Download this and other protest sign idea GIFs here.
Hi, all, and happy Monday.
Also happy Indigenous People’s Day! I recognize that, as it’s a federal holiday, not everyone wants to do activism today. If you do, however, I’ve got you covered!
There’s a ton going on, as usual. The great news is that the hostages have been released and a ceasefire formally begun. Thank God for it. Aid is also flowing into Gaza, which is a huge relief. What happens in the weeks to come is less clear, and I’m not especially sanguine for the long-term safety of the Palestinian people, but we’ll take it as it comes. It’s a wonderful thing to see hostages returning to their families and starving people fed. We’ll leave it there for today.
On the domestic front, which is where this newsletter is, after all, focussed, things are both chaotic and strangely static.
First, the chaos: The Trump administration fired a bunch of CDC employees on Friday, then said it was a mistake and reversed the firings on Saturday. They fired thousands of other people, too, including hundreds from a key department at the Board of Education (more on that below). J.D. Vance went on the Sunday shows and absolutely humiliated himself. Adelita Grijalva still hasn’t been sworn in. We still haven’t seen the Epstein files.
And so much more, of course.
On the static front, no progress has been made—as in NONE—on reopening the government, because House Republicans are still “boycotting” Congress. Remind me next time I have a day job that if I don’t feel like working I’ll just declare I’m boycotting and put my feet up. It’s insane.
Cracks are, however, starting to show. Marjorie Taylor Greene went on another rant about not just high healthcare prices, but our dismal economic state in general, and at least some Republican Congressmembers are now calling for Mike Johnson to swear Grijalva in. We’ll see where all of that leads.
There’s so much more, but we’re here to do work, not to recap every nutty thing happening in the news. I will only say that the resistance is flourishing and expanding everywhere. Portland had a huge “Emergency Naked Bike Ride” in the pouring rain to protest ICE and the National Guard yesterday; inflatable animal costumes have made their way to Chicago, and everywhere we are hearing stories (I found this one particularly inspiring) of besieged communities standing up for each other.
We’re going to get through this, folks.
Make sure you do something nice for yourself today!
Let’s get to work.
Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲 and Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I’m a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
First, I understand that the Trump administration conducted over 4,000 firings on Friday. Among them were the firings of almost everyone in the the office responsible for overseeing special education at the Department of Education. This is outrageous and very likely illegal. To decimate the office responsible for safeguarding the rights of infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities is unconscionable. I want these firings reversed and I want Congress to take its power back from this vicious, chaotic and inept Executive branch.
Also, Republicans need to come back to work, sit down with Democrats, and pass a bill that permanently extends the ACA premium tax cuts, prevents any increases in our healthcare costs, and restores the power of the purse to Congress. Thanks.
Extra Credit ✅
Let’s call Mike Johnson’s office. (202) 225-4000 or (318) 840-0309 or (337) 423-4232 or (318) 497-6610.
Script:
My name is _____ and I’m calling Rep. Johnson in his capacity as Speaker of the House. I am absolutely furious that he is refusing to bring the House back into session or negotiate with Democrats in any way, and I’m outraged that he hasn’t yet sworn in Adelita Grijalva. He needs to bring Republicans back from vacation, work out a deal to permanently extend the ACA premium tax cuts, swear in Ms. Grijalva, and end this Republican shutdown NOW. We’re tired of the lies, the deflection, and the Epstein coverups. Tell him to do his job. Thanks.
Get Smart! 📚
Join BigTentUSA on Tuesday, October 14 at 7pm ET as they examine how media paywalls, profit models, and political timidity have left the public misinformed and disengaged—and what we can do to fix it.
Donald Trump’s return to the White House has placed American businesses in the crosshairs of an escalating battle over democracy, speech, and public accountability. From the high-profile suspension and reinstatement of Jimmy Kimmel to the mounting backlash against companies perceived as caving to political pressure, the stakes for business leaders have never been higher.
Daniella Ballou-Aares, Founder and CEO of Leadership Now Project, and Heidi Przybyla, Founder and President of Get Real News, will unpack the dynamics between political power, private media’s business interests, and civil society. They will also explore how media companies can—and should—rebuild the public’s trust, expand access, and create news that truly serves the people.
Please use this link to register.
Messaging! Messaging! Messaging! 📣
The awesome newsletter posted this excellent piece about what a protest sign should and shouldn’t convey. It has a long list of suggested messages—so helpful for those of us who never know what to write!
These protests are, among other things, a massive messaging and recruitment opportunity. Let’s use it!
Reframing AmericaThe Big List of Protest Signs for #NoKings 10/18We protest because we strenuously object to the illegal and unconstitutional actions of this administration, but we should try our best to frame our messaging in terms of what we are FOR instead of what we are against. It is more effective persuasion…Read more6 days ago · 2446 likes · 251 comments · Antonia ScattonGive 💰!
We are halfway to our 25K goal in Virginia and y’all that money is needed SO BADLY! Abigail Spanberger has likely raised tons of money but statehouse candidates have a way harder time doing so, even though their races are so very important, too!
Please give any amount if. you can, and please, please share this link with people who want to help but prefer giving money to taking action.
Win Races! 🗳
Posting this one last time because this is SUCH an easy way to help!
Help the fight for YES on Prop 50 with super-easy-to-do postcards that only require 3 words of handwriting (” Dear Sally” and your signature) and come with pre-printed address labels! Cards come in packs of 250, and can be completed by most people in less than 3 hours per pack. You provide postage of 78 cents per card. We will mail packs of cards anywhere in US.
Contact me, Geri (geraldine.alpert@gmail.com) if you can help!
➡️ Please note: Because these cards are jumbo size, they require a 1st class postage stamp—not a postcard stamp! ⬅️
Resistbot Letter (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.) 💻
[To: all 3 reps] [H/T ] [Text SIGN PVPIJA 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 urge you to oppose any move by the Trump regime to privatize or sell off federally held student loans. This plan would turn the futures of millions of Americans into a Wall Street investment product — and it comes at a time when the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has been stripped of much of its power to protect borrowers.
Selling federal student loans to private investors would wipe out vital protections like income-based repayment, forgiveness programs, and hardship relief. Once these loans are in private hands, collection practices will become profit-driven, not people-focused. Borrowers would be hounded for payments, interest rates could rise, and the same kind of predatory lending that caused the 2008 crash could return unchecked.
It’s one thing to tighten budgets; it’s another to sell out Americans trying to better themselves through education. Strong nations invest in their citizens. We can promote responsibility without handing over our children’s debt to corporate speculators who care more about quarterly returns than the country’s future.
Congress must act now to prohibit the sale or privatization of federal student loans, restore full consumer-protection oversight, and ensure that higher education remains a ladder up — not a trap. Protecting hard-working Americans from exploitation should never be a partisan issue.
OK, you did it again! You’re helping to save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk soon.
Jess
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