Visibility Brigade, Paramus NJ
Hi, all, and happy Friday!
I have to tell you, I feel like Republicans have overplayed their hand on this free speech thing; it’s giving me an odd sense of hope. Maybe it’s because I attended the protest at Disney Studios yesterday—it was FANTASTIC! Maybe it’s because right-wingers from Jeff Flake to Karl Rove to the Flagrant Podcast guys to Tucker Carlson are speaking out vocally against Trump’s and the FCC’s move. Maybe it’s because I had a gobsmacking number of people tell me yesterday that they’d cancelled their Hulu, Disney+, and even ESPN.
Is this a tipping point? It’s too soon to tell. I’ll say this for sure, though: it is breaking through in a way that few things do, and that is NOT beneficial to the Trump administration. To say that they’re back on their heels is an understatement.
Kayleigh McEnany went on Fox News and whined, literally:
For all the concern about the ‘the First Amendment, the First Amendment,’ what about all the amendments that Charlie Kirk lost? Because Charlie Kirk has no amendments right now. None.
Setting aside what an idiotic statement that is, and how insulting to the tens of thousands of other Americans who have “no amendments” because they, too, got gunned down while trying to simply live their lives, McEnany’s statement belies the stress this administration is under, and how desperately it wants to change the subject back to Charlie Kirk.
Stephen Miller’s recent statement is more proof:
Charlie Kirk is still the only real victim in all of this. That’s what the media and Dems are very purposely trying to get people to forget.
It’s transparent and pathetic. Don’t let them get away with it. They’ve stepped in it, figuratively speaking; let’s make them stay in it for as long as possible. Keep the free speech conversation going, folks. This is something Americans can agree on—it may bring us together in a way few things can!
In other news, I had a great conversation with Rhode Island’s Rep. Seth Magaziner yesterday (you can watch it here) about a Congressional stock trading ban bill he’s introduced with a bunch of other members from both parties. He thinks it actually has a chance of passing, so we’re going to do a bit of work today to try to help to get Speaker Johnson to introduce it.
Oh, and Senate Democrats offered a stopgap funding measure that would have kept the government open through mid-October in exchange for Republicans’ extending the ACA tax credits and reversing Trump’s Medicaid cuts. Republican, needless to say, demurred. We’re inching closer to a shutdown, folks, but Democrats are fighting the good fight. Make sure you thank them for it when you call their offices.
OK, all. I’ve let everything back up this morning so I’d better get to our actions or this newsletter will never go out!
Thank you for everything you do. I truly couldn’t be more inspired by anyone than I am by you.
Let’s get to work.
P.S. — By the way YOU GUYS DID IT! Because of you Network NOVA and Swing Blue Alliance made their 40K goal for the Fearless Four in Virginia! THANK YOU! 🎉🎉
Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I’m a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
First, I’m calling to say that I oppose any and all attacks on free speech and want the Senator to forcefully fight them. Has the Senator made a statement denouncing the Trump administration’s attacks on the First Amendment and affirming Americans’ rights to express themselves freely? I expect him/her to.
Also, I know that Representatives Magaziner, Roy, Burchett, Ocasio-Cortez, and others have introduced a bipartisan bill called The Restore Trust in Congress Act which would ban Congressional stock trading. I want the Senator to support a companion bill in the Senate. It’s long past time for this to get done— legislation banning Congressional stock trading enjoys wide support by voters across the partisan spectrum. Thanks.
Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I’m a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
First, I’m calling to say that I oppose any and all attacks on free speech and want the Congressmember to fight them strenuously. Has the Congressmember made a statement denouncing the Trump administration’s attacks on the First Amendment and affirming Americans’ rights to express themselves freely? I expect him/her to.
Also, I know Representatives Magaziner, Roy, Burchett, Ocasio-Cortez, and others have introduced a bipartisan bill called The Restore Trust in Congress Act which would ban Congressional stock trading. I want to make sure the Congressmember is a co-sponsor. It’s long past time for this to get done— legislation banning Congressional stock trading enjoys wide support by voters across the partisan spectrum. Please help pass this bill. Thanks.
Extra Credit ✅
Let’s call Mike Johnson’s office and tell him to bring Rep. Magaziner’s bill up for a vote!
(202) 225-4000 or 318-840-0309 or 318-497-6610 or (337) 423-4232
Say:
My name is _______ and I’m calling the Congressman in his capacity as Speaker of the House. I understand Representatives Magaziner, Roy, Burchett, Ocasio-Cortez, and others have introduced a bill called The Restore Trust in Congress Act. It would ban members of Congress, their spouses and dependent children from owning, buying or trading individual stocks and other banned assets while in office. I want the Speaker to bring it up for a vote. Legislation banning Congressional stock trading enjoys wide support by voters across the partisan spectrum. It would not be a good look for Speaker Johnson to obstruct this bill after also blocking the release of the Epstein files. Please ask him to introduce it right away. Thanks.
Get Smart! 📚
Indivisible is proud to partner with the folks from endpoliticalviolence.org in a workshop that will teach us how to “Harness Our Political Power to end Political Violence” (HOPE).
Please join them on Sunday, September 21, at 8:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. PT for a 90-minute virtual training call. Should be great!
Messaging! Messaging! Messaging! 📣
🌟 The Be Brave Parade 🌟Born out of the Visibility Brigade movement, the Be Brave Parade turns resistance into celebration. Dozens of decorated cars, streamers flying, music blasting, balloons and bubbles floating, roll through neighborhoods like a moving festival for democracy. Each vehicle carries bold messages and QR codes linking neighbors to concrete ways they can stand up to ICE and protect their communities.What began with overpass banners has now grown into parades led by Visibility Brigade chapters across the country. Together, they are building joy, courage, and solidarity into a nationwide “defibrillator for democracy.” Learn more at visibilitybrigade.com.
Give 💰!
Republicans are going all in to win back the Virginia House of Delegates, raising unlimited sums to stop a bellwether statewide victory for Democrats leading into the 2026 midterms. Democrats currently control the assembly by just two seats.
That’s why Sister District is teaming up with Electing Women Alliance and WomenCount for a virtual fundraising event on September 25, benefiting 8 of their endorsed female candidates for state legislative office in Virginia. This is another amazing opportunity to support great VA candidates, and I swear after you’ve met them you’ll want to do just that!
RSVP to join them at 7:00pm ET on Thursday, Sept. 25.
Get in the Streets! 🪧
HEY CALIFORNIA!! Mark your calendars for Sept 27, 10am to 12pm for an upcoming statewide event called California Strong: Hold the Line.
Join your community to create a human chain across the entire coastline in support of those being targeted by Trump’s aggressive policies and promote Proposition 50, the Election Rigging Response Act. Over the course of two weeks, 50501 SoCal, Indivisible, and other pro-democracy groups have joined, and the route continues to progress up the coast, hopefully to Oregon and Washington as well! Cal Strong is actively connecting with new organizers and other groups to support established sections and help spread the word to their members and networks, including labor unions, environmental organizations, community groups, churches, and schools. This fascist takeover impacts us all.
You can visit the Cal Strong website to find your place in the line! Group representatives can fill out this form to be contacted or take a look at this Cal Strong Link Tree, which has all the info a group would need to get started.
Draw your line in the sand on September 27th!
Grab Your Wallet! 💳
Here’s all the boycott info you need right now. Please share!
Win Races! 🗳
🚨 Help Omar Fateh WIN Minneapolis!
In July, State Senator Omar Fateh won the Minneapolis DFL mayoral endorsement with over 60% of delegates—trouncing Mayor Jacob Frey. But in August, 28 insiders (many Frey loyalists) held a secret meeting and yanked the endorsement, overturning the will of thousands of voters.
Frey—known for siding with police even after George Floyd’s murder—now benefits from this anti-democratic power grab. As Rep. Ilhan Omar said: “It is inexcusable to overturn the results weeks after the convention because board members did not like the outcome.”
Minneapolis needs Omar Fateh—a democratic socialist who defends working people, unions, and immigrant communities.
👉 Watch Omar explain the fight (Instagram)👉 Chip in here👉 Sign up to volunteer on Mobilize
Now’s the time: share, donate, and volunteer to make sure Omar Fateh becomes mayor.
Resistbot Letter (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.) 💻
[To: all 3 reps] [H/T ] [Text SIGN PICOLZ 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.)
The First Amendment is the foundation of our freedom. Yet we have seen it trampled as Jimmy Kimmel’s show was suspended after he criticized MAGA efforts to politicize Charlie Kirk’s murder — under pressure from the Trump regime and threats from FCC Chair Brendan Carr. That is government censorship, plain and simple.
Congress now has a bill before it to protect free speech and prevent this abuse of power. This legislation would restrict the FCC’s ability to punish political or critical speech and ensure that broadcast licenses cannot be revoked simply because content is critical of the government. Supporting this bill is not a partisan issue — it is about protecting every American’s right to speak freely.
The hypocrisy is glaring. Fox’s Brian Kilmeade suggested executing homeless people by “involuntary lethal injection.” He was allowed to apologize and move on. Jimmy Kimmel, by contrast, was silenced for criticizing Trump. That double standard proves this is not about decency — it is about punishing critics of those in power. If government power can be used this way once, it can be used again against anyone.
I urge you to support this bill, remove FCC Chair Carr for abuse of power, and stand firmly on the side of the First Amendment. America does not belong to any one man or party — it belongs to free citizens who can speak their minds without fear.
OK, you did it again! You’re helping to save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk soon.
Jess
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