The We The People weekly protest, Eau Claire, WI, Photograph, Liz Nash
Hi, all, and happy Friday.
We made it through another week!
And what a week it was. It wasn’t great for us, of course, but boy was it worse for Trump. Not only did he have to fire the incorrigibly corrupt and sadistic Kristi Noem and continue to defend a horrifically unpopular and mismanaged war, but his newest economic numbers are absolutely disastrous.
According to CNN the US economy lost 92,000 jobs in February and the unemployment rate rose to 4.4%. Economists were expecting a net gain of 60,000 jobs last month while December’s job gains of 48,000 were revised down to a loss of 17,000 jobs. This is bad, folks. More significant job declines were found in health care (down 28,000 jobs); leisure and hospitality (down 27,000 jobs); and construction (down 11,000 jobs).
Should we be surprised? Of course not. Trump’s economic agenda, such as it is, is custom-made to destroy an economy. Mass deportation is known to kill jobs, raise prices, and shrink the economy; it is doing just that. Tariffs are skyrocketing prices. Tourism is down (11 million fewer visitors in 2025!), federal workers have been laid off in record numbers, and healthcare jobs are being gutted as hospitals and clinics close or cut jobs due to Trump’s Medicaid cuts. It’s all so predictable.
But now we’ve got the price of gas to contend with as well. According to the Gas Buddy the last few days have seen the 6th, 8th and 9th largest single day increases in average diesel prices going back to 2000. Crude oil prices are up 25% since the start of the conflict, costing American consumers billions at the gas pump. Diesel prices are now over $4 a gallon – threatening consumers with sticker shock on anything that travels by truck – from food to furniture. Rising oil and gas prices will also cause utility bills to spike, since 44 percent of American electricity is generated from natural gas and oil products.
Have I mentioned that the daily cost of Trump’s war in Iran is an estimated $1 billion a day, enough to cover a full year of health care for 110,000 Medicaid enrollees.
Anyway. You get the point. Trump’s presidency is a disaster in every conceivable way. Our job is to amplify that fact, hold our Congressional representatives’ feet to the fire about it, and get ready to throw a WHOLE lot of Republicans out of office over it in November.
We also get to hold every Congressmember to account for their votes on the War Powers Resolution yesterday. This includes castigating the Republicans and four Democrats—Henry Cuellar, Greg Landsman, Juan Vargas, and Jared Golden—who voted against it, and thanking every lawmaker who supported it, which includes all Democrats other than the four above, plus Massie and Davidson.
OK, all. I’m going to end it here and get on to our actions. Because that, after all, is how we rewrite the story. Let’s goooo!
Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I’m a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
I’m calling to demand that Congress put an end to Trump’s unconstitutional and unwanted war with Iran. I urge the Senator to introduce and vote on another war powers resolution to exert Congress’s constitutional authority over military conflict and refuse to pass any supplemental funding for this unauthorized military action. Also, s/he should support articles of impeachment and move to convict and remove Trump for his repeated defiance of the Constitution. [H/T]
Speaking of impeachment, Pam Bondi and Kash Patel need to be impeached and removed for covering up the accusations against Trump in the Epstein files. And the credible charges just uncovered in the newly released documents must be investigated. Thank you!
Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I’m a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
[If your rep voted NO on War Powers bill] I’m calling to say that I’m furious that the Congressmember voted against the War Powers Resolution. This is an illegal war with no end goals, no plan, and no support from American voters. It’s going to cost a billion dollars a day—meanwhile we can’t afford healthcare or rent. I’m livid.
[If your rep voted YES on War Powers bill:] I’m calling to thank the Congressmember for voting for the War Powers Resolution. I’m extremely upset that it failed.
[Now to all say:] I want Congress to vote on another war powers resolution to exert Congress’s constitutional authority over military conflict and refuse to pass any supplemental funding for this unauthorized military action. Also, the Congressmember should support articles of impeachment against Trump for his repeated defiance of the Constitution. [H/T]
Speaking of impeachment, Pam Bondi and Kash Patel need to be impeached and removed for covering up the accusations against Trump in the Epstein files. And the credible charges just uncovered in the newly released documents need to be investigated. Thank you.
Extra Credit ✅
This week Pam Bondi announced a new rule that would stop state bar associations from investigating misconduct by lawyers. (This is likely because the Florida bar just launched an ethics investigation into Lindsey Halligan. Woot!) We can work to stop this rule by writing comments stating our objections. To make your voice heard, go to the comment portal here and click the “comment” box.
SAMPLE OBJECTION you can personalize:
I am a concerned citizen who cares deeply about preserving the rule of law and upholding the integrity of our justice system. I strongly oppose this new rule because it will diminish accountability for misconduct by government lawyers. I believe that lawyers representing the United States should be held to the highest standards of ethics and professionalism. They must be subject to oversight by independent authorities like state bar associations; the Justice Department cannot be trusted to police itself. This proposed rule would allow the Attorney General to interfere with independent state bar investigations. That will greatly harm the integrity of our justice system and allow misconduct to go unpunished. Thanks.
Get Smart! 📚
Red, Wine, and Blue invites you to: Understanding the Threat to Our Voting Rights
Tuesday, March 10, 7:30 PM - 8:30 PM ET
The right to vote is under attack, and it’s happening fast. Across the country, extremists are passing laws under the guise of “election security” that are really just voter suppression in disguise. Join us to understand exactly what laws are being passed, how they’re designed to silence our voices, and who’s behind them. Spoiler: it’s about power.
Learn what’s happening and what actions you can take in your community to protect the right to vote. It’s time to get informed, get loud, and get to work. Let’s make sure everyone we know understands what’s at stake before our critical November elections.RSVP here.
Messaging! Messaging! Messaging! 📣
A tenth ICE detainee died in custody this week, yet many people in the country still don’t understand the scope of what ICE is doing. It’s our job to educate and inform them of the abuses happening across the country EVERY DAY.
So please share this article about Emmanuel Damas, the Haitian man who just died of a tooth infection in ICE detention.
And/or please share this new America’s Voice rundown of horrific ICE abuses that happened just this week in Maine, Virginia, Illinois, New Hampshire, Nevada, and Pennsylvania—some of which we might not even think of as ICE-targeted states.
You and I may know about this stuff. Far too many Americans still don’t. Let’s change that.
Give 💰!
Our friends at Force Multiplier invite you to a unique event in support of their slate of 20 hand-picked midterm candidates.
Join them on Zoom on Tuesday March 10 at 8 PM ET to hear from the leaders of three Democratic political affinity groups: Marie Glusenkamp Perez, Blue Dog Coalition, Brad Schneider, New Democrat Coalition, and Greg Casar, Progressive Caucus. They encompass the Big Tent of the Democratic party – and their policy differences pale in comparison to their shared goal of regaining the House Majority.
Learn what differentiates them, what brings them together, and what their plans are when Democrats take back the House.
Hit the Streets!
Don’t forget that Women’s March has a weekend of action this weekend from March 7-9 for International Women’s Day to demand: stop the wars, free the files, abolish ICE.
Win Races! 🗳
Today is the first day of early voting for the temporary redistricting measure in Virginia! If you live there IT IS SO IMPORTANT to get out and vote early!
Also, we need help wining this critical election. There are phonebanks, postcarding, canvasses and more. Please go here and find a way to chip in!
Here’s a video I made a few weeks ago explaining why this election is so important.
@jesscraven101
Jessica Craven on Instagram: "If you live in Virginia or know a…
Chop Wood, Save the Planet 🔥
Align Your Money With Your Values. March 9 — 1PM PT/4PM ET
Join a webinar with Third Act to learn how to keep your money from funding fossil fuels, and instead fund local businesses, community housing, and clean energy.
Resistbot Letter (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.) 💻
[To: all 3 reps] [H/T] [Text SIGN PCXZYN 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 urge you to ensure the appropriations bill for the Department of Homeland Security halts ICE and Border Patrol’s terror campaign and protects our communities.
Alex Pretti and Renee Good’s killings are unacceptable. Enough is enough. This is a result of unchecked violence, impunity, and abuse carried out by federal immigration enforcement agencies that put everyday people at risk. You cannot stand by while ICE continues to harm communities across the country.
I am counting on you to support a new DHS appropriations bill that, at minimum:
Ensures there is not one penny more for ICE or CBP
Pulls ICE and Border Patrol out of Minneapolis and the rest of our communities
Prevents ICE or Border Patrol enforcement at designated ‘sensitive locations’ such as houses of worship, day cares, and hospitals
Restricts ICE and Border Patrol’s ability to target people based on their race, language or accent, place of employment, or location at the time of the apprehension
Ends the administration’s unlawful practice of warrantless home entry and arrests
Every member of Congress must insist on real limits and accountability before any funding is approved.
Thank you for your time, and I hope to see you standing up for the safety, dignity, and rights of all people in our communities.
OK, you did it again! You’re helping to save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk Monday.
Jess
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