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Hi, all, and happy Monday.
Of course it’s not really happy, is it? Trump is deploying the National Guard in D.C. in order to distract from the fact that his economic policies are ruinous, he’s implicated in the Epstein case, and he’s lost the respect of the American people. It’s scary and disheartening, but now isn’t the time to give up. Quite the contrary! Trump, as Robert Hubbell rightly pointed out in his newsletter last night, is weaker than he’s ever been. These are not the actions of a confident, successful ruler. They’re the desperate, panicked spasms of a hapless loser. Remember it and repeat it to yourself many times each day.
Also? Fight back accordingly.
I’m keeping this opening short as our calls at this moment are critical. Republicans will be watching to see how this latest action goes over; let’s make sure they get an earful, and that it’s thunderous. They have the power to stop this. Their complete capitulation to Trump’s authoritarian overreach is pathetic, insane, and unforgivable. They should know it, and so should their staff.
The time to play nice is over. If you’re in DC please consider joining the protests already in progress today—and if you know where they are please drop it in the comments. If you’re anywhere else please get loud. And make sure that whenever you talk about this to friends or family you tie Trump’s actions to his need to distract from his economic failures, his ties to a known child sex trafficker, and his plummeting poll numbers.
Deep breaths, all. Remember, if we take this one day at a time, keep acting in concert, and don’t quit WE WILL WIN.
Let’s get to work.
Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I’m a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
First, I understand that Senate Democrats have introduced two pieces of legislation to reverse the worst of the cuts in Trump’s new law. They are the Protecting Healthcare And Lowering Costs Act to repeal Trump’s healthcare cuts and the Lowering Electric Bills Act to reverse his tax hikes on clean energy. These bills are critical so that people like me can afford to live in this country. Please ask the Senator to co-sponsor both.
Also, I vehemently oppose Trump’s decision to deploy the National Guard in DC. Sending federal troops in to *“*assist with law enforcement” in a city where violent crime, by the DOJ’s own reporting, is at a 30-year low is insane, likely illegal, and deeply undemocratic. It is also government overreach, a massive waste of taxpayer dollars, and an obvious attempt to distract from the Epstein scandal. Congress needs to exert its authority and stop Trump’s lawless actions. Also, release the Epstein files NOW. Thanks.
Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I’m a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
I vehemently oppose Trump’s decision to deploy the National Guard in DC. Sending federal troops in to *“*assist with law enforcement” in a city where violent crime, by the DOJ’s own reporting, is at a 30-year low is insane, likely illegal, and deeply undemocratic. It is also government overreach, a massive waste of taxpayer dollars, and an obvious attempt to distract from the Epstein scandal. Congress needs to exert its authority and stop Trump’s lawless actions. Also, release the Epstein files NOW. Thanks.
On Today’s Live 🎥
Today at 4PM PT / 7PM ET I’ll be chatting with Ilyse Hogue—author, former president of NARAL, and one of the political strategists behind the new All American Substack—to discuss the news out of DC, Trump’s larger attacks on our democracy, and her new anthology, Out of Many, One: Writings on American Universalism.
The collection brings together 27 voices—including Anne-Marie Slaughter, Eric Ward, John Avlon, Sharon Davies, and Barry Lynn—who are making the case for “American Universalism”: a hopeful, pro-democracy vision rooted in pluralism, universal rights, and economic security.
To listen just open your Substack app at 4PM PT and click on “Join” when you see the Live pop up. Or you can click here.
Extra Credit ✅
[H/T subscriber Caroline D.]
The EPA’s Proposed Rule for Reconsideration of 2009 Endangerment Finding and Greenhouse Gas Vehicle Standards is open for public comment NOW through Sep 15. Here’s the link to review the proposed rule and submit a comment (use the green “submit a public comment” button near the top right).
Sample comment (important to not copy exactly as duplicates get discarded):
I am a concerned citizen with a vested interest in maintaining the physical livability of the United States, and the world, for generations to come. As such, I’m writing to express my extreme alarm and distress at the proposal to reconsider the 2009 Endangerment Finding and Greenhouse Gas Vehicle Standards. Every other reasonable, industrialized nation in the world agrees that greenhouse gases contribute to air pollution and pose a threat to public health and welfare, and understand that we must do what we can to set reasonable emissions standards and protect our air quality - and ourselves - from irreparable environmental harm. For the US to propose dismissing this established understanding sets us back decades, and is a rejection of what it has always meant for the US to be a leader in making the world a better place. Please think of your children and grandchildren. They will not benefit from the increased profits this change would bring to the already-wealthy auto industry nearly as much as they will benefit from having clean, breathable air. I fully support the EPA’s 2009 Endangerment Finding and subsequent vehicle standards, and I wholeheartedly reject any proposed rescission of these established rules. Thanks.
Or write whatever you want!
Get Smart! 📚
On Tuesday, August 12th at 5:00PM ET, Big Tent is thrilled to welcome back civic strategist and former Georgia State Representative, Stacey Abrams, and renowned historian, Heather Cox Richardson for a discussion moderated by Kimberly Atkins Stohr.
Their discussion will focus on how the Trump administration & MAGA are using America’s education system to entrench authoritarian power. From rewriting history to gutting diversity and issuing sweeping Executive Orders targeting higher education, these actions are part of a broader strategy to consolidate control. That same authoritarian playbook is at work in Texas, where Republicans are attempting to redraw congressional maps to dilute representation and lock in political power.
Together, these efforts reveal a coordinated plan to undermine democratic norms — and Stacey and Heather will unpack what’s at stake and how we can fight back.
Give 💰!
Several have asked where we can give money to support Texas Democrats who’ve fled the state. I asked around and as far as I can tell the two places to give are this site, created by the Texas Democratic Party, and Beto’s site, Powered By People. I know Ken Paxton has said he’s going to block Beto from giving money to the lawmakers but from what I’m hearing that hasn’t actually happened yet. Also it’s an excellent place to give in terms of overall Texas organizing. So please give to either or both if you can!
Get in the Streets! 🪧
On Friday, August 15, The Visibility Brigade Movement celebrates Be Brave Day, when hundreds of brigades will converge on overpasses and bridges across our nation, with the powerful message:
BE BRAVE WITH US. WE’LL STAND WITH YOU.
Their goal is for this empowering message to go beyond August 15 and become a mantra of hope and determination that we can hold onto and share with each other in even our darkest moments. They want this message seen and heard EVERYWHERE - and they need your help getting it out there!
To learn more and participate, please go here.
Win Races! 🗳
A special election for an Iowa State Senate seat is happening on August 26. If Democrats flip this seat, they’ll break the Iowa GOP’s veto-proof supermajority, giving Democrats a crucial check on the Republican Governor. This win would also help set the stage for 2026.
Democratic Candidate Catelin Drey is a community advocate and working mom, focused on real solutions like affordable childcare, healthcare access, and strong public schools. As the founder of Moms for Iowa, she’s fighting to make government more accessible for parents—while her opponent pushes extreme MAGA politics.
Please consider making calls to win this key race in Iowa! Sign up here. We need you!
Chop Wood, Save the Planet 🔥
Carbon pollution, methane, and other climate pollutants are proven to endanger public health. But Donald Trump and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin are moving forward with their plan to undo protections that keep us safe from these types of pollution. At the same time, the Trump administration aims to roll back pollution standards for cars, trucks and buses, despite the current standards having proven to cut pollution, improve health, and save consumers money.
But we’re not sitting back and letting this happen. Join the Climate Action Campaign for a virtual call on Tuesday, August 12 at 6 PM ET to learn exactly what Trump’s Climate Chaos Plan entails and how you can fight back.
Resistbot Letter (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.) 💻
[To: all 3 reps] [H/T] [Text SIGN PGIACO 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’m writing to urge you to support allocating at least $825 million in federal funding for election administration and security in the Fiscal Year 2026 budget to help defend our voting rights nationwide.
Free and fair elections are the cornerstone of our democracy – but they require investment. In 2020, Congress rightly appropriated $825 million to help states run secure, accessible elections. This year, however, that number has dropped to just $15 million – or less than $300,000 per state. That’s not enough to ensure safe, reliable, and equitable elections for millions of voters.
Across the country, local election officials are being asked to do more with less. They’re facing a perfect storm of challenges: Aging infrastructure, including decades-old voting machines, shortages of trained poll workers, disinformation and declining public trust, cybersecurity threats and physical threats to election workers, and new restrictive laws that make election administration more complex and costly.
At the same time, restrictions on third-party support and the elimination of key federal resources, including the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s (CISA) election security programs, have left many local offices with fewer tools than ever.
This funding gap creates deep inequities. Wealthier communities can often fund election upgrades through local revenue. But rural areas and lower-income jurisdictions are left behind – making our elections less accessible and less secure.
Election funding has historically enjoyed bipartisan support, and recent polling shows that nearly 70% of Americans believe the federal government should play a stronger role in election funding. This is not a partisan issue – it’s about safeguarding our democracy and ensuring that every American can vote without barriers.
I urge you to support restoring election security grants to at least $825 million for FY26 and commit to consistent federal investment in the years to come.
Thank you for your attention to this vital issue.
OK, you did it again! You’re helping to save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk soon.
Jess
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