Rogan’s List – October 30, 2023

October 30, 2023

Get out the vote, break the blockade, spot misinformation, and more

*** SUBMITTING YOUR ACTIONS TO ROGAN’S LIST ***

We’ve set up a “tip line” so Rogan’s List subscribers can send in their ideas or submissions for action items at roganslisttips@gmail.com. Please don’t hesitate to email and pass on your suggestions, we look forward to hearing from you!

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:

• usa.gov/federal-agencies

• HELP DEMOCRATS WIN IN KENTUCKY
  Absentee voting is already underway in Kentucky, where Democrats have their best chance to win a governor’s race this November. Incumbent Steve Beshear has a strong record built on expanding access to health care, securing clean drinking water and funding for high-speed Internet, and bringing EV battery manufacturing jobs to the state, and is running hard on protecting the right to choose and opposing school vouchers. His opponent, Republican Attorney General Daniel Cameron, has been caught up in scandal, accused of soliciting campaign donations from the executives of an organization under investigation by his office, and has been under attack for failing to charge the police who killed Breonna Taylor. Let’s sign up to volunteer for Governor Beshear’s reelection campaign. We can also phonebank Kentucky voters with Democratic AG nominee Colonel Pam Stevenson here.
• REVIVE THE ASSAULT WEAPONS BANThe recent shooting in Lewiston has convinced another lawmaker to finally do something about assault weapons. Maine Representative Jared Golden, a conservative Democrat who often broke with his party and voted against gun control bills, has changed his view and has vowed to support bans on weapons of war. Let’s thank Rep. Golden and then ask any of our MoCs who are still against gun control to follow his lead. And let’s ask our MoCs who support taking action against gun violence to bring legislation banning assault weapons to the floor. (We can also donate to support the victims and families of this shooting if we’re able, with a general response fund here and GoFundMe links for individuals here.) 

• TUBERVILLE BLOCKADE WORKAROUNDThere is a bipartisan effort a foot to stop Tommy Tuberville’s blockade of more than 360 military promotions. The Senate Democrats are spearheading the use of a standing order resolution to move a block of more than 300 nonpolitical military nominees. Not only is this lapse in promotions dangerous to our security as positions go unfilled, but it is also wreaking havoc on countless military families who are living in limbo.  Let’s contact our senators and tell them we want them to support this resolution to keep the process of government working and fill these much-needed positions.  

• MTG WANTS TO CONDEMN ANTISEMITISM AND INSURRECTION?
  A member of Congress is moving to force a vote on a censure resolution condemning one of their colleagues for antisemitic activity, sympathizing with terrorist organizations and leading an insurrection at the Capitol Complex. The member introducing this resolution is Marjorie Taylor Greene. This latest attack on Rep. Rashida Tlaib is ridiculous, insulting to victims of January 6th and other right-wing terrorist attacks and to the Jewish community coming from a known insurrectionist and promoter of secession, antisemitic conspiracy theories, bigots like Nick Fuentes and Christian nationalism. Let’s contact our members of Congress and let them know we demand they oppose this resolution, and if they want to condemn antisemitism they can start with Rep. Taylor Greene (who is facing a censure vote of her own we can push them to vote for) and Rep. Paul Gosar – and if they want to condemn insurrection, they can start with Speaker Johnson and House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan.

• HOW TO SPOT DISINFORMATIONHeather Cox Richardson recently wrote at Letters from an American about the proliferation of misinformation, disinformation, and propaganda and its impact on public opinion and voters. Sometimes collectively called “fake news,” we often encounter misinformation, disinformation, and propaganda on social media, and we aren’t always as good as we think we are about identifying it for what it is, and not letting trigger us or influence us. 2024 will be a crucial election year, and the more we do our share to protect ourselves and others from fake news, the better. Let’s learn how to spot fake news. We can start here and here.

STATE-SPECIFIC ACTIONS

• MI – FORMAL HONORS FOR ACQUITTED KIDNAP PLOTTERS?
  Republican state rep. Rachelle Smit paid formal tribute to two of the men acquitted in the plot to kidnap Governor Gretchen Whitmer, saying she was doing so on behalf of the state. The proclamation accused “secret police forces” of concocting the kidnapping plot for political gain and praised the men as “outstanding examples of the kind of person who is not content to sit idly while the forces of tyranny attack our Republic.” Nine others were convicted of crimes for their part in this plot, and both men honored admitting going on the trip to scout Governor Whitmer’s lakeside vacation home. One of them testified in court that he should have called the police when conspirators began to speak about obtaining explosives, and joked with another plotter about shooting the governor. While these men were not proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and that must be respected, proclamations praising them are wildly inappropriate, and as Governor Whitmer’s office said “will further encourage and embolden radical extremists trying to sow discord and harm public officials or law enforcement.” Let’s contact our state lawmakers and urge them to speak out against Rep. Smit and to seek formal accountability in the legislature for her actions.