Daily Dems Doing the Work, Making Noise and Fighting Back Days 7 and 8
I mean, given how much happened today I could probably just leave out yesterday, but I won't
Today was jam packed. Most Dems did something. We’re getting plans and statements and press conferences and so much more, quite frankly. So let’s begin, because this post is relatively long.
We’re starting with yesterday
Rep Mike Thomson (CA-4)
He explains that Johnson isn’t calling the House into session much
Rep George Whitesides (CA-27)
He gave the House Dems’ “Weekly Dem Address.” I didn't even know this was a thing till yesterday.
Sen Chris Van Hoyen (MD)
He has a newsletter. His newest one actually breaks down some of the things the Senate is doing to fight back, and why it can’t be everything you want. I really like the transparency here.
Sen Jeff Merkley (OR)
He held three town halls today, two of them were with Rep Val Hoyle. I got a bit of info after the fact. He focused on the importance of contacting our elected officials and continuing to lift up their voices. I know you want to hear that something else can be done, but, in reality, we are the ones with the most power right now.
And we’ve arrived at today. Buckle up, there’s a lot!
Sen Brian Schatz (HI)
He will object to all unanimous consent until DT brings USAID back he told WSJ
I will oppose unanimous consent, I will vote no. I will do maximal delays until this is resolved.
13 Dems spoke at USAID rally
Rep Don Beyer (VA-08) 4:21-7:06
Sen Chris Van Hollen (MD) 7:07-13:43
Rep Gerry Connolly (VA-11) 14:00-16:19
Sen Brian Schatz (HI) 16:27-18:32
Rep Jamie Raskin (MD-08) 18:43-22:29
Rep Johnny Olszewski (MD-02) 22:46-25:57
Sen Chris Murphy (CT) 26:13-29:35
Rep Ilhan Omar (MN-05) (29:44-34:41
Rep Jim McGovern (MA-02) 34:53-37:15
Rep Suhas Subramayam (VA-10) 37:30-38:50
Rep Sarah Elfreth (MD-03) 39:00-40:44
Rep Eugene Vindman (VA-07) 40:52-42:54
Rep Yassmin Ansari (AZ-03) 43:02-44:39
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries
He made an internal memo to the House Democratic Caucus public as a press release to show his 10 point plan for pushing back on Musk and DT
It also includes our part in fighting this.
Lastly, we urge all Members to once again conduct district-wide outreach today, or as soon as possible this week, in order to connect directly with our constituents and discuss the challenges we are decisively addressing on their behalf. For example, I will conduct a telephone town hall meeting in my district this evening. We will track participation throughout the Caucus.
Please attend every single town hall you can. And call as often as possible. Even if they didn’t want to, they need to hear from us, but, luckily we’re all on the same page with that.
House Oversight Committee Dems
They all signed a letter to the Admin asking for exact answers on what the OPM has done and why by Feb 18. In the meantime they are demanding Musk come before the committee and other things I’m sure we’ll learn about in the coming days.
Rep Don Beyer (VA-08)
He holds an emergency virtual town hall given everything that has happened today. I love that he knew how important this was and set it up last minute.
Rep Dianna Degette (CO-01)
She explains in a press release why we have more power than the elected Dems, at the moment, and that only Republicans in Congress can get Musk gone
They are attacking programs that save millions of lives around the world, including monitoring and stopping deadly disease outbreaks. Elon Musk's actions are illegal because there is no congressional authority to gut this agency, and my Republican colleagues must stop ceding their responsibilities to an unelected billionaire.
If your rep or Senators are Republican, calling them is more important now than ever. Tell them that DT is literally taking their jobs trying to make them obsolete. There are over 260 Republican members of congress. If enough people call, some of them can be gotten through to.
Minority leaders Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries
Chuck Shumer says the have a plan and are working together to execute it. It helps to see the problem and then the action being made to mitigate it.
Senators Patty Murray (WA), Elizabeth Warren (MA), Schumer (NY) and Brian Schatz (HI)
They’ve been holding press conferences every few days. This one is focused on the data M*sk seems to be taking from the Treasury Dept. Please help amplify these kinds of events!
And those are today’s Dems Doing the Work. It’s not exactly all good news, but it’s certainly all actionable. We have a huge role to play here and we have to play it. Make calls, go to town halls, and grab some friends and go to the local offices.
We need to use our voices right now as well as make a concerted effort to amplify theirs.
Your voice is your superpower, but only when you use it!
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