Hi, all, and happy Monday!
Hope you had a great weekend.
If you did, you likely didn’t watch the Charlie Kirk memorial. Everyone I know who did is much the worse for it. Me, I spent time with family and friends—a much better choice! I also saw Singing in the Rain for the first time ever, and on a big screen! It was a total delight.
This is your friendly reminder that watching fascists act like fascists is disturbing, upsetting, and debilitating to our mental health. I try not to do it unless I absolutely have to. We are under no obligation to subject ourselves to right wing, Christian nationalist propaganda; I truly encourage you not to. If your response is, “but I have to be informed!” trust me—you can be fully informed by reading about these events afterwards.
Or just accept these evergreen cliff notes: the fascists acted like fascists again.
There! You’re caught up!
Now it’s time to shake off the persistent stink of Trumpian grift and get busy. It’s up to us, after all, to reshape this country into something that works for all of us. It’s a long, hard slog, but it’s got to be done, and nothing is impossible provided that we stay united, stay active, and stay in the game.
OK, folks. If you want to talk about the wild corruption we saw more evidence of this weekend and then get a big old pep talk from me, come join me on my Live at 4PM PT /7PM ET tonight! I’m also on with at 2PM PT /5PM ET, so if you hop on your app at either of those times you’ll see an invite pop up.
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 Senators Baldwin and Murkowski have introduced a bipartisan bill to re-establish the national emergency suicide prevention services for LGBTQ+ youth. It’s called the 988 LGBTQ+ Youth Access Act. I expect the Senator to co-sponsor it.
Second, I’m outraged that Trump is using the Justice Department to go after his political enemies, while simultaneously forcing it to shut down investigations into crimes committed by his allies. The Trump Administration is engaging in unprecedented corruption while simultaneously throwing working Americans under the bus. It’s disgusting and it needs to stop. I want the Senator to call for hearings into the DOJ’s handling of Tom Homan’s bribery case, demand an end to the DOJ’s baseless investigations into Trump’s enemies, and get to work on legislation to help Americans. Thanks.
Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I’m a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
First, I’m outraged that Trump is using the Justice Department to go after his political enemies, while simultaneously forcing it to shut down investigations into crimes committed by his allies. The Trump Administration is engaging in unprecedented corruption while simultaneously throwing working Americans under the bus. It’s disgusting and it needs to stop. I want the Senator to call for hearings into the DOJ’s shutting down of Tom Homan’s bribery case, demand an end to the baseless investigations into Trump’s enemies, and get to work on legislation to help Americans. Thanks.
Second, I only support a budget deal that includes a PERMANENT extension of the ACA premium tax credits, a reversal of all cuts to Medicaid, and strong guardrails to prevent Trump from cutting funding that Congress has allocated. Without those provisions, vote no. Thanks.
Extra Credit—Let’s Keep Hammering Disney!
First, there’s a great new website BOYCOTTDISNEYABC.COM. It has a toolkit with lots of ways to push back—it WILL BE UPDATED WITH WEEKLY ACTIONS!
Second, my friend Tracy Cook has an action for you:
She wrote:
Go to NexStar affiliate page and click on the closest affiliate to you.
Go to Sinclair Wikipedia page and find the closest affiliate to you.
Once you have that info go to those affiliates’ websites. See who has bought ads on the website and/or their programs.
I went to KTLA, my local Nexstar affiliate, and I saw ads for T-Mobile. I then searched for the CEO of T-Mobile. I found the corporate address and email. I wrote them a snail mail and email.
My letter was simple:
Free speech is important to me.
On September 17, Disney suspended ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ because of a mild comment in his monologue that the Trump Administration appointee to the FCC, Brendan Carr, perceived as a malicious. It was not. In response, Nextstar pressured Disney to pull Kimmel. They capitulated. Sinclair Media also pressured Disney. I sad when I unplugged from Disney+ yesterday. But I cannot sit by and let Free Speech crumble. This act by Carr and the affiliates is a violation of the 1st amendment.
I went to KTLA’s website (Nexstar affiliate) and saw that T-Mobile was their chief advertiser.
I am asking T-Mobile to remove your ads from all Nexstar affiliates. I am also asking you to remove any ads that you have with Sinclair affiliates. I am also asking you to remove any ads that you have with Disney.
Do the right thing for America and pull your ads. You have the power, the money, and the position to be brave. It is heroes whom history remembers. It is collaborators it condemns. Thanks.
Let’s do the work today and go after those advertisers, y’all!
Extra EXTRA Credit ✅
The Restoring Food Security for American Families and Farmers Act of 2025 — soon to be introduced — would repeal the damaging budget reconciliation cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
Usethe FRAC Action Network to send a ready-to-go email to your Members of Congress urging them to reject any Farm Bill that does not address the recent, devastating SNAP cuts and to actively pursue every legislative avenue to restore SNAP.
Get Smart! 📚
HCR alert!!!
Join Red, Wine, and Blue to hear from historian and author Heather Cox Richardson as we explore how each of us can play a vital role in fighting back against Project 2025, starting with where we live. From the Supreme Court in Wisconsin to the State Senate in Iowa, women are standing up to authoritarians and winning big. Learn how you can bring these wins to your own community, one conversation and one local race at a time.
Wednesday, September 24, 7:30 PM - 8:30 PM ET
Messaging! Messaging! Messaging! 📣
This is a GREAT ad from the Save America Movement. Please share!
Win Races! 🗳
Calling All Postcard Writers. Virginia Needs YOU!
Join Postcards4VA, Markers For Democracy and a veritable who’s who of grassroots groups on Tuesday, Sept. 30, from 7-8:30pm ET, for the final National Postcard Party for Virginia. These parties feature a slate of candidates you get to meet up close and unfiltered while you write postcards. This final party in this series is dedicated to school board and supervisor candidates.
For the list of candidates and to get addresses, go here.
RSVP here: Zoom Registration Link
Give Money!
Republicans are redrawing the maps to lock in power before 2026. We need to push back now. Join Focus For Democracy on Tuesday, September 30th, at 5 PM Pacific/8 PM Eastern
Hear the latest analysis of the 2026 races and the challenges ahead
See how smart investments right now can flip the House
F4D puts together data-backed recommendations for where your political donor dollars can go the farthest. Their presentations are always fascinating and really helpful.
Resistbot Letter (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.) 💻
[To: all 3 reps] [H/T ] [Text SIGN PBUSHO 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 urge you to call immediate hearings on the Department of Justice’s decision to close the bribery investigation into Trump’s “border czar” Tom Homan.
Undercover FBI agents in September 2024 allegedly handed Homan a grocery bag containing $50,000 in cash. In return, Homan promised to steer lucrative border security contracts their way if Trump returned to power. Despite this evidence, the Trump DOJ has now shut down the investigation.
The explanation given by FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche — that there was “no credible evidence of wrongdoing” and that the DOJ must focus on “real threats” — is both insulting and alarming. Accepting a grocery bag stuffed with cash in exchange for promises of federal contracts is exactly the kind of corruption Congress is duty-bound to investigate.
As many Americans are now asking, “Who among us hasn’t accepted the occasional grocery bag containing $50,000 cash in exchange for promises of federal contracts?” The absurdity of that question highlights just how outrageous it is to call this case “baseless.” If ordinary citizens would face prosecution for far less, why should a senior Trump official be given a pass?
Congress must insist on public hearings with subpoena power, testimony from DOJ and FBI officials, and release of all investigative materials. The integrity of our justice system depends on showing that no one — not even Trump’s inner circle — is above the law.
OK, you did it again! You’re helping to save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk soon.
Jess
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