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Photo from Rebecca E. of Indivisible San Jose’s freeway overpass brigade

Hi, all, and happy Tuesday.

As I continued my never-ending—and apparently futile—quest to catch up on my inbox this morning I stumbled upon an email from Marc Elias of Democracy Docket. It’s about a week old, but still completely relevant. Elias was writing about hope—or the lack thereof—in this moment. I loved his words, so I’m going to quote them at length.

He said, in part:

Hope is not a naïve emotion. It is a sober responsibility. Hope is what we do when the odds are long and the options limited. It is the stubborn act of trying when despair feels easier. Rather than a passive optimism, hope is the commitment of those who believe they can make a difference, however small.

What gives me hope are the lawyers who walk into courtrooms every day, fighting for justice in the face of governments with unlimited resources that want to deny it. These lawyers do not know if they will win; often, they know they will lose. But they keep showing up because the rule of law depends on it.

I am hopeful when I see everyday Americans stand on street corners, in the heat of summer or the cold of winter, holding signs to protest Trump’s cruel treatment of migrants. They cannot reverse policy alone, but their visible witness matters. It reminds all of us that cruelty is not normal, that silence only benefits the oppressor.

I feel hope every time an opposition leader — elected or not — stands up to Trump and the GOP, making their efforts to subvert our elections just a little more difficult. Each obstruction slows the march toward authoritarianism. Each act of courage buys time for others to organize, resist, and fight back.

Most importantly, I have hope when people refuse the cool cynicism of despair. Despair is peddled by the right to convince us that resistance is futile, and it is echoed by too many on the left who would rather sit back and say all is lost. Cynicism asks nothing of us; hope demands everything. When people choose to act rather than surrender, that is what keeps democracy alive.

I literally couldn’t have said it better.

Here in this community we “choose to act rather than surrender” because we understand that hope is, indeed, a “sober responsibility.” It’s also an action-first-feeling-second sort of phenomenon. By that I mean that simply we take action to feel hope—not the other way around. That’s why we—the people who act—typically feel better than people who don’t. We’ve known the thrill of unexpected impact. We’ve felt the joy of effort in community. We’ve heard lawmakers describe our power.

We know that our actions don’t guarantee the outcome we want, but we also understand that the outcome we want won’t happen without our actions.

And so we keep going—yes, even with no guarantee of success.

Thanks for all you’re doing. It matters. Because without you success is impossible.

So let’s get back to work.

Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲

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

I’m calling today because there is a concerted effort to undermine public safety, endanger law enforcement and increase the risk of crime and gun violence by passing a national concealed carry reciprocity bill. This reckless bill is S. 65 and I urge the Senator to support law enforcement officials and gun violence survivors by withholding support. Concealed carry reciprocity will lead to more gun deaths. Period. Thanks. [H/T and more info]

Also, Trump is out of control. Americans want him to focus on lowering prices, not invading our cities under false pretenses. If I wanted to live in a dictatorship I’d move to Russia. Congress needs to provide a check on this man now. Thanks.

Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲

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

I’m calling today because there is a concerted effort to undermine public safety, endanger law enforcement and increase the risk of crime and gun violence by passing a national concealed carry reciprocity bill. This reckless bill is H.R.38 and I urge the Representative to support law enforcement members and gun violence survivors by withholding support. Concealed carry reciprocity will lead to more gun deaths. Period. Please oppose. Thanks. [H/T and more info]

Extra Credit ✅

Trump just made the unprecedented move of firing Federal Reserve Gov. Lisa Cook, threatening the Fed’s independence and asserting more control over all facets of government.

Let’s contact Fed Chair Powell and tell him that under no circumstances can he go along with this. The contact form is here (click the General Inquiry radio button).

We can simply say something like:

In response to President Trump’s illegal firing of Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook I’d like Chair Powell to state unequivocally that Governor Cook remains a member in good standing of the board and that you refuse to recognize Trump’s illegal action. There is a reasonable chance that the Federal Reserve’s independence will be vindicated by the Supreme Court, but even if it isn’t you still need to stand up for it. Enough is enough! Stop caving to this would-be dictator! Thanks.

But better if you write your own or at least customize. Thanks!

Get Smart! 📚

WHAT THE HECK DO FEDERAL DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES DO?

Thursday, August 28, 7:30PM ET

Did you know that the executive branch isn’t just the president with a pen and a podium? It’s a sprawling web of departments that keep the country running, from managing natural disasters to inspecting the food your family eats and the air we all breathe. Join us as we break down who does what, why it matters, and how these departments show up in your everyday life. From the Department of Education to the EPA, Red, Wine, and Blue will connect the dots so you can stop confusing acronyms and start understanding the machinery behind government decisions.

Messaging! Messaging! Messaging! 📣

Post this on your social media:

🚨 Trump Is Making Us Less Safe 🚨

FEMA staff are warning that Trump officials’ actions risk a Katrina-level disaster, highlighting a dangerous undermining of emergency response.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2025/08/25/fema-staff-protest-letter/

P.S. If you want to read the article but are blocked by a paywall the archived version is here. But these Archive.ph links don’t reproduce well on social so when posting I’d use the original WaPo link.

Give 💰!

Join Comedian Richard Kind (Mad About You) for a fundraiser to help save PA’s courts

Lehigh County Democratic Committee, MA Flip PA, and Swing Blue Alliance are hosting a Zoom Fundraiser on Wednesday, August 27, 7-8 ET,to help save the Democratic majority and counter the MAGA billionaires spending millions to buy the court. We need to raise $34,000 for digital billboards on major highways in Lehigh County and Allentown, Pennsylvania; run ads on a Spanish language radio station in Allentown; and hold a weekly phone bank to encourage voters to vote “Yes!” to retain these Democratic Justices.

The stakes are high! The Supreme Court makes decisions on issues like redistricting, abortion access, environmental protection, and working conditions. Join comedian Richard Kind (Curb Your Enthusiasm, Mad About You, A Serious Man), Conor Lamb, a former Pennsylvania US Representative, and Malcolm Kenyatta, State Representative from Philadelphia and National Democratic Committee Vice Chair, and others, for an evening to rally support and stop Republicans from taking over the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

Let’s support our PA friends and protect this Democratic majority in an essential swing state! Sign up. You can also make a donation directly.

Register for the event

Get in the Streets! 🪧

Take on the Billionaires: Labor Day 2025!

You can find existing events here

And if you’re interested in hosting an event in your area here’s the Host Toolkit

Win Races—CALL! 🗳

Another way to help us win in PA!

Sign up for Monday evening (6-8 PM ET) phone banks starting on September 8 to call voters in Allentown and explain why they should turn out to vote “Yes” to retain the Democratic justices. Callers will receive full training! Sign up.

Win Races—WRITE! 🗳

Postcards to Swing States’ innovative News Boosting postcards will reach key households across Virginia with real news headlines that too often get drowned out by MAGA propaganda. They’re over halfway to their goal — but 1,478,260 postcards remain.

Sign up now, and they’ll send you the postcards within a week, and you’ll have several weeks to write them (or a bit longer if needed). It’s the perfect time to host a postcard writing party with likeminded friends and family.

Chop Wood, Save the Planet 🔥

Get your next Monthly Dose of Climate Hope on Wednesday, August 27 from 2-3 PM ET!

You’ll learn from Amanda Royal, the solutions-focused author of Earth Hope, as she is interviewed by Sam Matey, Editor-in-Chief at Climate Action Now. Together, we’ll explore innovative conservation methods, natural carbon sequestration, and Indigenous leadership in conservation.

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

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

Last week, a meeting took place at the White House involving President Trump, President Zelenskyy, and European officials. The agenda reportedly included potential frameworks for resolving the conflict in Ukraine through negotiations. Any so-called “peace agreement” that involves relinquishing Ukrainian territory would contravene U.S. legislation and encourage further Russian hostility.

Congress has made its stance clear:

CAATSA (2017): The United States refuses to acknowledge territorial alterations enforced through aggression.
NDAA & Omnibus Acts (2019–2025): Allocation of U.S. resources is prohibited for recognizing Russia’s claims over Crimea or any other Ukrainian regions.
UFSA & Senate Resolutions: U.S. policy is committed to safeguarding Ukraine’s sovereignty until its territorial wholeness is restored.

Moreover, it’s not solely a matter of American statutes. Ukraine’s own constitution prohibits any territorial deals. President Zelenskyy lacks the legal authority to “exchange” land with Russia—even under duress. Such an agreement would be unlawful, dangerous, and serve the Kremlin’s interests.

Your advocacy is crucial. Please utilize your influence to:

Oppose any arrangement that legitimizes Russian territorial gains or violates U.S. statutes
Advocate for stricter sanctions and duties on nations that support Russia, like China
Endorse the rapid provision of U.S. arms—Ukraine is ready to purchase these

This issue extends beyond Ukraine’s frontiers. It concerns whether America will adhere to its own laws, its commitments, and the tenet that sovereignty cannot be nullified by sheer force. Thanks.

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

Talk soon.

Jess

Chop Wood, Carry Water is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

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