Persisting

On this episode, we talk about media manipulation and the misinformation that results.  It’s not pretty.  The Repugnant Republicans have corporate media sources eating out of their hands and many of today’s best known “journalists” do their reporting based on ratings not truth.

We are also doing a format breaker and talking in-depth about this recent, important article by Dan Froomkin that recently ran in Salon. 

THIS WEEK’S ACTION: Join Indivisible’s Truth Squad and stay on the lookout for media misinformation and bias.  https://act.indivisible.org/signup/indivisible-truth-brigade

Gun violence has shaken the foundation of our society, from highly visible and fear-inducing mass shootings, to the daily toll of gun violence in our cities, to the firearm suicides that happen in the privacy of our homes. On this episode, we dive into American gun culture and the violence and hate crimes born of it. 

ACTION ITEMS

Thoughts and prayers are not enough to keep firearms out of the hands of dangerous and hate-fueled individuals: We need action, we need laws without loopholes, we need comprehensive background checks, and this is a view supported by more than 90 percent of Americans and 90 percent of gun-owners. We agree with President Barack Obama who is calling on the Senate to act on gun violence NOW!

ACTION #1: Tell your senators to pass House bills that improve background checks and close the “Charleston loophole.” Use Everytown for Gun Safety’s tool to send a message to your senators

ACTION #2: Tell Congress to pass universal background checks using Gabby Giffords’ automated text tool --  TEXT UNIVERSAL TO 34131

ACTION #3: Demand a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.  President Biden has called for this, and we agree!  Use Brady’s tool to let Congress know that you want them to act now to rid the country of this death-dealing weaponry.  

ACTION #4: Take action from home by joining Everytown’s The Gun Sense Action Network. Make calls or send texts when they are needed most!  

ACTION #5: Follow March For Our Lives to deepen your activism for gun safety. Created by the student activists from Chicago and Parkland, Florida in the wake of the Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, this organization lays out ways you can get involved: Join a MFOL chapter; Call for a town hall to address gun violence; create a working group in your community to take action to end gun violence; fundraise for effective programs, and VOTE.  

On this episode, we dive into the rampant voter suppression bills being propagated by the GOP nationwide. Over 253 at this point! But there are actions we can take to fight voter suppression before these bills become law in states like Georgia and Arizona, states that have key Senates races in 2022 (not a coincidence). 

This Week's Actions:

1. Tell Congress to support voting rights and stop suppression
2. REGISTER VOTERS with the Sierra Club
3. Write a letter to Support the For the People Act
4. Stop the Filibuster 

We take a deep dive on all of the groundbreaking progressive solutions in Joe Biden’s just passed America Rescue Plan. It is so much more than just a stimulus check. 

THIS WEEK’S ACTIONS:

ACTION 1

Call your U.S. Senators at (833) 942-1345 to leave a message: "The Senate must end the filibuster to stop voter suppression & restore our democracy."

End the Anti-Democracy Filibuster! We will never pass the bold, progressive agenda we need as long as Republicans can use the filibuster to block legislation. 

ACTION 2

Sign Common Cause’s petition to eliminate the filibuster: 

https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/sign-the-petition-eliminate-the-undemocratic-senate-filibuster

ACTION 3

Tell Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) to join the majority of Senate Democrats who are ready to eliminate the filibuster  https://forthepeople.indivisible.org/sinema/

The filibuster is being used by Republicans to STOP the Biden agenda at every turn. It is an outdated senate machination with a long history of being used to suppress the votes of people of color. It is also used by the Republicans to impose minority rule and ignore the will of the majority of Americans. Today we unpack the issues around the filibuster and why we must end or at least reform its use in the senate.

THIS WEEK’S ACTIONS:

ACTION 1

Call your U.S. Senators at (833) 942-1345 to leave a message: "The Senate must end the filibuster to stop voter suppression & restore our democracy."

End the Anti-Democracy Filibuster! We will never pass the bold, progressive agenda we need as long as Republicans can use the filibuster to block legislation. 

ACTION 2

• Sign Common Cause’s petition to eliminate the filibuster: 

https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/sign-the-petition-eliminate-the-undemocratic-senate-filibuster

ACTION 3

• Tell Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) to join the majority of Senate Democrats who are ready to eliminate the filibuster  https://forthepeople.indivisible.org/sinema/ACTION 1(A): 

More than 45 million Americans carry $1.6 trillion in student debt. It is the second biggest area of debt in the US after mortgages. Elizabeth Warren has said that canceling student loan debt is the single most effective executive action that President Biden can take to kick-start this economy.  She along with some other Democrats in Congress are pushing for $50,000 in permanent relief, but the Presient supports forgiving only $10,000. On this episode, we take a deep dive into the debate around canceling student loan debt --- another issue that is about economic justice, and also racial and gender justice.

Americans working for the current federal minimum wage of $7.25 haven’t had a raise in twelve years! In this episode, Alexa and Terry talk about why a $15 minimum wage is not just about economic justice, but also racial and gender justice as well – – and what we can do to make it happen.

On this episode, we talk about what it means to be pro-democracy, what the anti-democracy GOP is trying to do, and who's funding those anti-democracy politicians. We also talk about HR-1 and HR-51, two important bills we need you to take action on. 

Here's the deal: 

1. The 712,000 residents of the District of Columbia pay federal income taxes—more per capita than any other state—yet are denied representation in Congress. Moreover, on January 6th, the District had to rely on President Trump to get the National Guard help it needed during the terrorist attack on the U.S. Capitol. Every other state can call up the National Guard directly. H.R. 51 would recognize DC as our nation’s 51st state. The House and Senate must act now to pass it! Sign this petition to support DC statehood. 

2. To create the kind of change voters want to see in our democracy, our next administration and Congress must support the passage of HR1— the For the People Act — a once-in-a-generation democracy reform package to clean up our political system, expand and protect voting rights, get big money out of politics, hold elected officials accountable for corruption, and create a democracy that values the voices of all Americans. Sign the petition to demand the Senate to pass HR1.