Indivisible "What's the Plan" Weekly Zoom 5/15/25

Hello! It's Indivisible "What's the Plan" Thursday!

Today's summary can nicely be broken up into 5 sections, does that mean it will be short, probably not, it never has before, but hopefully you'll read the whole thing anyway.

So let's get started!

As always, Ezra listed new Indivisible groups, and the first Virgin Islands group ever just joined!

1. Reconciliation Bill

   This is the budget bill that had been marked up (amended) in 18h+ hearings the last couple days. Reconciliation is a type of bill that lets the Senate avoid a filibuster. It's a way to pass big policy changes. In this case, it's all about giving massive tax cuts to the ultra-wealthy by cutting Medicaid, SNAP, and sneaking in other things like ending IRS Direct to File.

   They're also trying to sneak in things that go completely against Senate rules for reconciliation bills like the nonprofit killer and baring AI regulations. As long as we make a big stink, and we are, they can't get it through. And if they did that would destroy all Senate rules and change the fabric of the legislative branch, and, I want to be crystal clear: That. Is. Not. Happening. So as long as we keep raising the alarm, those two provisions will stay a nonissue.

   So the hearings are done. The three pieces of the bill have been marked up and passed by Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means and Agriculture. As early as tomorrow they could meet to put the full bill together. As early as next week, the House could vote on the full bill, and then it would be headed to the Senate. The Senate will very likely rip it apart, rewrite it and send it back to the House and it will ping-pong back and forth until there's agreement in both bodies.

   The earliest they'll likely reach an agreement is either mid to late July or right before or after their month long August recess. The more backlash against it, the slower the process will take. We want this to be the slowest process humanly possible. So we need to raise alarm about it as much as we can. That's why the Democratic Daily Download is almost always about the Reconciliation bill, we have to keep it front of mind at all times.

   We need to make it as politically destructive for those thinking of supporting it as possible.

   And, keep in mind, our Dems are completely united on this. So this is a smart time to reach out to them and thank them, especially if yours gave a powerful speech during the markup. The more we praise them when they do the right thing, the more impactful it is when we critique them for fucking up.

2. Executive Branch Destruction

   1. Potential 2026 election interference

      They are 100% going to try, and other are 100% people on our side working to combat it. But, elections are run by state and local governments and there are people against election interference that will push back at every level, on our side and theirs. We have the power to work the levers of power at those levels to make sure and push for free and fair administration of elections.

      But the most destructive thing we can do is say they have the power to steal elections. Anytime you see someone say "If we even have elections" you gotta push back. When they do try it must be treated as the most shocking thing they ever have or ever will do. If we act like we expected it and assumed they already had the power, we lose. The more shocked and outraged we are, the more it will force them to back down.

   2. Should we have burner phones? How should we stay safe online?

      This all boils down to security. In terms of online, be careful what platform you're using for sensitive info, Signal is not owned or controlled by big tech so it's a good option. In terms of more protection, it all depends on your level of safety, if you or your community is being directly targeted, maybe, if not, probably not. The point of Indivisible is to organize out in the open.

      We need people to see us out there publicly not letting fear affect us. We have to show as many people as possible that we will not be intimidated.

   3. How do we prepare for DT invoking the Insurrection Act?

      We keep protesting. The thing they are most scared of is peaceful brave and thoughtful protest, because that's what works. We prepare by growing our movement. Timothy Snyder told Ezra and Leah that the antidote to creeping authoritarianism is normalized protests.

      It needs to be so normal that people who don't pay attention would notice if they weren't happening. The more normalized it is, the stronger the backlash when he decides to crack down. We need even the people on the sidelines to be like "wait a minute, I'm not political, but I'm used to seeing these people here every week and now that they're not allowed, something is very wrong." We're gonna need all hands on deck. As Ezra said previously, we need to make protesting as American as apple pie.

      And we have to welcome EVERYONE into the movement. We don't have to agree on anything else other than this country must stay a democracy, that's it, that's all we have to agree on. Our security will come from a strength in numbers, we can't pick and choose who we want in those numbers. If they say NO KINGS, we want them.

   4. Can we more directly attack DT's cabinet and underlings?

      A great example of this working is the Tesla Takedowns, but otherwise, we don't really have the power for that kind of accountability yet.

      That said, we CAN remind them, as often as possible, that when Dems have control again, they will be investigated and likey prosecuted. Dems need to keep hammering this home and treating it as obvious and inevitable. It's not if it will happen it's just a matter of when. The more awful things they do the worse it will be for them. And the chance is high, and getting higher every day that we flip the House and Senate in 2026. Investigations should start Jan 4, 2027, and they need to know this.

   5. Is Indivisible joining calls for impeachment?

      No. It's not that every single thing he's done isn't impeachable, it is. It's that we don't have the votes. And, some Dems would even choose to vote against it, which is totally valid because it could make DT into a martyr again and give him back support he's already lost. AND impeachment will become the story. The media will stop talking about Medicaid and Kilmar Abrego Garcia and everything else that matters and only talk about that, making it easier for him to get away with horrific things, cause no one will be paying attention anymore. And if you're thinking that all progressives are on board with impeachment right now, notice how Jamie Raskin, one of the greatest lawyers and lawmakers in the country is staying completely silent.

      Look, it's not about the goal, the goal is of course to impeach him, but tactically and strategically, it's the wrong move right now.

   6. f. What do we do if we run into ICE?

      Everyone should take a "Know your Rights" training, it's also bystander awareness training. ACLU, United We Dream, Immigrant Legal Resource Center, and Immigrant Justice are some places you can go to find a training. You can also turn your Indivisible into a rapid response team, many already are. And Blue State AG have power as well. This website has a full guide for what to ask them for and how.

3. Does sharing your story when calling your elected help?

   Not really. Sharing personal stories can shape the vibe, you could impact how the staffer or intern shares the tallies with the legislative staff, but more likely than not they're just going to tally that you called and which side of the issue you're on.

   But that's okay cause your goal is to be counted. Which means, you really can only call your own elected, cause non-constituents just don't get counted. And to make sure your comment counts, ask for a response and for the name of the person you're talking to. That way you can say next time "I talked to this person but I never got a response so I'm not sure my comment was taken down. And if you never get a response, escalate it, the easiest way to do that is to write an op-ed in your local paper. (However, personal stories do seem to be incredibly impactful in letters, both handwritten and emailed. Actual proof that these letters have a direct impact is pretty new, like, Cory-Booker-25-hour-floor-speech-new.)

4. Engaging younger people

   There is a new media lead at Indivisible who has been very involved in youth organizing. Our goal right now is the low-hanging fruit. We want to find all the people who would attend a protest if they knew it was happening. This also might mean starting with some tactics that aren't in-person events. Some sort of online event is a much easier barrier to entry for many of these people.

   It's also about how to connect with lifestyle influencers and other types of emerging media. If you know of one you really like, comment and let them know they should interview ___, or maybe find out about No Kings Day, that could be a great entry point. Find creative ways to get their attention.

5. Should we be concerned that more than one protest is planned for June 14?

   NO! Absolutely not! More is more, more is better, whatever can bring someone out on June 14 is great. If it's No Kings, great, if it's something else, that's great too. We must embrace a diversity of creative tactics.

   Which leads into the final point

6. Are you going to support The People's Oath?

   The idea is it's an oath that gets said at protests that brings viral attention.

   I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the civic responsibilities expected of every American. So help me God.

   And the answer is, if it gains traction. Indivisible leadership doesn't come up with slogans and moments, it only works if it happens organically, so if this speaks to you, DO IT! And if it works report back. Protest movements happen from the bottom up, and that's a good thing. Hell, "No Kings" was a phrase first used by the first 50501 protest and it just grew from there. Tactics grow stale and the opposition starts being able to counter them after a while, so the more creative we are, the longer we can sustain this.

And that's what I got today! I hope this made you rethink something or solidified something you were already feeling or helps you explain something to a friend who is dug in with the doomerism. And I'd love to know what you got out of it! If you made it to the end, comment 🕶️ (sunglasses) cause as it gets into summer we need to be protesting even more.

Our voices are our superpower, but only when we use them!