Relational organizing tool, Biden wall, pharmacy walkouts, and more!
Contact all members of Congress:
- By phone: (202) 224-3121
- By email: democracy.io
- By US mail: Representatives / Senators
- By fax: Representatives / Senators
- By Resistbot: Resist.bot
Contact White House or other federal agencies:
- A BIDEN BORDER WALL?
The Biden administration’s recently announced that it has waived dozens of environmental and preservation laws to build 20 miles of wall along the US-Mexico border. Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas says that he is legally required to use funds appropriated by Congress in 2019 to erect barriers on the border in areas of “high illegal entry” into the US, a point confirmed byindependent analysts. The President and Secretary Mayorkas maintain the White House still opposes the border wall and do not believe it will be useful. However, congressional Democrats like Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX) have raised questions about why they are waiving the environmental regulations to expedite construction and have not received an answer, until now. They did not have to waive those regulations. This move is a betrayal of immigrants and local Indigenous and environmental activists, disastrous for the flora and fauna of the region, and a waste of taxpayer money. Rep. Cuellar called it, “a 14th century solution to a 21st century problem.” Let’s tell our MoCs to publicly call out the administration for not doing all it can to push back on this, and reach out to the Department of Homeland Security and the White House to let them know we voted for Biden to stop this sort of thing and urge them to stop expediting it and refocus on the real issues driving migrants across our border. - SMOTHERED, COVERED, AND UNIONIZED
Waffle House workers across the South are getting organized in the face of rock-bottom wages, unfair paycheck deductions and in-store violence. They’re demanding fair pay and in-store security with the Union of Southern Service Workers. Let’s sign this petition in support of their demands.
- RELATIONAL ORGANIZING TOOL
- From a reader: Relational organizing is the practice of leveraging one’s network of friends, family, coworkers and other acquaintances — and theirs — to rally around an issue. Many grassroot organizers and individuals are looking for tools to help them leverage this kind of influence when it comes to voting and other issues. BlueSwipe, a free app for iOS and Android, can provide this type of service. In just 10 minutes we can text over 30 Democratic friends to make sure they vote in November. In an hour, we can text over 180 friends. Let’s check out BlueSwipe and share with our local groups to coordinate messaging.
- PHARMACY WORKERS ARE WALKING OUT FOR SAFE STAFFING
Pharmacy employees at major chains are overworked to the point where they fear they’re unable to provide safe care, and they’re taking action. Last week workers at CVS pharmacies staged a walkout, and this week Walgreens employees are doing the same. Let’s show some solidarity – we can read their demands and sign petitions in support here for CVS workers and here for Walgreens.
- TRUMP TRIALS CLEARINGHOUSE
With so many trials involving the former president it is difficult to keep information straight. Just Security, an online forum for the rigorous analysis of security, democracy, foreign policy, and rights has developed a one-stop clearinghouse where we can “find links to relevant court proceedings, key statutes, government documents, and defense documents – as well as Just Security resources and analysis, media and other guides.” Let’s check it out and refer to it when needed.
STATE-SPECIFIC ACTIONS
- MI – EXPAND RANKED CHOICE VOTING IN MICHIGAN
This could be a big election for ranked-choice voting in Michigan, with East Lansing, Kalamazoo and Royal Oak all considering proposals to approve its use. While there would need to be a change in state law to allow them to put this reform to work, this would be a major step towards crucial democratic reforms. Rank MI Vote will be holding an online campaign briefing today, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12 AT 8PM to discuss their plan for victory and how we can help. We can sign up for this event here, or donate to the cause here.
CORRECTIONS AND UPDATES
Some links in these entries in yesterday’s List were not helpful. Here are the corrected entries. Thanks to our readers for keeping us honest!
- COMMENT ON INSURANCE FOR OVER-THE-COUNTER PREVENTIONSubmitted by a Rogan’s List reader: The Biden Administration wants our input on how to ensure equitable access to over-the-counter (OTC) preventive services, including the newly approved OTC birth control pill. Thanks to Obamacare, many preventive services are covered by insurance. That doesn’t yet apply to services we can get OTC without a prescription including contraception, treatments to quit tobacco, and breastfeeding supplies. We can submit comments on requiring insurers to cover OTC preventive services by following the instructions here by 5 pm Eastern, December 4, 2023. Let’s provide evidence or personal experiences about how insurance affects access to products, how to effectively make insurance-covered OTC services available at retailers, or the impact on health equity and economics.
- HEATHER COX RICHARDSON’S NEW BOOK TOURRogan’s List has long recommended its readers follow and read Heather Cox Richardson’s Substack, Letters from an American, “a newsletter about the history behind today’s politics”, and follow her Facebook page where she does a weekly live session on the intersection of history and current politics, called Politics Chat (archived in YouTube). Richardson’s new book, Democracy Awakening, published last week, is on the New York Times Best Seller List. She is currently on a book tour across the country and tickets are selling out quickly. If we are not able to secure tickets to see Richardson, we can watch her conversation with Meghna Chakrabarti of WBUR here and her conversation with Rebecca Solnit here.
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