Never Give Up, Never Surrender

Weather and Climate Livestream

Thu, 29 May 2025 06:32:20 GMT

Posted by: mxcatmoon

There's so many bad things going on requiring our attention that the cuts/firing in the meteorology and climate science communities gets less attention, but having a fully staffed NOAA is an important issue. Right now, there is a 100-hour livestream going on to call attention to how vital these services are, especially as hurricane season is upon us. I have it on in the background right now.

What can we do? Watch the livestream, call our Representatives, and go to 5 Calls for sample script/letters.

Info and schedule: The Weather and Climate Livestream

Direct YouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rG4ePBqD-E

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Call script to object to SAVE Act

Sat, 22 Feb 2025 01:53:03 GMT

Posted by: chestnut_pod

The SAVE Act is a mass-disenfranchisement act which would require every voter to show proof of citizenship bearing their current name when registering to vote. The implications seem obvious.

If you have Republican congresspeople, or if your Democratic congresspeople have been shaky, please use this script to call and urge them to reject this bill.

Democrats in the House who've been wobbly include:
Shomari Figures
Josh Harder
Jared Moskowitz
April McClain Delaney
Kristen McDonald Rivet
Jared Golden
Donald Davis
Tom Suozzi
John Mannion
Susie Lee
Marcy Kaptur
Vicente Gonzalez
Henry Cuellar
Marie Gluesenkamp Perez

And Democratic senators who voted for the Laken Riley Act:
Catherine Cortez Masto
John Fetterman
Ruben Gallego
Maggie Hassan
Mark Kelly
John Ossoff
Gary Peters
Jacky Rosen
Jeanne Shaheen
Elissa Slotkin
Mark Warner
Raphael Warnock

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Call script

Mon, 10 Feb 2025 19:14:21 GMT

Posted by: teaotter

I've been having trouble keeping up with the latest issues to call about, so I created a more general script that I can just keep using. This is what I used today for calling my reps:

My name is [name], I’m a constituent here in [town name], [ZIP code].

I am calling to express my concerns about the blatantly illegal actions that the Trump Administration is taking to dismantle government agencies that were created and maintained by acts of congress. I am also concerned that the Republican majorities in congress are refusing to stop those illegal actions and rein in the administration.

This is not “business as usual” and cannot be treated that way. I ask the [Senator/Congresswoman] to refuse to participate in negotiations for the budget or the debt ceiling until the Republicans in Congress take steps to rein in the administration’s blatantly illegal actions.

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Call script for restoration of US foreign aid

Tue, 04 Feb 2025 15:25:59 GMT

Posted by: chestnut_pod

MyCivicWorkout.com (which I recommend generally as an excellent source of no-frills SMART tasks) has a call guide for those of you whose Congresspeople are probably not usually swayable, but may be moveable on restoring foreign aid. In particular, it has short call scripts for electeds who are usually anti-immigration, defense hawks, big on the private sector, and/or genuine free-trade neoliberals, which frame USAID as helpful to those causes.

The scripts are here.

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Call and email scripts: oppose Trump's appointees

Mon, 03 Feb 2025 15:22:30 GMT

Posted by: chestnut_pod

Indivisible has call and email scripts loaded to ask senators to oppose the nominations of Kash Patel, RFK, Jr., Russell Vought, and Tulsi Gabbard to important executive positions.

Find them here. Both emailing and calling are very easy; Indivisible has a good UI. Once you have called and/or emailed, they provide social media chips for posting elsewhere, if desired.

I spent this morning working down the list and feel just slightly better.

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Call script for federal funding

Tue, 28 Jan 2025 19:41:16 GMT

Posted by: chestnut_pod

5Calls is always a good resource for calling down the usual suspects on a given issue. They provide scripts and call numbers given your address.

Today I spent about 7 minutes calling my senators and my House rep about the federal funding freeze, and you can too here.

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Call your CA state reps for SB 731: The Kenneth Ross Jr. Police Decertification Act

Tue, 25 Aug 2020 16:25:17 GMT

Posted by: chestnut_pod

If passed, SB 731 will revoke the badges of police officers who are fired for excessive force, sexual misconduct, or dishonesty and allow for independent investigations into misconduct. The text of the bill is here.

This is the final week to pass SB 731, as all bills must advance by August 31. The Assembly Floor vote may happen as early as Thursday, August 27.

You can find your Assemblymember here. No need to call your state senator.

Sample Call/Voicemail Script: My name is [NAME] and I live in [CITY]. I urge you to support SB 731! SB 731 will help keep Californians safe and make sure that officers who violate the law cannot continue bouncing from department to department. This bill will create a process to remove abusive police from the streets and protect Black people and people of color targeted by police violence. Finally, the bill would reduce barriers to seeking civil liability against police officers that violate a person’s civil rights.

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Protesting Philippines' "Anti-Terror" Bill

Mon, 01 Jun 2020 07:05:43 GMT

Posted by: chestnut_pod

Alongside helping out in the U.S. (check out your local bail fund or donate to several at once), the Philippines is facing something very scary. The so-called 'Anti-Terrorism Bill' "criminalizes activism, labels any form of dissent as terrorism, and allows civilians to be unlawfully monitored and arrested without a warrant." (Thanks to ookhaes for the information and language.)

Please check THIS Google Doc for further information and template emails to send, and informative compilations to share across your platforms.

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Citizenship on the census form

Tue, 12 Mar 2019 15:33:03 GMT

Posted by: rydra_wong

The ACLU say that the government is still accepting public comments until March 15, and have a handy form with a script you can modify as you wish:

https://action.aclu.org/petition/make-your-comment-census-citizenship-question-intends-harm-immigrant-communities-0

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Scripts protesting HHS memo erasing transgender people

Mon, 22 Oct 2018 13:55:34 GMT

Posted by: j00j

(edited to add intersex people as rydra_wong noted)

I haven't found scripts regarding the HHS memo yet, so here are mine. Edits and links to other scripts welcome-- I'm in no way an expert.

( call your reps to oppose this and support Equality Act )

( Call Health And Human Services )

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bad news for the 2020 census

Tue, 27 Mar 2018 17:57:41 GMT

Posted by: snickfic

Trump Administration Creates Census Crisis With Move to Suppress Immigrant Responses

The 2020 census will include a question about US citizenship for the first time since 1950, the Commerce Department announced Monday night. Civil rights groups say the question will massively depress responses from immigrants fearful of deportation and could sabotage the entire census.

The move sets up a huge legal and political battle over one of the most important tasks mandated by the Constitution. California Attorney General Xavier Becerra and former US Attorney General Eric Holder have already announced their intention to sue the Trump administration over the new question. Democratic members of Congress have also said they will introduce legislation to block the new question.

Call your reps!

EDIT: Suggested call scripts in the comments of this post!

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Stop SESTA

Thu, 08 Mar 2018 17:11:32 GMT

Posted by: hermionesviolin

It was International Sex Worker Rights Day on Saturday (March 3) and I learned via Twitter that FOSTA ("Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act" -- H.R. 1865) passed the House and the Senate will vote on its version (SESTA -- "Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act," S. 1693) I think on March 12 though I can't now find where I found that date.

Not only do these bills conflate "sex trafficking" (which is unequivocally bad) with "sex work" (which, like all labor, can be variably exploitative/dangerous/etc. but which is in no way improved by criminalization), but it also "amends Section 230 of the federal Communications Decency Act to hold online publishers, apps, and services legally liable for the actions of people who post there or connect through them" (to quote a Reason article) -- 'cause who needs Internet safe harbor?

A brief phone script I saw on Twitter is: “Hi, my name is ___and I live in ___(city in district). I’m calling to urge Senator ____to vote NO on #SESTA, S. 1693 because it will lead to harm to people who trade sex, including victims of trafficking.”

If you'd rather, you could amend it to something like "because it weakens the important protections for online speech in Section 230." (more info from Electronic Frontier Foundation here -- written before the House vote)

If you're like me and want to do some more research to acquire some more talking points before you reach out to legislators (or your social media), behind the cut are some excerpts from some of the articles I've read in recent days. If folks are on Twitter, I'd encourage you to follow accounts like swopbehindbars (SWOP = Sex Workers Outreach Project) SupportSWRights melissagira. For SESTA specifically, you can follow hashtags #LetUsSurvive #SurvivorsAgainstSESTA #StopSESTA.

( Read more... )

I know FOSTA already passed the House, but I emailed my rep:

I was disappointed to learn you that voted in support of H.R. 1865. I know it was advertised as a bill to protect victims of sex trafficking, but if conflates sex trafficking (which is unequivocally bad) with prostitution (which, like all labor, can be variably exploitative/dangerous/etc. but which is in no way improved by criminalization). And its proposed Section 230 changes would hurt both sex workers and people who are trafficked by pushing sex work further underground, robbing sex workers of online communities within which they can warn and be warned about dangerous clients, etc. This bill has been opposed by many sex worker and free speech organizations (as well as survivors of trafficking https://injusticetoday.com/proposed-federal-trafficking-legislation-has-surprising-opponents-advocates-who-work-with-bf418c73d5b4). I hope that, moving forward, when voting on legislation impacting sex workers, you will seek out the voices of actual sex workers (e.g., SWOP -- Sex Worker Outreach Project).

Congress.gov is not the most user-friendly website, but the Feb 27 House vote on FOSTA is here if you want to reach out to your rep about how they voted on FOSTA.

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Avoiding nuclear war, one step at a time

Fri, 13 Oct 2017 22:30:12 GMT

Posted by: julian

My very own own Senator Ed Markey, along with California Congressman Ted Lieu, has created a bill that would require authorization from Congress (either as a declaration of war or the more-common- of-late authorization of force) before a nuclear strike.

This is a wonderful bill for a number of obvious reasons; it's HR 699/S 200. (House/Senate version. House text.)

If you are so inclined, call your Senators and Congressfolk to urge them to pass it. (202) 224-3121, or use Resistbot. (Text the word "resist" to 50409 to begin.)

Rachelmanijia has more info, a script, and other ideas here, and the campaign is hashtagging it up at #PullTheFootball, if you're Twitter-inclined.

If you're not American, feel free to share the info around anyway; the more folks who get this info, the better.

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Indivisible's Explainer on Harvey Response

Thu, 31 Aug 2017 13:55:17 GMT

Posted by: executrix

What to say when talking to your congresscritters:

https://www.indivisibleguide.com/resource/responding-hurricane-harvey/

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DSA Talking Points on Confederate Monuments

Tue, 22 Aug 2017 18:30:39 GMT

Posted by: executrix

Talking points from the Democratic Socialists of America for writing editorials and letters to the editor:

http://www.dsausa.org/r?u=http%3A%2F%2Fd3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net%2Fdsausa%2Fmailings%2F1664%2Fattachments%2Foriginal%2FCharlottesville_Trump_Talking_Points.pdf%3F1503418835&e=3121c4ee6db162a8e6853726a236e50c&utm_source=dsausa&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ng_charltalkpoi&n=1

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Action Checklist

Mon, 12 Jun 2017 17:59:09 GMT

Posted by: executrix

Weekly newsletter with lots of good action tips, contact links and call scripts:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1L8HnKq6hcAfbWUa0a-7PPA4S7h9gqkRzFJGu60gJfws/edit

Thanks to isiscolo for pointing it out!

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Protect PPACA Toolkit for Upcoming Recess

Thu, 06 Apr 2017 15:28:59 GMT

Posted by: executrix

http://familiesusa.org/initiatives/protect-our-care

Second verse, same as the first...

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Defending PPACA: We Wonk So You Won't Have To

Wed, 08 Feb 2017 20:17:24 GMT

Posted by: executrix

Registration info. for videoconference tomorrow at 8 pm EST:

"Friend --

Beginning February 17, Congress will be home in their respective districts for a week-long recess. We're gearing up to make sure elected officials hear from us -- their constituents -- directly.

This is our opportunity to make our voices heard, in person, on the life-changing impact of Obamacare for tens of millions of Americans -- and just how devastating repeal could be.

So tomorrow, OFA and Indivisible are joining together to host a video conference call to go over tactics and best practices for engaging with representatives while they're visiting their districts.

Here are the details:

What: Defending Obamacare Video Call - Preparing for Congressional Recess
When: Thursday, February 9 at 8:00 p.m. ET
Where: RSVP below for more details.

RSVP
When it's time for the call to start, here's how to join in -- you'll need to be in front of your computer and on your phone.

1. NewRow is the program we use so that you can see the visual portion of the call. Jump into NewRow here at least 10-15 minutes prior to the start time. Log in as a guest.

2. Maestro is our phone conference line. Using the "RSVP" link above will register you, and Maestro will send you the phone dial-in number and a unique PIN. You'll need this to call in and listen to the audio -- so be sure to register now and have your dial-in and PIN ready prior to the call.

Remember: Give yourself at least 10-15 minutes before the call starts to get logged on to NewRow and dialed in to Maestro. We will begin right at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

Thanks and talk to you soon,

Jennifer

Jennifer Warner
National Organizing Director
Organizing for Action"

I just finished listening to the Families USA PPACA defense webinar. Long story short:
1. Some Republicans are sane enough to think there should be a replacement before PPACA repeal, and since basically replacement is impossible this is going to take them awhile.

2. However, advocates thought that the fight to save Medicaid would occur AFTER the fight to save PPACA, but they're happening simultaneously.

3. Block grants and per capita caps are being promoted as "innovative" and "flexible," but they're just ways to cut the federal Medicaid budget by 1/3 and shift the cost increases to the states, which are already desperately short of money. See familiesusa.org for fact sheets explaining why these arguments are so bogus.

4. Depending on how they set the baselines, though, states that expanded Medicaid might get more money than those that didn't. Hehehehe.

5. Follow www.resistancerecess.com for activities during the Congressional recess starting February 20; you can also upload your own event.

6. Familiesusa.org will have tools for face-to-face meetings with legislators, and you can report the results to contact@familiesusa.org.

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Resource: How to turn a phone script into a letter

Fri, 13 Jan 2017 04:54:06 GMT

Posted by: tassosss

The question has come up for folks who can't make phone calls but who still want to get in touch with their representatives: how do you take a phone script and make it a letter?

Guidelines - I pulled this list off of my representative's website and it's sound advice, I think:

In an easy to read format, with a clear purpose stated in the first paragraph
Regarding a single issue, not a group of unrelated issues
Not attempting to begin a dialogue, which is better conducted on the phone or in person
Directed to the appropriate office: committee business to the committee, and constituent business to the Member's personal office
In your own words, not copied from a form letter or Web site
From an individual, not an intermediary organization or Web site

Example
I'm going to use the ACA script from the We're His Problem Now google doc, since I have it handy.

Here's the phone script
I’m ---- ---- a constituent calling to let <Senator/Representative ____> know that I want <him/her> to stand up for the subsidized health care plans that cover millions of Americans. Please ask <him/her> not to support cuts to Medicaid or Medicare or changes to the ACA that would result in a loss of coverage. Affordable health care is a priority issue for me and I will be paying close attention to how <Senator/Representative ____> votes.

Step 1: Break the script into its parts. The easiest way is to put each sentence on a separate line.

I’m ---- ---- a constituent calling to let <Senator/Representative ____> know that I want <him/her> to stand up for the subsidized health care plans that cover millions of Americans.

Please ask <him/her> not to support cuts to Medicaid or Medicare or changes to the ACA that would result in a loss of coverage.

Affordable health care is a priority issue for me and I will be paying close attention to how <Senator/Representative ____> votes.

Step 2: Use each script sentence as the first line for each paragraph in your letter. This is your outline.

Header with your address

Header with Senator/Representitve's address

Dear Senator/Representaitve -----

I’m ---- ---- a constituent calling to let <Senator/Representative ____> know that I want <him/her> to stand up for the subsidized health care plans that cover millions of Americans.

Please ask <him/her> not to support cuts to Medicaid or Medicare or changes to the ACA that would result in a loss of coverage.

Affordable health care is a priority issue for me and I will be paying close attention to how <Senator/Representative ____> votes.

Sincerely
Badass Letterwriter

Step 3: Change any words needed to address the representative directly

Header with your address

Header with Senator/Representitve's address

Dear Senator/Representaitve -----

I’m ---- ---- a constituent writing to let you know that I want you to stand up for the subsidized health care plans that cover millions of Americans.

Please do not support cuts to Medicaid or Medicare or changes to the ACA that would result in a loss of coverage.

Affordable health care is a priority issue for me and I will be paying close attention to how you vote.

Sincerely
Badass Letterwriter

Step 4: Personalize the letter. Read through and probably in the second paragraph add something personal that makes this real to you. This letter is from the script where the LW isn't personally covered by an ACA plan, BUT that does not mean the LW is not personally affected by it. Drug prices. If you have female parts you may get contraceptive coverage, or equal premiums that you wouldn't otherwise. Young adults have staying on their parents insurance till 26. You may have a family member who has an ACA plan. Pre-existing conditions.

This part can be as short as a couple sentences, as in the example below, or you can go on for a paragraph. I wouldn't do more than that though unless it's a good story.

Header with your address

Header with Senator/Representitve's address

Dear Senator/Representaitve -----

I’m ---- ---- a constituent writing to let you know that I want you to stand up for the subsidized health care plans that cover millions of Americans.

Please do not support cuts to Medicaid or Medicare or changes to the ACA that would result in a loss of coverage. My sister has a pre-existing condition that prevented her from being covered by health insurance until the ACA. Before the ACA she was handed a $50,000 hospital bill for surgery that saved her life. Under the ACA she doesn't have to fear that she has to choose between her life or bankruptcy.

Affordable health care is a priority issue for me and I will be paying close attention to how you vote.

Sincerely
Badass Letterwriter

(If you want to throw down, you can add as a last line before Sincerely: "See you at your next townhall." But only if you're actually going to go.)

Step 5: You're done! Sign the letter, pop it in the mail, and wait anxiously by the mailbox to see if you get a form letter in response.

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Action: Call Your Representative: Support the Presidential Accountability Act

Mon, 21 Nov 2016 01:42:27 GMT

Posted by: alexseanchai

Press release from US Rep. Katherine Clark. Pull quote:

Congresswoman Katherine Clark has introduced legislation to ensure that U.S. Presidents are required to resolve any conflicts of interest with regard to financial interests and official responsibilities. Current law prohibits federal office holders from engaging in government business when they stand to gain profit. The President and Vice President are currently exempt from this statute. Clark’s Presidential Accountability Act removes this exemption and requires the President and Vice President to place their assets in a certified blind trust or disclose to the Office of Government Ethics and the public when they make a decision that affects their personal finances.

Call your federal representative and tell them to support HR 6340. Here's a script:

Hello, my name is [NAME] and I am a constituent of [REPRESENTATIVE]. I am calling to support the Presidential Accountability Act, because I understand the President-elect to have a great many potential conflicts of interest, [such as his daughter's presence at a meeting with the Japanese prime minister, even though she is supposed to be running the President-elect's businesses without his interference, and potential profit from diplomats interested in currying favor with the new administration by staying at a hotel he owns]. I think it is unconscionable for a President to gain profit from being the country's most prominent public servant. I hope [REPRESENTATIVE] will speak against the President-elect's conflicts of interest and I hope [REPRESENTATIVE] will vote for the Presidential Accountability Act. Thank you for your time.

Take out the bracketed bit with the links if you want a shorter script.

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Overwhelmed? Take a deep breath. You got this.

Thu, 17 Nov 2016 00:59:28 GMT

Posted by: tassosss

Okay, so after starting this, and seeing all the calls to action and everything, today my introverted self had a little bit of a freakout. And I'm probably not the only one, so if you're feeling frozen about what to do by the firehose of all the info, you are not alone.

Someone even made a website to that effect: Holy Fuck The Election
It points you both to cute animals and organizations you can donate time and money to.

My suggestion, if you're feeling frozen with all the overwhelm is to make yourself a plan of action.
1. Write it on a piece of paper, or what you use for a to do list or app.

2. Keep the list short and specific. No more than 3 items. If that feels like too much, take it down to 1 or 2.

3. Take each of your items and break them down into their components.
--If one of your items is donate money, break it down into
--------------1) pick an organization, 2) get your wallet, 3) go to website, 4) donate.
--If it's call your representative,
--------------1) find the phone number, 2) program it into you phone, 3) find or write a script, (more scripts here for many issues) 4) call

The big thing to remember is you don't have to do all of the items on the same day or at the same time. If it's overwhelming, then do one item, check it off, give yourself a break or a reward. Then ....

4. Make an appointment with yourself for the next step. Find free time in your schedule. Mentally prepare yourself that that is the time you will take to do the thing. You can set a calendar reminder for yourself, which can be especially handy if it's a day or two out.

5. Don't break your appointment with yourself. It's tempting, especially with phone calls, but it really won't take that much time and then it's done.

6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 until your list is done.

7. Yay! You did it! Bask in your ability to Get Shit Done.

Now. Here's the really hard part: Make another list.

If you have other strategies, please share them. Also, I'm willing to make bingo cards and badges if that will help.

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