Weekly Check In April 16

[tanaqui]

Congress is still in recess for another week, so your representatives should be around to talk to (but we have some advice posted in the comm about what to do if they're avoiding constituents).

With the current budget running out on April 28, now is a good time to talk to them about budget priorities and the importance of passing a budget (or a Continuing Resolution) before the deadline, so the government doesn't shut down.

Meanwhile, the Minority President is finding out how hard it is to be isolationist and ignore the rest of the world: Who knew foreign policy could be so complicated?!

Housekeeping
Reminder that we have a suggestion post if there’s a topic that you’d like to see discussed but would like to ask the mods to look into. This can be anything from general information, or a how-to-do-a-thing, or something you may want to discuss as a community. Folks are welcome to post directly to the comm as always, but if you’re not comfortable/don’t have spoons, we can help too. Also, a big thank you to redbird for taking on tagging and doing a great job at making the comm more helpful.

Get Involved
Webinar: Advocating for Science - April 19

Action
Public Participation in EPA's Regulatory Reform - Deadline: 15 May 2017

Tools
Expanded resources at Indivisible Guide website
National Women's Law Center's liveblog on tips and tricks for effective resistance

Upcoming Protests

April 22: March for Science
April 29: Peoples Climate March
June 11: LGBT+ March
Congress is in recess - find local events, whether organised by MOCs or constituents at Resistance Recess

Immigration/Muslim Ban
Weekly reports 'naming and shaming' sanctuary cities are dropped
Portland joins Seattle in lawsuit contesting the Executive Order to withhold federal grants from sanctuary cities

Other news to know
There's been a lot going on: in Syria and North Korea (and with China and Russia), with new executive orders and with tax protests -- too much to easily summarise here! If you want a quick catch up and links to more in-depth reporting, What the Fuck Just Happened Today usually provides a good overview.

Poll #18209 The Week

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 9

View Respondents

This week, I....

View Answers

called my one senator
3 (50.0%)

called my other senator
3 (50.0%)

called my representative
3 (50.0%)

called my governor
1 (16.7%)

called my state reps
1 (16.7%)

sent a postcard/email/letter/fax
3 (50.0%)

attended a town hall
1 (16.7%)

donated money to a cause
3 (50.0%)

went to an in-person activist group
2 (33.3%)

participated in a phone or online resistance training
1 (16.7%)

View Answers

went to a protest
1 (12.5%)

signed up for alerts
4 (50.0%)

took care of myself
7 (87.5%)

not a US citizen but worked in solidarity in my own community
1 (12.5%)

did something else
4 (50.0%)

committed to action in the coming week
4 (50.0%)

Comments

[tielan]

Meanwhile, the Minority President is finding out how hard it is to be isolationist and ignore the rest of the world: Who knew foreign policy could be so complicated?!

*SNERKS*

My local rep in Australia has sent around a "how do you think i am doing" letter which we're supposed to fill in and send back.

His checkbox list of "things that are important to you" isn't even in the REALM of sucky. It goes so far above and beyond ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME WE ARE NOT EVEN ON THE SAME PLANET that it is somewhere out near Jupiter and rapidly scooting towards Saturn.

I've started encouraging local groups to not just sign petitions but to go look up their MP (member of parliament) and either call them or drop them a postcard telling them what they're doing wrong. Whether anyone does it...another matter.

Also: Going to a Women's March meeting tonight. An hour and a half away by public transport. On a public holiday. This will be interesting...

[nanila]

re: "did something else": I leafletted for my local political party for the first time.