Washington Indivisible Podcast

We talk this week with My-Linh Thai, who's running for state representative in position 2 for the 41st LD, a district that includes Mercer Island and Newcastle, and portions of Bellevue, Renton, Issaquah, and Sammamish.

With the August 7th primary almost upon us, we check back in one last time with the three Democratic candidates running for Congress in the 8th district, Kim Schrier, Shannon Hader, and Jason Rittereiser, for some closing remarks about their experiences campaigning over the last year, how they've each evolved, and what they each hope to bring to the constituents of the 8th district.

Then, following Monday's protest against Republican Devin Nunes's visit to Spokane for a Cathy McMorris Rodgers fundraiser, we talk to the leaders from Indivisible Spokane and Central Valley Indivisible (in Nunes's home district) about the creative ways they collaborated to make Nunes feel particularly unwelcome here in Washington.

Links:

Kim Schrier: https://www.drkimschrier.com/

Shannon Hader: http://drshannonforcongress.com/

Jason Rittereiser: https://www.jasonrittereiser.com/

Lisa Brown's website: https://lisabrownforcongress.com/

Lisa Brown's WSIP interview: https://soundcloud.com/wsip/ep-42-suzi-eric-levine-on-eric-holders-gerrymandering-project-dem-5th-cd-candidate-lisa-brown

Andrew Janz's website: www.andrewjanzforcongress.com

Andrew Janz WSIP interview: https://soundcloud.com/wsip/50-andrew-janzs-run-to-unseat-devin-nunes-uws-kathryn-watts-on-the-limits-of-presidential-power

"Grannies Respond" is comprised of grandmothers (and some grandfathers) who are leading a caravan down to the Mexico border in McAllen, TX. Along they way, they'll be stopping in a number of cities to hold rallies before arriving at the border on August 6th, where they'll be holding a series of 24-hour protests demanding an end to the Trump administration's immigration policies.

We talk with two of the early members of the group, Claire and Barry Nelson, about why they've chosen to embark on this trek, and about what they're hoping to accomplish.

Next, in light of Trump's recent threats against Iran, we chat with Cathia Geller, board president for the group Seattle-Isfahan Sister City Advocacy, about how, despite decades of tension between the US and Iran, Iranian people largely have very positive feeling toward Americans. We also discuss her organization's mission, to establish a sister-city designation between Seattle and the Iranian city of Isfahan.

And, last, our weekly calls to action with Indivisible Washington's 8th District research team member, Jim Austin.

Links:

Grannies Respond: https://www.granniesrespond.org/

SISCA: https://seattleisfahan.org/

SISCA Facebook page: https://m.facebook.com/pages/Seattle-Isfahan-Sister-Cities/483156195181550

Iranian Americans Contribution Project: https://ia-cp.org

Seattle Fastan: https://seattleisfahan.org/taste-of-iran/

Calls to Action Resources:

https://www.indivisible.org/resource/trumps-new-cruel-immigration-policy/

Indivisible Washington’s 8th District Activity Calendar: http://www.indivisible-wa8.com/

Indivisible CD-8 / FUSE Voter Registration Sign Up: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScSZItGhzEvgbdEcTGl6aspIThZVohXJ1JxHVxo1wQ1_zdEjQ/viewform

Search for Upcoming Voter Canvassing Events: https://www.wa-democrats.org/event/index

Jenn Goulet is running for state representative in WA’s 9th LD in position one, a district that includes Pullman and Pasco.

Is it time for Democrats in Washington DC to shift their thinking about how they can win and maintain power? We talk this week with political scientist David Faris, author of the book, “It’s Time to Fight Dirty: How Democrats Can Build a Lasting Majority in American Politics,” about the ways Republicans have used loopholes in the Constitution to their advantage, and how Democrats need to fight back by, among other things, passing a voting rights act, granting statehood to DC and Puerto Rico, expanding the number of justices on the Supreme Court, and doubling the size of the House of Representatives, among other cures. All of this can only occur, of course, after Democrats have taken back Congress and the White House, and Faris also has several thoughts on how to make that happen.

We also have our calls to action with We also have our call to action with Indivisible Washington’s 8th research team member Jim Austin, and our calendar of activist events with Erin Albanese.

Activist Calendar of Events:

Thursday, July 19th

First 8th CD candidate debate

7-9 PM

Hal Holmes Community Center

209 N. Ruby, Ellensburg, Washington

Saturday, July 21st

Votes for Women

9 AM

1103 Sylvester St., Pasco, WA

Sunday, July 22nd

Everett Earth Day March

Begins at 3 PM at the Everett Community College parking lot on Wetmore in Everett

https://www.facebook.com/events/134840950642247/

Sunday, July 22nd

TAKE Action! Support families separated at the border

2 PM - 4 PM

Queen Anne Community Center

1901 1st Ave W, Seattle, Washington 98119

Saturday, July 28th

Health Care for All-WA Summer Gala & Auction

7-10 PM

415 Westlake Ave N, Seattle

https://www.facebook.com/events/198418357472762/

The Keep Washington Working bill, sponsored by State Senator Lisa Wellman (D - Mercer Island), aims to protect the population of immigrant workers in Washington from harassment and arrest by federal and state authorities, and has managed to find some surprising allies in both the business and labor communities here in the state. Wellman talks about why she took on the issue, what the bill calls for, and how we can help get it passed in next year's legislative session.

We also have our calls to action with Indivisible Washington's 8th District research team leader Stephen Wilhelm, and we get our weekly activist calendar of events from IW8's Erin Albanese.

Links:

Info on Keep WA Working: http://sdc.wastateleg.org/wellman/wp-content/uploads/sites/36/2017/02/SB-5689-Keep-Washington-Working.pdf

Phone bank to #SaveSCOTUS by calling progressives in states with senators who are undecided about the Kavanaugh nomination: https://www.indivisible.org/savescotus-phonebank-signup/

Fight for the Future: https://www.battleforthenet.com/

Indivisible's guide to saving net neutrality: https://www.indivisible.org/resource/process-using-congressional-review-act-protect-net-neutrality-explained/

Save the Lifeline Program – call the FCC: 1-888-225-5322

Calendar of Events:

Northwest Detention Center Mariachi Band Demonstration

Saturday, July 14th, 1:30 PM

1623 E J St, Tacoma, WA

Families Belong Together: An evening to benefit Northwest Immigrant Rights Project

Saturday, Jul 14th, 6:00 PM

Royal Room

5000 Rainier Ave S

Seattle, WA

For dinner reservations: [email protected]

Tickets: http://www.strangertickets.com/events/56316970/families-belong-together-an-evening-to-benefit-northwest-immigrant-rights-project

Spanish-speaking volunteers needed for the Summer Fiesta Latina Voter Registration

Saturday, July 14th

Volunteers Needed for the following shifts:

1 p.m. - 3 p.m.

3 p.m. - 5 p.m.

4 p.m. - 6 p.m.

East Wenatchee Grocery Outlet

315 Valley Mall Pkwy, Wenatchee, WA

See more event details here:

https://www.facebook.com/events/222553885006519/?ti=cl

Keeping Families Together rally put on by SnoCo Indivisible

Sunday, July 15th, 10:30 AM

Evergreen UU Fellowship

1607 - 4th St NE, Marysville, WA

Candidate Forum for candidates in the 25th LD and Pierce County Council

Tuesday, July 17th, 6:00 PM

Pilgrim Lutheran Church

10510 136th St E, Puyallup, WA

https://www.facebook.com/events/636158976777187/

Gun Sense Candidate Forum

Hosted by WA Moms Demand Action and Seattle Students Demand Action

Wednesday, July 11th, 7:00 PM

Si View Activity Center

400 SE Orchard Dr, North Bend, WA

https://act.everytown.org/event/moms-demand-action-event/12810/signup/?source=&akid=&zip=

We chat with Indivisible's associate policy director, Elizabeth Beavers, about the two-step fight to stop Trump and McConnell from jamming through an extremist SCOTUS nominee.

Also, Indivisible Washington's 8th District's Stephen Wilhelm and Erin Albanese join us for calls to action and a calendar of events for activists here in the state.

Links & Info:

Indivisible’s 2-Step Strategy on the SCOTUS Fight: https://www.indivisible.org/resource/2-step-strategy-win-supreme-court-fight/

Sign up to phone-bank: https://www.indivisible.org/save-scotus/

Week of Action: https://savescotus.indivisible.org/

Events:

We Stand with Immigrants: Activists/Allies Training

Saturday, July 7th - 11:30 AM - 4 PM

Muslim Association of Puget Sound - MAPS

17550 NE 67th Ct, Redmond, Washington 98052

North Seattle Progressives Solidarity Tabling at Northwest Detention Center

July 7th, 1:30 PM - 4 PM

1623 E J St, Tacoma, Washington 98421

Washington's 8th Congressional District Gun Sense Candidate Forum

July 11, 7:00 PM

Si View Community Center Gymnasium in North Bend

I-639 Signature Drop Off and Press Event

Friday, July 6 at 10:30 AM (event begins at 11am)

Elections Division, 520 Union Street, Olympia, WA 98504

Healthcare for All - WA's Summer Gala & Auction

Saturday, July 28th, 7:00 - 10:00 PM

415 Westlake Banquet Hall in Seattle

Tickets available at www.healthcareforallwa.org

This week, our continuing coverage of the immigration crisis. We talk first with Roxana Norouzi, deputy director of OneAmerica, the nonprofit started by Rep. Pramila Jayapal that's become the largest immigrant rights organization in Washington.

Then, Erin Albanese and Tahmina Watson, two principle figures with Lawyer Moms for America, about their campaign to deliver an open letter to every senator and member of Congress calling for an end to Trump's policies on immigrant asylum-seekers and their children.

And a conversation with Indivisible Austin president Lisa Benjamin Goodgame about what advocacy groups are doing on behalf of immigrants at and around the Texas border.

Find a Families Belong Together march or rally near you: https://www.familiesbelongtogether.org/

OneAmerica’s FB page: https://www.facebook.com/weareoneamerica/

OneAmerica’s Walk a Mile in Our Shoes Campaign: https://www.facebook.com/events/166981577494104/

For more on the Walk a Mile in Our Shoes Campaign, see #walkamileinourshoes

Tahmina Talks Immigration:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/tahmina-talks-immigration/id1350535670?mt=2

Sign on to Lawyer Moms of America’s Open Letter:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdP_nwGuZ8-rAzkJqtUMzza55IJRQDUYmbFPo_i837v1z6knA/viewform

Families Belong Together Rally at SeaTac Federal Detention Facility: https://www.facebook.com/events/220480778565945/

Hutto women's bond fund with Grassroots Leadership.

https://grassrootsleadership.ourpowerbase.net/civicrm/contribute/transact?reset=1&id=30

Austin Sanctuary Network address for tax-deductible donations:

14311 Wells Port Drive Austin, TX 78728

A big show this week: First, we talk with Seattle immigration lawyer Minda Thorward about Trump's just-signed executive order, what it does and doesn't do for immigrant families. Then, the Stranger's Rich Smith on the many stories and lies the Trump administration has told about its policy of separating asylum-seekers from their children. Also, we check in with the leader of Indivisible Washington’s 8th District’s research team, Stephen Wilhelm, to learn about what we can be doing in response to all of this.

In the second half of the show, we discuss last weekend’s state Democratic convention in Wenatchee, first with 5th LD Democratic state committee member Josh Trupin, who gives a great rundown both on what happens at a state convention generally, and specifically about what happened at this year’s convention. And finally, we talk with Jen Carter, an Indivisible member who attended this year for the first time as a delegate from the 5th legislative district.

Of the 500+ days of the Trump administration, these have been arguably some of the worst, as we learn more about the horror of children being torn from their families at the border.

On this week's special, Stephan chats with his friend, psychotherapist Mark Nash, about how to process what's happening, and about how we as activists can continue to bring our best selves to the ongoing fight.

https://www.facebook.com/SmVictories/