Another extraordinary banner from a Visibility Brigade chapter, this one in Woodland Hills, CA
Hi, all, and happy Friday.
Welcome to the end of a truly horrendous week. You did it again! It’s astonishing, really, to consider that we’ve survived almost a year of this nightmarish administration. But we did! And not only have we survived, but we’ve fought like warriors and scored a stunning number of wins. While we’re nowhere close to being out of this mess, we have made huge progress. It’s important to acknowledge that. I’m deeply proud of you. So many have chosen to bury their heads in the sand. You have chosen to stand up. It redounds to your honor.
A couple of miscellaneous things:
First, a reader posted a link in the comments this week to a magnificent spread sheet which contains contact information for not just all members of Congress, but Cabinet members, the Supreme Court, news organizations, and so much more. It’s extraordinary. I’m not sure who put it together—if you know please let us know in the comments—but it’s a magnificent and hugely useful document. Please bookmark it and share it widely.
Second, the House passed a three-year ACA premium tax credit extension bill yesterday. SEVENTEEN Republicans sided with Democrats on the final vote. This is hugely encouraging, and we must credit Hakeem Jeffries, with whom I often disagree, on getting this vote through. It’s also really important to thank the Republicans who bucked their colleagues and voted the right way on this. Those Republicans are Robert Bresnahan, Mike Carey, Monica De La Cruz, Brian Fitzpatrick, Andrew Garbarino, Jeff Hurd, Dave Joyce, Tom Kean Jr., Nick LaLota, Mike Lawler, Ryan Mackenzie, Carol Miller, Zach Nunn, María Elvira Salazar, David Valadao, Derrick Van Orden, and Rob Wittman. If one of them is your rep make sure to thank them!
Finally, Renee Good’s wife just released a statement talking about who Good was. It’s gorgeous and heartbreaking and I truly hope you’ll share it. The full statement is here, but here’s an excerpt:
Renee sparkled. She literally sparkled. I mean, she didn’t wear glitter but I swear she had sparkles coming out of her pores. All the time. You might think it was just my love talking but her family said the same thing. Renee was made of sunshine.
Renee lived by an overarching belief: there is kindness in the world and we need to do everything we can to find it where it resides and nurture it where it needs to grow. Renee was a Christian who knew that all religions teach the same essential truth: we are here to love each other, care for each other, and keep each other safe and whole.
Renee Good will not have died in vain, friends. Not on my watch. Not on yours. Today, and this weekend, and going forward, we take our actions for her, and for every victim of this administration’s lawless and brutal rule.
We will defeat them. We will do it by loving each other, just as Renee Good said we should. And, in the end, we will prove that love is more powerful than fear.
Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I’m a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
First, ICE needs to be abolished. They’ve always been notorious for brutal and undisciplined behavior, but that has escalated this week to an unacceptable and terrifying level. Our rights are being trampled and people are being killed. Congress must get rid of ICE and replace it with an agency structured around lawful and non-political enforcement of the country’s immigration laws. [H/T]
Second, please tell the Senator I expect them to pass the three-year ACA premium tax credit extension. We can’t wait. We need this help now.
Finally, Donald Trump and his entire administration need to be impeached and removed. They’re endangering our democracy, encouraging violence on civilians, and flouting the Constitution. Thanks.
Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I’m a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
First, ICE needs to be abolished. They’ve always been notorious for brutal and undisciplined behavior, but that has escalated this week to an unacceptable and terrifying level. Our rights are being trampled and people are being killed. Congress must get rid of ICE and replace it with an agency structured around lawful and non-political enforcement of the country’s immigration laws. [H/T]
Second, please tell the Congressmember I expect them to pass a War Powers resolution to stop Trump’s war on Venezuela—or any other country. His administration is failing to help Americans in any way. The idea that they are capable of running another country when they can’t even run ours is insane.
Finally, Donald Trump and his entire administration need to be impeached and removed. They’re endangering our democracy, encouraging violence on civilians, and flouting the Constitution. Thanks.
Extra Credit ✅
The terrific put out an action page today with phone scripts and a Resistbot (PTCKBJ) urging congressional action to stop an invasion of Greenland. Please use and share it!
Get Smart! 📚
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS with the ACLU—Friday, January 9, 8:00 PM ET
This weekend, people across the country are taking to the streets to demand accountability, honor Renee Good’s life, and make visible the human cost of ICE’s actions. Before you take action, learn your rights and how to stay safe and peaceful. Join the ACLU’s Protest Safety, Know Your Rights and De-Escalation Training on 1/9/26 at 8 PM ET.
This training will give you the tools to take action safely, confidently, and with key de-escalation strategies in hand. You’ll learn how to protect yourself, your community, and stand up for your rights.
Messaging! Messaging! Messaging! 📣
put out a social media toolkit to help advertise this weekend’s “ICE Out For Good” actions. Please use it and spread the word!
Give 💰!
There is a Go fund Me page for Renee Nicole Good’s wife and child. If you feel moved to give the link is here. People have already given over a million dollars!
Indivisible is also encouraging us to donate to the Immigrant Defense Network. I concur!
Get in the Streets! 🪧
Indivisible, MoveOn, Working Families Party, and many others are organizing an “ICE Out For Good” weekend of action THIS WEEKEND. Find your event—or plan one—in this doc. You can also find a recording to yesterday’s emergency ICE response call there—if you missed it it was pretty awesome.
Win Races! 🗳
Help reach North Carolinians voters on the Registration Repair List.
There are almost 72,000 voters on this list, with an ID number missing from their registration. The list is nothing more than a ploy by the Republican-controlled Board of Elections to make it more difficult to vote, but voters on the list must “repair” their registrations or risk having to vote a provisional ballot.
The North Carolina Democratic Party is spearheading the effort to help “repair” these registration. It’s slow work to reach these folks, so every effort makes a difference!
Join a phone bank (from anywhere!) on 1/15. Sign up here.
Resistbot Letter (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.) 💻
[To: all 3 reps] [H/T] [Text SIGN PIGHHN to 50409, or to @Resistbot on Apple Messages, Messenger, Instagram, or Telegram]
(Note that for the most effective RESISTBOT it’s best to personalize this text. More about how to do this here. But if you’re short on time just send it as is using the above code.)
As your constituent, I am urging you to stand up for families that need access to child care in face of the Trump administration’s threats to freeze funding and impose burdensome paperwork requirements. Access to reliable child care is crucial in the United States and enables millions of parents and guardians – especially mothers – to enter or remain in the workforce.
There is no evidence of widespread fraud that was claimed erroneously by a YouTube influencer who targeted child care centers run by Somali immigrants in Minnesota. Threats to freeze funding cause uncertainty for millions while punishing children and working families nationwide. Right now, child care centers have not been given clear instructions on procedures they must follow; if funding is slowed or stopped because of unnecessary administrative burdens, parents will lose jobs and some child care centers will close.
There is a long history of bipartisan support for child care assistance in Congress. Please push back against this attack on families by the Trump administration. Child care is critical to working families and our economy.
OK, you did it again! You’re helping to save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk soon.
Jess
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