Kyle Davies

Today’s Action: Complete the 2020 Census!

It’s April 1: Happy Census Day! Today is the legal deadline for our federal government to invite Americans to participate in the Census to get  an accurate count of the current population of the United States and territories. Whether American citizen or no, legal resident or no, the Census determines how to apportion seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, distribute federal funding, and plan out community services.

But federal law does not account for a president determined to ignore U.S. residents he dislikes in combination with a global pandemic shutting down the already bare-minimum effort Census procedures.

You should have received a 2020 Census envelope in the mail. Respond online TODAY, or by phone or mail, and then encourage your family and community to do the same. Remember – the sooner you respond, the more accurate the count!

Trump is legally mandated to carry out the Census, though he spent a solid amount of 2019 intimidating immigrants into not wanting to respond. And 24 states chose not to allocate funds toward the Census this year…hindsight is 2020, as they say. Couple these issues with POC and other underserved community groups’ mistrust of our federal government, and we were already looking at a Census less accurate than the 2010 count.

But the COVID-19 pandemic has one-upped GOP obstruction, halting door-to-door follow-up attempts for unreturned surveys, homeless population counts, prison and nursing home counts, and shutdown internet pop-up hubs. Just over 35% of American households have responded to the survey so far.

The Census is how representation will be determined at the state and federal level for the next decade, the number one key to ending gerrymandering, as well as how funding levels are determined for our communities. Filling out the census could not be more important to our goals.

Respond to the 2020 Census today – online, or via phone or mail – and then send a reminder out to your community to complete theirs. Share the importance of an accurate census count far and wide!

Today’s Action: Write letters NOW to get out the vote in November

Historically, at best, about 60% of eligible Americans turn out to vote during presidential election years.

That missing 40% chooses not to show up for a variety of reasons – but at least some of them would with a bit of encouragement that their voices actually do matter.

Trump lost the popular vote in 2016 by 2.9 million votes – but he won enough votes in enough key states to win the electoral college. With high turnout expected from Republicans, we must focus our efforts on turning those purple states blue.

Use Vote Forward to write letters to Democratic voters in key swing states to help Get Out The Vote this November – then mark your calendar to mail the letters on October 27th. Start in February and make a goal to add 40+ letters to your pile each month!

There are millions of registered Democratic voters in swing states that we must reach between now and November if we want to push that progressive turnout percentage to an all-time high. But if we try to get to them all in the last weekend before Election Day, we physically could not succeed.

Slow-but-steady wins the race. Writing letters and stockpiling them over the next nine months is one of the best ways to make high-impact, personal contact with other voters, especially if you live in a safely blue (or impossibly red) area.

We have the votes to defeat Trump. Now is the time to ensure we have them in the right places.

Get Out The Vote and defeat Trump by writing letters to Democratic voters in key swing states. Then, be sure to mail the letters on October 27th. Committing to writing 40+ letters a month means personally contacting over 350 voters this November!

Today’s Action: Fire the Senators who supported the impeachment cover-up

On November 3, we don’t want to *just* vote Trump out. We want to remove every one of his lap dogs who have supported and enabled his monstrous presidency the past four years.

Perhaps highest on that list are the Republican Senators who allowed an unprecedented no-witness coverup in place of a fair, transparent impeachment trial. This goes so far beyond just flipping the Senate: allowing these Republicans to stay in power is a constitutional crisis.

The good folks of Indivisible have launched the “Payback Project” to connect us to Democratic voters in nine states with vulnerable Republican Senators who allowed this disgrace.

Sign up to send text messages through Indivisible’s Payback Project, messaging progressive voters (and non-voters) in nine states with GOP Senators to encourage them to Get Out The Vote this November.

And yes, Mitch McConnell (R-KY) is one of those targets. The unscrupulous ring-leader, Trump’s right-hand, and grim overseer of the ‘Senate Graveyard’ where sensible policies go to die. McConnell long-held the position of “most unpopular Senator” by voters in his home state, only recently replaced by…

…”moderate” Susan Collins (R-ME), who voted against impeachment witnesses and is also on the list. And truly, all ten targets need to go, even without having yet won that coveted unpopularity contest. But voters in these states badly need our help to get every single unregistered Democrat ready to go this November. It’s not something that can happen overnight or even in the final few weeks – the work must be done NOW.

Don’t delay, and don’t regret inaction this November. Sign up today.

Register to send text messages to voters in nine states with Republican Senators through Indivisible’s Payback Project. Help achieve 100% voter registration amongst Democrats and turn these purple states blue.

Today’s Action: Learn something new for Black History Month!

February is Black History Month, four weeks dedicated to acknowledging and celebrating the significant and often overlooked contributions of Black Americans to our nation’s history and culture.

This month, we encourage you to balance your overt political activism with some personal enrichment, actively partaking in Black history to learn or experience something or someone new. While most of our daily OD actions involve outward energy (contacting other voters, communicating with our elected officials), this action is inward: the focus is on you!

1. Read a book by a celebrated Black author. Maya Angelou, James Baldwin, Octavia Butler, Ralph Ellison, Alex Haley, Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, Toni Morrison, and Alice Walker are just a handful of authors you can start with. Essays, novels, plays, poetry, and memoirs…whichever your preferred literary experience, you’ll find it all within just this handful of incredible writers.
2. Visit a Black history museum. If you’re more into a more interactive experience, at least 39 states plus D.C. have one or more museums dedicated to Black history! From slavery to WWII to civil rights to the present day, from music to fine arts and more, there’s something new to learn.
3. Celebrate Black filmmakers and history through film. Notoriously un/under-represented at the major awards shows, Hollywood nonetheless holds incredibly talented Black filmmakers. Explore the filmography of contemporary directors such as Ryan Coogler, Ava DuVernay, Barry Jenkins, Spike Lee, Steve McQueen, Jordan Peele, Dee Rees and so many more. We also like this curated NY Times list of films that begins in 1920, PBS’ documentary recommendations, and this Netflix binge-list.

And more! There are endless ways to celebrate and explore Black history this February and every month of the year. The most important thing is to make sure it’s more than a phrase or gesture – commit to your own education this month, even if it’s just one new book, film, or museum day. And, consider keeping this list to continue your education in every month remaining in 2020!

Today’s Action: Repeal the AUMF – vote TODAY in the House

We interrupt impeachment news to let you know that an important vote is happening TODAY which needs your voice: repealing the AUMF.

The United States entered into an endless war on September 14th, 2001. On that day, Congress issued an AUMF (Authorization for Use of Military Force), which gave then-President Bush the ability to use force against nations, organizations, or people he determined were in any way involved in the September 11th attacks.

With Trump bringing us to the brink of war with Iran earlier this month, we need the AUMF repealed as fast as possible.

The vote in the House is TODAY. Call or email your Representative and demand they repeal the 2002 AUMF.

Presidents Bush and Obama used the AUMF at least 37 times in 14 countries to justify military force, often against groups that did not even exist on September 11th. Trump is using AUMF to keep troops in Syria and Iraq indefinitely – also uninvolved in the 9/11 attacks.

And now, Iran. When President Trump betrayed the world by reneging on America’s commitment to the Iran nuclear deal, global onlookers wondered what options were left besides war. The assassination of Iran’s military leader, General Qasem Soleimani, is itself being called an act of war by allies and adversaries alike. And yet, while the Constitution gives Congress (NOT the president) the power to declare war, the highest ranking Congressional Democrats were not even aware of the plan to assassinate Soleimani, due to Trump’s exploitation of the Bush era AUMF.

The first step to stopping endless war is to repeal the AUMF.

The House votes TODAY. Email or call (202.224.3121) your Representative and urge them to repeal the AUMF.

Today’s Action: Make calls to secure witnesses in impeachment

The rumors are circling: Mitch McConnell does not have his votes locked to block witnesses in Trump’s impeachment trial. This means that several GOP Senators are still considering voting to bring in additional testimony.

We may only have a day or two more to convince those Senators to do the right thing and conduct a fair and open impeachment trial. After you’ve called your Senators, get on the phone to urge Democrats in states where it’s needed most to do the same.

Join Indivisible’s phonebank TODAY to connect with Democrats in key red and purple states, urging voters to call their GOP Senators to demand witnesses in the impeachment trial.

The pressure is working. The GOP knows reasonable voters will hold them dearly accountable for pushing through a sham trial, which is why a no-witness trial isn’t already a done deal.

Former National Security Advisor John Bolton has offered his testimony to the Senate – and to the American public in his upcoming book – as a first-hand witness to Trump’s withholding millions of dollars of Ukranian aid until he received their assistance against his political rival, Joe Biden.

We need to hear from Bolton and others so that Trump’s crimes are on the public record when it matters most…not when Bolton’s book hits the shelves and it’s too late to do anything about it.

Connect with Democrats in key states TODAY, urging them to call their Senators to demand witnesses in Trump’s impeachment trial. Use Indivisible’s phonebank to make it easy!

Today’s Action: Tell your Senators we need witnesses

“Honestly, we have all the material. They don’t have all the material.” – President Trump, appearing to brag about withholding evidence and witnesses from the House impeachment hearings.

In the same press conference, Trump threatened to keep key witnesses from testifying in the Senate, even if subpoenaed.

It is IMPERATIVE that the Senate trial include the witnesses and evidence that Trump withheld from the House impeachment inquiry. Call or email your Senators and demand they vote to include additional testimony and documentation.

The second article of impeachment Trump is on trial for is obstruction…and Trump is gleefully doing exactly that.

There’s no time to waste. Trump’s trial is well underway and ‘Midnight Mitch’ blocked the Senate’s chance to include the witnesses and evidence needed to conduct a fair and transparent trial from the offset. Our next opportunity will appear at the conclusion of Trump’s defense argument, early next week.

If you’ve called, call again, and don’t let a day go by without reminding your Senators that a trial without witnesses is a complete sham, and the American public is watching.

Email or call (202.224.3121) your Senators and tell them they MUST vote to bring witnesses and withheld evidence into this trial. Anything less than basic transparency is a complete cover-up.

Today’s Action: Push your local newspaper and tv station to drop fossil fuels advertisements!

Swedish newspaper Dagens ETC has made the choice to go green – by turning down all advertisements from fossil fuel-based goods and services. Rejecting this potential income, the newspaper stated, “It is a matter of credibility and a conversation that needs to be had right now.”

A bold move that we applaud, and need to see more of. How can journalism truly move us forward in our examination of and fight against climate change while directly benefiting from the companies who wish to see it continue? Not unlike a politician receiving a donation, it’s a hypocrisy at the least and a dangerous conflict of interest at the worst…not to mention the effectiveness of ad placement in urging consumers to purchase goods and services made with fossil fuel.

Contact your most frequented local newspaper and television stations and urge them to follow Dagens ETC’s lead by dropping advertising from all fossil fuel-based goods and services, thereby removing their conflict of interest in covering climate change stories.

The recent flooding in Jakarta, Indonesia, has killed at least 66 and displaced at least 36,000. Worse, Jakarta, home to 10 million, is one of the first major cities scientists believe will need to be abandoned due to rising ocean levels – it will be almost completely submerged by 2050.

And in nearby Australia, catastrophic bushfires have killed an estimated 1 billion animals (and this excludes fish, frogs, bats, and insects, so the actual number is significantly higher). These fires, like those recently seen in California, are also attributed to climate change.

Addressing climate change in an impactful way will not come through one single policy, politician, or lifestyle adjustment – it’s going to take an across-the-board effort from every individual and every industry. But our news sources have widespread influence over their readers and viewers – and thus, so do their ads. Urging newspapers and tv stations to divest from fossil fuel money is one significant step down the path to saving our planet and ourselves.

Urge your local television station and newspaper to divest from all advertising from fossil fuel-based goods and services, and send them Dagens ETC’s statement of intent for inspiration.

Today’s Action: Tune in for TONIGHT’S Democratic debates!

Impeachment. War with Iran. Healthcare. Deadly bushfires in Australia and flooding in Indonesia, both attributed to climate change. Voter suppression as we head into the 2020 election. The dismantling of Roe v. Wade.

These topics and more are what we need to hear about from our Democratic candidates in tonight’s debate – the final debate before the Iowa caucus launches the 2020 primary season on February 3rd. There’s no time to waste in our thoughtful selection of the best candidate to take down Trump this November.

Tune into the Democratic candidate debates TONIGHT at 9 pm EST / 6 pm PST on CNN or CNN.com and encourage your family and friends to join you.

Tonight’s debates feature the six frontrunners: Joe Biden, Pete Buttigieg, Amy Klobuchar, Bernie Sanders, Tom Steyer, and Elizabeth Warren. And of these candidates, progressives Sanders and Warren are currently leading the polls in Iowa over the more moderate contenders.

This is the first all-white debate stage for the 2020 presidential election cycle. It’s a signal as any that as far as we have come, we still have further to go as a party, and we must continue to push for equal representation. While we’re disappointed to see an all-white debate, we also know that the Democrats who share the stage next week are committed to American diversity— a far cry from the Party on the other side.

On thing is clear if we want to continue our progress and avoid being set back decades in our goal of true equality, we will obviously need to elect a Democratic President in 2020, but we also need to choose wisely and make an informed decision.

Join the Democratic presidential candidate debates TONIGHT at 9 pm EST / 6 pm PST on CNN or CNN.com…and make it a watch-party with your community!

Today’s Action: #NoWarWithIran protests TONIGHT

Yesterday, Trump delivered an address to the nation indicating at least a pause in his aggressive run-up to war with Iran, and for that, we can be grateful. But when dealing with the most volatile, impulsive leaders in our nation’s history, we know better than to count on Trump’s words. Even if he means it in the moment, we can usually count on him to change his mind on a dime (literally, because we’re sure his business buddies who bank off of military contracts aren’t too pleased with yesterday’s conclusions.)

That’s why we’re not taking any chances – the #NoWarWithIran protests are moving forward TONIGHT.

Enter your zip code to find the closest #NoWarWithIran protest near you, and get your protest signs ready…tonight, we take to the streets.

Today, the House will vote to restrict Trump’s abilities to wage war in Iran without the approval of Congress…but it’s the Senate where we’ll really need this agenda pushed. Tonight’s protests need to send a clear signal to Senators across the country: we do not condone his warmongering, and we want him back under the authority of the Constitution, which states that only Congress has the ability to declare war.

Except that Trump has extensive ability to order immediate military action, thanks to the tools put in place long before he entered: authority to engage in warfare without Congress’ permission, via the Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF), handed to George W. Bush in 2001 and 2002. Progressives have called for the repeal for years, and we must step up this platform with even more urgency.

Congress must act immediately to reign in Trump’s powers, both engagement with Iran and the ongoing ability to wage unchecked war. And to get Congress to act, especially Trump’s GOP enablers, we must take action.

Join thousands of Americans across the country in making a clear public statement against war with Iran. Enter your zip code to join the #NoWarWithIran National Day of Action.