Hi, all, and happy Thursday.
I’m horribly late today, so have no time to write a proper intro.
I will only say, first, that the possibility of a ceasefire in the Middle East, as well as a return of the hostages and resumption of real aid to the Gazan people, is deeply hopeful. So many precious lives are at stake, and peace, I truly believe, begets peace. I hope and pray it truly happens…and lasts.
Second, I offer you a short Jane Goodall quote:
Hope is about taking action in spite of it all. It’s about saying: I will do my bit. And when we join together, those bits become a movement.
That’s what we’re doing here: our bit. And when all of us do it, seismic changes can and do happen.
So let’s get to work!
Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I’m a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
[If Democrat]
I’m calling to thank the Senator for holding the line in the shutdown fight so far, and I expect Democrats to keep fighting hard until we get a deal that protects us from Trump’s healthcare cuts, price hikes, and lawlessness. I’m counting on the Senator to hold strong and protect healthcare. Thank you!
[If Republican]
I’m calling to demand that the Senator vote for Democrats’ proposal to extend the ACA premium tax credits. Americans like me can’t afford health insurance if it gets one penny more expensive, and I’m furious that Republicans were willing to spend 10 times the cost of these subsidies on tax cuts for billionaires, but won’t commit to helping working Americans. Extend the ACA premiums permanently now.
Also, I want the Senator to condemn in clear language Trump’s threats to jail his political opponents. Republicans’ cowardice in the face of his growing unhinged authoritarianism is disgraceful. Speak up or resign. Thanks.
Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I’m a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
[If Democrat]
I’m calling to thank the Congressmember for holding the line in the shutdown fight so far, and I expect Democrats to keep fighting hard until we get a deal that protects us from Trump’s healthcare cuts, price hikes, and lawlessness. I’m counting on the Congressmember to hold strong and protect healthcare. Thank you!
[If Republican]
I want the Congressmember to ask Speaker Johnson to bring his members back to DC to re-open the government, permanently extend the ACA tax credits, and ensure that appropriated funds are spent as they must be by law. Republicans caused this shutdown because they are unwilling to help average Americans, they’re afraid of standing up to Trump, AND they’re protecting pedophiles. I’m furious about all of it. Do your jobs. End this shutdown and give us our healthcare funding now.
Also, I want the Congressmember to condemn in clear language Trump’s threats to jail his political opponents. Republicans’ cowardice in the face of his growing unhinged authoritarianism is disgraceful. Speak up or resign. Thanks.
Extra Credit ✅
Apparently Trump and his people are pushing the Nobel Committee hard to give him a Peace Prize. It seems like the Committee is resisting, but I want to make sure his pressure doesn’t win out. I can’t believe I’m even writing this but we need to make sure they understand how very much we oppose them giving him such a prize.
We can contact them here. I said:
I understand that your committee is feeling strong pressure to award Donald Trump a Peace Prize because of his possible success with a Gaza ceasefire.
As a US citizen, I want to remind the Nobel Committee that while a possible peace in the Middle East is an amazing thing, Trump has delivered the opposite for his own people. In fact, he is visiting sheer misery on us every day. He is turning the US military against his own citizens, mercilessly attacking undocumented people (and US citizens of Latino descent), threatening to jail his political opponents, demonizing trans people, rolling back climate progress to such an extent that the entire world’s emmissions goals have been set back by it, continuing to insult, mock, threaten or demean those who stand up to him, inciting political violence, dividing his populace, and ripping healthcare and food assistance away from tens of millions.
This is, of course, but the most partial of lists. There is no form long enough to hold all of the evil Trump has brought upon our country. He is a racist, vile, greedy, deeply misogynistic, ignorant, foul, and deeply selfish individual. Simple polling will show you that the majority of Americans strongly agree with this assertion.
Give Donald Trump a Peace Prize and you have failed every decent person not just in the U.S. but in the world.
I urge you to do the right thing–not just for us but for your own credibility. Stand for what is right, or watch Trump’s evil destroy your legacy, too.
Get Smart! 📚
Solidarity Mobilizations: a 2-part training on showing up for immigrant communities with SURJ
Wednesday October 15 and 22 at 7PM ET.
Across the country, immigrant communities are under attack and authoritarian forces are gaining ground. But there’s a growing movement of people ready to take action with clarity, courage, and discipline. This training is for all of us who want to stand up in solidarity, especially those of us who are white who are ready to organize, respond, and show up with commitment and care.
Solidarity Mobilizations is a powerful two-part training series hosted by Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ) and Solidarity Organizing Initiative (SOI). We’ll break down the political moment we’re in, the authoritarian playbook driving these attacks, and the role those of us who are white and/or citizens can play in pushing back effectively and strategically.
Each session will have live transcription and will be recorded. The recording will be sent out to everyone who registers within 48 hours after each session.
Give 💰!
Bumping this invitation in light of our spectacular victory in Alaska on Tuesday night! I’m moderating the Q and A!
In Alaska this year, there is growing discomfort with the performance of Senator Sullivan. Environmentalists, women’s groups, medical communities, families, and small businesses are all angry that he’s not representing them. The rich like Sullivan are getting richer, and the rest are losing ground. Decisions by “Yes-Man Dan” are compromising Alaskans’ health, livelihoods, and ability to provide their families with decent schools and promising career paths.
It is against this tumultuous backdrop that change in leadership is possible. Senators are most vulnerable in midterms when their party is the one in power. Sullivan, who flipped this seat by 6,014 votes in the Republican wave election of 2014, now faces his first midterm with Trump in power and a very energized Democratic electorate.
Join Senate Circle on October 9 to hear from Executive Director Aubrey Wieber of the 907 Initiative and from our very special guest, former US Representative Mary Peltola. We supported Peltola twice in 2022 when she ran for the seat left vacant by the passing of Dan Young, and in back-to-back upset victories (special election on Aug. 6, 2022; regular election on Nov. 8, 2022) she beat both Sarah Palin and Nick Begich III.
Thursday, October 9 at 7pm ET / 4pm PT
Special Guests: Former Alaska at-Large US Rep. Mary Peltola*, Former Alaska Lt. Gov. Fran Ulmer
Featuring Aubrey Wieber, Executive Director, 907 Initiative
Moderated by Jessica Craven, Substack author Chop Wood, Carry Water
Get in the Streets! 🪧
From Indivisible’s Ezra Levin:
No Kings is both a carrot and a stick. We can credibly promise that there will be millions of people in the streets celebrating Dems for defiantly taking on the regime. We can also credibly promise that if Democrats surrender again, millions of people will be out in the streets calling for new Dem leadership.
I’ll tell you based on all of my private conversations: it’s working. The difference between Dems surrendering in March and fighting back now is us.
Choose a No Kings protest to make October 18 a massive and historic day of defiance. We now have even more events planned for October than we did in June – putting us on track for the biggest day of political protest in modern American history! Make your plan to join today, and then invite a few folks to join you.
Win Races! 🗳
Sign up for a virtual info session with the Progressive Turnout Project about their volunteer door-knocking program, Neighbors Knocking for Democracy!, in six states for the Nov. 4 elections: California, Georgia, Maine, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Virginia.
You could be the difference in these key races and on critical ballot measures.
Saturday, October 11, 2PM ET. Register here.
Resistbot Letter (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.) 💻
[To: all 3 reps] [H/T ] [Text SIGN PNHYKS 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.)
Congress, the ongoing budget stalemate is more than a fight over numbers — it’s a test of whether our government still serves the people or bends to executive manipulation and secrecy. As you work toward a new resolution, I urge you to include three essential provisions that restore fairness, transparency, and constitutional balance.
First, make the enhanced Affordable Care Act premium tax credits permanent. These expanded benefits have made health insurance affordable for millions of Americans. If allowed to expire next year, families across the country will face crushing premium hikes or lose coverage entirely. Health care security should never be held hostage to partisan negotiations.
Second, ensure full release of the Epstein files — with only minimal redactions to protect victims. The heavily redacted document dumps to date have left the public without real accountability. We have a right to know who used power or privilege to evade justice. This is not about politics; it’s about truth and the moral integrity of our institutions.
Third, prohibit the president’s use of so-called “pocket rescissions” to withhold or cancel spending that Congress has already approved. This tactic violates the Constitution’s separation of powers and undermines the authority of the legislative branch. No president should be allowed to override Congress’s decisions by refusing to spend appropriated funds.
The next budget resolution must protect not only our economy, but also the principles that define our democracy — fair access to health care, transparency in justice, and respect for Congress’s constitutional power of the purse. Please act now to ensure these three protections are included in any final agreement.
OK, you did it again! You’re helping to save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk soon.
Jess
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