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Hi, all, and happy Thursday.
I want to give you a brief sense of where we’re at with the Senate negotiations, as I just got off a call with Senator Schumer’s Chief of Staff.
As you’ve likely heard, the Senate voted down the six-bill minibus package that passed the House this morning. This is the bill that contained not just the DHS funding but five other funding bills. As you’ll remember, we have been urging Senator Thune to separate out the DHS bill from these other five, and now that this omnibus package has been voted down that’s exactly what’s going to happen.
Negotiations are ongoing as we speak, but it sounds like what Democrats will agree to is a) passing the five other funding bills and then b) passing a short Continuing Resolution (or CR) to keep DHS funded at current levels while they negotiate new guardrails on ICE. Let’s remember that DHS doesn’t just fund ICE—it covers the Coast Guard, FEMA, and TSA, among other vital services. It seems some moderate Dems are still feeling squeamish about letting those agencies go without pay, so are opting for the CR route.
Now, I am hearing many describing this as Democrats’ having “caved.” I’m not sure I see it that way. Certainly, I’d have preferred they played harder ball, as it were, and allowed the government to shut down if necessary to get what they want quickly. But asking federal workers to work without pay is tough, and moderate Democratic Senators are more likely to stand firm with Democrats if they’re not getting yelled at by their union donors the whole time. Think of it—even John Fetterman voted with Democrats this morning (so did a handful of Republicans). I suspect that’s partially because Dems are trying to avoid a shutdown.
If we can use these two weeks (or hopefully less) to negotiate for some real reforms Democrats’ strategy may prove to be worth it. I’d rather they took the time to give their demands teeth and make sure they’re enforceable than rush into an agreement that turns out to be easily breakable.
So we will keep riding our Senators, hard, to make sure that they come down on ICE ruthlessly. We want Miller, Noem, and Bondi gone. We want face masks gone and badges on. We want no more quotas. We want an independent investigation of Renee Good’s and Alex Pretti’s murders. We want detention centers inspected and made humane. We want children freed. We want no more racial profiling. We want ICE back at the border and out of our communities. And so on.
A couple more small things! First, SAVE THE DATE! I am so excited to report that on Monday’s Substack Live I will be talking to Chuck Borges, the Social Security Administration whistleblower! We’re going to talk about the massive potential data breaches at the SSA, the Trump administration’s recent admission that our data is less safe than they first acknowledged, and what he learned when he was Chief Data Officer at the agency. It should be amazing! We’ll talk at 4PM PT / 7PM ET on Monday.
Next, many are asking me if I’m participating in tomorrow’s economic blackout. Yes I am! Having said that, I don’t know who’s organizing it and I’m uncertain it will have huge participation as it was only announced a few days ago. But I’m in, and I’ll be at the protest in Downtown LA at 1PM! If anyone knows more about this blackout, like the organizers or its website, please post them in the comments!
And finally, something nice: some of you know my step-father is wonderful folk singer Tom Chapin. Well, he is playing at McCabes in Santa Monica, CA this Saturday night and I’ll be there! The show’s theme is Songs of Hope. It should be really lovely. If anyone wants to come tickets can be purchased here. You might even get to see me sing!
OK, all. My head is exploding. I’m sure yours is too. Hang in there, keep breathing deeply and slowly, and remember—we WILL get through this. And we will beat these guys. Every day I become more convinced of it.
Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I’m a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
I’m glad to hear that the DHS bill has been carved out from the other 5 budget bills and that the Senate is now in discussions about how to rein in ICE. I want to be clear—we want NO NEW ICE FUNDING ever. But we want more. We want Miller, Noem, and Bondi gone. We want to see ICE agents’ faces and badges—no more masks and no more anonymity. We want an end to quotas and racial profiling. We want an independent investigation into Renee Good’s and Alex Pretti’s murders. We want oversight at detention centers so people in them can stay safe. We want an end to family detention. We want ICE back at the border and out of our communities. And ultimately, we want ICE abolished and replaced with an immigration enforcement agency that abides by the law, has real guardrails, and treats immigrants humanely. And I want the Senator to vote no on any proposal until we have ironclad guarantees that we will get all of that. Thanks.
Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I’m a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
I’m calling to urge the Congressmember to demand the immediate resignation of Stephen Miller as deputy chief of staff for policy, Kristi Noem as head of DHS, and Pam Bondi as Attorney General. Miller’s diabolical racism and extremist anti-immigrant policies are endangering our nation, eroding international peace and stability, and threatening our most basic civil liberties. Noem is both unfit and a liar. Bondi has weaponized the Justice Department and debased the rule of law. I want the Congressmember to call for all of their resignantions—or impeachment. Americans deserve better and it’s time Congress fought back. Thanks.
Extra Credit ✅
[From ]
After Renee Good and Alex Pretti’s murders—and the cover-ups that followed—there’s been renewed chatter from legal correspondents about how it’s right now functionally impossible to sue federal officials for damages over civil rights claims, even before you get to qualified immunity.
Rogan’s List together an explainer on the issue, plus call scripts and Resistbots (PSIWAL and PVQYJR) urging Congress and state legislators/governors to clear the barriers to the courthouse. Could be an area where we could pull some libertarian support, and definitely something a lot of blue states have room to pursue. Take a look and take the actions, please!
Get Smart! 📚
Indivisible’s Eyes on ICE training had 200,000 people on it! WOWOW! They have a recording of it on their No Kings website here, but they’re also doing another Zoom training on February 5!
From them:
Join our call, Eyes on Ice: Document and Record on Thursday, February 5th, 2026 at 8:00 pm ET. RSVP for Link.
We will cover the latest updates on ICE and CBP’s out-of-control and dangerous operations. We will talk through rights when documenting and recording law enforcement encounters, and how you can continue to take action.
Special Call for Maryland Residents!
Maryland’s bipartisan redistricting advisory committee just recommended a new map that would neutralize the rightwing power grab first instigated by Trump in Texas. In practical terms, the Maryland map could hand Democrats one additional House seat, small on its own, but huge in a Congress where Republicans have a razor-thin majority.
The plan now heads to the Maryland House and Senate for debate and a vote. As it stands, there’s still time for these maps to be in place ahead of the 2026 midterms. But that’s only if state officials act fast. And here’s where the gears start to grind.
David Moon, the Democratic majority leader in the Maryland House, has said they’re ready to go and put it to a vote. But there seems to be major opposition in the Democrat-controlled senate. And it starts at the top, with Senate president Bill Ferguson. A couple of other Democratic Senators are also balking.
Please call or email the Senators below and demand they bring the map to a vote. I’m sorry I don’t have a sample email—if someone does please post in the comments!
Main Senate switchboard: (410) 841-3000 or (301) 858-3000
Bill Ferguson Senate President bill.ferguson@senate.maryland.gov
Dalya Attar (D-41) – dalya.attar@senate.maryland.gov
Joanne C. Benson (D-24) – joanne.benson@senate.maryland.gov
Malcolm Augustine (D, District 47) - malcolm.augustine@senate.maryland.gov
Nancy J. King (D, District 39) - nancy.king@senate.maryland.gov
Messaging! Messaging! Messaging! 📣
American Bridge 21st Century just launched something awesome called Research Books. It opens up their opposition research to all of us. Influencers, journalists, organizers, activists, and every voter who wants to hold Republicans accountable will now have access to the same high-level material that campaigns spend a fortune to produce.
You can browse detailed candidate profiles, dig through issue pages, pull verified facts straight into AI tools, generate instant briefings, or grab a simple document if that is more your style. The point is that it is all accessible, and it is built for the way people actually work.
Please take a look, play with the site (Research-Books.com), and use these tools. Share them in your networks. Use them to call out the nonsense. Use them to push back. Use them to hold Republicans accountable every time they try to rewrite their records. American Bridge has handed us a powerful new resource. Let’s make the most of it.
Get in the Streets! 🪧
SAVE THE DATE! The next No Kings is on March 28!! Their website is here. Whoo let’s gooo!
Give Money #1!
My friend Lindsay of Still We Rise has launched a F*CK ICE / MELT ICE sticker sale to raise money for a Minnesota food panty. The stickers are super cute and 100% of the profits go to Calvary Food Shelf in MN! (Warning, some stickers use the curse word, but some say “melt” instead).
Give Money #2!
We have a local dad in ICE detention who is $2,000 away from being able to make bail. His daughter is asking for help. If anyone can spare the money I would love to see him freed!
Grab your Wallet! 💳
I am thrilled to announce that, with the help of my amazing assistant Andrea and some intrepid readers, our ICE OUT boycott list is up and running and looking great! Please share! We need folks to refuse to shop at businesses supporting ICE and/or Trump.
If anyone sees mistakes let me know, and if anyone has items to add let me know, too!
Resistbot Letter (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.) 💻
[To: your US Senators] [H/T Casey R. ] [Text SIGN PSXWRL 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 a constituent I urge you to do everything in your power to shut down the family detention centers. Children are not criminals and should not be imprisoned. Every day in detention robs a child of a day of healthy development.I was heartbroken by the story of five-year-old Liam Ramos in his little bunny hat and Spider-Man backpack arrested by ICE with his father. I was outraged when I learned of the conditions he faces now in family detention.I urge you to visit the detention center in Dilley, Texas and to witness and bring attention to the inhumane conditions there.The testimonies from inside these detention centers expose deeply disturbing realities - adults and children fighting over scarce water, inadequate medical attention for serious conditions, and intense psychological trauma. Locking up vulnerable people, many of whom are legally seeking asylum, is both unjust and inhumane. We cannot allow policies that inflict such harm on innocent families.
OK, you did it again! You’re helping to save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk soon.
Jess
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