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This was posted on Rep. Lieu’s Threads account. 👏🏼👏🏼

Hi, all, and happy Monday!

Things are absolutely bonkers out there, but y’all, I think we’re winning the messaging war on the shutdown.

This shouldn’t be surprising—we are genuinely in the right on this one—but still it is surprising, since Republicans typically run circles around us on messaging. But Democrats’ game has improved to the extent that this time around we’re not only on the moral high ground—which we generally are—but the majority of Americans *know it—*which they generally don’t. This is a big deal.

So thank you to everyone doing visibility brigades, or making videos, or writing Substacks, or posting on social media, or simply chatting with your friends and family using the talking points I’ve provided here. It’s working! Keep it up! (For encouragement read Dan Pfeiffer’s latest post. Even he feels cautiously optimistic about where we are.)

The polling also continues to favor our position: 78% of U.S. adults say they want Congress to extend the enhanced tax credits. This includes a surprisingly high number of MAGA Republicans. After all, so many of them rely on these subsidies! Remember, Republicans have no problem with “socialism,” as long as they’re on the receiving end of it. (Just ask soybean farmers!)

There’s more, of course. The ICE attacks in Chicago have been absolutely brutal and they’re not getting nearly the press coverage they should. ICE is using helicopters, chemical agents, and military-style tactics on apartments with U.S. citizen children in them. 67-year-old U.S. citizen Roderick Johnson was zip-tied and detained for hours without a warrant. Four children who are U.S. citizens were separated from their parents after DHS alleged that the parents “lacked legal status.” The horror stories go on and on.

It’s terribly difficult to contemplate this level of lawlessness and cruelty, folks, but the alternative—turning away and “just trying to live our lives,” is an abdication of our responsibilities as American citizens, patriots, and human beings. What ICE and DHS are doing is wrong, flat out. It’s morally abhorrent, deeply destructive, and wildly unAmerican. It’s our job to say so, loudly, and often. When we talk to someone who says they’re upset by it, moreover, we should tell them about No Kings and make sure they understand that we need them there if at all possible.

And don’t forget the importance of social proof. Keep those anti-ICE visibility brigades going, and the yard signs, when possible. A guy I don’t even know here in LA decided to print up his own signs and distribute them to anyone who would take them. I now have ten to give away. Remember, anyone can do this! If you don’t have the money to give away signs then sell them for cost—I think you’ll be surprised how many people will want them.

The most important thing is that we show our fellow citizens what it looks like to STAND UP! Remember, fear is catching, but courage is more contagious yet. So many who want to rise up are just looking for a local leader. Be one!

Oh! And if you want to be inspired, I’m talking with legendary civil rights activist Heather Booth on my Substack Live today! You do not want to miss this! Hop on if you can at 4PM PT / 7PM ET. Heather is truly wonderful—you’ll be so glad you came.

OK. I feel proud to know you, folks. You are the ones we’ve been waiting for. You are leading us through this morass. It is your courage that will be remembered in the history books. Your heart. Your spirit.

With that said, let’s get to work.

P.S. — I forgot to promote the Practivist Pod last week, and that’s too bad because the amazing was our guest! Watch his interview when you have a chance. It’s great, and so is he.

Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲

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

First, I’m calling to demand that the Senator condemn the Trump administration’s deployment of National Guard troops to American cities. Using the military to police Americans is a costly abuse of power designed to scare communities and silence dissent. It must be immediately rejected. [H/T]

I am also sickened and disgusted by ICE’s rampant abuse in Chicago and elsewhere. They’re zip-tying children, wrecking innocent people’s houses, arresting and detaining US citizens, shooting at journalists, sending pregnant women to the hospital…what the hell is happening in our country? I’m upset and I want it to stop. Why are we sending tens of billions of dollars to these animals while Republicans are depriving Americans of funds for healthcare? We need to defund ICE until the abuses stop.

Finally, I’m appalled that Speaker Johnson won’t swear Adelita Grijalva in. Republicans can’t put off the release of the Epstein files forever, and every day they delay just makes them look more and more complicit. I expect the Senator to make a strong statement demanding that Grijalva be sworn in and the “Epstein Files Transparency Act” passed right away. Thanks.

Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲

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

First, I’m calling to demand that the Representative condemn the Trump administration’s deployment of National Guard troops to American cities. Using the military to police Americans is a costly abuse of power designed to scare communities and silence dissent. It must be immediately rejected. [H/T]

Finally, I’m appalled that Speaker Johnson won’t swear in Adelita Grijalva. Republicans can’t put off the release of the Epstein files forever, and every day they delay just makes them look more and more complicit. I want the Congressmember to demand that Grijalva be sworn in. Thanks.

Extra Credit ✅

[H/T subscriber Carol B.]

Apple’s Tim Cook just pulled Ice Block from the App Store. (It was never an Android app because of privacy concerns for users.)

Let’s email him (tcook@apple.com) —apparently he reads some email from customers every day.

Here’s subscriber Carol B.’s letter, but feel free to craft your own:

Dear Tim Cook,

To remove an app that helps people figure out when ICE is coming to their neighborhood because it creates a “threat” to law enforcement is ignorance of facts on the ground. If you are deciding to remove it because of the actions of ONE man (Jahn) in Dallas, you are clearly not paying attention to the news!

Have you not been reading about or seeing images and video of HEAVILY ARMED ICE employees invading neighborhoods (cf. Chicago yesterday; Los Angeles in September, to name just TWO of so many) or kidnapping (unarmed!) people just doing their jobs or walking down the street? (You have vast digital resources at your disposal to see all of this so I don’t think I need to link you to articles I have read and seen.)

Really, your compliance with Attorney General Bondi’s request smacks of capitulation and collaboration, particularly disturbing and repulsive when it comes from one of the most powerful corporations in the world.

You could redeem yourself and the company by restoring Ice Block to the App Store.

Thanks,

Name, city

Get Smart! 📚

From the Visibility Brigade!

People keep asking us at the Visibility Brigade “What else can I do?” and so we’ve created a new, standalone program called Operation Fortify, which teaches a simple but powerful action that could really save lives. Too many restaurants and local businesses have no plan to protect their employees should ICE arrive and we want to change that.

Here’s a two-page script/instruction sheet about best practices. Let’s fortify our communities from this scourge! Go here to learn more!

Messaging! Messaging! Messaging! 📣

DemCast wants us to swamp social media with content about the shutdown TODAY.

Grab the toolkit here. It’s got SO MUCH good stuff in it. Post, share, and flood every platform with truth!

Give 💰!

We’re at a little less than half of our goal for Virginia, folks! Thank you to everyone who’s given so far! This money wil be used very, very strategically—to help us win not just down the ballot but up, too! The States Project is one of my top picks for places to give political dollars because they know JUST which races to fund. I’ve never not met my goal for them!

Please help us get to 25K if you can.

Get in the Streets! 🪧

We’re 12 days out from October 18! Maybe consider sending this to your friends and family!

Hi! I’m reaching out because I’m pretty sure you’re not happy about what Trump is doing. I have an easy way to “do something” about it, and it’s going to be peaceful, fun, and very impactful! Just attend a No Kings event on October 18. There are over 2200 of them scheduled all over the country—they’re expected to be the biggest protests in U.S. history. We’re trying to get 3.5 percent of the U.S. population out. Really hope you can go to one where you live! All the info is at nokings.org. Thanks and hope you’re well!

Win Races! 🗳

Sister District is hosting National Phonebanks into Virginia almost daily; whether you’re a phonebanking veteran or someone who is entirely new to calling, come help them speak with Virginia voters and turn out the vote in key state races. They’ve got experienced leaders ready to train you, and it’s a great way to connect with fellow change-makers in a time where we need community most. Also, we HAVE TO WIN THESE ELECTIONS!

RSVP here.

But there’s more! Indivisible has VA phonebanks 3 times a week!

RSVP here.

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

[To: all 3 reps] [H/T ] [Text SIGN PBRWXK 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’m writing to demand that Congress take immediate action to protect Social Security, SSI, and SSDI from the political agenda being drafted under Project 2025 — and to expose Donald Trump’s continued deception about his involvement with it.

Trump promised Americans he would “never touch” Social Security. But reports now confirm that Russ Vought — Trump’s current budget director and the chief architect of Project 2025 — is leading efforts to rewrite Social Security eligibility rules that would make it harder for seniors, widows, and disabled workers to qualify for benefits. Those changes could strip assistance from hundreds of thousands of people who earned their coverage through decades of payroll taxes.

Americans deserve honesty. Trump is no longer distancing himself from Project 2025 — he’s embracing it, appointing its authors to key policy roles, and quietly preparing to dismantle the nation’s most successful anti-poverty program. Removing age as a factor in disability eligibility or raising the retirement age are just the first steps in a broader attempt to weaken and privatize Social Security.

Congress must:

Publicly demand clarity from Trump and his allies about their coordination with Project 2025;
Hold hearings on proposed Social Security rule changes and their potential impact;
Commit in writing that no cuts, delays, or eligibility restrictions will be enacted for Social Security, SSDI, or SSI.

We paid in. We earned these benefits. And we expect every member of Congress — Republican and Democrat alike — to defend them. Stop the lies. Stop the back-room schemes. Keep your hands off Social Security.

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

Talk soon.

Jess

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Chop Wood, Carry Water 10/6