of course)
Hello, my name is __ and I'm urging you to oppose Dr. Ben Carson's appointment to HUD secretary. The American people deserve a qualified person to lead the agency. Carson is not that person, especially since he declined a previous federal agency position due to his lack of experience. He has clearly shown in past statements his belief in a bootstraps mentality that does not show a comprehension of the complex role housing plays in overcoming the extreme economic disparities that are only widening in the United States.

*BONUS - offer questions to your members of the committee that you'd like them to ask him!

action

Push Flippable Republicans to Oppose Rex Tillerson & Jeff Sessions

Did you watch any of Rex Tillerson's hearing yesterday? Marco Rubio was all, is Vladimir Putin a war criminal?, and Rex Tillerson was all I don't know I'd have to do more research, and MR was like it's not classified information-- people who oppose him end up shot in the back of the head, and then RT said, and this is almost a direct quote, -sometimes things like that happen to people who stand up against authorities- However he said it, it was bad, like 'these things happen, what?' Also, he's long time besties w Putin from Exxon business. (Read more about why he's a terrible pick.)

It's a rare thing to see Republican Senators standing up against Trump - please call to support the Senators who are voicing concern about Tillerson and Sessions, and urge them to vote against them.

What you can do

1. CALL THESE REPUBLICANS VOICING CONCERN ABOUT TILLERSON and tell them you support their opposition of Rex Tillerson for Secretary of State. We only need ONE Republican to vote against him.
Marco Rubio - FL (202) 224-3041 / (407) 254-2573
John McCain - AZ (202) 224-2235 / (602) 952-2410
Lindsay Graham - SC (202) 224-5972 / (864) 250-1417

2. CALL THESE REPUBLICANS TO OPPOSE SESSIONS. He will only lose the nomination with a lot of public pressure.
Jeff Flake - AZ (202) 224–4521 / (602) 840-1891
Lindsey Graham - SC (202) 224–5972 / (864) 250-1417
Michael S. Lee - UT (202) 224–5444 / (801) 392-9633
Joe Manchin (D) - WV (202) 224-3954 / (304) 342-5855
Susan Collins - ME (202) 224-2523 / (207) 622-8414

3. TELL YOUR FRIENDS IN THESE STATES TO CALL (and states with other Republican senators). They need to hear from their constituents too.

4. CALL YOUR OWN SENATOR and ask them to do what they can to support the Republican senators opposing Tillerson and Sessions.

USE THIS SCRIPT (feel free to ad-lib, of course)

REX TILLERSON
Hello, my name is [your name]. I’m calling today to ask the Senator to prevent Rex Tillerson from becoming the next Secretary of State. We can’t afford to have a friend of Vladimir Putin representing our country abroad, nor can we afford to have someone who put his own financial interests above those of the American people. Please, on behalf of our nation, do not allow Rex Tillerson to become Secretary of State.

JEFF SESSIONS
Hello, I am calling to express my opposition to the appointment of Jeff Sessions for attorney general. I believe his record of intolerance, and racially motivated litigation to be unAmerican and unacceptable for the role of top law enforcement official in our country. In addition, his omission of decades of records shows his utter disrespect for the process of his confirmation. He must play by the same rules as all past nominations and be subjected to a full review of his record.

action

Fight Against the Repeal of the ACA

We'll keep it short. The GOP has made it's first major steps toward repealing the Affordable Care Act. We need to act now, and the public outcry must be loud and clear!

If you or anyone you know relies on the ACA, this will be obvious. But even if you don't, a repeal will affect your health insurancetoo.

No complacency - this affects everyone!

What you can do

1. CALL your congressperson now. Dial 202-224-3121, press 2 for your elected representative, and then enter your zip code.

2. CALL these 5 Republican Senators who have broken away from the GOP to demand a slowdown of the repeal. Tell them that while you appreciate their efforts to slow the repeal, that they need to stop it in full, or replace it with something that better serves the majority of American people, not corporations. Share your own story about the ACA.

Senator Bob Corker (TN)
202-224-3344
Senator Lisa Murkowski (AL)
202-224-6665
Senator Rob Portman (OH)
202-224-3353
Senator Susan Collins (ME)
202-224-2523
Senator Bill Cassidy (LA)
202-224-5824

BONUS - Ask friends from these states to call - constituents carry the most weight!

3. POST on social media and tell your health care story with #SaveACA #coveragematters or share with McConnell - he asked!

4. ATTEND a rally. Bernie Sanders has declared Sunday 1/15 a day of national protest to save health care. RSVP and details.

USE THIS SCRIPT (feel free to ad-lib, of course)
Hello, I am calling because I oppose the repeal of the Affordable Care Act. It provides much needed health insurance to 22.5 million Americans, not to mention many critical protections for those who receive insurance through an employer. I am incredibly disappointed by Wednesday night's Senate vote, and the ruthless manner in which Republicans seek to rob Americans of their healthcare. I advise Representative_ to vote to continue the ACA. If I see that Representative__ votes for the repeal, they will not have my vote in their upcoming election.

(Please share your own ACA story - this is the most powerful way to convey the message to your congressperson).

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT
Read this and this and this

action

Attend Our Sunday January 15 NYC Meeting & Host (Or Attend) A Meeting In Your Town

Below is information on our NYC meeting and hosting or attending a meeting in your town. We're sorry for the short notice on the local meetings, we've meant to send this earlier but there hasn't been a slow news day since the New Year!

What you can do

NYC MEETING THIS WEEKEND
Come meet us and speak up! Find out how you can get more involved, and how we can help you with your projects. We've got a lot of plans for action in the new year, but first, we want to regroup with you, our community, to hear your progress, concerns, and ideas for action. Guest speakers from other activist groups will also be speaking about their projects, organizations and history of action, then we will break into working groups to discuss long term efforts.

1. RSVP to help us get a headcount.

2. SIGN UP TO SHARE. If you’d like to speak about an idea, action item, concern, or action group you're involved in, include it in the RSVP form (above) and we’ll be sure to make time for you to speak. Everyone's welcome!

3. SHOW UP & BRING FRIENDS!
Sunday, January 15, 5-8pm
e-flux
311 East Broadway, 2nd Floor
New York, NY 10002

OUTSIDE NYC
We've gotten many responses from people outside of NYC interested in attending meetings - we'd love for YOU to spearhead one in your town! We'll share information on our meeting structure and answer any other questions you have.

Even with the short notice, feel free to host an impromptu small gathering with friends over brunch or dinner to get the ball rolling. If you can't host or attend a meeting this week please still sign up and we'll put you in touch with other interested people in your area for the future.

1. RSVP here and include your zip code - whether you want to host or simply attend

2. REPLY to this email with your contact information and your offer to host a small meeting on the 15th (or soon after)

3. INVITE FRIENDS in your town to sign up to our mailing list and RSVP (above) to join you for a first meeting

4. CHOOSE A LOCATION for a small meeting - we've been hosting them in living rooms of our members. We won't share your location publicly, instead we'll put people in direct touch with you once they RSVP

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT
If you read the Indivisible Guide, you know that engaging locally is going to be our strongest form of attack. The first step in this is building and engaging your community network.

action

PROTEST & STRIKE THIS INAUGURATION WEEK

This week holds positive meaning for us as activists: it's a week to connect and create bonds, make promises, inspire each other, and be heard. This is Not Normal. We are the majority. We Are All Immigrants. Women's Rights Are Human Rights. We Are Watching. We Will Act.

Please join in events and activities this week, and if you know of any we've missed, please submit them to our Action Calendar (below).

What you can do

USE OUR CALENDAR to find events this week and every week. And as always, please share events through our submission form.
DISRUPT J20 all week long, and use this list, this guide, and this resource to find dozens of nation-wide inauguration week protests.
ATTEND OR SUPPORT THE WOMEN'S MARCH
• March in DC
• March in one of the 386 (and counting) sister marches around the globe
• Fill out their questionnaire to help them plan logistics
• Find a bus to DC or email us if you want one on our friends' buses
• Donate to help pay for permits etc
• Read their Unity Principles
• Make signs or print these ones (but no wooden handles allowed)
• Share this book by Zoe Leonard or submit a video from the marches for this documentary.
• READ THIS very helpful guide for the March from a seasoned activist, what to bring, and what not to bring (ex: no backpacks) and how to stay safe.
DOWNLOAD THE MOBILE JUSTICE APP from the ACLU to instantly record any civil rights violations, and KNOW YOUR RIGHTS.
BOYCOTT COMMERCE on January 20 & JOIN THE WOMEN STRIKE on January 20 & 21. PLEDGE TO STRIKE in DC / in your home town / at school / for all or part of the time / from all or some of your work / WE STRIKE FROM Paid jobs / Emotional Labor / Childcare / Diapers / Housework / Cooking / Sweeping / Laundry / Dishes / Errands / Groceries / Fake smiles / Flirting / Makeup / Laundry / Shaving / What are you striking from? / WE STRIKE FOR An end to racist and sexual assaults, and all forms of bigotry / Reproductive freedom, full access, and no coercion / National Health Care for all / A $15 minimum wage for all workers, no exceptions / Protection and expansion of Social Security / Childcare, free like the public schools, and paid family leave / R-E-S-P-E-C-T

PS...
Senate will continue to steamroll disgusting policies through in the middle of the night, too many for us to email about, so keep an eye on our Facebook Page for Bonus Actions.

action

Letter from a Birmingham Jail

As we gear up for the years to come, let's reflect on the legacy of those who paved the way for us. Please take 10 minutes today to read Letter from a Birmingham Jail, and thank Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. for all he has given us.

What you can do

1. READ the letter (10 minutes)
2. WATCH this film (1 hour) to learn more

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT
In one short piece, the mechanisms of and needs for direct action are explained, just and unjust law defined, history of the Civil Rights Movement and its evolution and reactions against it outlined. The complacent church and white moderates are called to action with unignorable moral clarity and urgency. On this day, at this moment in history, when so many of us feel the new call to action and resistance and begin to join with those who have been fighting injustice and oppression for decades there is no better primer for the work ahead.

action

Oppose Scott Pruitt for head of the EPA

At Scott Pruitt's confirmation hearing, science will be on trial. The president-elect's nominee to head the Environmental Protection Agency, has spent much of his career fighting the very agency he has been tapped to lead. In Pruitt's tenure as attorney general of Oklahoma, he has sued the EPA 14 times. He is a climate change denier, and has called himself "a leading advocate against the EPA's activist agenda". The EPA's mission is to defend human health and the environment, but Pruitt would shred the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act in favor of promoting the interests of fossil fuel companies and other industries with which he has deep financial ties. Again and again, he has stood up for the profits of business at the expense of the health of the people and the environment. Protest this appointment for the sake of our planet and our future.

What you can do

1. CALL the Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works
Majority Office (Republican) 202-224-6176
Minority Office (Democrat) 202-224-8832

2. CALL the senators that make up the committee if any of them represent your state. We cannot stress enough - please pass this on to any friends and family that live in these states, and urge them to call. They need to hear from their constituents!

Sullivan (R-AK)
(202) 224-3004 / (907) 271-5915
Sessions (R-AL)
(202) 224-4124 / (205) 731-1500
Boozman (R-AR)
(202) 224-4843 / (501) 372-7153
Harris (D-CA)
(202) 224-3553 / (213) 221-1269
Carper (D-DE) Ranking Member
(202) 224-2441 / (302) 573-6291
Ernst (R-IA)
(202) 224-3254 / (515) 284-4574
Duckworth (D-IL)
(202) 224-2854 / (312) 886-3506
Moran (R-KS)
(202) 224-6521 / (785) 628-6401
Markey (D-MA)
(202) 224-2742 / (617) 565-8519
Cardin (D-MD)
(202) 224-4524 / (410) 962-4436
Wicker (R-MS)
(202) 224-6253 / (228) 871-7017
Fischer (R-NE)
(202) 224-6551 / (402) 441-4600
Booker (D-NJ)
(202) 224-2841 / (603) 647-7500
Gillibrand (D-NY)
(202) 224-4451 / (518) 431-0120
Inhofe (R-OK)
(202) 224-4721 / (918) 748-5111
Merkley (D-OR)
(202) 224-3753 / (503) 326-3386
Whitehouse (D-RI)
(202) 224-2921 / (401) 453-5294
Rounds (R-SD)
(202) 224-5842 / (605) 224-1450
Capito (R-WV)
(202) 224-5323 / (414) 276-7282
Sanders (I-VT)
(202) 224-5141 / (802) 862-0697
Capito (R-WV)
(202) 224-5323 / (414) 276-7282
Barrasso (R-WY) Chairman
(202) 224-6441 / (307) 261-6413

3. CALL YOUR OWN SENATOR and ask them what they will do to oppose Pruitt's nomination.

USE THIS SCRIPT (feel free to ad-lib, of course)

Hello, I am calling to urge Senator _____ to oppose the nomination of Scott Pruitt as head of the EPA. We need a regulatory approach that looks to the future, not someone who sits back on his haunches and takes kickbacks from the energy industry. Environmental protection should be of national concern because clean air and water flow from state to state and pollution does not stop at a state's border. Pruitt has let his own state of Oklahoma be run over by the oil and gas industry, whose fracking has caused a record 907 earthquakes last year, alone. Protest this appointment for the sake of our planet and our future.

*add any questions you'd like to hear your Senator ask during the hearing!

This week is full of important hearings, and EVERY SINGLE STATE IS REPRESENTED in the committees! We will be covering some but not all hearings, so take a look at this cheat-sheet to find your Senator's committees and phone number. Make sure to keep calling YOUR Senators!

Betsy Devos - TODAY! Tuesday, January 17th

find info on who to call & what to say here*
Tom Price - Wednesday, January 18th
Wilbur Ross - Wednesday, January 18th
Rick Perry - Thursday, January 19th
Steve Mnuchin - Thursday, January 19th

For each of them, just say you oppose the nomination and urge the Senator will vote against it

action

Oppose Steven Mnuchin for Treasury Secretary

Yet another billionaire has been tossed into the ring of cabinet positions. Steven Mnuchin, former Goldman Sachs executive, and current hedge fund and banking mogul will have his senate confirmation hearing this Thursday, January 19th.

Mnuchin earned his first fortune the old-fashioned way, he inherited it. And has gone on to represent the worst of wall street greed, making billions off the housing crisis and ensuing foreclosures. During the recession in 2009, he engineered the creation of OneWest Bank, a leader in foreclosing on seniors, and in communities of color, that profited him at the government's expense. Steven Mnuchin's financial policies will do little for ordinary families and working class communities, and he will do lots to ensure the continued wealth of his wall-street cronies ( including someone named Donald J. Trump).

What you can do

1. CALL the Senate Committee on Finance
202-224-4515

2. CALL the senators that make up the committee if any of them represent your state. We cannot stress enough - please pass this on to any friends and family that live in these states, and urge them to call. They need to hear from their constituents!

Bennet (D-CO)
(202) 224-5852 / (303) 455-7600
Carper (D-DE)
(202) 224-2441 / (302) 573-6291
Nelson (D-FL)
(202) 224-5274 / (954) 693-4851
Isakson (R-GA)
(202) 224-3643 / (770) 661-0999
Grassley (R-IA)
(202) 224-3744 / (319) 363-6832
Crapo (R-ID)
(202) 224-6142 / (208) 334-1776
Roberts (R-KS)
(202) 224-4774 / (913) 451-9343
Cassidy (R-LA)
(202) 224-5824 / (318) 448-7176
Cardin (D-MD)
(202) 224-4524 / (410) 962-4436
Stabenow (D-MI)
(202) 224-4822 / (517) 203-1760
McCaskill (D-MO)
(202) 224-6154 / (573) 651-0964
Burr (R-NC)
(202) 224-3154 / (336) 631-5125
Menendez (D-NJ)
(202) 224-4744 / (973) 645-3030
Heller (R-NV)
(202) 224-6244 / (702) 388-6605
Brown (D-OH)
(202) 224-2315 / (216) 522-7272
Portman (R-OH)
(202) 224-3353 / (614) 469-6774
Wyden (D-OR) Ranking Member
(202) 224-5244 / (503) 326-7525
Casey (D-PA)
(202) 224-6324 / (215) 405-9660
Toomey (R-PA)
(202) 224-4254 / (814) 453-3010
Scott (R-SC)
(202) 224-6121 / (803) 771-6112
Thune (R-SD)
(202) 224-2321 / (605) 348-7551
Cornyn (R-TX)
(202) 224-2934 / (713) 572-3337
Hatch (R-UT) Chairman
(202) 224-5251 / (435) 586-8435
Warner (D-VA)
(202) 224-2023 / (276) 628-8158
Cantwell (D-WA)
(202) 224-3441 / (206) 220-6400
Enzi (R-WY)
(202) 224-3424 / (307) 261-6572

3. CALL YOUR OWN SENATOR and ask them what they will do to oppose Mnuchin's nomination.

4. SUBMIT A STATEMENT for the hearing. Instructions (scroll down to bottom). It's not too late - statements, which must be mailed, can be received up to 2 weeks after the conclusion of the hearing.

-----------

USE THIS SCRIPT (feel free to ad-lib, of course)

Hello, I am calling to urge Senator _____ to oppose the nomination of Steven Mnuchin for treasury secretary. If our president-elect truly believes in ridding government of it's pay-to-play politics, this would be a choice in the opposite direction. Mr. Mnuchin is a wall street pro who has orchestrated the enrichment of himself and his fellow financiers off the backs of ordinary families, seniors, and working class communities, through predatory mortgage practices and foreclosures. I am concerned that as treasury secretary he will oversee tax policy that will ensure that the wealthy stay wealthy, while ordinary Americans pay more than their fair share to make up the difference.

-----------

This week is full of important hearings, and EVERY SINGLE STATE IS REPRESENTED in the committees! We will be covering some but not all hearings, so take a look at this cheat-sheet to find your senator's committees and phone number. Make sure to keep calling YOUR senators!

Scott Pruitt - TODAY! Wednesday, January 18th

find info on who to call & what to say here
Tom Price - TODAY! Wednesday, January 18th
Wilbur Ross - TODAY! Wednesday, January 18th
Rick Perry - Thursday, January 19th

*For each of them, just say you oppose the nomination and urge the senator to vote against it

action

HALT THE REPEAL OF THE ACA BEFORE JANUARY 27

What's the rush for repealing the ACA? To deliver on a highly partisan grudge and dismantle a crucial legacy from a Democratic administration.

It took Democrats an entire year to create the policy that onboarded an entire country to healthcare. Republicans had 6 years to propose an alternative, and they did nothing until they could set in motion a high-profile train wreck. They simply want to pull the plug and deal with the consequences later. Or not deal.

If you're not one of the 30 million moderate income individuals that would lose health insurance with a repeal, you're probably one of the 150 million who get health insurance through their job. You will be affected too. The Senate has already voted 51 to 48 to end coverage for preexisting conditions, remove discrimination protection for women in healthcare; voted against the provision allowing children to remain on their parent's insurance till the age of 26, and against ACA contraceptive coverage and maternity care provision, among other things.

We need to make noise now. Some Republican senators have broken with the fast-tracking of a repeal, expressing doubt in this approach without an alternative ready. Let's call them and tell them we need them to stick to their guns.

What you can do

1. CALL SENATORS who are open to the idea of slowing the repeal (7 min):
Senator Bob Corker (R-TN): (202) 224-3344
Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK): (202) 224-6665
Senator Rob Portman (R-OH): (202) 224-3353
Senator Susan Collins (R-ME): (202) 224-2523
Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA): (202) 224-5824
Senator Rand Paul (R-KY): (202) 224-4343

2. CALL YOUR SENATOR if they're on this list (10 min):
Representative Mark Amodei (R-NV): (202) 225-6155
Representative Mark Meadows (R-NC): (202) 225-6401
Representative Charlie Dent (R-PA)202-225-6411
Representative Greg Walden (R-OR) (202) 225-6730
Representative Michael Burgess (R-TX) (202) 225-7772

USE THIS SCRIPT
Hi there, I’m calling to express my personal appreciation for [_____]’s efforts to slow repeal of the ACA without an alternative. I am calling to ask the [Senator/Representative] to continue to insist on a viable alternative to the ACA before it is repealed. To me any real alternative must meet and include the following bare minimums:
• Parental policies
• No denial based on pre-existing conditions
• No age discrimination
• Subsidies for those who can’t afford it to get care
• Expansion of Medicare. Shrinking, not growing the donut hole

*Add a personal story of who you are and why this matters to you

Depending on response:
I will be sure to tell many of his/her constituents that [Senator/Representative] cannot be counted on to hold the line and protect the healthcare that millions have come to count on. I AM PART OF A GRASSROOTS GROUP of 2,000 PEOPLE AND I WILL LET THEM KNOW ABOUT MY CONVERSATION WITH YOU.

action

J20: A DAY FOR GATHERING STRENGTH

Welcome to the New Future.
It depends on us.

It has been an exceptional two months. We are ready to meet a truly exceptional and uncertain future. It's hard to overstate how overwhelming this time has been. It's by design. Let's stay focused, because it will get harder before it gets easier. We will not be overcome.

The good news is this: People have sprung into action. We all know 700% more about our political process than before the election.

We had an amazing 2HAW meeting last weekend, attended by the executive director of the Common Cause NY. This incredible woman, who has been an activist for four decades, told us that we're on the right track. She also said: be tedious. Choose the one or two issues that you care about. Learn everything you can and find organizations to help amplify your voice. Tell your supermarket cashier how you feel, tell your family, your friends, your Facebook friends. Wash, rinse, repeat. Be tedious, be relentless. We're here for you, and we are so glad you're here for us.

Let's march together this weekend!
Women's March DC
One of 616 Sister Marches
(Check out our tips)

What you can do

action

We Will Not Go Away, Welcome To Your Everyday

This was one of our favorite chants from the women's march this weekend. It said loud and clear: this is a movement, not just a march! And we will not go away, the march continues every day in our daily activism. Scroll to the bottom of this email for important actions in preparation for the days to come.

Our movement is millions of people strong from all over the country and the world. And we can't overstate how inspiring it was to march together with all of you!

Marching together helped motivate millions of people to become engaged and galvanize support for the issues important to them. Let's carry out the mission of the women's march everyday!

What you can do

STAY ACTIVE Check out the new initiative 10 Actions for the first 100 Days created by the organizers of the Women's March. And keep up with actions from us and others doing similar work!
ENGAGE LOCALLY Find what you care about the most, research the organizations already working on them, and join up in their efforts! If you are NY local, this site is a great tool for channeling your skills and interests into helping the right organization.
STAY MOTIVATED If you missed the speeches at the DC march, here's a videoof entire rally. This was the full lineup of speakers and here are a few transcripts we found compelling!
Angela Davis's speech
Janet Mock's speech

action

Keeping up with the Bullshit: A News Brief

This first week is going to be hard. You will want to look away, but don't! Brace yourself, and keep watch over what's happening. Realizing that knowledge is power, and that we can't address every single thing that occurs in our actions, we're launching a periodic lineup of things that occurred so that we can all keep up and stay informed. Here's our first linked list of what we're paying attention to.
More actions coming soon.

What you can do

At 12:01 on inauguration day, the following policy categories were erased from the whitehouse.gov website: climate change, LGBTQI rights, civil rights.
The Trump administration banishes the Parks department from Twitter because of an unflattering public comparison by an employee between Trump's inaugural crowds and Obama's.
Sean Spicer, Trump's press secretary, gives a press conference accusing the news media of misreporting crowd sizes at the inauguration. Kellyanne Conway follows up with the new term "alternative facts" aka lies.
A team of scholars, Supreme Court litigators and former White House ethics lawyers intends to file a lawsuit Monday morning that President Trump is violating the Constitution by allowing his hotels and other business operations to accept payments from foreign governments.
Trump signs three executive orders this morning slashing American aid to groups that provide or promote abortions overseas, withdraw from the Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade negotiations and put in place an immediate federal hiring freeze.
Looks like someone caved under peer pressure. Marco Rubio says that he will vote for Tillerson for secretary of state in deference to the president, despite still having reservations. Time to call your friends in Florida.
MoveOn.org launches ResistTrumpTuesdays, the first of which is January 24, to oppose Trump's #SwampCabinet. They're planning to visit members of Congress (MOC) offices every Tuesday for the next 100 days. The NY Rally is full for Tuesday (!), but if you live elsewhere, sign up here.

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Sign up to visit your Member of Congress (MOC)

You need to have a sit down with your member of Congress. We get it, it's a little freaky to go to their office. But they were hired to represent you, and their office is where you can and should be putting pressure to oppose this administration. Don't assume that just because they're Democrats they'll be supporting your interests, how can they if they don't know what you want? So go tell them! If your employee started using the company's credit card to take all their friends out to lunch, you'd probably say something to HR, right?

One very simple way to start a direct discussion with your senators is to sign up for the effort that our friends at MoveOn have launched hosting rallies at the offices of our MOCs every Tuesday for the first 100 days of the Trump administration.

What you can do

1. SIGN UP FOR MoveOn's Resist Trump Tuesdays starting with today, Tuesday the 24th. If you can, go today, if not, sign up for future visits. They plan to go to members of congress' offices across the country every week for the first 100 days of the administration. They will bring press and they need crowds, so pass it on.

2. ORGANIZE your own visit. Get a group of friends together and each hand deliver a letter to your local office (here's another link for finding your senator). Congress has its first recess February 20-24 and are supposed to be spending that time in their home districts. Call their office and politely inquire what events they have planned for that recess week - or go in and surprise them! Show up with letters that are relevant to what is happening at that point in time - or just tell them what issues you care about. That's it--it's that simple!

BONUS - if you feel like it, invite press to cover it, or take a video yourself and share online. It's important to have our Representatives on record and for them to know that the world is watching, and we expect them to truly represent us now.

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Who are your friends in Red States?

Let's get a real-life buddy system going with our friends in Red states (including if you already live in one!). By pairing up and holding each other accountable for small actions like writing letters, we can ensure our progressive voice is heard by senators where the conservative voice is loudest. We're going to use this strategy again and again for various issues. First up: oppose the fast-track repeal of the Affordable Care Act.

What you can do

1. Find your friends on Facebook who live in Kentucky, Arkansas, Tennessee, Maine, Alaska, or Nevada In Facebook's search bar, type these exact words: "Friends who live in Tennessee." Repeat for the above-mentioned states, which either havesenators who have expressed doubts about passing a repeal of the ACA without a replacement, or who are up for re-election in swing states in 2018.

2. Ask those friends to write a postcard to their senator, or make a phone call telling their senator's office they oppose a repeal of the ACA If you haven't talked to the friend in a while, or you need an icebreaker, use our friendly script below!

3. Tell them you will be asking them for other things, too Not everyone has had a stellar experience with the ACA, so this may not be the issue they want to weigh in on. But we need those supporters in red states. Ask them if you can reach out to them for help, and tell them how powerful their voice is in putting pressure on our representatives in conservative regions.

4. If you have extra time, and are chomping at the bit to do more, get in touch with friends who live in any state with a Republican senator. We named the 6 above, here are the others: Wyoming, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, Idaho, Montana, Iowa, Nebraska, Arizona, Colorado, Utah, North Dakota, South Dakota, Oklahoma, Georgia, Wisconsin, Kansas, Ohio, Florida, Alabama, Pennsylvania, Indiana.

Use this script (feel free to ad-lib, of course)

*Hi pal! (<--insert your pal's name here)

Since the election I have been actively fighting for the issues I care about, but I live in a blue state where I am represented by Democratic politicians who are in the minority in congress. So I am reaching out to my friends in states with Republican senators, especially those who have expressed doubt about repealing the Affordable Care Act. In this fight, your voice is louder than mine. That's why I am asking you to get in touch with your senator and let them know you oppose the repeal of the ACA. If you haven't had a great experience with the ACA yourself, consider that it shouldn't disappear without a replacement. And continue to write them about the issues you care about that are under attack by the new administration.
Here's what this new political action group, 2hoursaweek.org is suggesting: buy a pack of notecards and a book of stamps (you can buy both at most drugstores). Find your senator's address here and write them a short postcard. You can also call them if you feel comfy on the phone and tell them the same thing.

Thank you so much! If you want to do more, go to 2hoursaweek.org and sign up for their daily action emails! :) *

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It's Time To Show Up In Person

Today we joined CAIR (Council on American-Islamis Relations) for an emergency rally to support our Muslim, immigrant, refugee and undocumented neighbors against attacks from the new administration. It was a beautiful and inspiring event, with 20 NYC government representatives and countless activist organizations pledging to keep NYC a sanctuary city and work with other progressive American cities to protect the immigrants who are the very core and beating heart of this country from prejudice and recrimination. (Specific actions you can take to help are below).

As we're learning, targeted, in-person actions are the way to get our representatives attention, so we invite you to attend a few local events this week in NYC (or find your own in other states).

What you can do

Support our Muslim, immigrant, refugee and undocumented neighbors

1. DONATE to Council on American-Islamic Relations, the ACLU, the NYCLU, Immigrant Defense Project, National Immigration Law Center and Make the Road.

2. STAND UP FOR YOUR NEIGHBORS. If you see someone whose rights are being violated or is the victim of discrimination call the Commission on Human Rights, 718-722-3131 or 311.

3. GET FREE LEGAL ADVICE if you hold a passport from Iran, Iraq, Somalia, Sudan, Syria or Yemen by contacting CLEAR at cunyclear@mail.law.cuny.edu or 718-340-4558.

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JOIN US IN PERSON

After our visit to Schumer & Gillibrand's office to demand a NO on Trump's cabinet, Gillibrand seems to be listening but Schumer still needs a push.

• Thursday, 1/26, 6:30pm - Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (NY 8th District) State of the District Address. RSVP here

*Find the representative for your district here and see if they are holding a district address or town hall you can attend during the break next week.

• Friday, 1/27, 12pm-1pm - Hand Deliver Your Letters to Senator Schumer's Manhattan office with us and demand that he vote NO on all appointments

• Saturday, 1/28, 12-1:30pm - Get a Spine, Chuck! Protest at Senator Schumer's Brooklyn apartment to demand he stand up to Trump, Pence and Ryan's extremist agenda

• Tuesday, 1/31, 6pm, Grand Army Plaza Brooklyn - Rally at Senator Schumer's Brooklyn apartment with MoveOn's #ResistTrumpTuesdays

For those of you in other states, see Action 55, and please fill out your zip code (click "update your preferences" below) for more targeted emails in the future.

CHECK OUT OUR EVENTS CALENDAR (below) FOR MORE (& submit!)
AND KEEP SHOWING UP!

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Educate & Act Programming Survey

2 Hours A Week is proud to partner with CUNY Hunter/Hunter Artist Action Group (HAAG) to create a series of educational seminars and events this winter aimed at empowering all of us to be better informed citizens with stronger voices and longterm stamina.

We need your voice! We've compiled a list of possible workshops, events, seminars and actions. Please let us know which ones you'd attend, which ones you could help with, and if you know an expert on any of these topics willing to share their knowledge. This is an opportunity for all of us to share our skills and expand on our knowledge.

What you can do

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScSv7xHfrFN4W-QlZPg047mpljl7rYu3I7E23bJJFIb8tYF7w/viewform1. PLEASE FILL OUT OUR SURVEY by tonight at midnight to help us plan the programming!

2. IF YOU WANT TO PLAN AN EVENT please include it in the survey. You've been researching a topic you'd like to take action on but want to learn more? Use this as an opportunity to invite experts to answer your questions, and invite the public to join you in your project!

3. DON'T LIVE IN NYC (or you're just too busy to attend)?
There will be opportunities for you to learn from this programming as well, please fill out the survey so we know the best way to share it with you.

BONUS If you'd like to join the programming committee, we're meeting tomorrow at noon. RSVP to this email and we'll send you the address.

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The Muslim Ban & Jeff Sessions

We know you all had a tough weekend of disbelief, anger, sadness and confusion, and we know that many of you were out in the streets standing up for American values of inclusivity and diversity. These actions are working, our Senators are listening, and according to MoveOn, our judges are forming opinions shaped by our outcries.

We must keep acting, and we must understand how the ban relates to the cabinet picks being forced through Congress. Jeff Sessions' job as Attorney General would be to protect American citizens and hold the government accountable, neither of which he can do since he is believed to be an architect of the Muslim Ban and other dangerous and unconstitutional policies being enacted.

We spoke with our Senator's aide on Friday and he told us that our outcries shaped her decision on DeVos, but they haven't been hearing as much outrage about Sessions. The ACLU is asking for our help on this. We have to make noise TODAY, they are listening!!!

What you can do

DONATE TO THE ACLU & CAIR
Even if you've done it before. Even if you did it this weekend. If each of you donate $5 we can give them each an influx of $20,000 today!

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STOP SESSIONS

1. CALL TO DEMAND A NO VOTE ON JEFF SESSIONS. His committee vote is tomorrow. No script necessary, just say no.
• Call the committee 202-224-5225
• Call your Senators 202-224–3121
• Have your friends in these states call their Senators: AL, AZ, CA, CT, DE, GA, IL, LA, MN, NC, NY, RI, SC, TX, UT
• more info here & here

2. ATTEND A VIGIL TONIGHT TO STOP SESSIONS Sponsored by the Women's March, Vigils will be held outside the Senate Judiciary Committee members offices, rally to demand that Senator Sessions’ nomination for U.S. Attorney General will not be furthered.

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FIGHT THE BAN

1. CALL YOUR SENATORS, AND GOVERNOR TO DENOUNCE THE MUSLIM BAN using this spreadsheet that tracks their statements & positions and offers phone numbers and scripts. Also call your Congressional rep.

2. IF YOU NEED TO PROTECT YOURSELF read this guide from CAIR. Find pro-bono legal services, refugee assistance, or help in NYC.

3. ARE YOU A LAWYER? Volunteer with the ACLU, CAIR or a local group to do pro-bono work.

4. DO YOU SPEAK ARABIC OR FARSI? Volunteer to translate for the lawyers, contact the NY ACLU (212-607-3300), ACLU (212-549-2500) or the international refugee assistance project.

5. KEEP GETTING OUT IN THE STREETS. Find airport protests, nyc protests, and follow us on twitter for impromptu gatherings.

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KEEP WORKING ON THE OTHER CABINET APPOINTMENTS!
Call your Senators, call the committee, & ask friends from the committee members' states to call. Find contacts here. Keep up to date here.

SENATE SWITCHBOARD
(202) 224–3121
Mnuchins committee vote is Monday night 1/30
Committee: 202-224-5225 • more info
DeVos committee vote is Tuesday 1/31
Committee: 202-224-5375 • more info
Pruitt committee vote is Wednesday 2/1
Committees: 202-224-6176 (R) & 202-224-8832 (D) • more info

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First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
-Martin Niemöller (1892–1984)

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Save Lives, Stop Pruitt

Do you like your water drinkable and your air breathable? Scott Pruitt is set to dismantle the EPA. Pruitt is a Koch brothers plant who does not believe the EPA should exist. For a rundown of why he is so scary, see our Action 49.

• 5 min: Tweet or Facebook these tags: #SaveLivesStopPruitt #PollutingPruitt
• 10 minutes: See below for a shortened list of retweets and articles to post on FB. We spelled it all out for you! Just repost.
• 20 minutes or more: Here's the full list of things to tweet, superb resource.

What you can do

Tweet these tags:

PollutingPruitt #SaveLivesStopPruitt @RejectPruitt

Tweet these graphics to these senators
--Download a graphic from this folder
--tweet one to each of these Republican senator handles
@SenatorCollins, @SenDeanHeller, @SenDonnelly, @SenatorHeitkamp, @SenBobCorker, @SenAlexander, @SenJohnMcCain, @JeffFlake

Posts for Facebook

PollutingPruitt doesn't believe in mainstream climate science http://lat.ms/2k4Y4ET #SaveLivesResistPruitt

PollutingPruitt has deep industry ties. Keep him from killing us slowly. http://wapo.st/2k4V0Zf #SaveLivesResistPruitt

Senator Gillibrand defended our right to a healthy future during #PollutingPruitt’s EPA confirmation hearing. http://wapo.st/2joPXUm

Tag Susan Collins in these two articles

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Obstruction, obstruction, obstruction

The Republicans can yell obstruction all they want, but last night Democrats stood up for democracy and the preservation of our government, by blocking the vote on Jeff Sessions, and Steve Mnuchin). Let's break down the potential power regime: while last week's executive orders carry out Trump's hard line nationalist campaign promises, it's Bannon and Sessions who are the architects of this worldview. Sessions fingerprints are all over the muslim ban and as attorney general he would defend its legal parameters. It will be Rex Tillerson, the secretary of state nominee who did not rule out a muslim registry during his hearing, who will be in charge of implementing the ban. Time to call/email/fax those Republicans in congress and senate who have spoken out against the ban and ask them to be the check we need on this tremendous imbalance of power!

What you can do

CALL/EMAIL/FAX these congresspeople and senators who have spoken out against the muslim ban (either in its entirety or partially) and tell them you support their oppositon and ask them to:
1) Keep speaking out against the ban
2) Oppose the nominations of Jeff Sessions and Rex Tillerson who would collude to enact the ban and other unconstitutional orders.
3) Call for the removal of Steven Bannon from the white house.
You can send 5 free faxes a day through this site.

Rep. Charlie Dent - PA
202-225-6411
610-770-3490
Sen. Jeff Flake - AZ
202-224-4521
602-840-1891
Rep. Justin Amash - MI
202-225-3831
616-451-8383
Sen. Ben Sasse - NE
202-224-4224
402-550-8040
Sen. Susan Collins - ME
202-224-2523
207-945-0417
Rep. Barbara Comstock - VA
202-225-5136
703-404-6903
Sen. John McCain - AZ
202-224-2235
602-952-2410
Sen. Lindsey Graham - SC
202-224-5972
803-933-0112
Sen. Rob Portman - OH
202-224-3353
419-259-3895
Sen. Orrin Hatch - UT
202-224-5251
801-524-4380
Sen. Dean Heller - NV
202-224-6244
775-686-5770
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick - PA
202-225-4276
215-579-8102
Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen - FL
202-225-3931
305-668-2285
Rep. Elise Stefanik - NY
202-225-4611
518-561-2324
Sen. Cory Gardner - CO
202-224-5941
719-632-6706
Rep. Will Hurd - TX
202-225-4511
830-422-2040
Rep. Leonard Lance - NJ
202-225-5361
908-518-7733
Rep. Steve Stivers - OH
202-225-2015
937-283-7049
Sen. Jerry Moran - KS
202-224-6521
316-631-1410

CALL out the 3 democrats who joined with Republicans in clearing the path to confirmation for Tillerson. All of them are up for re-election in 2018.
Sen. Joe Manchin III - W. VA
202-224-3954
Sen. Heidi Heitkamp - ND
(202) 224-2043
Sen. Mark R. Warner - VA
202-224-2023

USE THIS SCRIPT (feel free to ad-lib, of course)

For Call #1
Hi Rep/Sen____
Thank you for speaking out and voicing your concerns about the muslim ban. I am asking you to go a step further in protecting the rights of those who live in this country. I am deeply concerned about the unchecked power of the president if Jeff Sessions and Rex Tillerson are confirmed. There is strong evidence that both of them will carry out executive orders without the moral clarity and constitutional respect required of their jobs as Attorney General and Secretary of State. Please speak up against their confirmations. Please also speak up against Steve Bannon's appointment to the National Security Council. He is wholly unqualified to make decisions regarding the safety and protection of Americans.

For Call #2
Hi Sen___
I am deeply disappointed that you sided with Republicans on Monday night to clear the path for Rex Tillerson's confirmation. His statements regarding a muslim registry make him wholly unfit to serve as secretary of state. May I remind you that you are up for re-election next year, and votes like this will be remembered come voting day.

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Your efforts have been successful!

Federal hiring freeze is reversed for VA (Veteran Affairs).
Federal Court ordered a Partial stay of the immigration ban for those with valid visas. (this one is NOT over)
Green card holders can get back in country.
Uber pledged $3M and immigration lawyers for its drivers after #DeleteUber trends on Twitter. (They have a long way to go still.)
Obamacare (Affordable Care Act) enrollment ads are still going to air.
The ACLU raised 24M over the weekend (normally 3-4Mil/year).
HHS, EPA, USDA gag order lifted.
EPA climate data no longer scrubbed from website.
Reddit alt right page taken down.
Senators openly talking about supporters motivating them to stay strong.
Collins & Murkowski are voting NO on DeVos (we need 1 more!)
Seattle became the first city to divestment from the DAPL Pipeline.
Milo Yiannopoulos' speaking tour in Berkeley cancelled after protests.
More people of different career/religious/economic/race backgrounds are considering running for political office than ever before.
MOST importantly, since we live in a participatory democracy, the people are engaged.

While more is needed, sometimes you have to celebrate your wins. Stay vigilant, but also take self care seriously. Activist burnout is a thing. Marathon, don't sprint.

If you want to do more...

What you can do

WE ARE SO CLOSE ON BANNON!!!
Steve Bannon's appointment to the NSA is unprecedented and possibly illegal. He is a neo-Nazi blogger with no military experience and this job should be based on facts and safety and not on politics and policy. He must be removed.

CALL & FAX Homeland Security to tell them Bannon MUST be removed from the NSA.
Your calls are making an impact - staffers says calls are pouring in against Steve Bannon. Keep it up.
CALL (202) 224-4751
FAX or E-FAX (202) 612-1976 if phone lines are down

WE ARE SO CLOSE ON DEVOS!!!
Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski are VOTING NO on Betsy DeVos in final confirmation on the floor. Because of you! This is HUGE. We need one more Republican. Let's flood them with calls!

2. CALL & GET FRIENDS IN THESE STATES TO CALL
AZ Flake R (202) 224-4521 (602) 840-1891
KS Moran R (202) 224-6521 (785) 628-6401
NE Fischer R (202) 224-6551 (402) 441-4600
NV Heller R (202) 224-6244 (702) 388-6605
PA Toomey R (202) 224-4254 (814) 453-3010
WV Capito R (202) 224-5323 (414) 276-7282

3. CALL AND THANK Senators Collins & Murkowski for putting nation over party. You know they'll be flooded with calls and threats from the other side, let's keep their phone lines full with support.
AK Murkowski R (202) 224-6665 (907) 271-3735
ME Collins R (202) 224-2523 (207) 622-8414

4. JOIN US TODAY FOR THE LAUNCH OF OUR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING

CIVICS 101 - partisan polarization & influencing members of Congress.
• more info
• Please RSVP, space is limited.
• Keep an eye out for events being added daily on our Educate & Act Calendar, we have an exciting program in the works!
• If you want to join the programming committee please reply to this email.

Thursday, February 2, 2017
7:00 PM – 9:00 PM EST

205 Hudson St
HUNTER MFA
2nd Floor Flex Space
New York, NY 10013

NOT IN NYC? We'll be recording it to share with you later!

5. CONTINUE TO MAKE AN IMPACT IN-PERSON
• Visit your Senators. Tips on how to get an appointment
• Attend a February Town Hall near you
• Keep protesting. Large and small protests work, especially when you get them covered by the media. Use twitter to alert your local newsrooms.

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Fight Against the Gun Control Rollback

In 1938 Karl Frederick, the NRA’s president said, “I have never believed in the general practice of carrying weapons... I think it should be sharply restricted and only under licenses.”

On thursday, House Republicans (and some Democrats!) employed a rarely used tool called the Congressional Review Act to rollback a measure that prevented those with mental illness from being able to buy guns. The Obama regulation required those with a mental disorder so severe they cannot work or handle their own finances to be entered into a gun-buying background check system. The background check would prevent them from being able to purchase a firearm.

This is a common sense gun control measure, put into place in the wake of shootings like Sandy Hook. And it barely scratched the surface of our nation's gun problems. It has always been clear that the Republicans, and some Democrats, are willing to barter away our safety and well-being in order to stay cozy with the gun industry, but this rollback is an outrageous new low.

What you can do

1. CALL/FAX/EMAIL YOUR REPRESENTATIVE NOW!
• Find their contact here and here.
• Ask them how they voted, and let them know you are opposed to the rollback. We need more common sense gun control in this country, not less! Don't assume your representative is a Democrat because you live in a blue state, and don't assume because they are a Democrat they will always vote in line with your beliefs. Republican or Democrat, they need to hear our voices on this issue.

2. CALL/FAX/EMAIL YOUR SENATOR.
The vote on the rollback will go to the Senate before it hit's the president's desk.
• Find their contact here.

3. POST ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Facebook or tweet at your Rep and Senators! Social media is a powerful tool for getting their attention quickly on an issue. Post about it on your page and send to friends who may want to share it.

Use this script if you need it (feel free to ad-lib, of course)

Hi Rep/Sen __, I am outraged at the houses's vote to rollback a common sense gun control measure. This was the bare minimum of checks that we could've put into place in the wake of shootings like Sandy Hook, and the increasing number of gun-related deaths in our country.

If speaking with Republican,
The measure was written to apply to a very narrow group of those who are severely mentally ill, not to a broader range of people with disabilities, as many who voted claimed. This is not a rollback on an infringement of rights, but rather a favor to the NRA and the gun lobby. It is very clear to me that you did not have the health and safety of your constituents at heart when making this vote.

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Oppose Puzder for Labor Secretary

Andrew Puzder is another CEO multi-millionaire whose pay-to-play donation to the Trump campaign has garnered him a cabinet nomination for Labor secretary.

Many past labor secretaries have lead big corporations, but Puzder's corporation, CKE Restaurants, is majorly concerning because it is the fourth worst labor violations offender in the industry. A study by the Department of Labor (DOL) reported that 60% of CKE restaurants had at least one Fair Labor Standards Act violation.

In addition, Puzder has been a harsh critic of raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour and opposes a recent DOL effort to extend overtime pay to millions of workers. He is opposed to the ACA because it increases costs for employers, and is an advocate of automation that could increase profits by replacing workers with machines.

His appointment is antithetical to the mission of the Department of Labor. Andrew Puzder has made it clear that he cares only for the bottom line, and will be working to help owners and employers undo regulations that safeguard American workers.

What you can do

1. CALL/FAX the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pension. Let them know you oppose Puzder ahead of the hearing date (which has been delayed for a 4th time due to lack of Puzder's paperwork on divesting from conflicts of interest). You can send 5 free faxes a day through this site. Please pass on to any friends who live in these states!

Republicans
Lamar Alexander - TN CKE headquarters moving to Nashville
202-224-4944
Susan Collins - ME
202-224-2523
Lisa Murkowski- AK
202-224-6665
Tim Scott - SC accepted money from Puzder
202-224-6121
Bill Cassidy - LA
202-224-5824
Orrin Hatch - UT
202-224-5251
Richard Burr - NC
202-224-3154
Michael B. Enzi - WY
202-224-3424
Johnny Isakson - GA
202-224-3643
Rand Paul - KY
202-224-4343
Pat Roberts - KS
202-224-4774

Democrats
Patty Murray - WA
202-224-2621
Bernie Sanders - VT
202-224-5141
Robert P. Casey Jr - PA
202-224-6324
Al Franken - MN
202-224-5641
Michael F. Bennet - CO
202-224-5852
Sheldon Whitehouse - RI
202-224-2921
Tammy Baldwin - WI
202-224-5653
Elizabeth Warren - MA
202-224-4543
Christopher S. Murphy - CT
202-224-4041
Tim Kaine - VA
202-224-4024
Maggie Hassan - NH
202-224-3324

2. CALL/FAX your own state senators, if not already mentioned above. Find their contact here. If Puzder clears the committee hearing, he will be voted on by every senator on the floor. Ask your senator where they stand on Puzder, and encourage them to oppose the confirmation. You can send 5 free faxes a day through this site.

USE THIS SCRIPT (feel free to ad-lib, of course) We encourage you to say you are calling as part of the group 2 Hours A Week. This makes your call all the more powerful to politicians when they know you are calling as part of a larger organized group. Use it if it feels comfortable.

Hello Senator __ I, and my community organizing group 2 Hours A Week, oppose the confirmation of Andrew Puzder for labor secretary. His entire career has been built on opposing and tearing down the regulations that safeguard American workers from harmful and predatory labor practices. He is looking out for the interests of business owners and their bottom line, not that of the worker and their daily wage. If you care at all about those of us who go to work everyday in your state, and our welfare as laborers, you will say "no" to Puzder for secretary of Labor.

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Make America Broke Again: It's Happening

Trump has jumped right into helping his Wall Street cronies line their pockets. It's becoming clear that he is more concerned with rewarding his big donors and privileging big banks and corporations than with protecting the American public from another economic collapse.

Last week he issued an Executive Order ordering the Treasury Department to work with other agencies to review the Dodd-Frank Act. He's asking that the agencies make recommendations on changing regulations that protect consumers from predatory banking, lending, and financial practices. The Dodd-Frank Act was passed in response to the 2008 Financial Crisis. It curbs the unchecked deregulation that led to the financial industry plunging the U.S. into recession, which in turn triggered a global financial meltdown.

Trump is also intent on weakening the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) through a "restructuring" that may involve replacing CFPB's current head. Call your representatives today and let them know that we expect them to stand with the American people and not Wall Street and that they must prepare to oppose attempts to deregulate the financial industry.

What you can do

1. CALL/FAX your Senators and Representatives and let them know that you are with 2 Hours a Week, and that you expect them to stand firm against any attempts to roll back critical consumer protections.
You can send 5 free faxes a day through this site.

Find the contact information for your U.S. Representatives here.
Find the contact information for your Senator here.
If you know who represents you, call the Congressional switchboard to be transferred to their office: 202-224-3121.

USE THIS SCRIPT (feel free to ad-lib, of course)

Hi, I'm with the group Two Hours a Week and I'm calling to express my opposition to any rollback of critical consumer protections under Dodd-Frank. I urge Senator/Representative to oppose rollbacks once the Treasury Department issues its report on Dodd-Frank. I also oppose scrapping the Fiduciary Rule or weakening the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and urge Senator/Representative ____ to speak out against this. President Trump has made it clear that he prioritizes Wall Street profits over the American people and I am counting on Senator/Representative ____ to put the interests of voters first.

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Please Do Not Counter Protest at Planned Parenthood

Many of us are enraged over the continued legislation of our bodies and choices. Rightfully so. You may have heard that there are anti-choice protests planned for Feb 11th as part of the movement to defund Planned Parenthood.

However, if you are planning to organize or attend any counter protests at Planned Parenthood on Feb 11th or anytime thereafter, please reconsider. We have heard directly from Planned Parenthood that they DO NOT WANT ANY COUNTER PROTESTS. They cause more chaos and make it harder for them to do their main job of providing much needed healthcare to the members of our communities.

Counter protests also bring more attention to the anti-choice protests and create more work for PP, who are already working non-stop in the fight to preserve our healthcare rights. They have spent decades in this fight, and they know what works and what doesn't. So let's support Planned Parenthood by changing our counter protests to a helpful action (one that doesn't interfere with access to clinics )! We list some ideas below

What you can do

1. 7 ACTIONS You Can Do to help Planned Parenthood. Suggestions put together by PP include volunteering with them to take action locally. Always coordinate with the clinic before taking any action. They want your support but it's best organized through a dialogue with a PP clinic.

2. BECOME A CLINIC ESCORT volunteer and help walk people in safely! Contact your local Planned Parenthood to sign up. Read about a first-hand experience here.

3. ATTEND A RALLY (not a protest) to stand with Planned Parenthood. Here are the details for one in NYC on Feb. 11th

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New York has it's very own pipeline: Spectra

New York has it's very own fracked gas pipeline you've probably never heard of, but that likely already feeds to your kitchen. The Spectra Pipeline, also known as the Spectra Algonquin Incremental Market [AIM] pipeline is an approximately three-foot wide, high-pressure shale gas pipeline carrying fracked natural gas running from Pennsylvania up to Canada. This gas is both for export and for distribution to NY through National Grid and Con Ed.

The first section is already operational, and enters Manhattan in the West Village. This fracked gas is already known to carry radon. Besides the environmental realities of fracked gas and the already-confirmed presence of radon, there is another threat with this pipeline: further upstate, it sits 105 feet from the edge of aging Indian Point Power Plant, which uses some of the most outdated technology available for cooling spent fuel rods.

The second of three phases of construction is set to begin, pending certain permissions. The next window of time in which to act against the Spectra Pipeline is now. While the pipeline is regulated at the federal level, they need the approval of the state, specifically Governor Andrew Cuomo, for water quality permits in order to proceed. Today's action focuses on education about the pipeline so we can prepare to act starting in the next few weeks.

What you can do

1. Read up on the history of the pipeline and understand the risks it presents to you. You probably haven't heard of it because its parent company broke the construction of the pipeline into three sections in order to garner less media attention. Here is an article (also cited above) about the health risks of the radon already coming through New York City. Here is an article about the history of the pipeline's construction. This is a condensed list of the many concerns about the pipeline. Understand how we got here: the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which oversees this and other large cross-state pipelines, is comprise of oil and gas executives: Trump's pick for the head of FERC used to be CEO of National Grid.

We'll be back soon with concrete actions to take on Spectra.

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Keeping Up with the Bullshit - Febuary 9th, 2017

Our second edition of a semi-regular round up of news. So much has happened in so little time, it's hard to wrap our minds around it all. We know you've all been reading the major stories, so we include a few, but wanted to highlight some of the items that may have gotten less attention!

If you want to see how each side of the news media, left, right, and center are portraying the same issues, take a look at All Sides.
Now for the BS (some good in there too).

What you can do

1. On Thursday, February 9th, a federal appeals court refuses to re-instate the travel ban executive order.

2. On February 8th, Jeff Sessions is confirmed as Attorney General 52 to 47.

3. On Tuesday, February 7th, House Republicans voted to eliminate the Election Assistance Commission, which helps states run elections and is the only federal agency charged with making sure voting machines can’t be hacked.

4. In late January, leaked audio from a closed-door GOP summit revealed deep Republican anxiety over repealing ( and replacing) the ACA.

5. The Pentagon may rent space at Trump Tower, directly funneling government money to Trump's commercial interests. Currently security for Melania and Barron Trump have cost US taxpayers and the city of New York 35 million dollars.

6. Last week, Florida Rep. Stephanie Murphy introduced a bill to prevent a political operative such as, Steve Bannon, from being on the National Security Council or even attending meetings.

7. The White House may designate the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organization, a dangerous decision that would roil relations with the Middle East even more.

8. The first Navy SEAL special operation approved without enough scrutiny under Trump, results in civilian casualties and no capture.

9. UK lawmakers declared that they do not want Trump to speak at Parliament during his upcoming visit.

Check out Suzan Eraslan's List for a day by day edited news briefing!

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Say It Loud And Say It Clear: Immigrants Are Welcome Here

This past weekend, large-scale immigration raids in a half dozen states rounded up and detained hundreds of people. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) maintains that these raids were business as usual; however, the scope and speed of the raids has immigrant rights groups concerned that this is the beginning of a new era of enhanced enforcement and deportation.

Trump himself tweeted Sunday morning that "gang members, drug dealers & others are being removed," and that the crackdown is a fulfillment of his campaign promises. Immigrant communities are terrified. Deportation proponents claim they are only interested in banishing criminals, but undocumented immigrants can be labeled criminals for nearly any encounter with the law.

It's scary stuff, but we've been here before and our voices make a difference. In 2012 Obama significantly reduced deportations as a result of public outrage and pressure. We don't know how this new administration will act from day to day but we can protect ourselves and our neighbors by speaking out, sharing information, and supporting the organizations that are working to safeguard immigrants.

What you can do

1. SAVE AND DISTRIBUTE THE DEPORTATION DEFENSE CARD. Download this card on your phone to have handy if you are approached by an immigration official or witness the same happening to someone else so that you know what to say and do. Consider printing and distributing the card to persons you know who may be at risk. Also direct those at risk to the ACLU guide on ICE showing up at your door.

2. CHECK OUT IMMIGRANT DEFENSE PROJECT'S RESOURCES on ICE Raids and Arrests, which includes community responses and raid map.

3. DOCUMENT A RAID ON YOUR PHONE IF YOU SEE ONE HAPPENING. Instructions here.

4. ATTEND A RALLY to protest raids and mass deportation. Find one in NY, find one near you, or organize a demonstration at your Senator's office during the upcoming Senate recess using these talking points for a face-to-face meeting if you can get one.

5. DONATE to organizations that are fighting for immigrant rights - some local ones in NYC: Make the Road, DRUM, NYIC

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This Is The Long Game

We are going to quote from Indivisible here because the message is so important:

"This is the long game. We are going to lose a lot. We are going to get good at losing. We are going to lose cabinet votes for terrible nominees. We are going to lose bills that are offensive and appalling. But while we are losing, something else is going to happen. We are going to keep raising our voices and slowly our representatives are going to start listening to us. We've seen it happen...

It'll happen over months, where you keep showing up, regularly. Then, we are going to start winning. It'll sneak up on us... Every time we change the narrative, every time we delay, every time there's a newspaper story about a member of Congress avoiding his or her constituents, that's a win. And it matters." (read the rest here)

That means we have one job during the congressional recess next week, Feb 18-26: to attend townhall meetings. We want you to meet with your Representatives and Senators, and make your voices heard in person. Last weekend, Republican representatives faced tough crowds at townhall meetings, and got their feet held to the fire. Let's keep it up while our members of Congress are back in their home states starting in a few days.

What you can do

1. ATTEND A TOWNHALL MEETING Find your local one HERE.

2. CALL the local office of your senator and representative, and ask about their plans to hold any events during recess. Or make an appointment to meet in person. You can also sign up for their newsletter to stay informed about future town halls and appearances.

3. SHOW UP using Indivisible Guide's event locator for planned actions in your area during recess.

USE THIS SCRIPT (feel free to ad-lib, of course)

Hi
I am calling to see if Rep_ will be holding a town hall or any kind of public event where his/her constituents can meet with him/her. If not, I would like to know the best way to meet with the representative in person. I think it is incredibly important for Rep to hear the real concerns of his/her constituents. How else can they truly represent us in Congress?

JOIN US AT THIS WEEK'S EDUCATE & ACT PROGRAMS ON TUESDAY AND THURSDAY.

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February 17: General Strike

At this dangerous point in our history, we must confront how our participation in the economy has made us complicit in Donald Trump's rise to power. How do we change our relationship to the economy to empower ourselves rather than the economic system in place?

One of our most powerful weapons is our cooperation in the economic establishment by way of our labor and our dollars. This Friday February 17th, a general strike has been called for!

The logic of the general strike is simple. Through cooperative action, each and every one of us refuses to comply with whatever orders the economic establishment has given to us. We don't go to work, we don't buy anything, and we join our fellow citizens in the streets and in our communities in a peaceful display of resistance and solidarity.

What you can do

1. DON'T BUY ANYTHING Shop the day before if necessary. We want the economy to register a dip in activity as a method of protest.

2. DON'T GO TO WORK OR SCHOOL, if possible. Plan a day of peaceful protest or community service. Here is a list of ways to get involved on this day of strike, even if you only have your lunch break in which to act.

3. REACH OUT TO YOUR REPS AND SENATORS and tell them you are striking in protest of this administration.

4. TAKE THE DAY TO CATCH UP ON PAST ACTIONS banked on our website or the website of any of your other favorite grassroots activists.

5. CHECK OUT Strike4Democracy for more info.

6. FOR THE FUTURE, USE GrabYourWallet to be a conscious consumer going forward.

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Trump & Russia: Where is our democracy headed?

By now you have heard about the Trump campaign's direct and repeated contact with Russian intelligence officials in the year leading up to the election. This comes after revelations that Trump's national security adviser, Michael Flynn, assured the Russian ambassador that sanctions would likely be lifted under Trump.

These are likely just the first clues to the complicit and dangerous relationship between Russia and our current president.

Yet Republicans are still holding the line, refusing to conduct a full investigation into Russia's influence over Trump and his administration. They are instead focusingon how the Flynn phone call was leaked to the press, distracting from the clear danger to our national security and the foundation of our democracy.

We urge you to take the three actions listed below as soon as you can today. Congress will go on break at the end of this week, and the House Intelligence Committee (HPSCI) cannot leave these dangerous revelations hanging! The Democrats on the committee have urged us to ask everyone to do the following:

What you can do

1. CALL THE HOUSE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE - MAJORITY (REPUBLICAN) COMMENT LINE.
202-225-4121
Ask them to open a formal investigation into Russia's influence over Trump and his administration.
If the line is busy and/or the mailbox is full, call the committee leader, Representative Devin Nunes.
559-733-3861 or 559-323-5235
See if your representative is on the committee, and call them if they are.

2. CALL the few republican senators who have publicly expressed concern over the Russian revelations. Ask them to call for a full investigation!

Sen. John McCain
202-224-2235
520-670-6334

Sen. Lindsey Graham
202-224-5972
864-250-1417

Sen. Bob Corker
202-224-3344
901-683-1910

3. CALL your own senator and representative and ask them to issue a statement calling for an investigation into Trump's ties to Russia.

USE THIS SCRIPT (feel free to ad-lib and make it your own!)
Hi
It has become increasing clear to me that our president and members of his campaign and administration have been influenced by the Russian government and its interests. Their ability to lead our country is clearly compromised by these complicit relationships. I am calling to urge Sen/Rep ____ to ask for a investigation into the full nature and extent of these relationships. How can we entrust our president with upholding the interests, safety, and values of the American people when the nature of his dealings with Russia are so troubling?

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Last day for the EPA

If you needed more evidence that Donald Trump is selling this country out, along with your health and your natural resources, look no further than Scott Pruitt. His floor vote in the Senate is today. Please call your Senator to tell them all that he wants to do is dismantle the EPA and that you prefer your buildings without asbestos, your air without mercury, your environment with bees in it, and your water without coal ash in it.

What you can do

1. CALL your senators and tell them you want them to vote against Pruitt as nominee for head of the EPA or do anything in their power to delay the vote (use script below)
2. CALL Democratic Senators Heidi Heitkamp (N.D.) and Joe Manchin (W.V.) and tell them you abhor their support of someone whose sole intent is to dismantle the EPA: they voted for Pruitt in the Senate Committee vote in early February, and their votes in favor of Pruitt are going to offset Republican Maine Senator Susan Collins of Maine's defection vote against Pruitt.
Manchin: 202-224-3954
Heitkamp: 202-224-2043

USE THIS SCRIPT (feel free to ad-lib, of course)
Hello, I am calling to urge Senator _____ to oppose the nomination of Scott Pruitt as head of the EPA. We need a regulatory approach that looks to the future. Environmental protection should be of national concern because clean air and water flow from state to state and pollution does not stop at a state's border. Pruitt has let his own state of Oklahoma be run over by the oil and gas industry. Protest this appointment for the sake of our planet and our future.

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It's President's Day...but Russia

We know it's President's day today, so let's try to find out more about him, starting with Russia. The story of Russia and Trump will continue to evolve and deepen over the next few weeks. You may have felt assured by reports of a Senate Intelligence committee investigation taking place, and that is surely good news, but we wanted to explain here what this means and what other avenue of investigation is worth demanding.

The Senate Intelligence Committee is a standing committee that has taken the lead into the Russia inquiry because it has the widest authority to look into all of the executive branch’s intelligence agencies. But it does not traditionally operate in a bi-partisan manner - Republicans on committee have full control over all subpoenas that get issued, which witnesses (if any) are compelled to testify, and which records have to be preserved during the investigation. The committee also operates behind closed doors, doing most of its work in secret.

While this is certainly a step in the right direction, a more aggressive and independent investigation would happen with the creation of a bi-partisan select committee. This committee would be solely devoted to the investigation and would give both parties equal power, with public hearings, and transparency regarding findings.

Democrats have backed down from asking for the select committee, but we need to put pressure on them to still demand it. The senate intelligence committee will conduct the bulk of it's inquiry in private, the way many Republicans want it, shielding Trump from any revelations in the media until they make a conclusion.

What you can do

1. CALL the Senate Intelligence Committee, and ask for a truly bi-partisan inquiry and transparency regarding their findings. Call, leave a message or send a fax
202-224-1700
202-224-1772

2. CALL your Senator and Representative at their local office (they are in recess in their home districts) to ask for the creation of a bi-partisan select committee to investigate Trump and Russia.

USE THIS SCRIPT (feel free to ad-lib, of course)

I am urging Sen/Rep_____ to ask for a bi-partisan select committee to investigate Trump's ties with Russia. I believe that this is the only way to conduct a truly independent and thorough investigation - one that happens in the public eye, and results in a transparent delivery of its findings.

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

Read This, This, and This

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Start Action On The Spectra Pipeline (AIM)

This one is mainly for our New York family, though if you have a pipeline near you or one planned for construction in your area, follow along for resistance tactics. Now that Scott Pruitt is head of the EPA, we won't be able to count on federal regulation to protect us on issues related to the environment, so we'll have to focus on action at the state level.

Read up on the Spectra Pipeline [aka Algonquin Incremental Market project--AIM] through our daily action on it last week: it is currently in its second phase of construction in New York state and the time to act is now, before Governor Cuomo makes the decision in the next few months whether or not to grant water quality permits to this federally regulated project.

What you can do

1.TAKE THE RESIST AIM PLEDGE which will also sign you up for the direct action group ResistSpectra.

2. RSVP FOR THE NEXT ResistSpectra TRAINING happening Monday, February 27 from 6:30-9pm in lower Manhattan. Email mikebucci451@gmail.com to let the group know they can expect you and for directions.

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No Spiritual Surrender

Today the camps at Standing Rock will be evacuated by order from the Army Corps of Engineersand North Dakota Governor, Doug Burgum.

After Trump issued his directive to carry out the pipeline as planned, the Department of the Army announced on February 7th that it will grant the final easement to finish the 1,172-mile Dakota Access line. Thus allowing it to cross under Lake Oahe, part of the primary source of drinking water for the Standing Rock Sioux.

While the camp started coordinated cleanup in January, officials stated that it was moving too slowly. Today, the most important thing is the safety and wellbeing of those being evacuated from standing rock, as well as those who choose to stay. Please keep watch and call those in charge of the evacuation to make sure no violence or excessive force is used today.

What you can do

1. CALL ND GOV. DOUG BURGUM
701-328-2200

2. CALL MORTON COUNTY SHERIFF KYLE KIRCHMEIER
701-667-3330

3. CALL THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS
202-761-8700

USE THIS SCRIPT (feel free to ad-lib, of course)

I am calling for a safe and peaceful evacuation of those at Standing Rock, without the use of armed forces, violence, or possibility of recrimination. I am also calling for the recognition of those who choose to stay as peaceful water protectors. We will be watching!

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Trump's $308.5 Million Weekend Golf Habit: Part I

In one month, the Trump administration has spent on travel a little less than what the Obama administration spent in a year. The new POTUS has been out of the office practically every weekend he’s been on the job and American tax payers are footing the $10 million bill. Those are your federal tax dollars. Adding to travel and security for his family are other ancillary costs such as:

$60,000 in overtime pay a day for local law enforcement officials every time he visits Mar-a-Lago = $2.9 million annually at the rate of two visits a month

$500,000 dollars a day to guard Trump Tower, or $182.5 million annually

$1.5 million dollars a year for the Secret Service to rent a floor of Trump Tower, which goes directly into his pocket

$100,000 hotel tab that taxpayers covered when his sons travelled for business - that’s $1.2 million annually if they travel once a month.

And that comes out to an estimated $308.5 million annually! That is 25 times more than the average $12 million the Obamas spent in one year. It's also three times more, in a single year, than the $97 million the Obamas spent in EIGHT YEARS!

Today we regale you with numbers, tomorrow we'll tell you what things that money could go towards besides Melania's preferences for not moving to Washington. In the meantime, you can make a few calls to protest this absurd waste at your expense.

What you can do

1. CALL your Senators (here) and Representatives (here) and urge them to call the President out on his excessive spending!

USE THIS SCRIPT (feel free to ad-lib, of course)

Hi, I’m ____ with the group 2 Hours a Week. I’m calling Senator/Representative ___ to express my concern about the President’s excessive traveling and lifestyle at the expense of tax payers.

In a single month Trump has spent what Obama spent on travel and security in an entire year.
If he continues at this pace, including other security and travel costs for him and his family, it will cost taxpayers upwards of $308.5 million dollars a year!

That is 25 times the rate of the Obamas expenditure on travel

I urge Senator/Representative __ to call the President out on wasting tax payer money to play golf and subsidize his family’s business travel! This is fiscal irresponsibility of the government at the highest level!

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How Much You're Paying For Trump's Weekends: Part II

Yesterday we told you how many American tax dollars the Trump family is spending shuttling between Mar-a-Lago, Trump Tower NYC, and DC--which is the only place they really should be--308.5 million dollars a year--25 TIMES what the Obamas spent.

Today, we'll tell you how much that expenditure is worth. Ready? Take a deep breath:

• 123,790 Veteran families’ rapid rehousing when they become homeless at a cost of $2,480 per household.
• 322 fulltime credit counselors to provide Veteran’s with financial advice when they fall on hard times at a cost of $35,060 per counselor, per year.
• 2,300 law enforcement jobs created or saved via the Community Oriented Policing Services – COPS – program at a cost of $119 million for 900 jobs protected or created.
• 2 years of funding for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership to help small and medium sized manufacturing companies stay competitive and create jobs.
• 1 year of funding for the Economic Development Administration to help economically depressed communities negatively impacted by globalization spur entrepreneurship, investment, economic growth and job creation.
• 61% of the annual budget for Legal Aid Societies across the U.S. which provides free legal representation for the poor.
• 64% percent of the annual budget for the Office of Violence Against Women.

Mad yet? Let's make some calls.

What you can do

1. Call your Senators and Representatives and urge them to comment on the President's excessive spending!
You can find contact information for your Representative here.
You find the contact information for your Senator here.

USE THIS SCRIPT (feel free to ad-lib, of course)

Hi I’m ____ with the group 2 Hours a Week. I’m calling Senator/Representative ___ to express my concern about the President’s excessive traveling and lifestyle at the expense of tax payers.

In a month the President has spent what Obama spent on travel and security in a year.

If he continues at this pace, including other security and travel costs for him and his family, it will cost taxpayers upwards of $308.5 million dollars a year!

That is 25 times more than what Obamas spent in a year! It is three times more than Obama spent in eight years!

I urge Senator/Representative __ to call the President out on wasting tax payer money to go play golf and subsidize his family’s business travel!

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What we can do for the environment post-Pruitt

We fought hard to prevent the confirmation of Oklahoma's attorney general Scott Pruitt as new head of the Environmental Protection Agency. While he was confirmed, our efforts were not without impact.

The vote was close, closer than expected; more senators voted against Pruitt than any previous EPA nominee in its 46-year history; Susan Collins, a Republican senator from Maine, crossed party lines to vote no; EPA employees broke rank to write letters against his nomination; and 3,000 emails linking Pruitt to energy interests were released on Wednesday. These letters expose that Pruitt's allegiances to Oklahoma gas, oil, and utilities are absolute.

But now what?

What you can do

Unlikely as it seems, defenders of Pruitt map one path forward for us. In the lead up to his hearing, the Competitive Enterprise Institute wrote a letter of support stating Pruitt "understands that many of the nation's challenges regarding clean air and water are best met at the state and local level." During his confirmation hearing last month, Pruitt himself said "It is our state regulators who oftentimes best understand the local needs and the uniqueness of our environmental challenges."

State and local governments can and will act as bulwark against the coming roll back of federal environmental regulations and life-saving public health measures the E.P.A. enforces like the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards Act, the WOTUS rule, and the Good Neighbor Act, as well as broader efforts to support divestment from the fossil economy, Indigenous sovereignty, the EPA's Clean Power Plan, and the Paris Climate Agreement. Regulations are tied up in lengthy bureaucratic processes and courts and cannot be overturned overnight. Climate scientists, local government, and environmental groups - along with unaffiliated citizens and activists - can and will resist their dismantling at every turn. We will double down our efforts at the state, local, and grassroots scale to safeguard the health of our environment and our communities.

Here are some good things happening on the state level:

Illinois implemented the Future Energy Jobs Bill, its most significant climate and energy bill in the state's history, in December. Ohio and Michigan are making similar plans.
Seattle City Council unanimously approved an ordinance to end its relationship with Wells Fargo, an investor in the DAPL pipeline and the company building it, Energy Transfer Partners of Texas. This will cost the bank $3 billion dollars a year.
Despite Wednesday's devastating removal of the Water Protectors at Standing Rock, statements this week from NYC Mayor Bill DeBlasio and Comptroller Scott Stringer give us reason to think officials are listening and responding to the call respect Indigenous land, disproportionately targeted by extraction industries. Both DeBlasio and Stringer publicly expressed disapproval of the Dakota Access Pipeline: DeBlasio sent a letter to banks letting them know that financing the pipeline comes with "serious risks." Stringer joined 120+ investors speaking out against #DAPL and called on banks to "take meaningful action and develop a new plan that respects the tribe and the sovereignty of their land."

1. Our main assignment for you now: start becoming familiar with your State Senate. Use this website to learn who your State Senators are, who comprise the upper house of legislature in your state. Your state legislature's primary purpose is to draft and approve changes to the laws of your state. Set a calendar for yourself to check in every few weeks to see what bills are up in the State Senate--it will take a minute to get used to, but this is the best way to start being apprised of legislation at the state level.

2. Join 350.org's Climate March on April 29.

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House Inquiry into Trump's Ties to Russia

Morning! Today at 10 am the House Judiciary Committee will vote on H. Res 111 - a resolution that would compel Trump to disclose his potential conflicts of interest and ties to Russia (tax returns, anyone?).

Representative Nadler and Jeffries, sponsored this resolution, hoping to bring it to a floor vote. House Republicans sent it to committee, hoping for it to die there.

This is a quick phone call to make before 10 am today. Let these Rep's know you support this resolution of inquiry!

What you can do

1. CALL any of the Majority members if they represent you:

Bob Goodlatte, 202-225-5431 Virginia
Jim Sensenbrenner 202-225-5101 Wisconsin
Lamar S. Smith, 202-225-4236 Texas
Steve Chabot, 202-225-2216 Ohio
Darrell Issa, 202-225-3906 California
Steve King, 202-225-4426 Iowa
Trent Franks, 202-225-4576 Arizona
Louie Gohmert, 202-225-3035 Texas
Jim Jordan, 202-225-2676 Ohio
Ted Poe, 202-225-6565 Texas
Jason Chaffetz, 202-225-7751 Utah
Tom Marino, 202-225-3731 Pennsylvania
Trey Gowdy, 202-225-6030 South Carolina
Raúl Labrador, 202-225-6611 Idaho
Blake Farenthold, 202-225-7742 Texas
Doug Collins, 202-225-9893 Georgia
Ron DeSantis, 202-225-2706 Florida
Ken Buck, 202-225-4676 Colorado
John Ratcliffe, 202-225-6673 Texas
Martha Roby, 202-225-2901 Alabama
Matt Gaetz, 202-225-4136 Florida
Mike Johnson, 202-225-2777 Louisiana
Andy Biggs, 202-225-2635 Arizona

2. CALL the minority members of committee, and make sure they are voting for the resolution.

USE THIS SCRIPT (feel free to ad-lib, of course)

Hello,

I am calling Rep _____ to let him/her know that I fully support Representative Nadler's Resolution of Inquiry directing the Department of Justice to provide the House of Representatives with any and all information relevant to an inquiry into President Trump and his associates’ conflicts of interest, ethical violations—including the Emoluments Clause—and Russia ties. This is information that should have been made public months ago. If you vote against this resolution, you are complicit in the conflicts that will be revealed sooner or later. If there is nothing to hide, then letting the inquiry go forward should not be a problem.

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Being Progressive In Being United

We know that some of you are disappointed with the outcome of the election of DNC chair. Though we were momentarily disappointed, we realized that, hey, Tom Perez is a progressive, the first Latino chair of the DNC, with an extensive background in civil rights justice and labor rights and he appointed Keith Ellison to Deputy Chair. That doesn't sound like a defeat to us.

If, what we truly care about, are the principles that will shape the future of the democratic party, then both candidates laid out very similar visions for the DNC. Both called for a more decentralized organization that placed greater emphasis on the particular political climates and needs of each state, better candidate recruitment, and appealing to voters of all demographics to speak past the party’s traditional base.

Please don't let Trump sow the seeds of divisiveness into the left, by calling the election "rigged." The other night Perez tweeted back to Trump that he shouldn't be "too happy" with his nomination and to prepare for him becoming his worst nightmare and as of last week, he has already called for an investigation into Russia's election interference.

"Tom Perez said on stage that anyone who casts off and minimizes the support that Rep. Keith Ellison has along with the Bernie Sanders supporters does so at their own peril.

He is on the right team. Regardless of who won, they see the power in uniting the more progressive side of the party. And they would have appointed one another. This was strategic. And they already have a plan of action for the mid term elections.

We have to keep tracking, hold both accountable, and keep moving forward in the good fight."

What you can do

1. READ more about Perez and Ellison here or here or here.

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EDUCATE & ACT : March 2017

Join us this month for a series of events that we've programmed in NYC, aimed at empowering all of us to be better informed citizen-activists with stronger voices and greater stamina.

205 Hudson St, NYC
2nd Floor, Hunter MFA
Co-hosted by Hunter Artist Action Group & 2 Hours A Week

All events are free & open to the public, please share the love and invite friends, neighbors & your local activist groups. Click RSVP for more info.

What you can do

Fri, 3/3 at 6pm » RSVP
Atomic Culture : Performance with Guillermo Gomez Pena, Balitronica & Alex Rivera

Sat, 3/4 at 4pm » RSVP
Emotional Emancipation Circle for POC

Sat, 3/4 at 7:30pm » RSVP
XFR Collective Selects : Resistance

Sun, 3/5 at 1pm » RSVP
Sign Making 101 : For Women's Strike March 8

Mon, 3/6 at 7pm » RSVP
We Make America Meeting

Tues, 3/7 at 5pm » RSVP
Self Care Workshop : This is a Marathon, Not a Sprint

Tues, 3/7 at 7pm » RSVP
News Literacy 101 : Navigating the Press under the Trump Administration

Wed, 3/8 all day
Women Strike : www.womenstrikeus.org

Thurs, 3/9 at 7pm » RSVP
Tax Resistance 101 : Using Our $ to Protest War, Violence & the Trump Agenda

Fri, 3/10 at 6pm
Hunter MFA Open Studios : HAAG Performances

Sat, 3/11 at 3pm » RSVP
Feminist Tea Party : Political Edition

Tues, 3/14 at 7pm » RSVP
The Movable Middle 101 : Talking with Family & Friends Who Support Trump

Thurs, 3/16 at 7pm » RSVP
Rise and Resist : Marshal Training for Protests & Marches

Fri, 3/17 at 7pm » RSVP
Cybersecurity 101

Sat, 3/18 at 12pm » RSVP
New York State Civics 101 : Activist Boot Camp

Sat, 3/18 at 4pm » RSVP
Emotional Emancipation Circle for POC

Tues, 3/21 at 5pm »RSVP
Self Care Workshop : This is a Marathon, Not a Sprint

Thurs, 3/23 at 7pm » RSVP
Election Reform 101 : How Did We Get Here? Fixing Our Elections from the Ground Up

Sat, 3/25 at 3pm » RSVP
Anarchism 101 : Ask an Anarchist

Thurs, 3/30 at 7pm » RSVP
Water is Life : Lessons from Standing Rock and Spectra

Fri, 3/31 at 7pm » RSVP
Mirror/Echo/Tilt : Melanie Crean, Sable E. Smith, Shaun Leonardo

action

Request a Special Investigator for Trump's Ties to Russia

Though Republicans have committed to investigating Trump's ties to Russia, under current circumstances, they could easily scuttle the investigation. This is particularly concerning given the new revelations that Attorney General Jeff Sessions, whose Justice Department oversees the FBI investigation, did not disclose his contact with the Russian Ambassador while Russian-led cyberattacks were underway. In fact, he lied about having contact with them! In addition, several Congressional Intelligence Committees—all Republican led—are conducting investigations into the allegations.

The problem is that all of these investigations are being led by partisan Republicans, some of whom don't take the allegations of collusion very seriously. Sessions, a longtime Trump ally, finally recused himself today from the investigation—one that he should never have been a part of.

The bottom line: Republicans can't be trusted to lead an impartial investigation when it's obviously not in their best interest to do so. For these reasons it's imperative that Congressional Democrats demand an independent prosecutor to lead the investigation. Let's give them a call and let them know what they need to do next—now is NOT the time to let up!

What you can do

1. CALL and thank Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA.) for supporting and advocating for an independent prosecutor—positive reinforcement is important!
Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) 202-225-3906

2. CALL Democratic Congressional leadership and ask that they demand an independent prosecutor:
Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) 202-225-4965
Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) 202-224-6542

3. CALL your representatives and senators:
You can find your representative here.
You can find your senators here.

Bonus points: Call these vocal Democrats:
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) 202-224-4451
Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-VT) 202-224-5141
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) 202-224-4543
Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) 202-225-4065

USE THIS SCRIPT (feel free to ad-lib, of course)

Rep. Issa's Office :
My name is _____ and I'm calling with the group 2 Hours a Week. I'd like to thank Representative Issa for being nonpartisan and doing his job by acknowledging the need for an independent prosecutor to investigate President Trump's ties to Russia. I appreciate him for advocating on behalf of the American people.

Democratic Leadership, Your Reps. and Senators, and Bonus Democrats:
My name is __ and I'm calling with the group 2 Hours a Week to ask that Representative/Senator __ make a strong public call to have an independent prosecutor appointed to investigate President Trump's ties to Russia. Attorney General Sessions lied during his confirmation hearing about being in contact with Russia. And many Republicans who are leading the current house and senate investigations into this matter aren't taking them seriously enough.

Thank you for taking my call.

action

Women's Strike on March 8

Women (cis and trans), lead inherently political lives, in the choices they make everyday while living in a society that still does not offer true equality. Striking is our way of protesting not just this administration but also the societal barriers that it reinforces.

The next large scale, planned strike is occurring this Wednesday, March 8.

This is the Women's Strike. It is a recommitment to the equality and diversity that is threatened under a Trump administration. It is a declaration of the fact that violence against women is still a planetary epidemic, that 25% of women live in countries with highly restrictive abortion laws, and, here at home, the United States is the only industrialized nation without paid parental leave!! It is a strike to remind our country, and the world, that freedom is universal only when each person is free and able to participate to the fullest of their abilities.

As the organizers have said, A Day Without a Woman is "to highlight the economic power and significance that women have in the U.S. and global economies, while calling attention to the economic injustices women and gender-nonconforming people continue to face."

What you can do

1. READ the asks of the Woman's March and how to strike: organizers are asking participants to perform no labor (paid or unpaid) if they are able. If you don't have the luxury to do this, you can still participate in other ways by boycotting sexist companies, wearing red to show your support, and simply resisting gender roles.

2. SEND a letter to your boss to let them know why you won't be at work.

3. FIND an event for the Woman's Strike in your area

4. ATTEND the NYC rally in Washington Square Park

5. BOYCOTT a company you know to use sexism in advertising.

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

Our current administration has shown itself to be, among other things, misogynistic in policy and rhetoric. We are moving backwards in terms of promoting the type of equality that is essential to the flourishing of a nation and the wellbeing of all of its citizens.
EDUCATE + ACT EVENTS COMING UP!
Tuesday, March 7th

5:00 PM SELF CARE WORKSHOP: Develop a practice that will support your well-being and help you to sustain positive self-care in these stressful times. More info + rsvp

7:00 PM NEWS LITERACY 101: Veteran journalists will provide tips on how to be an empowered and savvy news consumer, how to hold the media accountable (yes, you can!), and the lowdown on how the news is made. More info + rsvp

action

Gov. Cuomo: Don't Let My Taxes Go to Trump!

Ask Governor Cuomo to Suspend Financial Transfers to Washington Until the Threat to Sanctuary Cities is Removed and Donald Trump Releases His Tax Returns

The United States has a long history of tax strikes used as a device by the people to intervene when the government oversteps its power. From the Boston Tea Party to Henry David Thoreau, from the Suffragettes to today’s War Tax Resistors, one thing has been made clear: Money is power and "We the People" know where our power lies as the primary financial bread-winners of this nation. The citizens of this country contribute 80% of the annual federal budget through payment of federal income tax.

California is currently studying ways to suspend the transfer of the state’s taxes to Washington until the threat to sanctuary cities is removed. We are asking Governor Cuomo, who has been incredibly vocal in his promise to keep New York state a refuge to marginalized communities, to follow California's lead and make efforts to withhold funds from the federal government to protect its citizens.

Please print and sign this petition asking Governor Cuomo to withhold the State’s taxes from being transferred to Washington until the executive order to punish sanctuary cities is removed and Donald Trump releases his tax returns.

What you can do

1. PRINT AND SIGN this letter to Cuomo. You can also forward onto your friends and get as many signatures as you can on one letter to create a petition, or simply sign your own name and send it.

Mail to:
The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo
Governor of New York State
NYS State Capitol Building
Albany, NY 12224

2. ATTEND our event on tax resistance. As part of the Educate + Act program, we will have an in-depth presentation on the history and how-to's tax resistance in our current day. This event takes place in NYC.

Thursday, March 9
7:00 PM TAX RESISTANCE 101: How to Use Our Money to Protest War, Violence & the Trump Agenda. INFO + RSVP here

EDUCATE + ACT EVENTS COMING UP!

TODAY!
5:00 PM SELF CARE WORKSHOP: Develop a practice that will support your well-being and help you to sustain positive self-care in these stressful times. More info + rsvp

action

We Strike

2 Hours A Week was co-founded by women and wouldn't be running without the volunteer efforts of legions of strong dedicated women.

Today we strike.

What you can do

action

People Over Profits

A wild-west style, anything-goes, unregulated mortgage lending market led directly to the 2008 global economic collapse. Millions of Americans lost their retirement funds, their jobs, the very roofs over their heads because our government prioritized the greed of Wall Street and big banks over the American people. Less than a decade later, our lawmakers are gearing up to do it again.

Senator Ted Cruz and Representative John Ratcliffe have introduced two bills (one in the House, and one in the Senate) - S.370 and H.R. 1031 to abolish the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Established as part of the Dodd-Frank Bill, the CFPB set to rein in the predatory lending practices of banks that made it easy for borrowers to get loans and credit that they couldn't afford. The CFPB now requires banks to verify the income and application information listed by applicants.

The CFPB also receives and investigates consumer complaints, having addressed over one million complaints since 2011. The bureau has also returned over $11.7 billion to American families. BILLIONS! $3.6 billion of that was direct restitution, while the other $7.7 billion was made up of cancelled and reduced debt and other financial relief.

The Bill is currently in the House Financial Services Committee being reviewed. Let's call the head of the committee, its members, and our representatives and tell them to put American interests ahead of the interest of Wall Street and Big Banks by voting against the bill to abolish the CFPB!

What you can do

1. CALL the Financial Services Committee Chair .
Chairman Jeb Hensarling
Financial Services Committee
202-225-7502

2. CALL the Capitol Switchboard and dial zero to ask for your Representative, or any of the below Financial Services Committee members if they represent you at (202) 224-3121

Committee Members:

Peter T. King, New York

Edward R. Royce, California

Frank D. Lucas, Oklahoma

Patrick T. McHenry, North Carolina, Vice Chairman

Stevan Pearce, New Mexico

Bill Posey, Florida

Blaine Luetkemeyer, Missouri

Bill Huizenga, Michigan

Sean P. Duffy, Wisconsin

Steve Stivers, Ohio

Randy Hultgren, Illinois

Dennis A. Ross, Florida

Robert Pittenger, North Carolina

Ann Wagner, Missouri

Andy Barr, Kentucky

Keith J. Rothfus, Pennsylvania

Luke Messer, Indiana

Scott Tipton, Colorado

Roger Williams, Texas

Bruce Poliquin, Maine

Mia Love, Utah

French Hill, Arkansas

Tom Emmer, Minnesota

Lee M. Zeldin, New York

Dave A. Trott, Michigan

Barry Loudermilk, Georgia

Alexander X. Mooney, West Virginia

Thomas MacArthur, New Jersey

Warren Davidson, Ohio

Ted Budd, North Carolina

David Kustoff, Tennessee

Claudia Tenney, New York

Trey Hollingsworth, Indiana

Maxine Waters, California, Ranking Member

Carolyn B. Maloney, New York

Nydia M. Velázquez, New York

Brad Sherman, California

Gregory W. Meeks, New York

Michael E. Capuano, Massachusetts

Wm. Lacy Clay, Missouri

Stephen F. Lynch, Massachusetts

David Scott, Georgia

Al Green, Texas

Emanuel Cleaver, Missouri

Gwen Moore, Wisconsin

Keith Ellison, Minnesota

Ed Perlmutter, Colorado

James A. Himes, Connecticut

Bill Foster, Illinois

Daniel T. Kildee, Michigan

John K. Delaney, Maryland

Kyrsten Sinema, Arizona

Joyce Beatty, Ohio

Denny Heck, Washington

Juan Vargas, California

Josh Gottheimer, New Jersey

Vicente Gonzalez, Texas

Charlie Crist, Florida

Ruben Kihuen, Nevada

USE THIS SCRIPT (feel free to ad-lib, of course)

I'm ___and I'm with the group 2 Hours a Week.

I'm calling to ask Senator/Representative ___to vote AGAINST the proposed bill to abolish the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The bureau reined in and out of control and predatory financial industry, returned billions of dollars to American families. Abolishing this critical entity would once again put Americans at risk of being taken advantage of by big banks and Wall Street by putting profits over people. This could also ultimately set us up for another financial crisis. I'm asking that you protect the American people and vote no against this bill.

EDUCATE + ACT EVENTS COMING UP!

TODAY!
7:00 PM TAX RESISTANCE 101: How to Use Our Money to Protest War, Violence, & the Trump Agenda. Info + RSVP

action

The Affordable Care Act Repeal is Happening--CALL NOW

Republicans unveiled their “plan” to replace the Affordable Healthcare Act, and it is so bad that the American Medical Association, the AARP, the American Hospital Association, and scores of major organizations that provide healthcare to Americans have come out against it.

Basic economics says that costs will rise for everyone but the very rich under this proposal. Those with insurance through their employer will also be affected. The legislation was hastily cobbled together in the last few weeks and jammed through a second house committee vote at 4am on Thursday morning.

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has not analyzed the new proposal yet, which means committees have been working without an estimate of how many people would stand to gain or lose coverage and how much repeal-and-replace would cost. This is not the way government should work.

Act now. The repeal of the ACA is a campaign promise and Republicans are doggedly determined to deliver on their disastrous plan whose primary beneficiaries are—you guessed it, the rich, who would pay even less for healthcare.

What you can do

1. CALL 844-6-RESIST and tell your Senators and Representatives to vote against the Republican American Healthcare Act; the votes are set to take place in the next couple of weeks.

When you dial the above number you will be automatically connected to your representatives sequentially--no need to redial. Ask them to speak out and demand that the votes be delayed until the CBO completes and releases its analysis.
2. SUBMIT a personal story. If you have a personal story about how you have been impacted by the ACA, share it. You can submit it in writing HERE and HERE after your phone call.

USE THIS SCRIPT (feel free to ad-lib, of course)
Hi, my name is and I’m calling from . I am extremely concerned about the newly-released Republican plan to repeal the ACA. I urge Rep/Senator to do everything in his/her power to defend the ACA and to denounce the new plan, and I sincerely hope that Senator/Rep will call for any committee votes on the new plan to be delayed until the CBO has completed its analysis.

action

What's Happening with the ACA

We're focusing on the Affordable Care Act this week.

Here are the basics: The Congressional Budget Office (CBO), which is run by a conservative government skeptic, is expected to release their rating of the American Healthcare Act--or Trumpcare--today. The entire House is expected to vote next week.

Whatever the CBO's rating turns out to be, the bottom line about Trumpcare is this: it is a giant transfer of wealth and health from the middle class to the wealthy.

We sat in on a call with MoveOn.org last night. They say the next three weeks are absolutely crucial. Here's what you can do:

What you can do

1. CALL your own representative every day this week, we'll send daily reminders.
(844-6-RESIST) 844-673-7478
Let them know what you think about the Republican proposal to repeal the Affordable Care Act. MoveOn says that Democratic reps have not heard enough from their constituents. We need every single Democrat in the House and the Senate to vote against this bill.

2. SIGN UP for MoveOn.org emails. They've promised to send instructions for how to contact voters in states where the Republican representatives have indicated willingness to vote against the repeal of the ACA (Maine, Alaska, Colorado, Arkansas, and a few others). We'll keep you posted on that effort as soon as we hear more ourselves.

action

Learn from Those Who Came Before Us

Our fight to save our health care - hell, our fight to save all of our civil liberties - has emotional roots in the hard fought battles and well deserved successes of ACT UP, the legendary group of grassroots activists fighting to stay alive during the AIDS crisis in the 1980's.

As long as we stick together in fighting for the same greater goal, our individual fights can take many forms - within the political system, through civil disobedience, creative resistance, and more. By learning from those who came before us we will be better prepared to continue this fight and make the changes we want to see in the world.

What you can do

WATCH OR READ How to Survive a Plague, the acclaimed documentary on ACT UP. The film is available on Netflix, Hulu and Youtube.
ATTEND OUR TRAINING WITH MEMBERS OF ACT UP
Thurs, 3/16 | 7-9pm | RSVP
Rise and Resist : Marshal Training
Civil disobedience is a time-honored, effective method of bringing fierce nonviolent pressure to bear on an unjust system. This training covers to the philosophy and techniques of nonviolence and direct action; planning effective civil disobedience; how affinity groups and consensus-based decision-making works; arrest, support and day-of protest tips.

Outside NY? You can read their Marshal tips here, and pick up invaluable information and inspiration for organizing in the film and book.

BONUS - as our list grows we see the need to target some actions locally, please "update your preferences" in the footer of this email and add your zip code to make sure you get local actions as we phase them out of our national email.

action

ACA Repeal: Transfer of Wealth to the Wealthy

Let's be clear: Repeal-and-replace is a giant transfer of wealth from the lowest-income Americans to the highest-income Americans. No surprise then who is pushing for the repeal: those at the top of the economic ladder.

There were two tax increases levied on the wealthiest of Americans to help pay for the ACA. Trumpcare would reverse those, meaning that:

People making $200,000 - $999,999 a year will get a sizable tax cut.
60% of the money saved will go to those making $1 million a year or more.

The tax repeal would solely benefit wealthy Americans because the taxes were imposed only on the wealthiest.

The House Budget Committee votes on the bill this Thursday March 16th. Only FOUR Republican "NO" votes are needed to stop this bill in committee. Let's call those Republicans who are on the fence.

What you can do

Sign up for a one-hour shift at a rally at your member of Congress' office this Thursday and Friday through MoveOn.org.
CALL the Republican members of the House Budget Committee and let them know you are against the ACA repeal bill. Those highlighted have voiced concern and/or opposition; call them first if you only have a few minutes.
Diane Black, (TN-06), Chair (202) 225-4231

Todd Rokita, (IN-04), Vice-Chair (202) 225-5037

Mario Diaz-Balart, (FL-25) (202) 225-4211

Tom Cole, (OK-04) (202) 225-6165

Tom McClintock, (CA-04) (202) 225-2511

Rob Woodall, (GA-07) (202) 225-4272

Mark Sanford, (SC-01) (202) 225-3176

Steve Womack, (AR-03) (202) 225-4301

Dave Brat *, (VA-07) (202) 225-4301

Glenn Grothman, (WI-06) (202) 225-2476

Gary Palmer, (AL-06) (202) 225-4921

Bruce Westerman, (AR-04) (202) 225-3772

Jim Renacci, (OH-16) (202) 225-3876

Bill Johnson, (OH-06) (202) 225-5705

Jason Smith, (MO-08) (202) 225-4404

Jason Lewis, (MN-02) (202) 225-2271

Jack Bergman, (MI-01) (202) 225-4735

John Faso, (NY-19) (202) 225-5614

Lloyd Smucker, (PA-16) (202) 225-2411

Matt Gaetz, (FL-01) (202) 225-4136

Jodey Arrington, (TX-19) (202) 225-4005

Drew Ferguson, (GA-03) (202) 225-5901

WATCH the livestream of the Committee Markup (hearing) on the ACA starting on Thursday, March 16th at 10 AM EST.
TRACK the process of ACA repeal and replace.
USE THIS SCRIPT (feel free to ad-lib, of course)

Hi
I am calling to ask Rep ____ to vote against the ACA repeal bill this Thursday in the House Budget Committee vote. I am alarmed at what it will take away from average Americans like myself, in terms of healthcare, and what it will give to wealthy Americans in terms of tax cuts. I have done my homework and read the non-partisan reports issued by both the CBO and the Joint Committee on Taxation. The repeal will take away health coverage from millions and will be especially detrimental to the elderly, and the poorest of Americans. We will take into account how you vote on this, come re-election time.

action

ACTION 92 Medicaid Expansion Ends by 2020: Reject the current Republican Healthcare plan!

The Republicans' current health plan will federally defund Medicaid expansion in 2020, to the point that many states would likely find continuing it unsustainable. Not coincidentally, this occurs after the mid-term elections.

As of now, Medicaid accounts for 14 million of the 24 million who would lose insurance.

Who benefits from the ACA Medicaid expansion?
Those in low-wage jobs that do not offer health insurance—like waiters and waitresses, sales clerks, cooks, and home health aides. Economically speaking, not to mention ethically, this is a nightmare for the working backbone of America.

Speak up today, Thursday, to decry this offensive legislation.

What you can do

1. CHECK if you live in a state that expanded Medicaid under the ACA.

2. SIGN UP for a one-hour shift at a rally at your member of Congress' office this Thursday and Friday through MoveOn.org. It's happening all over the country!

3. CALL your senators and representatives, using the first script if #1 above is true for your state, and the second if it isn't.

USE THIS SCRIPT (feel free to ad-lib, of course)

If calling from a state that has Medicaid expansion:

I am calling Sen/Rep _____ to oppose the ACA repeal bill. This repeal will cost thousands ( if not millions) of people in our state to lose their health coverage, many of whom gained it under the Medicaid Expansion program. This program helped many of those in low-wage jobs to finally get access to healthcare. This would be a devastating loss for all of us in the state.

If calling from a other states w/o Medicaid expansion:

I am calling Sen/Rep to oppose the ACA repeal bill. I am alarmed at what it will take away from average Americans like myself, in terms of healthcare, and what it will give to wealthy Americans in terms of tax cuts. The repeal will take away health coverage from millions and will be especially detrimental to the elderly, and the poorest of Americans. We will take into account how you vote on this bill, come re-election time.

action

We are proud to co-sponsor our first rally this Sunday and want you to join us!

Rally this Sunday to demand that the NYS legislature make long-overdue voting modernization reforms. Automatic voter registration and early voting have already been adopted by many other states – and would help make NY the truly progressive state that Cuomo and lawmakers claim it to be! But they must hear us NOW–while it's in negotiation. Join us on March 19!

WHAT: Rally to Resist Voter Suppression
WHEN: Sunday, March 19, 2-3:30pm
WHERE: Battery Park, NYC
(view press release)

Do you know? New York State is one of the most regressive states in terms of voting access, which leads to some of the lowest voter turnout in the nation.

Do you know? When taken to court for voter suppression, red states point to NY as an excuse for limiting voting access - we affect the whole nation.

Do you know? Working class people, women, immigrants & people of color are disproportionally affected by voting accessibility and NY’s arcane voting laws.

Do you know? To mark 100 years of women's suffrage Monday, we sent a rep from 2 Hours A Week to Albany to call for expanded voting rights alongside 100 other women leaders including the Women of Color Caucus.

Do you know? Cuomo says he wants election reform, the Assembly passed measures but State Senate Republicans & IDC won't sign on. Still, Governor Cuomo has the ability to push it through by putting it in the April 1 budget.

Your voice can make this happen! We have to make Cuomo put his money where his mouth is, and public pressure is how we'll do it!

What you can do

1. JOIN US AT THE RALLY THIS SUNDAY. Bring your energy, signs & friends!

2. INVITE YOUR FRIENDS - Invite 10 friends to join us for an hour. Post or pass this on if you can't come. With enough public pressure on Cuomo, NY can finally catch up! We want a big crowd - please come for any amount of time you can!

3. CALL CUOMO at 518-474-8390 and demand that he put essential reforms in the budget instead of waiting for the Senate to do it. Call every day until April 1!

4. JOIN US NEXT THURSDAY 3/23 at 7pm for Election Reform 101, a seminar to learn more about the history, current strategies, and find out how to take action.

USE THIS SCRIPT (feel free to ad-lib, of course)

Hi, my name is ____ and I'm a member of 2 Hours A Week. Along with other progressive New Yorkers, we demand that you bring NY into the 21st century by giving us early voting & automatic voter registration. Talk is cheap, put your money where your mouth is and put expanded voting access into this years April 1 budget.

action

The skinny on why you should call today about the ACA

The Affordable Care Act isn't perfect - there are many ways to measure its success and its failures. But a few things are certain:

The ACA is being utilized & it is more popular than it ever has been.

Even centrist media outlets are calling out the rush to repeal.

Virtually everyone is affected by the ACA.

Even the administration admits the current plan would hurt its constituents.
Republicans may not believe that government should be involved in healthcare, but unfortunately for them, the idea that the middle class can currently afford healthcare without government intervention is a fiction.

Tell Republicans to stop grandstanding and do something to fix the Affordable Care Act, instead of throwing in the trash in the space of a few weeks something they had seven years to modify. They will make affordable healthcare even more out of reach if we don't make noise.

What you can do

1. Make a difference with a single phone call. Dial your reps and tell them you oppose the American Healthcare Act (that's the name of the Republicans' plan). (844-6-RESIST) 844-673-7478.

2. Ask your Facebook friends in states where Repubs are waffling on the legislation to do the same Type "Friends who live in Arkansas" and ask those friends to call their reps. Give them the above number. Repeat for the states Maine, Alaska, Colorado, Arkansas, Ohio. Refer to Action 91 if they need a script.

action

Keep Doing What You're Doing, Because It's Awesome

Hey! We get it. It's nuts out there. It can be enough to make you want to stop reading the news. Which is totally OK. If you need to dip into the news less frequently, here, here, and here are some great podcasts we love.

We're here to say THANK YOU for being engaged, for supporting each other and your own future, and for supporting us. Your grassroots energy is a wonder to behold. This is a scary time, but also an exciting one that brings the possibility for real change.

A survey by the Congressional Management Foundation over the last 10 years laid out some facts you are learning firsthand:

Direct constituent interactions have more influence on lawmakers' decisions than other advocacy strategies.
When asked what groups should do more of to build relationships with the office, 79% of Congressional staff surveyed said "meet or get to know the Legislative Assistant with jurisdiction over their issue area."

Americans all over the country are taking action in unprecedented numbers. More than 5,000 grassroots groups have emerged since the election. The biggest win here is people are speaking for themselves.

Whether it's been a day or a month since you were able to make a phone call, your being on this email list is making a difference. It's a marathon, not a sprint, and we couldn't do it without you. Keep doing good work.

What you can do

action

We Need Your Zip Code !

We're lucky and grateful to have grown far beyond the New York area: we're in all 50 states and 33 countries!

Going forward we're going to devote Tuesdays (as much as possible) to regionally targeted actions, meaning you may not receive an email from us that day if you live outside that area.

To make these as effective as possible, we're working on how to divide emails by region so that you aren't opening emails specific to Los Angeles if you live in Alaska. In order to do this, we need your zip code (instructions below).

Thanks for bearing with us as we figure out a system that works for all of us. We'll send out a feedback survey soon too!

Sincerely yours,
2hoursaweek

What you can do

1. SCROLL to the footer of this email.
2. CLICK "update your preferences."
3. ENTER your zip code (where you hope to take action).

action

Don't Worry - Congress Will Still Have A Cushy Health Plan

In the midst of this ACA repeal debacle, have you asked yourself what kind of healthcare our members of congress (MoC) and their staff receive?

Since 2014, they too have to buy their insurance through the ACA's health exchanges. However, 72% of the cost is subsidized by the federal government. That means, MoC and staff pay only 28% of their annual healthcare premiums out-of-pocket.

This subsidy was arranged so that those in Congress would still have low-cost healthcare similar to what they formerly received under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHB). It follows that, if the Affordable Care Act is repealed, members of Congress would be able to return to the federal plan that they, like millions of federal employees, were so fond of. Twenty million other Americans won’t.

The House votes on the ACA repeal bill on THURSDAY - Call your Member of Congress TODAY. Many Republican representatives are already waffling under constituent pressure- be the call that tips them over to a "NO" vote. If you have Dem reps, still call and make sure they are voting "NO."

What you can do

1. TIP it over to a "NO" vote in the house. Dial your reps and tell them you oppose the ACA repeal bill.
(844-6-RESIST) 844-673-7478.

2. Ask your Facebook friends in states where Republicans are waffling on the legislation to do the same Type in "my friends in Arkansas" and tell those people to please call their reps. Give them the above number.
Repeat for these states: New Jersey, Maine, Florida, Alaska, Idaho, Colorado, Arkansas, Ohio, Kentucky, Utah, Texas, Nevada, Michigan, Virginia, Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina, New York, Pennsylvania.

USE THIS SCRIPT (feel free to ad-lib, of course)

I am calling to ask Rep ____ to vote against the ACA repeal bill this Thursday in the House Bvote. I am alarmed at what it will take away from average Americans like myself, in terms of healthcare, and what it will give to wealthy Americans in terms of tax cuts. The repeal will take away health coverage from millions and will be especially detrimental to the elderly, and the poorest of Americans. I will take into account how you vote on this, come re-election time.

action

House Vote is Tonight on the ACA Repeal

Hello!

The House is expected to hold a late night vote on the Affordable Care Act this evening. If the legislation does poorly in the House, it's less likely to pass in the Senate.

This is a Republican partisan fight, purely based on trying to push a campaign promise through. It is not an attempt to improve healthcare in America. Meanwhile, DJT had been busy bullying Republicans who have been on the fence about voting for the repeal of the ACA.

Take 5 minutes to call your representative today. If you've already called, call again. Ask your friends to call too. <3

What you can do

1. DIAL your reps and tell them you oppose the American Healthcare Act (that's the name of the Republicans' plan).
(844-6-RESIST) 844-673-7478

2. ASK your Facebook friends in states where Repubs are waffling on the legislation to do the same Type "Friends who live in Arkansas" and ask those friends to call their reps. Give them the above number.New Jersey, Maine, Florida, Alaska, Idaho, Colorado, Arkansas, Ohio, Kentucky, Utah, Texas, Nevada, Michigan, Virginia, Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina, Pennsylvania
Refer to Action 91 if they need a script.

action

Take Our Reader Survey

We want to know what's working and what isn't.
Will you help us?

What you can do

To take our reader survey, please click here.

action

100

We Want the Intelligence, and We Want It Public

Congressman Devin Nunes(R-CA), chairman of the House Intelligence Committee abruptly canceled a public hearing, scheduled for this Tuesday, with former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, former CIA Director John Brennan, and former Acting Attorney General Sally Yates.

The hearing was part of the committee’s investigation into Russia’s interference in the 2016 presidential election, including whether the Trump campaign colluded with Russian operatives. And it was assured to have some big reveals of information.

Nunes is a lapdog in a watchdog role, and has emerged as one of Trump's most tenacious allies. He cannot be trusted to lead an impartial investigation. Representative Adam Schiff ( D-CA), ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, has asked all of us to call all the members of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and demand the public hearing that Nunes canceled.

One man should not hold the key to the truth, and you have to ask what is Nunes afraid might be exposed when it all comes out?

What you can do

1. CALL the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
Majority (Republican) Main Office 202-225-4121
Minority (Democrat) Main Office 202-225-7690

2. CALL all the members of the committee whether they represent you or not. When you call a Rep who is not your own, say "I'm not from the district, but I'm calling Rep____in his/her capacity as a House Intel member"
Devin Nunes (R-CA) Chair 202-225-2523
Terri Sewell (D-AL) 202-225-2665
Eric Crawford ( R-AK) 202-225-4076
Adam Schiff (D-CA) 202- 225-4176
Jackie Speier (D-CA) 202-225-3531
Eric Swalwell (D-CA) 202-225-5065
Jim Himes (D-CT) 202-225-5541
Thomas Rooney (R-FL) 202-225-5792
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) 202-225-3931
Mike Quigley (D-IL) 202-225-4061
André Carson (D-IN) 202-225-4011
Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ) 202-225-6572
Peter King (R-NY) 202-225-7896
Elise Stefanik (R-NY) 202-225-4611
Michael Turner (R-OH) 202-225-6465
Brad Wenstrup (R-OH) 202-225-3164
Trey Gowdy (R-SC) 202-225-6030
Joaquin Castro (D-TX) 202-225-3236
Mike Conaway (R-TX) 202-225-3605
Will Hurd (R-TX) 202-225-4511
Chris Stewart (R-UT) 202-225-9730
Denny Heck (D-WA) 202-225-9740

USE THIS SCRIPT (feel free to ad-lib, of course)

I am calling Rep _ to demand that the public hearing with Brennan, Clapper, and Yates, be rescheduled immediately. I may not be from your district, but I am a vocal member of the American constituency that Congressperson represents in his/her capacity as a House Intel member. And as such, we demand to hear any and all information about the Trump campaign and it's possible collusion with Russia.

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Regional Tuesdays: Include Your Voice!

As Indivisible & Michael Moore have pointed out, local actions are our best course to affect change nationally. While our team is mainly NY based, we want to include your voices, states & regions in our Tuesday Local Actions. (THANK YOU to all who shared this week's regional actions with us!)

1. INCLUDE YOUR VOICE. Please help us by submitting your local actions each week by Monday at 1pm EST.

2. TELL US HOW YOU WANT TO RECEIVE THIS. Answer our 1 question survey on whether you'd prefer to skip local actions if they don't affect you, or receive a breakdown so you can share with friends in those places.

What you can do

GEORGIA ACTION

Let's Win Back The House Starting with Georgia's Special Election!
The April 18th special election in Georgia's 6th congressional district is the Democrats first best chance to taking back the House! Democratic candidate Jon Ossoff is ahead in the polls and needs your help to ensure a win.

JOIN Swing Left's GA-06 team to get working on the ground and help swing the House to the left starting with this election.

DONATE OR VOLUNTEER directly with Jon Ossoff.

OREGON ACTION

Urge State Lawmakers to Enact Corporate Tax Reform
Oregon is currently facing a $1.8 billion deficit. At the same time, corporations in Oregon pay one of the lowest tax rates in the country. There was a ballot initiative in November that would have changed that and ensured adequate state funding, but not surprisingly, it was heavily opposed by corporations and lobbyists. It is now the Oregon state legislature's turn to fix this problem. They are currently working with the business community on a bill, but it is not big or bold enough. Corporations are still calling the shots and Oregonians will suffer the burden. Oregon cannot be a progressive state and stand up to the Trumpublican agenda with adequate funding - this budget gap affects everything we do here.

WRITE/CALL the Oregon House Committee on Revenue and your individual Oregon House & Senate representatives and put pressure on them to enact meaningful corporate tax reform.

LEARN MORE & TAKE ACTION with A Better Oregon, Oregon Education Association or your local Indivisible chapters.

2 NEW YORK ACTIONS

1. Call Today To Demand These Measures Be Included In This Year's Budget
The budget is the most likely place that these important progressive measures will be passed. A little birdy told me today is the last/best day to call to demand:

• Updated Election Reform Measures: Early Voting, Automatic Voter Registration & Same Day Registration will help fix NY's abysmal voting participation rate.
• Raise the Age: NY is one of only three states that charges 16 and 17 year olds as adults. We need to raise the age of criminal responsibility from 16 to 18.
Governor Cuomo: 518-474-8390 (press 2, provide your zip code)
Speaker of the Assembly Carl Heastie: 718-654-6539 or 518-455-4812
Majority Leader Joseph Morelle: 585-467-0410 or 518-455-5373

TAKE ACTION with Common Cause, Citizen Action or a local Indivisible chapter.

2. In NYC & over 14? Vote on Participatory Budgeting and choose how to spend discretionary spending in your district!

OUR FINAL 3 NYC EVENTS
Thank you to everyone who participated in our "residency" at Hunter College, we've learned so much & met amazing people. Please join us at our final events:

Today 3/28 | 7-9pm | RSVP
Speak Up! Communications training for citizen-activists
Whether you're calling your reps, speaking at a community board meeting, running for office or just need to vent political frustrations, this hands-on workshop will help you speak with conviction & confidence.

Thursday 3/30 | 7-9pm | RSVP
Standing Rock: Turning Stones
A conversation with Northern Cheyenne Elder Raymond L Kingfisher, activist and journalist August White, and artist and photographer Pete Deevakul - three perspectives on the first chapter of Standing Rock into to the next.

Friday 3/31 | 7-9pm | RSVP
Mirror / Echo / Tilt
Performances created by three artists (Melanie Crean, Sable E. Smith, Shaun Leonardo) in collaboration with people who are court-involved, formerly incarcerated, or otherwise affected by the criminal justice system.

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Join the Task Force for Georgia's Special Election

Early voting started yesterday in Georgia's special election to replace Secretary of Health and Human Services Tom Price's seat in the House of Representatives. While one more Democratic Representative won't be enough to tip the balance, one less Republican in the house can make a difference in this time of intra-party feuding.

The vote is April 18. The time to get out the vote is now.

What you can do

1. HELP get out the Democratic vote by signing up for the 6th District Task Force here. They'll be leading call banking for the next two weeks, which you can join while reclining upon your couch/beanbag/oversized house pet of choice.

2. VOTE early if you live in Georgia, and ask your friends to do the same. Find your polling place here.

3. DONATE a few bucks to Democratic candidate Jon Ossoff.

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Thanks to You, Facebook Will Now Announce Local Elections!

We are thrilled to announce that a petition we initiated and partnered with Flippable to sponsor has resulted in real change!

Do you remember back in November, when we asked you to sign this petition asking Facebook to implement election day reminders for all local and state elections? They already had voting reminders for the presidential election, and we asked them to step up their role in increasing civic engagement on their platform with this next step.

This past Monday, Facebook announced that they would implement this change as part of a "Town Hall" feature meant to facilitate users' engagement in their local politics!

We want to point out that a simple idea that starts with a few people, can blossom into a petition supported by 10,000 people, and ultimately create the change we want to see. Facebook listened! And just in time for the special election in Georgia!

What you can do

1. CELEBRATE your grassroots activism and tireless vigilance. We know it's hard, but it is working in ways it never has before. Thank you for all your work and support.

2. PETITIONS - We've all been signing them non-stop since the election, and it's hard to know when they're effective and when they're not. If you're thinking of starting one, read this good explainer for how and when they work. Here are some things petitions can do other than their primary ask:
They can send a signal of public opinion to a decision maker.
They tell the media there is enough public attention to do a story.
They build a list of people who are interested in an issue.
They can spur additional action and raise money.

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No Russia Probe, No SCOTUS Robe

Tell the Senate we want a delay on the vote on Neil Gorsuch until we have full public knowledge of Russia's involvement with the administration.

After refusing to grant Merrick Garland a hearing after Justice Scalia’s death and leaving the seat open for an entire year, Republicans are trying to rush ultra-conservative Neil Gorsuch’s confirmation through the Senate while the gigantic question of Russian collusion looms over the administration.

As of this writing, two Democratic Senators--Joe Manchin and Heidi Heitkamp--have announced they will vote for Gorsuch's nomination.

We need to know what happened with Russia before granting this lifetime appointment!

What you can do

1. AMPLIFY YOUR VOICE using this amazing spreadsheet tailored to your available amount of time (1, 2, 5 minutes and more) It gives you scripts and contact info to tweet, Facebook message, call, or visit the 33 targeted Senators to tell them your thoughts on Gorsuch.

2. YOUR SENATOR'S NOT ON THE LIST? Give your senator a call too and tell them "No Russia Probe, No Scotus Robe". And make sure to share this action with friends in these states: AK, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, HI, IL, IN, MD, ME, MI, MO, MT, NC, ND, NH, NV, PA, NJ, OH, SC, TN, VA, VT, WA, WV.

3. JOIN a People's Filibuster Rally Tomorrow, 4/1: There are a dozen currently scheduled around the country, find one near you here, or start one of your own.

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Change the Nominee, Not the Rule

Here's where things stand with Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch, whose Committee vote is today and Senate vote is this week,: we need 5 of 8 undecided Democratic Senators to declare their intention to filibuster the ultra conservative judge. Our job is laid our for us:

Convince all Democrats to join the filibuster against Gorsuch.
Convince mainstream Republicans to NOT invoke the nuclear option.

Why would this be so bad? The nuclear option would abolish the filibuster, eliminating the checks & balances of the minority party. We already saw where that got us with Trump's cabinet confirmations & federal judges.

Giving one party complete power is NOT the way a democracy should work.

What you can do

1. (2 minutes) Tweet mainstream Republican Senators to tell them to not invoke the nuclear option this week. Be polite. Here are some to start with: @SenJohnMcCain, @SenatorCollins, @LindseyGrahamSC

2. (5 minutes) Contact your senator, no matter where they stand, and share your thoughts on Gorsuch (no), the filibuster (yes), and the nuclear option (no). Use this tool, or see below for more info.

3. (1 hour) Join MoveOn Resist Trump Tuesday at your Senators' office tomorrow to show support in person for Dems blocking Gorsuch's confirmation, and to pressure Republican Senators not to invoke the nuclear option. Even if you live in a "liberal" state, your protests are seen by people around the country.

SCRIPTS FOR EVERYONE CONTACTING YOUR SENATOR
Find out how yours is voting & why
(202) 224-3121

Democratic Senators supporting the filibuster
"Thank you for standing strong against Gorsuch. I support you in the filibuster."

Democrats voting against Gorsuch but unclear about a filibuster:
Leahy (VT), Cardin (MD)
Democrats & Independents unclear about both Gorsuch and the filibuster:
Feinstein (CA), Bennet (CO), Coons (DE), King (ME), Menendez (NJ), Warner (VA), Tester (MT)
Democrats voting for Gorsuch and against the filibuster:
Donnelly (IN), Heitkamp (ND), Manchin (WV)
"Never before in our country's history has a President filled a Supreme Court seat while under FBI investigation. Moreover, Gorsuch is ultra conservative, consistently sides with corporations over citizens, and won't hold Trump accountable when his policies inevitably end up in the Supreme Court. I demand that you not only vote against him, but also join the filibuster. Your re-election is coming up and we'll remember that you're a traitor to your party & constituents. "

Republicans
"If Gorsuch cannot clear 60 votes, like the majority of other nominess in history, you need to change nominee, not the rules. The Republicans will be in the minority again, please don't change 230 years of Senate precedent and lose the power of filibuster to employ checks and balances in the future."

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Local Tuesdays: CA, DC, GA, NY, WI

After considering reader feedback and our own current capacities, our Local Tuesday emails will go out nationally with a briefing of all actions in one email. We'll list the relevant states in the subject line so you can opt out of reading those not pertinent to you, or else keep up with these important stepping stones to national change even if they don't apply to your state; please send them to friends in affected states!

Help us build these weekly emails by submitting your local actions weekly by Mon 5pm EST.
THANK YOU to all who shared this week's regional actions with us!
Please note that we are passing on your messages, and do not endorse issues or candidates.

What you can do

ALL STATES

As we work to block Trump's agenda in congress, his agenda is already being implemented in many states. Find out where your state stands on different issues at www.ourstates.org, and how you can take action - you might be surprised!

CALIFORNIA ACTION

VOTE TODAY, Tuesday April 4th in a Special Congressional Election in California's 34th district.

WHY SHOULD YOU VOTE? Special elections often have low voter turnout, so this is an opportunity to vote for a strong progressive voice in a predominantly blue district, which Bernie Sanders won during the presidential primary.

FIND your local polling place (central, east and northeast LA). This is the most populated and diverse district in the city. Does this includes your neighborhood.

READ about the 23 candidates here and here.

LEARN why 2HAW members are supporting Arturo Carmona, the leading progressive Democrat. Read a statement from our members here.

2 DC ACTIONS

1. #NoRussiaProbeNoScotusRobe Rally, Thursday, April 6.

2. FIND OUR GIRLS. Because of grassroots activism, the media has finally begun to notice all of the girls of color who have been disappeared in what is likely child sex trafficking. It's not only in DC though, and it's not new. Here's more info to become informed and a list of organizations you can support.

GEORGIA ACTION

VOTE EARLY until April 14.

JOIN OUR FRIENDS CANVASSING IN GA. The most important thing for a special election is turnout, turnout, turnout. Our friends at Creative Resistance are arranging for housing for volunteers, you can help by joining the canvassing team, donating money for flights and car rentals, or donating your frequent flier miles.

JOIN Swing Left's GA-06 team to get working on the ground and help swing the House to the left starting with this election.

DONATE OR VOLUNTEER directly with Jon Ossoff.

3 NEW YORK ACTIONS

1. SUPPORT RAISE THE AGE
The NY State budget still hasn't been passed, and we heard that Raise the Age is on the chopping block. NY is one of only 2 states that charges 16 & 17 year olds as adults. We need to raise the age of criminal responsibility to 18.

CALL
Governor Cuomo: 518-474-8390 (press 2, provide your zip code)
Speaker of the Assembly Carl Heastie: 718-654-6539 or 518-455-4812
Majority Leader Joseph Morelle: 585-467-0410 or 518-455-5373

2. SINGLE PAYER HEALTH CARE IN NY IS POSSIBLE!
NY State is now only ONE vote from passing it! We're already among the most progressive in health coverage. If we prove it works here, we can start knocking down the dominos toward single payer nationally.

CALL your State Senator. Ask their stance & push them to support single payer.

CALL Simcha Felder at (718) 253-2015 or (518) 455-2754, he's a Democrat who caucuses with the Republicans. Tell him to "Spread Simcha [sim-kah] (joy) with Single Payer Health Care" and remind him that "Tikkun Olam [Tick-koon Oh-lahm] also covers healing the sick, and making it easier for people to be healed falls directly under the core values and teachings of both Jewish religion and culture."

JOIN A STRATEGY MEETING with the Brooklyn Jewish Resistance to swing Simcha Felder. Sun, April 9th, 10am-noon.

JOIN the Campaign for NY Health. Upcoming events include actions today & 4/24

3. SUPPORT THE NY REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH ACT
It’s been 47 years since NY updated its abortion law. If Roe v Wade is overturned, we won't be safe. Rally + Rise created an easy phone call campaign to reach out to one legislator a day to urge them to support the NY Reproductive Health Act.

WISCONSIN ACTION

VOTE YES TODAY, April 4th, to amend the Constitution and clarify that money is not the same as free speech and that only real people should have inalienable rights. With your vote, these communities will join with 97 others...

Racine [Racine] - Town of Caledonia [Waupaca] - Monona [Dane]
Town of Blue Mounds [Dane] - Town of Crystal Lake [Marquette]
Town of Jordan [Green] - Town of Neshkoro [Marquette]
Village of Blue Mounds [Dane] - Village of Fox Crossing [Winnebago]

SUPPORT & JOIN Wisconsin United to Amend & read their action plan.

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Nuclear is Not an Option

No one is blameless in this game of changing the rules. The biggest difference this time around is that the person doing the nominating is a proven liar with no particular allegiance to facts, withzero policy experience, who may well be in collusion with our country's stated enemy. Harry Reid had years of obstruction before invoking the nuclear option; Mitch McConnell is pulling that trigger as soon as possible in this administration.

What you can do

1. (10 minutes) Tweet all Republican Senators: Say this #NoNukes, put your country before your party and don't destroy the Senate.
You can find a full list of Republican twitter handles here.

2. (15 minutes) Call your Senator if they are Republican (844-6-RESIST) 844-673-7478. Tell them you oppose the nuclear option. You can use the script below.

USE THIS SCRIPT (feel free to ad-lib, of course)

Republicans should look to the long term, put country before party, and refuse to invoke the nuclear option because it will not only destroy the Senate's historic comity, but also indelibly stain the Supreme Court.

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The Slippery Slope of Eliminating Filibusters

We should be very scared at what's happening in Congress right now. Here's why we're particularly worried about the Senate "going nuclear" apart from the prospect of Neil Gorsuch as a Supreme Court Judge: while Mitch McConnell said he would not consider taking down thelegislative filibuster next, these are crazy times, and nothing is off the table. We also have a president who loves the idea of unchecked power, and who seems open to bullying members of his administration to get what he wants.

Even conservatives recognize the real danger to our democracy that is posed by the removal of the brakes given to the minority party. Partisanship and extremism would be amplified. Let's not let this cornerstone of democracy be eroded.

What you can do

1. (10 minutes) TWEETSTORM TODAY Tweet those Republican Senators at these accounts. Tell them: Don't throw away our democracy: don't Nuke the Filibuster! Country before Party!

2. (10 minutes) CALL Your Republican Senators (844-6-RESIST) 844-673-7478. Tell them you oppose the nuclear option. You can use the script below.

3. (20 minutes) MEDIA STORM Got a little more time? Don't have Twitter but do have Facebook? Use this amazing toolkit of phrases and media to send the message on multiple fronts to Republican Senators that you oppose the nuclear option.

USE THIS SCRIPT (feel free to ad-lib, of course)

The long tradition of the 60 vote standard is important for preserving some semblance of bi-partisanship. If Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) does not have the 60 votes to confirm Judge Neil Gorsuch’s nomination to the Supreme Court, the nominee should be changed rather than the rule.

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Read Closer, Look Deeper

This is a reactive time with news on many fronts. Here is our challenge: to read between the lines, to think critically, and at the same time to see the bigger picture.
Thursday night the US carried out a missile strike against Syria in response to the Syrian governments chemical weapons attack. Decisive response or military theatre, consequential action or distraction from US domestic conflicts and the Russia investigation? Hone your critical reading skills and watch closely how the story will skew over the next 36 hours.

Here are a few things to know:

In 2013, Trump's message to Obama was "to stay out of Syria" and warned of the immense monetary cost of such a maneuver.
Trump's first budget proposed to increase military spending by $54 billion and cut nonmilitary programs by the same amount.
In Thursday night's attack, the US launched 59 tomahawk missiles with each costing about $850,000 a piece, meaning cost of missiles alone was at least $50 million.
The Pentagon warned Russia ahead of the attacks knowing when they did that that Russian authorities may well have alerted the Assad regime.
Russian assets stationed at al-Shayrat since at least late 2015, were reportedly avoided in the strike.
Before the strike, the planned meeting between Secretary of State Tillerson and Putin had been expected to be dominated by the investigation into Russia’s cyberattacks and the interference in the presidential election on Mr. Trump’s behalf.
Several lawmakers from both sides of the aisle, have called on Trump to seek congressional authorization for military action against the regime of Syrian leader Bashar Assad.
We will be back soon with further action. In the meantime, keep your eye on the ball.

What you can do

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Recess is Here: Time to Play!

Congressional recess is here! Do you know where your representative is?

Find 'em, hug 'em, squeeze 'em, and claim them for your very own!

April 10-21 is what's known as "State Work Period" which means your Representatives and Senators are supposed to be in their home states. This is an important period for speaking your mind: town halls have been known to change the course of major legislation.

What you can do

1. Use this toolkit to tell 'em what you think online or by phone All you need to know about what questions to ask in person at a town hall (see Action 2) or what to say on Facebook, including click-to-tweet graphics, is here.

2. Find your Representative at a Town Hall Use this guide by zip code to locate their next appearance. Show up (sometimes RSVP is required) and use the guidelines in the above-mentioned toolkit to ask questions.

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You Can Help Flip the House Today! Local Tuesdays: CA, GA, KS, MT, NY, SC

Because cabinet appointments left some Republican seats open, Democrats have the chance to flip 5 House seats - CA, GA, KS, MT & SC. We're beginning to see that these races are closer than previously assumed, and with enough turnout and education Dems can begin to take back the House. Find out the chances in each of these States here and here.

Help us build these weekly emails by submitting your local actions weekly by Mon 5pm EST.
THANK YOU to all who shared this week's regional actions with us!
Please note that we are passing on your messages, and do not endorse issues or candidates.

What you can do

CALIFORNIA ACTION

As we saw in last Tuesday's LA special election, we're sadly still not showing up for elections in the numbers we should be. What can we do about it? Engage with our communities. Start with friends, family, neighbors. Register voters and get out and remind people to vote even in local elections.

REGISTER BLUE is a CA based group offering voter registration trainings, so that each of us can become mobile registration drives. Sign up for a training or host your own with their help.

And don't forget to get out and vote with all of your friends on June 6!

GEORGIA ACTION

The Special Election is next week! (And early voting ends on Friday). Read our past actions to find out how you can canvass, phone bank, donate, or support our friends going to GA and help elect Jon Ossoff.

MONTANA ACTION

Read about this "Special Election Nobody Is Following [that] Could Deal A Huge Blow To Trump".

If you're in Montana, send us actions we can share next week!

NEW YORK ACTION

With the hard work of citizen activists like you, we passed Raise the Age! Find out how your rep voted on that, and ask them about single payer health care in NY, the NY Reproductive Health Act, and increasing voting access. Your reps are home until April 20, visit them in the office or attend a town hall!

We are spearheading a collaboration between grassroots and established organizations to work together on NY Voting Rights & Access - if your group wants to be involved please email us, and if you as a group or a private citizen want to organize a representative visit or town hall to raise this issue, we'd be happy to provide talking points & press contacts.

SOUTH CAROLINA ACTION

This special election is skewing Republican so far, but as these elections approach they seem to be surprising everyone by looking like possible flips by the Democrats. So let's keep an eye on this one and see how we can help.

If you're in South Carolina, send us actions we can share next week!

ALL STATES

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Less Mulder, More Scully

For those not acquainted with the X-Files, today's email title simply means: exercise a healthy dose of skepticism. Especially when it comes to mainstream media and how they report and frame current events.

Last week's US strike on Syria elicited so many laudatory responses from major news outlets on the right and the left, that only the political satirists seemed to report on it with a clear head. As a recent video pointed out, satirists are much better equipped to cover this administration, because they have a very low tolerance for misinformation and deceit aka the b.s. Meanwhile major news outlets and traditional journalists feel obliged to take the administration's oft absurd statements and whims seriously.

While Thursday's strikes were glorified in mainstream media, it's a good time to ask: what did the strikes actually achieve? Did they change anything on the ground?

The answer is adecisive "No" but you won't find these answers on mainstream news coverage. Time to look elsewhere for critical news reporting and time to ask our representatives and senators about where they stand on military engagement, not just in Syria but everywhere that Trump has threatened over twitter. We do not want more war, and we will not praise any such actions towards it because as one acute satirist says, "we have a president who feeds off praise, and he just got a lot of it for bombing someone, and that should make everyone very, very worried."

What you can do

1. CALL your members of congress and senators now.
(844-6-RESIST) 844-673-7478
Tell them you are against further engagement in Syria and other countries that Trump has threatened. Congress must force consideration of an Authorization for Use of Military Force, and members of Congress should vote "no" and halt Trump's march toward war.

USE THIS SCRIPT ( we borrowed from MoveOn - feel free to ad-lib, of course)

Hi Rep/Sen. __
Let's be clear: There's no doubt that Bashar Assad is a brutal dictator who has slaughtered his own people and is complicit in the use of chemical weapons. But this is no humanitarian mission. These are missiles ordered by a flailing president with plummeting approval ratings, trying to show how "tough" he can be. The result will likely be increased suffering for the Syrian people. And this unilateral U.S. attack could possibly even draw in Russia and Iran, which have been close partners of the Assad regime. The U.S. cannot bomb its way to peace. Say no to further engagement in Syria, and other countries Trump has threatened and halt Trump's march towards war.

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Don't Forget About Russia: The New Nunes

Between Syria, the budget, and rumblings of Bannon being on the outs, it's easy to forget about the hanging thread that could very well take down the Trump regime: Russia.

Last week, when Devin Nunes recused himself from leading the House Intelligence Committee's investigation into Trump's dealings with Russia, many members of the resistance were quick to cheer. Don't celebrate too soon and don't get comfortable. A known skeptic of Russian cyberattacks, Texas Republican Representative Mike Conaway, has replaced Republican Representative Devin Nunes as the lead on the House Intelligence Committees investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 Presidential elections.

While Democratic and fellow committee member, Rep. Adam Schiff sees Conaway taking over the helm as a "fresh opportunity" there isn't much reason to believe Conaway will be any less biased than Nunes. Conaway compared Putin's opinions of Trump and Clinton to a college football rivalry during the FBI Russia Hearing and also compared potential Russian interference to Mexican celebrities helping Clinton GOTV. This kind of cavalier attitude toward a clear attempt by a foreign enemy to undermine our democracy makes it clear that a thorough and rigorous investigation it is not.

What you can do

1. CALL your Representatives and tell them that we need an independent investigator to ensure a thorough, rigorous, and non-partisan investigation.
Find your Representative here.
Call the switchboard and asked to be transferred to your Representative. (202) 224-3121.

USE THIS SCRIPT (feel free to ad-lib, of course)

My name is __ and I'm with the group 2 Hours a Week. I'm calling to ask that Representative support an independent investigation into allegations of Russian hacking, undue Russian influence on the 2016 elections and possible collusion. Representative Conaway has shown himself to be biased and he cannot be trusted to lead a thorough, rigorous, non-partisan investigation.

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Join the Tax March Tomorrow: One Tax Return from 12 Years Ago is Not Enough

DJT is wrong, yet again (it's almost getting monotonous): Most people, including Republicans, think he should release his taxes. What's he hiding?

This Saturday, April 15, thousands and thousands of people are expected to show up in 140 cities across the country for a Tax March to draw attention to the following:

DJT should release the last decade of his taxes. Why should we pay federal taxes if our president hasn't?
What does the president have to hide? Who has been paying him over the years? The last president to put up so much resistance to releasing his returns was Nixon. Hmmm...
How on earth did we end up in a situation where someone as rich as DJT can evade federal taxes?

2 Hours A Week is very proud to co-sponsor Tax March NYC.

What you can do

(30 seconds) FOLLOW @TaxMarch on Twitter.
(2 minutes) CLICK TO TWEET the phrases below the break.
(1-2 hours) ATTEND A TAX MARCH. Locate the nearest one by scrolling down on this page.
CLICK TO TWEET (feel free to edit, of course)

CLICK TO TWEET: NEWS FLASH @realDonaldTrump: People care about your tax returns! That's why thousands have joined the #TaxMarch. taxmarch.org

CLICK TO TWEET: Every president since Nixon has released their tax returns. Join the #TaxMarch to demand transparency from @POTUS: taxmarch.org

CLICK TO TWEET: Russia? Business conflicts? Releasing his tax returns would answer a lot. What’s @POTUS hiding from? taxmarch.org #TaxMarch

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Keep the Tax Heat On

More than 100,000 of you came out in 200 marches around the country to demand President Trump's tax returns and a fairer tax system.

The fight is just beginning. 45’s next priority is a tax cut for millionaires, billionaires & corporations -- on the backs of working Americans.

Let's turn our energy into action. We partnered with Tax March NYC to create 4 actions you can take to keep supporting transparency and fairness.

What you can do

FOUR ACTIONS YOU CAN TAKE TODAY

1. Us Congress Needs To Examine Donald Trump’s Tax Returns
Call your Congress member using www.cluckyourrep.com or 202-224-3121 and tell them: NO EXCUSES, EXAMINE TRUMP’S TAX RETURNS! No Tax reform until all of the president’s tax returns are public. We must know his conflicts of interest, and how he’ll personally benefit from tax code changes.

2. Your State Must Require Tax Returns To Run For Office
Call your State Senator and tell them: NO ONE GETS ON THE PRIMARY BALLOT WITHOUT TRANSPARENCY so no future president can get away with hiding their conflicts of interest, and no candidate can get on the 2020 ballot without releasing their tax returns. More than half of states have already introduced this bill - has yours?

3. Your City Taxpayers Shouldn’t Pay For Trump Tower
Do you have Trump property in your city? Contact your mayor and demand: GET OUR COPS OUT! Local police are wasting millions in taxpayer-funded overtime Protecting Trump’s property. That’s the job of the Secret Service and Trump’s own security. (In NYC? Tweet @NYCMayorsOffice and call 311).

4. Sign The Tax March Petition And Say That You’ll Continue Standing Up For Transparency And Fairness.

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Local Tuesdays: CA, GA, MT, NY, SC, VA & YOU

Help us build these Local Tuesday emails by submitting your local actions weekly by Mon 5pm EST.

What you can do

GEORGIA SPECIAL ELECTION TODAY!

Turnout means the difference between a win and a loss for Democrat Jon Ossoff.

If you live in the 6th, don't forget to VOTE! Bring your friends, bring your elderly neighbors. If you live nearby consider driving over and helping get out the vote.

If you're already registered to volunteer (or have an event in your town), or have friends there, please spend an hour today phone banking. All hands on deck!

CALIFORNIA ACTION

LA activists have successfully pushed for a motion to divest from the DAPL Pipeline. Now they need your help for the critical next step! Pack the LA General Council meeting tomorrow to demand a vote this week! It's time to #DivestLA!

1. ATTEND the City Council Meeting *bring a sign!
Wednesday, April 19, 10am
200 North Spring Street, LA, CA
Meeting at Room 340, John Ferraro Council Chamber

2. CALL city council - find phone numbers here
Hi I’m a CA resident and voter. I’m calling in support of the motion for LA to divest from Wells Fargo Bank. The motion must be on the agenda this week. Thanks.

NEW YORK ACTION

1. SUPPORT NY VOTING RIGHTS. We're spearheading a collaboration between grassroots and established organizations to work together on NY Voting Rights & Access - and we're looking for creative minds to join us at a hackathon this Sunday, April 23, or volunteer afterward. Sign up here.

2. MEET YOUR STATE REP THIS WEEK, they're home until April 20, visit them in the office or attend a town hall and demand support for single payer health care in NY, the NY Reproductive Health Act, and increasing voting access!

3. PAY YOUR FAIR SHARE RALLY. Did you miss the Tax March or want to keep it up? Join us today, Tax Day, to rally against tax-dodging Goldman Sachs.

Rally: Pay Your Fair Share, Goldman Sachs!
TODAY, Tuesday, April 18, 6pm-8pm
Goldman Sachs Headquarters, 200 West St., NY, NY
Click here to RSVP on Facebook and for more details.

We know Trump and GS pay less tax than regular working people, immigrants, women, and people of color who struggle to make ends meet. Let’s come together and demand that Government Sachs stops looting America!

MONTANA ACTION

Because cabinet appointments left this Republican seat open, Democrats have the chance to flip it. These races are closer than previously assumed, and with enough turnout, Dems can begin to take back the House. Read about this "Special Election Nobody Is Following [that] Could Deal A Huge Blow To Trump".

If you're in Montana, send us actions we can share next week!

SOUTH CAROLINA ACTION

If you're in South Carolina, send us actions we can share next week!

VIRGINIA ACTION

Virginia’s 2017 elections give us our first big opportunity to reshape American politics. This is our chance to support a progressive movement in Virginia—and set the stage for fair, progressive policies across the country.

Join the Flippable #flipVAblue campaign to elect Democrats to Virginia’s House of Delegates. They’ve analyzed the data and prioritized a set of districts to focus on over the next several months. Together, we can flip these districts.

ALL STATES : RECESS TOWN HALLS

Just like nationally, many states are now in a recess period, meaning your State Senators and Assembly Reps, as well as your Senators and Congressional Reps, are home in your district now and you can visit them in person.

1. FIND A TOWN HALL near you.
2. VISIT YOUR REP in their local office.

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No Tax Returns, No Tax Reform

Well well well, another domestic policy under this administration withering on the vine. You have yourselves to thank for this development, and we thank you for it too.

While Press Secretary Sean Spicer yet again sputtered vagaries about DJT's taxes, incorrectly citing audits as reasoning for his refusal to release recent returns, Democrats and the American public are drawing lines in the sand and throwing barriers up when it comes to the proposed tax overhaul. Now an increasing number of Republican lawmakers are joining in the call for DJT's tax releases.

And with good reason. Why should the American public feel good about tax reform coming from someone who considers himself above the tax law and whose big business agenda has been made clear?

Your actions are working. Our representatives are listening.

What you can do

1. UNDERSTAND THE PROPOSED TAX REFORM The NYT has some bulletpoints here, and the Resistance Manual's more in depth highlights are here.

2. SPEAK OUT ABOUT TAX CUTS FOR THE RICH Call your Senator and US Representative by dialing 844-6-RESIST; tell them to vote against proposed actions that cut taxes for the highest earners

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The EAC - Needed Now More Than Ever!

Trump and the GOP are implementing voter suppression tactics at a federal level with a bill to eliminate the Election Assistance Commission (EAC). The EAC is an independent agency that was established in the aftermath of the 2000 Presidential election to ensure overall election integrity which we need now more than ever!

This agency helps state and local governments secure their electronic voting systems from cyberattacks, standardize and approve ballot language and design, and approve new voting machines and software. At a time of real concern over the hacking of our elections, we should be strengthening agencies like the EAC, not cutting them out.

Don't let House Republicans continue to push out anti-democratic and anti-oversight measures such as this, call them out now.

What you can do

1. CALL your Representative and ask that they publicly oppose HR 634 the Election Assistance Termination Act.
Dial 1-844-673-7478 And follow the prompt

2. CALL Representative Greg Harper of Mississippi, who has led the charge to end the EAC.
(202) 225-5031
(601) 823-3400

USE THIS SCRIPT (feel free to ad-lib, of course)
Hi my name is __and I'm with the group Two Hours a Week. I'm calling to ask that Representative_____ publicly oppose and vote against HR 634, the Election Assistance Termination Act.
The bill is a clear attempt at voter suppression and comes at a time when we need the EAC the most. The presidential election in our country was dangerously compromised and getting rid of the EAc now will undermine the future integrity of our election process, and our democracy as a whole.

If Calling Rep. Harper, just us the 2nd paragraph.

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March for Science, March for Facts

Why are people marching in April 22nd's March for Science? (that's tomorrow, by the way).

Here are a few reasons:

Mike Pence doesn't believe in evolution. Yup.
Fact-based research leads us to a greater understanding of our world, the way it works, and the effect we have upon it. This administration doesn't care for facts.

The words climate change have been removed from the White House website.

Research science is diverse because diversity in background promotes diversity in thinking. A stand needs to be taken against this administration's anti-immigrant, anti-diversity policy that will, among many other things, cripple the research capacity of our country and alienate us from important international collaboration to address the great global problems our age faces.

The list goes on. Join us tomorrow.

What you can do

1. FIND AND ATTEND YOUR MARCH by searching for a location here.

2. TWEET REPUBLICANS WHO HAVE CREATED THE REPUBLICAN CLIMATE RESOLUTION to thank and encourage them to stand on the side of science. Positive reinforcement is important and we need more moderates. Find the Twitter handles of the listed Reps here.

3. KEEP TRACK OF THIS ADMINISTRATION'S EFFECTS ON THE ENVIRONMENT. Here is a good lineup. Consider donating to a research institution or an independent journal that promotes fact-based research.

4. CELEBRATE SCIENCE with your leftover Easter candy and your microwave by finding the speed of light with Peeps.

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"Like a tree that stands by the water, we shall not be moved"

Our right to join with fellow citizens in protest or peaceful assembly is critical to a functioning democracy and at the core of the First Amendment.

We know this to be an undeniable truth, but the recent rise in public dissent and resistance has been met with a rise in legislative attempts to criminalize protest. Eighteen states and counting have introduced bills to either criminalize or impose stiff penalties on protestors. These range from the outrageous North Dakota House Bill No. 1203 that would allow motorists to legally run over and kill a protestor to the Washington state bill that seeks to reclassify protests as "economic terrorism," prosecutable as a felony.

Make no mistake, these bills are in direct response to NoDAPL and Black Lives Matters protests of the past couple of years, as well as a rise in large-scale protests resisting the Trump administration. And they are deeply troubling violations of the First Amendment.

What you can do

1. FIND out if your state has a bill proposed to penalize and criminalize protest. See if your state is listed below and learn about the proposed legislation. If your state is not below, go here to track your state's current and proposed legislation.

Arizona - SB 1142
North Dakota - HB 1203
Minnesota - HF 322
Florida - SB 1096
Georgia - SB 160
Iowa - SF 111
Michigan - HB 4643 and 4630
Washington - SB 5009
Indiana - SB 285
Colorado - SB17-035
Virginia - SB 1055
Missouri - HB 179
North Carolina - Not Yet Filed
Mississippi - SB 2730
Oklahoma - HB 1123
Oregon - SB 540
South Dakota - SB 176
Tennessee - HB 668

2. CALL, CALL CALL the Rep or Senator who sponsored the above bill in your state and let them know you are against legislation that violates our first amendment rights. Call your own Rep and Senator as well, if not the ones who sponsored it. SB stands for Senate Bill and HB for House Bill.

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Local Tuesdays: GA, MT, NY, SC & VA

Help us build these Local Tuesday emails by submitting your local actions weekly by Mon 5pm EST.

What you can do

GEORGIA ACTION

Democrat Jon Ossoff nearly pulled an upset, coming in first in a very red district. Now he advances to the runoff, where the vote will be tighter. Again, turnout will make the difference. Continue to support, donate, phone bank, and volunteering for him, turnout will make the difference!

MONTANA ACTION

If you're in Montana, send us actions we can share next week!

NEW YORK ACTION

1. SUPPORT NY VOTING RIGHTS. We're spearheading a collaboration between grassroots and established organizations to work together on NY Voting Rights & Access - and we're looking for creative minds to join us at our site build party tonight 7:30-10:30, or volunteer afterward. Sign up here.

2. JOIN A MEETING AT QUEENS SENATOR LEROY COMRIE'S OFFICE and ask him to support voter reform. We have someone experienced who will be attending the meeting. Contact us for further info.
Friday, April 28th at 3:30 PM
District office: 113-43 Farmers Blvd, St. Albans, Queens

3. SUPPORT NY TRANS NON-DISCRIMINATION BILL IN SENATE. S.502 the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act has passed in the assembly and is on it's way to the NY State Senate for a vote. The NY Senate is Republican controlled and has failed to pass this bill every year it's been brought forward. Call your State Senator and tell them you want action now.

Not sure who your State Senator is?

SOUTH CAROLINA ACTION

If you're in South Carolina, send us actions we can share next week!

VIRGINIA ACTION

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Tantrum Tactics: Just Say No

In yet another twist of trying to strong arm things to his liking, DJT is using the United States as a guinea pig for political hostage tactics. At midnight on Friday, April 28, current funding for a variety of federal programs expires, and the Federal Government will shut down unless Congress passes and POTUS signs an appropriations bill. What's that mean exactly?

National Parks and museums will close.
Some government workers will go on furlough though critical services like air traffic control, the US Military and the United States Postal Service will continue to operate.
Other basic services like passport and federal loan offices will be closed.
What's DJT trying to get from all this? He's taking another stab at defunding healthcare, even though the people have already spoken on that one. A wall with Mexico that Americans would pay for (formally the demand has been dropped, but it's expected to make its way back in). He's seeking $54 million in added military spending while cutting funding to the arts, science funding, and the EPA. Make no mistake: all of the above are ways to try to build up his image in the wake of historically low approval ratings and two significant policy fails in his first 100 days.

Tell Democrats to say NO and call his bluff!

What you can do

1. CONTACT your U.S. Representatives and Senators by dialing: 1-844-6-RESIST and following the prompt. Tell them to reject Trumps demands for increased military spending. No ACA subsidy payments, no appropriations bill. No tax returns, no tax reform!

USE THIS SCRIPT (feel free to ad-lib, of course)
My name is _and I'm with the group Two Hours a Week. I'm calling to ask that Representative/Senator ___ to say no to Trump's demand for $30 billion in military funding, and to publicly call Trump out on threatening to hold the the healthcare of millions hostage and use their very lives as leverage in budget negotiations. I would also ask that Representative/Senator to oppose any proposed tax reforms from Trump until he releases his tax returns - to tax returns, no tax reforms. Do not cave to his threats, do not compromise.

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The Climate March This Saturday

This administration is on the wrong side of history in so many ways. Especially on the environment, and this Saturday's Climate March is an excellent chance to show your thoughts on this in a public setting.

Sixteen of the last 17 years have been the hottest years on record, with 2016 topping the charts. We are well past the levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide considered sustainable for continued life on earth. The mass human migrations we are seeing accelerated are exacerbated by the sweeping changes in regional weather and shifting of agricultural resources; these are now the new normal.

The effects of climate change are not up for debate. The current administration is in willful denial because they operate from within the pocket of the powerful fossil fuel industry. Let's send them a message that we won't play the fool to their hyper-capitalization of the precious resource that is our environment.

What you can do

1. FIND A BUS TO DC here.

2. FIND A PLACE TO STAY IN DC here. Find the route for the march here.

3. DONATE to climate change nonprofit 350.org here.

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"The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness."

This week, Trump ordered Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke to review national monuments protected under the Antiquities Act of 1906 for possible resource exploitation (in short, that’s drilling, mining, and logging).

What’s the Antiquities act? Though it may sound like a law that protects old furniture, it is one of our nation's most important conservation tools. And it has been used to safeguard and protect federal lands, sites of cultural and historical importance, and scientific interest. These national monuments are then overseen and cared for by federal agencies.

Though Zinke’s review will be limited to monuments designated since 1996, and those totaling 100,000 acres or more, it sets a startling precedent. In undermining the Antiquities Act, the Trump administration is tearing away the longest-standing piece of legislation protecting our nation’s natural heritage. Monuments protected under this law include the Grand Canyon, Joshua Tree National Park, Acadia National Park, and 154 other breathtaking sites, many of which are sacred and historically significant to Native Americans.

Here is a full list of the 24 monuments that will be under review. There is no legislative process or opportunity for public comment on this decision, but never underestimate the power of public outcry!

What you can do

1. CALL 202-208-3100 TWEET @SecretaryZinke
Ask him to protect our nation’s irreplaceable historic sites for generations to come. It’s senseless to squander our country’s most treasured natural landscapes for the sake of a quick buck.

2. SIGN the National Parks Conservation survey to protect the Antiquities Act.

USE THIS SCRIPT (feel free to ad-lib, of course)

I am calling Secretary Zinke to ask him to stay true to his own saying that "without question, our public lands are America's treasure." Not treasure to be pillaged by gas, oil, and timber industries, but public lands to be enjoyed by all Americans. I understand this review to be a first step by the Trump administration in rollbacks on monuments, and will be carefully following how Secretary Zinke proceeds over the course of the next 4 months.

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ZOMBIE TRUMPCARE IS BACK: All Hands On Deck

We need a tidal wave of phone calls Monday May 1 to drive a stake through the heart of Zombie Trumpcare. Over the past weekend Paul Ryan has targeted moderate Republicans in the House to sway on a renewed repeal effort.

This administration thinks in terms of winning and losing, not in terms of lives and health. They are seeking a legislative win no matter what.

Get back on those phones today, we're going to need every single call.

Your call is especially crucial if you're from one of these states, where moderate Republicans are receiving direct solicitation from Paul Ryan and Mike Pence:

What you can do

1. CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVE, EVEN IF YOU HAVE CALLED THEM IN THE PAST, AND ESPECIALLY IF THEY ARE LISTED BELOW 866-426-2631. Please say your name, and where you live, so they know that you are a constituent. Tell your Representative to oppose passage of the revised Republican health care plan, because it allows states to opt out of ACA insurance requirements for essential health benefits and to charge much higher premiums for people with pre-existing conditions.

Undecided (17)
Rep. Fred Upton (Michigan)
Rep. Mike Bost (Illinois)
Rep. Mike Coffman (Colorado)
Rep. Carlos Curbelo (Florida)
Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (Florida)
Rep. David McKinley (West Virginia)
Rep. Tim Murphy (Pennsylvania)
Rep. Brian Mast (Florida)
Rep. Darrell Issa (California)
Rep. Adam Kinzinger (Illinois)
Rep. Tom Reed (New York)
Rep. Rob Wittman (Virginia)
Rep. Kevin Yoder (Kansas)
Rep. David Valadao (California)
Rep. Erik Paulsen (Minnesota)
Rep. Elise Stefanik (New York)
Rep. Steve King (Iowa)

No (21)
Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler (Washington)
Rep. Barbara Comstock (Virginia)
Rep. Jeff Denham (California)
Rep. Charlie Dent (Pennsylvania)
Rep. Dan Donovan (New York)
Rep. John Katko (New York)
Rep. Leonard Lance (New Jersey)
Rep. Frank LoBiondo (New Jersey)
Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (Florida)
Rep. Tom Massie (Kentucky)
Rep. Andy Biggs (Arizona)
Rep. Michael Turner (Ohio)
Rep. David Young (Iowa)
Rep. Walter Jones (North Carolina)
Rep. Ryan Costello (Pennsylvania)
Rep. Patrick Meehan (Pennsylvania)
Rep. Billy Long (Missouri)
Rep. Mark Amodei (Nevada)
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (Pennsylvania)
Rep. Daniel Webster (Florida)
Rep. Chris Smith (New Jersey)

*This list keeps changing, check the ip to date version here

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Local Tuesdays: NY, VA, ACA (everywhere) & upcoming elections

NEW YORK ACTION

We are proud to announce that our Easy Elections NY website is now live. It contains everything you need to know about the 5 simple election reform measures that we can enact this year to make our Elections Easy, and how you can start taking action on NY election reform - which must happen before this June, 2017 to affect the 2018 elections!

1. Learn why this is important.
2. Sign up for updates, follow on Facebook and Twitter.
3. Help us spread the word.
4. Begin to take action.

Easy Elections NY is a statewide coalition of grassroots groups & established organizations fighting to modernize New York's elections. Our goal is to pass simple solutions in 2017 to improve our elections and make registering and voting easier for all New Yorkers, and we need your voice to make this happen.

EVERYONE - SAVE THE ACA!

We’ve stopped Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress from repealing the Affordable Care Act twice. But they aren’t done trying. This is a critical moment: help stop TrumpCare once and for all.

1. Call and visit district offices this week.

2. Join Indivisible and MoveOn TODAY, May 2 at 9 PM ET for a Facebook Live event where they will be answering questions about TrumpCare and what you can do to stop it. You can submit your questions here.

VIRGINIA ACTION

Join Grassroots Progressive SuperPAC One Vote at a Time to Turn Virginia Blue. One Vote at a Time is a grassroots SuperPAC that creates modern political ads directed by female filmmakers. SuperPACs are powerful political tools, and One Vote at a Time puts that power in the hands of ordinary citizens to amplify our collective voices. The group is working with Flippable to help identify candidates to support in the race to elect Democrats to the the Virginia House of Delegates.

Join this grassroots SuperPAC by making a small donation, sharing the page, or endorsing on Crowdpac.

UPCOMING ELECTIONS

Turnoutwill make the difference in these surprisingly competitive races that could flip seats in Congress, so pitch in by phone banking, donating, volunteering and spreading the word.

CA - Vote.
GA - Democrat Jon Ossoff nearly pulled an upset, coming in first in a very red district. Now he advances to the runoff, where the vote will be tighter.
MT - "Special Election Nobody Is Following Could Deal A Huge Blow To Trump".
SC - Another surprisingly competitive race in a red district can help flip the balance of power.
VA - Join the Flippable #flipVAblue campaign to elect Democrats to Virginia’s House of Delegates.

What you can do

Help us build these weekly emails by submitting your local actions by Mon 5pm.
THANK YOU to all who shared this week's regional actions with us!
Please note that we are passing on your messages, and do not endorse issues or candidates.

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Drive a Stake Through the Heart of ZOmBiE TrUMpCarE

This is still happening, unbelievably. The list of moderate Republicans who are flipping from "undecided" to "no" on the resuscitated Zombie Trumpcare bill is changing by the hour. This is the time to act, a vote could occur any day this week.

Public pressure in politics works, and it is working in the case of healthcare. No elected official wants to be pointed out as being on the wrong side of history, and when we show representatives that we’re shining the light of our attention on their actions, you can bet they will watch their step.

What you can do

1. CHECK TO SEE IF YOUR REPRESENTATIVE IS ON THE UNDECIDED LIST here. If they are on the undecided list, it is especially important that you call them. If you know someone who lives in the district they represent, forward this email to them.

2. CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVE, EVEN IF YOU HAVE CALLED THEM IN THE PAST, AND ESPECIALLY IF THEY ARE LISTED BELOW 866-426-2631. Please say your name, and where you live, so they know that you are a constituent. Tell your Representative to oppose passage of the revised Republican health care plan, because it allows states to opt out of ACA insurance requirements for essential health benefits and to charge much higher premiums for people with pre-existing conditions.

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ACA Repeal Vote in 3, 2, 1...

The House is expected to vote on the new ACA Repeal bill aka Trumpcare at 1:30 PM EST. House Republicans say they now have enough votes to pass this. Here is an updatedlist of where they stand.
But Senate Republicans aren't on board yet! Time to act pre-emptively and call those Senators ahead of a possible senate vote.

What you can do

1. WATCH the live vote count here.

2. CALL Your senators ASAP. If the bill passes the House, it will go to a Senate vote. Dial 844-673-7478 and follow the prompts.

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Pledge of Liberation

We know how you're feeling after yesterday's news. We're feeling it too, and we're ready to take a stand.

We just joined Women's March in adding our name to the Pledge of Liberation. As a united voice, we declare our commitment to fighting together for the liberation of all people.

We will no longer allow our issues to be treated as if they're in competition, rather than integral to one another. We reaffirm our commitment to each other, and we ask our members of Congress to remember their own pledges to their communities and constituents.

Together, activists around the country from every movement sector will unite on May 8 and will take our resistance directly to our members of Congress - join us at demonstrations and actions at in-district congressional offices and the offices of other elected officials.

What you can do

1. SIGN the Pledge of Liberation today.

2. JOIN the Thunderclap. Register online today and your voice will be heard across social media platforms in unison with others Monday morning.

3. FIND a demonstration near you this Monday, May 8, or register your own.

4. DOWNLOAD the Day of Action Toolkit, which also includes information about non-violent civil disobedience if you want to take a stronger stand.

5. READ more.

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Our Commitment to the Earth is Not Up For Debate

Trump is set to announce on Tuesday whether he will pull the U.S. out of the Paris Climate Accord. The climate accord went into effect on Nov 4th, 2016, and primarily aims to keep global average temperature “well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels.” To put that into perspective, the planet has warmed about 1 degree Celsius already, according to NASA.

Why does he want to pull out of it? In order to bolster US fossil fuel industries. Here's the problem: no matter what the government says, the economy is moving away from fossil fuels. Two years ago coal only employed 76,572 people. The signs are loud and clear: Fossil fuels are failing, renewables are in.

Trump wants to saddle us with decades-old policy that is not only bad for the environment but bad for our economy. Institutional investors have urged Trump to stick with the accord because mitigating climate change is not only good for the environment but also for safeguarding investments, which could leave the country entirely as they have done in other instances of poor policy decisions.

This decision, designed to thrill a small subset of supporters for a couple of news cycles, has serious long-term casualties and will undermine our future on this planet.

What you can do

1. READ all the details and fact-checking on the Paris Climate Accord here, here, and here. Know what you're talking about!

2. SIGN the petition to show that you stand with the Paris Climate Accord.

3. MAKE IT NEWS! It's up to all of us to make this an important issue. Don't underestimate the power of public outcry. Write about it on social media, call/fax/tweet your local and national politicians.

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Local Tuesdays

WE NEED YOUR ACTION SUBMISSIONS! Hey guys! We would love to include actions for al 50 states and beyond, but since our organizers are mainly based in NY that's where they know what's going on. Can you help us by submitting local actions weekly for your town, city, state, region or community? Let us be your loudspeaker and help you make change in your community! Thank you!

What you can do

2 NEW YORK ACTIONS

1. TAKE ACTION ON NYC VOTING NOW TO AFFECT THE 2018 ELECTION!

New York Senate Republican Leader John Flanagan is impeding election reform in New York State. Call these three leaders in the Senate and your own reps and demand these be put into law before the legislative session ends in June:

"Hello, I’m a constituent of , and I want to ensure that Representative is actively working to pass into law these 5 Easy Election proposals: Early Voting, Automatic Voter Registration, Electronic Poll Books, flexibility to change party affiliation, and parolee voting. Thank you."

Learn more and take action at our new partner site Easy Elections NY.

Senator Fred Akshar: 518-455-2677
Senator Jeffrey Klein: 518-455-3595
Senator John Flanagan: 518-455-2071
And always call your own State Senator & Assembly Member

2. PASS "BAN THE SALARY HISTORY QUESTION" IN NEW YORK

Call your reps to support bills A.6707/S.5233, introduced by Assemblywoman Sandy Galef, which would prohibit employers asking about a potential employee's salary history, a practice that contributes to the gender and racial wage gap.

"Hello, I’m a constituent of , and I want to ensure that Representative is supporting the bill to ban the salary history question in New York State. The salary history question negatively perpetuates the gender pay gap and must be banned. Thank you."

UPCOMING ELECTIONS

Turnout will make the difference in these surprisingly competitive races that could flip seats in Congress, so pitch in by phone banking, donating, volunteering and spreading the word.

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The Truth Always Comes Out

With word that Trump has fired FBI director James Comey, after a culmination of public hearings on Trump and Russian collusion, all conclusions point to this as a thinly veiled attempt to suppress the truth.

Anyone who lived through Watergate can see the parallels. Nixon's firing of the Watergate special prosecutor was seen as a gross abuse of presidential power, and both Congress and the American public were livid. This must happen now too. Americans, be angry - it's our right, and our power!

Trump claims to be following the recommendations of Attorney General Sessions, who formerly recused himself from the FBI investigation due to his own unresolved and murky role in the matter.

It's clear that we need a fully independent investigation, headed by a non-partisan commission with subpoena power. At this point, no one in Trump's chain of command can be trusted to lead an impartial investigation, especially not an FBI director appointed by Trump himself or a special prosecutor appointed by AG Jeff Sessions. But we already knew that.

What you can do

!!! IMMEDIATE PUBLIC OUTCRY IS NEEDED !!!

1. PROTEST TODAY in DC at noon.
MoveOn, Indivisible, Working Families Party and many others are hosting a protest today at the White House, North side (Lafayette Park). If you are anywhere in the area, please join. Protests are being quickly organized in other cities as well, try to find one to attend.

DCat noon
Chicago at 4:30pm
NYC at 5pm
Oakland at 5pm

2. CALL/FAX/TWEET your Senators and Reps.
• Dial 866-426-2631 and follow prompt.
• Use ResistBot to fax them from your phone. Text “resist” to 50409.

USE THIS SCRIPT (feel free to ad-lib)

Hello, I believe that the firing of FBI Director James Comey was a blatant attempt to suppress the truth as more and more evidence surfaced as a result of recent hearings on the collusion between Trump's campaign and Russia.

There MUST be a fully independent, non-partisan 9/11-style commission, with subpoena power, to investigate Trump and Russia, and it must be assembled immediately! Comey should be immediately called to testify in a open hearing about the status of the investigation at the time of his firing.

The Senate cannot approve any new FBI director who will be under the thumb of the White House.

We, the American people, demand the truth.

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We Can't Confirm A New FBI Director Without This

The scandal over Trump and his campaign’s ties to Russia gets weirder and more disturbing by the day. As this sequence of events unravels, we will be taking you through the next actionable steps.

Assistant AG Rod Rosenstein has a reputation for being non-partisan. The letter attributed to Rosenstein recommending FBI director James Comey, on which basis Trump claims to be acting, seems very suspect. This means one of several things: Rosenstein either isn't as non-partisan as he previously appeared; he's taking the fall; or there's something else going on.

All of this means we need to hear Rosenstein's testimony as well as Sessions. Immediately.

Every new odd turn in this story gives you an opening to call your MoCs to repeat your requests. See our steps below for what to do right now.

What you can do

1. CALL YOUR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS at 202-225-3121 and tell them you want them to publicly insist that Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who recommended James Comey's dismissal, testify before Congress and explain why they felt he should be fired, and why now. Tell them you want their testimony under oath, under penalty of perjury, as soon as possible.

BONUS : CHECK THIS INCREDIBLE LIST for every Senator's reactions to Comey's firing. Keep calling these reps yourself to express your concerns and your opinion on their public position.

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Where's There's Smoke...There Should Be An Independent Investigation

America needs an independent investigation into the matter - not only a special prosecutor, but the gold standard of a 9-11-style commission. We do NOT need an investigator appointed by Sessions that can be manipulated, sidelined, suffocated - or fired.

Read this quick, simple guide to the three different options for an investigation into the Trump-Russia connection going forward: how they’re appointed, which powers they have, and, crucially, which ones they don’t.

Find out every Senator and Representative's public position here.

What you can do

CALL your members of Congress at 202-225-3121 and ask that they demand the following:

1. A Bi-partisan independent 9/11 style commission with subpoena power to investigate Trump, his businesses, administration's and advisor's ties to Russia. (We must not rely on special congressional committees to do this work.)

2. A Special independent counsel with the power to prosecute based on the findings of the commission (but don't rely only on this). Because the commission itself will not have power to prosecute.

3. A new FBI director who will operate independently and not under the thumb of the White House.

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Some Issues Are Just Not Partisan

For the next two weeks, we are going to be closely following the action on two fronts: the Republican Healthcare Bill, (known as AHCA/Trumpcare) and the state of the Russia investigation. There are some things that should never be partisan issues - healthcare is one of them. And so is the sovereignty of our country's elections.
To prepare for the coming weeks, read up and get well-acquainted with the terms and processes, starting today with the AHCA.

What you can do

AHCA PREP:

LEARN what the new version of the bill is.
READ this handy guide on the step-by-step process the Republicans are using to "repeal and replace."
FIND out how every House member voted on the bill.
CALL your Senator's office and find out their position. This chart is a good place to start.
SCHEDULE a visit to your Senators' office. A state work period/ recess is coming up May 29th - June 2nd.

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Local Tuesdays : CA, FL, OR, NY, TX, Americans Resisting Overseas and upcoming elections

Thank you for your action submissions, please continue to help create our Local Tuesday emails us by submitting local actions weekly for your town, city, state, region or community by Monday at noon. Let us be your loudspeaker and help you make change in your community! Thank you!

What you can do

OREGON

School board election TODAY!

51 school board seats are up for re-election, and it's a great opportunity to flip politics and improve communities starting in schools. VOTE!

2 CALIFORNIA ACTIONS

1. Support End Child Poverty Bill AB 1520, which will help raise 1 million children in California out of poverty. The bill got through its first committee vote with unanimous support, but still has a ways to go before it’s passed.

CALL your CA Assembly Member and tell them you support it!

2. Urge Attorney General Xavier Becerra to Join State Investigations into Exxon. Exxon Mobil's own scientists told executives about the corporation's role in causing climate change as far back as the 1970's. Instead of acting on that information, Exxon funded a decades-long disinformation campaign that helped stall meaningful policy, while profiting from a product it knew was driving the world closer to disaster. MA & NY are investigating what Exxon knew and what it told its shareholders and the public - and they've started to raise serious questions. CA can be a leader in this movement too. It's time the state join the investigations.

SIGN this petition.
CONTACT the Attorney General at 916-445-9555 or local offices.

2 FLORIDA ACTIONS

1. Call on Governor Scott to veto Speaker Corcoran's Conforming Bill, which forces local school districts to subsidize charter schools, while exempting those charter schools from the requirements public schools must follow. This is not good for our children. It only serves to line the pockets of the charter school industry. Governor Scott still has the chance to veto. He and Speaker Corcoran have been feuding, so it won't take much to get him to veto the bill - let's do it!

CONTACT Governor Rick Scott at (850) 488-7146 or by email.

2. Help get Florida Rights Restoration on the ballot. It would restore voting rights to 1.6 million formerly incarcerated people in Florida. Felon voting rights have a bigger impact on elections than voter ID laws, and this could literally be the difference between a win and a loss in 2018 and 2020. It needs 700,000 signatures to qualify for the ballot by January and it needs people on the ground in Florida to gather those signatures by hand.

DONATE or VOLUNTEER through the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition.

2 NEW YORK EVENTS

1. TONIGHT, TUESDAY 5/16 - Got initiative? Print out our Easy Elections 1 sheet fliers and hand them out to people standing in line for Mayor DeBlasio's Town Hall in Borough Park. If they seem interested ask them to bring it up in the town hall. Town hall starts at 7, so go between 6 and 7 to find people in line.

2. THURSDAY 5/18 - DISCUSSION WITH BRIAN KAVANAGH
We'll have a special discussion with New York State Assembly Member Brian Kavanagh to hear how to run effective campaigns in New York State. Organized by our buddies Creative Resistance and co-sponsored by Downtown Women for Change, Easy Elections NY and 2 Hours A Week.

Thursday, May 18, 7-8:30pm
School of Visual Arts
136 West 21st St, First floor - Theater
New York, NY 10011
Please RSVP

Learn more and take action at our new partner site Easy Elections NY.

TEXAS

Stop Discrimination in Texas Child Welfare System. House Bill 3859 would allow child-welfare providers that contract with the state to discriminate against LGBT families in foster care and adoption placements – and it could also block access to birth control or abortion services for teens in the state's CPS system.

SIGN this petition.
CONTACT your representative.

AMERICANS RESISTING OVERSEAS

Trump's first foreign trips will be to Saudi Arabia, Israel, Belgium & Italy, and there are groups resisting overseas working together to protest these visits. If you are in these 3 countries join the marches! If not, you can support them from afar!

The Resistance is Global: Israel Edition: 22 May, 7:00pm, Tel Aviv
Rome Resists: 23 May, 7:30pm, Rome
Trump Not Welcome: 24 May, 5:00 pm, Brussels

UPCOMING ELECTIONS

Turnout will make the difference in these surprisingly competitive races that could flip seats in Congress, so pitch in by phone banking, donating, volunteering and spreading the word.

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FBI Director Who?

Have you been reading the news? Trump is not a president we can entrust with sensitive intelligence let alone with the appointment of a new FBI director. It's been reported that AG Sessions and Deputy AG Rosenstein have interviewed 8 candidates, with no further interviews scheduled.

Trump has been urged to not make a political appointment of the FBI director. Past candidates historically have had the unanimous support of both parties, with only one dissenting vote ever. This is because the director of the FBI is not a political post, and should be someone who does not have a partisan background. Not to mention someone who will continue to carry out the Russia investigation to it's fullest.

Keep a close watch on Thursday, when Deputy AG Rod Rosenstein is set to brief the Senate on the details of former FBI Director Comey's firing. Though this briefing is classified, the Trump administration loves a good media distraction, and we may just get one on Thursday with an FBI appointment.

What you can do

1. READ up on the 7 FBI director candidates (Cornyn has since dropped out) .
Acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe
Former Justice Department official Alice Fisher
Former U.S. Attorney in Manhattan, Michael Garcia
Fran Townsend, who was homeland security adviser to President George W. Bush
U.S. District Court Judge Henry Hudson
Adam Lee, the FBI special agent in charge of the Richmond, Virginia, office
Mike Rogers, a former FBI special agent and Republican congressman from Michigan who was chairman of the House Intelligence Committee

2. CALL your Senator
Dial the switchboard (202) 224-3121
Or try the new app CallThem to reach Senators via phone/email/twitter.

Let them know you do not support a politician or someone with a partisan background as FBI Director! The new FBI Director must not be under the thumb of the White House and must carry out the Russia investigation to it's fullest.

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ACTION 138: Keep Your Eye On The Ball of the American Health Care Act (AHCA)

Don't lose sight of what's happening with Trumpcare. Two weeks ago, House Republicans took the first steps toward stripping healthcare from millions of Americans and making it exceedingly difficult for millions more to get healthcare in the future by passing the American Health Care Act (AHCA).

This past Monday we told you which Republicans supported it and what comes next. Today we'll explain more what's in this bill, and what is happening next with it.

Below are the high-level points:

Being a woman becomes a pre-existing condition: C-sections, irregular or heavy periods, and pregnancy could all be considered pre-existing conditions in some states.
Lifetime limits for certain types of treatment (Hit your max for chemo? Oh well!)
Changes that will result in the decrease of employer provided insurance.
Increased premiums for those with preexisting conditions
No individual mandate which acts as an incentive for healthy people to join and keeps costs down for those who are more ill
Barebones insurance plans limited to catastrophe coverage on healthcare exchanges

For an in-depth look at what's in the bill, read here.
Keep your eyes open for a report out of the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) the week of May 22.

What's Next?
It ain't over yet! The bill still has to pass the Senate. While it has to clear some hurdles (like the Byrd Rule), those will likely be circumvented via a rewrite by Senate Republicans. A committee with members from both the House and Senate will be formed as an bureaucratic outcropping of this rewrite, and they will reconcile the differences between the new and old versions and pass the bill. IF a reconciled bill passes, the last stop will be Trump. Find out more about the process here.

What you can do

FIND OUT HOW YOUR SENATOR WILL VOTE here then call them and tell them how YOU want them to vote at 1-844-6-RESIST.

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We need to keep pushing on Russia

A new poll shows that most Americans believe that Trump fired Comey in order to hinder an investigation into his ties to Russia.

The appointment of Robert Mueller as special counsel to this investigation is a great sign that public pressure is working.

Don't let this recent success distract from the real goal: Congress must launch an independent commission. Here's why:

The special counsel’s job is limited to criminal activity. While the special counsel will announce whether there are criminal charges, an independent commission would release a detailed report of what happened, who knew what when, and what steps are needed to prevent future interference in our elections and hold Trump accountable.
There needs to be a staff dedicated to this. Congress has not dedicated the staff and resources necessary for its investigative committees to find the truth and prevent future interference.
Independence from this administration. The special counsel appointed by the deputy attorney general sits within the Justice Department and falls within Trump’s chain of command.
Americans demand one. 66 percent of Americans, according to a recent Quinnipiac poll, want an independent commission to investigate Trump’s ties to Russia. That’s a supermajority!

What you can do

1. CALL YOUR HOUSE OF REPS MEMBER 844-6-RESIST (press * to skip to the House of Reps numbers) to tell them you want them to support HR 356, Protecting Our Democracy Act. The bill has 199 co-sponsors, two of whom are Republicans, and would create an independent commission to investigate Russian interference in the 2016 election.

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Congressional Recess May 29-June 2

A former Congressional staffer cites face time as one of the most effective points of pressure constituents can apply upon their representatives. At the upcoming recess that spans all of next week (May 29-June 2), we have the opportunity not only to show up to our member of Congress' office in person, we also have a chance to reconnect with each other through in-person actions, which are invigorating and offer us moments of solidarity with each other.

What you can do

1. FIND A LOCAL ACTION GROUP NEAR YOU that may be organizing in-person actions. You can enter your zip code to locate one here.

2. DOWNLOAD INDIVISIBLE'S ACTION TOOLKIT here for a more in-depth read on how to make your member of Congress more accessible.

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Local Tuesdays : CA, NY, 50 States for MT, and upcoming elections

What you can do

CALIFORNIA ACTIONS

Tell the CA Coastal Commission not to dump nuclear waste on San Diego's beaches. Environmental activists in California are fighting plans to store 3.6 million pounds of highly radioactive nuclear waste on a popular beach in San Diego County. Let's help them out and call or write the California Coastal Commission (that issued the permit for this) and tell them what we think!

CALL Director of CCC Jack Ainsworth at (415) 904-5202, write, or go to the CCC's web comments page and say "we don't want radioactive waste on California beaches! We are supposed to be leading the way to a greener world!”

50 STATES FOR MONTANA

Right now, Montanans are voting in a special House election this Thursday, May 25th to replace Republican Ryan Zinke, who joined the Trump administration. Democrat Rob Quist has an incredible chance to win this special election and flip our first House seat, but it’s going to come down to the wire. Republicans are pouring money into this race, which could be a deciding factor in the AHCA Health Care vote. But we're going to out-organize them!

Attend or host a call-bank house party from anywhere today or tomorrow.

4 NEW YORK ACTIONS

1. IN LONG ISLAND? VOTE TODAY! Our allies are supporting Christine Pellegrino for State Assembly in the District 9 special election.

2. SUPPORT SINGLE PAYER HEALTH CARE IN NY
A Single Payer Health Care Bill has passed the New York Assembly and moved on to the State Senate. The New York State Senate is Republican majority and is unlikely to pass progressive measures like this, but with enough pressure from New Yorkers, there is a chance this might get this passed; the senate is two votes short- let's push it over.

Call your local senators, meet them in person, lobby them with a group. Encourage them to pass Single Payer Healthcare in New York.

3. SUPPORT THE 2017 LOFT LAW CLEANUP BILL
Let the Mayor and Albany know that we must stem the tide of displacement and preserve live/work housing by strengthening the loft law to protect creative communities.

Attend the Rally for a Better Loft Law this Thursday, May 25th at 7pm, 85 North 15th Street, Brooklyn

Call your elected officials and tell them that the Loft Law is part of the solution to the affordability crisis that plagues our city.

4. CONTINUE FIGHTING FOR EASY ELECTIONS IN NY.
Learn more and take action at our new partner site Easy Elections NY.

UPCOMING ELECTIONS

Turnout will make the difference in these surprisingly competitive races that could flip seats in Congress, so pitch in by phone banking, donating, volunteering and spreading the word.

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Flunking Healthcare: AHCA's CBO Score

The CBO analysis of the AHCA (Trumpcare) comes out this afternoon.
There is a lot of maneuvering happening to make this bill politically palatable and passable, none of which take into consideration the effects it will have on actual people, whose healthcare is at risk.

The House Republicans who voted for the AHCA (Trumpcare) bill on May 4th are so worried about the CBO [Congressional Budget Office] analysis of their bill that they've already announced a media blitz to coincide with the release of the report today. Speaker Ryan has taken the unusual step of holding onto the bill, rather than passing it onto the Senate, for fear of a bad CBO score.

Why should we pay attention to the CBO analysis?

The bill passed the House after dramatic changes were made to it. An earlier CBO score became obsolete, but no final score was ever issued.

It's possible the last minute additions to the AHCA mentioned above will end up costing more money than it saves.

Republicans are hoping to pass the AHCA in the Senate, where it will go next, under the budget reconciliation process, which would allow it to pass with only 51 votes–hence without any Democratic votes.

House Republicans plan to re-write the bill to meet needed reductions if it doesn't receive a good score, and then vote on it again!

In short, Republicans are, yet again, determined to score a party win at the expense of the American healthcare system.

What you can do

1. WATCH for the CBO report when it comes out this afternoon. It will not only tell us how much money the AHCA will save and/or cost but also how many Americans will lose their health coverage as a result. These are important numbers to know in our fight for healthcare.

2. BAD SCORE? CALL THESE SENATORS
Dial 1-844-673-7478.

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Keep the Internet Open for Business

Last week, the Federal Communications Commission voted to start repealing the 2015 network neutrality rules. The rules ensure that internet users can access the online content and services of their choosing without interference from ISPs like Comcast, AT&T, Verizon, and Charter.

What exactly is net neutrality? The Harvard Business Review defines the principles of net neutrality well:

"...a broadband internet provider should not block, slow, or otherwise unfairly discriminate against any websites or online services."

An open internet means a level playing field where the small one-woman shop in Omaha has just as good a shot at drumming up business online as the big box store headquartered in a tax haven. Repealing net neutrality rules isn't a job generator - it's a job killer.

Newly appointed FCC Chair Ajit Pai wants people to believe that internet providers are over-regulated. That consumer protections are hindering the development of business. That we should trust big cable companies not to discriminate against web services without oversight (though they are already doing just that).

Don't fall for Pai's false and misleading narratives and lies. The exact opposite of his assertions are true. Pai is not interested in keeping an open and free internet - he's interested in creating a market open and free of hurdles for the cable lobby. We can't let their unmitigated greed parse the internet into slow and fast lanes.

The FCC has released a proposal to repeal Net Neutrality rules and will be taking public comment for 90 days.

What you can do

1. Go to the FCC site here, select "Express" on the lower left-hand side and leave a comment to let the FCC know that you are opposed to getting rid of net neutrality rules. Let them know that Pai and the FCC should be working in the interest of the public NOT billion dollar cable companies.

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March For Truth On June 3rd

There's a country-wide, even world-wide, demand for the truth about our current president and his administration. On Saturday, June 3rd, let's march to show that the "legitimacy of our democracy is more important than the interests of any party, or any President."

This is a really important march to show up for. The only way to signal, loud and clear to our politicians that this matters to the American people.

The demands of the March For Truth are clear:

An independent commission must be established to continue the investigation into collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia, and Congressional investigations should be properly resourced and pursued free of partisan interests.

As much information should be made available to the public as possible, and as soon as possible.

Congress should require Donald Trump to release his tax returns to clarify his business interests and obligations to any foreign entity.

If crimes were committed or if collusion is discovered, it must be prosecuted.

What you can do

1. ATTEND the March For Truth in Washington D.C. Bus info here.

2. FIND your local march here.

3. ORGANIZE a local March For Truth event.

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What are the Steps to an Independent Commission?

There is growing motivation among Congressional Republicans to fully investigate Russian interference in the 2016 election and any potential ties to the Trump campaign.

The current focus is to establish an independent commission of 12 non-governmental appointees through a bill called the Protecting Our Democracy Act. Since Speaker of the House Paul Ryan has refused to bring this bill up on the floor, Democrats have filed a discharge petition, which, with signatures from a majority of members, is a way of circumventing Ryan's refusal to address the issue and force a floor vote on the measure. Currently, every Democrat has agreed to sign the petition.

The idea is to get members of Congress on record as supporting an independent investigation—or not.

Two Republican representatives have co-signed the bill. Thank them, then ask those Republicans on the list below to vote yes on the Protecting Our Democracy Act (H.R. 356) and sign the discharge petition to bring it to a vote. The representatives listed below have shown some willingness to support an independent investigation.

What you can do

1. IF YOUR REPRESENTATIVE OR SENATOR IS ON THIS WHIP LIST, CONTACT THEM and tell them you want them to vote yes on the Protecting Our Democracy Act, sign the discharge petition to bring it to a vote, and release a public statement on the importance of an independent commission to investigate this administration's ties to Russia. 866-4-RESIST (866-473-7478).
Susan Collins (Maine)
Lindsey O. Graham (S.C.)
Dean Heller (Nev.)
John McCain (Ariz.)
Lisa Murkowski (Alaska)
Mike Coffman (Colo.)
Barbara Comstock (Va.)
Carlos Curbelo (Fla.)
Darrell Issa (Calif.)
Adam Kinzinger (Ill.)
Steve Knight (Calif.)
Erik Paulsen (Minn)
Tom McClintock (Calif.)

2. THANK WALTER JONES (R, NC) AND JUSTIN AMASH (R, MI) for putting country before party and co-sponsoring the Protect Our Democracy Act. @RepWalterJones, @justinamash.

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Local Tuesdays : CA, NY & upcoming elections

What you can do

2 NEW YORK ACTIONS
The legislative session ends June 21 so this must be done NOW to protect us from the Trump’s agenda and help set our state and nation back on the right track. We have 22 DAYS to make history!

UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE FOR ALL NEW YORKERS COULD BE A REALITY THIS YEAR!

1. Call State Senator Simcha Felder, the one vote standing in the way of true universal health care in New York State. 718-253-2015 | 518-455-2754

2. Take action by calling or writing your reps here.

3. Rally tomorrow 4:30-6:30 at State Senator Golden’s office in Brooklyn.

4. Share your health care story.

5. Join the Action Blitz on June 3 and help create the creative content to draw attention to this cause in time - it’s so wild that something this game changing hasn’t gotten more media, it’s up to us to change that.

NY IS CLOSER THAN EVER TO ELECTION REFORM. HELP US CHANGE ELECTION LAWS NOW TO AFFECT THE 2018 ELECTIONS.

1. Join us in Albany on June 13 to Rally For Voting Rights, a statewide coalition day of action including a rally, an obstacle (to voting) course, lobby visits and creative actions. Register for a bus from NYC or Westchester, or meet us there.

2. Join our thunderclap on March 31 to bring attention to this issue.

3. Join our call in day on June 1 (or call in any day!), get the info in this flier, and share it online to get your friends calling.

4. Come to our panel discussion tonight 6:30-8pm - The Sad State Of Voting - and find more events here.

5. SIGN UP FOR OUR EMAIL LIST. This project is sponsored by 2 Hours A Week and we would love to have you involved, attending events, spreading the word, or volunteering. Reply to this email if you want to get involved. Learn more & start spreading the word using our memes and toolkits, take action now, and catch up on our daily actions to date.

22 days left!

2 CALIFORNIA ACTIONS

Please call your state senator and ask them to vote yes on SB49, SB50, SB51, and SB775. These bills have a real chance of passage but need grassroots momentum.

1. Vote yes to Preserve California
Time after time, California has led the way on the environment. And now we have a chance to do it again, with a landmark set of bills that would protect our air, water, wildlife and health against the Trump administration's reckless pro-polluter agenda — and serve as a model for other states to do the same. These groundbreaking bills are called Preserve California (SB49, SB50, SB51) and they're moving through our State Senate currently.

2. Get California off of Fossil Fuels
A landmark bill has been introduced into the State Senate which offers a clear path to getting California off of fossil fuels. It's a powerful and thoughtful piece of legislation and needs everyone's support to get the super majority required to become law. SB775 upgrades California’s cap and trade system to make it more effective at reaching our ambitious climate goals and more equitable for California residents and businesses.

UPCOMING ELECTIONS

Turnout will make the difference in these surprisingly competitive races that could flip seats in Congress, so pitch in by phone banking, donating, volunteering and spreading the word.

CA - Vote.
GA - Democrat Jon Ossoff nearly pulled an upset, coming in first in a very red district. Now he advances to the runoff, where the vote will be tighter.
SC - Another surprisingly competitive race in a red district can help flip the balance of power.
VA - Join the Flippable #flipVAblue campaign to elect Democrats to Virginia’s House of Delegates.

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Townhall Time

This is the week folks! Your senators and representatives are in their home districts, so make the most of it and make your voices heard at their offices and townhall meetings.

You say you're in a blue state, so what does it matter? No better time to re-affirm that your representative is serving your best interests on major issues like healthcare, social services, climate change, and the on-going Russia investigation, among others. If you don't know where they stand on these issues (and how they will vote back in D.C.), a townhall is a great place to find out. Let them know you are engaged and paying attention to their actions.

Your state is blue, but is your district? Just because your state went blue in the presidential election doesn't mean all districts in it are blue. Have friends or family in a red district? Now is the time when they can have a real impact.

See if you or anyone you know is represented by someone on the list below. These are Republicans who we want to be in touch with about both the AHCA/Trumpcare bill as well as the Russia investigation. All it takes is a few minutes to check for yourself and for your friends and family.

What you can do

1. CHECK if any of the Reps and Senators below represent you and reach out! Most of them are refusing to hold in-person townhalls for fear of their constituents. We've linked below to any information if there is one, or a tele-townhall sign up, petitions asking for one, or simply their facebook pages for direct contact.

Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV)
Mike Lee (R-UT)
Ted Cruz (R-TX)
Rob Portman (R-OH)
Dean Heller (R-NV)
Susan Collins ( R-ME)
Rand Paul (R-KY)
Cory Gardner (R-CO)
Tom Cotton (R-AR)
Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)
John McCain (R-AZ)
Darrel Issa ( R-CA 49th Dist.)
Mike Coffman (R-CO 6th Dist.)
Erik Paulsen (R-MN 3rd Dist.)
Barbara Comstock (R-VA 10th Dist.)
Adam Kinzinger (R-IL 16th Dist.)
Tom McClintock (R-CA 4th Dist.)
Carlos Curbelo (R-FL 26th Dist.)
Steve Knight (R-CA 25th Dist.)

2. NOT REPRESENTED BY ANYONE ABOVE? Still reach out. No townhall scheduled? Make an office visit, and ask to get one on the calendar for the next recess. And always check if your local Indivisible chapter has anything planned!

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Trump's 2018 Budget - A Brief Primer

The White House published its budget - the equivalent of a "wish list" - last week. It is so austere and unrealistic (assuming continuous, uninterrupted three percent economic growth while the CBO estimates 1.8 percent at best) that even Republicans can't get behind it.

That's not much to celebrate about though since, typically, the House and Senate use the WH budget as mere recommendations. Others have argued that it is not even Trump's intention to have it passed - that he just wants to make a point.

Even so, here are some of the proposals from the WH budget:

$4.1 trillion total in cuts
$800 billion cut to Medicaid over ten years
$192 billion cuts to food stamps
$72 billion cuts to disability payments
Eliminate subsidized college loan programs and loan forgiveness for those who work in public sector
$2.6 billion on border security - $1.6 billion of which is for The Wall
$3 billion cut in community development block grants
$2.5 billion in cuts annually to farm subsidies
The complete elimination of 66 departmental agencies

If we know that the WH budget won't pass as is, what can we expect?
We can expect the budget to go from extreme to conservative which means there will likely be deep cuts in whatever proposal comes out of the House and Senate. These cuts will not be as deep as the WH suggested cuts and will appear less drastic and therefore more reasonable; but don't fall for it - the cuts will still likely be significant.

The House and Senate budget committees will release their proposed budget resolutions sometime in June and we have to be ready to identify and fight against any significant cuts to critical resources that will harm the social safety net, as well as undermine education, agriculture, and community development.

You should also keep in mind several budget dependencies. A tax cut is a big goal of the Trump regime. And it won't happen unless both the House and Senate pass a 2018 budget resolution, which they can't do until they pass a new healthcare bill. That brings us back to the importance of the AHCA in all of this.

Keep your eyes peeled for the House and Senate budget resolution and pay close attention to the progress of the AHCA bill, as it plays a big role in all of this. Be at the ready and stay tuned for what action you need to take on this in the coming weeks.

What you can do

1. SHARE, SHARE, SHARE this information with friends and family! Even with those who may be on the other side of the political divide. It's time to take a hard look at the platform that the administration stands for, and ultimately the kind of country it envisions.

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The Paris Climate Accord and the Wrong Side of History

We're just over four months in, and you'll hear us saying this a lot: the United States is falling on the wrong side of history with this administration.

Nothing is as emblematic of this as Trump's announcement yesterday to withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord.

What can you do about this? Knowledge is power, and messaging is power, especially on this issue. Help us blast the airwaves with your measured and informed opinions so we can all get on the same page.

Climate change is a tricky topic. While many of us know the absolutely crucial nature of international cooperation, climate change as a topic is beleaguered by misinformation and hampered by strong corporate interests.

While we gather our resources and listen to feedback from the other nations of the world who have committed to the upkeep of the climate accord, get right with the essentials of why climate change is both undeniable and something we need to address collectively. And then have a conversation about it with those around you.

Climate change is a moral issue, and a woman's issue.
The US is now one of three countries in the world not on board with the Paris Climate Accord. Along with Nicaragua and Syria.
Climate change threatens our food supply.

What you can do

1. USE THIS MEDIA TOOLKIT TO TWEET AND FB your thoughts. Noise is power on this.

2. CALL YOUR SENATOR and tell them you oppose Trump's withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord. 866-4-RESIST (866-473-7478).

2. HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH A CLIMATE CHANGE SKEPTIC?
Here are some arguments to use.
Here is a list of points to address according to the concerns of the person you're speaking with.

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Ask Your Governor to Uphold the Paris Climate Accord

Although Trump made the environmentally devastating and politically foolhardy decision to withdraw the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement, individual states maintain their control over their own carbon emission standards and clean energy priorities.

If enough states commit to maintaining the standards of the Paris Climate Agreement, the collective achievement can offset the adverse effects of the Trump-led national withdrawal. Governors Jerry Brown of California, Andrew Cuomo of New York and Jay Inslee of Washington formed a "United States Climate Alliance" immediately after the announcement of Trump's Paris Accord decision.

So far, nine states have joined the United States Climate Alliance.

Urge your state's Governor to join the cause and continue the fight against climate change.

What you can do

1. CALL YOUR GOVERNOR TO URGE THEM TO UPHOLD THE TENETS OF THE PARIS CLIMATE ACCORD using the fantastic 5 Calls site.

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Local-tuesdays-dc-ga-ma-ny-elections

Thank you for your action submissions, please continue to help create our Local Tuesday emails us by submitting local actions weekly for your town, city, state, region or community by Monday at noon. Let us be your loudspeaker and help you make change in your community! Thank you!

What you can do

NEW YORK ACTION
How can we take back the House if we can't vote? We have 15 days left to pass progressive NY voting laws in time to affect the 2018 elections, and we're making progress!

Join us in Albany on June 13 to Rally For Voting Rights, a statewide coalition day of action including a rally, an obstacle (to voting) course, lobby visits and creative actions.
• Register for a bus from NYC or Westchester
• Register for a carpool
• Meet us there
• Contact us
Can't make it in person?
• Spread the word and invite friends!
• Make calls or write letters from home, take action now, catch up on our daily actions to date, and share our memes and toolkits,

This project is sponsored by 2 Hours A Week and we would love to have you involved.

DC ACTION

HELP JON OSSOFF! Our friends at the DCCC are arranging a bus June 15-21 from the DC area to get out the vote in Georgia for Jon Ossoff. Hotels, housing and meals will be provided, and you can help change history. If you want to be involved, please write us at twohoursaweek@gmail.com and we'll put you in touch.

NOT IN DC? The campaign will pay to rent a 9-11 passenger van (and gas costs) if you know people interested in coming from other locations!

MA ACTION

Support the Safe Communities Act

Help support a bill in the Massachusetts state legislature (S1305, H3269) that would protect the civil rights of all residents and push back against Trump's aggressive anti-immigrant agenda. The Safe Communities Act(SCA) ensures state, local, and campus police don’t participate in immigration enforcement activities, local officers aren’t deputized as immigration agents in collaboration with Homeland Security, no state support for a Muslim registry, and basic Due Process Rights for people detained in state and local facilities for civil violations. This bill is coming before committee on June 9 so now's the perfect time to call!

Sign the MoveOn.org petition
Figure out if your State Senator or Representative has co-sponsored the SCA. If they ARE a co-sponsor, ask them to 1) submit testimony to the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security in support of the SCA and 2) tell Speaker of the House Robert DeLeo that the SCA is important to their constituents. If they ARE NOT a co-sponsor, then ask them to consider it.
Show up on Beacon Hill for the hearing on June 9. Facebook event here.

GEORGIA ACTION

Get more involved in local actions in Georgia at www.actionga.com, a website of daily, weekly, and monthly actions that includes daily call scripts, weekly writing campaigns, and a calendar of events that cover the entire state of Georgia.

Don't forget to make calls andGOTV for Jon Ossoff!

UPCOMING ELECTIONS

Turnout will make the difference in these surprisingly competitive races that could flip seats in Congress, so pitch in by phone banking, donating, volunteering and spreading the word.

CA - Vote.
GA - Democrat Jon Ossoff nearly pulled an upset, coming in first in a very red district. Now he advances to the runoff, where the vote will be tighter.
SC - Another surprisingly competitive race in a red district can help flip the balance of power.
VA - Join the Flippable #flipVAblue campaign to elect Democrats to Virginia’s House of Delegates.

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ACTION 152: Watch Comey Testify

Former FBI director James Comey will testify in a much-anticipated public hearing of the Senate Intelligence Committee tomorrow, Thursday, 10am EST.

There will be a public and private part of this hearing, and it is expected that Comey will not make any conclusions about whether Trump obstructed justice, but rather will be a "fact witness" in recounting his interaction with Trump. And let the Senate Intelligence Committee draw its own conclusions.

You can livestream the public testimony on C-SPAN, PBS, and many online media outlets.

And watch out for our talking points and actions tomorrow and following the testimony!

What you can do

1. LIVESTREAM the testimony here on Thursday, May 8th 10 a.m. EST

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Action 153: The Ties That Bind - Russia, Trump, and the Comey Testimony

Today, former FBI director James Comey will testify before the Senate Intelligence Committee, rounding out a second day of testimony.

But just what are these hearings all about? What can we expect from Comey?

When Comey was fired there was broad speculation that Trump did so to stop the progress of an FBI led investigation into his ties to Russia (and for good reason). To date, the Senate Intelligence Committee is one of four congressional bodies investigating Trump, his cronies, and their ties to Russia. This is in addition to the FBI investigation and the Special Counsel, Robert Mueller.

There are two big questions that the Senate Intelligence Committee hearings seek to answer:

Did Trump instruct or ask Comey (or anyone else for that matter) to stop investigating his and his teams ties to Russia?
If Trump did ask or instruct Comey or others to stop investigating him and his team, what was his intent in doing so?

The answers to those questions are important because they could have criminal implications if they indicate that Trump obstructed justice and tried to stop an active criminal investigation.

Two of the officials that testified yesterday refused to answer. Their behavior was so outrageous that a regular right-wing contributor believes the committee should subpoena them to compel them to speak and hold them in contempt if they do not. However, Comey's prepared statements seem indicate that Trump demanded "loyalty" to him and did in fact ask him to stop investigating Michael Flynn, the former national security advisor that lied about communications with a Russian ambassador.

While there is certainly reason to believe that there may be criminal implications, we shouldn't rest on our laurels just because we got an independent counsel in Mueller. The important thing is that we push our elected officials to keep digging. So what else can we do? Keep the pressure on.

What you can do

CALL your elected officials at
1-844-6-RESIST
1-844-673-7478
Ask them to demand the creation of a bipartisan independent commission similar those formed in the wake of 9/11 and the recent recession caused by a US financial market meltdown.
WATCH this short video to better understand why we need an independent commission.

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Action 154: We May Be Uninsured By the End of Summer

While all eyes were on the Comey testimony, Senate Republicans have been quietly trying to fast-track the AHCA bill through, with little to no transparency.

Sen. McConnell has invoked Senate Rule 14, which allows the bill to bypass committee, and thus without debate, go straight to a floor vote. No committee debates and no public hearings, mean that we, and most likely many Senators will know very little about what's actually in the bill when it gets voted on. McConnell has been working hard, behind closed doors, to get the 51 votes needed to pass the bill. He may even resort to pulling VP Pence in to break a tie, if necessary.

And if McConnell has his way, the bill will be voted on by July 4th, before Congress goes into August recess. That is less than a month to reach out to all our senators, and make sure they stand strong against this repeal. We need to make sure at least 4 Republican Senators are a solid NO vote. Whip list below!

What you can do

CALL these Republican Senators below if they represent you and pass on to family and friends in these states:

Probably A No Vote
Lisa Murkowski (AK) 202-224-6665
Susan Collins (ME) 202-224-2523
On the Fence
Dean Heller (NV) 202-224-6244
Jeff Flake (AZ) 202-224-4521
Wild Cards
Ted Cruz (TX) 202-224-5922
Mike Lee (UT) 202-224-5444
Rand Paul (KY) 202-224-4343

CALL your Senator even if not mentioned above, Democrat and Republican alike. We need to get back to making noise about the AHCA!
1-844-6-RESIST
1-844-673-7478
USE THIS SCRIPT (feel free to ad-lib, of course)

Hi
I am calling to express my deep concern that the AHCA bill will be fast-tracked through Senate without being fully debated and reviewed in committee. Please do not make the same mistake as the House by approving a bill that few congresspeople read or understood, and that leaves 23 million Americans uninsured. Our health and lives cannot be gambled with for the sake of political primacy. If you truly represent us, your constituency, then you will vote NO on AHCA.
Thank You

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Action 155: The Senate & Healthcare: Sabotage, Speed, Secrecy

While the world is watching to see whether Jeff Sessions' testimony will be closed door this week, the Senate is, yet again, desperately trying for a policy win. Do not underestimate their determination to throw our interests under the bus in the name of a party win--just look at the decision to withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord.

Use the toolkit below to tweet, Facebook, and call the "moderate" Republican Senators under pressure to sway in favor of the American Healthcare Act (Trump Zombiecare).

We've heard from those of you who follow our twitter instructions on the importance of altering scripts; make a few changes to the pre-loaded tweets so that your missives don't get blocked.

Special thanks to the Washington Post for inspiration for our email title today.

What you can do

CALL, TWEET, AND FACEBOOK these targeted Senators to make sure they protect our care.

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ACTION 156: Local Tuesdays--NY

NEW YORK

Couldn’t make it to Albany today to rally for Easy Elections?

Don’t worry, while we’re at the Capitol fighting to make that a reality.

You can do the same from your home or office.

What you can do

1. CALL CALL CALL: 518-455-2800 (use this script)

2. FOLLOW EASY ELECTIONS NY on Twitter and Facebookand re-share their photos and updates throughout the day.

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ACTION 157: Secrecy is Their Key Move

We've been writing to you a lot on the AHCA (Trumpcare), but our window for prevention is closing. Very little is known about the Senate healthcare bill that is being sent to the Congressional Budget office (CBO) for analysis this week. As Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO) put it, "we have no idea what’s being proposed. There’s a group of guys in a back room somewhere that are making these decisions."

And Senate Republicans hope to keep it that way through most of the process, pushing the bill through with 50 votes and VP Pence stepping in. The bill was written by an all-male cast of 13 senators, some of whom are strongly anti-abortion, and anti-choice.

This is not representative democracy, in the least. Only 20% of Americans say they support the House version of the bill. So why are Republican senators acting as if they have a mandate to repeal healthcare?

Because all they want is a political "win." In a legislative year that has thus far yielded very little for the GOP agenda, they will do anything to get it. Their "win" is America's loss.

What you can do

1. CALL, TWEET, AND FACEBOOK these targeted Senators to make sure they protect our care.

2. FORWARD to any friends and family living in states who benefit from Medicaid expansion. They need to call their senators stat!

TIME TO MAKE YOUR OWN SCRIPT, especially if you are tweeting at your politicians and posting messages to their FB. The more personalized it sounds, the more effective it will be.

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ACTION 158: Can Trump Fire Mueller?

Independent Counselor Robert Mueller has now expanded his investigation about possible collusion between Trump and Russia to include whether or not Trump obstructed justice by firing former FBI director James Comey.

This announcement comes after Mueller met with the leaders of the Senate Intelligence Committee to coordinate their investigations yesterday. Preceding all this was speculation that Trump was considering firing Mueller, though official word from the White House is he isn't (but we all know how that goes.).

But since Mueller is independent and was hired by Deputy Atty. General Rosenstein can Trump actually fire him? What would that look like?

You're Fired

Because Atty. Gen. Sessions recused himself, the authority to fire Mueller lies with Dept. Atty. Gen. Rosenstein. Trump could in fact direct Rosenstein to fire Mueller but Rosenstein could only do so for "misconduct, dereliction of duty, incapacity, conflict of interest or for other good cause," Thus far, Rosenstein has said that he will only fire Mueller for good cause and that he didn't ancipate that would happen. If Rosenstein refused, Trump would have to fire him and then demand that the next in command fire Mueller and so on. If this sounds familiar - that's because it's happened before.

One argument is that Trump's end game isn't to fire Mueller at all but to poison the well and make the public distrust Mueller and any future findings from the investigation. This is really important to keep in mind as the investigation progresses. Trump will be using his large social media presence to continue to undermine the investigation.

Just a reminder here that with so much coming out of this administration we cannot be distracted by the latest event dominating the news cycle; we have to pay attention to stories even when they aren't headlining because the opposition certainly is.

What you can do

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ACTION 159: A World of Conflicts

Today, we are borrowing from the Center for American Progress' (CAP) great analysis and interactive map of Trump's many conflicts of interest around the world.

"Although the president has refused to release his tax returns or provide other measures of basic transparency, there is lengthy documentation that suggests that Trump is using the presidency to maximize his profits, and that foreign leaders are giving Trump's businesses special treatment as a means to gain favor at the White House.

There are already abundant examples where Trump has made curious changes in U.S. policy that seem to have favorably benefited his bottom line and where foreign leaders have tried to pump quick money into companies controlled by Trump and his family.

When it comes to foreign relations, every American has the right to know if the president is putting his self-enrichment ahead of our national security and our national interest." - CAP

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT
First of all, Trump has not created a blind trust for his business, but rather one from which he can pull funds at any time. His separation from his businesses is completely arbitrary in that it is based solely on him "not discussing it" with his sons, whom he put in charge.

Again from CAP:
"Some people wonder: If Trump is already rich, what does it matter that he keeps doing business as president? Consider this: What if Donald Trump were willing to accept a trade deal with China that cost American jobs just because the Chinese government was willing to speed up the permit process for Trump properties in Beijing? What if Trump were willing to push aside concerns about human rights or terrorism just because a foreign leader could influence his investment portfolio? What if a key adviser to the president wanted to delay a military offensive against the Islamic State because he was being paid by a foreign government? These are not abstract concerns."

What you can do

1. VIEW the interactive world map of Trump's conflict of interests.

2. READ CAP's accompanying series detailing Trump's business and family's conflicts of interest in 25 countries.

3. READ up on the 3 emoluments lawsuits currently filed against Trump.

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ACTION 160: Support Russia Sanctions!

This last Thursday, the Senate voted almost unanimously to impose sanctions on Russia for both its likely interference in our elections and its role in the Syrian civil war. The deal also prevents the president from relaxing the sanctions via executive order.

This sign of growing bipartisan support for restricting DJT's relationship is a good thing. We want a unified front in determining whether collusion undermined our electoral process.

It is crucial that the House of Representatives now pass this legislation with a 2/3 majority. This would make it significantly more difficult for DJT to veto the bill.

What you can do

1. CALL your Representative and tell him or her that you support legislation that restricts the current administration's ability to modify current sanctions on Russia. Ask the office to release a statement to the same effect. Tell them that you believe in the American democratic process and that we need to restore confidence in that.

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ACTION 161: Local Tuesdays : DEADLINES TODAY IN GA & NY! Plus CA, FL & SC actions

Thank you for your action submissions, please continue to help create our Local Tuesday emails us by submitting local actions weekly for your town, city, state, region or community by Monday at noon. Let us be your loudspeaker and help you make change in your community! Thank you!

Help us build these weekly emails by submitting your local actions by Monday at noon.

THANK YOU to all who shared this week's regional actions with us!
Please note that we are passing on your messages, and do not endorse issues or candidates.

What you can do

TODAY
!!! VOTE GEORGIA !!!

In GA 6th? Today's the day! VOTE!

Not in GA? Take ONE HOUR today to make phone calls to help Jon Ossoff!

!!! TODAY !!!
2 NEW YORK ACTIONS

1. Tomorrow is the last day of the 2017 session, so MAKE ONE CALL TODAY to your state senator (518) 455-2800 to support four important bills:

• YES on S2950 Early Voting & S2788 ePoll Books for Easy Elections NY, to expand access to the vote for all New Yorkers. Bonus call Flanagan 518-455-2071 & Cuomo 518-474-8390, or take digital action at our automatic action page.

• YES on S4840 the New York Health Act and universal health care for all New Yorkers! Only one more co-sponsor needed!

• YES on The Reproductive Health Act to ensure abortion rights in NY if and when the GOP repeals them nationally. Bonus action at the NYCLU action page.

2. TOMORROW!
6/21 SCOTT PRUIT (EPA) PROTEST AT THE HARVARD CLUB
EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt will be speaking June 21 at the Harvard Club on the subject of "The EPA After Paris". Join Rise and Resist to tell Pruitt that the planet is in a state of emergency, that climate change is real, and that access to clean air and clean drinking water are human rights.

Wednesday, June 21, 11am
35 West 44th St.
Moving picket line in front of the Harvard Club
Bring signs, noisemakers, and your friends.
More details on Facebook.

2 FLORIDA ACTIONS

1. Let's tell Marco Rubio how he is doing
Marco Rubio wants to know how he and the Republicans are doing. Please note that the questions are slanted toward a desired outcome. We will most likely have to write in the issues that are important to us (i.e. environment, education, healthcare). Let's take his survey!

2. Oppose direct-to-voicemail Robocalls
Florida state attorney general Pam Bondi has yet to comment on the Republican-endorsed proposal to allow robocalls that go straight to voicemail. Ask Bondi to comment publicly in opposition invasive voicemails.

Call Pam Bondi 1-866-966-7226 or write:
Office of the Attorney General
The Capitol PL-01
Tallahassee FL 32399-1050.

2 CALIFORNIA ACTIONS

1. Oppose the Tesoro Refinery's Dangerous Expansion
On May 12 the South Coast Air Quality Management District's board hastily approved a merger between LA based oil refinery Tesoro and oil giant BP. This approval undermines LA Mayor Garcetti's goals with respect to the Paris Climate Agreement and represents a stark departure from CA's world-renowned leadership on clean energy and climate change. It also comes despite known harms the project will cause not just in LA but along the entire West Coast.

Call Wayne Nastri, the Executive Director of the South Coast Air Quality Management District, at 909-396-3131 (or email):

"Hi, I'm calling about the Tesoro refinery's expansion, to which I am opposed. California is supposed to be leading the charge against climate change, and this isn't the way to get there!"

2. CA Action Make Calls to pass Solar Legislation
Contact your CA State Assembly Member and ask them to vote YES on SB 71 & 700, two solar bills that just passed the State Senate! SB 71 authorizes the implementation of a solar roof mandate, which will require solar panels to be installed on most new buildings in CA. SB 700 provides rebates to customers for installing energy storage systems, which allow solar power to be used at all hours of the day by addressing the so-called "duck curve" - the challenge of over-production of solar energy during the day and under-production at night.

SOUTH CAROLINA ELECTION

June 20 will be the special election in another surprisingly competitive race in Frank Underwood's District, a red district that can help flip the balance of power.

Pitch in to help Archie Parnell by phone banking, donating, volunteering and spreading the word.

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ACTION 162: Healthcare for America

After yesterday's Georgia house race, you may be feeling at a loss about the momentum of the movement and what's needed next. That is totally understandable.

This grassroots movement we all surged into after the election is working, bit by bit, and we can see it in action in the fight for healthcare.

Healthcare reform has been a continual struggle in our country, historically led by a few groups, working without public input, and often without soliciting grass-roots participation. And it is happening again this way, with Senate writing a bill in secret.

But before now there had been no sizable movement of ordinary people demanding and advocating for healthcare, on their own behalf. It is an arena, where public outcry and voices of the American public can outweigh big corporate interests.

While the exact changes the Senate plans to make to the House’s American Health Care Act (AHCA) are not certain, we do know that the changes being talked about are minor and the two plans will share far more in common than not. The Senate is still on track to make people pay more, have access to less coverage, and cut over $800 billion from Medicaid.

The list of priority Senators is below. If you are in one of those key states, please, set up a meeting with your Senator’s staff. If you can’t meet with them (or even if you can), call them, and follow up with an email. And then, do it all again tomorrow. They need to hear from us regularly!

Even if you aren't in one of the states below, we need everyone from all states to let the Senate know that we see what they're doing and demand that they hold hearings on the bill! Go to #2 below.

What you can do

1. CALL, CALL, CALL

Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and asking the operator to connect you.

if you are in one of the states below:

Alaska: Murkowski and Sullivan
Arkansas: Cotton
Arizona: Flake
Colorado: Gardner
Georgia: Isakson
Indiana: Young
Louisiana: Cassidy
Maine: Collins
Missouri: Blunt
Montana: Daines
Nebraska: Fischer and Sasse
Nevada: Heller
Ohio: Portman
Pennsylvania: Toomey
South Carolina: Graham
Tennessee: Alexander and Corker
West Virginia: Capito
Wisconsin: Johnson

2. CALL, CALL, CALL
Senate HELP Committee at 202-224-5375 and the Senate Finance Committee at 202-224-4515 and demand that they hold hearings before bringing the bill to a floor vote

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ACTION 163: Trumpcare Tracker for today and tomorrow

The Senate just released the newest version of Trumpcare.

Trying to get pregnant? You're out of luck with maternity care coverage. Does someone in your family have a mental health issue? Insurers won't be responsible for that. Medicaid covers nearly 1 in 5 Americans, and this version of Trumpcare includes deep cuts to that program--simple economics dictates that this would be a huge blow to the backbone of the American economy.

The American Hospital Association and the Association of American Medical Colleges have condemned the bill.

Our excellent friends at 5Calls have compiled a TrumpCare Tracker detailing where every Senator stands on this bill. Use it to ask yours to release a statement on their position.

Also, you guys are amazing. We are continuously buoyed by your hard work, encouraged by your clicks, calls, and emails of support. We're proud and honored to be part of a movement that IS you.

What you can do

1. YUP, CALL Today and tomorrow. See where your Senator stands here; the site also has a geolocation tool to find out their contact information.

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ACTION 164: We're Know You're Tired, But Zombie Trumpcare Isn't Going Away Until We Make It Go Away

Thanks for sticking with us.

At the end of the summer, this vampire is either going to be the newly released version of Trumpcare, or the American people and our economy. Make no mistake, this is a war of attrition on the middle class, packaged as a party win. Don't let them wear us down on this hugely important legislation.

We'll give you more details on the bill on Monday. Because August recess is fast approaching, we need the same push all you enacted for the first version. Please, take a few minutes today to call your Senators. If you already have, try to think of one person in another state who would be receptive to this message and forward it to them with a personal note.

What you can do

1. CALL YOUR SENATORS after looking up where they stand on the legislation on the 5calls website. You can thank them if they've already released a statement against the bill, or ask them to step up against it if they haven't yet. Even better, think of one person who might make a phone call and forward this message to them.

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Action 165: Healthcare Now or Never

If you ever only do one action from us, let it be this one.

The Senate vote on the healthcare repeal bill a.k.a. the AHCA bill, a.k.a. Trumpcare, a.k.a. the bill that may kick your grandmother out of her nursing home, is set to happen before the July 4th break.

The Senate vote is the entire ballgame. This is it - there are no more chances after this to stop Trumpcare.

If it passes, it will be on Trump's desk and signed into law within days. Not weeks or months. Days. What's truly American? Acting in the interest of our fellow Americans. Let's celebrate independence day, knowing we can all have access to healthcare. Get on it - call your senator today!

What you can do

1. CALL these senators on the whip list - they are pivotal to this vote. Try all the office numbers - NEVADA, WEST VIRGINIA, OHIO, MAINE, ARIZONA, COLORADO, ALASKA - we're counting on you!

Sen. Dean Heller (R-NV)
U.S. Capitol: (202) 224-6244
Las Vegas: (702) 388-6605
Reno: (775) 686-5770

Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV)
U.S. Capitol: (202) 224-6472
Beckley: (304) 347-5372
Charleston: (304) 347-5372
Martinsburg: (304) 262-9285
Morgantown: (304) 292-2310

Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH)
U.S. Capitol: (202) 224-3353
Cincinnati: (513) 684-3265
Cleveland: (216) 522-7095
Columbus: (614) 469-6774
Toledo: (419) 259-3895

Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME)
U.S. Capitol: (202) 224-2523
Augusta: (207) 622-8414
Bangor: (207) 945-0417
Biddeford: (207) 283-1101
Caribou: (207) 493-7873
Lewiston: (207) 784-6969
Portland: (207) 780-3575

Sen. Jeff Flake (R-AZ)
U.S. Capitol: (202) 224-4521
Phoenix: (602) 840-1891
Tucson: (520) 575-8633

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ)
U.S. Capitol: (202) 224-2235
Phoenix: (602) 952-2410
Prescott: (928) 445-0833
Tucson: (520) 670-6334

Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO)
U.S. Capitol: (202) 224-5941
Colorado Springs: (719) 632-6706
Denver: (303) 391-5777
Durango: (970) 415-7416
Fort Collins: (970) 484-3502
Grand Junction: (970) 245-9553
Greeley: (970) 352-5546
Pueblo: (719) 543-1324
Yuma: (970) 848-3095

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)
U.S. Capitol: (202) 224-6665
Anchorage: (907) 271-3735
Fairbanks: (907) 456-0233
Juneau: (907) 586-7277
Wasilla: (907) 376-7665
Kenai: (907) 283-5808
Ketchikan: (907) 225-6880

2. CALL your senator no matter the state - we need to lock in that "NO" vote - and ask what their plan of action is.
Capitol Switchboard (202) 224-3121

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Action 166: Local Tuesdays : DC Action to Stop Trumpcare, NY, CA

Thank you for your action submissions, please continue to help create our Local Tuesday emails us by submitting local actions weekly for your town, city, state, region or community each week by noon Mondays. Let us be your loudspeaker and help you make change in your community! Thank you!

What you can do

DC ACTION

Join this week's The People's Filibuster to Stop Trumpcare with Move On, Planned Parenthood, SEIU, Women's March and many more, at the United States Capitol to stop the Republican effort to take away our health care. Senate Majority Leader McConnell wants to vote this week, but if just 3 Republicans reject Trumpcare, it can't pass. Let’s send a loud message to the Senate that we want them to stand with us and vote AGAINST the Republican bill to take health care from tens of millions of Americans.

Tuesday, June 27, 2-7pm - NE side of Capitol on the lawn
Wednesday, June 28, 8am-2pm - SE side of Capitol on the lawn
Wednesday, June 28, 5pm - Hug the Senate - human chain surrounding the Capitol, SE side of Capitol on the lawn
Thursday, June 29, 3-7pm - SE side of Capitol on the lawn

If you can't be at the Capitol you can watch via #MoveOn's Facebook Live.

NEW YORK ACTION

The NY State Senate closed the 2017 legislative session last week without bringing our progressive bills up for a vote. Let them know how unhappy you are with the do-nothing legislative session that just ended. Flanagan ended with this comment: "If the people's business isn't done in any way, shape or form-we will come back". Call and tell them you want S2950 Early Voting, S2788 ePoll Books, S4840 the New York Health Act and the Reproductive Health Act to get a vote when the Legislature comes back into special session.

Governor Cuomo: 518-474-8390 (press 2)
Majority Leader Flanagan: 518-455-2071

CALIFORNIA ACTION

California has already passed Single-Payer in the Senate, now it just needs a vote in the Assembly, but Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon shelved it and won't bring it for a vote. Call California Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon at (916) 319-2063 and tell him you oppose this action!

“The people of California are counting on the Legislature to protect them now, not sometime next year, and as polls have shown Californians support this proposal by a wide majority. A solution to this healthcare emergency could be at hand; Speaker Rendon is standing in opposition. At the very least we deserve to know where our reps stand on this issue. Please bring it to the floor for a vote.”

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Action 167: Make It Personal

While the Senate vote on repealing the ACA has been delayed - hurrah! - we haven't won yet. They will be revisiting this bill after the break, and they will by then, have spent tremendous energy putting pressure on those moderate Republican senators who took a stance against the bill.

How can we continue the pressure in the meantime? By telling our personal stories of how the ACA has affected our lives via social media. Post to instagram and tweet at your senators - see the various hashtags and sites that have been set up to show our politicians the personal impact of their policy decisions on healthcare.

What you can do

TWEET and RETWEET about how the ACA has impacted your life using the Women's March tag #HowTheACASavedMyLife
Make sure to tweet at your senators!
SUBMIT your healthcare story to sites and organizations advocating for the ACA like FamiliesUSAand CAP's Our Lives Our Stories

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Action 168: TrumpDon'tCare Delayed—Don't Celebrate Yet

Well, flooding Senators with calls and showing up to their offices worked. TrumpCare has stalled once again because Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell doesn't have the votes ... yet.

While postponing the vote until after the July 4th recess is certainly a small win, it by no means indicates the bill is dead. Instead, what this really does is give McConnell more time to get the votes that he needs to actually pass this; this recess is critical.

And while the Senate has another chance to help line the pockets of the rich by passing a literal death sentence to 200,000 people over the course of a decade, we get another chance to stop them in their tracks.

So, here's the plan:

If you live in one of the ten targeted states (Alaska, West Virginia, Maine, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Louisiana, Arkansas) follow Indivisible's guide for contacting your Senators.

Not in a target state? We still need your help—and it is critical!

Democratic Senators should "withhold their consent" to waive Senate rules (which is often done to get work completed since the rules are so convoluted) so that business slows to a crawl. They should be prepared to filibuster by amendment, and prepare to submit thousands of amendments to the bill since they have the ability to make unlimited amendments because the bill is being passed via reconciliation. Refer to Indivisible's guide for more on what this means.

Go here to find out how this bill will impact your state specifically.

We know you're tired - but guess what - the opposition is counting on it.

What you can do

CALL YOUR DEMOCRATIC SENATOR and ask them to resist this bill through Senate procedure in one of two ways: filibustering by amendment or withholding consent—these can help slow down the process of passing the legislation and tie it up. Choose one of these procedures (either one is fine) and call and ask them to do that. Need a longer explanation of these procedures and a script? Use the one at the bottom of this page from Indivisible.
CALL YOUR REPUBLICAN SENATOR and ask them to commit to voting against the bill, and commit to voting against any bill that doesn't guarantee people with pre-existing conditions will get a higher premium, and to vote against anything eliminating Medicaid funding.

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169

Action 169: Protect Our Right To Vote

In case you missed it in the ****storm of news flying at us, the 45 administration and Kris Kobach have undertaken the most dangerous step toward massive voter suppression we’ve seen yet.
Kobach is famous for his voter suppression effortswhich helped purge 200,000 voters from the rolls in Wisconsin alone, ensuring Trump’s win.

On Wednesday, 45’s "Election Integrity” commission sent a disturbing request for each state in the nation to hand over vast amounts of sensitive voter data, using an insecure server no less. Read the request here.

Read this statement in response to understand why some states have begun refusing the request.Keep track of all state responses, and take action to ensure yours joins them in protecting your private information as a voter.

What you can do

Make no bones about it; this is the federal government hatching a 50 state voter suppression scheme. Take action now, or regret it forever.

CALL the organization in charge of elections in your state TODAY
CALL YOUR GOVERNOR TODAY
SPREAD THE WORD on twitter, Facebook, and to friends. This is not getting nearly enough traction in the news.

Keep calling until your state has issued a statement refusing to comply.

SCRIPT
As we prepare for the 241st Independence Day, I am calling as a Voter to insist that you safeguard my personal information and do not turn over voter information to the federal Kobach-Pense Commission. That Commission, premised on the lie of rampant illegal voting, is nothing more than a partisan attempt to manipulate our voting processes to make it harder for eligible Americans to vote. Please issue a statement refusing to comply.

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT
This is a moment that will change history. A moment that we must not let slide quietly by, or we will look back in 20 years and realize where we failed to protect our democracy. Please take this week to reflect - and take action - on the meaning of July 4th, and protect our independence and most valuable right - our right to vote.

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170

Action 170: Independence Day, and What That Means To Us

The grassroots movement is redefining politics, and we are immensely proud to count you amongst our supporters. There are eight thousand other people on this list with you, engaged in the new normal of regular civic actions, none too small to have impact.

Please take today and tomorrow to reflect on the incredible amount of work you have collectively performed in service of our country in the last six months since the inauguration.

If you're looking for some reading for this week, check out Indivisible's Guide to July Recess.

We'll see you again on Wednesday. Happy Independence Day.

What you can do

EAT something delicious. We hope you're able to take July 4 off; if you're not, we're with you, because one of our co-founders has to work that day too.

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171

Action 171: This Request Does Not Compute

Ironically, even Kris Kobach won't heed his own request for states to turnover the personal and public data of the country's 200 million voters to Trump's Presidential Advisory Commission on Voter Integrity. Kobach, who is the commission's vice-chair and infamous for voter suppression in his own state, said that Kansas' privacy laws prevented him from fully complying with the request. So why does he want other states to turn over the data?

The entire premise of the commission lies on Trump's fraudulent claim that rampant voter fraud resulted in his loss in the popular vote. Despite research and state reports that have repeatedly found that voter fraud is exceedingly uncommon, Kobach has claimed that it is widespread.

The endgame here will be to portray the voting system as vulnerable and then set the stage for more restrictive laws making it harder for people to register and vote.

Only 25 states have publicly rebuffed the request so far. If you are in any of the remaining states below, please make the calls listed in Actions! And wherever you live make this issue public on social media.

Alaska
Colorado
Indiana
Kansas
Michigan
Missouri
Nevada
New Hampshire
North Carolina
Ohio
Oklahoma
Rhode Island
Texas
Utah
Alabama
Arkansas
Florida
Idaho
Montana
Nebraska
Hawaii
Illinois
South Carolina
West Virginia
New Jersey

What you can do

1. CALL the organization in charge of elections in your state TODAY

CALL YOUR GOVERNOR TODAY
SPREAD THE WORD on twitter, Facebook, and to friends. This is not getting nearly enough traction in the news.

USE THIS SCRIPT (feel free to ad-lib, of course)

I am calling as a Voter to insist that you safeguard my personal information and do not turn over voter information to the federal Kobach-Pense Commission. That Commission, premised on the lie of rampant illegal voting, is nothing more than a partisan attempt to manipulate our voting processes to make it harder for eligible Americans to vote. Please issue a statement refusing to comply.

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172

Are You A Blue Stater? Here's What To Do about Trumpcare

We get a lot of emails from those of you in "blue" states saying you feel helpless in the face of federal legislation when your representatives already reflect your interests.

Here's your opportunity to help.

The next few days we will run a series of actions for people who want to take action on the ACA on a nationwide level.

Other people’s senators won’t listen to us, but they might listen to their constituents. The Service Employee's International Union and other progressive groups have set up the ACA Defenders team to help us make sure those voices are being heard. They’re running virtual phone banks to call folks in key states and connect to them their senators. You can sign up and start calling.

What you can do

1. SIGN UP at this link to call Americans in districts represented by lawmakers who haven't yet committed to voting against a health care bill that takes away coverage, slashes Medicaid or increases premiums.

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173

Got a Healthcare Story? Slow Down Trumpcare With It

Congress is in recess right now, which means Mitch McConnell is working hard to whip the necessary votes to pass Trumpcare.
This is a priority for the Senate majority before August recess.

Word on the street is that the earliest the next vote could take place is the week of July 17.

Indivisible is organizing folks to send their own senators as many amendments as possible to submit in the form of how Trumpcare would affect you, or how the ACA has helped you.
Because the Republicans are using reconciliation to jam this bill through, they have to allow an unlimited number of amendments, which all then need to be voted on on the Senate floor during a “vote-a-rama.”

The more our senators introduce, the longer we delay the final vote. The longer we delay the final vote, the more people find out that the Republicans are trying to take health insurance away from millions of people to cut taxes for the wealthy.

What you can do

1. SHARE YOUR STORY about how Trumpcare would impact you and your family here and they'll ask that your Senator include it as part of the Congressional Record. Be warned the site loads a little slowly.

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174

Net Neutrality Day of Action - July 12th !

Back in May we told you about the FCC vote to start repealing the net neutrality rules put in place in 2015.

This coming Wednesday, July 12th, is a huge day of action in support of net neutrality and a day to show FCC chairman Ajit Pai, that we will not let him turn the internet into a "pay to play" marketplace. Join thousands of internet users, and websites, apps, and search engines to make this a big day of protest.

Here's a little refresher on why net neutrality and an open internet is important: Net neutrality means there is an even playing field. The rules prohibit future “paid prioritization” deals in which content providers pay to have their traffic delivered to consumers ahead of competitors and bans intentional slowing down of internet traffic. If the FCC has its way though, big cable companies will control what we see and have access to online. You can read up on all the other reasons to support these net neutrality rules here.

What you can do

1. JOIN the protest here. They will send you action details once you sign up. You can also scroll through the great actions and images to use already up on their site.

2. TWEET BRIGADE! Opt-in to tweet at key moments, change your profile pics and spread the word to all your followers using these resources.

3. POST AN ALERT if you have a website, join other sites in protest by displaying a prominent alert on your homepage that shows the world what the web will look like without net neutrality. Details here (scroll down to SITES), code here.

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175

March from the NRA to the DOJ

Join us this Friday, July 14th & Saturday, July 15th

Two weeks ago, our sisters at Women's March became aware of a troubling NRA ad that demonstrates not only total disregard for the lives of black and brown people in America, but is a direct endorsement of violence against people - like you - exercising their constitutional right to protest. The video unashamedly peddles an "us versus them" narrative while calling for our resistance movement to be met with violence.

In response, Women's March co-chair Tamika Mallory penned an open letter to the CEO of the NRA, Wayne LaPierre. In it she asked that the NRA:

Remove the irresponsible and dangerous video.
Issue an apology to the American people for producing a video that suggests armed violence against communities of color, progressives and anyone who does not align with Trump administration policies.
Defend Philando Castile’s second amendment right to own a firearm, by demanding that the DOJ indict the police officer who killed him.

And the NRA responded.

In subsequent, equally disturbing attack ads and dangerous twitter rants, they doubled down on their stance - and called out Tamika and other movement leaders by name. With their current vitriol, the NRA continues to actively put our safety, security and first amendment rights at risk.

We need to act now! We cannot allow anyone to threaten us and our communities. It's going to be another long, hot summer.

What you can do

WE ASK THAT YOU:

1. JOIN US & MOBILIZE THIS FRIDAY, July 14th in Fairfax, VA for the 18-mile march from the NRA to the DOJ, then in DC on Saturday, July 15th for a mobilization outside of the DOJ. RSVP HERE. Read the March FAQ.

2. DONATE to support the march. Your contributions will go towards water, food, security and other logistics to ensure an effective mobilization.

3. SPREAD THE WORD ON SOCIAL MEDIA. Here is a toolkit with everything you need to help!

DETAILS FOR THE MARCH & MOBILIZATION:

Friday, July 14th
9am: Gather outside of NRA headquarters in Fairfax, VA
10am: Rally begins
12pm: Step off for the March to the DOJ
9pm: Overnight vigil / stay in D.C. (details are being coordinated)

Saturday, July 15th
10am: Mobilization outside of the Department of Justice

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The Open Internet

Join thousands of other internet users, websites, and online services today to demand for an open internet, and keep the net neutrality rules in place!

The internet should be an open playing field where the small business in Omaha can have as much bandwidth as the big chain store. The open internet is a place where paid prioritization is banned!

See actions below.

What you can do

1. SEND A LETTER to the FCC here

2. JOIN THE TWITTER BRIGADE. opt-in to tweet at key moments, change your profile pics and spread the word to all your followers using these resources.

3. RUN A WIDGET on your site. If you have a website, we encourage you to put in this one simple line of javascript to encourage people to take action. See examples and get the code here

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177

North Korean Missile Crisis: A Primer

Over the past several weeks, you may have found yourself wondering how likely a nuclear war with North Korea is, a thought that was unfathomable just a year ago. But just what does this all mean and how the hell did we get here anyway?

Here are some key points.

What you can do

What's happening?
North Korea has successfully launched an Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBM)—a long-range missile—despite US objections. They've ramped up testing and are thought to possess anywhere from 10-16 nuclear weapons that can be attached to these ICBMs.

So, what?
These nuclear missiles can reach Alaska! There's debate about whether the missiles can currently reenter the earth's atmosphere (a ballistic missile shoots up past the Earth's atmosphere and reenter before hitting its target). But experts say it is only a matter of time before North Korea establishes successful reentry and has the ability to launch a nuclear long-range missile.

Okay, let's take em' out!
Not so fast. A US preemptive nuclear strike or strike to destroy their missiles would result in retaliation against our allies in the region, Japan and North Korea - particularly Seoul. The US also has military outposts in both Japan and South Korea which could be targets.

Will they strike first?
For now it seems that the principles of Mutual Assured Destruction (MAD), our standard strategy around nuclear weapons, is functioning as a deterrent; they know if they strike first they'll be destroyed in a counter strike (though experts aren't sure how long that will last).

Can we stop a missile?
The US successfully executed the Terminal High Altitude Area Missile Defense System (THAAD) in Kodiak, Alaska, shooting down an Intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM). The problem is this system doesn't work on long-range missiles like the one North Korea is using. The system's primary benefit is surveillance capability which would allow it to detect a missile launch.

What has Trump said about this?
Despite Trump's assertion that the development of a nuclear weapon capable of reaching the US "won't happen" it seems that it has—or is imminent. For now, we'll have to learn to live with it as the risk of unprovoked action is just too great.

Want to know more about how we got here? Read this and this.

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Instagram, NRA2DOJ, Upcoming Week in Healthcare

Some housekeeping items + a recap today:

Find us on Instagram for shareable media + fun.

August recess for Congress has been postponed by two weeks. This is designed to give Senate Republicans time to push through the new Trumpcarebill released yesterday. Which still is based on avoiding coverage for anyone who was sick, is sick, or plans to be sick.
More on this next week.

Today is the Women's March in DC from the NRA to the Department of Justice. There are dozens of solidarity marches taking place all over the country. Look for yours at the bottom of this page.

What you can do

Rest up and have a good weekend. Get pumped for a renewed battle on healthcare next week. Thanks for all of your hard work, we couldn't do it without you.

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179

Just a Few More Weeks

The next few weeks are going to be crucial to the passage of Trumpcare. Here’s why:

Mitch McConnell extended the legislative session for an extra two weeks for the express purpose of trying to ram this bill through. He knows that if Senators go home to their constituents and have to face their concerns during August recess there will be even more problems for it.

If we can resist this new version of Trumpcare for the following few weeks, and prevent a vote from taking place before August recess, it will signal the end for these repeal bills. When Congress reconvenes in September, the 2018 midterm elections will be looming too closely to push anything as unpopular as Trumpcare.

A procedural vote on the measure could take place as soon as tomorrow. That means the voting could occur this week.

What you can do

1. SIGN UP here to call voters in red states with key senators to remind them to tell their Senator to vote NO on the healthcare repeal bill.

2. CALL, CALL CALL your own senators! I know we say it all the time, but please take a moment this week to reach out and let them know how you feel about this repeal bill, even if you are in a blue state. If you don't have your senators' numbers on speed dial by now: Capitol Switchboard 202-224-3121

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180

Local Action For National Health Care

The zombie health care repeal bill appears to be dead - for the moment - but make no mistake, it will come back.

YOU are the reason it died, and YOU will be the ones to stop it again, and ensure millions get to keep our health coverage. Two reps came out against the repeal & replace bill last night and that was enough to kill it - it's local action focused on our own reps that turns the tide.

But Republicans in Congress aren't getting the message; they think it's too caring, not too cold - and they'll vote in the coming days on a repeal-only version that leaves even more of us without health insurance. This will gain supporters on the far right, so we have to activate again - NOW, during recess - to ensure our reps come out against this idea strongly and from the get-go.

What you can do

1. FIND A LOCAL ACTION HERE - There are over 60 actions planned in over and counting - if you have an event to add you can email them. *If you have trouble opening the live link we posted the events as of the time of this email here.

2. CALL, CALL CALL your own senators! 202-224-3121

Not sure what to say? It doesn't have to be fancy, stick with "I want to keep my health coverage, don't repeal the ACA" or "pass single payer, don't repeal Obamacare", they're really just checking boxes so you don't need to say much. But if you want to, here's some ideas:

For your Republican senators, the message is clear:

Stop wasting time.
Draft legislation to fix this year's emergency issues in insurance exchanges.
Return to "regular business" as McCain put it - use public hearings and draft that bipartisan legislation with Democrats.

For your Democratic senators, the message is to aggressively obstruct and slow down all Senate business until the GOP permanently kills off their effort to write a health care bill with no Democratic input and pass it with no Democratic votes. Obstruct in the Committees and obstruct on the Senate floor.

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181

A Win and a Change

The GOP Senate effort to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act has failed, for now. And we could not be more relieved and more proud of everyone who has spent any minute of their time calling, writing, texting, and tweeting, about this issue in the last several months. Together our efforts created the colossal wave that was needed to turn this ship.

Some people call this citizen activism, but we at 2 Hours A Week deeply believe this is just what it means to be an active participant in our country. To care, means to be civically engaged!

Take this week to reach out to your senators and thank them for standing up to protect our healthcare. The Trump administration is not ready to give up yet, so make sure we have our senators' backs when the repeal talk comes back up!

We also wanted to let you know that we will be reducing our emails to four a week so that we can spend more time researching and developing them. Starting next week, we will not be sending emails on Wednesday unless there is an urgent issue at hand. Thank you!

What you can do

1. THANK THEM! Our senators worked hard and made tough decisions. If yours stood up against the Senate Healthcare bill, then give them a ring and let them know what it means to you!
Capitol Switchboard 202-224-3121

Use this script (feel free to ad-lib, of course)
Hi
I am calling to thank Senator_____ for standing up to protect our healthcare. Thank you for listening to the people you represent, and making sure our voices are heard in this battle. I hope we can be a little relieved now, but should a repeal come up in the future, I urge you to again listen to your constituents the matter.
(Tell your own healthcare story)

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182

The Purge is Coming

A couple of weeks ago, we addressed impending voter purging in the form of Trump's Election Integrity Commission. Here we review and follow-up on the latest.

A refresher on the commission: After losing the popular vote, Trump used his shortcomings to lie about voter fraud, ad nauseam, and set the stage for a nationwide attempt at voter suppression. After peddling his lie as the truth, he established a voter suppression dream-team - Kris Kobach (who has a long history of outright lying about voter fraud to keep minorities and Democrats from voting), J. Christian Adams, Ken Blackwell, and Hans von Spakovsky - aka the Election "Integrity" Commission.

The group, which had it's first meeting yesterday, is off to a rocky start. And while we all admired the moxie of states that spurned the commission, the Department of Justice (DOJ) issued an even more disturbing request that flew under the radar.

On the same day the commission issued requests, the DOJ issued letters to 44 states demanding that they verify compliance with a single provision of the 1993 National Voter Registration Act; this provision specifies when voters can be dumped from rolls. It would be one thing if the DOJ looked at one or two states to investigate compliance, but this moves indicates that the DOJ is gearing up to facilitate a nationwide voter purge. The scary part is that the DOJ has the expertise and resources to make it happen.

Indeed, another member of Trumps voter suppression team, J. Christian Adams, has written the playbook on using litigation to have minority and Democratic voters purged from the rolls, and his former team is still at it.

It seems that Trump's voter suppression strategy is two-fold: use the commission to gut the 1993 NVRA and make it harder for the poor and minorities to both register and vote AND use the DOJ to facilitate mass purges.

So how can we stop this attack on voters? See action below

What you can do

1. CALL your US Representative, Senators and State Representatives (you can find them all here) and tell them to oppose Trump's Voter Suppression agenda being carried out by the DOJ and his sham commission, established based on lies about voter fraud.
Capitol Switchboard 202-224-3121

USE THIS SCRIPT (feel free to ad-lib, of course)

I am calling as a voter to insist that you safeguard my personal information and do not turn over voter information to the federal Kobach-Pense Commission. That Commission, premised on the lie of rampant illegal voting, is nothing more than a partisan attempt to manipulate our voting processes to make it harder for eligible Americans to vote. Furthermore this request by the DOJ seems to be a dangerous coordinated effort with the commission to purge voters. Please issue a statement refusing to comply and call out the DOJ request for what it is - a true danger to our most basic American right to vote.

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183

Funding Congressional Races 1¢ at a time

We're starting a new series at 2 Hours A Week. In addition to the important work of resisting the news, there are citizens all over the country leveraging innovative technology as well as good old community organizing in order to fix some of our fundamental civic issues.

We're going to bring you some of their stories.

Here's our first What Activism Looks Like.

What you can do

It Starts Today

Money is one of the biggest impediments to running for Congress. A recent study found that candidates for Senate must raise an average of $3,300 every day for six years to match the contributions collected by that year's winner.

Money hobbles races; the need for it to run for office also immediately weeds out diversity.

We cannot afford this type of insecurity in our Democratic races: the 2016 election was lost in just a handful of battlegrounds.

It Starts Today uses the simplest of tactics—disbursing money to every single Democratic Congressional candidate the day after they win their primary—to level the playing field.

This works via a monthly subscription—$4.68 minimum to be exact, a figure that represents one penny per federal and state race in the country (you can donate more).

Started by a progressive campaign finance attorney and political technology entrepreneur, It Starts Today is designed to ensure that each Democratic nominee can run a funded, competitive campaign, regardless of their background.

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184

ACT Before This Tuesday! TrumpCare Zombie

We all breathed a sigh of relief last week when the Senate health-care bill seemed on its way out.

It turns out that the Senate Republicans, at Trump's urging, are giving it one more try this Tuesday.

This Tuesday, they will carry out a procedural vote on any version of the bill they think they can pass.

It is all mired in confusion, but it seems that McConnell will bring to the floor an "anti-ACA bill passed by the House this spring and allow senators a sort of free-for-all for substituting in either of the Senate measures or new iterations." Basically, they will improvise the bill as they go along until they reach something that can pass.

This is not normal Senate behavior—the GOP, still somehow under Trump's thumb and desperate to pass something before August recess, has resorted to these extreme measures.

If a version of either bill passes the procedural vote, then things will move very quickly.

We need to keep the pressure up on those on-the-fence Republicans. Especially those that did not support it last week, but now after some strong-arming are saying they do.

And can we just say: The only reason the repeal hasn't already happened is because of your actions—keep it up just a little longer.

What you can do

1. TEXT the word "Care" to 668366 and MoveOn will send you up to the date actions on healthcare throughout the next couple of days.

2. SIGN UP here to call voters in red states with key senators to remind them to tell their Senator to vote NO on the healthcare repeal bill.

3. CALL If you are represented by any of these Senators, keep the heat on them!

Sen. Dean Heller (R-NV)
U.S. Capitol: (202) 224-6244
Las Vegas: (702) 388-6605
Reno: (775) 686-5770

Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV)
U.S. Capitol: (202) 224-6472
Beckley: (304) 347-5372
Charleston: (304) 347-5372
Martinsburg: (304) 262-9285
Morgantown: (304) 292-2310

Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH)
U.S. Capitol: (202) 224-3353
Cincinnati: (513) 684-3265
Cleveland: (216) 522-7095
Columbus: (614) 469-6774
Toledo: (419) 259-3895

Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME)
U.S. Capitol: (202) 224-2523
Augusta: (207) 622-8414
Bangor: (207) 945-0417
Biddeford: (207) 283-1101
Caribou: (207) 493-7873
Lewiston: (207) 784-6969
Portland: (207) 780-3575

Sen. Jeff Flake (R-AZ)
U.S. Capitol: (202) 224-4521
Phoenix: (602) 840-1891
Tucson: (520) 575-8633

Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO)
U.S. Capitol: (202) 224-5941
Colorado Springs: (719) 632-6706
Denver: (303) 391-5777
Durango: (970) 415-7416
Fort Collins: (970) 484-3502
Grand Junction: (970) 245-9553
Greeley: (970) 352-5546
Pueblo: (719) 543-1324
Yuma: (970) 848-3095

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)
U.S. Capitol: (202) 224-6665
Anchorage: (907) 271-3735
Fairbanks: (907) 456-0233
Juneau: (907) 586-7277
Wasilla: (907) 376-7665
Kenai: (907) 283-5808
Ketchikan: (907) 225-6880

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IT'S NOT OVER

There are still 6 steps to repeal health care, and 6 chances to stop it. Check out this flow chart to follow the progress and understand the process.

Get to work.

What you can do

Indivisible has put together a great action page, go there for info, or skip straight to the action:

1. SHOW UP TODAY & TOMORROW. Find a local action or create one.

2. IN A BLUE STATE? Use this simple phone banking tool from Indivisible with support scripts to call people in strategic states and get them involved.

3. CALL, CALL CALL your own senators! 202-224-3121

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186

The Personal is Political: On July 29, Share Your Story With Our Country

Facts and figures don't change hearts and minds: personal connections and personal stories do.

On Saturday, July 29th, Americans are coming together all across the country to share their stories and say: OUR LIVES ARE ON THE LINE if Republicans pass Trumpcare and strip our health coverage.

Join us in person and online. Let's create a wall of stories that expose the heartlessness and economic folly of the current iteration of the healthcare plan.

What you can do

1. SHARE YOUR STORY IN PERSON - Join one of over 100 Our Lives On the Line events planned around the country this Saturday. Don't see an event and want to create one? They make it easy to host a successful event with this guide.

2. SHARE YOUR STORY ON TWITTER - Join the thousands of people sharing their personal stories and tag #HowTheACASavedMyLife.

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187

We Won't Stand For Trump's Trans Ban

This administration's ludicrous attempt to block the participation of transgender individuals in the military is an assault on the very principles on which this country is founded. It is a retrograde waste of time, an outrage, and a measure based on pure discrimination.

Thousands of transgender individuals are already protecting our country.

Trump's ostensible justifications are pathetic excuses: the president of the American Medical Association responded that there is no medically valid reason to exclude transgender individuals from military service. The military spends FIVE TIMES AS MUCH ON VIAGRA as on medical care for gender transition related treatment.

This is yet another pathetic power grab by an ineffectual administration to achieve any legislative win at all.

We will not stand for it.

What you can do

1. BLOCK THE BAN THROUGH APPROPRIATIONS
Politico is reporting a rumor that Democrats are going to try to attach language to the “Securitybus” spending bill to overturn Trump’s ban. Call your members of Congress and tell them you want them to support this effort: https://callyourrep.co/.

2. SUPPORT TRANS VETERANS’ GROUPS
Donate to the Transgender American Veterans Association, a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting trans veterans receive the care and benefits they deserve: http://transveteran.org. (H/T Gaby Ortiz Flores)

3. STAND UP FOR TRANS RIGHTS IN YOUR STATE
Important to remember that this isn’t just Trump. Republicans across the country are trying to continue and worsen discrimination against the transgender community. Check out the National Center for Transgender Equality’s Action Center to see what’s going on in your state and sign up to be alerted to take action: http://www.transequality.org/action-center.

(For Massachusetts folks especially: #TransLawMA is under threat of repeal at the ballot box next fall. You can sign up for the Freedom for All Massachusetts action team to stand with transgender people in our state and keep in place protections against discrimination in public spaces: http://action.freedomma.org/page/s/act)

4. STAND UP FOR TRANS RIGHTS NATIONWIDE
You can start right now by volunteering to phone bank with the
National Equality Action Team. They’re a grassroots field program that mobilizes supporters of equality and allows anyone, no matter where they live, to play a role in historic campaigns: http://volunteer.theneat.org/events

5. PROMOTE TRANS AWARENESS through the excellent documentary series We've Been Around that celebrates the lives of just a few transgender pioneers in history.

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188

Let's Say Some Thank Yous and Regroup

The healthcare win was resounding—three separate attempts by a Republican Congress to strike down the principal tenets of the Affordable Care Act in a single week failed.

There are plenty of signs that the Republican administration will continue its stubbornly partisan trajectory to still try to sink a policy they don't get any credit for. More on that later.

For now, let us thank the people who particularly stuck their necks out. While the healthcare win was many people (you, Democratic Senators, John McCain) we want to particularly point out Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins, who took considerable risk and are getting considerable flack in the Twitterverse, from major media outlets, even from elected officials for doing right by Americans.

Let's add our voices to the online tide of commentary and thank them for their service to our country.

What you can do

1. CALL or write Senator Murkowski's offices.
(907) 271-3735
(907) 456-0233
(202)-224-6665

2. CALL or write Senator Collins' offices.
(207) 780-3575
(207) 784-6969
(202)224-2523

3. TWEET them both. @lisamurkowski, @SenatorCollins.

USE THIS SCRIPT (feel free to ad-lib, of course)

I want to thank the Senator for adhering to her principles in the healthcare vote and defending the ACA. Millions of Americans depend on this policy and I am grateful to her dedication in improving the standards of healthcare rather than taking a wrecking ball to them in the name of party politics. Please pass on my appreciation.

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Local Tuesdays: Florida

If you haven’t heard already, there’s a campaign in Florida to restore voting rights for the 1.5 million people who are excluded because of a prior conviction. These are our family members, friends and neighbors who have already paid their debt to society. Americans believe in second chances, and now we have the opportunity to be a part of history, and join a grassroots movement to make sure Florida law does too.

In addition to affecting millions of people, families and communities, this project - completely grassroots and led by the people directly impacted - may lead the way for a new way of creating laws by the people, for the people.

What you can do

TAKE ACTION

1. Join a phone call to learn more. August 1-4, our friends at Women's March will hold a series of phone calls to introduce you to the movement, the campaign, and help you get involved. Calls feature Florida Rights Restoration Coalition President Desmond Meade and Women’s March co-chairs Linda Sarsour and Carmen Perez, among others. The first call starts at 7pm est tonight!

2. Attend a Petition Party. August 5, the campaign kicks with statewide petition parties. Attend one or host one - they have resources to help you.

3. Visit the campaign website to see how you can get involved. This is an ongoing campaign with plenty of opportunities to plug in.

4. NOT IN FLORIDA? Watch this video from Samantha Bee on ways you can get involved too! Then share with your friends & family in Florida!

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Fight Trump's Judicial Nominations

The issue: Trump's stolen nomination of deeply conservative Justice Neil Gorsuch, and Gorsuch's subsequent confirmation to the Supreme Court, was the beginning of our judiciary woes. While we've been battling on multiple fronts, Trump has been quietly, and quickly, reshaping the judiciary at multiple levels.

The details: According to a former White House aide to both Obama and Clinton, Trump had selected 27 lower-court judges by mid-July: three times more than Obama selected and double the number selected by Reagan, George H.W., and Clinton combined. Most of the federal vacancies are lifetime appointments and Trump's nominees are young: they'll influence the justice system for decades.

How it's happening and where you come in: Congressional Republicans are already attempting to clear the way to fast track these radical nominees, breaking with decades of rules and standards. Senate Republicans want to restrict the "blue slip" procedure which allows senators to oppose nominations in their states. The Judiciary Committee wants to exclude writings, public statements, and records of who the nominees have represented from consideration during their hearings. Even more disturbing, the White House has opted out of having the American Bar Association evaluate nominees.

What you can do

1. CALL your Senators at (202) 224-3121 and tell them to use every tool at their disposal to slow down and oppose the judicial nomination and confirmation process.

USE THIS SCRIPT (feel free to ad-lib, of course)

I'm calling to ask that Senators withhold blue slips for ALL of Trump's district and circuit court vacancies. If the nominee does make it to a hearing the Senator must insist that all writing, public statements, and client records are considered out in the open. I also ask that the Senator call out the White House for abandoning American Bar Association evaluations for nominees.

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What Activism Looks Like: Voter Rights

In our second What Activism Looks Like, we bring you a story of a Republican and a Democrat working together for civil rights.

Desmond Meade served time for a drug conviction, but has since recovered and put himself through college and law school. When his wife ran for office in 2016, he was a law-abiding, tax-paying pillar of his community, but couldn't vote for her because Florida is one of only 3 states that permanently strips former felons of their right to vote.

Research shows that giving prisoners community responsibility vastly improves outcomes for both the individual and the community. The US has one of the highest recidivism rates in the world, and it's looking worse with moves by Jeff Sessions to give free reign to unregulated private prisons. Taxation without representation is one of the reasons the 13 colonies revolted against Great Britain; the right to vote is both a founding principle of democracy and an important part of reintegration for citizens who have done their time and are ready for a new start.

Desmond and his partner across the aisle Neil Volz have decided to take matters into their own hands. They're spearheading a groundbreaking, bipartisan, grassroots initiative to offer a second chance to 1.5 million Floridians with prior felony convictions who have paid their debt to society, and restore their voting rights via a referendum on the 2018 ballot.

What you can do

1. WATCH THE VIDEO to learn more.

2. SIGN THE PETITION (If you live in Florida) or SEND A COPY TO FRIENDS & FAMILY IN FLORIDA and get them to sign it.

3. DONATE to help fund the grassroots initiative.

4. JOIN A PETITION PARTY THIS WEEKEND.

5. SPREAD THE WORD.

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Ready for Recess!

We don't mean the recess where you run around the playground pretend-hiring than immediately firing your entourage in a chaotic round of pushing and shoving. No, we'll leave that fun to the others!

August recess is when members of Congress go back to their home turf. If you haven't yet visited the offices of your congressperson, this month is an excellent time: they should be out and about until September 4.

What you can do

1. SCHEDULE A MEETING OR FIND A TOWN HALL
with your member of congress; the Women's March has drawn up a great guide with steps for how to properly set up an appointment.

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT
Your representatives are responding to grassroots efforts. Some Republican campaign promises—like the healthcare repeal—are based largely on politics and optics rather than a clear plan. Making enough noise that our representatives know we're paying attention to an issue can be powerful leverage, enough to block dangerous legislation. We'll talk more soon about action designed not just to resist the current administrations agenda, but also about creating laws you want to see take effect.

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Corporate Welfare? Not on Our Watch!

Congressional Republicans are hoping to hit a home run on tax reform after striking out on healthcare. We can't let that happen.

A big win for them on taxes means huge losses for us: more bonuses and boats for executives and less funding for education and healthcare.

The GOP love to complain about about the US having the highest corporate tax rate in the world at 35 percent. But they fail to mention the fine print. The EFFECTIVE tax rate (what businesses pay after deductions and loopholes are applied) is about 24 percent. And don't forget that some corporations pay no taxes at all while others funnel profits overseas where Uncle Sam can't reach them. An estimated $2.4 trillion is currently off-shored by US corporations to avoid taxation.

Guess who makes up the difference and subsidizes this lost revenue? WE DO!

This is corporate welfare, and the GOP aren't the only ones at fault. Democratic Minority Leader Chuck Schumer offered to work with the GOP on a bipartisan tax reform bill under certain conditions. Not included in his list of deal breakers: corporate tax cuts.

For years, Congress has operated based on the assertion that cutting corporate taxes attracts more business and creates jobs. But we've been shown over and over that's not really true.

Its time for corporations to pony up and pay their fair share. We the people are literally subsidizing them. If they receive billions more in tax cuts, that money has to come from somewhere and it will come from us.

So how do we stop this?

What you can do

1. TALK TAXES WITH YOUR REP Attend a Town Hall meeting OR schedule a meeting with your congressional representatives and tell them OUR priorities on tax reform. You can use this handy guide created by the Women's March to help set up and facilitate a meeting.

USE THESE TALKING POINTS (feel free to ad-lib, of course)

No corporate tax cuts or new corporate tax deductions.
Any tax reform must include a higher effective tax rate for both the rich and corporations.
Tax loopholes for national and multi-national corporations, including tax havens and misleading subsidiaries, need to be closed.
No decreases in tax deductions for the working and middle class.

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Regulations protect humans: Oppose the Regulatory "Accountability" Act!

Electric vehicles seem like progressives' best friend, right? What could go wrong in deregulating that industry? As a matter of fact, lots. One set of regulations that had to be imposed on makers of EVs—added noise so that pedestrians wouldn't get hit by cars that are virtually noiseless. Trump has, of course, ordered an entire team to deregulate industry on his watch.

As Americans know all too well, the price of delayed or inadequate regulation can be very steep: the financial crisis of 2008 cost the U.S. economy trillions of dollars and millions of jobs, and led to millions of families losing their homes.

The Regulatory Accountability Act, which clears the way for industry to have its way with the consumer safety net in all sorts of domains, has passed the House, and has a real chance of being approved by the Senate and signed into law by Donald Trump.

This dangerous legislation requires federal agencies to go through a maze of new hurdles – including dozens of studies, skewed in favor of Wall Street and corporate interests – before any consideration of laws that might protect public interest.
The toys your kids play with, the cars you drive in--everything is up for grabs. The Regulatory Accountability Act has been called the biggest threat to consumer safety pending in Congress.

What you can do

1. TELL YOUR SENATOR you are paying attention to this bill, and to vote against it! 202-224-3121

USE THIS SCRIPT (feel free to ad-lib, of course)

Please help us defeat this dangerous special-interest legislation, which would make it impossible for federal agencies to write rules to hold Wall Street accountable, and have a devastating impact on health, safety, and environmental protections as well

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195

It's Called Domestic Terrorism

It is unbelievable and hard to reckon with the fact that we currently have a sitting president who will not outright denounce white nationalism and white supremacists. After this weekend in Charlottesville, how can we ignore that white nationalism is an essential core principle of Trump's platform and the motivation for the most destructive and violent part of his base?

Every time Trump does not condemn these acts of violence and hate, he is giving them his tacit approval. And his lack of outcry is intentional. His election was buoyed by the likes of white nationalists, many of whom were emboldened to go out on the streets in Charlottesville this weekend.

What can we do? For starters, let's call it for what it is - domestic terrorism. Language is powerful, and can change the way people perceive events. Since this administration started, politicians and the media, have been hesitant to label hate speech, and other violent acts committed by white nationalists as terrorism, but the events of this weekend have finally got them changing their tune. And we need to make sure it stays that way. Free speech does not protect hate speech.

Join us at solidarity events happening across the nation. Guide below.

What you can do

1. STAND IN SOLIDARITY with Charlottesville. Find an event or vigil near you.

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Trump + Healthcare = High Costs & Huge Deficit

Trump is doing what he promised; attempting to make healthcare implode. His machinations are going to lead to soaring premiums and a huge deficit. And despite already losing this fight to the American people, he's insisting on a rematch; we need to be ready for it.

The Congressional Budget Office has issued a report which found that insurance premiums will rise as high as 20 percent and the deficit will increase significantly if Trump reneges on paying the healthcare subsidies.

Meanwhile, Trump has extended the deadline for health insurance companies to file rate increase requests. This isn't a good thing, though. This waffling has made insurers question whether or not Trump will continue paying the healthcare subsidies. As a result Trump has caused several insurers to pull out of state marketplaces leaving people with a dearth of options. Other insurers are increasing their premiums in anticipation that Trump won't pay the subsidies.

Trump has also been meeting with other members of the GOP about a potential plan to repeal. He and his team have also been exploring how to put pressure on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to take this fight up again.

What you can do

Be at the Ready

Lawmakers are still on recess but when they return in September we must be ready to flood their offices with calls. It is up to all of us to push lawmakers to shore up the health care laws and guarantee continued payments of health care subsidies.

Pay attention to this issue at be at the ready when recess is over, we have a lot of work to do

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Takiyah Thompson and Deandre Harris

On Tuesday, police in North Carolina arrested Takiyah Thompson, a young Black woman and activist, for her role in taking down a Confederate statue in Durham, North Carolina. And while Takiyah was swiftly brought up on felony charges for a non-violent act of protest, law enforcement has yet to make any arrests in the near fatal beating of a black man in Virginia at the hands of white supremacists.

Right up the road in Charlottesville, Virginia, now four days after Deandre Harris was nearly beaten to death, not a single one of the five white supremacists who criminally assaulted him with deadly weapons has been arrested yet – even though we have properly identified at least two of them and have clear facial identification for the others.

Comparing police response to these two situations highlights the double standard black people are faced with when it comes to the justice system. An inanimate object has more value than the life of a living, breathing, black human and warrants a more swift and severe response from law enforcement; white supremacists get a pass while Takiyah does not.

Let law enforcement know where their priorities should be by supporting both Takiyah and Deandre.

What you can do

1. CALL THE DURHAM SHERIFF Michael D. Andrews (919) 560-0853 and demand no charges for the people who toppled Confederate statues in Durham.

2. CONTACT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF VA, Mark Herring. Demand that he prosecute the five white supremacists who brutally attacked Deandre Harris. (804) 786-2071
Email: mailoag@oag.state.va.us & mkelly@oag.state.va.us (Michael Kelly, Director of Communications). Script below.

3. CONTACT THE GOVERNOR OF VA, Terry McAuliffe. Retweet this, write on his Facebook page, call him here 804-786-2211. Script below.

USE THIS SCRIPT (feel free to ad-lib, of course)

I am calling about the assault of 20 year old Deandre Harris by a group of white supremacists in Charlottesville, Virginia. At least five men participated in this felony. Many of them used deadly weapons. The use of racial slurs also makes this a federal hate crime. Why you have not arrested and charged Dan Borden and Michael Ramos for this hate crime and when they will identify and arrest the others? Please act on this and release a statement about it immediately.

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Beyond the Pale

After his remarks on Charlottesville, it is clear that Trump doesn't speak for America or Americans. His inability to condemn last week's domestic terrorism, at the hands of white supremacists, as morally reprehensible, leaves us with this question: what happens in our system when the President abdicates his role as a healer and moral authority in American public life.

We have to say that this does not represent our country. House Democrats Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), and Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) have introduced a resolution of censure condemning Trump's failure to adequately condemn the white domestic terrorism committed in Charlottesville and his hiring of white supremacist sympathizers Steve Bannon and Sebastian Gorka.

What does a censure do? A censure is a formal statement of disapproval, which is done when the House wants to publicly reprimand the President. If Trump continued to stand by his comments, the censure resolution could become an avenue for Republicans to express their dismay when Congress reconvenes after Labor Day. At the moment, though, most House Republicans have adopted either silence or public statements that condemn the Charlottesville racists without criticizing Trump himself. We must ask members of congress to speak out in unison to censure Trump's endorsement of racist terror and hate.

What you can do

1. CALL/FAX/TWEET at your member of congress.
Find them here
Capitol Switchboard 202-224-3121

USE THIS SCRIPT (borrowed from 5calls.org)

Hi
I'm calling to demand that Rep._____support the House resolution censuring Trump for his failure to condemn the white supremacist violence committed in Charlottesville. Congress must unite in formally denouncing Trump's endorsement of racist violence. These acts of terrorism are morally reprehensible, and the president's tacit endorsement of it doe not represent our country.

Thank you for your time and attention.

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No Money in the Bank

Well, Trump's $308.5 million dollar weekends have finally caught up with him and us taxpayers. Several months ago we did two actions about the exorbitant cost of Trump's excessive vacationing. That $308.5 million is 25 times more than the average $12 million the Obamas spent in one year. It's also three times more, in a single year, than the $97 million the Obamas spent in EIGHT YEARS! This is outrageous.

It's no surprise to us that Trump has completely blown the budget for the money allotted to cover the cost of protecting him and his family. Meanwhile, he continues to slash programs and resources for the public. A man that can't even stay within his travel budget doesn't seem very likely to make sound budget decisions for the entire country. (Keep this in mind as Congress returns from recess and we move into budget season!)

We're being ripped off before our very eyes while Congress shrugs their shoulders. This is OUR tax money - and he's blowing it. We have to put a stop to this.

What you can do

1. CALL your Senators and Representatives at 202-224-3121 and urge them to call the President out on his excessive spending and oppose any additional allocation of funds for Secret Service detail!

USE THIS SCRIPT (feel free to ad-lib, of course)

I'm calling to ask that Senator/Representative ___ call the President out on wasting tax payer money to go play golf and subsidize his family’s business travel!

It is unacceptable that Trump has blown his Secret Service budget.

If he continues at this pace, Trump will spend an estimated 25 times more than what Obama spent in a year and three times more than what Obama spent in eight years!

I urge the Senator/Representative NOT to approve any more funding for Trump's security detail; he must learn to stay in budget even if that means cutting back trips or cover the cost personally outside of any funds already allotted.

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Help for Texas

Some models suggest that Hurricane Harvey will linger over the Houston area until Wednesday night, dumping 50 inches of water in total.

From the National Weather Service: “Local rainfall amounts of 50 inches would exceed any previous Texas rainfall record. The breadth and intensity of this rainfall are beyond anything experienced before."

While this storm brings up a host of other questions that are political, the focus of the day and the weeks to come is rescue, and shelter for tens of thousands.

You can help.

What you can do

1. SHARE this live doc of local relief efforts with aid and shelter locations as well as contacts. If you are local and are able to host a family or participate in rescue or cleanup, do so. There will be need for weeks to come, keep checking the document.

2. FOLLOW @HarveyRelief on Twitter, which is a coordinated grassroots effort to connect communities and provide communication where federal agencies are slower to act. The feed provides volunteer and donation opportunities.

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Dreamers Here and Now

As you know, Trump rescinded the Dream Act (DACA), a pivotal bill which protected young immigrants who were brought into the US illegally, from deportation. The end of DACA by March 2018, leaves the lives of 800,000 people at risk, many of whom have never known another home outside of this country.

While there is a 6 month delay in order for Congress to enact immigration legislation to protect the current Dreamers, make no mistake, this is a political manipulation. Congress has been trying to pass an immigration policy to protect young illegal immigrants for the past 16 years without success! DACA only exists currently due to an executive order under Obama.

DACA is morally right, legally sound and fiscally smart policy. If you need proof of that, just read one of the many articles on Dreamers, 9 out of 10 of whom are working taxpayers, with spotless records, and who are not taking jobs away from other Americans, as sound-bites like to indicate.

What do we do now? See below.

What you can do

1. CALL + TWEET at these Republicans to not just talk the talk but walk the walk when it comes to protecting Dreamers. They have all issued sentiments sympathetic to Dreamers - hold them to it legislatively.

Marco Rubio (FL)
202-224-3041
John McCain (AZ)
202-224-2235
James Lankford (OK)
202-224-5754
Jerry Moran (KS)
202-224-6521
Lindsey Graham (SC)
202-224-5972

2. Text RESIST to 50409 to send a message to your own Rep and tell them to stand up for Dreamers.

USE THIS SCRIPT (feel free to ad-lib, of course)

I am calling to ask Sen/Rep ____ to stand up for Dreamers and protect the current and future dreamers from deportation by passing a real Dream Act in congress. We are a country founded by immigrants and that is the story that makes us all Americans. DACA is a morally right, legally sound, and fiscally smart policy. Anyone who has seen the facts and figures on immigration knows that. I advise you to act accordingly.

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No Corporate Welfare Pt. 2

Congress is back in session and Trump and the GOP are gearing up to sell their atrocious tax reform plan.

Even though Trump hasn't released any specifics we do know it will be more of the same tired GOP tax policy; lower taxes for the rich and more corporate welfare in the form of write offs and loophole even though we know trickle down economics doesn't work.

And guess who will have to foot the bill for that loss in revenue? You got it - middle class tax payers like you and me. This will come in the form of cuts to "domestic spending" benefits for average Joes and Janes, to offset major tax cuts for the rich. They will take our tax dollars - our money - and put it in the pockets of people making more than two hundred and fifty times than what we do. This is outrageous and should make your blood boil!

While it's true that the US has the highest corporate tax rate in the world at 35 percent -- it's also true that the effective rate (what businesses pay after deductions and loopholes) is about 24 percent. And some corporations pay no taxes at all while others funnel profits overseas where Uncle Sam can't reach them: there is an estimated $2.4 trillion that US corporations have off-shored to avoid taxation.

Democratic Minority Leader Chuck Schumer offered to work with the GOP on a bipartisan tax reform bill under certain conditions. Not included in his list of deal breakers: corporate tax cuts and tax cuts for the super-wealthy. Schumer and Pelosi have already shown that they are willing to cut a deal with Trump but it's up to us to make sure that the terms of any deals are favorable for us - their voters.

So how do we stop this?

What you can do

1. CALL your representatives and senators and tell them that under no circumstances are they to approve a tax plan including corporate tax cuts and cuts for the wealthy.
Capitol Switchboard 202-224-3121

2. CALL Dem. Minority leader, Chuck Schumer and tell him the same.
202-224-6542
212-486-4430

USE THIS SCRIPT (feel free to ad-lib, of course)

I'm calling Senator/Representative __ to urge them to to ensure that the following:

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Open Shelters in South Miami Dade

We have an urgent and quick action this morning ahead of Hurricane Irma's path to south Florida (it's expected to hit there early Saturday morning).

Local organizers in Miami have said that there are no hurricane shelters to service the south Miami Dade community (including Perrine, Cutler Bay, Homestead, Florida City, Leisure City, Goulds, Naranja, Richmond Heights, and West Perrine among other rural areas). These areas are historically the most vulnerable to hurricanes, economically challenged, and underserved. Most of the current evacuation shelters open are located in central and north parts of the county.

They need us to call Gov Rick Scott and Commissioner Moss to reopen the shelters immediately. See details below!

What you can do

1. CALL/TWEET/EMAIL
Commissioner Dennis Moss
305-375-4832
305-234-4938
305-245-4420
Email: DennisMoss@miamidade.gov
Twitter: @DennisCMoss

Governor Rick Scott
850-488-7146
Twitter: @FLGovScott

Use this script - Request this specifically:

The shelter list does not include any open shelters in the south Miami Dade. Shelters are available are up north and service some of the richest neighborhoods in Miami. This is dangerous. We demand Miami Southridge reopen as a shelter to service the following area: Goulds, Naranja, West Perrine, and Richmond Heights. Demand South Dade Senior High school open as a shelter to service the following areas: Florida City, Homestead, Lesiure City, and Naranja.

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DACA Toolkit

Our friends at CAP and Indivisible have put together amazing resources for everyone to use to help defend DACA and get those votes together to pass a clean DREAM Act. A clean act means legislation to provide legal status to young undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as children, without having to include any GOP-led legislation regarding immigration enforcement, as a proviso to getting the bill passed. We want a stand-alone DREAM Act passed in Congress.

Here's how you can help no matter what state you live in!

What you can do

1. CALL + TWEET using this amazing toolkit to target the swing Senator and Reps we need the most on this.

2. USE this state specific script and text to help get your points across.

3. FIND local events and updates about DACA where you live.

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Local Tuesdays: Vote in Your Municipal Elections!

Today, September 12 is voting day in New York!

The primary election often determines who takes office and can be more important than a general election—yet only 8% of eligible voters cast ballots in last year's state and local primaries.

Get out and vote--and forward this email to your friends!

What you can do

1. SEE your sample ballot & find your polling place here. Double check that your polling place hasn't changed by also looking here by address.
2. LEARN about who's running for office.
3. CHECK THIS LIST of endorsements and find out if they matter.
4. READ UP more on the races here, here and here.
5. STILL UNSURE? Ask friends you trust. Look around your social networks for recommendations. Here is one lineup by a former Obama canvasser. The Brooklyn Boro defenders have released a scorecard of the candidates for DA.

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Read Below the Fold, part 2

We've been paying close attention to headline issues like health care, DACA, taxes, and civil rights to name a few and these issues warrant the attention we give them. But our challenge is that there is much more destructive policy-making going on behind the scenes with Trump's newly adopted conservative agenda. How do we stay on top of it?

We have to read below the fold, pay attention to those news stories that don't make headlines but still have a huge impact on the public. While Trump has been tweeting policy about health care, DACA, taxes and even waging war, he and his staff have also been taking calls and having meetings with fringe social conservative groups that are trying and succeeding in translating their far right conservative agenda into policy that affects us all.

This is a reminder to take a second look at the smaller stories and pay attention to what Trump and his lackey's aren't talking about just as much as what they are talking about. Below is a start.

What you can do

1. Read this news article on how Trump is ushering in a new era of social conservatism and rolling back progress in the areas of LGBTQ and women's rights and gun control.

2. Consider donating time and/or funds to non-profits in these areas.

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Recovery is Not Equal - Environmental Justice

"The hurricanes don't discriminate" has been a popular takeaway in the aftermath of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. But recovery can be discriminatory. The aftermath of a disaster replicates our social inequalities. Once relief funding is on it's way to devastated areas, decisions will be made as to which areas get priority. Natural disaster recovery is disproportionately harder for poor and vulnerable communities both immediately and down the road.

In the aftermath of these 2 devastating hurricanes, it's time to make sure that we support the organizations that are making sure that a just recovery comes to all of those affected. Just because it's not in the headlines this week doesn't mean it's not important - this will be a long road to recovery for than many thousands of people affected.

What you can do

1. WHERE TO DONATE + HELP
A Just Harvey Recovery has put together a great list of local organizations doing recovery work. Check out their site and #AJustHarveyRecovery for up to date info on where relief work is needed.
Here is a list of local organizations working on a just recovery for Hurricane Irma.

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Get Back on The Phone Today and Next Week

We'll keep it brief.

Chuck Grassley, REPUBLICAN of Iowa said this past Wedensday of the new health care proposal:

“You know, I could maybe give you 10 reasons why this bill shouldn’t be considered. But Republicans campaigned on this so often that you have a responsibility to carry out what you said in the campaign.”

Don't let them sacrifice us for politics!

This one might be the worst plan yet.

You know what to do.

Major talking points below. Take 3 minutes to call today.

What you can do

1.CALL YOUR SENATORS 844-900-0689

USE THESE TALKING POINTS

No to the Cassidy-Graham healthcare bill!
There is no CBO score! We don't know the cost
Health INSURANCE companies are against this bill, it's so bad
More uninsured vets and kids
The AARP, the American Medical Association and other hugely important groups oppose this bill.

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Virginia Matters This November

Virginia is the only state that has critical elections in 2017. There are up to 100 state legislature seats up for election in November, with 17 of those currently Republican seats deemed flippable, thus flipping Virginia's House.

Why should you care about Virginia if you don't live there? State legislatures are the pathway to how larger national elections play out. In 2009 Republicans knew that whoever controlled the state legislatures would redraw the new state district maps, so they went to work gaining control on the state level. States are now where restrictive voting laws and gerrymandering happen setting the stage for midterm and presidential elections.

Secondly Republicans are only one state away from being able to call a constitutional convention, where they would be able to re-write the constitution!

If we can flip Virginia's house, we can stop gerrymandering and restrictive voting laws there and eventually flip congress durign the midterm elections. Early voting has already started in Virginia. See below for actions!

What you can do

1. VISIT whyvamatters2017.com for all the background info you need on why, who, where, when. They have info on all 17 candidates and their campaigns, as well as media kits for why these elections matter.

2. TAKE ACTION here

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Relief for Puerto Rico

Thankfully yesterday a temporary suspension [10 days] of the Jones Act was put in place which will help bring much more relief aid to Puerto Rico. The Jones Act is an almost century's old act that required all goods shipped between points in the US to be carried by vessels built, owned and (mostly) operated by Americans. American shipping is some of the most expensive in the world, thus in disaster relief situations, it severely limits access to supplies, and also makes them very pricey. The waiver will greatly help, but Puerto Rico has a long road to recovery, so let's keep watch whether it will need to be extended.

If you would like to make a material and/or fiscal donation to relief efforts, we have compiled a list of organizations as well as the strategy for what to send. See below.

What to Send:
From those doing relief work on the ground, they've said that the strategy is to steer away from collecting water and old clothes,
which clog these processes, and focus on long-term use items such as solar powered chargers, lanterns, radios, gas stoves, headlamps, batteries, wipes, baby items, USB car chargers, canned food, and protein bars which will be harder to get and needed for a long time.

Other concerns include medication for those with respiratory illnesses and problems brought on by lack of water. So they are looking to get medication for asthma and allergies, emergen-c and airborne which help keep immune systems strong, n95 masks for cleaning out moldy homes, and perhaps convenient water filtration systems.

What you can do

1. NY AREA RESIDENTS there are several donation centers here where you can drop stuff off - below are some additional ones:

MANHATTAN
Casabe Senior Houses
150 E. 121st St
Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm.

BRONX
El Maestro, Inc.
1300 Southern Blvd
Mon-Fri, 2-8pm.

BROOKLYN
St. Paul's Parish Hall
334 South 5th St.
Sunday, 1-5pm

QUEENS
MoMA PS1
22-25 Jackson Avenue
Long Island City
Thurs-Mon 12pm-6pm

2. DONATE relief funds to one of the organizations below:
Maria Fund
United For Puerto Rico
Hispanic Federation

3. STAY UP TO DATE and also see a larger comprehensive list of what and where to send and donate here

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Now Is Exactly the Time to Talk about Gun Control

The White House wants to avoid this conversation in the aftermath of the horrifying and worst mass shooting yet in our country.

Simply put: semiautomatic weapons, which can be modified to act as banned automatics using legal products like bump stocks—are weapons of mass destruction. Why are we surprised when someone, including the Vegas shooter, uses one as such?

No matter your position on owning guns, we think you can agree with us on this: no one needs guns that can shoot 800 rounds per minute.

Asking for gun regulation is not politicizing a tragedy. It is tragedy prevention. It is a logical, caring, and human response. It's hard to see how anyone could see it differently. "Thoughts and prayers" aren't going to do a single thing in this situation, or prevent the next one.

There is an immediate way you can let your legislators know what you think of the role government plays in this type of regulation. The House was set to vote this week on a new gun bill that makes silencers available for purchase by anyone, meaning in some states those without background checks. . Noise is what alerts people to a shooting--the noise of gun shots saves lives. Of course, the "bad optics" of this week means House Republicans have taken that bill off the floor.

Let them know you noticed and you refuse to let them make legislative handouts to the gun lobby, and that you expect something to be done about the current lax state of gun regulation in this country. We'll write more as more action surfaces in opposition to weapons of mass destruction.

What you can do

1. CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVE 202-224-3121 and tell them you are paying attention to the vote on silencers, as well as future action on bump stocks, as per the script below.

2. FORWARD THIS EMAIL to gun owners you may know. Truth is, most of us don't care about your hunting gun, we just don't want to get shot with an automatic rifle.

Use this script (feel free to ad-lib, of course, or modify per your position on gun ownership)

I am calling to let you know that I am closely watching the bill about gun silencers, even though it was taken off the House floor this week. I also expect you to introduce legislation that addresses the use of products that can convert semiautomatic weapons into fully automatic ones, just like the Vegas shooter used. I understand these capabilities are considered "fun" by some, but these weapons of mass destruction have no place among humans, and until we can guarantee that they never fall into the right hands, which is impossible, they should be banned. Responsible gun ownership is possible, I expect you to act accordingly to create guidelines to regulate that.

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Why The Proposed Tax Code Overhaul is Scary for Most Americans

The Only Clear Policy of the Proposed Tax Overhaul is Big Tax Breaks for the Wealthiest

Yesterday, the House of Representatives took the first step towards the most sweeping tax overhaul in decades—and Republicans haven't made clear how it will ultimately affect the majority of Americans.

We need you to get back on the phones to your Senators, today and next week.

Taxes are complicated. While you shouldn't feel badly for being confused, you can make no mistake that legislators count on the confusion to act with less consequence.

The one certainty is that the wealthiest Americans will receive a proportionally MUCH larger increase in their after-tax income.

80% of the proposed tax cuts go to the 1%.

We'll continue to send details on the tax code in bite-sized chunks, particularly how it will put money in the pockets of big business; for now, we need to get back on the phones the same way we did with healthcare.

Call. Every. Day. Starting NOW.

What you can do

1. CALL YOUR SENATORS 202-224-3121 using this toolkit to see how much of the tax break is going to the wealthiest 1% in your state and using the script below.

USE THIS SCRIPT (feel free to ad-lib, of course)

I want to tell the Senator that I urge them to vote against the current proposed tax overhaul because of the disproportionate break it provides to the wealthiest Americans. This vague proposal privileges the wealthy without making clear at all how the middle class will be affected.

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Tax Overhaul Lie #1: The "Doubled" Standard Deduction

Breaking Down the Tax Lies One at a Time

Republicans have been leaning hard on the "doubled standard deduction" in the new tax plan as a selling point. This brings us to:

Lie #1: The so-called doubled standard deduction
Here's how a deduction works: you don't pay tax on income below the deduction. Currently, that number is technically $6,350, and Republicans are touting a doubling of that, meaning that you would be tax exempt on about $12,000.

HOWEVER. That doubling is based on eliminating itemized deductions. The itemized deduction eliminated under the Trump tax plan include: medical expenses, property tax, and casualty loss. So if you have a house, high medical expenses, or suffered a loss after a natural disaster (or are planning on any of these, because of course one plans ahead for these things), you'll have higher taxes. And don't forget, the richest in the country will still be getting a tax break. Oh yeah, and Trump still hasn't released his taxes.

Call—the Senate vote is scheduled next.

What you can do

1. CALL CALL CALL YOUR SENATORS NOW 202-224-3121 using this toolkit.
2. FORWARD THIS EMAIL as a way of spreading information to counter the misinformation so easily propagated on this confusing topic.

USE THIS SCRIPT (feel free to ad-lib, of course)

I want to tell the Senator I absolutely oppose the proposed tax code, because of the disproportionate break it provides to the wealthiest Americans. This vague proposal privileges the wealthy without making clear at all how the middle class will be affected.

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Lie #2: Tax Repatriation Holiday

Giving Corporations a Repatriation Tax "Holiday" Puts Money in the Pockets of...Corporations

Lie #2 in the Trump tax code overhaul: A tax holiday (reduced rate) on money made by multinational corporations overseas will get them to bring that money back and put those profits into the economy.

How it would work: Currently, the US taxes the entire worldwide profits of US corporations, but it taxes foreign profits only once they're brought back here. So companies tend to leave foreign profits abroad, which allows them to delay paying taxes, often indefinitely. So Republicans plan to perform a one-time lowering of the traditional 35% corporate tax rate to get Apple, Google, and others to bring that money back.

What's the lie? It didn't work when it was tried in 2004. Not only did the money brought back on average get distributed to shareholders instead of put into the economy, corporations ended up with a 5% tax rate on that income. Why on earth should they get a rate that is lower than the poorest American has to pay when there is no evident benefit to the economy?

Evidence of the 2004 repatriation holiday suggests that companies might take advantage of the break to get a lower rate on funds they had intended to repatriate anyway--meaning the tax holiday could end up costing the government money. And guess who will pick up the slack on those lost tax dollars? Yup.

What you can do

1. CALL YOUR SENATORS 202-224-3121 using this toolkit to see how much of the tax break is going to the wealthiest 1% in your state and using the script below.

USE THIS SCRIPT (feel free to ad-lib, of course)

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Check Up for Bipartisan Health

A bipartisan health proposal was something we could not even have imagined just a month or so ago.

But last week Trump's latest attempts to gut Obamacare, included cuts to crucial subsidies to insurance that help pay out-of-pocket costs of low-income people and the addition of cheaper policies with fewer consumer safeguards. Without these subsidies, the current insurance market would unravel, with premiums soaring, and insurers pulling out of the marketplace. All this done with little regard for how it will affect everyday Americans.

These consequences were dire enough for some senators to reach across the aisle to work out a bipartisan healthcare proposal, that would help to stabilize the insurance markets through 2019. Though still in draft form, here are some of its proposals:

It will guarantee federal subsidies to insurers through 2019

Restores funding for Obamacare enrollment period advertising

Allows states to tweak Obamacare rules for how the marketplace is run in their state by making it easier to get state innovation waivers but still requires state plans to cover the same amount of people with comparable costs

It allows more people to sign up for high-deductible insurance - catastrophic insurance (currently this is capped at age 30)

Please note this proposal only restores the funding for Obamacare that already existed before it was cut off last week by Trump. Regardless premiums will probably go up for 2018, as any bipartisan bill will not get passed in time to help. It is not a radical measure by any means, but a temporary salve to stabilize the insurance markets for the time being.

What you can do

1. CALL your senator and ask where they stand on the Bipartisan Health Proposal. Let them know that you stand by the Affordable Care Act, and want this bill passed to help make sure insurance remains affordable for everyone.
Capitol Switchboard 202-224-3121

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Democrats in Name Only Right Here in NY State

Perhaps you've heard of the expression above but didn't expect it to happen in New York: yep, we have our very own group of 8 state senators who were elected as Democrats, but refuse to caucus with the other Democrats, handing majority control of the Senate to Republicans. They are known as the Independent Democratic Conference (IDC). Because of them, New York has been unable to pass truly progressive legislation such as a NY DREAM act, campaign finance reform, better reproductive choices, and single-payer health care, among many others.

Our friends over at the Creative Resistance have partnered with 4 anti-IDC groups to start an effective media campaign to finally vote these senators out in 2018. See below for how you can join the fight even if your state senator isn't in the IDC!

What you can do

1. WATCH this incredibly informative video on the IDC. Forward it on to your New York friends and family. Post it on social media!

2. SIGN UP to fight the IDC with the Creative Resistance and their coalition of anti-IDC groups.

3. DONATEto help get the video outto Democratic voters in IDC districts.

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

Read here, here, and here

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Keep Public Land Public: Brooklyn Edition

Local elections are coming up in New York, thanks for bearing with us as we run a second local action this week.

The Bedford Union Armory in Crown Heights sits on public land currently up for grabs in a hotly debated development proposal that would transfer this asset to BFC Partners, a development company that will profit off the inevitable displacement of Crown Heights residents. The Bedford Union Armory deal is of a piece with the Trump administration's efforts to take public institutions from the people and repurpose them to serve and enrich private interests.

What you can do

1. CALL City Councilwoman Laurie Cumbo's office this week at 718-260-9191 and tell her to #killthedeal (anyone can do this, they don't have to be in district)

2. PROTEST in an event to support the coalition opposing the deal (text below from DSA email)
Monday, October 30 at 1pm, Spector Hall, 22 Reade Street
The fight to #killthedeal at the Bedford-Union Armory and build affordable housing for Crown Heights residents continues! This action is taking place at a crucial pre-election moment and we need everyone who is able to come and say NO! to luxury housing and gentrification in Crown Heights.

3. VOTE in the City Council election on Nov 7.

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What Happens Next with the Russia Investigation?

We know that the past few months of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation hasn't exactly been the fast-paced thriller we've all been hoping would end this administration quickly, BUT this past Monday a really significant step did take place.

Three former Trump campaign officials have been charged with a 12-count indictment with conspiracy to launder money, making false statements and other charges related to their work advising a Russia-friendly political party in Ukraine.

This is huge news - Why? Because these former campaign officials are some of the key figures believed to have brokered relationships between the Trump campaign and Russia. One has already pleaded guilty (George Papadopoulos) and the other two (Paul Manafort and Rick Gates) are feeling the squeeze with this long list of charges and incredibly high bail.

What needs to happen now? We need to ensure that the investigation is protected by Congress and and that Trump doesn't do the one thing he does well--fire somebody!

Next steps below!

What you can do

READ this primer on who's who in the Russia investigation. Get acquainted with these names and their part in the investigation, if you haven't already.
CALL your Senator here to make sure they protect this investigation going forward by signing onto bi-partisan legislation that would block Trump from firing special counsel Mueller.
JOIN the rapid-response in the case that Mueller is fired; there is a step by step process outlined here contingent on what time of day it occurs, if it does.

Use this script (feel free to ad-lib, of course)

Hi Senator ____

The closer Robert Mueller gets to the truth, the more we must protect his investigation. Trump could try to fire him at any moment. After Monday's indictments, we can no longer pretend this is an open and shut case.
As my senator, please sponsor bipartisan legislation to protect the Trump-Russia investigation and prevent Trump from firing Mueller. If you fail to sponsor, support, or vote for this legislation, you will not have my vote in future elections.

Thank You!!!

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Fighting the War of Attrition on Healthcare One Person at a Time

Sign up and help spread the word about signing up for healthcare

Healthcare is still standing—for now.

HOWEVER: The Republican administration is doing everything in its power to let it fail, starting with an executive order by Trump and continuing with cutting the open enrollment period by half and reducing advertising that lets people know that it's happening. They're counting on millions less signing up, meaning some insurers would pull out of the marketplace and premiums in some states could skyrocket.

It is essential to the improvement of policies and the ultimate lowering of costs that as many as possible sign up for plans.

Open enrollment starts today, November 1 and ends December 15.

What you can do

SIGN UP or change your current policy if you need to do that. Need help signing up? Go here to find someone to assist you.
HELP GET THE WORD OUT IN YOUR COMMUNITY! If you already have healthcare, or have already signed up, you can help prevent premiums from going up by helping to get the word out in your own community and encouraging others to sign up.

Forward this email

Volunteer for an open enrollment street team
here

Use your daily interactions in your own community to remind people about the open enrollment period and its shorter duration this year.

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New Yorkers - When You Vote Nov. 7th...

First of all, a reminder to vote in our state and municipal elections on Tuesday Nov. 7th. Here's one guide to key races in New York state, and the official NYC campaign finance board guide. New York city alone is holding elections for mayor, comptroller, public advocate, and all 51 seats on the city council.

Also on the ballot is Proposal 1 for a state constitutional convention, which must be proposed and voted on every 20 years. A constitutional convention, con-con for short, gathers delegates from every senatorial district, to propose amending the state's constitution. And while the New York state government could certainly use repair, the convention seems unlikely to do it, while also possibly making regressive rather than progressive amendments. The chosen delegates would fall along the same lines as the current gerrymandered shape of the senate, generating the same politics that currently take hold in Albany.

What's a better way to re-shape Albany? Vote out those hack state senators and assemblymen come 2018! Remember our email last week on the IDC? Here's a good place to start.

In the meantime, VOTE IN YOUR LOCAL ELECTION NOVEMBER 7TH!

What you can do

1.CHECK your voter registration status and polling location here

2. VOTE, duh

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Are You Ready to for Pay for the 1%?

Get Ready to Get Back on the Phone

The House Vote is Nov 13, Senate Vote is Nov 20--This is the Time To Call

We're asking you to stay strong and carve out 3 minutes each day this week to call to oppose the tax bill. Just three minutes a day. We provide the scripts below.

Where We Are Now and What Happens Next

Now that Republicans have released a rough draft of legislative text, their plan is to use the same secretive, partisan process they tried (and failed) to use for health care. That means they’ll use “reconciliation” to pass the Trump Tax Scam through the Senate with only 51 votes.

But we can still stop them. Here’s what we expect next:

Week of November 6: multi-day mark up in the House Ways & Means Committee
Week of November 13: House vote
Week of November 13: Mark up in the Senate Finance Committee
Week of November 20: Senate vote

While unfortunately even more confusing than healthcare, taxes are just as significant to the average American family and to our economy as health care, and this tax bill is a nightmare. These are just a few of the places the American public will lose in this multi trillion dollar handout to the rich that is projected to increase the deficit. If you want details of how heavily this is weighted towards businesses and the already-wealthy, you can look for details here.

What you can do

CALL your Republican member of Congress with these scripts here.
CALL your Democratic member of Congress using these scripts.

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Local Tuesdays: Election Day (NYC instructions below)

Whatever You Do Today, Vote!

40% of America is eligible to vote today in local elections. Find out if your city is having elections here.

Why does voting in local elections matter? Local government actually has an enormous impact on your day-to-day life, on things ranging from the cleanliness of your water to the school system you send your kids to. Read more here here and here.

NYC ELECTIONS INSTRUCTIONS

Haven't been keeping up and uncertain whom to vote for? You can look up your favorite nonprofits' endorsement here, compiled by the Gotham Gazette, and vote according to their recommendations.

Here are a few more points to remember:

Polls open at 6am, and stay open until 9pm. You're allowed 2 hours to vote if you can't vote outside of work hours. If you are in line by 9pm, you are allowed to stay until you vote.

Don't forget, you must vote at the poll site that corresponds to your registered address. Find it here. PROVISIONAL BALLOTS ARE NOT COUNTED in NYC elections. Vote in your designated polling place.

What you can do

1. VOTE

THAT'S IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Really Easy Scripts for Dems AND Republican members of Congress

Call every day now through Nov 20th!!! Five minutes on your way to work. Skip to the end for scripts

Taxes are moving through Congress right now. The Senate released their version yesterday. The final vote is scheduled for Nov 20.

Please call each day between now and Nov 20 to call to oppose the tax bill. We've heard from congressional staffers that they are getting less calls than on health care.

We get it. Taxes are extremely confusing. We will try our best to keep you apprised of the latest info and will write more Monday; for now, know that both the Senate and House proposals are handout after handout to the rich. The Senate plan simply delays cutting corporate taxes by a year. If you are middle class, whether or not you get a break depends on where you live.

The middle class is now a minority. Any plan should be boosting that segment of the American population, unconditionally.

Congress WILL use “reconciliation” to pass this tax reform, meaning they don't need a majority; pretty much the only thing holding them back is public opinion, which has pressured the Senate into a modified plan they released yesterday, though hardly an acceptable one. We know that public opinion is working; this is the time to call.

What you can do

CALL your member of Congress this week and next.
Capitol Switchboard 202-224-3121

Republican Rep? Use these scripts here from Indivisible. Add your own alternative for economic growth and ask why that isn't in the tax bill. For instance, Senator Elizabeth Warren suggested forgiving student loan debt.

Democratic Rep? Use these scripts, from Indivisible. As far as adding your own spin, we recommend checking up on how much your members of Congress and your news outlets are talking about this issue on social media.

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2 Hours a Week is One Year Old!

Thank you!!!!!!!!
Exactly one year ago, three friends in Brooklyn sent out a call to their community to get together right after the 2016 election. Seventy people descended upon a living room, spilling into the hallway, and 2 Hours a Week was born.

You are now more than seven THOUSAND reading this email in over 2 dozen countries all over the world from Argentina to the Philippines.

We are so honored to have you, and for you to have us in your inboxes.

Thank you for reading, for reposting, for making calls, for learning about your civic surroundings, for sticking with us, for paying attention. We know it's not always easy. Your efforts have been incredible, and they are creating change. Every positive message you send to encourage others to be engaged is working. Sometimes it is two steps forward and one back, but we are moving forward.

We couldn't do this without you, and we are so glad you are in it with us.

Happy Anniversary to Us and to You <3

What you can do

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Taxes and Freelancers

How the Trump Tax Reform Hurts Freelancers and the Self-Employed

Over the next week and a half we will try to explain how the evolving tax reform legislation can affect you, depending on your location, whether you are a student, a homeowner, and so forth. The US tax system is mind-bogglingly complex, we will try to keep it simple.

According to recent surveys about 40% of the U.S. workforce is composed of contingent workers operating outside of traditional employment structures - that means those who freelance, are self-employed, or have microbusinesses. That's a huge segment of the population and if you include yourself among it, then you know how important things like itemized deductions are to your end of year accounting.

Itemized Deductions and Trump Taxes
The proposed House and Senate tax bills would either repeal all itemized deductions or severely limit them. In lieu of this they are increasing the standard deduction, but for many self-employed, itemized deductions (the daily expenses and costs of doing business) tend to total higher than what this increased standard deduction would be for the year. So it is a major loss!

And while many small businesses would gain a deduction of 17.4% of their income with the Senate tax bill, this does not apply to service businesses. That includes almost any small business that provides an intangible product such as accounting, design, landscaping, medical, education, consulting, and beauty services, and so much more - the list is very long!

In summary, if you are self-employed, a freelancer, and/or small business owner operating in one of the service businesses, you will be losing out in both the current House and Senate tax bills.

The votes on the tax bill are taking place this week and next.

What you can do

1. CALL, CALL, CALL your senator and your representative. Let them know how the tax bill will affect you personally! We've heard from senate offices that not enough people have been calling on the subject, and they need to hear your voices on taxes!
Capitol Switchboard 202-224-3121

USE THIS SCRIPT (feel free to ad-lib, of course)

Hi Sen/Rep ____
I am calling to express my concern over the current versions of the tax bill that does a real disservice to self-employed/freelancers/small business-owners like myself. We rely on the ability to deduct the daily expenses and costs of doing business as an important accounting tool to keep our businesses afloat and running smoothly, especially for those of us operating on a small scale. Expanding the standardized deduction often does not equal the costs of business that we would be able to write off in itemized deductions. I cannot support the current tax bill as it stands, because it undermines the poor, middle class, and many self-employed small business owners in order to give a huge tax break to the wealthy and big corporations. I urge you not to support this tax bill.
Thank You

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Five minutes to preserve your healthcare

Someone wants a legislative win at all costs

The latest addition to the proposed tax code is to remove the individual mandate for healthcare. What would happen then? Healthy people would stop purchasing insurance, which causes premiums to go up—way up. A family of four will pay up to $2000 more per month.

Americans have already signaled to the current administration that they want to fix, not destroy, health care. And Republicans are now trying to fit this through the back door, in order to give corporations a tax break they claim will trickle down to the dwindling middle class.

The Senate is slated to vote on the tax code the week after Thanksgiving. Full schedule for the vote is here.

What you can do

1. CALL It will take 3 minutes of your time. Call every day this week. This is as important, if not more so, than the ACA repeal. Use the script below. Calling this number will allow you to be connected directly to your members of Congress by entering your location: Capitol Switchboard 202-224-3121. Want to know who your member of Congress is before you call? Enter your full address here.

USE THIS SCRIPT (feel free to ad-lib, of course)

I am calling to let _(insert member of Congress name here) know that I am horrified by the current proposed overhaul of the tax code. The inclusion of repealing the individual mandate for healthcare will gut our current system. The American public has asked via popular opinion to fix, not trash that legislation. I expect my representative to not only vote against the proposed tax code, but also ensure that I don't pay thousands more per year in healthcare to create a handout to international corporations. Thanks for your time.

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Taxes Passed Yesterday in the House; Senate Vote in Next Week

You are Probably Among the 36 Million Families Whose Taxes Will Go Up Under the House Bill that Passed Yesterday.

We borrowed the title from this article, but It's no exaggeration. According to the Center for American Progress (CAP) 36 million working- and middle-class households would see a tax increase by 2027 under the House tax bill - the bill that passed Thursday.

Now is the time to call your Senators, and tell them you oppose their version of this tax bill--they will vote in the next week and a half.

The Senate bill is even worse than the House bill, with a provision to get rid of the healthcare mandate, meaning a hike in premiums across the board.

Here's the timeline for what's next - hit these Senators up and tell them to vote NO to this tax scam. How many different ways can we say it? This bill delivers a permanent corporate tax cut at the expense of working and middle class families.

11/13-11/17:Tax bill markup in Senate Finance Committee

11/18-11/26: Thanksgiving Recess

11/27-12/1: Possible vote on tax bill in the Senate

Enough said here, time to call.

What you can do

1. CALL It will take 3 minutes of your time.
Call every day this week. This is as important, if not more so, than the ACA repeal. Use the script below. Calling this number will allow you to be connected directly to your members of Congress by entering your location:
Capitol Switchboard 202-224-3121.

Want to know who your member of Congress is before you call? Enter your full address here.

USE THIS SCRIPT (feel free to ad-lib, of course)

I am calling to let Senator _____know that I am horrified by the current proposed overhaul of the tax code. The inclusion of repealing the individual mandate for healthcare will gut our current system. This bill's main achievement is delivering a permanent corporate tax cut at the expense of working and middle class families. I expect my Senator to vote against the proposed tax code. Thanks for your time.

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Have a Daring Discussion this Thanksgiving

Our friends at Women's March are encouraging folks this Thanksgiving to having Daring Discussions with your friends and families around the holiday table. Please read this note from them, and join us in making this holiday one for healing and growth as a nation, in addition to one of bonding and thanks.

What you can do

Dear Friend,

Women’s March has always believed in having Daring Discussions, loving conversations that push us to challenge bias within our own communities. And the best place to start is at home with our families.

The stakes are too high to remain silent in the face of bigotry and injustice. We know that engaging in these conversations with loved ones can be difficult—and that’s why we recommend you use a toolkit designed to help you have a Daring Discussion. Download the Toolkit here.

We need to have Daring Discussions about current injustices, but we also need to confront historical injustices—particularly those erased in the story of Thanksgiving. This doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy family traditions or festive meals. It does mean acknowledging the violence inflicted on indigenous peoples and recognizing that Thanksgiving is a Day of Mourning for many of our indigenous sisters, brothers and siblings.

This great video from MTV Decoded’s Franchesca Ramsey is the perfect resource—and conversation starter!—for learning the real history of Thanksgiving.

In community,
Women’s March

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How Taxes Work and What an Overhaul Will Mean

A Brief History of Taxes in the US

Here's a brief history of taxes: They began in the 1860s under Abraham Lincoln as a way to pay for the Civil War. While originally intended as temporary, taxes have come to be more or less culturally accepted as a fair thing. Federal taxes are a tax on your earnings, whereas state taxes are levied on your purchases--alcohol, food, cars.

The last time the tax code was rewritten was under Ronald Reagan, in 1986. There are a lot of differences between that tax overhaul and the proposed one, including that the 1986 version was a bipartisan effort that took two years to write. And a central policy of that reform was shifting the tax burden away from individuals, towards corporations, the exact opposite of this proposed one. That overhaul in 1986 was intended to level the playing field for Americans. It made the tax code more complicated, but it also made it more fair. Taxes are complicated because we all make different amounts of money different ways.

The thing about this bill that is completely visible and uncomplicated is the corporate tax break.

The taxes you have paid all of your life go towards things you're supposed to reap the benefits of, including Social Security and Medicare. The proposed plan involves a long-term rollback of those protections.

So, if a tax code overhaul is so complex, and there's so much at stake, why are Republicans in a rush? This is about politics, not policy. They need a win before the 2018 season, and they are trying to shove this through at the end of the year while people are tired and wanting to relax around the holidays. Are you ready to see your parents' hard-earned Social Security go on the chopping block, your student loans no longer be subject to a tax deduction, and your ACA premiums skyrocket?

What you can do

1. CALL your SENATOR who may vote as soon as mid week (the House has already voted), 202-224-3121, especially if they are in one of the states where Senators are expected to cast a deciding vote. Those are Arizona, Nevada, Tennessee, Alaska, Kansas, Wisconsin, Indiana, and Maine.

2. FORWARD THIS TO FRIENDS IN ARIZONA, NEVADA, TENNESSEE, ALASKA, KANSAS, WISCONSIN, INDIANA AND MAINE. Ask them to use this set of tools to tweet or call

USE THIS SCRIPT (feel free to ad-lib, of course)

I want to tell my Senator that I am paying attention to how they vote on this proposed tax overhaul. This tax code proposal is nothing like the 1986 overhaul that attempted to level the playing field for Americans. Students, seniors, and many other groups will suffer under this giant corporate giveaway. Show me that this tax overhaul is in the best interest of the country and not a way for Republicans to score a policy win for their wealthy donors. Slow down and cross the aisle.

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Action 230: Local Tuesdays

Dear friends,

We have two important local Tuesday announcements that are dear to our hearts. Please join or share with your friends and family in NY & FL.

Thank you!

What you can do

NY STATE

Easy Elections NY, our partner organization founded by one of our co-founders to make voting accessible to all New Yorkers, is gearing up for 2018 by hosting a statewide planning meeting in Albany on December 9. Please join us there!

What: A statewide gathering of everyday New Yorkers, grassroots activists and community leaders to strategize how to win reforms to make voting accessible.
When: Saturday, December 9, 2017, 11AM - 5PM
Where: First Presbyterian Church of Albany, 362 State Street, Albany, NY

Read more here, and please RSVP so we know you're coming!

Share our Facebook Event.

FLORIDA

The incredible Second Chances project we've told you about before is in the final push. We're under three weeks away from the end of volunteer signature gathering to restore the ability to vote to 1.5 million Floridians. They're on track to submit the needed signatures to get on the ballot - they need our help to make sure that the do!

JOIN A PETITION PARTY ON DECEMBER 2 & 9. find or host an event
VOLUNTEER here.
PRINT THE PETITION in English or Spanish to sign yourself or send to friends and family in Florida.

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ACTION 231: CALL TODAY

Read this article on the tax cut. Senate vote is today or tomorrow.

What you can do

CALL your Senator. 202-224-3121 The Senate reconvenes today at 10:30 EST. Use script below.

USE THIS SCRIPT (feel free to ad-lib, of course)

I want to tell my Senator that I am paying attention to how they vote on this proposed tax overhaul. This tax code proposal is nothing like the 1986 overhaul that attempted to level the playing field for Americans. This will change the fabric of life in this country. Show me that this tax overhaul is in the best interest of the country and not a way for Republicans to score a policy win for their wealthy donors. Slow down and cross the aisle.

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ACTION 232: IF YOU LIVE IN THESE STATES, YOU NEED TO CALL TODAY!

Kansas, Maine, Arizona, Arkansas, Tennessee, Montana, Nevada, Wisconsin, and Indiana!

Today is so important in the process of this tax bill, we needed to send you a follow-up email! If you or anyone you know lives in the above states, you have a really pivotal job today. Your call will make a huge impact on preventing this tax bill from going through. Senators from the above 9 states, hold the deciding votes!

Link below for easy calling and tweeting - exercise your voice today!

What you can do

CALL + TWEET USING THISTOOLKIT
FORWARD THIS ON, AND SHARE ON SOCIAL MEDIA

USE THIS SCRIPT (feel free to ad-lib, of course)
I want to tell my Senator that I am paying attention to how they vote on this proposed tax overhaul. This tax code proposal is nothing like the 1986 overhaul that attempted to level the playing field for Americans. This will change the fabric of life in this country. Show me that this tax overhaul is in the best interest of the country and not a way for Republicans to score a policy win for their wealthy donors. Slow down and cross the aisle. Time to vote No on this terrible rushed tax bill that will harm most average Americans.

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ACTION 233: Are You At Work Today? Here's What You Can Do

Take 5 Minutes at Your Desk To Tweet

These Senators are on the fence on the tax bill. The vote is expected today.

Susan Collins (ME)
Bob Corker (TN)
Jeff Flake (AZ)
Marco Rubio (FL)

Please, tweet right now using these tools, regardless of where you live. If you do live in one of the above-mentioned states, call too.

Send this email to a friend in one of the above-mentioned states and ask them to call with the numbers in the link above.

What you can do

USE THIS SCRIPT (feel free to ad-lib, of course)

I want to tell my Senator that I am paying attention to how they vote on this proposed tax overhaul. This tax code proposal is nothing like the 1986 overhaul that attempted to level the playing field for Americans. Students, seniors, and many other groups will suffer under this giant corporate giveaway. Show me that this tax overhaul is in the best interest of the country by taking the time to actually write a real one. Vote NO today!

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234

Action 234: Upset About Taxes?

Here's What We Need You To Do

The Tax Bill is not a law yet.

Here is the deal on taxes. You should still be calling your reps, because the reconciliation process needs to happen before the bill becomes law. Today, focus on your senator. Find out how they voted by checking here (FYI every Republican voted yes except for Bob Corker).

Call as soon as you get this email.
We have scripts below according to whether your Senator voted for or against.

202-224-3121.

We will follow up with more information and instructions.

What you can do

USE THIS SCRIPT (feel free to ad-lib, of course)

If they voted against the bill:
Please pass on my sincere thanks to my Senator for voting against this disastrous tax bill. I want to wish them luck in doing everything they can to delay the subsequent votes in the reconciliation process.

If they voted for the bill:
Please tell the Senator that I am upset that they voted in favor of this tax bill. I am watching the reconciliation process very closely and expect them to delay this until they have spent the time necessary to give the American people what they deserve, which is support for the middle class, not a giveaway to wealthy donors.

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ACTION 235: Tax Scam Can Be Stopped: Here's How

The House has to vote a second time this week

This tax bill can still be stopped.

Everything you need is right here.

The same version of the bill now needs to be passed in both the House and Senate. This week both chambers are actually getting a chance to read what is in there and have to hash out the details.

Now is the time to contact your House of Representative members, most of whom are up for re-election next year, and tell them why you won’t vote for them if they vote for the plan.

What you can do

FIND OUT HOW YOUR REP VOTED by scrolling to the bottom of this article. Don't know who your rep is? Check by your zip code here. Call him or her and use one of the scripts below according to how they voted.
START A CALL CHAIN WITH FRIENDS Ask 5 people to call and forward them this email with instructions. Triple points if they live in a "swing district."

USE THIS SCRIPT (feel free to ad-lib, of course)

If they voted "No:"
I want to thank my Representative for voting no to Trump's disastrous tax scam and ask them to please do whatever is possible to slow the reconciliation process so that other representatives can have the time to read and actually realize how terrible this new tax code is for most Americans.

If they voted "Yes""
I want to ask my Representative to please reconsider their position on the tax bill. If they don't make some effort to create a better bill that does not gut the Affordable Care Act and cut the corporate tax rate then they will not have my vote in the 2018 midterm elections.

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ACTION 236: The Republicans We Can Sway

Call these Republicans who can be swayed.

If 11 GOP House reps change their votes, the horrific tax bill can be defeated. Here is the list of reps who voted yes on the last vote on the HR1 tax bill but are most susceptible to pressure, because they're in Dem-leaning districts.

In these districts? Call, write, ring their doorbells, give them no rest.
Know anyone in these districts? Urge them to do the same.

Find your rep. Find how they voted. Find swing districts.

What you can do

Voted YES last time. In a blue district, must vote no to stay in office.
CA-10: Denham (202) 225-4540
CA-25: Knight (202) 225-1956
CA-39: Royce (202) 225-4111
CA-21: Valadao (202) 225-4695
CA-45: Walters (202) 225-5611
CO-06: Coffman (202) 225-7882
FL-26: Curbelo (202) 225-2778
FL-27: Ros-Lehtinen (202) 225-3931
IA-01: Blum (202) 225-2911
NY-22: Tenney (202) 225-3665
NY-24: Katko (202) 225-3701
OH-10: Turner (202) 225-6465
OH-14: Joyce (202) 225-5731
PA-06: Costello (202) 225-4315
PA-08: Fitzpatrick (202) 225-4276
PA-15: Dent (202) 225-6411
TX-23: Hurd (202) 225-4511
VA-10: Comstock (202) 225-5136
WA-03: Herrera Beutler (202) 225-3536
WA-08: Reichert (202) 225-7761

"I want to ask my Representative to please reconsider their position on the tax bill. If they don't make some effort to create a better bill that does not gut the Affordable Care Act, hurt students and small business owners, and cut the corporate tax rate, they will not have my vote in the 2018 midterm elections."
Voted NO last time. Thank them & urge them and stay opposed.
CA-49: Issa (202) 225-3906
CA-04: McClintock (202) 225-2511
CA-48: Rohrabacher (202) 225-2415
NC-03: Jones (202) 225-3415
NJ-02: LoBiondo (202) 225-6572
NJ-04: Smith (202) 225-3765
NJ-07: Lance (202) 225-5361
NJ-11: Frelinghuysen (202) 225-5034
NY-01: Zeldin (202) 225-3826
NY-02: King (202) 225-7896
NY-11: Donovan (202) 225-3371
NY-19: Faso (202) 225-5614
NY-21: Stefanik (202) 225-4611

"I want to thank my Representative for voting no to Trump's disastrous tax scam and ask them to please do whatever is possible to slow the reconciliation process so that other representatives can have the time to read and actually realize how terrible this new tax code is for most Americans."

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237

ACTION 237: Taxes FINAL CALL THIS WEEK + Defeat Roy Moore

Two big things this week, a simple action for each

Want to do something about taxes? You can, but you have to call today and tomorrow.
The House votes for the second, and final, time, on Wednesday.
Call your Representative. 877.795.7862. Twice: once as soon as you get this, a second time tomorrow. You don't need a fancy script, just tell the person who answers the phone you oppose the current tax bill (true no matter which way they voted). Want to say more? You can use the script at the bottom ofthis page. THIS IS THE LAST CHANCE ON TAXES!!!!!!!
The special election in Alabama is Tuesday (you know, Roy Moore). Want to help Get Out The Vote (GOTV)? Click here to phone bank for Doug Jones.

What you can do

FORWARD THIS EMAIL TO A FRIEND FOR TRIPLE POINTS! Tell them to take 2 minutes to make a call on taxes. TODAY TODAY TODAY!

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238

Action 238: Stop Taxes Today, Use Your Power

Do this one thing today, then send this email to a friend

Today is the last chance to speak your mind to your House of Representatives members. They're slated to vote tomorrow on taxes. 877-795-7862.

You don't even have to know how your representative voted last time to use this script, but if you want to know, you can look here.

Say to the person who answers the phone: I want to tell my representative that I strongly oppose the current tax bill and I want to ask them to do everything in their power to stop it.

That's it. For every person that calls, staffers estimate there are 100 voters who share their opinion. Why do they care? BECAUSE THEY'RE ALL UP FOR REELECTION IN EXACTLY 11 MONTHS. So get to it. And send this to a friend as soon as you get off the phone.

And if you live in Alabama, vote, remind everyone you know to vote, or help get out the vote.

What you can do

action

239

Action 239: Healthcare sign up ends Dec 15!

You Have Until Tomorrow to Sign Up For Health Insurance for 2018

This a quick reminder to everyone that the open enrollment periodfor health insurance under the affordable care act for 2018 ends this Friday, December 15th!
https://www.healthcare.gov/glossary/open-enrollment-period/
It is essential to the improvement of policies and the ultimate lowering of costs that as many as possible sign up for plans as possible. Due to a shortened enrollment period and less advertising, Republicans are counting on a much smaller sign up for 2018, meaning insurers could pull out of the marketplace and premiums could skyrocket. Don't let that happen, both for yourself and your community!

What you can do

SIGN UP, KEEP, RENEW, UPDATE your health insurance plan here.
HELP GET THE WORD OUT IN YOUR COMMUNITY! If you already have healthcare, or have already signed up, you can help prevent premiums from going up by helping to get the word outin your own community and encouraging others to sign up.
Forward this email
Volunteer for an open enrollment street team
here
Use your daily interactions in your own community to remind people about the open enrollment period and its shorter duration this year.

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240

Action 240: Why Does Calling Matter

Why does calling matter?

Here's what happens when you call a member of Congress: your representative realizes that you are not a passive voter. They don't know what your thoughts are unless you call and express them. We know that everyone is ready to tune out for a few days and focus on family, friends, or just some much needed personal time. Your calls are counted more than ever right now, given the proximity of the 2018 midterm elections. Your calls make such a difference, and they're a relatively low time commitment.

Please consider calling your representatives every day this week as a holiday gift to yourself. This number connects you to your Senators and Representatives by punching in your zip code. Consider saving it in your contacts.

202-224-3121

Please forward this email to your social networks and asking those people to commit to the daily call.

Not coincidentally, Congress is moving on a lot of huge items this week, knowing that Americans are caught up in other things. We'll send emails to remind you, but just so you know here: Taxes, the investigation into Trump's ties to Russia, and DACA are all expected to be decided upon in some form this week. Start with taxes.

What you can do

CALL about taxes. Congress now has a reconciled bill, and the finals votes are this week. 202-224-3121.
Find out how your Senator voted here.
Find out how your House of Rep member voted here.

Use this script if your member of Congress voted for the tax bill
I want to tell the Congressperson that I am opposed to the current version of the tax bill. I will take how they vote on the reconciled bill into consideration when I vote in the 2018 elections.

Use this script if they voted against the tax bill
I want to thank my Congressperson for voting against the tax bill, I so appreciate that they are actually thinking about the lives of middle class Americans in their policy approach.

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241

Action 241: Here We Come 2018, and What To Do About Taxes

Lessons We Are Learning for 2018

There are all sorts of unknowns now that the tax bill has cleared the Senate and the house. The ACA mandate will be no longer, throwing insurance markets into disarray. Corporate taxes will go down by about 15%.

What can we do about this?

The answer lies in the 2018 midterm elections.

It’s coming up on a year since the 45th president was instated. The only significant piece of legislation to pass in an entire year under this GOP-led government is one that will bankrupt millions of Americans through changes to their healthcare, disrupt the health insurance markets, and throw basic protective structures that helped engender a middle class and protect the working class, under the bus.

What do we have on your side? All of the things we have learned the last 50 or so weeks. The knowledge that it is a fight that is waged by calling every day, or every other day. By getting out the vote in crucial areas. There have been some surprising and rewarding wins, not least of all the recent election of Democratic senator Doug Jones to Congress.

Resistance is hard. It can be tedious, involving repetition of the same phone calls to the same people. But if we have learned anything these long months, it is to wake up and realize the direct link between our civic engagement and the cost of our healthcare, the funding of public education, the subsidies for research and development that keep the US relevant in the world economy. We've come to think critically and analytically about the structure of the country we live in - and that is a huge feat.

When we ask you to call, we’re also asking you to ask your friends to call. Education is important, but it must be followed by action. Spread what you know on Facebook, but also tell people when you’ve picked up the phone so they can be brave and tenacious and follow suit. We know not everyone can spend more than a few minutes a week resisting, and that is ok.

If even half the people on this list called, Congress would be getting 4K messages. We are powerful as a group.

All the decisions our representatives and senators have made this year will shake out in the 2018 mid-term elections. Our job between now and then is to remind every single one that, come election day, we will be the ones calling the shots. We have a real chance to turn the Senate and House blue

More soon, we continue together.

What you can do

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242

Action 242: See you in the New Year!

See you very soon..

Just a little note to let you know we're taking a much-needed break--we look forward to meeting again here in early 2018!

Love,
2 hours a week

What you can do

Educate & Act

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EDUCATE & ACT is a series of events aimed at empowering us to be better informed citizens and activists, with stronger voices and greater stamina.

This program is cohosted by Hunter Artist Action Group (HAAG) of Hunter MFA and 2 Hours a Week. Events will include teach-ins, workshops, panels, performances, readings, discussions, seminars, screenings, letter writing, sign making, and grassroots organizing. They are made possible by the generosity of our peers and colleagues, who are donating their time, knowledge, and skills to help us together build a strong and aware community of resistance.

If you'd like to become involved in programming or helping with events, please contact us.

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