Daily Dems Doing the Work, Making Noise and Fighting Back Day 63
Please remember to comment on their posts that I’m including! Most comments on elected officials’ posts are not positive. We need to drown out the negativity and correct the disinformation. So, take some time to click on the posts, and give them some engagement.
Here are today’s fighters
Repping the Rep: Kathy Castor (FL-14)
Threw out the first pitch with a group of Hurricane Helene first responders at the Tampa Bay Rays opening game. I love this, because we talk about how Dems have to go on Republican programs, and be interviewed by lifestyle podcasts and magazines, but that goes for in person too. And there is nothing more American than baseball. There is a 100% chance that many people at that game were not Democrats, and they watched her be on their level, involved in something they love, and that’s not something to ignore.
And that’s further proven by looking at her IG comments for this post. There aren’t many, but, all six of them are positive. I can categorically say, right now, on social media, that doesn’t happen, ever.
Rep Pramila Jayapal (WA-07)
Held an in person “Resistance Lab” training last week. And today, she took it virtual. People can join from anywhere in the country, or even the world. It’s basically activism training for new activists or those who just need a refresher.
I didn’t have time to watch the whole thing, but I caught a few minutes, and I was so impressed with the few minutes I caught.
We always talk about boycotts, but, I don’t hear about that grape boycott very much anymore. That needs to be our basis. It was a multipronged approach, not just one company or one farm. It was calculated and harmed every level of the supply chain. That’s what we need to be doing, and not just in boycotts either, but more on that in a second…
And the Nation did an article on these trainings, that you can read, without a paywall, here.
Rep Jimmy Gomez (CA-34)
Is quickly becoming one of my favorite reps, and he certainly posted my favorite video of the day.
He took us shopping with him and his toddler. He shows the prices and even shared how much he spent, exactly, and how much he got off through using coupons.
Besides the video being just completely adorable cause his kid is completely adorable, it’s real. And it shows that even a Member of Congress, a job many people have some very skewed views of, has to use coupons to make ends meet. Now, that’s a powerful statement.
I want this to be a weekly series, I think it has so much power.
Sen Mark Warner (VA)
Held a town hall yesterday and posted a video with his thoughts on the event. And the end of the video really stuck with me:
Let’s deal with this at the local level. Let’s get local elected Republicans to acknowledge the pain their community is feeling.
It’s one of those 🤯 moments for me. Of course we should be focusing on local Republicans. Of course people should be focusing on calling their mayors and city council members and state elected officials. But I haven’t heard a single person say that, or thought of it myself. Warner is the first.
It goes back to the Resistance Labs point about the grape boycott. There is an entire supply chain and we need to be hitting every single level of it, not just the top. And, using Alaska as an example, their state government is calling out their federal counterparts, and they’re doing that, for the most part, without even hearing from their consitutents. Now it’s time for us to go down the supply chain. The further down we go, the less loyal they are, and the more mess they will be willing to make.
Thank you Warner, for making this incredibly important point.
Rep Shontel Brown (OH-11)
Posted a great video breaking down the importance of the Department of Education and what DT dismantling it means. So many Representatives and Senators have been making videos like this, but each one is engaging in it’s own way. This one takes a more personal tone, in the sense that she’s just talking directly to us, as if she was on Facetime with a friend.
Senator Alex Padilla (CA)
Spoke with Michelle Norris, who is filling in for Ali Velshi, about SignalGate and his oversight trip with other Senators to Guantanamo Bay.
I’m so glad that Dems in Congress refuse to let SignalGate go, no matter how much DT tries to alter the news cycle. I’m also really glad that a second group has gone over to Guantanamo. The more that happens, the less DT will want to be detaining people there.
He specifically explains how there is a high risk and a low risk area, which would make no sense if these were all violent criminals.
It’s a great interview to watch, especially if you saw his Blue Sky post
And assumed his post meant he supported the prison. Sadly, that’s what most of the 35 comments, as of me writing this, think.
Finally…
Rep Becca Balint (VT)
Made a video explaining how Congress works. It’s really basic stuff, but sadly I think it’s stuff not everyone knows, especially those screaming “DO SOMETHING.”
I hope some of those people watch this video and realize the kind of power the House Dems do and don’t have.
It’s only a minute, but she goes over everything from how many votes it takes to pass a bill to why having the majority matters.
And hopefully it will get people to realize how important the Senate and House races are. The top of the ticket is important, but to have real power, they need the House and Senate too.
I hope this becomes a series, “Two Congressional Quirks”
And those are just a small handful of today’s fighters.
Remember, please engage with the elected themselves. I love the engagement, but they need it to.
If you are still here comment 🌽 and if you don’t know why, well, then you should go back and watch all the videos you skipped 😉
Our voices are superpower, but only when you use them
🌽 Rep. Gomez’ child is adorable!!!!
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