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Visibility Brigade chapters got busy calling out Trump’s illegal war across the country this weekend. Thanks to everyone who participated!

Hi, all, and happy Tuesday!

Hope you’re hanging in there, considering all of the insanity swirling around us.

I wanted to share some information I’ve received regarding the travel delays and other issues we’re starting to see because DHS funding is still blocked.

According to House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro, Republican leadership is currently blocking her bill to fully fund TSA and several other agencies under DHS. If Speaker Johnson allowed her bill to receive a vote, we could resolve the staffing issues at airports immediately. Instead, they are choosing to hold TSA officers and Americans’ travel hostage in order to force Democrats to sign off on even more money for ICE and CBP without the guardrails against abuse a vast majority of Americans want to see.

Republican Leadership and President Trump, therefore, are responsible for the chaos unfolding at America’s airports. We should be sure to tell folks this at every possible opportunity.

The agencies that would have funding under DeLauro’s bill are the following:

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), including the Disaster Relief Fund
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)
U.S. Coast Guard
Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
U.S. Secret Service
Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC)
Science & Technology Directorate (S&T)
Office of Inspector General (OIG)
Federal Protective Service

A lot of important ones—all under the aegis of DHS! ICE and CBP are excluded, of course, as Democrats are demanding major reforms to them before they’ll agree to funding them. These reforms include:

• No deportation or detention of U.S. Citizens

• Prohibit operations at sensitive locations like schools, houses of worship and polling places

• Require agents to get a warrant from a judge before kicking in someone’s door

• No masks

• Clear identifying information on uniforms

• End racial profiling

• Establish use of force policy in law

• Allow independent investigations into misconduct

• Mandate use of body-worn cameras

These are uncontroversial and widely supported reforms. Democrats are saying they won’t budge on them, and they shouldn’t.

To complicate matters further, and as I discussed on my Live yesterday, President Trump announced he won’t sign any legislation into law unless the SAVE America Act is passed. It has virtually no chance of doing so, so he’s tilting at windmills, all while ICE continues to terrorize our communities and federal workers go unpaid.

Oh, and we’re still at war.

Things are a mess. But we expected no less. Our job is to try to help fix it, so no more talk—let’s go do that!

Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲

Hi, I’m a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.

I understand that Rep. DeLauro has introduced a bill to fund all agencies under DHS except for ICE and CBP right now. We need the Senate to pass something like it right away. There is no reason for the travel delays we’re seeing, and there’s no reason for federal employees at these agencies to have to work without pay. Pass this bill at once, please, and then pass a separate bill that makes the reforms to ICE that Democrats are demanding. We support them.

Also, this war needs to end. Americans don’t support it, we’re angry that it costs so much, and we are furious that so many people have died—including the 168 school girls that our bombs seem to have killed. Pass a war powers resolution, now! Hegseth and Trump are leading us into disaster.

Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲

Hi, I’m a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.

I want the Congressmember to support Rep. DeLauro’s H.R.7481 - the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2026. This bill would fund all agencies under DHS except for ICE and CBP. We need it. There is no reason for the travel delays we’re seeing, and there’s no reason for federal employees at these agencies to have to work without pay. Pass this bill at once, please, and then pass a separate bill that makes the reforms to ICE that Democrats are demanding. Americans support them by wide margins.

Extra Credit ✅

Lots of you have been asking for another action on the DOJ’s new and dastardly proposed rules change; fortunately reader Louise W. sent one in! Thanks for that!

Please post a comment objecting to Bondi’s proposed rule that DOJ lawyers representing the government (i.e., violating legal standards to shield Donald Trump) can’t be held legally responsible. Here is the DOJ site where you can see the rule proposal (document/DOJ-OAG-2026-0001-0001). Or watch this video for more background.

This is an easy action. Write your own objection or edit the language below to suit your beliefs…or, if you must, just copy and paste it.

Action: Public Comment Period: Oppose the New Rule Shielding DOJ Lawyers from Accountability: CLICK HERE to post your comments.

Suggested comment:

I am a concerned citizen who cares deeply about preserving the rule of law and upholding the integrity of our democratic principles, I strongly oppose this new rule, because it will diminish accountability for misconduct by government lawyers. I believe that all lawyers — but most especially — 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 unnoticed and unpunished.

I just submitted mine, although my language was quite a bit more salty than the above. (:

Extra Extra Credit ✅✅

One of my subscribers is asking for our help in Key West, FL. She is circulating a petition in an effort to get a sadistic and lawless ICE officer fired. His name is Bruno Cabral, and he has been terrorizing the people of Key West.

She’s asking all of us to sign, regardless of where we live. Please do.

Get Smart! 📚

Commit to Democracy is hosting Elizabeth Chur, a veteran canvasser, phone banker, and the author of the AMAZING book The Joy of Talking Politics with Strangers, for two workshops.

I know Elizabeth and I can tell you these workshops will be incredible. Please attend if you can! You won’t regret it!

Workshop 1, Tuesday, March 17 at 4PM PT / 7PM ET - You Had Me at ‘Hello’: Connecting with Voters in the First Minute

Workshop 2, Tuesday, March 24: - Turn ‘I Don’t Vote’ into the Start (Not the End) of a Conversation

If you’re a phonebanker or a canvasser—or if you ever hope to be—you must take a course from Elizabeth. It’s game-changing. Sign up at the links above.

Give 💰!

YOU GUYS! Very exciting! A subscriber has offered a 5K matching grant for Movement Voter Fund!

If you don’t know MVP they are one of my top picks for political donations. They’re an incredible, highly respected org that finds and supports the best and most effective grassroots groups across the country so they can help register and turn out voters. They are FANTASTIC!

And and AND! You must watch their new short video about Minnesota and how organizing there saved them when ICE attacked! It’s incredible. If you’re not crying by the end you’re a stronger soul than me.

Watch, and then give any amount you can. There is almost no place else your money will do as much good.

Get in the Streets! 🪧

I highly recommend attending Indivisible’s “What’s the Plan?” with co-founders Leah and Ezra on Thursday to hear about preparations for No Kings. They’ll also talk about the war in Iran, Epstein, the ongoing DHS funding fight, and more. It’s always super energizing.

Thursday, March 12, 3-4 PM ET

RSVP here

Win Races! 🗳

[H/T Nancy Friedman of CFAA]

LET’S WIN IN VIRGINIA!

In a statewide referendum to be held on April 21, Virginians will decide on a temporary redistricting bill that, if passed, will lead to an increase in the number of Democrats in Congress. This election is crucial to flipping the House in November. Early voting began on March 6 and runs through April 18. Can you help?

Write postcards with Activate America at Postcards — Activate America. They are writing to Democratic voters who are very likely to support this effort IF they know about it and we make it easy for them to know what to do. Mail ASAP but by April 8 at the latest.

Join the Environmental Voter Project for a 45 min. briefing webinar on March 13, 12 Noon ET/9 am PT for a deep dive into this referendum and how you can help mobilize voters. Register at Mobilizing Voters for the Virginia Redistricting Referendum | Environmental Voter Project.

Call VA voters with Grassroots Dems HQ on Sundays from 9-12 PT / 12-3 ET. These will be easy calls to likely Dems. Sign up here.

Resistbot Letter (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.) 💻

[To: all 3 reps] [H/T] [Text SIGN PZEHYG 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.)

On Thursday, March 5, Politico reported that Congressional leaders are “debating whether to attach wildfire aid and $15 billion in tariff relief for farmers” to a $50 billion supplemental funding measure for President Trump’s illegal and immoral war with Iran. The inclusion of long overdue wildfire aid, and court-ordered tariff relief in an effort to attract Democratic support is insulting and wrong.

For $50 billion Congress could make health insurance affordable for millions of Americans; You could deliver all $39 billion in California wildfire aid, and then some; you could make life better, more affordable, and safer for Americans. Instead our lives are being used as a bargaining chip so Donald Trump can wage a war of choice that nobody asked for, which has already killed more than 1,000 people — including 8 American soldiers — and which is destabilizing the global economy and driving up prices for gas, groceries, and all kinds of daily necessities here at home.

As your constituent I demand you oppose all supplemental funding for the illegal Iran war, and focus on funding our communities here at home instead.

OK, you did it again! You’re helping to save democracy! You’re amazing.

Talk soon.

Jess

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