Into Action has a bunch of No Kings related GIFS here.
Hi, all, and happy Thursday.
A top TSA official announced yesterday that travelers are experiencing the longest wait times in TSA history and that they may need to close down smaller airports. Despite this, Republicans are still refusing to fund TSA. In fact, they just blocked another bill to get agents paid this morning. This would be the 11th time. They did this, almost definitely, at Trump’s insistence.
Republicans and Democrats want to find some way out of this impasse, but the truth is Trump’s ego is a real obstacle. Every bad poll that comes out for him, every special election loss for candidates he’s endorsed, every gloomy appraisal of the economy adds to his panic over the upcoming midterms. Trump is a person who can’t abide losing, so he’s come to see passing the SAVE America Act as existential. Getting him to untether TSA funding from the SAVE Act—let alone from ICE and CBP funding—is hard, indeed. I am encouraged, however, by the fact that the public’s fury over airport chaos is focussed way more on Trump and Republicans than on Democrats. That should help our cause.
Trump, of course, has made things even worse for himself by deploying ICE agents to airports, making the situation far worse, far more dangerous, and far more politically toxic for him and Republicans. Americans do NOT LIKE ICE! Putting them at the airports reminds us of this fact. Putting them there with no clear role other than staring at their phones or handing out water is even worse.
Anyway. House Democrats have introduced a discharge petition to force a vote on Congresswoman DeLauro’s bill to fund all of DHS except for ICE, Border Patrol, and the Secretary’s office. We need just four Republicans to join all Democrats in signing that petition to force the vote. So let’s make sure we call today.
I continue to welcome first-person accounts of what it’s like at airports across the country right now. And if anyone has videos of either long lines or ICE agents not helping please send them to me! You can do so on Signal at jesscraven.37 or by hitting reply to this email.
Finally, we’re hearing rumors that there may be a ground action in Iran as early as Friday night. This is clearly insane, but Trump can’t figure out how to get himself out of this mess, and he’s surrounded by incompetent men who want to blow more things up. I truly hope the rumors are wrong, but all indicators point towards this war getting worse before it gets better.
This is why attendance at a No Kings protest on Saturday is so important. We are not simply saying “No Kings!” We are saying NO WAR! We are saying NO ICE! We are saying NO CORRUPTION! NO OLIGARCHY! NO DETAINING BABIES! NO WHITE SUPREMACY! NO INSIDER TRADING! NO PRIORITIZING BILLIONAIRES! NO HEALTHCARE CUTS! And so on.
As Ash-Lee Woodard Henderson just said on the Indivisible call I’m on, ‘mass protests are a way to transform private discontent into public identity.” Yes!
They are also, she added, something that shifts the calculus for elites. When tens of millions of people come out in the street every corporation, every institution, every lawmaker has to calculate what compliance will cost them.
So let’s show them it will cost them a LOT.
Let’s get to work, and then get ready to make history (again.)
Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I’m a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
First, I urge the Senator to oppose additional funding for ICE and Border Patrol and support meaningful restrictions on those agencies to stop the violence and abuse in our communities. I also urge the Senator to support legislation that would fund the rest of the Department of Homeland Security without funding ICE and CBP. TSA agents deserve to be paid for their work. The fact that Trump is blocking this funding so he can try to pass a voter suppression bill is outrageous.
Needless to say, I also oppose the SAVE America Act; shame on any lawmaker who wants to take our votes away.
Finally, I am really concerned that Trump and his circle are profiting off of insider training related to the Iran War. Has the Senator demanded hearings about this? Those who are sharing national security-related information so people can make massive profits need to be found and charged with treason. Thanks.
Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I’m a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
First, I urge the Congressmember to oppose additional funding for ICE and Border Patrol and support meaningful restrictions on those agencies to stop the violence and abuse in our communities. I also urge the Congressmember to support legislation that would fund the rest of the Department of Homeland Security without funding ICE and CBP. TSA agents deserve to be paid for their work. The fact that Trump is blocking this funding so he can try to pass a voter suppression bill is outrageous. Will Representative [NAME] commit to signing the discharge petition to separate and pass funding for TSA?
Finally, I am really concerned that Trump and his circle are profiting off of insider training related to the Iran War. Has the Congressmember demanded hearings about this? Those who are sharing national security-related information so others can make massive profits need to be found and charged with treason. Thanks.
Extra Credit ✅
On April 1 I go to DC to attend a rally in front of SCOTUS for the birthright citizenship hearing. It’s going to be a big day—because this is a big case, the outcome of which will impact the way the US looks going forward.
I wanted to give you one more chance to sign the petition the ACLU is bringing to court with them. We’ve got almost 370K signatures on it already! It’s here.
Also I made a video in collaboration with the ACLU explaining why this case matters so much. You can find it here on IG, here on YouTube, here on Facebook, and here on Substack Notes. Please share, along with the petition link!
Get Smart! 📚
Know any lawyers? This event is for them!
Ready to Act: A Lawyer’s Roadmap for Protecting the Rule of LawTuesday, March 31 | 1:00–2:00 PM EDT
Across the country, lawyers are already stepping up to resist escalating attacks on legal institutions under the Trump administration—filing lawsuits to check unlawful executive actions, defending the independence of courts and prosecutors, pushing back against abuses of power, and protecting the rights of vulnerable communities.
Join the Not Above the Law Coalition, Democracy Rising Collaborative, Lawyers for Good Government, Principles First, Citizens for Ethics, American Constitution Society and other groups for a national organizing call bringing together attorneys committed to defending the rule of law at a pivotal moment with remarks by Mimi Rocah.
Attendees will hear directly from attorneys who have challenged government overreach and defended democratic institutions, sharing concrete examples of what that work looks like in practice.
They will also introduce a new lawyer’s action toolkit from Democracy Rising Collaborative designed for attorneys seeking to defend the rule of law and outline specific ways to plug in, whether that means joining ongoing efforts or helping lead new ones.RSVP here.
Messaging! Messaging! Messaging! 📣
This month, American Bridge 21st Century launched an online communications campaign that translates the real economic damage of Trump’s policies into content that everyday people can feel.
The goal is simple: keep the cost crisis in the news cycle, tie it directly to Trump administration decisions, and give everyone who wants to fight back a dependable resource to do it with.
This week, American Bridge is focusing on how Trump’s reckless MAGA agenda ruined a job creation juggernaut by pursuing policies that increase unemployment and slow job growth for many sectors of the economy.
Real people are paying the price for his reckless policies, upending the economy. Behind every lost job is a person who needs to make their rent, fill their fridge, put clothes on their kids’ backs, or pay for prescriptions. People need more opportunities, but Trump’s agenda is taking them away.
The research is solid. The stories are real. Let’s help share them far and wide.
Give 💰!
The State’s Project is holding a State Preview event on Thursday, April 30 at 8PM ET featuring Iowa and North Carolina! If you haven’t already, be sure to RSVP for a deep dive into the stakes, goals, and opportunities in each of these states.
This series is open to Giving Circle leaders and members, plus friends, family, and even newbies who are thinking of getting involved with The States Project to raise money for state legislative races.
Get in the Streets! 🪧
NO KINGS IS IN TWO DAYYYYYS! Find your event here!
Win Races—Write Postcards!
Blue Wave Postcards has launched a new campaign:
Let’s help get out the vote in Georgia’s May State Supreme Court election! This election will shape the direction of Georgia’s highest court for years to come, and, with bad actors maneuvering to put their anti-democratic fingers on the scale of election outcomes, this postcard campaign is crucial to protecting the integrity of our elections and the civil rights of every Georgian.
We have two pro-democracy candidates on the ballot: former State Senator Jen Jordan and Miracle Rankin, a personal injury attorney and former president of the Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys. They’re champions for civil rights and liberties, defenders of reproductive rights, and will protect the results of free and fair elections in Georgia.
Blue Wave Postcards’ messages are targeting pro-Democracy voters who regularly turn out in General elections, but often skip primaries. Since this vote is on the primary ballot, they can’t stay home! Blue Wave is working with partners on the ground in Georgia, and with your help, we can boost turnout to make sure the Court has two additional pro-democracy justices.
Get your postcards here. You do have to pay for them, but you get cards, address labels and the message is super short!
Win Races—Voter Protection! 🗳
Don’t like calling voters? Do Voter Protection with NOPE!
Voter protection can be anything from voter registration support, “chasing” and “curing”ballots, and much more.
From NOPE:
Election Protection in Georgia If calling voters isn’t your specialty, you can call local election offices in Georgia with our partner Fair Fight to update information before the 5/19 primary, so that voters know about office hours, rules for mail in voting, drop box locations and more. Training will be in late March and calls are needed between April 1st to 16th. Sign up here
Questions? Email nopeprotectvote@gmail.com.
Resistbot Letter (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.) 💻
[To: all 3 reps] [H/T Each Step Home] [Text SIGN PURSDX 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.)
I call on you to shut down the ICE family detention center in Dilley, Texas and to end ICE detention of children and families. Children are not criminals. They are not security threats. There are humane alternatives to detention.
No child belongs in a detention cell, but especially not a detention center with undrinkable water, inedible food, and insufficient access to medical care. The AP reported that children are losing weight. Do you know how much neglect has to take place for a CHILD to lose weight?
I just can’t stop thinking about 5-year-old Liam Ramos in the blue bunny hat and how sick he looked when detained there, about two-month-old Juan Nicolas who almost died in Dilley over President’s Day weekend, about 7-year-old Diana who was taken by ICE on her way to the emergency room, and many more.
The American Academy of Pediatrics has called for the shuttering of these facilities, and you should too.
OK, you did it again! You’re helping to save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk soon.
Jess
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