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Had to find some humor on such a grim day. Download this meme on Into Action’s website here.

Hi, all, and happy Thursday.

Of course, it’s not happy. It’s mayhem out there. We had another school shooting yesterday, the DHS just announced that it will cut funding to organizations that provide aid to undocumented people—even during natural disasters, there’s been a HUGE data breach at the Social Security Administration, and now we’re having a purge at the CDC because leadership there refuses to co-sign RFK Jr’s latest (insane) vaccine guidance. It’s a lot.

So I want to remind you of a few things: first, you’re not crazy. Being overwhelmed is pretty much the only sane response right now. This is a horribly difficult time; it’s not normal to be subjected to this much chaos—and privy to this much cruelty—on a daily basis. You’re right to be upset. It makes you a good person. A whole one. A feeling one.

I also want to remind you that there are millions and millions of Americans right there with you. In fact, the majority of us are deeply opposed to what’s happening. So don’t believe for a second that you’re alone in your sorrow, or your rage, or your fear. You’re not. We are at your side, feeling it with you, and hating every second of this.

Finally, the pep talk: it is those same outraged Americans who will, eventually, prevail. We are sick, we are tired, and we are disgusted, but we are far from beaten. In fact, if we remember that we are not “fighting the bad guys” as much as helping the good ones we will rediscover our fire, recall our fury, and light into the opposition with all the righteous fury of a certain victor.

So let’s do that.

One day at a time we will get through this. And if we don’t quit we will surely win.

Let’s get to work one more time.

Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲

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

First, I’m devastated by yet another school shooting, this time in Minneapolis. What will it take for Congress to act? I want the Senator to co-sponsor S. 1531 the Assault Weapons Ban Act and S. 726 Ethan’s Law to promote safe gun storage. I also want Congress to restore funding for the Office of Gun Violence Prevention! Americans are tired of watching kids die because Congress won’t protect them.

Second, I’m horrified that Susan Monarez has been removed as the director of the CDC, and that three others in leadership positions have since resigned. Skilled leadership being ousted because they disagree with RFK’s guidance on vaccines is terrifying. The CDC is supposed to be an independent body, but it’s being politicized by an unqualified hack. It’s profoundly dangerous and it’s got to stop. Monarez needs to be reinstated and RFK Jr. needs to go. Thanks.

Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲

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

First of all, I’m devastated by yet another school shooting, this time in Minneapolis. What will it take for Congress to act? I want the Congressmember to co-sponsor HR 3115 the Assault Weapons Ban Act, HR 1564 Ethan’s Law to promote safe gun storage, and H.R.18 the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2025. Also, Congress mustrestore funding for the Office of Gun Violence Prevention at once! Americans are tired of watching kids die because Congress won’t protect them.

Extra Credit ✅

I’m doubling up on Resistbots today because there are so many pressing issues. did a great one demanding accountability for the Israeli government’s bombing of a hospital a couple of days ago, as well as their targeting of journalists. You can read and sign it here.

Practivist Pod 🎙️

Today on the Practivist Pod—my podcast with Steve Pierson—there’s a great interview with CA Congressman Dave Min. We also talk about the gun violence epidemic in our country, the ongoing redistricting battles, Trump’s threat to invade more Democratic cities, and more.

You can listen here or watch on YouTube here.

Messaging! Messaging! Messaging! 📣

The Cost and Coverage Collaborative came out with two new resources I think you’ll love.

Message Brief: Addressing the Cuts and Their Consequences, While Turning to What’s Next.

This is message guidance on how to talk about the disastrous healthcare cuts passed by Congress and the Administration at this moment, and what’s next. Read the full brief.

Graphics Collection: State-by-State Consequences of the Largest Cut to Healthcare in History.

Download these free social media graphics to call focus to the coverage losses and annual premium increases your state is about to face–and how we got here.

Give 💰!

I thought this was fun and a worthy cause. I’m not a tee shirt person but if you are…

From subscriber Heidi:

After the election we formed an “affinity group” to support one another in our efforts to resist the regime. We decided that one of the things we could do right now is to raise money for the ACLU, so we designed a “Repair Democracy” t-shirt to sell online.

The shirt just went live. Five dollars from the sale of each shirt (everything over the cost of production) goes directly to the ACLU.

Shirts can be purchased at repair-democracy.org.

Get in the Streets! 🪧

HEY NEW JERSEY!

On Wednesday, September 17 *(*Constitution Day) thousands of New Jerseyans will form an 80-mile human chain from Fort Lee to Washington Crossing — across diners, small towns, and battlefields — to defend democracy with joy, music, coffee, and even their own anthem.

Please join if you can! More info here: www.handsacrossnj.org

Win Races! 🗳

ACTIVATE AMERICA IS DOING CA REDISTRICTING POSTCARDING!

From them:

NEW CA Redistricting Postcard campaign! We are going BIG to support the California redistricting initiative, AKA the Election Rigging Response Act. Our postcard universe will be in the MILLIONS for this one and we look forward to working with you all to make it happen. Lists and addresses are available now! Mail postcards as you complete them and mail by October 1. (We will shift to an updated script for mailing during October 1-21.)

Sign up here. They have addresses into PA and NJ too.

Chop Wood, Save the Planet 🔥

Clean energy is getting its own national day of action!

The first-ever “Sun Day” is coming up Sept. 21. You can get involved in one of the more than 150 events across the country — or plan your own.

More info here!

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

[To: all 3 reps] [Source: I wrote this one borrowing heavily from a Ground News summary here and Rep. Larson’s press release here] [Text SIGN PCKECA 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.)

We learned this week that the Department of Government Efficiency uploaded the private data of over 300 million Americans to an insecure cloud server. They pushed this transfer despite a March 20, 2025 temporary restraining order and lawsuits warning of the dangers of such a move.

Internal SSA Risk Assessment Form and career cybersecurity officials warned earlier this year that the NUMIDENT database contains sensitive data of more than 548 million Social Security numbers and unauthorized access would be catastrophic. Hackers could cause widespread identity theft, interrupted benefits, and costly Social Security number reissuance. But they did it anyway.

These actions violate laws, abuse authority, and amount to gross mismanagement. They’ve also endangered the data of hundreds of millions of Americans. We need to know whether these servers were breached and by whom. And DOGE needs to be held accountable.

Finally, please co-sponsor and push for immediate passage of Rep. Larson’s Protecting Americans’ Social Security Data Act to block political appointees from accessing sensitive data systems at the Social Security Administration. It would also establish privacy requirements in law for beneficiary data and strengthen oversight and civil penalties for any privacy and disclosure violations of Social Security beneficiaries’ personal information. Thanks.

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

Talk soon.

Jess

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