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MPEN e-Newsletter No. 2018-0401

FW: This 60 Minutes interview was the highest rated in a decade
FW: Laura Ingraham faces Christian backlash after ridiculing Parkland students
FW: “When our children act like leaders and our leaders act like children you know change is coming.”
FW: Important petition to defend the census
FW: This is how we end gerrymandering
FW: Think you know gerrymandering? [QUIZ]
FW: You can help pass National Popular Vote
FW: Follow us (National Democratic Redistricting Committee)?
FW: Winning Richmond: How a Progressive Alliance Won City Hall, by Gayle McLaughlin
FW: Preauthorized to open fire
FW: WATCH: In Unison, Sinclair’s Local Stations Denounce ‘One-Sided News Stories’

From: Andrew J. Tierman
Subject: FW: RED ALERT: Total abortion ban in Ohio

I imagine you are receiving this news item on an Ohio bill to ban all abortion as a capital offense from several sources.

—– Forwarded from: Ilyse Hogue; President, NARAL Pro-Choice America ———

RED ALERT: A bill just introduced in the Ohio legislature would ban all abortion—punishable by life in prison or even the death penalty for both the doctor and the woman.1

That’s right. The death penalty. For abortion.

This bill already has 20 total cosponsors—nearly one-third of the entire Republican caucus in the Ohio House of Representatives.

This is one of the most horrifying pieces of legislation we’ve ever seen. Will you chip in $75 to help defend choice and stop Ohio’s radical “death penalty for abortion” bill?

Donald Trump said during his campaign that women should be punished for abortion, and Mike Pence has repeatedly pledged to send Roe v. Wade to the “ash heap of history.”2

Anti-choice politicians in Ohio are now showing us what it would actually look like if they were allowed to make these goals a reality. Under this radical proposal, both doctors and women could be charged for homicide. There are no exceptions for any cases whatsoever—not rape, not incest, not even to save a woman’s life. No exceptions.

This bill is blatantly unconstitutional. But if Trump gets the chance to appoint another Neil Gorsuch-style right-wing justice? Then all bets are off, and we can’t be sure it will be struck down by the Supreme Court.

NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio is fighting to make sure this bill is stopped, and we need to make sure people nationwide know that this is what the true anti-choice agenda looks like. All abortion banned, in all cases, with women punished—just like Donald Trump promised.

Will you chip in $75 to help defend choice and stop Ohio’s radical “death penalty for abortion” bill?

Thank you for helping to make reproductive freedom real for all women.

Sources:

From: Nita, Shaunna, Kat, Karin, Adam, Holly, Kathy, Susan, Anathea, Audine, Shannon, Emma, Pilar, Natalie, Melody, Pam, Lindsay, and Ryan, the UltraViolet team
Subject: This 60 Minutes interview was the highest rated in a decade

National media is paying close attention to Trump’s record as a serial abuser and right now is a ripe opportunity to use it to increase pressure for a full investigation. The news that Summer Zervos’ defamation lawsuit against Trump will move forward made national headlines.¹ And Stormy Daniels’ interview on 60 Minutes this past weekend–where she revealed someone threatened her infant daughter on behalf of Trump–generated the highest ratings for the CBS program in a decade.²

That means the media will and should keep investigating, and it’s time to use all this scrutiny to demand a full investigation from the courts and Congress. Trump should face accountability over the allegations of sexual assault from the more than 20 women the media have largely ignored. Right now, local and national outlets are more likely to accept public comment on Trump’s abusive record with women. If opinion pages are suddenly full of calls to Congress to investigate, it would be hard to ignore.

Can you take a moment to write a letter to the editor about why we need a full investigation to hold Trump accountable?

It’s best to speak in your own words, but here are some things you can include in your letter:

The President has been accused of abusing more than 20 women.³ We need a full investigation, including Trump testifying under oath.

The list of survivors includes Summer Zervos, a former contestant on “The Apprentice” in 2005. She accused Trump of kissing her against her will in New York in 2007 and later groping her at a Beverly Hills hotel after she interviewed for a possible job.⁴

With a serial abuser in the White House, this investigation must be as speedy as possible–it cannot drag on.

As Judge Schecter, who presides over Zervos’ case, wrote in her decision, “no one is above the law.”⁵ It’s critical to show powerful men like Trump will face consequences for abuse–and that’s why we need a full investigation, including Zervos’ lawyers taking a deposition, demanding documents, and putting Trump on the witness stand, under oath.

Click here to write a letter to the editor.

Sources:

Judge rules defamation case against Trump may proceed, Washington Post, March 20, 2018
Anderson Cooper’s Stormy Daniels interview draws highest ratings for ’60 Minutes’ in 10 years, CNN, March 26, 2018
Donald Trump’s sexual assault allegations: The full list of women who have accused the President, The Independent, December 4, 2017
Ibid
Ibid

Want to support our work? UltraViolet is funded by members like you, and our tiny staff ensures small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.

Join our rapid response team — sign up for UltraViolet text updates.

From: Michael Sherrard, Faithful America
Subject: Laura Ingraham faces Christian backlash after ridiculing Parkland students

Pope Francis began Holy Week, a day after the March for Our Lives, by condemning “the temptation to silence young people, to keep them from getting involved.”

Fox News host Laura Ingraham, a vocal Catholic, responded by continuing her weeks-long campaign of sneering derision against the student leaders who survived the Parkland shooting.

In a mean-spirited attack on a high-school senior, she tweeted about how David Hogg had not been accepted to some of the colleges he applied to. Hogg replied suggesting a boycott of her advertisers, several of whom promptly canceled their ads.

Suddenly backed into a corner, Ingraham offered a cursory apology “in the spirit of Holy Week.” While we can only pray that her apology is sincere, no one’s faith entitles them to a national television show or millions of dollars in corporate sponsorship.

Tell Ingraham advertisers: In the “spirit of Holy Week,” drop your ads

From: Eric Kramer
Subject: “When our children act like leaders and our leaders act like children you know change is coming.”

https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2018/03/todays-rebels-are-model-children/556682/?utm_source=atlfb

From: Munsup @SISCOM Seoh
Subject: Important petition to defend the census

Trump is trying to use the census to terrorize immigrant communities and suppress the vote. We need to make sure Congress stops him.
I just signed CREDO’s petition. Join me?

https://act.credoaction.com/sign/Trump_Census?sp_ref=399676832.4.186990.e.602479.2&referring_akid=27894.1004336.u-Ukly&source=mailto_sp

From: Eric H. Holder, Jr.; Chairman, National Democratic Redistricting Committee
Subject: This is how we end gerrymandering

Thank you for taking a stand against illegal gerrymandering. President Obama and I are making this fight one of our top priorities because our democracy and the civil rights of every American are under siege — and we need you with us.

We heard a lot about “rigged systems” during this past election — but no system is more rigged than the effort to draw maps so politicians pick their voters rather than American citizens picking their representatives. In the most recent election, House Republicans got less than half of the vote nationwide — yet won 55% of the seats in the House. There’s something profoundly broken in our democracy when the majority of voters can’t be heard at the ballot box.

That’s why we’ve launched the National Democratic Redistricting Committee: to fight for fairer districts and ensure that all of us have an equal shot at the ballot box.

Winning these fights at the national and state level is crucial to the future of our democracy. I need you to become a Founding Member of this campaign. Be one of the first to help us launch our effort to restore democracy by giving $5 or more today.

Click here to give $5 or more to become a Founding Member of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee and help secure fairer districts in 2021!

Before the 2021 redistricting, we have a rare opportunity to win back our democracy.

Our state-by-state strategy has three parts:|

Win critical state elections. We’re targeting key down-ballot races to put Democrats in the governors’ mansions and state houses that draw the legislative maps.
Fight for fair maps in the courts. We’re pushing an aggressive legal strategy to strike down gerrymandered maps in state and federal courts.
Pass ballot initiatives. We’re investing in campaigns to pass redistricting reform at the ballot box.

But success depends on grassroots support. President Obama and I need you to stand with us from the very start. Donate $5 or more today to become a Founding Member of this critical effort to restore our democracy.

Click here to give $5 or more to help build a powerful grassroots movement for fairer districts.

We’re facing some tough fights in the years to come. But at the end of the day, the people are with us — and together we can win. Thank you for doing your part.

DONATE

From: Stop Gerrymandering; Team National Democratic Redistricting Committee
Subject: Think you know gerrymandering? [QUIZ]

Most people know that state legislators redraw voting district boundaries every 10 years. But what they don’t know is how skewed those districts are after years of Republican map-rigging — or how far-reaching the effects of gerrymandering are.

We’ve developed a short, four-question quiz to test your knowledge.

Take the quiz now.

From: National Popular Vote
Subject: You can help pass National Popular Vote

You can make your vote for President count in 2020 in your state by helping to pass the National Popular Vote bill in a state where the bill has been blocked by a single obstinate state legislator.

The Oregon Senate President has repeatedly refused to allow the Senate to vote on the National Popular Vote bill — even though the bill has passed the House 4 times, and even though it has had majority support in the Senate and support from the Governor.

Please consider donating to Joyce Judy’s campaign to unseat Senate President Peter Courtney in the May 15 primary.

Peter Courtney has been in the legislature since 1981, and has not faced a primary challenge in 20 years. Willamette Weekly put its finger on the problem, namely “Senate President Peter Courtney — without whose approval nothing happens in Salem.”

Although the National Popular Vote organization (a 501c4 non-profit corporation) has never previously endorsed a legislative candidate, it is clear that the only way to break the logjam and pass the National Popular Vote bill in Oregon is for the voters of Senate district 11 to replace Peter Courtney.

Joyce Judy is a highly qualified candidate who has been motivated to run by Courtney’s lengthy history of obstructing National Popular Vote as well as other important bills.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION ABOUT THE NATIONAL POPULAR VOTE BILL

The National Popular Vote bill would guarantee the Presidency to the candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. It would make every vote for President equal throughout the United States.

The shortcomings of the current system of electing the President stem from “winner-take-all” laws that have been enacted at the state level. These laws award 100% of a state’s electoral votes to the candidate receiving the most popular votes in each state.

Because of these state winner-take-all laws, five of our 45 Presidents (including two of the last three) have come into office without having won the most popular votes nationwide. The average margin in the national popular vote since 1988 has averaged 5%, so undemocratic outcomes will continue to occur if the system for electing the President is not changed.

Another problem created by state winner-take-all laws is that presidential candidates have no reason to campaign in, or pay attention to, voters in states where they are safely ahead or hopelessly behind.

In 2016, almost all general-election campaign events (94%) were in the 12 closely divided “battleground” states where Trump’s support was in the narrow range of 43%-51%. Two-thirds of the campaign events (273 of 399) were in just 6 states (OH, FL, VA, NC, PA, MI).

In 2012, 100% of the general-election campaign events and virtually all expenditures were concentrated in the 12 closely divided “battleground” states where Romney’s support was 45%-51%. Two-thirds of the events (176 of 253) were concentrated in just 4 states (OH, FL, VA, IA).

It does not take an amendment to the U.S. Constitution to change existing state winner-take-all laws. State winner-take-all laws were enacted by state legislatures under their authority under Article II of the U.S. Constitution:

“Each State shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of Electors….”

These state laws may be changed in the same was as they were originally enacted, namely by action of the state legislature.

The winner-take-all method of awarding electoral votes was not the Founding Fathers’ choice. It was used by only three states in the nation’s first presidential election in 1789 (and repealed by all three by 1800). Winner-take-all was never debated at the Constitutional Convention or mentioned in the Federalist Papers.

Under the National Popular Vote bill, the national popular vote winner will receive all the electoral votes from the enacting states. The bill will take effect when enacted by states possessing a majority of the electoral votes — enough to elect a President (270 of 538). When the Electoral College meets in mid-December, the national popular vote winner will become President because the enacting states will provide him or her with at least 270 electoral votes.

A national popular vote for President is an achievable political goal that can be in place in time for the 2020 election. The bill has already been enacted into law in 11 states possessing 165 electoral votes. It will take effect when enacted by additional states having 105 electoral votes. The bill has previously passed one chamber in 12 additional states with 96 electoral votes and has been approved by unanimous bipartisan committee votes in two states with an additional 26 electoral votes. A total of 3,115 state legislators have endorsed it.

From: Kelly Ward; Executive Director, National Democratic Redistricting Committee
Subject: Follow us?

I’m Kelly Ward, Executive Director of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee. I want to start off by thanking you for supporting our work.

NDRC is a groundbreaking organization that’s already making waves in the fight against gerrymandering. With our three-point strategy — winning key state elections, fighting in the courts, and supporting ballot initiatives — we’re fighting for fairer districts all over the country.

I can’t tell you how much this work matters. As the Executive Director of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, I saw first-hand how gerrymandered districts gave Republicans an unfair advantage.

So we’re fighting back. We’re building a broad-based organization to fight in the states and in the courts and, importantly, to expose what the GOP is doing. Because look — Republicans are going to great pains to redraw their district boundaries in secret. They don’t want you to know what they’re up to.

But we will bring you that information. Follow us on social media for breaking news, rapid response alerts, and takeaways from leaders like our Chair and former Attorney General, Eric H. Holder, Jr.

Things are already moving quickly (for example, courts in Virginia and Texas just told Republicans the districts they drew are unconstitutional), so don’t wait. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter now.

DONATE

From: Tim Sheard
Subject: Winning Richmond: How a Progressive Alliance Won City Hall, by Gayle McLaughlin

The People Defeated Corporate Power in Richmond, CA

“We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.” — Native American proverb

A California Bay area city long ruled by its huge Chevron oil refinery become an award winning “Green & Clean” community. How did they do it? They won City Hall thanks to the power of the people, who organized a Progressive alliance on the grassroots level to seize political power and to fight the entrenched corporate interests, inspired by the wisdom of the original Americans who first settled in the Bay area.

Gayle McLaughlin was at the center of that long-term struggle, organizing meetings, going door-to-door campaigning for City Council and eventually, serving as Mayor of Richmond California. This is her story. This is Richmond’s story.

Read Steve Early’s review, A Working Class Mayor Is Something To Be in the LAProgressive, click here.

“This book shows how much mobilized progressives can achieve against corporate domination. Important lessons for the big social changes we need to make.” —Richard D. Wolff, Democracy@Work

Available from Hard Ball Press, Amazon.com and independent booksellers everwhere.

From: CODEPINK
Subject: Preauthorized to open fire

Right now Israeli tanks and snipers are firing at unarmed Palestinian protesters in Gaza. Fifteen have been killed already, and over 350 injured by live fire, rubber-coated steel pellets or tear gas. Organized by civil society and committed to nonviolence, Palestinians began gathering this morning for 45 days of peaceful protest. Right away, the Israeli military opened fire.

Eleven Democratic members of Congress just returned from a trip to Israel this week. Led by Rep. Nancy Pelosi, and including progressives Jan Schakowsky and Jamie Raskin, the Congressional delegation smiled for a photo shoot with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu while the state’s army was preparing its plan to attack the protesters. Tell these members of Congress they now have an obligation to speak out against Israel’s deadly attack on peaceful protesters in Gaza.

The Israeli army planned in advance to attack the protesters. It even gave preauthorization for soldiers to open fire, even though the protesters disseminated the plan for their nonviolent protest in advance: Peacefully, without any weapons, they would gather alongside the border fence that imprisons them. For six weeks they would erect tents, hold cultural events, and march for an end to the siege and the right to return to their homes and lands inside Israel in accordance with UN resolution 194.

Tell the eleven members of Congress they must immediately speak out: Condemn the attacks and demand that Israel stop shooting peaceful protesters!

The people of Gaza are living under unimaginable conditions. They have little to no water, only 2 hours of electricity a day, 80% of the population relies on food assistance. For organizing a peaceful protest, they should be commended, not murdered.

In support of justice for the Palestinian people,

Ann, Ariel, Brienne, Jodie, Kelly, Kirsten, Mark, Medea, Nancy, Paki, Rita, Sarah, Sophia and Tighe

From: Judy Burnette
Subject: WATCH: In Unison, Sinclair’s Local Stations Denounce ‘One-Sided News Stories’

https://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/watch-in-unison-sinclairs-local-stations-denounce-one-sided-news-stories

WATCH: In Unison, Sinclair’s Local Stations Denounce ‘One-Sided News Stories’
By Matt Shuham | March 31, 2018 1:38 pm

Local newscasts nationwide last week decried “fake” and “one-sided” reporting by reading from a shared script written by one of the most powerful broadcasters in America.

The so-called “must-run” script, which local stations owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group were required to read, according to several reports, blasts “the troubling trend of irresponsible, one sided news stories plaguing our country.”

“The sharing of biased and false news has become all too common on social media,” the script continues, according to a copy published Friday by the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

“More alarming, some media outlets publish these same fake stories… stories that just aren’t true, without checking facts first,” an anchor adds, according to the script. Another anchor continues: “Unfortunately, some members of the media use their platforms to push their own personal bias and agenda to control ‘exactly what people think’…This is extremely dangerous to a democracy.”

Sinclair Broadcast Group owns more television stations than any other broadcaster in the country, and stands to spread its influence even more if the Justice Department and Federal Communications Commission approve a massive merger with Tribune Media.

“At my station, everyone was uncomfortable doing it,” one unnamed television anchor at a Sinclair Broadcast Group-owned station told CNN earlier this month, referring to the “one-sided news” script.

“They’re certainly not happy about it,” an unnamed KOMO employee told the Post-Intelligencer Friday, referring to their colleagues.

The Philadelphia Inquirer collected video of four separate Sinclair-owned Pennsylvania news stations — WHP, WJAC, WOLF and WJAC — reading the script on March 23, March 23, March 24 and March 28, respectively.

Timothy Burke compiled a few examples in a particularly jarring seconds-long clip:

pic.twitter.com/RL1hCSeNnH

— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) March 31, 2018

CNN reported, citing internal Sinclair documents, that Sinclair stations were instructed to run the segments frequently, “to create maximum reach and frequency,” and during “news time, not commercial time.”

The same report noted that the required script was nearly identical to one Sinclair’s senior vice president’s of news, Scott Livingston, read on air a year ago.

“Promo messages, like the one you are referring to, are very common in our industry,” Livingston told CNN in a statement. “This promo addresses the troubling trend of false stories on social media [Livingston’s emphasis], and distinguishes our trusted local stations as news destinations where we are committed to honest and accurate reporting. This promo reminds our viewers of this mission.”

The broadcaster has aligned itself with the Trump administration: In addition to the “one-sided news” script featured last week, Sinclair stations are also required to run political commentary from the network’s chief political analyst, Boris Epshteyn. Epshteyn previously worked for the Trump White House and Trump’s 2016 campaign.

The Post-Intelligencer noted that another must-run segment aired on KOMO last week featured former Trump White House official Sebastian Gorka. (During a panel on Sinclair-owned WJLA in October, Gorka lamented “black Africans” killing each other “by the bushel” in Chicago.)

Gorka, Post-Intelligencer reported, spoke about an alleged “deep state” attempting to undermine the Trump presidency. The segment’s producer, according to the report, was Kristine Frazao, who before working for Sinclair was a reporter and anchor for the Russian state-owned network RT.

——— End of MPEN e-Newsletter ———

MPEN e-Newsletter No. 2018-0304

FW: Sign Our Petition: Civil rights violations cannot be ignored
FW: The largest show of support for gun reform in history
FW: Sign the petition: Guns don’t belong in schools
FW: Petition-No Armed Federal Agents at Polling Places
FW: SIGN ON: Robert Mueller
FW: How the U.S. can pursue peace with North Korea
FW: Sherrod Brown’s courageous vote on Yemen
FW: fascinating video on cambridge analytica and the manipulation of national elections worldwide
FW: Socioeconomics; Law & Disorder; Devos’ Head in the Sand; Defending Trump; Cambridge Analytica; War on US Intel Community
FW: 15 Senate Dems voted with Republicans on [against] Dodd Frank
FW: Voices, The Peoples News: THINK THIS LADY IS PISSED?

From: Eric H. Holder, Jr. via Daily Kos
Subject: Sign Our Petition: Civil rights violations cannot be ignored

The fight for justice and equality has been the cornerstone of my career. It’s why I became a lawyer — and why, after I left public service, I worked with the support of President Obama to launch the National Democratic Redistricting Committee.

One of the most shameful aspects of gerrymandering is that it disproportionately hurts the voting power of communities of color. Like voter ID laws, and poll taxes before them, in many states rigged maps were clearly put in place to dilute the political power of people of color.

Our struggle, then, is a civil rights struggle. If the NDRC is successful in undoing rigged maps, we’ll be able to achieve a system in which everyone’s vote counts.

Munsup, 2018 will be a seminal year for our work. Will you sign our petition to condemn racial gerrymandering and join the fight for a more inclusive democracy?

SIGN NOW

A large component of our 2018 plans involves engaging with communities of color to ensure they are motivated and active during this election year. Some of the most gerrymandered states — like Texas, North Carolina, and Virginia — have a history of drawing maps that violate the Voting Rights Act and the Constitution. President Obama and I have plans to campaign with and to engage those communities who have been silenced in the past and help them claim their rightful seat at the table in the next round of redistricting.

To achieve a fair and inclusive democracy, a democracy consistent with our founding documents, we need to fix gerrymandering. It’s as simple as that. At the NDRC, we have a comprehensive strategy for the next four years, but we need you to join our fight. Will you add your name to fight for progress on one of the biggest civil rights battles of our time?

ADD YOUR NAME

Paid for by the National Democratic Redistricting Committee.

From: Michael, Schuyler, Kenia, Jackie, and the rest of the team, MoveOn.org Political Action
Subject: The largest show of support for gun reform in history

Only days after the massacre at their school, the students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School decided what they were going to do next: march for their lives.

As march organizer and Marjory Stoneman Douglas student David Hogg said, “We’re trying to make sure that these politicians know that their actions can and will have consequences if they don’t listen to their constituents and their future constituents—which are us—because right now they’re not doing a good job of keeping us alive.”¹

In just a few weeks, their idea turned into a nationwide movement. And today, hundreds of thousands of people joined them in more than 800 March for Our Lives marches in all fifty states and around the world—as far away as Ghana, Vietnam, and Australia.^2,3

The images from today’s marches are astounding, and this movement represents the single largest show of support for gun law reform in history. But these students aren’t stopping now; they know that if this historic outpouring doesn’t change our laws, elections can.

These activists are gearing up to register millions of young voters and to make sure that young people march to the polls in November. Will you help MoveOn stand with them?

Click below and help MoveOn invest in a major effort to register young voters across the country before the midterms, so that they will have a voice to fight the NRA and GOP politicians that are in the NRA’s pocket. Donate

As Jaclyn Corin, a student activist from Marjory Stoneman Douglas said, “We want everyone to know that their voice and their checkmark on a box matters. We don’t want people to continue thinking that they’re just one person, they’re not going to make a difference in the election, [so they’re] not going to go vote.”⁴

If we can support a massive millennial registration effort, we will fundamentally change not only the conversation about gun legislation, but the entire electorate of the United States. We will take back the House, make gains in the Senate, and set the stage to throw Donald Trump out of the White House.

The bottom line? This is a crucial and heroic effort for America’s political future. And if these young activists have shown us anything today and over the past month, it’s that they can succeed—but they can only do it if allies from around the country pitch in.

Can you chip in right now to help us support these amazing student leaders by dramatically increasing young voter turnout in 2018? Donate

Back in 2008, MoveOn members funded a massive young voter registration effort, which led to thousands of canvassers reaching out to young voters in 14 crucial battleground states, ultimately registering hundreds of thousands of new voters.

MoveOn already has the systems in place to do that again—and more. We’re investing in new technology, like our groundbreaking texting program and video persuasion tools, training our massive volunteer base, and strengthening strategic partnerships with other grassroots organizations. Together with these young activists, we will register a wave of new voters who will challenge the NRA, its GOP enablers—and hold them accountable at the ballot box, and change the balance of power in America’s electorate.

David Hogg said it best: “We’re going to change history with or without [these politicians], and if they choose to be on the wrong side of history that’s fine, because we’re going to write the history books.”⁵

Let’s start writing the history books now. Click below to chip in. Donate

Sources:

“Parkland Students David Hogg and Jaclyn Corin Interview | Pod Save America,” Crooked Media YouTube channel, March 21, 2018
https://act.moveon.org/go/36894?t=6&akid=202166%2E1195276%2EW3sqS_?v=IPKDb0qU0xA&t=11s
“March for Our Lives Updates: Chants of ‘Enough is Enough’ at Huge Rallies on Guns,” The New York Times, March 24, 2018
https://act.moveon.org/go/36901?t=8&akid=202166%2E1195276%2EW3sqS_
“March for Our Lives – Find an Event,” March for Our Lives, accessed March 23, 2018
https://act.moveon.org/go/34702?t=10&akid=202166%2E1195276%2EW3sqS_
“Parkland Students David Hogg and Jaclyn Corin Interview | Pod Save America,” Crooked Media YouTube channel, March 21, 2018
https://act.moveon.org/go/36894?t=13&akid=202166%2E1195276%2EW3sqS_?v=IPKDb0qU0xA&t=11s
Ibid

Want to support our work? The MoveOn community will work every moment, day by day and year by year, to resist Trump’s agenda, contain the damage, defeat hate with love, and begin the process of swinging the nation’s pendulum back toward sanity, decency, and the kind of future that we must never give up on. And to do it we need your support, now more than ever. Will you stand with us? Donate

PAID FOR BY MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION, http://pol.moveon.org/. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.

From: Scott, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
Subject: Sign the petition: Guns don’t belong in schools

Today, thousands of young people are taking to the streets in a March for Our Lives because they have had enough. Yet, Trump and the NRA’s answer to their demands for safety is to put more guns and police in schools.

Following the announcement of Trump’s plan to arm teachers and school staff, bills have been popping up in state legislatures across the country. And in Florida, this dangerous plan has become law with SB7026, which allows for teachers and school staff to be armed as well as increase funding for police in schools. We need to act fast to demand that bills like this don’t get passed in other states and that schools can be safe for Black children–with no guns and no police.

Just a week ago, a school officer in Virginia accidentally fired his gun in a Middle School. Fortunately, no one was hurt but this is yet another example of the dangers of having guns in schools, no matter who is holding them.

Munsup, over 30,000 people have signed on to fight Trump and the NRA and to make sure schools are gun free. Will you sign too?

P.S. Below is the email we sent a couple weeks ago:

Black kids will be the victims of armed teachers.

We can’t allow the gun industry to drive up profits by arming teachers. Keep our schools gun free!

Take Action!

Teachers with guns.

No, that’s not a horror film title–it’s Trump’s and the NRA’s deadly answer to school shootings, and we can’t let it happen. More guns in our schools won’t make them safer–especially for Black children who are already criminalized and violated inside and outside of schools. At a young age, Black students are heavily policed by the presence of police officers, metal detectors in school buildings, and a system of punitive discipline that funnels them through the school-prison pipeline.

Imagine what could happen when the same teacher that disproportionately punishes Black children for their “behavior” is armed with a gun. That reality is too much to bear–schools must be gun free.

This ridiculous and dangerous response to arm teachers and increase police presence in schools is sadly not new. After the 2012 Sandy Hook shooting in Newtown, resulting in the death of twenty children and six adults, the NRA introduced a new strategy to exploit school shootings to benefit the gun industry by driving up gun sales. According to National Center for Education Statistics, Trump’s plan would require arming up to 700,000 more people in schools with guns.¹ This terrible idea has nothing to do with safety, it’s all about making money–and exploiting the families who’ve lost their loved ones in tragedy.

Bills are already popping up in state legislatures to approve measures that would arm teachers–including a bill in Florida that Gov. Rick Scott just signed into law. That’s why we must all stand together and show these lawmakers, and Trump, that we will not allow gun companies to get rich while putting our children in danger.

Sign the petition: Guns don’t belong in schools. Keep our schools gun free.

Black students already face violent discipline in schools–with Black students as young as four years old being more likely to be hit by their teachers than white students.²This violence against Black children in school is normalized, we saw this in 2015 when a video went viral of a white police officer in South Carolina body slamming a 15-year old Black girl who was sitting at her desk, and dragging her across the classroom floor. Despite this violent video, captured on three cell phones, showing that the officer was clearly in the wrong the Justice Department deemed that there was not enough evidence to charge the officer with any criminal civil rights violations.³ We would see this type of violence happen time and time again if teachers were armed.

Teachers are some of the most hardworking people and carry a huge responsibility every day to educate our youth, often with limited funding, support, and resources. Instead of arming teachers with guns they should be armed with more resources and funding. Many teachers have already spoken out against this plan to arm them, saying that their “desires are not being reflected in the tone-deaf suggestions being made by lawmakers as a solution to America’s gun problem..asking us to now carry the burden of having the responsibility to kill is irreparably damaging, even if we never have to discharge our weapon.”⁴Just two weeks ago at a high school in Dalton, Georgia a social studies teacher fired shots in the classroom. Fortunately, no students were injured but this just reinforces the lack of safety that happens when teachers are armed.⁵

We must keep guns out of schools to protect our kids.

Trump and the NRA are gearing up to turn a quick profit from preventable tragedy. This new plan is in direct response to the Parkland shooting–but is opposed by the shooting survivors, community members and parents as it would allow teachers who are trained by law enforcement to carry a gun in the classroom.⁶

Being trained by law enforcement, who shoot first, ask questions later, and are notorious for excessive use of force means that teachers will have the same dangerous mentality and practices as the police. Guns are not safe, no matter who has them- teachers, police officers, or school security guards, and the last place guns should ever be are in schools.

The NRA and Trump are working to make the Parkland shooting result in an increase in gun sales, but we have time to make sure that none of these dangerous and potentially fatal bills pass. Sign the petition today–keep our schools gun free.

References:

“Trump: 10 to 20% of teachers are ‘very gun-adept.’ Reality: not even close.”, Vox, 25 February 2018. https://act.colorofchange.org/go/25755?t=11&akid=10138%2E239715%2Etrex7m
“Children of color already face violent discipline in schools. Arming teachers will get them killed.”, The Intercept, 28 February 2018. https://act.colorofchange.org/go/25751?t=13&akid=10138%2E239715%2Etrex7m
“Former school office will not be charged, sues sheriff, school district”, The State, 13 January 2017.http://act.colorofchange.org/go/25756?t=15&akid=10138%2E239715%2Etrex7m
“Teachers are using #ArmMeWith to demand they be armed with supplies, not guns”, Time, 23 February 2018.http://act.colorofchange.org/go/25758?t=17&akid=10138%2E239715%2Etrex7m
“Shots fired in Georgia high school; teacher taken into custody”, Daily Kos, 28 February 2018. https://act.colorofchange.org/go/25753?t=19&akid=10138%2E239715%2Etrex7m
“Emotional Florida House appears on verge of approving bill on guns and school security”, Tampa Bay Times, 6 March 2018. http://act.colorofchange.org/go/25754?t=21&akid=10138%2E239715%2Etrex7m

Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.

From: MARGARET PETERS
Subject: Petition-No Armed Federal Agents at Polling Places

I just signed a petition demanding that the Senate block any bill that would allow Donald Trump’s regime to station armed federal agents at polling places. I h ope you will sign and share it via email, tweet and Facebook. Thank you. Margaret Peters

https://act.credoaction.com/sign/noarmedagents_voting?sp_ref=397559159.4.186765.e.601571.2&referring_akid=27787.1920731.DlJmAl&source=mailto_sp

From: ADD YOUR NAME (via DCCC)
Subject: SIGN ON: Robert Mueller

BREAKING: GOP HELPING TRUMP COVER UP TIES WITH RUSSIA

2OO,OOO SIGNATURES NEEDED: Demand Republicans
PROTECT the Mueller investigation, NOT help Trump derail it >>

Trump is clearly hiding something from Americans. And Republicans are ALL helping him cover it up.

We’re the only ones who can protect the Russia investigation.

2OO,OOO SIGNATURES NEEDED: Condemn Republicans for doing NOTHING to protect the Mueller probe and doing NOTHING to stop Trump from derailing it. >>

Sign Your Name >>

Trump is absolutely hiding something big.

His suspicious attempts to derail the Russia probe have erased ALL doubt of that.

But the scariest part? Republicans in Congress are helping him cover it up.

After Trump fired FBI Director Comey? Republicans cheered.

After he attacked Special Counsel Mueller? Republicans egged him on.

And after he JUST fired FBI Deputy Director McCabe? Republicans are STILL backing him.

Together, Trump and Congressional Republicans have launched a full-scale attack on our democratic institutions and the safety of our elections from foreign meddling.

It’s sickening. It’s unethical. And it’s downright dangerous.

We’re the only ones who can protect this investigation. Sign our petition IMMEDIATELY to demand the truth.

ADD YOUR NAME: Condemn Republicans for standing silently by
while Trump dangerously ATTACKS the Russia investigation >>

Paid for by the DCCC | 430 South Capitol Street SE, Washington, DC 20003 | (202) 863-1500 | www.dccc.org | Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.

From: AFSC Now
Subject: How the U.S. can pursue peace with North Korea

How the U.S. can pursue peace with North Korea

DPRK delegatoin
Photo: AFSC/Asia
Dramatic real-time news coverage may leave you wondering
whether peace between the U.S. and North Korea is even possible. The answer is absolutely yes.

HEALING JUSTICE

Why we must end cash bail Photo: Emily Cohane-Mann/AFSC

We must stand up and say no to a legal system that offers freedom only to those who can afford to pay for it.

SANCTUARY EVERYWHERE

Creating sanctuary spaces Liberation Summer Camp

Read stories of nontraditional places of refuge created by and for communities targeted by discrimination.

QUAKER ACTION

What’s new in international peace building?

Check out the latest issue of our magazine, featuring stories from AFSC’s work in Kenya, Guatemala, Cambodia, and other communities around the world.

From: Cassandra, Amy, Aubrey, and the Win Without War team
Subject: Sherrod Brown’s courageous vote on Yemen

On Tuesday, your senator Sherrod Brown sent a loud and clear message that Saudi Arabia’s deadly war in Yemen must end, and it must end now. Let your senator know how grateful you are >>

This week, something amazing happened. Senators Bernie Sanders, Mike Lee, Chris Murphy, dozens of organizations like Win Without War, and hundreds of thousands of activists like you forced the U.S. Senate to confront the suffering our public dollars are causing in Yemen.

The resolution lost — barely — but Senator Sherrod Brown’s courage to vote the right way sent an undeniable message to the world that the American people are done with our tax dollars fueling famine in Yemen.

By refusing to accept the Trump administration’s bogus justification for helping to put 8 million people on the brink of starvation, Sen. Sherrod Brown risked angering not only the administration, but also powerful Senators in their own party. So your senator needs to know you — their constituents — have their back.

>> Thank Senator Sherrod Brown for taking a stand on the 15th anniversary of the Iraq War and refusing to keep American bombs falling on Yemeni civilians.

Meanwhile, your other senator, Rob Portman, voted against S.J.Res. 54 and chose to keep fueling a famine that has left 8 million people on the brink of starvation. So he needs to hear from you, too.

>> Click here to let Sen. Portman know how angry you are that he voted the wrong way on ending the U.S. war in Yemen.

15 years ago this week, American bombs hit Baghdad. An incalculable number died in that war. Trillions of our public dollars flowed into the belly of the war machine. The human cost and suffering of the disaster still cannot be quantified.

On Tuesday, one of your senators remembered the lessons of the Iraq War. Sen. Sherrod Brown refused to let our military help Saudi Arabia bomb weddings, hospitals, and schools in Yemen. Your senator stood up against the lie that our role in Yemen somehow makes Americans safer — when in fact the US-Saudi bombing campaign fuels extremism and strengthens al-Qaeda and the self-described Islamic State.

>> Let Senator Sherrod Brown know how you are proud and grateful you are for their vote to end America’s unauthorized war in Yemen.

Americans like you have been very clear that we reject wars of choice that harm innocent people in our name. But your other senator, Rob Portman, forgot he works for the American people, not the war hawks or the Pentagon. So it’s on us — his constituents — to remind him.

>> Tell Sen. Portman you are ashamed of his vote to prolong America’s unconstitutional war of choice in Yemen.

From: Andrew Tierman
Subject: fascinating video on cambridge analytica and the manipulation of national elections worldwide

cambridge analytica …. “ghosting in and ghosting out” to influence elections through data analytics and dirty tricks. Fascinating video – was behind US 2016 election, for Trump campaign

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/3/19/1750321/-CEO-of-Cambridge-Analytica-Caught-on-Video-Offering-Election-Dirty-Tricks-Services

From: Thomas Scott
Subject: Socioeconomics; Law & Disorder; Devos’ Head in the Sand; Defending Trump; Cambridge Analytica; War on US Intel Community

From: Judy Burnette
Subject: FW: Bold Progressives: [These] “15 Senate Dems voted with Republicans on [against] Dodd Frank”

Sen. Ed Markey put people ahead of big bank profits, and for that we’re grateful.

Too many other Democrats did not. When Dems are as irresponsible as Republicans, we all lose. So we’re holding accountable those who put Wall Street profits over people last week.

Turn on images.

Watch the ad. Then, chip in $3 to run ads like it in states where Democratic Senators turned their backs on voters.

Last week, the Senate passed a terrible bill Elizabeth Warren calls the “Bank Lobbyist Act.” The Washington Post calls it “the biggest loosening of financial regulations since the economic crisis.”

The Congressional Budget Office found that the bill makes it more likely that big banks will crash the economy again, and more likely that taxpayers will have to bail out Wall Street again.

The majority of Senate Democrats knew that with zero voters clamoring for this bill, the choice was easy — stand with Elizabeth Warren and put people first. That’s why most Dems voted against this bill, including Sen. Ed Markey.

However, too many Senate Democrats chose to stand with the big banks and they should be held accountable. We’re reminding them that the American people want to vote for Democrats who work for them, not big Wall Street banks.

Watch the ad. Then, can you chip in $3 to run it in states where Democratic Senators put big bank profits over protecting everyday people?

Not that long ago, even more Democrats might have voted with Republicans. But we are clearly standing in a new era. Corporate Democrats and Dems who think voters are interested in bipartisanship just for the sake of bipartisanship — with no regard to what happens as a result — are a dying breed.

But it’s important to speak up when Democrats in Congress are as irresponsible as Republicans, because we all lose when they that happens.

Republicans could not have passed this bill without the help of those Democrats who joined them in putting big banks over people. Help hold them accountable.

Can you chip in $3 to run our accountability ads online in states where Democratic Senators put bank profits over people?

Want to support the Warren wing? Senator Elizabeth Warren says, “When PCCC members donate millions in small-dollar donations and make millions of phone calls for progressive candidates, leaders in Washington, they take notice.” Chip in $3 here.

Progressive stickers, T-shirts, and more!
store.boldprogressives.org

Paid for by the Progressive Change Campaign Committee PAC (www.BoldProgressives.org) and not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.

Contributions to the PCCC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes.

From: Jedith
Subject: Voices, The Peoples News: THINK THIS LADY IS PISSED?

THINK THIS LADY IS PISSED?

If you are over 50, you need to read this. If not, don’t bother, you are already screwed.

Alan Simpson, the Senator from Wyoming calls senior citizens the Greediest Generation as he compared “Social Security ” to a Milk Cow with 310 million teats. Here’s a response in a letter from Patty M in Montana … I think she is a little ticked off! She also tells it like it is!

“Hey Alan, let’s get a few things straight!!!

As a career politician, you have been on the public dole (tit) for FIFTY YEARS.
I have been paying Social Security taxes for 48 YEARS (since I was 15 years old. I am now 63).
My Social Security payments, and those of millions of other Americans, were safely tucked away in an interest bearing account for decades until you political pukes decided to raid the account and give OUR money to a bunch of zero losers in return for votes, thus bankrupting the system and turning Social Security into a Ponzi scheme that would make Bernie Madoff proud.
Recently, just like Lucy & Charlie Brown, you and “your ilk” pulled the proverbial football away from millions of American seniors nearing retirement and moved the goalposts for full retirement from age 65 to age, 67. NOW, you and your “shill commission” are proposing to move the goalposts YET AGAIN.
I, and millions of other Americans, have been paying into Medicare from Day One, and now “you morons” propose to change the rules of the game. Why? Because “you idiots” mismanaged other parts of the economy to such an extent that you need to steal our money from Medicare to pay the bills.
I, and millions of other Americans, have been paying income taxes our entire lives, and now you propose to increase our taxes yet again. Why?

Because you “incompetent bastards” spent our money so profligately that you just kept on spending even after you ran out of money. Now, you come to the American taxpayers and say you need more to pay off YOUR debt.

To add insult to injury, you label us “greedy” for calling “bullshit” to your incompetence.

Well, Captain Bullshit, I have a few questions for YOU:

How much money have you earned from the American taxpayers during your pathetic 50-year political career?
At what age did you retire from your pathetic political career, and how much are you receiving in annual retirement benefits from the American taxpayers?
How much do you pay for YOUR government provided health insurance?
What cuts in YOUR retirement and healthcare benefits are you proposing in your disgusting deficit reduction proposal, or as usual, have you exempted yourself and your political cronies?

It is you, Captain Bullshit, and your political co-conspirators called Congress who are the “greedy” ones. It is you and your fellow nutcase thieves who have bankrupted America and stolen the American dream from millions of loyal, patriotic taxpayers.

And for what? Votes and your job and retirement security at our expense, you lunk-headed, leech. That’s right, sir. You and yours have bankrupted America for the sole purpose of advancing your pathetic, political careers. You know it, we know it, and you know that we know it. And you can take that to the bank, you miserable son of a bitch.

And stop calling Social Security benefits “entitlements”. WHAT AN INSULT!!!!

I have been paying in to the SS system for 45 years “It’s my money” – give it back to me the way the system was designed and stop patting yourself on the back like you are being generous by doling out these monthly checks .

MPEN e-Newsletter No. 2018-0303

FW: Sunday: Call for Peace with North Korea
FW: State Election Information For Voting
FW: Billboards to stop the NRA.
FW: Paul Ryan EXPOSED [the NRA owns him!]
FW: it’s official
FW: Public schools in Puerto Rico are headed for privatization with the assistance of Betsy DeVos
FW: The resignation of Betsy DeVos
FW: Racket Busting: Get rid of the NCAA amateurism rules
FW: Tweet to end Google’s deception
FW: Why White Evangelicalism Is So Cruel

From: Michelle, Aubrey, Cassandra, and the team at Win Without War
Subject: Sunday: Call for Peace with North Korea

Can you join a live global video call this Sunday, featuring Senator Bernie Sanders,
to build a diplomatic path to peace with North Korea? Click here to RSVP.

Last week, Donald Trump announced historic direct talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Then, Tuesday, Trump booted Rex Tillerson as his Secretary of State and nominated war hark and torture supporter Mike Pompeo as his chief diplomat.

The last few days have been dizzying. But one thing is clear: This is an emergency that affects all our lives, and we can’t wait to demand solutions. If we’re going to prevent war with North Korea, we need to mobilize every voice we can to insist on true diplomacy.

That’s why this Sunday, Win Without War is joining forces with partners from more than a dozen countries around the world. Together, we’ll gather with tens of thousands of activists to hear from Sen. Bernie Sanders, policy experts, and global thought leaders on a worldwide video call for peace.

Can you join us to strategize about how we can leverage our global people power to ensure a diplomatic path to peace with North Korea? Click here to reserve your spot on the worldwide video call on Sunday, March 18 at 2 p.m. ET.

What: Global Video Call for Peace
When: Sunday, March 18th, 2pm ET / 1 p.m. CT/ 12 p.m. MT/ 11 a.m. PT
Who:

Activists spanning 17 time zones;
Sen. Bernie Sanders, leading activists for peace in Korea Christine Ahn and Jenny Town, and Raed Jarrar of Amnesty International, who watched from Iraq as the “coalition of the willing” rushed in;
and you!

Details: Once you register, you’ll get a reminder on the day of the call, and you can join right from your computer, tablet, or phone. It’s as simple as that. (And your email will not be shared with any other organizations!) RSVP Here >>

Nearly 15 years ago to the day, a different president dragged us into a catastrophic war of choice in Iraq. George Bush’s deceptive rush to war was made possible by a “coalition of the willing”—a handful of nations that gave political and military cover to sidestep the United Nations and enable the invasion.

Today, our global community has the chance to write a different history. Sunday’s call is a unique chance to connect with international allies, understand the fast-changing news out of the Korean Peninsula, and discuss what Win Without War members and our partners must do.

In Seoul, dedicated activists will represent some of the most important civil society organizations in the country, despite the 3 a.m. call time. In Tel Aviv, Israeli and Palestinian activists will join together against militarism. Grassroots activists will call in from Canada, the U.K., Ireland, France, the Netherlands, South Africa, Romania, Switzerland, Sweden, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Austria, and Poland. Can you join us?

Take an hour this Sunday afternoon to link arms (virtually!) with people
across the globe who share Win Without War members’ unwavering and unyielding commitment to peace.

From: Honorable Dr. Doris P. Sartor, National President, Blacks In Government
Subject: State Election Information For Voting

2018 Mid-Term Elections
BLACKS IN GOVERNMENT
BIG Members Get Involved

“Nobody will ever deprive the American people of the right to vote
except the American people themselves
and the only way they could do this is by not voting.”

Franklin Delano Roosevelt
32nd President of the United States

YOUR VOTES MATTER
Find everything you need to vote in your state election centers by clicking on your below state link name.

From: Emma, Robert, Shari, Kate, and the rest of the team, MoveOn.org Civic Action
Subject: FW: Billboards to stop the NRA.

Tens of thousands of students, from elementary school children to college students, bravely walked out of their schools today to say #Enough to the epidemic of gun violence in America and to demand stricter gun laws. A week from this Saturday, on March 24, hundreds of thousands of people, led by young activists, will join the March for Our Lives events in Washington, D.C., and in communities across the country.

MoveOn members have already helped pay for billboards exposing just how much money individual Republican members of Congress are getting from the NRA and how the NRA’s influence controls them. But we want to make sure that constituents in more districts with Republican representatives beholden to the NRA know about it and hold them accountable, so we’re asking for your help to secure even more billboards. Click here to chip in $25 now.

Together, let’s keep supporting this truly awe-inspiring youth leadership, which is changing America’s broken politics on guns and giving us hope for tomorrow. See Emma’s recent email for more details on our plans. –Anna

On Monday, Donald Trump buckled under pressure from the NRA—backing away from his call for stricter gun laws, made during a televised meeting with senators.¹ At that meeting, he mocked other Republicans for being too scared of the NRA!

That’s what cowardice looks like.

And today, tens of thousands—if not hundreds of thousands—of students all across the country, in poor communities and wealthy ones, in blue states and red states, walked out of their classrooms at 10 a.m. for 17 minutes, one minute for each student murdered in the Parkland massacre. They were joined by teachers, parents, and other people of all walks of life, who are sick and tired of politicians crumbling before the NRA.

And that showed us what courage looks like.

I know which side MoveOn members are on every day—as together we make calls, tweet, sign petitions, donate, and prepare to march with hundreds of thousands of people on March 24 in Washington, D.C., and at sister marches across the county, to confront the NRA and break its stranglehold on American politics.

And that’s why we want to make sure voters know which side Republican members of Congress are on—the side of Trump and the cowards or the side of American’s schoolchildren, families, and communities.

MoveOn is launching billboards in key districts over the next 10 days—in time for the March for Our Lives actions around the country—to shine a spotlight on just how much money individual Republican lawmakers have taken from the NRA and hold them accountable. MoveOn members have already contributed enough to purchase 10 billboards, but as Congress continues to refuse to act, we want to go even bigger.

Will you chip in to allow us to double our ad buy to 20 billboards around the country? We want them up by March 24, which means we need to place our final order by this Friday, March 16. And we need to know how much MoveOn members can contribute. Will you help out?

In the wake of the Parkland massacre, student activists have succeeded in forcing a conversation about gun control at the national level. But instead of listening to them, Trump and the NRA-backed GOP have called for the arming of school teachers.² They’ve pushed to pass a law that would make it even easier to carry concealed weapons everywhere in the United States.³ And not a single Republican has announced that they will return or refuse money from the NRA.⁴

They have shown their true colors, and now they need to answer for them.

These billboards will be a visible and unmistakable reminder to the constituents in key districts across the country of just how cowardly their members of Congress have been on this issue and how out of step they are with the overwhelming majority of Americans who support legislation to curb gun violence.

Media-grabbing visuals like this, in the home districts of pro-NRA Republicans, will also force Republican members of Congress to respond and be held publicly accountable for their inaction.

So let’s go big. Click below to chip in right now to help us expand this campaign to even more districts across the country.

Donate

Last week, in response to the growing backlash against them, the NRA released another one of their ominous, fearmongering ads, telling members of the public and elected officials who oppose them that our “time is running out.”⁵ But we know the truth: It is the NRA and their enablers who are running out of time.

Sources:

“White House defends its walkback on gun law proposals,” CNN, March 12, 2018
https://act.moveon.org/go/36032?t=6&akid=201338%2E1195276%2EkCqoRt
“Trump backs off raising age limit to buy some weapons and focuses on arming teachers,” Los Angeles Times, March 12, 2018
http://act.moveon.org/go/36033?t=8&akid=201338%2E1195276%2EkCqoRt
“Congress Focuses on Leftover Gun Bill After Florida Shooting,” Slate, February 20, 2018
https://act.moveon.org/go/35893?t=10&akid=201338%2E1195276%2EkCqoRt
“How the NRA won the obedience of the US government,” Quartz, March 2, 2018
https://act.moveon.org/go/36035?t=12&akid=201338%2E1195276%2EkCqoRt
“Parkland student warns NRA spokeswoman: Your time is running out,” The Hill, March 6, 2018
http://act.moveon.org/go/36036?t=14&akid=201338%2E1195276%2EkCqoRt

Because you’ve saved your payment information with MoveOn, your donation will go straight through. Donate

Contributions to MoveOn.org Civic Action are not tax deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes.

From: Breaking News in Wisconsin
Subject: Paul Ryan EXPOSED [the NRA owns him!]

Paul Ryan was just HUMILIATED in Wisconsin:

We just exposed the truth behind Paul Ryan’s HUGE debt to the NRA:

Paul Ryan took more money from the NRA than ANYONE in Congress

That’s right! We just put up a HUGE billboard in Paul Ryan’s district to EXPOSE him.

But angry gun-nut Republicans in Ryan’s district want our billboard gone.

So we need to raise $15,000 TODAY to pay for it. Otherwise, they’ll tear it down!

Our billboard is speaking truth to power. We need to END the NRA’s all-powerful stranglehold on Congress and END Paul Ryan’s career.

BUT we need your help to pay for our billboard. It’ll be taken down if we fall short!

So please do your part to educate voters and publicly HUMILIATE Paul Ryan.

Munsup, will you chip in $5 by MIDNIGHT to keep our billboard up in Ryan’s district?

Donate

Together we can make a difference!

From: Andrew Tierman
Subject: FW: it’s official.

I made a small contribution in response to this appeal to advance Andrew Janz’ campaign to unseat Devin Nunes and to take Congress back from the party of Trump, corruption, the flouting of democratic values, and treason. Andrew
———- Forwarded message From: Andrew Janz ————–
Today is a big day for our campaign. Today we make this thing official by filing for a spot on the ballot to retire Devin Nunes and bring the voice of California’s 22nd back to Congress!

Will you help me get to Congress by pitching in $7 right now to make sure we have the resources we need to fight back against Devin Nunes and his army of dark money donors?

For months now, we’ve been holding Nunes’ feet to the fire by calling him out for every single act of treason and betrayal. His constant missteps in Washington and his absence from the district have given us a lot to work with – but the truth is that this race isn’t about him.

This is about bringing sanity and ethics back to a broken Congress. We need someone to step in, put country over party and work to fix the system. I’m going to take that stand for my country. I always have. That’s why I’m running.

But I need you to join me by donating whatever you can now, so we can head into this election ready to fight for what we believe in! Contribute here >>

I’m beyond honored to have your support in this race. – Andrew

Paid for by Andrew Janz for Congress

Subject: Public schools in Puerto Rico are headed for privatization with the assistance of Betsy DeVos

https://m.dailykos.com/stories/2018/2/23/1744196/-Public-schools-in-Puerto-Rico-are-headed-for-privatization-with-the-assistance-of-Betsy-DeVos

From: Ronen Kauffman
Subject: The resignation of Betsy DeVos

Betsy DeVos: Resign

Sign the Petition

Betsy DeVos has proven time and time again that she is completely unqualified to serve as Secretary of Education.

Recently, she struggled to answer even basic questions about schools in her home state of Michigan, where she implemented a private charter school system that has drained public education funds and worsened both public and private school performance statewide.

Enough is enough. Will you sign and share my petition demanding the immediate resignation of Betsy DeVos?

Sign the Petition

From: Brandi, Rashad, Arisha, Evan, Jade, Johnny, Future, Corina, Chad, Mary, Angela, Saréya, Eesha, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
Subject: Racket Busting: Get rid of the NCAA amateurism rules

The NCAA is making billions off the backs of unpaid Black athletes.

Tell the NCAA to drop the amateurism rules and allow players to profit off of their own images.

March Madness begins. Over the next three weeks, student-athletes will become legends as they strive to reach the Final Four. Like many of you, I love this time of year – the frenzied pace, desperation shots, rooting for the underdogs. However, I’m also intimately familiar with the exploitative nature of college sports and how even the stars that shine this month are still just unpaid laborers supporting the billion-dollar behemoth that is the NCAA. I know this because my dad was one of those stars. While leading upstart New Mexico State to the Final Four in 1970, he earned national accolades and found himself on the cover of Sports Illustrated. But while his image was being used to sell magazines across the country, he lived in relative poverty and had to scramble to make ends meet financially.

Fast forward 50 years and things are as bad as ever for student-athletes. While the NCAA rakes in billions in TV revenue, fired coaches receive 8-figure payouts, and shoe companies flood athletic departments with multi-million-dollar apparel deals, players see none of it. In fact, they can be ruled ineligible and have their reputations sullied simply by having someone pay for their dinner.

Tell the NCAA to drop the amateurism rules and allow players to profit off of their own images.

Black athletes are disproportionately impacted by the NCAA’s draconian policies, in particular, the rules that say that in order to maintain “amateur status” and thus be eligible to play, athletes cannot accept any money or gifts. Even though Black students only make up about 3 percent of all full-time students, Black athletes make up more than half of the players on the largest revenue sports, football and basketball.¹ ² In 2015, the top programs made a combined $9.1 billion, and the NCAA itself just signed $8.8 billion dollar TV deal with CBS to air its March Madness tournament. Yet these players are criminalized if they dare try and turn their skills and labor into a source of income. Because of practice and game schedules combined with their academic courses, many athletes cannot work while under scholarship and often go hungry or have difficulty paying rent as a result.³ ⁴

This has to change – other sports institutions, like the Olympics, changed their rules about amateurism over 30 years ago to allow their athletes to financially benefit, the NCAA should follow suite.⁵

Removing the “amateur status” rules would also kill the black market that currently allows agents and shady middlemen to prey on young talent, with the athletes taking the fall when their hands get caught in the proverbial cookie jar.⁶ Even though it’s Black athletes generating the money, white coaches, corporations, agents, school administrators and predominantly white schools reap the rewards and serve as modern-day overseers.⁷ More than 82 percent of college basketball coaches are white, over 92 percent of top division head football coaches are white, and more than 86 percent of conference commissioners are white – with not a single person of color ever serving as commissioner of one of the “Power Five” conferences.⁸ ⁹ Yet these people regularly make $500,000 a year, with some making multi-millions each year.

Demand the NCAA immediately allow student-athletes to profit off of their likenesses.

In the big-money sports environment, where the historical pattern of white profit from Black bodies is regularly apparent, it’s time that the NCAA let athletes financially benefit from their work to build this exploitative sporting empire.

References:

“The difference in how much money schools make off of college sports is jarring, and it is the biggest obstacle to paying athletes”, Business Insider, 14 October 2016 http://act.colorofchange.org/go/28175?t=8&akid=9930%2E239715%2E9Q1dHh
“The NCAA’s new March Madness TV deal will make them a billion dollars a year”, SB Nation, 12 April 2016 https://act.colorofchange.org/go/25769?t=10&akid=9930%2E239715%2E9Q1dHh
“National champ U-Conn.’s Napier says he goes to bed starving”, Washington Post, 4 April 2016 https://act.colorofchange.org/go/28176?t=12&akid=9930%2E239715%2E9Q1dHh
“Ole Miss’ Bo Wallace: Shabazz Napier was right, players go hungry at night”, CBS Sports, 17 July 2014 https://act.colorofchange.org/go/28177?t=14&akid=9930%2E239715%2E9Q1dHh
“OLYMPICS TO ALLOW PROS IN 3 SPORTS”, New York Times, 1 March 1985 https://act.colorofchange.org/go/28178?t=16&akid=9930%2E239715%2E9Q1dHh
“This Is How To Pay College Athletes”, Deadspin, 6 March 2018 https://act.colorofchange.org/go/28179?t=18&akid=9930%2E239715%2E9Q1dHh
“College sports exploits unpaid black athletes. But they could force a change.”, Washington Post, 8 January 2016 https://act.colorofchange.org/go/28179?t=20&akid=9930%2E239715%2E9Q1dHh
“The 2012 Racial and Gender Report Card: College Sport,” The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport (TIDES) at the University of Central Florida (UCF), 10 July 2013 https://act.colorofchange.org/go/28180?t=22&akid=9930%2E239715%2E9Q1dHh
“Regression throughout Collegiate Athletic Leadership: Assessing Diversity among Campus and Conference Leaders for Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) Schools in the 2015-16 Academic Year,” The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport (TIDES) at the University of Central Florida (UCF), 11 November 2015 http://act.colorofchange.org/go/28181?t=24&akid=9930%2E239715%2E9Q1dHh

Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.

Google is still running ads that allow anti-choice clinics to pose as abortion clinics.

When a woman searches for “abortion clinic near me,” Google Search or Google Maps will include ads for fake clinics that manipulate women out of seeking abortion treatment–rather than offering the health care they purport to provide.¹ These clinics tell women all kinds of medically inaccurate information, like abortion will increase one’s risk of breast cancer, infertility, and even suicide.²

Google said it is investigating, but it hasn’t taken action yet, so we need to ramp up the pressure.

Google execs pay attention to social media, so it’s a great way to increase the pressure and force them to take down these ads–and stop new ones from showing up. Can you take a second to tweet at Google and demand it stop deceiving women?

Hey @Google, take down ads that allow anti-choice clinics to pose as abortion clinics! #ExposeFakeClinics

Hey @Google, stop lying to women. Take down ads from FAKE clinics that lure, lie to, and shame pregnant women. #ExposeFakeClinics

Hey @Google, when women search for abortion care, they should see factually accurate results–NOT fake clinics run by anti-choice extremists. #ExposeFakeClinics

When I use @Google I expect accurate results, not lies. So why do some women see ads for FAKE health clinics? Google needs to stop. #ExposeFakeClinics

Sources:

Google search results for abortion services promote anti-abortion centers, The Guardian, February 13, 2018
Google points abortion-seekers toward anti-abortion clinics, East Bay Times, February 12, 2018
The Truth about Crisis Pregnancy Centers, NARAL Pro-Choice America, accessed March 4, 2018

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From: Eric Kramer
Subject: Forbes.com : Why White Evangelicalism Is So Cruel

Rather interestingly (or, perhaps, suspiciously) this op-ep piece was apparently scrubbed from the Forbes website within 24 hours of it first appearing. Apparently, some important hackles were raised….However, I’d somehow stumbled upon it, just after it was first posted, and thought it interesting enough to actually copy and paste, in its entirety, into the draft of an email, which I now share with you, which now seems rather fortuitous. Any thoughts?? – Eric

Politics #TrumpsAmerica
MAR 11, 2018 @ 12:50 PM
Why White Evangelicalism Is So Cruel

Chris Ladd , CONTRIBUTOR Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/chrisladd/2018/03/11/why-white-evangelicalism-is-so-cruel/#16f345b271f6

Robert Jeffress, Pastor of First Baptist Church in Dallas and an avid supporter of Donald Trump, earned headlines this week for his defense of the president’s adultery with a porn star. Regarding the affair and subsequent financial payments, Jeffress explained, “Even if it’s true, it doesn’t matter.”

Such a casual attitude toward adultery and prostitution might seem odd from a guy who blamed 9/11 on America’s sinfulness. However, seen through the lens of white evangelicals’ real priorities, Jeffress’ disinterest in Trump’s sordid lifestyle makes sense. Religion is inseparable from culture, and culture is inseparable from history. Modern, white evangelicalism emerged from the interplay between race and religion in the slave states. What today we call “evangelical Christianity,” is the product of centuries of conditioning, in which religious practices were adapted to nurture a slave economy. The calloused insensitivity of modern white evangelicals was shaped by the economic and cultural priorities that forged their theology over centuries.

Many Christian movements take the title “evangelical,” including many African-American denominations. However, evangelicalism today has been coopted as a preferred description for Christians who were looking to shed an older, largely discredited title: Fundamentalist. A quick glance at a map showing concentrations of adherents and weekly church attendance reveals the evangelical movement’s center of gravity in the Old South. And among those evangelical churches, one denomination remains by far the leader in membership, theological pull, and political influence.

There is still today a Southern Baptist Church. More than a century and a half after the Civil War, and decades after the Methodists and Presbyterians reunited with their Yankee neighbors, America’s most powerful evangelical denomination remains defined, right down to the name over the door, by an 1845 split over slavery.

Southern denominations faced enormous social and political pressure from plantation owners. Public expressions of dissent on the subject of slavery in the South were not merely outlawed, they were a death sentence. Baptist ministers who rejected slavery, like South Carolina’s William Henry Brisbane, were forced to flee to the North. Otherwise, they would end up like Methodist minister Anthony Bewley, who was lynched in Texas in 1860, his bones left exposed at a local store to be played with by children. Whiteness offered protection from many of the South’s cruelties, but that protection stopped at the subject of race. No one who dared speak truth to power on the subject of slavery, or later Jim Crow, could expect protection.

Generation after generation, Southern pastors adapted their theology to thrive under a terrorist state. Principled critics were exiled or murdered, leaving voices of dissent few and scattered. Southern Christianity evolved in strange directions under ever-increasing isolation. Preachers learned to tailor their message to protect themselves. If all you knew about Christianity came from a close reading of the New Testament, you’d expect that Christians would be hostile to wealth, emphatic in protection of justice, sympathetic to the point of personal pain toward the sick, persecuted and the migrant, and almost socialist in their economic practices. None of these consistent Christian themes served the interests of slave owners, so pastors could either abandon them, obscure them, or flee.

What developed in the South was a theology carefully tailored to meet the needs of a slave state. Biblical emphasis on social justice was rendered miraculously invisible. A book constructed around the central metaphor of slaves finding their freedom was reinterpreted. Messages which might have questioned the inherent superiority of the white race, constrained the authority of property owners, or inspired some interest in the poor or less fortunate could not be taught from a pulpit. Any Christian suggestion of social justice was carefully and safely relegated to “the sweet by and by” where all would be made right at no cost to white worshippers. In the forge of slavery and Jim Crow, a Christian message of courage, love, compassion, and service to others was burned away.

Stripped of its compassion and integrity, little remained of the Christian message. What survived was a perverse emphasis on sexual purity as the sole expression of righteousness, along with a creepy obsession with the unquestionable sexual authority of white men. In a culture where race defined one’s claim to basic humanity, women took on a special religious interest. Christianity’s historic emphasis on sexual purity as a form of ascetic self-denial was transformed into an obsession with women and sex. For Southerners, righteousness had little meaning beyond sex, and sexual mores had far less importance for men than for women. Guarding women’s sexual purity meant guarding the purity of the white race. There was no higher moral demand.

Changes brought by the Civil War only heightened the need to protect white racial superiority. Churches were the lynchpin of Jim Crow. By the time the Civil Rights movement gained force in the South, Dallas’ First Baptist Church, where Jeffress is the pastor today, was a bulwark of segregation and white supremacy. As the wider culture nationally has struggled to free itself from the burdens of racism, white evangelicals have fought this development while the violence escalated. What happened to ministers who resisted slavery happened again to those who resisted segregation. White Episcopal Seminary student, Jonathan Daniels, went to Alabama in 1965 to support voting rights protests. After being released from jail, he was murdered by an off-duty sheriff’s deputy, who was acquitted by a jury. Dozens of white activists joined the innumerable black Americans murdered fighting for civil rights in the 60’s, but very few of them were Southern.

White Evangelical Christians opposed desegregation tooth and nail. Where pressed, they made cheap, cosmetic compromises, like Billy Graham’s concession to allow black worshipers at his crusades. Graham never made any difficult statements on race, never appeared on stage with his “black friend” Martin Luther King after 1957, and he never marched with King. When King delivered his “I Have a Dream Speech,” Graham responded with this passive-aggressive gem of Southern theology, “Only when Christ comes again will the little white children of Alabama walk hand in hand with little black children.” For white Southern evangelicals, justice and compassion belong only to the dead.

Churches like First Baptist in Dallas did not become stalwart defenders of segregation by accident. Like the wider white evangelical movement, it was then and remains today an obstacle to Christian notions of social justice thanks to a long, dismal heritage. There is no changing the white evangelical movement without a wholesale reconsideration of their theology. No sign of such a reckoning is apparent.

Those waiting to see the bottom of white evangelical cruelty have little source of optimism. Men like Pastor Jeffress can dismiss Trump’s racist abuses as easily as they dismiss his fondness for porn stars. When asked about Trump’s treatment of immigrants, Jeffress shared these comments: “Solving DACA without strengthening borders ignores the teachings of the Bible. In fact, Christians who support open borders, or blanket amnesty, are cherry-picking Scriptures to suit their own agendas.”

For those unfamiliar with Christian scriptures, it might helpful to point out what Jesus reportedly said about this subject, and about the wider question of our compassion for the poor and the suffering: “Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.”

What did Jesus say about abortion, the favorite subject of Jeffress and the rest of the evangelical movement? Nothing. What does the Bible say about abortion, a practice as old as civilization? Nothing. Not one word. The Bible’s exhortations to compassion for immigrants and the poor stretch long enough to comprise a sizeable book of their own, but no matter. White evangelicals will not let their political ambitions be constrained by something as pliable as scripture.

Why is the religious right obsessed with subjects like abortion while unmoved by the plight of immigrants, minorities, the poor, the uninsured, and those slaughtered in pointless gun violence? No white man has ever been denied an abortion. Few if any white men are affected by the deportation of migrants. White men are not kept from attending college by laws persecuting Dreamers. White evangelical Christianity has a bottomless well of compassion for the interests of straight white men, and not a drop to be spared for anyone else at their expense. The cruelty of white evangelical churches in politics, and in their treatment of their own gay or minority parishioners, is no accident. It is an institution born in slavery, tuned to serve the needs of Jim Crow, and entirely unwilling to confront either of those realities.

Men like Russell Moore, head of the Southern Baptist Convention’s public policy group, are trying to reform the Southern Baptist church in increments, much like Billy Graham before him. His statements on subjects like the Confederate Flag and sexual harassment are bold, but only relative to previous church proclamations. He’s still about three decades behind the rest of American culture in recognition of the basic human rights of the country’s non-white, non-male citizens. Resistance he is facing from evangelicals will continue so long as the theology informing white evangelical religion remains unconsidered and unchallenged.

While white evangelical religion remains dedicated to its roots, it will perpetuate its heritage. What this religious heritage produced in the 2016 election, when white evangelicals voted for Donald Trump by a record margin, is the truest expression of its moral character.

You will know a tree by its fruit.

Chris Ladd, former GOP Precinct Committeeman, author of The Politics of Crazy and creator of PoliticalOrphans.

MPEN e-Newsletter No. 2018-0302

From: Munsup @Siscom Seoh
Subject: FW: The real threat to Higher Ed; Trump Accepts North Korea’s Invitation; Tell Congress to #DefundHate and more

FW: Video — Commissioner In Georgia Faced Felonies For Helping First-Time Voter
FW: The Real threat to Higher Ed & FW: Why so many of us are thru with those white, Evangelical Trump supporters
FW: A bill to arm teachers could cost Black and Brown students their lives
FW: NYT Today’s Headlines: (1) Trump Accepts North Korea’s Invitation to Discuss Its Nuclear Program
(2) White House Prepares to Formalize Tariffs but Floats Exemptions
(3) Gary Cohn Says He Will Resign as Trump’s Top Economic Adviser
(4) Trump Reaffirms Commitment to Tariffs but Opens Door to Compromise
FW: A potential North Korea gamechanger
FW: CALL TODAY: The Senate could vote on Yemen MONDAY
FW: Your hard work got us here.
FW: Sign the petition: Tell Congress to #DefundHate
FW: Meet the #HumansOfDACA
FW: Take a look at the electoral map
FW: March for Our Lives. Will you be there?

From: Olivia Coley
Subject: FW: Video — Commissioner In Georgia Faced Felonies For Helping First-Time Voter

Here is the link! https://www.facebook.com/NowThisPolitics/videos/1954967977868016/

From: Eric Kramer
Subject: The real threat to Higher Ed & FW: Why so many of us are thru with those white, Evangelical Trump supporters

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/opinion-cottom-campus-racism_us_5a8afb80e4b00bc49f471b41
I’m a big fan of Pavlovitz, who easily ranks among the most intellectually Liberal-Progressive of Evangelical Christians. – 😉E
https://johnpavlovitz.com/2018/01/24/white-evangelicals-people/?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=johnpavlovitz

From: The Advancement Project, Dream Defenders, and Power U Center for Social Change via OrganizeFor
Subject: A bill to arm teachers could cost Black and Brown students their lives

The Advancement Project, Dream Defenders, and Power U Center for Social Change, just started a petition to demand that Florida Governor Rick Scott veto Senate Bill 7026, which would allow teachers and school staff to carry guns.

Sign now

The Florida Legislature approved a bill this week that would allow teachers and school staff to carry guns. This bill would also allocate $400 million toward increased police presence and surveillance in schools.

The bill was approved by the Florida Legislature this week, with both the House and Senate passing the legislation. However, we are still able to stop this bill from passing–the last stop is with Governor Rick Scott who has the power to veto the bill. If we act fast and work together, we have the power to make Gov. Rick Scott veto this dangerous bill.

Join me in demanding that Governor Rick Scott veto the bill to fund the militarization of Florida schools.

This bill is in direct response to the Parkland shooting three weeks ago where 17 students and school staff were murdered at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. This shook Florida to its core. Students, teachers, and families, have been rising up and organizing to make sure that a senseless shooting like this doesn’t happen again. However, our elected officials have been completely tone deaf to our calls for safety and instead are wanting to increase the presence of guns and police in schools–we know all to well that this is not what safety looks like for our community.

We must stop this dangerous bill, we need your signature NOW to demand that Gov. Rick Scott veto this bill, we only have a few days left.

School is already a hard place for so many Black and Brown children with police, security guards, and metal detectors not only funneling our children through the school to prison pipeline but having schools increasingly resemble prisons. If this bill passes, the school to prison pipeline will be even further expedited and will likely cost many Black and Brown children their lives. What would school look like for our kids with armed teachers, coaches, librarians and counselors? In addition to even more funds dedicated to police and high level surveillance security in schools.

This piece of legislation is Florida’s attempt at a “solution” to make schools safer, but the outcome will be devastating for students of color.

Please show your support for Florida’s students and add your name to the petition–let’s kill this bill together!

Sign now

Join us and start your own petition on OrganizeFor today!
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.

From: New York Times
Subject: NYT Today’s Headlines: (1) Trump Accepts North Korea’s Invitation to Discuss Its Nuclear Program
(2) White House Prepares to Formalize Tariffs but Floats Exemptions
(3) Gary Cohn Says He Will Resign as Trump’s Top Economic Adviser
(4) Trump Reaffirms Commitment to Tariffs but Opens Door to Compromise

Trump Accepts North Korea’s Invitation to Discuss Its Nuclear Program
By MARK LANDLER
No sitting American president has ever met a North Korean leader, and the meeting with Kim Jong-un would be a breathtaking gamble.

White House Prepares to Formalize Tariffs but Floats Exemptions
By ANA SWANSON
The administration is expected to formally announce tariffs on Thursday despite pushback from Republican lawmakers and as officials began signaling carve-outs for certain countries.

Gary Cohn Says He Will Resign as Trump’s Top Economic Adviser
By KATE KELLY and MAGGIE HABERMAN
Mr. Cohn had made clear his opposition to the steel and aluminum tariffs that Mr. Trump plans to impose. It’s the latest departure from a White House in chaos.

Trump Reaffirms Commitment to Tariffs but Opens Door to Compromise
By ANA SWANSON, MARK LANDLER and MAGGIE HABERMAN
Republicans intensified pressure on Mr. Trump to relent on his steel and aluminum tariffs while the president indicated he might provide exemptions for certain countries.

From: Cassandra Euphrat Weston
Subject: A potential North Korea gamechanger

Breaking: South Korea just announced a diplomatic breakthrough on North Korea!
Tell Congress: The U.S. must support diplomacy — not war — with North Korea >>

Today’s diplomatic breakthrough with North Korea is a potential game changer.

Now, the world is looking to the United States to respond. But Donald Trump couldn’t have put us in a worse place to seize this breakthrough moment. After more than a year in office, Trump hasn’t even appointed an ambassador to South Korea. And the State Department’s point person on North Korea resigned just last week.

It’s clear that Donald Trump won’t pursue American diplomacy with North Korea unless he’s forced to. That’s where we come in.

Today’s news gives us a major opening to demand Congress use its megaphone to speak out for diplomacy. But we need to act fast — before the news cycle moves on.

Tell Congress: Demand that President Trump pursue diplomacy with North Korea.

Sign Now!

Instead of appointing key diplomats to lead our response to North Korea, Trump has spent the past year throwing people with zero diplomatic training — like Ivanka Trump and Mike Pence — into the middle of the incredibly delicate situation on the Korean Peninsula.

Even scarier? When Trump’s original choice for an ambassador to South Korea refused to go along with his dangerous plans to attack North Korea, the White House rescinded his nomination. [1] Then just last week, the State Department’s senior diplomat in charge of North Korea resigned, leaving his crucial position empty.

We have a chance to follow South Korea’s lead and win real diplomatic solutions. But Trump is on the path to plunge us straight into war instead.

Congress can play a critical role in shutting down the Trump administration’s diplomatic stonewalling by demanding real diplomacy. And today’s breakthrough gives us a narrow window to push Congress into speaking out.

Add your name and demand Trump appoint trained diplomats for North Korea before it’s too late >>

Thank you for working for peace,

Cassandra, Erica, Stephen and the Win Without War team

[1] Washington Post, Disagreement on North Korea policy derails White House choice for ambassador to South Korea

From: Amy Frame; Amy and the team at Win Without War
Subject: CALL TODAY: The Senate could vote on Yemen MONDAY

Did you see Mark’s email? The Senate could vote as soon as MONDAY on this unprecedented bill. It’s our biggest, best shot to end America’s shameful role in bombing and starving Yemeni civilians.

But Senate offices are closed over the weekend. That means today could be our last chance to get our senators on board before the big vote.

Call your senators TODAY (even if you’ve already called!) and ask them to vote for the Sanders-Lee resolution >>

We have a chance to save millions of lives by ending America’s shameful role in the war in Yemen.

Vermont progressive Senator Bernie Sanders and constitutional conservative Senator Mike Lee of Utah have introduced a resolution to cut off U.S. support for this illegal war. Because Congress has never authorized the war in Yemen, Bernie’s resolution is guaranteed a vote within days. This is huge. And we have just a few days to get our senators on board.

Will you watch my video message, then call your senators and ask them to vote for Bernie’s resolution?

For three years, the United States, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have been waging a secretive war in Yemen. Saudi Arabia and its allies have deliberately put 8 million people a step away from famine. Meanwhile, the United States continues to funnel bombs, planes, and fuel into enabling Saudi and UAE brutality.

In the movie Spotlight, I play a journalist who is determined to uncover abuse, no matter how powerful the abuser. Spotlight shows us that harm against innocents can only persist when no one is watching. In Yemen, the powerful figure enabling human rights abuse is our own government.

I believe that when the American people are presented with the facts, we will act to stop our tax dollars from being used to bomb and starve innocent Yemenis simply to advance the Saudi dictatorship’s military ambitions.

Please watch my video, then call your senators and urge them to vote for the Sanders-Lee resolution to end the unauthorized war in Yemen.

Thank you for working for peace,

Mark Ruffalo and the Win Without War team

From: Tom Steyer — Need to Impeach
Subject: Your hard work got us here.

We started our call to impeach the president on Oc‌tober 20‌th. In the first week, we had the first million people sign on and this effort became a movement. To be honest, I never quite imagined just how powerful our call to action would be — and how Americans from every corner of every state would respond.

Today, I’m excited to announce that our movement has crossed five million people! This is a huge moment and people like you are the reason we’ve been this successful. You are the power behind one of the biggest movements in our country — thank you.

Now that we are five million strong to impeach Donald Trump, people have been asking, where do we go from here? Well, first, we want to hear from you.

Take our short survey and share your thoughts on where we go from here.

This is our movement — we’re building it together. It’s important we hear from you as we move into the next phase of our campaign. We need to hold our members of Congress accountable on impeachment and elect strong progressives across the country.

We may ask you to attend events in your community, recruit friends to vote in the primary and general election, or share content online to engage your friends and family.

Let us know which actions you’re willing to take by filling out our short survey.

As a movement that relies on the voice of the people, it’s vital that we hear from you. I’ve instructed my team to collect these responses so we can review your feedback.

Your responses will directly impact this next phase of our program. We’ll be sure to share results with you — along with additional details about the next phase of our campaign — in the coming weeks.

I can’t thank you enough for being part of this movement to impeach this dangerous president.

Take the Survey
	Paid for by Tom Steyer

From: Kathryn Johnson; Policy Impact Coordinator, American Friends Service Committee (AFSC)
Subject: Sign the petition: Tell Congress to #DefundHate

As the Trump administration has launched attack after attack on immigrants over the past year, we’ve seen communities stand up and take bold action to keep their members safe. We’ve seen people reject hateful political rhetoric and affirm what we know—immigrants are integral parts of our communities and tearing them away hurts all of us.

Right now, Congress is making decisions about funding for the rest of the year leading up to a March 23 deadline. President Trump and Republicans in Congress have asked for $21.5 billion to ramp up immigrant detention and deportations and further militarize our border.

Sign our petition to tell Congress: #DefundHate, protect our communities, and refuse to fund Trump’s attacks on immigrant communities.

We know that more funds for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol puts lives at risk. Money for detention means more immigrants locked up in deadly conditions and separated from their families. Money for border militarization terrorizes communities and leads to more migrant deaths. Money for ICE agents means more people torn from their homes.

Congress can wield its power of the purse and stop this expansion. Sign this petition, and we’ll join partners at MoveOn, CREDO Action, and Detention Watch Network to take your message to the Capitol later this week.

Take Action

From: Nancy Treviño, Reform Immigration FOR America
Subject: Meet the #HumansOfDACA

Six months ago, President Trump broke a commitment when he ended DACA, a program is backed by a majority of Americans, which gives 800,000 youth a chance at achieving their dreams. Since that day, young immigrants from across the country have pushed back against a Congress and a President that would rather use their lives as bargaining chips than pass a permanent legislative solution.

We must remember their names and honor their lived experiences.

The Humans of DACA, like Diana, Paola, Ivan and Ricardo, have been leading the fight to uphold this protection and defend their families and communities against indiscriminate deportation. Today, they will be rising up with thousands from across the country to demand that Congress pass the DREAM Act.

Join us in sharing their #HumansOfDACA stories so the lawmakers that control their fates understand the real people behind their political games.

Click to share this tweet: “Today young immigrants across the country are hitting the streets to demand a #DREAMActNow. Read their powerful stories and share your own using #HumansofDACA. https://ctt.ec/sDFjU+ #HereToFight”

Are you a DACA-mented person with a story to tell? Share your experience and a photo and use the #HumansOfDACA hashtag!

From: Robert B. Reich
Subject: Take a look at the electoral map

What if I told you that I see three ways forward to get us out of the mess we’re in as a nation—and the smartest choice is the hardest?

We could choose to bang on the dinner table and swear every time we see Trump on TV.

Or we could cover our ears and make a “la la la” sound when we hear the man’s voice.

But I’d bet just about anything that you’re choosing the third—and best—way forward: fighting with all your might to help elect progressive candidates who have a transformative vision for America.

Because I know one thing for certain: MoveOn members simply never give up. You have the drive. The guts. And the faith it takes to muscle through adversity and win.

And I’m betting that you also see the writing on the wall about this upcoming election: Trump’s Republican Party is in deep trouble. And we can win big in November if we pull together now—putting our shoulders to the wheel, pushing to end Republican control of the House, block Trump’s agenda, and rebuild our nation.

But—and I want us to be really clear-eyed about this—we can also still lose. If we take this moment for granted, if we underestimate the virulence of the right-wing Trump backers and their billions of dollars, or if we fail to offer the powerful vision and program we need to win.

That’s why I need to ask you, Munsup, will you join me and commit to chip in each month to MoveOn’s massive, people-powered elections program? Just click below to get started. Donate monthly or make a one-time gift

Let’s consider the electoral map. In November, 34 Senate seats, all 435 seats in the House of Representatives, 36 governorships, and countless other state and local seats will all be decided. MoveOn is gearing up to make a jaw-dropping 200 endorsements: 100 critical House candidates, who could reshape Congress with the largest incoming class in a generation, and 100 diverse and inspiring state and local candidates. And MoveOn members will organize to elect progressive champs by making calls, knocking on doors, sending millions of text messages, and doing whatever else it takes to reach every last voter and win.

Endorsements from MoveOn mean a range of practical and strategic support, but they require massive resources: financial contributions to sometimes cash-strapped progressive campaigns, leveraging MoveOn’s enormous media reach and new (and proven) video persuasion capabilities, and a massive turnout push by MoveOn’s millions of members, organized by some of the best organizers in the country.

When we end Republican control of the House by winning just 24 more seats, we can help grind Trump and the GOP’s agenda to a halt. And when we launch new progressive stars—including women, people of color, and younger candidates who are stepping up to lead in cities and towns across our nation—we can begin to change the face of U.S. politics and the direction of our country’s future.

The promise is that great.

And just thinking about it now, I feel a wave of gratitude that MoveOn is helping to lead the way forward.

I want to be able to tell my friends and family that I had something to do with kicking Trump and his cronies out of the White House and Congress.

And with just eight short months to Election Day, I’m asking you to join me and commit to making a monthly contribution so that we can both be part of something truly great. . Donate monthly or make a one-time gift

Before I go, I’d like to talk about one more piece of this high-stakes puzzle.

Even as MoveOn races toward winning in November, it’s remaining staunchly committed to advocacy, including working with student leaders to demand commonsense gun safety legislation and an end to the NRA’s chokehold on Congress, standing with Dreamers in the fight against Trump’s aggressive anti-immigrant agenda and deportation machine, defending and protecting the independent investigation into the Trump team’s Russia ties and subsequent cover-up, working to prevent a war with North Korea, standing up to Islamophobia, and so much more.

In other midterm elections, such a costly dual focus might not be necessary.

But these are strange, perilous times that ask much of all of us. And MoveOn is rising up and standing stronger than ever before.

As part of my work, I get to crisscross the nation. And I see the power of MoveOn-led, people-powered action firsthand. I see that you’ve made the choice—the commitment—to fight.

Now, will you help make sure the fight continues by making a monthly donation to MoveOn? . Donate monthly or make a one-time gift

Want to support our work? The MoveOn community will work every moment, day by day and year by year, to resist Trump’s agenda, contain the damage, defeat hate with love, and begin the process of swinging the nation’s pendulum back toward sanity, decency, and the kind of future that we must never give up on. And to do it we need your ongoing support, now more than ever. Will you stand with us? . Donate monthly or make a one-time gift

PAID FOR BY MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION, http://pol.moveon.org/. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.

From: Matt Deitsch and #NeverAgainMSD
Subject: March for Our Lives. Will you be there?

I stood outside Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, the day of the school shooting, terrified for my siblings, friends and teachers who were inside. My friends and I are now organizing a national day of action on March 24 to make sure this never happens again.

Not one more.

Not one more student should hide in fear as my siblings did, while an active shooter was killing our friends and teachers.

Not one more parent should sit in fear, as ours did, waiting for a call or text to say we were OK, that might never come.

Not one more person should die from a senseless act of gun violence.

Join students like me on March 24 to March for Our Lives and demand action to end the epidemic of mass s hootings in America. There are hundreds of marches being planned across the country including one near you. (And if you can’t find an event near you, you can help organize one in your community.)

We’re using the hashtag #NeverAgainMSD to show our commitment to ending gun violence because our lawmakers are not doing enough to protect innocent lives. I’ve spoken to elected officials from representatives in the Florida legislature to countless representatives on Capitol Hill, and though conversation is happening, action remains slow.

So we have to speak up. We can’t let school shootings fade from our memory until more dead students shock us into action. That’s why students across the country are leading the March for Our Lives to say that enough is enough. Congress and states across the country need to do more than speak out against gun violence—they need to take action. By taking to the streets on March 24, we’ll create a show of force that the media and members of Congress can’t ignore.

Sign up now to march with students across the country for commonsense reforms to end gun violence. Join us at our national march in Washington, D.C., or one of the hundreds of marches around the country.

The march is just one step in a long journey. We know that reform does not happen overnight, but it starts with a single step. Our lives are on the line, so we can’t wait. Please join the march today.

P.S. Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/neveragainmsd

By choosing to attend this event, you are committing to participate non-violently and in accordance with the law, to work to de-escalate confrontations with others, and to obey the orders of authorized event marshals and of law enforcement. You also acknowledge that you are solely responsible for any injury or damage to your person or property resulting from or occurring during this event, and that you release MoveOn.org Civic Action and MoveOn.org Political Action (and their officers, directors, employees, and agents) from any liability for that injury or damage.

Some of the events listed may include or invite participants to engage in civil disobedience or illegal activity – these events are organized independently of MoveOn, and MoveOn does not solicit or encourage your participation in these activities.

End of MPEN e-Newsletter

MPEN e-Newsletter No. 2018-0301

From: Munsup @SISCOM Seoh
Subject: FW: This is the BLUE WAVE taking shape; End war in Yemen; I’m a teacher at Stoneman Douglas High School; The NRA Is Tanking! and more

FW: This is the BLUE WAVE taking shape
FW: NYT Today’s Headlines: Today’s Headlines:
(1) As Primaries Begin, Divided Voters Weigh What It Means to Be a Democrat
(2) Mueller’s Focus on Adviser to U.A.E. Indicates Broader Inquiry
(3) Trump’s Steel Tariffs Raise Fears of a Damaging Trade War
FW: The FCC Gutted Net Neutrality. Congress Only Needs #OneMoreVote to Overturn Them
FW: The emperor has no clothes
FW: “The brutality of this war will be beyond the experience of any living soldier.”
FW: End war in Yemen
FW: I’m a teacher at Stoneman Douglas High School
FW: The NRA is in deep, deep trouble
FW: Demand that FedEx #DropTheNRA
FW: The NRA Is Tanking!
FW: Add your name >> End Gerrymandering Now

From: People For the American Way
Subject: This is the BLUE WAVE taking shape –>

RIGHT NOW, the most important election in the country is the special congressional election in Pennsylvania’s 18th district… and a BRAND NEW POLL of likely voters from Emerson University now has Democrat Conor Lamb BEATING radical Trump Republican Rick Saccone by 3 points!!!

We have the momentum! But there’s only ONE WEEK from tomorrow to lock up this CRUCIAL victory!

Democrats and progressives are being MASSIVELY outspent in this race by right-wing super PACs (including Paul Ryan’s).

Republicans are treating this race as an all-out emergency, because they know that if we can beat them here, it could solidify a national BLUE WAVE that flips control of the US House and maybe even the Senate!

Donate today to flip this GOP-held seat to the Democrats and to help us defeat Trump Republicans all across the country>>

The Republican, Trump-endorsed Rick Saccone, is a far-right extremist who:

says he was “Trump before Trump,”
has written extensively in support of torture,
once introduced legislation that would allow customers at Chuck E. Cheese to carry guns, and
when he was considering a run for Senate last year, told a Christian Nationalist radio program he was running because God wants Christians “to rule over us.”

Saccone would be another GOP rubberstamp for Trump’s dangerous, un-American agenda. That’s why we’re running digital ads, phonebanking voters in the district to turn out every last progressive, and more…

Election Day is just 1 week from tomorrow!

Please rush your most generous donation right now to flip this seat
and defeat Trump Republicans up and down the ballot in 2018!>>

From: New York Times
Subject: Today’s Headlines: (1) As Primaries Begin, Divided Voters Weigh What It Means to Be a Democrat
(2) Mueller’s Focus on Adviser to U.A.E. Indicates Broader Inquiry
(3) Trump’s Steel Tariffs Raise Fears of a Damaging Trade War

As Primaries Begin, Divided Voters Weigh What It Means to Be a Democrat
By JONATHAN MARTIN and ALEXANDER BURNS
Primary elections in Texas on Tuesday and Illinois this month will test the growing divide in the Democratic Party between bold liberalism and tradition.

Mueller’s Focus on Adviser to U.A.E. Indicates Broader Inquiry
By MARK MAZZETTI, DAVID D. KIRKPATRICK and MAGGIE HABERMAN
The special counsel has asked about the role of the adviser, George Nader, in White House policymaking, indicating that he is examining Emirati influence on the Trump administration.

Trump’s Steel Tariffs Raise Fears of a Damaging Trade War
By JIM TANKERSLEY
A global tit-for-tat on trade could crimp economic growth, undermining the stimulative effects of President Trump’s deregulation push and his signature $1.5 trillion tax cut.

From: Evan, Rashad, Arisha, Brandi, Jade, Johnny, Janaya, Corina, Chad, Mary, Saréya, Eesha, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
Subject: The FCC Gutted Net Neutrality. Congress Only Needs #OneMoreVote to Overturn Them

The Senate Needs #OneMoreVote to Save Net Neutrality

Tell the Senate to Pass the CRA!

This past week marked the 6th anniversary of the murder of Trayvon Martin and as we reflect back on how movements for justice have grown, much of the organizing would not have been possible without an open internet. From the creation of #BlackLivesMatter, to the canceling of a book deal for one of the jurors who acquitted George Zimmerman¹, to the creation of organizing tactics that have been used in social movements all over the world, and currently in use by the students of Parkland, FL², an open internet has made the advocacy for Black human rights and the amplification of our stories possible. All that may come to a halt if one more Senator doesn’t sign on to the Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution overturning the FCC’s decision to gut the net neutrality rules put in place by the Obama Administration.

Tell the Senate to Pass the CRA and Save Net Neutrality

The FCC’s decision to repeal rules that made the internet an equal and open space is just an updated version of the tactics used in the past to silence Black voices and deny opportunities to marginalized communities. Before net neutrality was in place, the 5 major internet service providers (AT&T, Time Warner, Charter, Comcast and Verizon), who provide broadband service for 75% of the country, were regularly slowing traffic speeds to popular websites.³ Now that there’s a Verizon lobbyist in charge of the FCC and a presidential administration that caters to big business, there’s almost nothing to stop these corporations from controlling what you can consume on the internet, even as you’re paying for it.

If you’ve ever used the internet to say #BlackLivesMatter, #MeToo, or to remind the world that Flint, Michigan doesn’t have clean water, then you know how vital an open internet is to sharing our stories and advocating for human rights. Major corporations like Verizon, Comcast, and AT&T shouldn’t get to decide which messages are heard, based on what’s good for their profit margin. Join the rest of the internet as we come together and flood the Senate with phone calls, texts, and tweets demanding they protect net neutrality.

We Only Need #OneMoreVote in the Senate to Save Net Neutrality

References:

“Zimmerman Juror Wins, Loses Book Deal All In A Day”, LA Times, 16 July 2013. http://act.colorofchange.org/go/22276?t=9&akid=9505%2E239715%2EC5xiEv
“Black Teens Have Been Fighting For Gun Reform For Years”, Teen Vogue, 23 February 2018 https://act.colorofchange.org/go/22277?t=11&akid=9505%2E239715%2EC5xiEv
“Major Internet Providers Slowing Traffic Speeds For Thousands Across US”, The Guardian, 22 June 2015 https://act.colorofchange.org/go/22278?t=13&akid=9505%2E239715%2EC5xiEv

Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.

From: Robert B. Reich
Subject: The emperor has no clothes

I’ve been a teacher for more than 30 years. My job is to teach, challenge, and enrich my students’ minds.

Donald Trump’s response to the latest tragic school shooting—to put even more guns in our schools—is just the latest Trump scam. It’s a distraction. It’s meant to divide us. And it certainly won’t make our kids safer.

But the Parkland students aren’t falling for it, nor are young people and students all over the country—including many who have been organizing against gun violence for years. Over the coming weeks, they are coming together to organize marches and other protests all across the country. I’m standing with these students, and so is MoveOn—by mobilizing its millions of members to participate in the protests and by pressuring corporations to cut their support for the NRA.

Will you stand up to the NRA by making a donation to MoveOn today? Just click below. Donate

We know how to reduce gun violence: for starters, universal background checks and bans on high-capacity magazines and AR-15s and other military-style assault weapons like the ones used in Parkland—and in Sutherland Springs, San Bernardino, Aurora, Orlando, Las Vegas, and Newtown. And we know the way to get there: direct pressure on corporations, demanding action from politicians at the federal and state levels, and—ultimately—breaking the stranglehold of the NRA by isolating it from its corporate and political enablers.

Republicans in Washington are so completely bought by the NRA that new federal laws are unlikely in the short term. But the students leading the movement to end gun violence—from Parkland and from communities across the country that have been impacted—aren’t waiting for the Republicans in Washington, and neither is MoveOn.

Student-led groups and their allies, including hundreds of thousands of MoveOn members, are calling on corporations to stand up to the NRA, and this #BoycottNRA movement is catching on like wildfire. The retailer Dick’s Sporting Goods is the latest to defy the NRA by taking AR-15s and high-capacity magazines off its store shelves, while Walmart and others are raising the age of who can purchase guns. Indeed, the NRA isn’t invincible. (Remember the old “emperor has no clothes” parable? That’s the NRA right now.)

MoveOn is joining students in keeping the pressure on corporate America and pushing to pass new laws in state legislatures. And MoveOn will hold the NRA’s enablers in Congress accountable, so we can finally start to move forward with commonsense gun legislation in Congress, too.

I pledge to stand with students—not by carrying a gun but by standing up to the NRA.
Will you join me in the fight against gun violence by making a donation to MoveOn today? Donate

Want to support MoveOn’s work? The MoveOn community will work every moment, day by day and year by year, to resist Trump’s agenda, contain the damage, defeat hate with love, and begin the process of swinging the nation’s pendulum back toward sanity, decency, and the kind of future that all of us must never give up on. And to do it MoveOn needs your support, now more than ever. Will you stand with MoveOn? Donate Contributions to MoveOn.org Civic Action are not tax deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes.

From: Stephen, Erica, Cassandra, and the team at Win Without War
Subject: “The brutality of this war will be beyond the experience of any living soldier.”

The U.S. military is secretly rehearsing for a bloody war with North Korea.

Top military brass gathered in Hawaii last week to draw up plans for evacuation helicopters and troop movements. [1] They said 10,000 Americans could be wounded in just a few days.

Munsup, this is our push moment to prevent war with North Korea.

Win Without War is using every possible tactic to pressure Congress to step in, from grabbing headlines to flooding phone lines. But we need your help. The truth is, if we don’t get in Trump’s way right now, we could be looking at war with North Korea in a matter of months.

After the military’s planning exercise, the Army’s Chief of Staff warned that a war with North Korea would be the most brutal any living soldier has ever seen.

If you’re scared — well, so am I. But his warning is also a huge opportunity.

Powerful people are speaking out to say that the human costs of this war would be awful beyond imagining. We have a major chance to turn this growing murmur of worry into a massive outcry for common-sense diplomacy.

Can you pitch in $6 to seize this moment and drag Trump off the brink of war?

[1] New York Times: “U.S. Banks on Diplomacy With North Korea, but Moves Ahead on Military Plans”

Donate

From: Kaili Lambe; Director of Organizing, CREDO Action
Subject: End war in Yemen (signatures needed)

Tell the Senate: No war in Yemen

The petition to the Senate reads:
“We urge you to co-sponsor and support S.J.Res.54 to end U.S. military involvement in the Saudi-led war in Yemen.”Add your name:

Sign the Petition

Last August, an American-made laser-guided bomb killed seven children in Yemen’s capital city. Before the strike, a 5-year-old named Buthaina had five brothers and sisters. After the strike she had none.¹ Buthaina and her siblings were just a few of the estimated 5,000 killed or injured in the Saudi-led war in Yemen that started in 2015 – an average of five a day.²

Right now, American military forces are refueling the Saudis’ American-made planes so that the Saudis and their coalition can drop American-made weapons to carry out a devastating war that is killing civilians, destroying crops, cutting off access to ports and wreaking havoc on the people of Yemen. As a result of American support for the war, millions are facing starvation and the country is battling what may be the worst cholera epidemic in history.³

We must speak out now to stop this deadly war in the Middle East. Fortunately, progressive champion Sen. Bernie Sanders just introduced bipartisan legislation to invoke the War Powers Resolution, which would require a vote in the next few weeks on ending U.S. support for this Saudi-led war.⁴ We have a short window to demand that the Senate vote to end U.S. military involvement and withdraw its support from the conflict that has led to what the United Nations calls the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.⁵

Tell the Senate: Pass S.J.Res.54 to end U.S. support for Saudi-led war in Yemen. Click here to sign the petition.

For nearly three years, under the guise of reassuring our allies and “confronting Iran,” the United States has quietly assisted Saudi Arabia in their conflict with the Houthis – a Yemeni Shiite militia group originally formed around the historical economic and political marginalization of Yemen’s northwest. The United States has provided weapons, provided logistical and intelligence support, and helped refuel coalition jets as they dropped bombs on Yemeni civilians. But the Houthis have limited ties to Iran and absolutely nothing to do with Al Qaeda, ISIS or any other terrorist organization that could conceivably fall within the scope of military intervention covered by the current Authorization for Use of Military Force.⁶

This unauthorized war started under the Obama administration, and in the face of egregious civilian casualties, President Obama scaled back U.S. involvement. But Trump has given the Saudis and the United Arab Emirates the green light to double down on its disastrous air campaign.⁷ The civilian death toll in Yemen has been heart-wrenching – with over 10,000 casualties and rising – but the United States continues to offer resources to the Saudi-led coalition.

In October 2016, a coalition airstrike targeted a funeral procession, killing over 130 innocent people and injuring 500 more.⁸ During the 10 day period from Dec 6 – 16, Saudi airstrikes killed 136 civilians, including at least seven civilians when they Saudi-led coalition struck a hospital on Dec. 10.⁹ Then on Jan. 1, Saudi airstrikes killed 23 people in the port city of Hodeida.¹⁰ In providing the Saudi-led coalition targeting intelligence, mid-air refueling and other logistical support, the United States is complicit in violations of international law.

Tell the Senate: S.J.Res.54 to end U.S. support for Saudi-led war in Yemen. Click here to sign the petition.

Beyond the direct violence, the ongoing war in Yemen has forced millions to flee their homes, resulted in the world’s worst cholera outbreak, and has left more than two-thirds of Yemen’s population – more than 20 million people – not knowing where their next meal will come from.¹¹ According to the UN 400,000 Yemeni children are acutely malnourished – that is at risk of death from starvation – while as many as 8.4 million people in Yemen are on the verge of famine.¹² That is because Saudi forces are using food as a weapon of war – enforcing a blockade that has stopped much needed food, medicine and supplies from entering the country.¹³

What’s more, the war has contributed to a fast-moving cholera outbreak – the largest documented in modern history – that has already affected more than 1 million people.¹⁴

U.S. tax dollars are directly financing this Saudi-led war, even though U.S. involvement has not been authorized by Congress – whose responsibility it is to debate, vote on and authorize military action. By participating in this war in this way, Congress and Donald Trump are robbing the American people of their right to be represented in these decisions.

Congress must remove us from this conflict, immediately. Tell the Senate: Pass S.J.Res.54 to end U.S. support for Saudi-led war in Yemen. Click the link below to sign the petition.

https://act.credoaction.com/sign/End_War_in_Yemen?t=8&akid=27493%2E1004336%2E7VBtgf

Add your name:
Sign the Petition

References:

The New York Times, “Young Yemeni Girl Is Sole Survivor After Airstrike Topples Her Home,” Aug. 26, 2017.
AFP, “Yemen war: 5,000 children dead or hurt and 400,000 malnourished, UN says,” The Guardian, Jan. 16, 2018.
Bethan McKernan, “Yemen: almost one death per hour as cholera epidemic spreads like wildfire,” Independent, June 9, 2017.
Lee Fang and Alex Emmons, “Bernie Sanders Wants to End U.S. Support for Yemen War. Saudi Lobbyists Fought Similar Measures Last Year,” The Intercept, Feb. 28, 2018.
Robert Naiman, “Rand Paul: Unconstitutional Saudi War In Yemen Is Not In Our Interest, And Congress Should Vote,” HuffPost, Sept. 19, 2017.
Joost Hiltermann and April Longley Alley, “The Houthis Are Not Hezbollah,” ForeignPolicy, Feb. 27, 2017.
Samuel Oakford, “U.S. Doubled Fuel Support for Saudi Bombing Campaign in Yemen After Deadly Strike on Funeral,” The Intercept, July 13, 2017.
Catherine Thorbecke, “US-Made Bomb Used in Airstrike on Funeral in Yemen, Human Rights Watch Says,” ABC News, Oct. 13, 2016.
U.N. Commission on Human Rights, “Press briefing on Yemen and Gaza,” Dec. 19, 2017.
The Washington Post, “World Digest: Jan. 1, 2018,” Jan. 1, 2018.
Reuters, “More than 8 million Yemenis ‘a step away from famine’: U.N.,” Dec. 11, 2017.
AFP, “Yemen war: 5,000 children dead or hurt and 400,000 malnourished, UN says.”
Clarissa Ward, Salma Abdelaziz and Scott McWhinnie, “In Yemen, the markets have food, but children are starving to death,” CNN, Dec. 19, 2017.
Bel Trew, “One million cases in Yemen cholera crisis,” The Times, Dec. 22, 2017.

From: Gard of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and the American Federation of Teachers, Parkland, FL
Subject: I’m a teacher at Stoneman Douglas High School

I’m Jim Gard, a math teacher at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. I started a petition because I’m shocked that the White House has issued press credentials for a right-wing conspiracy theory blog that is spreading lies about students at my school.

It is outrageous enough that outlets such as Gateway Pundit are spreading lies and driving attacks on students like saying one of them was coached into using anti-Trump talking points when expressing his grief about the school shooting. But it is even more outrageous that an outlet that peddles lies and conspiracy theories holds a White House press credential and the authority that carries.¹

Sign my petition if you agree Donald Trump and this administration must make it clear that these attacks are unacceptable by pulling this blog’s credentials and permanently banning the site and its publishers from the White House.

The White House must show that there are consequences for driving vicious personal attacks on student victims of gun violence and peddling conspiracy theories. It must pull Gateway Pundit’s press credentials, permanently ban them from official events, and commit to not giving credentials to any outlet that engages in these types of conspiracy theories or attacks on vulnerable students and victims.

Sign Jim’s petition

In the aftermath of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Broward County, Florida, students who survived the attack have bravely stood up to demand action for safe schools and safe communities. I know these students.

But now, right-wing blogs are pushing wild conspiracy theories about the students who survived, claiming they are plants, actors, or being manipulated by politicians.²

By giving Gateway Pundit press credentials, the White House is validating the site and these attacks.

I have worked with these students. These courageous young people survived a horror beyond what any person should have to face, and now they stand with moral courage and strength to call us all to action.

Click here to add your name to this petition, and then pass it along to your friends.

Sources:

“Gateway Pundit’s White House correspondent accuses mass shooting survivors of ‘milking the deaths of their peers,'” Media Matters for America, February 20, 2018
https://act.moveon.org/go/34663?t=17&akid=200414%2E1195276%2ElSMz-Y
“What is Gateway Pundit, the conspiracy-hawking site at the center of the bogus Florida ‘crisis actors’ hype?” The Washington Post, February 23, 2018
https://act.moveon.org/go/34664?t=19&akid=200414%2E1195276%2ElSMz-Y

It was created on MoveOn.org, where anyone can start their own online petitions. You can start your own petition here.

Want to support our work? The MoveOn community will work every moment, day by day and year by year, to resist Trump’s agenda, contain the damage, defeat hate with love, and begin the process of swinging the nation’s pendulum back toward sanity, decency, and the kind of future that we must never give up on. And to do it we need your ongoing support, now more than ever. Will you stand with us? Donate monthly or make a one-time gift

Contributions to MoveOn.org Civic Action are not tax deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes.

From: Nita, Shaunna, Kat, Karin, Adam, Holly, Kathy, Susan, Anathea, Audine, Shannon, Emma, Pilar, Natalie, Melody, Lindsay, Pam, and Ryan, the UltraViolet Action team
Subject: RE: The NRA is in deep, deep trouble

Two weeks ago, 17 students and teachers were murdered by a gunman using an AR-15.

Since then, corporations have been scrambling to distance themselves from the NRA.

The First National Bank of Omaha just announced that it will no longer issue its NRA-branded credit card. Enterprise, Hertz, Alamo, and National rental cars announced they are canceling their discount program for NRA members.¹

Now we’re focusing on two companies–Visa and MasterCard–that have the power to stop processing payments for the sale of assault weapons, like the ones used in Parkland, Las Vegas, and Newtown.

PayPal and Apple Pay have banned these purchases, and UltraViolet Education Fund is launching a hard-hitting ad campaign focused in Foster City, California, and Purchase, New York–the corporate headquarters of Visa and MasterCard–to demand that they stop processing these sales as well.

Will you chip in $5 to UltraViolet Action to help fight back against the NRA?

After the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, media pundits said that Congress wouldn’t do anything.

But Congress isn’t the only one with power. Corporations–especially the financial institutions that do business with the gun industry–have enormous power to slow or even stop the sale of guns.

There’s no reason that Visa and MasterCard can’t do this. In fact, they already don’t allow their cards to be used to purchase marijuana in states where it’s legal, and some of the biggest card issuers won’t let them be used to buy Bitcoin either.^2,3

But most people have no idea that Visa and MasterCard have the discretion to stop these purchases. That’s why our ad campaign has the potential to be so effective–to alert the public that these credit card companies could be stopping the sales of guns like the one used in Parkland–but they are choosing not to.

UltraViolet Education Fund will start the ad campaign in the cities where these credit card companies are headquartered, and make them hard-hitting to generate media coverage as well. Judging by how quickly other corporations are running away from the gun industry, we think Visa, MasterCard, and the other credit card companies will fold as well.

Will you chip in $5 to UltraViolet Action to help fight back against the NRA?

CONTRIBUTE

Sources:

NRA fallout: See the list of companies that cut discounts for NRA members after Parkland, Florida school shooting, USA Today, February 26, 2018
Ten Things You Can’t (Easily) Buy With Credit Cards, Fox Business News, January 25, 2016
JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America & Citi bar people from buying bitcoin with a credit card, CNBC, February 2, 2018

Want to support our work? UltraViolet is funded by members like you, and our tiny staff ensures small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.

From: The Guns Down team
Subject: Demand that FedEx #DropTheNRA

Dear friend,

FedEx is still standing by the gun lobby. We now know that they even made special behind-the-scenes deals with the NRA and gun manufacturers to cut shipping rates and make it easier for companies to ship guns from coast to coast. And they are doing all that just so that they can get a leg-up on their competitors and make extra money, no matter the cost.

That’s why, as activists around the country are boycotting FedEx and other boosters of the NRA and its deadly “guns everywhere” agenda, we’re launching the next stage of our campaign demanding that FedEx end their relationship with the NRA: DropTheNRA.org. The website is just the first step; we’ll be bringing our message, and our demands, straight to FedEx headquarters soon.

Visit the site and share it with your friends

Click here to go to the site

The gun lobby and their corporate allies won’t go down without a fight. They’re expecting the pressure to lessen, and for all of us to just forget about what they are doing. We aren’t going to forget or let-up on the pressure until FedEx cuts ties with the NRA. We stood firm in our fight against the NRA’s Carry Guard murder insurance, and Chubb and Lockton relented and cut ties. Advocates around the country demanded that companies end agreements with the gun lobby, and the companies agreed. FedEx is no different.

Corporate partnerships are a huge part of the NRA’s strategy; they give them an easy way to make money and gain undue credibility. Ending the relationships, and holding companies accountable for the choices they make and the deals they enter can make a real difference. When those partnerships collapse, the gun lobby loses power. And when the gun lobby loses power, America gets closer to a safer future with fewer guns which are harder to get.

Please join us in the next step of our bold campaign against FedEx’s work with the NRA, and please share DropTheNRA.org with your networks.

Thank you,

The Guns Down team

P.S. — The kind of bold, aggressive campaign tactics we are planning for FedEx, and which were successful in getting Chubb and Lockton to end their Carry Guard murder insurance and their partnership with the NRA, aren’t easy to pull off. They aren’t inexpensive either. Contribute today and help us go as big, and as bold, as possible.

From: Rashad Robinson and the rest of the Color Of Change team
Subject: The NRA Is Tanking!

STOP THE NRA!

Chip-in $$65

We have more great news!

Chubb Limited and Lockton Inc. have both cut ties with the NRA’s murder insurance!

As a result of a public campaign we launched in October with Guns Down, an advocacy group fighting against the dangerous NRA organization, the underwriting insurer Chubb silently backed out of the deal for the NRA’s murder insurance. In the aftermath of the tragic shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, Chubb went public with their decision last Friday. And we just received news that Lockton is following their lead. Yesterday, 6 years to the day that Trayvon Martin was murdered, Lockton announced that they would no longer provide brokerage services for the NRA’s Carry Guard. We have made a huge impact in crippling the operation of the NRA. But the fight has just begun.

We must continue to apply pressure on corporations who shamelessly do business with the NRA. By targeting corporate sponsors who enable the gun industry we get one step closer to weakening the NRA’s grip on society as a whole.

Will you donate $65 to support our work as we continue to defeat the NRA?

Your donation will go towards:

Building out more impactful campaigns targeting the NRA and the companies that support them.
Digital marketing and promotion of future gun violence prevention campaigns.
Organizing and supporting offline actions, like petition deliveries and mobilizing people to offline direct actions targeting the NRA.

Taking down the NRA is not easy, but our collective efforts are making difference. Chubb and Lockton’s decisions came as a result of over 100,000 members like you taking action with allies across this country demanding corporations and politicians put people over gun violence enablers like the NRA. This win is for Trayvon Martin, John Crawford II, Philando Castile, Marissa Alexander, Keegan Von Roberts and countless other Black folks who have fallen victim to the NRA’s tactics to criminalize Black people while protecting white vigilantes.

There are still a number of other companies who are doing business with the NRA, like FedEx, Apple, AGIA Affinity, Vinesse Wines, the Regency and the Omni Hotel Chains, and we must stop them.

Donate $65 to stop the NRA from protecting killers and monetizing murder.

Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.

From: Unfit to Serve Team
Subject: Add your name >> End Gerrymandering Now

Republican politicians across the country have been choosing their constituents instead of constituents choosing their politicians.

To put it simply, Republican leaders in state legislatures are rigging the system.

And it’s time for this to stop.

The majority of Americans want more balance in their legislatures and in Congress so more consensus can be built and more bad ideas stopped. Thankfully, people are standing up across the country — to demand an end to this rigged system.

We are standing with a coalition of leaders and organizations across the country to restore our democracy and end gerrymandering. Will you join us?

Using diabolical gerrymandering, Republicans are re-drawing maps that try to give them supermajorities in state legislatures and in Congressional delegations nationwide.

Their partisan maps just don’t add up — Republicans have created wildly contorted districts to gain victory for their party, regardless of what voters want.

If you’re as fed up with gerrymandering as we are, add your name today
to the grassroots movement that’s working to restore our democratic values.

PAID FOR BY UNFIT TO SERVE PAC

End of MPEN e-Newsletter

MPEN e-Newsletter No. 2018-0206

From: Munsup @SISCOM Seoh
Subject: [mpen-outsideohio] FW: LA Times: GOP is RATTLED!; NO ONE is above the law; Sign to pass strong gun laws!; “The Snake” read by Trump; and more

FW: Need your opinion on DACA
FW: LA Times: GOP is RATTLED!
FW: Join Us: Working People’s Day of Action
FW: Make your voice heard: Working People’s Day of Action
FW: NYT Today’s Headlines
FW: President’s Day Reminder: NO ONE is above the law
FW: Philippines: Washington’s New Colonial War
FW: The NRA has met its match
FW: Sign to pass strong gun laws NOW!
FW: Explosion at US embassy in Montenegro
FW: “The Snake” read by Trump & impeach Thomas for lying to get to the SupCt

From: Instant Poll
Subject: need your opinion on DACA

Congress has been promising for months to take up Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) legislation.

Last week, the Senate failed to pass the DREAM Act, failing to find a permanent solution for 700,000 DREAMers who are in jeopardy of being deported. They are Americans in every way, except on paper.

So we wanted to check in with you: Do you think Congress should take immediate action and pass DACA?

YES

From: You’re doing it!
Subject: LA Times: GOP is RATTLED!

The LA Times writes on the Pennsylvania 18th district special election, saying, “a poor showing here [by Republicans] would signal trouble for the midterm elections in November, in which GOP control of the House and Senate hangs in the balance.”

DAMN RIGHT. That’s why we’re asking one more time for you to help Democrat Conor Lamb flip this CRUCIAL seat to the Democrats — please donate now!>>

But just yesterday from Politico: “The pro-Trump super PAC America First Action is launching a $1 million ad-buy in support of [Republican] Pennsylvania special election candidate Rick Saccone…”

That’s ANOTHER $1 million on top of what’s already being spent by a slew of other right-wing super PACs.

Saccone is a Radical Right EXTREMIST, but right-wing groups and even Donald Trump himself are throwing everything they have into this race to elect him and hold onto this seat!

Donate to help Democrat Conor Lamb flip this seat from red to blue and TAKE BACK THE HOUSE!>>

Date: Wednesday, February 21, 2018
Re: ANOTHER seat flipped from red to blue!!!

RIGHT NOW, the most important election in the country is the special congressional election in Pennsylvania’s 18th district.

The Republican, Trump-endorsed Rick Saccone, is a far-right extremist who says he was “Trump before Trump,” has written extensively in support of torture, and once introduced legislation that would allow customers at Chuck E. Cheese to carry guns.

Including spending by outside groups, Republicans and the Right Wing are outspending Democrats by a staggering 17-to-1 margin. Yet, the polls still have this race as a virtual tie — Democrat Conor Lamb is within just 3 points!!

The Far Right is DESPERATE to keep this seat, in a district that Trump won by 20 points, so they can stop the bleeding of Republican special election losses — like one just yesterday in Kentucky, where the Democrat won in a state legislative district that Trump carried by 49 points!

YOU can deal them another defeat!

Donate on ActBlue to help Democrat Conor Lamb defeat Rick Saccone and flip the first US House seat from red to blue!>>

Election Day is less than 3 weeks away! Victory here will be the first step in taking back the House in this year’s midterms!

— Lizet Ocampo, Political Director

P.S. Right-wing super PACs, from Paul Ryan’s Congressional Leadership Fund to the super PAC of the billionaire Ricketts family, are spending MILLIONS to keep this seat in Republican hands. Paul Ryan’s super PAC alone announced a $1.5 million ad buy last month, as well as the opening of TWO field offices in the district and the hiring of at least 50 full-time door knockers who aim to talk to 250,000 voters!^[1]

But Democrat Conor Lamb is depending on grassroots donations from progressives like you to compete and win. So please pitch in!

Please give what you can now>>

From: Tom Roberts; President, Ohio Conference of NAACP
Subject: FW: Join Us: Working People’s Day of Action

On Saturday, February 24, thousands will unite in cities across the country to demand an end to an economy that’s rigged in favor of the wealthy and most powerful.

Ohioans are coming together in Columbus to rally at the Statehouse for the Working People’s Day of Action. The rally is going to start at noon, but we will begin to gather at 10:30 a.m.

Working People’s Day of Action
Saturday, February 24, at 10:30
Ohio Statehouse, 70 E State St., Columbus, Ohio 43215

Fifty years ago, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. joined striking sanitation workers in Memphis, Tennessee, as they fought for the freedom to join together in a strong union and be treated with dignity and respect at work.

Fifty years later, corporate lobbyists and special interest groups are bringing a case against working people, Janus v. AFSCME Council 31, to the U.S. Supreme Court. These are the same extremist voices that actively work to limit voting rights, roll back economic protections, and gut civil and labor rights laws. They’re ratcheting up their fight to break us up because they know we are strongest together.

Let’s stand strong, together. Hope to see you on Saturday.

– Team ProgressOhio

From: Bradley E. Williams, People For the American Way
Subject: Make your voice heard: Working People’s Day of Action

On February 24 (this Saturday!), in cities across the country, thousands will unite to demand an end to an economy that’s rigged in favor of the wealthy and most powerful.

Find a Working People’s Day of Action event near you>>

Can’t join in person? Sign our online solidarity pledge to show your support>>

Fifty years ago, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. joined striking sanitation workers in Memphis, Tennessee as they fought for the freedom to join together in a strong union and be treated with dignity and respect at work.

Now, fifty years later, as corporate elites, anti-worker extremists, and corrupt politicians continue to rig the economy against us, working people and allies nationwide are rising up.

Working people never needed the support of the broader progressive movement than right now.

On the Working People’s Day of Action, we will stand up for the freedom of working people to join together in strong unions and fight for decent and equitable pay for our work, affordable health care, quality schools, vibrant communities, and a secure future for all of us.

Join us at grassroots events around the country as we make our voices heard>>

Can’t join in person? Sign our online solidarity pledge to show your support>>

Thank you for taking a stand for workers and working families, and for everything you do!

From: New York Times
Subject: Today’s Headlines:
(1) Trump Promotes Arming Teachers With Guns, but Rejects Active Shooter Drills
(2) Parents and Students Plead With Trump: ‘How Many Children Have to Get Shot?’
(3) Trump Moves to Regulate ‘Bump Stock’ Devices
(4) After Florida School Shooting, Russian ‘Bot’ Army Pounced

Trump Promotes Arming Teachers With Guns, but Rejects Active Shooter Drills
By JULIE HIRSCHFELD DAVIS
President Trump promoted arming specially trained teachers to fend off school shooters, but rejected active-shooter drills to survive a rampage.

Parents and Students Plead With Trump: ‘How Many Children Have to Get Shot?’
By JULIE HIRSCHFELD DAVIS
An afternoon listening session in the State Dining Room included those affected by school shootings in Parkland, Fla.; Littleton, Colo.; and Newtown, Conn.

Trump Moves to Regulate ‘Bump Stock’ Devices
By MICHAEL D. SHEAR
The president asked the Justice Department to propose regulations that would ban “bump stocks,” which can convert a semiautomatic gun into an automatic weapon.

After Florida School Shooting, Russian ‘Bot’ Army Pounced
By SHEERA FRENKEL and DAISUKE WAKABAYASHI
Twitter accounts suspected of having links to Russia were focused on Robert Mueller. But after news broke about the shooting, they quickly changed their focus.

From: Ben Betz, Digital Advocacy Director, People For the American Way
Subject: President’s Day Reminder: NO ONE is above the law

The stories of how Donald Trump treats and talks about women … his racist promotion of offensive stereotypes, demonization of immigrants, and defense of white supremacists … the compulsive lying, endless cover-ups, blatant appeals to authoritarianism, and what appear to be more instances of corruption and ethics violations than can be easily counted…

Because he has the unconditional and unwavering backing of one of America’s two major political parties (and that party controls both chambers of Congress), it seems like Trump can do anything, say anything, and degrade people — and, indeed, entire communities — with absolute impunity.

But there IS a limit.

For all of Republicans’ abuses of power to shield Trump and his team from accountability, the fact remains that NO ONE is above the law — not even the president.

Trump has crossed so many lines. For his attacks on people and communities, his assault on institutions and norms, and his war on our constitutional rights and values, we’re working hard to make sure that he and his party are held accountable on Election Day. But if America itself — as a nation and, perhaps even more importantly, as an idea — is to survive the Trump presidency, there’s a line that he must not be allowed to cross.

If Donald Trump fires Special Counsel Robert Mueller, or moves to derail the Russia investigation with other actions (like the firing of other key Justice Department staff) that are clearly meant to obstruct justice or thwart the law, we will be in the streets, in towns and cities all across the country, with a robust coalition of Americans who are committed to defending our democracy and holding power accountable.

Sign now to let us know you’re with us!>>

Thank you for all of your support and your unyielding dedication to defending the American Way!

From: Daytonians Against War Now On Behalf Of Logan Martinez
Subject: Philippines: Washington’s New Colonial War

Operation Pacific Eagle in the Philippines: Washington’s New Colonial War

Elliott Gabriel, February 9, 2018, Minit Press News

Critics contend that Operation Pacific Eagle Philippines is aimed at strengthening Washington’s grip on the long-subjugated people of the Philippines, defeating a half-century leftist insurgency, and securing the country for the interests of U.S. multinational corporations.

In the first part of this MPN exclusive, we speak to Ka Oris of the New People’s Army and Professors William I. Robinson and Roland Simbulan about the new U.S. intervention in Asia, which raises the Philippines to the same level as Syria and Iraq for the Pentagon’s war plans.

In the second part, we will look at the 1999-2015 counterinsurgency initiative “Plan Colombia” as a template for Operation Pacific Eagle, as well as the use of the operation to continue the encirclement of China by U.S. bases.

In Part Three, we will conclude with a comparison of Operation Pacific Eagle to the notorious counterinsurgency initiative “Plan Colombia,” and look at how the new Pentagon mission enables the U.S. to continue encircling China with its military bases.

MANILA, PHILIPPINES – Last month, the U.S. Armed Forces finally admitted that a new mission was underway in the Philippines. Dubbed “Operation Pacific Eagle – Philippines,” the operation allows for an unlimited budget to be set aside for the purpose of armed U.S. operations in the Southeast Asian region.

Designated on Sept. 1, 2017 by U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis amid total secrecy in the U.S.. and the Philippines, the overseas contingency operation – an official designation for the military theaters of the former “War on Terror” – is presented as a continuation of Operation Inherent Resolve, the U.S. military’s crusade against the Islamic State group (ISIS) in Iraq and Syria.

Pacific Eagle, an open-ended mission aimed at “countering radicalization and violent extremism” in the Southeast Asian region, could see the U.S. military re-establish itself as a virtually permanent fixture in a former U.S. colony described by President Donald Trump as a “prime piece of real estate.”

Critics contend that the operation is aimed at strengthening Washington’s grip on the long-subjugated people of the Philippines, defeating a half-century leftist insurgency, and securing the country for the interests of U.S. multinational corporations.

The operation comes to light months after the conclusion of the bloody siege of Marawi, a now-pulverized city in the southernmost island of Mindanao that became the scene of a ruinous counterinsurgency campaign by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) against hundreds of alleged “Islamic State affiliates” of the Maute and Abu Sayyaf groups.

The campaign entailed the declaration of martial law in Mindanao until the end of 2018, the displacement of thousands of families, and the deployment of U.S. Special Forces to the city as advisors and drone operators assisting the Philippine military.

A recent video released by Philippine Army Special Operations Command, highlighted by Interaksyon, noted the clear evidence of U.S. logistical support to the AFP campaign, including M4s rifle optics, PEQ-2 laser designators, machine guns, grenade launchers and Harris tactical radio systems.

The U.S. participation was seen by the country’s leftists as proof of President Rodrigo Duterte’s hypocrisy, exposing his angry anti-U.S. statements and pledges to align with regional powerhouses such as Russia and China as the empty bluster of a U.S. puppet.

A report published for the U.S. Congress last Friday by Lead Inspector General Glenn Fine repeatedly invokes “ISIS-Philippines” as justification for the report while subtly mentioning “other terrorist organizations” that remain unnamed:

OPE-P is described as the comprehensive counterterrorism campaign by the DoD, in coordination with other U.S. Government agencies and international partners, to support the Philippine government and military in their efforts to isolate, degrade, and defeat Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) affiliates and other terrorist organizations in the Philippines.”

Critics see the use of the term “other terrorist organizations” as a red flag signaling that the Pentagon’s focus is far from limited to those who are seeking to help establish a global “caliphate” from the Southeast Asian archipelago.

For, Roland Simbulan, a professor at the University of the Philippines and scholar of U.S. military activities in the region, Operation Pacific Eagle represents a new stage in the counterinsurgency against the Maoist guerrillas of the New People’s Army (NPA).

“The Operation Pacific Eagle marks a new era of U.S. military intervention in the Philippines,” Simbulan told MintPress News:

Internally, it is directed against the Philippine left and externally, to use the Philippines as a springboard to reassert U.S. military power in the Pacific. It is Trump’s way of supporting the creeping authoritarianism in the country while using U.S. military forces and assets to make sure that Duterte does not change the U.S. military presence [in relation to] China.”

The Philippine RevolutFor nearly 50 years, the NPA – affiliated with the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) – has waged a prolonged insurgency against successive governments in Manila, which it accuses of serving U.S. imperialist interests rather than the interests of poor people and Indigenous communities in resource-rich rural areas desired by multinational mining firms and local exporters

Duterte once called himself a “socialist” and “anti-imperialist,” and even expressed sympathies for the red fighters in a manner considered taboo in a country that, for decades under former dictator Ferdinand Marcos, once nursed a single-minded hatred of the left.

Since 1986, however, Manila has taken part in intermittent peace talks with the banned Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) through the National Democratic Front, an alliance of social movements affiliated with the clandestine party.

While Duterte initially championed the peace process, which hinged on the implementation of an ambitious socio-economic reform agenda, the negotiations were derailed last May after his declaration of martial law in Mindanao.

Watch | Why is there an armed revolution in the Philippines?

Accordingly, the end of last year’s peace talks eventually led to Duterte designating the Philippine communists, both armed and unarmed, as “terrorists.”

“I will follow America, since they say that I am an American boy,” Duterte noted. “OK, granted, I will admit that I am a fascist. I will categorize you already as a terrorist.”

The clandestine party and its military wing have both been included in the official U.S. government list of foreign terrorist organizations since 2002.

Duterte’s accusations came shortly after U.S. President Trump’s visit to Manila for the ASEAN leaders’ summit last November, drawing criticisms that the Philippine president was acting under the direction of his “idol and puppet-master” from Washington.

“Duterte’s martial law against the so-called ‘ISIS’ in Mindanao set a perfect backdrop for the reentry of U.S. troops and their permanent basing in the country without a signed treaty,” the CPP Information Bureau said in a statement released last month:

His termination of the peace negotiations with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines and subsequent declaration of the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People’s Army as ‘terrorist organizations’ further set the stage. The declaration, which was made specifically in line with the U.S. State Department’s foreign terrorist organizations (FTO) listing, bolstered Duterte access to the U.S.’ budget for overseas contingency operations (OCO), the Pentagon’s bloated ‘anti-terror’ slush fund.”

Mindanao’s riches

The material incentives of the United States government are key to understanding why the U.S. declared Operation Pacific Eagle, according to Jorge “Ka Oris” Madlos, the spokesman for the New People’s Army (NPA) National Operations Command.

“ISIS in the Philippines is more imagined than real,” Ka Oris told MintPress News:

By using the general catchphrase ‘radicalization and violent extremism,’ the U.S. is encompassing all armed groups resistant to its puppet state’s rule, both existing and those bound to emerge due to its interference. In Mindanao, this includes legitimate Moro groups/clans fighting for their ancestral lands and right to self-determination.”

The lush island has long been known for its lucrative natural gas and mineral deposits and its wide tracts of land ideal for large-scale commercial plantations operated by multinational corporations based in the U.S., Ka Oris explains..

Multinationals have also looked covetously at the Liguasan Marsh, a huge and biodiverse complex of rivers, channels, lakes, freshwater marshes and ponds.

Viewed as sacred patrimony for the Maguindanaoan Muslim tribe, the 220,000-hectare marsh was described in U.S. diplomatic cables from 2006, obtained by WikiLeaks, as containing untapped mineral wealth totaling anywhere from $840 billion to $1 trillion.

Manila government officials at the time described the region as a “treasure trove” of mineral resources — including gold, copper, chromites, nickel, manganese, silver, iron ore, lead and zinc. According to subsequent surveys carried out by U.S. oil engineers, the natural gas reserves of Liguasan alone amount to $580 billion.

“At the same time, the island is also home to robust people’s movements and has a strong presence of armed groups, including the NPA,” Ka Oris notes.

In hopes to advance their demands for self-determination from the distant Manila government, Maguindanaoans have long taken part in armed insurgencies led by groups such as the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) — both groups that faced accusations of terrorism” from Manila and the U.S. Both groups have since signed peace deals and now hope to finalize a law granting autonomy to local elites.

Controversially, Duterte has tied the granting of autonomy to a new push to drastically raise the constitutional ceiling limiting the right of foreign investors to own Philippine land, among other measures that have raised the ire of watchdogs and opposition figures. Filipinos who oppose Duterte see the reform of foreign land ownership laws as key ingredients of a recipe for a return to colonialism in the country.

Manila also hopes a new law on autonomy can smooth over the lingering rage provoked by Marawi’s destruction. According to Moro advocates, the city’s Islamist insurgency was itself rooted more in a neglect of Moro people’s legitimate interests than in locals’ interest in the ISIS program.

“The U.S. even acknowledges that the Marawi siege may have further complicated the Moro situation in this part of the country,” Ka Oris explained.

Local Moro advocates see recent developments, such as plans to build a second major military camp in the city, as proof that Manila intends to transform Marawi City into a de facto “military reservation” directly owned and operated by the U.S. armed forces. The developments cast new light on the overuse of force against the city’s civilian infrastructure and neighborhoods for the purpose of quelling a relatively small number of Islamist insurgents.

Ka Oris notes:

The U.S. is sure to consider the city as one of its potential bases, as it hosted the main U.S. base in Mindanao in the 1900s (then known as Camp Keithley). Duterte has already displaced almost all its civilian population and is in the process of building a military base there. Resistance, both armed and unarmed, to this latest injustice is bound to intensify.”

Making the Philippines safe for global capitalism

When former dictator Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law in 1972 — ostensibly to contain the communist insurgency of the CPP-NPA and growing unrest in the cities and schools — the neocolonial status of the Philippines was drastically deepened. The country was transformed into a laboratory for neoliberal experiments, free-market policies, special economic zones, and a lifting of protectionist laws under World Bank structural adjustment loan requirements.

U.S. multinational corporations, operating through loyal elites and oligarch clans, gained unprecedented access to the country’s riches — including its banking, petrochemical, construction, telecoms, and mineral extraction industries, among other strategic sectors.

For William I. Robinson, an author and professor at the University of California Santa Barbara, a new period of martial law and militarization would come as little surprise:

Both Trumpism and Duterteism are far-right authoritarian responses to crises of state legitimacy and internecine feuding among the elite. Militarization and authoritarianism in the United States and the Philippines will become more closely linked through Operation Pacific Eagle.”

Even in the past, when Manila abstained from the iron-fisted policies of Duterte, the country’s governance entailed the violent displacement of millions throughout the country and the resultant export of several millions of displaced Filipinos to all corners of the globe as “guest workers” lacking rights in Asia, the Middle East, Europe, North Africa. While women find work as domestic laborers, servers, caregivers, nurses, or hospitality industry workers — where they are often vulnerable to rape, physical assault, and murder — men find hazardous jobs as construction workers and agricultural laborers. Some reports claim that around 6,000 are forced to leave the country to seek work every day.

Relatives of OFWs (Overseas Filipino Workers) display placards as they pitch their tent to begin their planned three-day camp-out at the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila, Philippines, Monday April 29, 2013. The camp-out was organized in sympathy with more than 2,500 who pitched their tents in Jedda, Saudi Arabia to escape alleged crackdowns on undocument overseas workers by the Saudi government. (AP/Bullit Marquez)

“The export of this surplus labor has provided a political escape value to an explosive situation of displacement and mass immiseration,” Robertson told MintPress News.

Likewise, he continues,

Agro-industrial zones have spread through the countryside and the export-industry that first took off in the 1980s has eclipsed national industrial development and has been expanding, as has the transfer of transnational corporate services – call centers, Facebook censors – to the Philippines. These transnational agro-industrial, industrial, and service complexes, along with the global export of Philippine labor, are the face of capitalist globalization in the Philippines.“

Such processes can only accelerate in a “hot-house fashion,” as global markets and the transnational capitalist class seek temporary fixes to their deepening financial worries in resource-rich yet poverty-stricken countries such as the Philippines, Robertson suggests — ensuring that Operation Pacific Eagle will embroil the U.S. in a deeper role policing the internal social turmoil within the country.

Robinson also sees Operation Pacific Eagle as quite similar to Plan Colombia, the 1999-2015 counterinsurgency aid program that saw billions of dollars in weaponry poured into Colombian security forces and paramilitaries for the purpose of destroying the FARC’s left-wing insurgency and, ostensibly, continuing the “war on drugs.”

The New People’s Army is prepared to weather the storm, according to Ka Oris, who sees continued revolutionary rigor as key to the survival of the Filipino people and New People’s Army:

Expanding the mass base, strengthening and expanding the people’s army through trainings and mass recruitments, making sure that revolutionary work is done in a comprehensive manner – [this is how we can] ensure that the guerilla forces and bases can withstand and outlast relentless attacks from enemy forces. These, alongside the study and adaptation of the NPA and the people to U.S. sophisticated weapons, such as surveillance and attack drones, that the local armed forces are already using against civilian communities.”

For the Filipino revolutionaries, it remains unclear as to whether Operation Pacific Eagle marks a new phase in Washington’s militarization of the Philippines. The interventionist policies of the United States have been a constant since the end of the Spanish colonial period when the U.S. military waged a brutal war that claimed around one million lives in the country.

However, Ka Oris notes, Operation Pacific Eagle is clearly consistent with the past administration’s so-called “pivot to the Pacific” and the United States’ push to maintain military supremacy in the Asia-Pacific region. For the Pentagon’s war-planners, the Philippines remains key to their plans for containing an increasingly strong and confident China.

In Part II, we will look at the 1999-2015 U.S. initiative “Plan Colombia” as a template for Operation Pacific Eagle, as well as the use of the operation to continue the encirclement of China by U.S. bases.

Elliott Gabriel is a former staff writer for teleSUR English and a MintPress News contributor based in Quito, Ecuador. He has taken extensive part in advocacy and organizing in the pro-labor, migrant justice and police accountability movements of Southern California and the state’s Central Coast.

From: Anna, Ilya, Anne, Manny, and the rest of the team, MoveOn.org Political Action
Subject: The NRA has met its match

At a rally in Parkland, Florida, over the weekend, Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school student Emma Gonzalez had this message to share: “To the politicians who sit in their gilded House and Senate seats funded by the NRA telling us nothing could have ever been done to prevent this: We call BS!”¹

Brave students are leading the way, and it is up to us to follow them.

Click below to chip in and help MoveOn raise $100,000 to organize in support of student-led efforts to end gun violence.

The students in Parkland are not just calling BS, they are turning their grief into action. Less than a week after 17 of their classmates and teachers were murdered in the hallways of their school, these students have made their demands very clear: They want to kick out members of Congress who take money from the NRA, make the NRA so toxic that no one else takes money from them in the future, and ban the assault weapons that have caused so much carnage in schools, nightclubs, concerts, and movie theaters across the country.²

Let’s follow their lead and make sure we’re mobilizing our resources for this fight. With your help, we will:

boost organizing for the student-led marches and walkouts in March and April by recruiting MoveOn’s millions of members and using MoveOn’s social media megaphone to help promote student-led events in Washington, D.C., and in communities across the country, and supporting as needed in other ways;
help ensure that millions of people hear what these young people are asking of all of us by amplifying videos of their speeches and interviews to our millions of social media followers;
keep campaigning to curb the power of the NRA all the way through this year’s election by shining a spotlight on the politicians who are doing the NRA’s bidding in Washington, D.C., and in states across the country, just as we helped do in the Virginia elections last year; and
look for ways to support youth leaders in future actions. The Parkland students have reminded all of us that young people will lead the way on this work. We will look for ways to support these and other student organizers as they plan and announce their next steps to fight for their lives against the gun lobby, and as students around the country identify specific needs.

Click below to chip in now to help rally behind student efforts to stop the epidemic of gun violence in our nation.

Sources:

“Florida student Emma Gonzalez to lawmakers and gun advocates: ‘We call BS,'” CNN, February 17, 2018
https://act.moveon.org/go/34063?t=4&akid=199392%2E1195276%2E80lC8N
“Mission Statement,” March for Our Lives, accessed February 20, 2018
https://act.moveon.org/go/34068?t=6&akid=199392%2E1195276%2E80lC8N

PAID FOR BY MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION, http://pol.moveon.org/. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.

From: Stop The NRA [ProgressiveTakeover.org]
Subject: Sign to pass strong gun laws NOW!

We need you to click this link right now to DEMAND Congress pass strong gun laws >>

The survivors of Florida’s shooting are heroic. These students are DEMANDING action!

But Republicans are cowards. In the face of constant tragedy and violence, they’re offering thoughts and prayers — but NO action.

So we’re standing with Democrats to pass strong gun laws state-by-state!

That means we need massive grassroots support from all 50 states. Will you sign your name for Ohio today?

Click to sign for OH >>

Children who survived unthinkable violence are demanding action.

Parents of children who will never come home are demanding change.

And we’re demanding action NOW to pass common-sense gun control.

Here are the facts:

75% of Americans think Congress needs to do more to reduce gun violence.
67% of Americans are in favor of an assault weapons ban.
83% of Americans are in favor of waiting periods before all gun purchases.^[1]

The public is on our side. Now is the time to do the right thing and finally end the scourge of gun violence!

Please add your name to our petition right now:

Click to Sign

Progressive states like California already have common sense gun control measures on the books — and they work!!

That’s why the Supreme Court refused to hear a challenge to California’s waiting period law:

But we need laws like these nationwide. That’s why we’re asking you to sign our petition today!

Click to Sign

[1] Qunnipiac University Poll | U.S. Support for Gun Control Tops 2-1, Highest Ever | 02.21.18

From: CLG_News
Subject: Explosion at US embassy in Montenegro

News Updates from CLG on 22 February 2018 http://www.legitgov.org/
All links are here: http://www.legitgov.org/#breaking_news

Explosion at US embassy in Montenegro | 22 Feb 2018 | There has been an explosion at the US Embassy in Montenegro, the government says. An unidentified attacker threw an explosive device into the embassy compound in the capital Podgorica, before killing himself, it tweeted. It said the device thrown was likely a hand grenade. A guard at a nearby sports centre told the AFP news

From: Andrew Tierman
Subject: “The Snake” read by Trump & impeach Thomas for lying to get to the SupCt

Trump explicitly applies this to immigrants, appealing to his base through his performance. See:
https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/23/politics/trump-the-snake-song/index.html

impeach Thomas for lying to get to the SupCt. See:
http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2018/02/the-case-for-impeaching-clarence-thomas.html

End of MPEN e-Newsletter

MPEN e-Newsletter No. 2018-0205

From: Munsup @SISCOM Seoh
Subject: [mpen-cincinnati] FW: MAJOR immigration vote; Far more than a ‘cover-up’; Working Peoples’ Day of Action; Medicare GONE; and more

FW: MAJOR immigration vote in the Senate this week
FW: Far more than a ‘cover-up’
FW: A letter by multiple Jewish organizations calls for Miller’s departure & Working Peoples’ Day of Action
FW: Cracking down on credit reporting companies like Equifax
FW: Will you take the next step to stop Trump’s tank parade?
FW: Medicare GONE
FW: New York Times Today’s Headlines

From: Bradley Williams; Digital Organizing Coordinator, People For the American Way
Subject: MAJOR immigration vote in the Senate this week, Munsup

After months of broken promises to DREAMers, the Senate is finally expected to begin debate on an immigration bill. Over 80 percent of Americans support an immigration law with a clear path to citizenship for DREAMers, and movement toward that goal is long overdue.

Sign now: Urge your senators to support the DREAM Act to protect young undocumented people today>>

Even if you’ve already signed on with your support of the DREAM Act, please add your name again. A message will be emailed to your senators letting them know you want them to PASS the DREAM Act without delay… and they can’t hear from their constituents enough!

It’s very important that the bill that passes does not pander to Trump and White House aide Stephen Miller’s white supremacist demands. Senators must support a bill that protects DREAMers and only includes common-sense border protection measures.

Please take action today to protect DREAMers and urge your senators to pass the DREAM act in the Senate>>

Every day that this goes unaddressed 122 more DACA recipients lose their protected status, and that status will fully expire on March 5. This is one of the most important issues on the table right now, and senators need to do the right thing.

From: Eric Kramer
Subject: Far more than a ‘cover-up’

The SCROTUS, and his Administration (which has been a shambles since Day One), are doomed, and what I love about this article is that it lays out the ‘why and the wherefore’ in a format so clear and concise that even the most fact-blind of his fawning minions should be able to understand it. It’s based on FACTS, all of which are now a matter of public record, and not mere surmise and conjecture.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-russia-isnt-about-the-cover-up-its-about-the-crime

From: Andrew Tierman
Subject: Letter by multiple Jewish organizations calls for Miller’s departure & Working Peoples’ Day of Action

Letter by multiple Jewish organizations calls for Miller’s departure: See https://www.ncjw.org/news/4062/

Working Peoples’ Day of Action

On February 24, join thousands of working people and our allies standing up for our freedoms and demanding an end to a system that’s rigged against us. We will rise up and fight.

Fight for the freedom to come together in strong unions.
Fight for equitable pay.
Fight for affordable health care.
Fight for quality schools.
Fight for vibrant communities.
Fight for a secure future for all of us.

When we join forces and stick together, we are unstoppable. Search for an event near you and join us.
Looking for the event in your neighbor? Please visit and search this website:
https://actionnetwork.org/event_campaigns/working-peoples-day-of-action

Don’t see an event near you or can’t attend an event? Stand in solidarity with the Working People’s Day of Action.

For more information about the Working People’s Day of Action, visit www.ItsAboutFreedom.org.

From: MARGARET PETERS
Subject: Cracking down on credit reporting companies like Equifax

I just signed this petition I just stood with Sen. Elizabeth Warren to tell Congress to pass legislation cracking down on credit reporting companies like Equifax, and I hope you will, too.

https://act.credoaction.com/sign/equifax_warren_2018?sp_ref=386294661.4.185980.e.598508.2&referring_akid=27267.1920731.Cc–YO&source=mailto_sp

From: Amy and the team at Win Without War
Subject: Will you take the next step to stop Trump’s tank parade?

Wow. You and 250,000 more activists signed the petition urging Washington, D.C.’s government to block Trump’s authoritarian war parade. And our immediate outcry worked: We got the Pentagon to backpedal on holding the parade in D.C. [1]

But we can’t stop there — not while Trump’s still planning an authoritarian show of force in our streets at the expense of our democracy and our tax dollars. If we can turn our incredible surge of momentum into hard and fast legislation to refuse federal funds, then we can keep Trump’s authoritarian parade off our nation’s streets for good.

Take the next step and urge Congress to permanently defund Trump’s war parade >>

We got Washington, D.C.’s Mayor and City Council on the record against Trump’s parade, plus dozens of members of Congress. [2] But the second our backs are turned, the Pentagon is going to try to cram Trump’s tanks down the streets of another American city. So we’ve got to stay two steps ahead of them.

Our nationwide pressure got two bills introduced in Congress to cut off funding for Trump’s massively wasteful and undemocratic war parade. [3] Now, we need to push hard to get these bills through Congress before Trump’s next horrible idea steals the spotlight… and the Pentagon quietly grabs taxpayer money to put Trump’s tanks on American streets.

Tell Congress: Block funding for Trump’s tank parade.

[1] MSN: Washington is Trump’s preferred parade route, options open

[2] Win Without War’s tracker: Members of Congress Speak Out Against Trump’s Military Parade

[3] Dems introduce bills to block funds for Trump’s proposed parade

From: AlterNet
Subject: Medicare GONE

The following sponsored email was sent to you by AlterNet on behalf of DCCC:

JUST RELEASED: TRUMP BUDGET CUTS $1.7 TRILLION FROM SOCIAL SAFETY NET, INCLUDING MEDICARE

5OO,OOO SIGNATURES NEEDED:
Fight back against Trump and Republicans’ Medicare-GUTTING budget >>

Donald Trump’s newly-released budget slashes TRILLIONS from our social safety net — but reserves BILLIONS for his disgusting wall.

We will NOT let Republicans steal Americans’ Medicare and Social Security to fund their bigotry and hate.

5OO,OOO DEMOCRATS NEEDED: Sign the petition and condemn Trump’s brutal attacks on Medicare and our social safety net >>

Sign Your Name >>

We’re so furious, we can barely write this email.

We just finished reading Trump’s new budget, and it’s the most heartless document we’ve ever seen.

In short, it’s a $1.7 TRILLION attack on Americans’ social safety net:

– Medicare? GUTTED
– Medicaid? DECIMATED
– Social Security? SLASHED
– Nutrition assistance? EVISCERATED

But can you guess what it prioritizes BILLIONS in funding for?

You guessed it — the Wall. (The same wall Trump promised Mexico would pay for)

Trump and his Republicans are STEALING from hardworking Americans and seniors to fund their bigotry and hate.

We. Won’t. Stand. For. It.

We need to rise up and fight back like never before. Will you be one of the 5OO,OOO Democratic signatures we need to protect our social safety net?

ADD YOUR NAME: We won’t let Trump and his Republicans
ROB us of our social safety net! >>

From: New York Times
Subject: Today’s Headlines:
(1) Russia Sees Midterm Elections as Chance to Sow Fresh Discord, Intelligence Chiefs Warn
(2) Trump’s Infrastructure Plan Puts Burden on State and Private Money

Russia Sees Midterm Elections as Chance to Sow Fresh Discord, Intelligence Chiefs Warn
By MATTHEW ROSENBERG, CHARLIE SAVAGE and MICHAEL WINES
As the midterm elections approach, Russia is likely to throw more propaganda at Americans in an effort to deepen political divisions, American intelligence chiefs said.

Trump’s Infrastructure Plan Puts Burden on State and Private Money
By PATRICIA COHEN and ALAN RAPPEPORT
The president’s $200 billion plan recasts the federal government as a minority stakeholder in the nation’s new infrastructure projects.

End of MPEN e-Newsletter

MPEN e-Newsletter No. 2018-0204

From: Munsup @Siscom Seoh
Subject: FW: Asian Registry? No drilling on sacred Native lands; How to spot ‘Fake News’ with a corollary and …; and more

FW: As I See It: Stop Massachusetts from creating an unconstitutional ‘Asian Registry’
FW: NYT Today’s Headlines:
(1) Abuse Case Exposes Fissures in a White House in Turmoil
(2) Kelly Says He’s Willing to Resign as Abuse Scandal Roils White House
(3) Kentucky Rushes to Remake Medicaid as Other States Prepare to Follow
FW: Oppose Senator Rubio’s proposal that could lead to Social Security benefit cuts
FW: Sign if you agree: No drilling on sacred Native lands
FW: How to spot ‘Fake News’ with a corollary and Trump Shows Us the Way

From: SB WOO
Subject: FW: As I See It: Stop Massachusetts from creating an unconstitutional ‘Asian Registry’

WE must stop such a legislations, and don’t let it spread from MA to other states. – SB Woo

Please sign the petition here:
https://www.ipetitions.com/petition/stop-bill-h3361-profiling-people-based-on-race-and

As I See It: Stop Massachusetts from
creating an unconstitutional ‘Asian Registry’

A controversial Massachusetts bill, the Asian Data Disaggregation Act (H.3361), is under consideration by the state legislature. If enacted, it would require “all state agencies, quasi-state agencies, entities created by state statute and sub-divisions of state agencies” to identify Asian American, and only Asian American, people based on their country of origin or ancestry.

Continue reading by clicking one of these links:

From: New York Times
Subject: Today’s Headline: (1) Abuse Case Exposes Fissures in a White House in Turmoil
(2) Kelly Says He’s Willing to Resign as Abuse Scandal Roils White House
(3) Kentucky Rushes to Remake Medicaid as Other States Prepare to Follow

Abuse Case Exposes Fissures in a White House in Turmoil
By PETER BAKER and MAGGIE HABERMAN
Aides to President Trump said they remained confused and upset over the handling of the accusations against Rob Porter, the staff secretary who stepped down.

Kelly Says He’s Willing to Resign as Abuse Scandal Roils White House
By MAGGIE HABERMAN, JULIE HIRSCHFELD DAVIS and MICHAEL S. SCHMIDT
A resignation by the chief of staff, John F. Kelly, was not considered imminent, but his suggestion reflects the turmoil engulfing President Trump’s staff.

Kentucky Rushes to Remake Medicaid as Other States Prepare to Follow
By ABBY GOODNOUGH
The state will require many people to work, volunteer or train for a job to qualify for coverage — and to prove it with frequent documentation.

From: MARGARET PETERS
Subject: Oppose Senator Rubio’s proposal that could lead to Social Security benefit cuts

I just signed a petition to urge Congress to reject a new proposal from Sen. Marco Rubio that could lead to Social Security benefit cuts. I hope you will sign and share it:
https://act.credoaction.com/sign/ss-trump-rubio?sp_ref=385260781.4.185850.e.597870.2&referring_akid=27205.1920731.Ysj_H4&source=mailto_sp

From: Josh Nelson, Deputy Political Director, CREDO Action from Working Assets
Subject: Sign if you agree: No drilling on sacred Native lands

No drilling at Chaco Culture National Historical Park

The petition to the Bureau of Land Management reads:
“Protect one of our nation’s most significant cultural and historical Native sites. Stop the proposed fossil fuel lease sales near the Chaco Culture National Historical Park.”

Add your name: Sign the Petition

If the Trump regime’s war on public lands wasn’t already dangerous enough, Big Oil is now set to destroy one of the nation’s most significant cultural and historical sites if we don’t stop them.

On the heels of Donald Trump’s reckless decision to slash the size of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments, Trump and his fossil fuel regime are ready to hand over drilling rights near the Chaco Culture National Historical Park in New Mexico, threatening more than 1,000-year-old Puebloan artifacts and structures of immense cultural, historical and tribal value.

Public lands enemy Sec. Ryan Zinke, who oversees the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), plans to put these lands up for lease to the fossil fuel industry this March. We must act now to prevent these sales from moving forward.

Tell the Bureau of Land Management: No drilling across the Greater Chaco Landscape. Click here to sign the petition.

The areas in and around the Chaco Culture National Historical Park contain the threatened ruins of Chaco Canyon – what some have referred to “as close as the U.S. gets to Egypt’s pyramids and Peru’s Machu Picchu” – as well as “the remnants of great houses, kivas, ancient roads and sacred places built a millennium ago by an indigenous people who became proficient in architecture, agriculture, astronomy and the arts.”^1,2 Today, the Navajo people rely on the Chaco Landscape to sustain their livelihoods and traditional practices, and modern New Mexican Pueblos, the descendents of Chaco culture, still consider these sites sacred.³

In response to massive backlash by the public and Native people to potential drilling and fracking in the region, the BLM promised tribal leaders and lawmakers that it would delay lease sales inside a 10-mile radius of the park until 2020, when the agency could complete a full assessment to determine the impact drilling would have on ancient sacred sites and public health.

But last summer, the BLM reversed course, and in accordance with Sec. Zinke’s plan to rapidly open up public lands for fossil fuel drilling, put up nearly 4,500 acres of land in Greater Chaco for sale, some of which lay within the buffer zone, potentially endangering sacred sites.⁴

Right now, progressive activists and tribal leaders are organizing protests on the ground to resist this wholesale giveaway of sacred Native lands to the fossil fuel industry.⁵ We must have their backs and demand that the Trump regime back down from these lease sales immediately.

Tell the Bureau of Land Management: No drilling across the Greater Chaco Landscape. Click the link below to sign the petition:

https://act.credoaction.com/sign/no_chaco_drilling?t=7&akid=27217%2E1004336%2Es7wdkh

Add your name: Sign the Petition

Elizabeth Miller, “‘As close as the US gets to Egypt’s pyramids’: how Chaco Canyon is endangered by drilling,” The Guardian, Nov. 8, 2017.
Richard Moe, “The Treasures of Chaco Canyon Are Threatened by Drilling,” The New York Times, Dec. 1, 2017.
Sen. Tom Udall, “Udall, Heinrich, Luján Urge Secretary Zinke to Defer All Leases on Land Near Chaco Culture National Historical Park,” Sept. 6, 2017.
Rebecca Moss, “N.M. leaders urge feds to protect Chaco from oil and gas encroachment,” The Santa Fe New Mexican, Sept. 8, 2017.
Rebecca Moss, “Over 100 protest BLM plans to lease land near Chaco Canyon for fracking,” The Santa Fe New Mexican, Jan. 17, 2017.

From: Eric Kramer
Subject: How to spot ‘Fake News’ with a corollary and Trump Shows Us the Way

How to spot ‘Fake News’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7eCB2F89K8
with a corollary:

https://thedailybanter.com/2018/02/study-shows-trump-supporters-now-basically-unreachable/

and Trump Shows Us the Way
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/10/opinion/sunday/trump-shows-us-the-way.html?smid=fb-share

We want a president who understands that sexual and physical abuse are wrong. As a more lucid Trump tweeted in 2012 about Rihanna getting back together with Chris Brown, “A beater is always a beater.”
We don’t want a president who bends over backward to give the benefit of the doubt to neo-Nazis, wife beaters, pedophiles and sexual predators — or who is a sexual predator himself. We don’t want a president who thinks #me is more important than #metoo.

and Trump Gives Wife Beater Praise He Usually Reserves for Child Molesters and Nazis
https://www.newyorker.com/humor/borowitz-report/trump-gives-wife-beater-praise-he-usually-reserves-for-child-molesters-and-Nazis

End of MPEN e-Newsletter

MPEN e-Newsletter No. 2018-0203

From: Munsup @SISCOM Seoh
Subject: FW: Sound familiar??? Sign the petition against ‘Military Parade’; MoveOn official vote results on “Launch ‘Resist and Win’?”; and more

FW: Sound familiar???
FW: Schumer Agrees to Give up Shutdown Fights for Two Years, in Deal That Would Deprive Senate Democrats of Power
FW: ** Official vote results on “Launch ‘Resist and Win’?” **
FW: Sign the petition re: Military parade
FW: This U.S. Senator just tore Trump to pieces
FW: Nancy Pelosi is NOT backing down [read before dinner!]
FW: I just signed this petition telling governors not to collaborate with Trump to end Medicaid.
FW: Happening now: Resist Trump’s racist, xenophobic plan to rip apart families.
FW: One of History’s Foremost Anti-Slavery Organizers Is Often Left Out of the Black History Month Story
FW: Just received this: THIS IS WORTH THE FEW MINUTES IT TAKES TO READ AND DIGEST!

From: Eric Kramer
Subject: Sound familiar???

From the physician’s medical diagnosing coding guidebook. Sound familiar???

From: Judy Burnette
Subject: Schumer Agrees to Give up Shutdown Fights for Two Years, in Deal That Would Deprive Senate Democrats of Power l Truthout

Schumer Agrees to Give up Shutdown Fights for Two Years,
in Deal That Would Deprive Senate Democrats of Power

http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/43483-schumer-agrees-to-give-up-shutdown-fights-for-two-years-in-deal-that-would-deprive-senate-democrats-of-power
Thursday, February 08, 2018 By Sam Knight, The District Sentinel | News Analysis

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer make their way to the Senate floor after announcing a two-year deal on the budget earlier in the day on February 7, 2018. (Photo: Tom Williams / CQ Roll Call)

No ads, no subscription fees — instead, Truthout is fueled by generous donations from readers. Want to support our work? Click here to donate.

Senate Democrats look poised to relinquish significant leverage — the threat of withholding government funding — well into the next Congress.

Leaders from the Senate Majority and Minority said Wednesday that they agreed to a budget deal that would roll back short-term funding norms spearheaded by Congressional Republicans during the Obama administration.

The agreement would eliminate so-called sequestration caps created by the Budget Control Act of 2011. The spending limits were agreed to by Congress after Tea Party Republicans threatened to shutdown the government.

The compromise would hike spending on defense and domestic programs by $300 billion, and it would keep the government funded through October 2019.

“After months of legislative logjams, this budget deal is a genuine breakthrough,” said Chuck Schumer (D-NY) from the Senate floor. “After months of fiscal brinkmanship, this budget deal is the real first sprout of bipartisanship, and it should break the long cycle of spending crises that have snarled this Congress and hampered the middle class.”

Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) also hailed the agreement. Speaking just before Schumer, he said: “For the first time in years, our armed forces will have more of the resources they need to keep America safe.”

The Pentagon, which received $700 billion this year, would see funding increase by $169 billion.

According to Schumer, the deal would boost spending on healthcare programs, infrastructure and higher education. The agreement would bolster community healthcare grants, while extending funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) by four years until 2027.

It would also deprive Senate Democrats of a tool they could use to stymie the Trump administration, which has been plagued by repeated accusations of Executive Branch abuses, including unprecedented nepotism and conflicts of interest, and obstruction of justice in the FBI inquiry into alleged election meddling in 2016. Republicans have the majority in both houses of Congress, but need Senate Democrats to guarantee that budget legislation won’t be filibustered.

Schumer said the deal was hammered out “without a great deal of help from the White House,” but Presidential aides praised the development. Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said that it would offer “certainty” and a “much needed” boost in defense spending.

The House might have other plans, however. Influential hardline conservatives look set to oppose the agreement. Rep. Mark Meadows (R-NC), chair of the Freedom Caucus, came out early against the proposal, according to NBC News.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) also said that she won’t back the deal, according to The Hill.

Pelosi repeated demands for a government funding agreement that includes consideration of Dreamers — 800,000 undocumented immigrants brought to the US as children. The cohort had been granted protections from removal proceedings under the Obama administration. Last year, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced that the program would expire in March

In his floor speech on Wednesday, McConnell said that the Senate would soon have an open debate on immigration legislation. He said there would be a “level playing field at the outset,” and that the Majority and Minority would “alternate proposals for consideration and for votes.” According to Reuters, the debate is expected to occur next week.

Before backing the Senate deal, Pelosi is asking House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) to schedule similar deliberations.

“Without a commitment from Speaker Ryan, comparable to the commitment from Leader McConnell, this package does not have my support,” she said on Wednesday.

This piece was reprinted by Truthout with permission or license. It may not be reproduced in any form without permission or license from the source.

Sam Knight is a reporter, editor and cofounder of The District Sentinel, a news co-op reporting on Washington and federal policy for the left.

From: Ilya, Stephen, Maria, Marie, and the rest of the team, MoveOn.org Political Action
Subject: ** Official vote results on “Launch ‘Resist and Win’?” **

The votes are in: MoveOn members have voted 91% to 9% for MoveOn to run the biggest midterm elections program in our history, so today we are taking a big leap and launching the program.

And this decision comes not a moment too soon, because the past week has brought a spate of troubling headlines from the nation’s top election experts, such as “What Happened to the Democratic Wave?” and “The Last Two Weeks of Polls Have Been Great for Republicans. Do They Signal a Shift?”^1,2

The New York Times put it this way: “Last month it seemed that Democrats might ride a giant tsunami to control of the House and Senate. Now, some are wondering whether there’s a Democratic wave at all.”³

If we needed evidence that winning big in November is not a foregone conclusion, we have it. So we are getting to work right now systematically putting the pieces in place to win in November.

But launching a campaign of this size is a huge leap of faith, because it will require a substantial and consistent flow of funds between now and November in order to succeed. And our funding comes from you, our members, not billionaire donors. So to pull off this $15 million campaign, we need your support.

Can you start a monthly donation to MoveOn today to help power our campaign to win big at the ballot boxes this November?

Donate monthly or make a one-time gift

So what’s behind headlines like these today from CNN and The Washington Post: “Republicans are suddenly more optimistic about the midterms” and “Improving poll numbers give Republicans hope that the midterms might not be so bad”?^4,5

Polls are swinging toward Republicans. Donald Trump’s approval rating is the highest it’s been in nearly a year.⁶ And the Democrats’ large advantage on the “generic ballot”—polls that ask people which party they would support in upcoming congressional elections—has evaporated to only a small lead.⁷

Here’s our best understanding of what’s happening: Corporate America has teamed up with Republicans in Congress and their billionaire donors to boost public opinion on the new tax law, touting and shining attention on companies announcing meager, one-time bonuses for some workers rather than the multibillion-dollar windfalls showered on the top 1%. And it’s working.

Public opinion of the new tax law is shifting, even though the reality is that the vast majority of tax giveaways benefit billionaires and big corporations. And a majority of voters now say they approve of how Trump is handling the economy—and that Trump, not President Obama, is primarily responsible for the economy’s health.⁸

That’s why the road to winning in November begins now. Together, we’re launching our largest midterm campaign ever, a $15 million effort to end Republican control of the House, win key Senate races, support 100 strong, diverse, progressive candidates for state and local office, and mobilize voters in every corner of the country. And we need to start right now if we are going to have enough funds to sustain us through November.

Click below to start your monthly donation today to help fund this critical grassroots election campaign.

Donate monthly or make a one-time gift

We’ve resisted mightily this past year. Sometimes we’ve even succeeded against all odds.

And now it’s time to electoralize the Resistance. November is coming. Let’s resist—and win.

Thanks for all you do.

P.S. Here’s our elections plan in a nutshell:

We’ll work to support 100 candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives to end Republican control of Congress—so we can expand the map, support a slate of progressive challengers, hold incumbent Republicans accountable for their votes, and put an end to attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act, give handouts to massive corporations, and continue countless attacks on our communities.

We’ll endorse progressive candidates in key Senate races and support 100 diverse, dynamic, fierce down-ballot candidates to build up progressive power at the state and local level around the country.

We’ll build on the grassroots organizing tactics and technology that we developed and tested in 2017—tactics in the areas of recruitment, training, voter persuasion, mobilization, organizing, social media, mobile tools, tech, analytics, and video. For example, last year with our partners, we led a series of Ready to Resist mass mobilizing calls that regularly engaged tens of thousands of activists, and we also organized a Resistance Summer training program that supported 1,000 MoveOn members across the country as they developed powerful organizing skills. We will mobilize these members and train even more to lead this year.

We’ll run a campaign that stands shoulder to shoulder with the communities most impacted by GOP attacks and policies—including Muslims, immigrants, LGBTQ folks, and people of color. These communities have been consistently used as scapegoats to mobilize Republican voters during elections. We will push back on candidates of either party who throw vulnerable communities under the bus to win elections, and we’ll elevate candidates who authentically channel the voices of the diverse American electorate.

We’ll scale our innovative social media persuasion testing and delivery technology that proved effective at persuading and turning out thousands of voters in both Virginia and Alabama last year. MoveOn’s tech and mobile teams developed a new peer-to-peer messaging platform, Spoke, that has already been responsible for mobilizing 60,000 grassroots actions. We will put all of these tools to work in service of our electoral objectives in 2018.

We’ll fund this work with hundreds of thousands of small-dollar contributions from MoveOn members in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. And, if necessary, we will launch a Super PAC to enable us to collect more resources to maximize the power of MoveOn members. (The Super Pac would be time-limited, we’d disclose the names of donors giving over $200 publicly to the FEC, and we’d shut it down after the close of the election.)

It’s a big, ambitious plan, but it will be possible only with your support. Will you start a monthly donation now?

Donate monthly or make a one-time gift

Sources:

“What Happened To The Democratic Wave?” FiveThirtyEight, February 1, 2018
https://act.moveon.org/go/33484?t=8&akid=198521%2E1195276%2EXONrks
“The Last Two Weeks of Polls Have Been Great for Republicans. Do They Signal a Shift?” The New York Times, February 2, 2018
https://act.moveon.org/go/33485?t=10&akid=198521%2E1195276%2EXONrks
Ibid.
“Republicans are suddenly more optimistic about the midterms,” CNN, February 8, 2018
https://act.moveon.org/go/33486?t=12&akid=198521%2E1195276%2EXONrks
“Improving poll numbers give Republicans hope that the midterms might not be so bad,” The Washington Post, February 8, 2018
https://act.moveon.org/go/33487?t=14&akid=198521%2E1195276%2EXONrks
“Trump’s Approval Rating Is the Highest It’s Been in Nearly a Year, Poll Finds,” Time, February 3, 2018
http://act.moveon.org/go/33488?t=16&akid=198521%2E1195276%2EXONrks
“Are Democrats Winning The Race For Congress?” FiveThirtyEight, last accessed February 8, 2018
https://act.moveon.org/go/33104?t=18&akid=198521%2E1195276%2EXONrks
“Republicans are suddenly more optimistic about the midterms,” CNN, February 8, 2018
https://act.moveon.org/go/33486?t=20&akid=198521%2E1195276%2EXONrks

Want to support our work? The MoveOn community will work every moment, day by day and year by year, to resist Trump’s agenda, contain the damage, defeat hate with love, and begin the process of swinging the nation’s pendulum back toward sanity, decency, and the kind of future that we must never give up on. And to do it we need your ongoing support, now more than ever. Will you stand with us?

Donate monthly or make a one-time gift

PAID FOR BY MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION, http://pol.moveon.org/. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.

From: Stephen Miles, Win Without War
Subject: Sign the petition re: Military parade

Donald Trump wants a massive demonstration of military power in Washington, D.C. A war parade would be a waste of our taxpayer dollars, would not do anything to keep our country safe, and would not honor the men and women in uniform. Its entire purpose is to let Trump play dictator for a day, further eroding democracy, and pushing our country even closer to authoritarianism.

Sign the petition calling on D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and the D.C. Council to reject Trump’s plans for a military parade through our nation’s capital.

Trump’s war parade must not be treated as normal.
Prevent Trump from holding a dangerous war parade in Washington, D.C.

Sign Stephen’s petition

Trump wants to send tanks, troops, and guns down the streets of Washington, D.C. This is the kind of parade that dictators around the world use to try and intimidate their enemies and, more importantly, their own citizens.

The truth is the money wasted on feeding Trump’s desire to see tanks and missiles paraded past his luxury hotel is money our nation desperately needs turning the lights back on in Puerto Rico, providing treatment for the opioid epidemic, making college affordable, and countless other needs Trump seems to have no interest in meeting.

This is not democracy.

Urge Washington, D.C.’s Mayor Muriel Bowser and the DC Council to act immediately and shut down Trump’s war parade by refusing to issue permits, allocate resources, or otherwise cooperate with such an outrageous idea.

Click here to stop Trump’s war parade, and then pass the petition along to your friends.

From: Important! Progressive Takeover Update
Subject: This U.S. Senator just tore Trump to pieces

SIGN YOUR NAME: [24 hr deadline]
Stand with Tammy Duckworth to take down Donald Trump >>

Tammy Duckworth just took Trump to task for being a DICTATOR:

Yes Tammy!! We’re so grateful that she’s speaking truth to power — so we’re asking 5,000 Democrats to stand with her.

If you want to take down Donald Trump, sign your name right now:

SIGN YOUR NAME >>

Trump’s bruised ego is undermining our democracy. He’s certainly not a dictator of an authoritarian regime (even if he might act like it):

But Senator Tammy Duckworth won’t have any of it.

We think Tammy is so right! Donald Trump ALSO took an oath to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution. It’s high time he started doing so!

Let’s stop Trump’s dangerous nonsense in its tracks!

We need just 5,000 Progressives to sign on by midnight tomorrow.

SIGN YOUR NAME >>

From: BREAKING [SIGN THIS PETITION by PROGRESSIVE TAKEOVER]
Subject: Nancy Pelosi is NOT backing down [read before dinner!]

SIGN NOW: [12 hour deadline]
Sign to STOP Republicans from deporting Dreamers>>

We’re working on borrowed time.

We only have just hours to force Republicans to do the right thing — and pass a budget that PROTECTS Dreamers.

So we’re sending a massive grassroots petition to Washington.

If we don’t get enough signatures — 800,000 Dreamers could face deportation.

There’s NO time to spare. Sign to STOP Republicans from deporting Dreamers:

SIGN THE PETITION >>

Trump is playing games with our immigration system and threatening ANOTHER government shutdown if he doesn’t get his way.

Even with a new bipartisan bill on the table, Trump continues his racist rhetoric to dismantle President Obama’s efforts to defend Dreamers.

Demand Congress take action NOW to protect Dreamers.

SIGN THE PETITION >>

It’s time we settle this once and for all. Dreamers are American in every way, but one. Congress must act before time runs out.

Click the link below to sign our petition:

https://act.progressivetakeover.org/go/Protect-Dreamers-Now

From: MARGARET PETERS
Subject: I just signed this petition telling governors not to collaborate with Trump to end Medicaid. I hope you will sign and share it.

I just signed this petition telling governors not to collaborate with Trump to end Medicaid. I hope you will, too.

https://act.credoaction.com/sign/trump_medicaid?sp_ref=384670421.4.185477.e.596332.2&referring_akid=27171.1920731.8MVmQR&source=mailto_sp

From: Monique Teal, Daily Kos
Subject: Happening now: Resist Trump’s racist, xenophobic plan to rip apart families.

Yesterday, Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi took to the House floor to share stories of young undocumented people who have been put in peril by Trump and Republicans in Congress. She bore witness to their struggle for a little more than eight hours.

She spoke of people like Denea, who has lived in the U.S. since she was seven and now as an adult is a community organizer. She shared stories of sisters like Alex, a 19-year-old college student, and Daniela, a 24-year-old small business owner. She uplifted patriots like Zion, who is currently enlisted as a reservist cargo specialist in the U.S. Army.

Immigrant youth are in a fight for their lives. We need Republican members of Congress on board to get a floor vote for the Dream Act. Please, make a call today.

Call Representative Michael R. Turner at (202) 225-6465. Demand he support a floor vote for the Dream Act ASAP.

Hi, my name is _______ from ___________ in city ____________. I am calling to urge Representative Michael R. Turner to demand a floor vote on the Dream Act. Immigrant youth are already losing their DACA protections. We can’t wait for Congress to work out a massive immigration overhaul and it’s cruel to leave immigrant youth in limbo. Enough is enough. Please demand a vote on the Dream Act TODAY. Thank you for your time.

Once you’ve placed the call, click here to tell us how it went. We are keeping a running tally of calls.

Finished your call or can’t get through? Sign and send a petition to Representative Michael R. Turner: Immigrant youth can’t wait. Pass the Dream Act NOW!

ADD YOUR NAME

As Pelosi was speaking, immigrant youth took over the U.S. Capitol to demand that Congress finally pass the Dream Act, legislation that would protect them from deportation and provide a pathway to citizenship, provided they fulfill a laundry list of requirements.

Donald Trump and his racist, xenophobic administration are demanding an extreme, sweeping immigration overhaul in exchange for protecting immigrant youth. But his deal would rip families apart, further criminalize people of color, and cut legal immigration by half. It’s a non-starter for anyone with a conscience.

Eighty-one percent of Democrats, 51 percent of Republicans and 66 percent of independents support providing legal status to immigrant youth. There is no reason for Republicans to continue holding immigrant youth hostage.

Representative Michael R. Turner needs to feel the same urgency as Leader Pelosi and immigrant youth. Tell them to reject Trump’s racist, anti-immigrant plan. Pass the Dream Act now.

Call Representative Michael R. Turner at (202) 225-6465. Demand he support a floor vote for the Dream Act ASAP.

Hi, my name is ______ from ________ in the city of ________. I am calling to urge Representative Michael R. Turner to demand a floor vote on the Dream Act. Immigrant youth are already losing their DACA protections. We can’t wait for Congress to work out a massive immigration overhaul and it’s cruel to leave immigrant youth in limbo. Enough is enough. Please demand a vote on the Dream Act TODAY. Thank you for your time.

Once you’ve placed the call, click here to tell us how it went. We are keeping a running tally of calls.

Finished your call or can’t get through? Sign and send a petition to Representative Michael R. Turner: Immigrant youth can’t wait. Pass the Dream Act NOW!

ADD YOUR NAME

From: Wahls, Myron DDS Detroit [mailto:Myron.Wahls@ssa.gov]
Subject: FW: One of History’s Foremost Anti-Slavery Organizers Is Often Left Out of the Black History Month Story

I thought you would be interested in this story I found on MSN:
One of History’s Foremost Anti-Slavery Organizers Is Often Left Out of the Black History Month Story
http://a.msn.com/01/en-us/BBIPVi2?ocid=se

From: Jedith
Subject: Just received this: THIS IS WORTH THE FEW MINUTES IT TAKES TO READ AND DIGEST!

A woman dies at age 65 before collecting one benefit check. She and her employer paid into the system for almost 50 years and she collected NOTHING!

Keep in mind all the working people that die every year who were paying into the system and got nothing! And these governmental morons mismanaged the money and stole from the system, so that it’s now going broke. BEAUTIFUL! and they have the audacity to call today’s seniors “vultures” in an attempt to cover their ineptitude. DISGRACEFUL! The real reason for renaming our Social Security payments is so the government can claim that all those social security recipients are receiving entitlements thus putting them in the same case as welfare, food stamp recipients.

THIS IS WORTH THE FEW MINUTES IT TAKES TO READ AND DIGEST!

F.Y.I. By changing the name of SS contributions it gives them a means to refute this program in the future. It’s free money for the government to spend under this guise.

The Social Security check is now (or soon will be) referred to as a *Federal Benefit Payment*? I’ll be part of the one percent to forward this. I am forwarding it because it touches a nerve in me, and I hope it will in you.

Please keep passing it on until everyone in our country has read it. The government is now referring to our Social Security checks as a “Federal Benefit Payment.” This isn’t a benefit. It is our money paid out of our earned income! Not only did we all contribute to Social Security but our employers did too. It totaled 15% of our income before taxes.

(This should be enough for you to forward this message, If not read on.)

If you averaged $30K per year over your working life, that’s would make your Social Security investment close to $180,000. If you calculate the future value of your monthly investment in social security ($375/month, including both you and your employers contributions) at a meager 1% interest rate compounded monthly, after 40 years of working you’d have more than $1.3+ million dollars saved! This is your personal investment. Upon retirement, if you took out only 3% per year, you’d receive $39,318 per year, or $3,277 per month. That’s almost three times more than today’s average Social Security benefit of $1,230 per month, according to the Social Security Administration. (Google it – it’s a fact). And your retirement fund would last more than 33 years (until you’re 98 if you retire at age 65)!

I can only imagine how much better most average-income people could live in retirement if our government had just invested our money in low-risk interest-earning accounts. Instead, the folks in Washington pulled off a bigger *Ponzi scheme* than Bernie Madoff ever did. (Lyndon Johnson) They took our money and used it elsewhere. They forgot (oh yes, they knew) that it was OUR money they were taking. They didn’t have a referendum to ask us if we wanted to lend the money to them. And they didn’t pay interest on the debt they assumed. And recently they’ve told us that the money won’t support us for very much longer.(Isn’t it funny that they NEVER say this about welfare payments?) But is it our fault they misused our investments? And now, to add insult to injury, they’re calling it a *benefit*, as if we never worked to earn every penny of it.

Just because they borrowed the money, doesn’t mean that our investments were a charity! Let’s take a stand. We have earned our right to Social Security and Medicare.. Demand that our legislators bring some sense into our government. Find a way to keep Social Security and Medicare going for the sake of that 92% of our population who need it.

Then call it what it is: Our Earned Retirement Income.

End of MPEN e-Newsletter

MPEN e-Newsletter No. 2018-0202

From: Munsup @MPEN Seoh
Subject: FW: Breaking: Trump ordered tanks in D.C.; NYT Today’s Headlines; Paul Ryan ridiculed for bragging…; and more

FW: Breaking: Trump ordered tanks in D.C.
FW: Petition updates
FW: Several Eagles players already refusing to celebrate Super Bowl win with Trump
FW: Today’s Headlines:
(1) Thousands of ISIS Fighters Flee in Syria, Many to Fight Another Day
(2) As F.B.I. Took a Year to Pursue the Nassar Case, Dozens Say They Were Molested
FW: Everything Terrible The Trump Administration Has Done So Far
FW: House Republicans Rush To Get In On The Big Obstruction Of Justice Party
FW: House memo states disputed dossier was key to FBI’s FISA warrant to surveil members of Team Trump
FW: Paul Ryan ridiculed on social media for bragging about secretary’s tiny raise under GOP tax cut

From: Stephen, Cassandra, Amy, and the Win Without War team
Subject: Breaking: Trump ordered tanks in D.C.

Urgent: Trump just ordered a massive military parade in D.C.
Tell D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser to shut it down immediately >>

Last night, the Washington Post broke the story that Donald Trump has ordered a giant military parade with tanks, guns, and troops taking over the streets of our nation’s capital. [1] This is the kind of parade that dictators around the world use to intimidate their enemies and, more importantly, their own citizens.

This is what authoritarian dictatorships look like.

But Trump can’t change the fact that we still live in a democracy — which means Washington, D.C.’s local government gets to have a say before Donald Trump’s tanks roll down its streets. If we put immediate pressure on Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, we can force her to step in and shut down Trump’s blatant warmongering. So it’s up to us to spark a massive response from coast to coast: NO WAY, NOT NOW, NOT EVER.

Please, act now to demand Mayor Bowser stop Trump’s brazen war parade.

[1] Trump’s ‘marching orders’ to the Pentagon: Plan a grand military parade.
(Munsup’s Note: He has seen the imagination many times when he was in Korea under late President Park.)

From: Maria, Pulin, Alex, Iram, and the rest of the team, MoveOn.org Civic Action
Subject: Petition updates

Our aspirations and hopes for the nation are reflected in what MoveOn members and partners do—locally and nationally.

In the past few months, we’ve been busy fighting against the Trump agenda, working to rebuild progressive power, and laying the groundwork for victories in 2018. We supported the electoral wins in Virginia and Alabama, took on a fierce fight against the GOP corporate tax giveaway, continued work in solidarity with Dreamers and immigrants under attack, and are organizing to defend the Mueller investigation—including a rapid-response network of more than 700 events and 220,000 participants ready to spring into action if Trump fires Mueller.

Many times, the catalyst for change is a MoveOn member, like you, who starts a petition or signs on to support an issue that’s important to them.

With all that we are doing, it’s important to reflect on the progress this movement is making, so let’s take a look at what MoveOn members and partner organizations have been up to on our petition platform in the past couple of months.

Standing with families threatened by Trump’s cruel deportation regime

After grassroots support from her community, including more than 10,000 signatures on a MoveOn petition, Connecticut resident Nelly Cumbicos will be allowed to stay with her family instead of facing deportation. While it’s great news for her family, hundreds of thousands of MoveOn members are still fighting for a Dream Act, equality for same-sex couples, and ending cruel deportations, which destroy many other families. As ICE becomes more emboldened and given extra powers by the Trump administration, it will take all of us to stand up to protect families from being torn apart.

If you know people or communities who are being attacked by the Trump administration’s policies, launch a petition now.

Ensuring that Net Neutrality is not dead

Nearly 100,000 MoveOn members have signed Demand Progress’ petition to overturn the FCC’s repeal of Net Neutrality. And thanks to a groundswell of support, the campaign is on the verge of winning a bipartisan victory in the Senate—50 senators have already signed on, and there’s a real chance your additional support will help win this battle by persuading Republicans who are currently undecided.

You can start a petition asking your senators to commit to protecting Net Neutrality or other issues important to you.

Protecting the integrity of the Mueller investigation

Trump and the Republicans stepped up their attacks on the Mueller investigation. They’re taking extreme measures against the FBI and Department of Justice and leveraging the so-called “Nunes Memo,” which is simply a piece of propaganda designed to undermine the rule of law. More than 140,000 MoveOn members are demanding Speaker Ryan remove Rep. Nunes from this investigation and the House Intelligence Committee.

Start your own petition against government corruption now.

Holding Trump accountable for sexual abuse and harassment

A petition asking the Department of Justice and Congress to investigate Trump’s history of sexual assault and harassment continues to gain massive support. We teamed up with UltraViolet and CREDO to deliver more than 500,000 signatures to Senate Minority Leader Schumer and House Minority Leader Pelosi this week. We’ll keep the pressure up until Congress takes these allegations seriously.

It’s empowering to start your own petition to hold people in positions of power accountable for their destructive actions.

Spotlight: 11 campaign updates you don’t want to miss

Lawyers for Cyntoia Brown, imprisoned for killing one of her abusers in self-defense, filed paperwork appealing her sentence and seeking clemency. More than 480,000 MoveOn members who signed a petition are hoping for good news in the days ahead.
Trump confirmed that he plans to keep the current trophy hunting ban in place after animal advocates, including 180,000 MoveOn members, denounced his administration’s plans to lift it.
Nearly 40,000 people signed a petition which asked Congress to release testimony from Fusion GPS as part of the investigation into Russian interference in U.S. elections. After massive public pressure, the transcript was released by the House panel.
120,000 of us signed on to a petition from Karine Jean-Pierre—an immigrant, Haitian, and former White House aide who is now a national spokesperson and senior adviser at MoveOn. Her petition called on Congress to condemn Trump’s racist comments about people from Haiti and Africa.
MPower Change took the lead on a petition asking Twitter to delete Trump’s account. Over 50,000 people signed, because we agree it’s reprehensible for Trump to use the platform to threaten international nuclear war with North Korea, disseminate hateful anti-Muslim videos, condemn a free press, and attack civilians.
After Trump cut tens of millions of dollars in funding for refugees, nearly 20,000 of us signed a petition from the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), demanding Trump continue supporting “education, healthcare, social services, and emergency protection to refugees in need.”
Bill Nye (yes, the Science Guy) was at the State of the Union as a guest of anti-science Rep. Jim Bridenstine, who is under consideration to head NASA and looking for ways to boost his reputation. Petitions started by Climate Hawks Vote and other allies asking Nye to skip the address drew widespread support and media attention.
Shannon Watts petitioned CNN to feature a State of the Union response from women in the Resistance. Despite 50,000 signatures of support, CNN denied her request. Inspired by the momentum, Shannon and allies decided to stream their own programming!
The House introduced the Marijuana Justice Act to accompany a Senate version of the bill. This issue received a great deal of support on multiple petitions, because if passed, it will decriminalize the use of marijuana on the federal level.
Lin-Manuel Miranda and Power 4 Puerto Rico continue to push Congress to provide relief to the island months after a deadly hurricane hit. Their petition has 209,000 signatures and is growing every day.
In New Hampshire, a MoveOn member and organizer delivered hundreds of petition signatures asking the NH Democratic Party to reduce superdelegates by 60% in time for the 2020 primary cycle during the state party’s meeting last week. It drew loud applause from attendees.

Our core values and institutions are under unprecedented attacks, and while it may not seem that petitions will make all the difference, we’re here to inspire each other each day. Resistance doesn’t always lead to immediate victory, but it’s an important step to take to get our nation headed in the right direction.

Thank you for being an inspiration to us as we continue to move ahead into a crucial 2018 year of opportunity, organizing, and victories!

Will you start your own petition for progressive change now?

Want to support our work? The MoveOn community will work every moment, day by day and year by year, to resist Trump’s agenda, contain the damage, defeat hate with love, and begin the process of swinging the nation’s pendulum back toward sanity, decency, and the kind of future that we must never give up on. And to do it we need your ongoing support, now more than ever. Will you stand with us? Donate monthly or make a one-time gift

Contributions to MoveOn.org Civic Action are not tax deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes.

From: Evan, Rashad, Arisha, Brandi, Jade, Johnny, Future, Corina, Chad, Mary, Saréya, Eesha, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
Subject: Several Eagles players already refusing to celebrate Super Bowl win with Trump

Join me in thanking Chris Long, Torrey Smith and Malcolm Jenkins of the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles for taking a stand against Donald Trump’s bigotry and white supremacy.

One year into Trump’s presidency and we’ve already seen his racist and nativist rhetoric come to life in devastating ways: ripping apart families through deportation, increased violence by white supremacists, and the attempted destruction of the middle class through his horrendous tax policy. It’s usually customary for the winning Super Bowl team to visit the White House, but this isn’t a normal president. Chris Long, Torrey Smith and Malcolm Jenkins of the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles have publicly rebuked Trump and his policies by boycotting the traditional White House visit.

By refusing to visit the White House, these players continue to take a bold stance against this illegitimate President and the racist, xenophobic, and sexist policies he stands for. They are risking the alienation of their teammates, coaches, and fans in order to stand up for their principles.

Let’s show these Eagles’ players just how much we support their bold stand. Thank Chris Long, Torrey Smith and Malcolm Jenkins for standing against Trump.

The quiet national anthem protests begun by Colin Kaepernick two years ago turned into a firestorm this year with more and more athletes taking a stand, Kaepernick continuing to be blackballed, as well Trump’s and some NFL owners’ racist comments about these athletes. While this will mark the second year in a row that Chris Long has boycotted the White House after a Super Bowl win, it’s not the first time athletes have turned their back on the former Apprentice host.

Last spring, Steph Curry announced that he and the championship Warriors wouldn’t visit Trump’s White House and numerous teams from the NBA, NHL, and MLB have taken to boycotting Trump hotels.¹ ² They’re following in a long tradition of athletes taking a stand for Black lives and rights, from Muhammad Ali to Tommie Smith and John Carlos giving the Black Power salute at the 1968 Olympics, to NBA players invoking the legacy of Eric Garner by wearing “I Can’t Breathe” shirts on the court. These are athletes who demand that America live up to its values of liberty and justice for all.

Join me in thanking Chris Long, Torrey Smith and Malcolm Jenkins for standing up against Trump.

We’re in a pivotal moment when everyday Americans and public figures with shared values of justice and equity are using their powerful voices to say enough is enough–no more racism, no more anti-Muslim bigotry, no more misogyny, and no more Trump! We need to continue to support the athletes that are risking their livelihoods to stand up for justice.

Thank Chris Long, Torrey Smith and Malcom Jenkins for standing with Black communities.

References:

“Donald Trump rescinds White House invitation to Stephen Curry, Warriors.” 23 September, 2017. https://act.colorofchange.org/go/17556?t=10&akid=9041%2E239715%2EwAH4-K
“Sports teams are deserting Trump’s hotels, and it’s hitting his wallet hard.” 12 October, 2017. https://act.colorofchange.org/go/17557?t=12&akid=9041%2E239715%2EwAH4-K

Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change.
Help keep our movement strong.

From: New York Times
Subject: NYT Today’s Headlines: Thousands of ISIS Fighters Flee in Syria, Many to Fight Another Day

Thousands of ISIS Fighters Flee in Syria, Many to Fight Another Day
By ERIC SCHMITT
As some militants go into hiding and others slip into Turkey, the flow risks tarnishing American declarations that the Islamic State has been largely defeated.

As F.B.I. Took a Year to Pursue the Nassar Case, Dozens Say They Were Molested
By DAN BARRY, SERGE F. KOVALESKI and JULIET MACUR
The agency was seemingly slowed by jurisdictional issues, and athletes went unwarned that a potential child molester was in their midst.

From: Munsup @SISCOM Seoh
Subject: FW: Everything Terrible The Trump Administration Has Done So Far

https://paperspaperspapers.wordpress.com/2017/01/25/the-everything-terrible-the-trump-administration-has-done-so-far-omnibus/

The “Everything Terrible The Trump Administration Has Done So Far” Omnibus

Here’s a list of all the awful things done the Trump Administration has done so far. It can be to used as a quick reference source in arguments against anyone who tries…

From: MARGARET PETERS [mailto:mpeters0312@sbcglobal.net]
Subject: FW: House Republicans Rush To Get In On The Big Obstruction Of Justice Party

On Saturday, February 3, 2018 7:38 AM, The Pen <theteam@activist149.peaceteam.net> wrote:

We know we don’t have a lot of Republicans on our distribution list. But for the ever diminishing minority, if they’re following any of this out there, hurry, hurry, you too can get in on the big obstruction of justice party.

If it turns out that Nunes, so close to Trump he was on the transition team, conspired with the White House, exactly like he has before, in any way to cook up a slimy and deceptive attack on the FBI, solely intended, and already admitted as such, to pave the way for aborting the Mueller investigation, Nunes will be doing the perp walk himself before long.

For those Republicans who claim they are just going after some supposed bad apples at the top, while still supporting the rank and file, guess what? The rank and file, the FBI Agents Association, is standing strongly behind FBI director Wray.

Trump was caught on a hot mike promising release of the memo before anyone would admit that he had even read it. It literally represents rendering a verdict before even a due consideration of the facts, with Nunes himself never having read the material underlying the one-sided memo he is pushing, and with Republicans on the so-called Intelligence Committee vetoing the idea of even being briefed by the FBI before their rush to publish.

There are rumblings from the inside the White House that the whole thing is just big fat dud, and that all this is just about the handling of the investigation into Carter Page. What’s the scandal the Republicans are ranting about, that a known Russian asset, albeit an inept one who even the Russians thought was an idiot, was kept under surveillance?

Nixon was desperate to stop the Watergate investigation, and couldn’t. But at some point he stopped committing additional crimes of obstruction of justice to do so. Trump seems determined to make the special counsel’s case for him, missing no opportunity to pile on additional evidence of his intent.

As we predicted, Trump will never voluntarily submit to any kind of Mueller interview, let alone testify. His attorney released a statement asserting the Mueller had not met the so-called “high bar” required to question an Oval Office occupant.

Unfortunately, there is no bar too low for Trump himself to slink under.

But you can raise the bar again, with any of our Lock Trump up message gifts.

Trump, YOU’RE Fired caps: https://www.utalk.us/?g=2:Y
Lock Him Up Trump popcorn boxes: https://www.utalk.us/?g=5:PB
Dump Trump bumper stickers: https://www.utalk.us/?g=1:SU
Trump the Fraud bumper stickers: https://www.utalk.us/?g=1:SF
Custom Trump Resistance bumper stickers: http://www.peaceteam.net/custom_trump_sticker.php

Or if you’d just like to make a valiant contribution to support these insights of truth, you can use this page, and you can even make it recurrent by checking the option box for that now.
Donations: https://www.utalk.us/?p=donate
And here is the mailing address if you would prefer to send a check.
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Contributions to The People’s Email Network or ActBlue are not tax-deductible for federal income tax purposes.

You may forward this message to any friends who would find it important.
If you would like to be added to our distribution list, go to http://www.peaceteam.net/in.htm

From: CLG_News
Subject: House memo states disputed dossier was key to FBI’s FISA warrant to surveil members of Team Trump

News Updates from CLG on 03 February 2018, http://www.legitgov.org/
All links are here: http://www.legitgov.org/#breaking_news

House memo states disputed dossier was key to FBI’s FISA warrant to surveil members of Team Trump | 02 Feb 2018 | A much-hyped memo that shows alleged government surveillance abuse during the 2016 campaign has been released to the public and cites testimony from a high-ranking government official who says the FBI and DOJ would not have sought surveillance warrants to spy on a member of the Trump team without the infamous, Democratic-f-nded anti-Trump dossier. Republicans on the House Intelligence Committee released the memo Friday. The White House responded by saying the memo “raises serious concerns about the integrity of decisions made at the highest levels of the Department of Justice and the FBI to use the government’s most intrusive surveillance tools against American citizens.”

Republican memo: What you need to know about alleged FBI and DOJ abuses | 02 Feb 2018 | The four-page memo compiled by the GOP Chair of the House Intelligence Committee accuses the FBI and DOJ under the Obama administration of securing a warrant to spy on the Trump campaign based on the notorious ‘Steele dossier.’ Declassified by President Donald Trump and published by the committee Friday over strong objections by Democrats, the DOJ and the FBI, the memo lays out the origins of the warrant to spy on Trump adviser, Carter Page, in the dossier f-nded by Hillary Clinton’s campaign. The so-called Steele dossier “formed an essential part” of the FISA probable cause order obtained by the FBI from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC) on October 21, 2016. The warrant was extended three times, also on the basis of the Steele dossier. [See also: 370598711 House Intelligence Committee Report on FISA Abuses.]

GOP-Nunes memo released alleging FBI cover-up [and FISA surveillance improprieties] | 02 Feb 2018 | The House Intelligence Committee on Friday made public a Republican memo that raises questions about the FBI surveillance of one of Donald Trump’s campaign aides, acting after the president declassified the entire document, which he says shows the law enforcement agency was biased against him. The disclosure came despite the opposition of the FBI, which feared it would reveal investigative methods bias and illegalities, and the Justice [sic] Department. The three-and-a-half-page memo was prepared by the intelligence committee’s chairman, Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif., and is a critique of the FBI’s application for surveillance authority that was presented to the Federal Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) Court.

Read the full transcript of the GOP memo | 02 Feb 2018 | This is the 3.5-page memo prepared by House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes. It is derived from the FBI’s application for surveillance authority before the Federal Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) Court. The memo was released Friday after President Donald Trump decided to declassify it in full, White House spokesman Raj Shah. Purpose: This memorandum provides Members an update on significant facts relating to the Committee’s ongoing investigation into the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and their use of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) during the 2016 presidential election cycle. Our findings, which are detailed below, 1) raise concerns with the legitimacy and legality of certain DOJ and FBI interactions with the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC), and 2) represent a troubling breakdown of legal processes established to protect the American people from abused related to the FISA process.

Donald Trump says FBI memo ‘totally vindicates me’ | 03 Feb 2018 | Donald Trump says a controversial memo alleging FBI surveillance abuse “totally vindicates” him but added the “Russian witch hunt goes on and on”. He approved Friday’s release of the congressional memo which claimed the FBI and Department of Justice were biased against him while investigating alleged collusion between his 2016 election campaign and Russia. The US President said the inquiry had found nothing and “collusion was dead”. In the tweet posted on Saturday, he wrote: “This memo totally vindicates ‘Trump’ in probe. “But the Russian Witch Hunt goes on and on. “Their was no Collusion and there was no Obstruction (the word now used because, after one year of looking endlessly and finding NOTHING, collusion is dead). This is an American disgrace!”

‘A lot of people should be ashamed of themselves and much worse than that’: Furious Trump says FBI and DOJ heads should roll as explosive memo is published | 02 Feb 2018 | President Donald Trump signaled Friday that he expects heads to roll at the Department of Justice after reviewing a classified memo alleging FBI misconduct. Trump said ‘it’s a disgrace what’s happening in our country’ as he formally announced his decision to declassify the document that quickly made its way into the hands of news outlets. ‘A lot of people should be ashamed of themselves and much worse than that,’ he added during a meeting with North Korean defectors in the Oval Office. Asked directly if he wanted Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein gone, Trump would only say, ‘You figure that one out.’ CNN reported that Trump read the memo along with his advisors. According to a summary of the memo, it concludes former FBI deputy director McCabe confirmed that the bureau would not have sought a surveillance warrant without information in the dossier of information compiled by ex British intelligence officer Christopher Steele, the Washington Examiner reported.

New FBI messages reveal agents sought way to evade federal record requirements | 01 Feb 2018 | There’s an important but little-noticed subtext in the revelations about alleged FBI misconduct in the investigations into Hillary Clinton’s email practices and Donald Trump’s Russia associations. It’s the light they shine on what has come to be routine obstruction of public records laws by federal officials. The records that federal agencies generate while in our employ aren’t owned by faceless bureaucrats or political officials who can choose to withhold or disclose at their discretion and convenience. The records are owned by us: the public. That includes text messages.

Justice Department says Mueller probe lawful | 03 Feb 2018 | The U.S. Justice Department has backed Special Counsel Robert Mueller over a lawsuit filed against him by Paul Manafort, President Donald Trump’s former campaign manager, and argued that the case should be dismissed. Manafort sued Mueller on Jan. 3, saying his office’s investigation into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia in the 2016 presidential election exceeded its legal authority. The civil lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, accused Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who appointed Mueller, of exceeding his legal authority to “grant Mr. Mueller carte blanche to investigate and pursue criminal charges in connection with anything he stumbles across.”

Trump team setting up legal defense fund for Russia probe – report | 02 Feb 2018 | President Trump’s campaign has reportedly hired a law firm to set up a legal defense f-nd for costs incurred by staffers ensnared by the special counsel investigation or other legal f-es. A document from the Wiley Rein LLP law firm posted on the Office of Government Ethics (OGE) website describes the “Patriot Legal Expense F-nd,” which would provide financial support to any individual who “was an employee, consultant, f-ndraiser or volunteer” of Trump’s 2016 campaign.

Russian Su-25 jet downed in Syria, pilot killed – Defense Ministry | 03 Feb 2018 | A Russian Su-25 jet has crashed in Idlib province in north-western Syria, the Russian Defence Ministry confirmed, adding that it was probably shot down by MANPAD. The pilot ejected but was killed by militants on the ground. Preliminary data showed the Su-25 plane was downed by a man-portable air-defense system (MANPAD), the ministry said in a statement on Saturday. The attack took place when the jet was flying over the Idlib de-escalation zone on Saturday. The pilot parachuted down into the area controlled by Al-Nusra terrorist group, the statement said.

US uses ‘routine’ aerial incidents to stir up Russophobia, avoids dialog – Moscow | 01 Feb 2018 | The US deliberately “fusses” over ordinary plane encounters to accuse Moscow of aggression, the Russian Foreign Ministry said, responding to the latest incident over the Black Sea. Moscow notes Washington’s “repeated attempts to make a fuss over what has in fact become routine episodes of escorting each other’s planes,” the ministry said in a statement. It regards this approach as nothing but a desire to “stir up Russophobic sentiments in the media and to accuse Russia of aggressive actions.” …Moscow and Washington signed an agreement – which particularly addresses and regulates such incidents – more than 30 years ago, the statement reminded. It went on to point out that Russia has repeatedly suggested further refining this document, but “the US side has always avoided professional dialog” on the matter.

Another US antiballistic missile test fails, officials say | 31 Jan 2018 | A test of an American missile defense system failed early Wednesday morning in Hawaii, two U.S. defense officials tell Fox News. It’s the same type of antiballistic infrastructure the Pentagon depends on to shoot down intermediate-range North Korean ballistic missiles. It was the second failure of an SM-3 antiballistic missile interceptor since June. “We’re now one for three,” a U.S. official with knowledge of the test told Fox News…A spokesman from the U.S. Missile Defense Agency only would acknowledge a test took place, but refused to reveal the results.

N. Korea would see blanket ban of oil supplies as declaration of war – Russian envoy | 31 Jan 2018 | Imposing a total ban on oil exports to North Korea would mean a full blockade and will be considered as a declaration of war by Pyongyang, Russia’s ambassador to North Korea has cautioned. The UN Security Council (UNSC) unanimously approved a new round of sanctions on the North in December last year, slashing the country’s oil and petroleum imports. Russia’s envoy to North Korea Alexander Matsegora warned against cutting oil supplies to the country any further.

Up to 7,000 ISIS fighters in Afghanistan – Russian diplomat | 01 Feb 2018 | Some 7,000 fighters and thousands of reservists of Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS [but still I-CIA-SIS]) currently reside in Afghanistan, Russian special presidential envoy Zamir Kabulov said on Thursday. The Taliban fighters’ number in Afghanistan currently stands at around 60,000 or 70,000, according to Kabulov, who is also director of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Second Asia Department.

Air Force general behind 5G memo leaves White House | 03 Feb 2018 | The author of a memo arguing for a government takeover of development of the nation’s [deadly] 5G m-bile network has been removed from the National Security Council staff. The memo’s unauthorized release this week caused uproar in the telecom community and created embarrassment for the White House. A senior administration official confirmed that Air Force Brig. Gen. Robert Spalding is no longer serving as NSC senior director for strategic planning. Spalding was not fired, according to the official, who said his detail had ended and was not renewed. His last day as a White House staffer was Jan. 31.

Lethal radiation detected at Fukushima nuclear plant –42 sieverts per hour of radiation also detected outside foundations of reactor | 01 Feb 2018 | The operator of the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant has released the results of its latest probe of the site. A remote-controlled inspection of the Unit 2 reactor containment vessel last month detected a maximum of 8 sieverts per hour of radiation. Experts say exposure to such radiation for about an hour would be fatal. Officials from Tokyo Electric Power Company, or TEPCO, released the results on Thursday. The finding shows that nearly 7 years after the meltdowns, radiation levels remain so high that they present a major challenge to decommissioning work.

Regulator urges Tepco to release radioactive water from damaged Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant into the sea | 11 Jan 2018 | A decision should be made sometime this year over whether to release into the sea water containing radioactive tritium from the crisis-hit Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant, the chief of Japan’s nuclear regulator said Thursday, emphasizing it would pose no danger to human health. [!?!] “We will face a new challenge if a decision (about the release) is not made this year,” Nuclear Regulation Authority Chairman Toyoshi Fuketa told Naraha Mayor Yukiei Matsumoto, referring to the more than 1 million tons of [radioactive] coolant water and groundwater that has accumulated at the crippled facility. Naraha is located close to the Fukushima No.1 plant.

Judge orders release of Las Vegas shooting autopsy reports; coroner refuses to comply | 30 Jan 2018 | A District Court judge on Tuesday ordered the Clark County coroner’s office to release the autopsy reports of Stephen Paddock and the 58 people he [allegedly] killed in the Oct. 1 Las Vegas massacre. But as of late Tuesday, Clark County Coroner John Fudenberg had not complied with the order. He indicated he wouldn’t release Paddock’s autopsy report until it was “finalized.” “I don’t believe this is consistent with what the court ordered,” said Las Vegas attorney Maggie McLetchie, who represents the Las Vegas Review-Journal and The Associated Press in their November action demanding the release of the reports.

Rep. Trey Gowdy to leave Congress, becoming latest high-profile committee chairman to retire | 31 Jan 2018 | South Carolina Republican Rep. Trey Gowdy, the chairman of the House Oversight Committee, announced Wednesday that he is retiring from Congress at the end of his term, becoming the latest high-profile committee chairman to opt against re-election. Gowdy said in a statement. The former federal prosecutor was elected to Congress in 2010…The 53-year-old Gowdy, a member of the House Intelligence Committee, has been outspoken about the FBI’s investigations into 2016 Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton’s email practices, as well as the Russia probe involving President Trump and his aides. Most recently, he has been a proponent of publicly releasing the House Intelligence Committee memo on alleged government surveillance abuses.

Trump expected to approve release of memo following redactions requested by intelligence officials | 01 Feb 2018 | President Trump is expected to approve the release of a controversial congressional memo alleging surveillance abuses by the FBI, after the White House agreed to some redactions at the bureau’s request, but the document may not be made public before Friday, according to senior administration officials. The redactions were the result of a review of the memo’s classified contents by White House and intelligence community officials. The memo, which has created a political firestorm, suggests that the early origins of special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s probe into [alleged] Russian interference in the 2016 election were tainted by political bias.

GOP case: FBI probe based on tainted evidence linked to Clinton | 01 Feb 2018 | Congressional Republicans are seeking to make the case that the FBI’s investigation into President Trump’s campaign and possible collusion with Russia was based on flawed or politically tainted evidence connected to partisans loyal to Hillary Clinton. The House Intelligence Committee memo spearheaded by Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) that is the talk of Washington will be at the center of the argument. The release of that four-page memo is expected as early as Friday. Another document — an eight-page criminal referral filed with the Justice Department by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) — is also part of the GOP case.

Dow closes down more than 660 points | 02 Feb 2018 | U.S. stocks slumped Friday, pulling down the Dow Jones industrial average by more than 660 points and placing the market on track for its worst week in two years. The Dow ended the day at 25,520.96, down 665.75 points or 2.54 percent.

‘Deplorable’ NYU prof slaps university, colleagues with lawsuit –The New York University professor made popular by his undercover ‘Deplorable NYU prof’ Twitter account is now suing his colleagues for defamation. | 31 Jan 2018 | The New York University professor [and CLG Founder] who launched an undercover Twitter account to attack identity politics on his campus is suing four colleagues and his school for defamation. Michael Rectenwald revealed in October that he was the professor behind the growing “Deplorable NYU Prof” account on Twitter, which claimed to expose the “viral identity politics of academia and its destruction of academic integrity.” Rectenwald contends that “all hell broke loose” soon after, alleging in his lawsuit that he was unfairly forced to take a medical leave of absence, and that he was the subject of numerous “false” claims made in email threads among university staffers…Rectenwald told Campus Reform that the cumulative damage has nearly destroyed his academic future at NYU.

Disabled US Army veteran’s service dog found shot in head, dumped near railroad tracks | 02 Feb 2018 | A disabled Army veteran’s service dog was found this week shot in the head and dumped by railroad tracks in Boone County, Ky. The dog, Gunner, had belonged to Bryan Vallandingham, a 14-year U.S. Army veteran in Richwood, Ky., who relied on the service animal for safety, Cincinnati’s Fox 19 reported. Gunner would alert Vallandingham’s family members whenever the disabled veteran was having a seizure. The family said Bryan wasn’t doing well after learning of Gunner’s death, and has been having repeated seizures.

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From: Judy Burnette
Subject: Paul Ryan ridiculed on social media for bragging about secretary’s tiny raise under GOP tax cut

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/paul-ryan-brags-woman-tiny-raise-gop-tax-plan-article-1.3797130

Paul Ryan ridiculed on social media for bragging about secretary’s tiny raise under GOP tax cut

Paul Ryan brags about woman’s tiny raise under GOP tax plan
BY Megan Cerullo, NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Updated: Saturday, February 3, 2018, 7:41 PM

House Speaker Paul Ryan was ridiculed on social media Saturday after he tweeted, then deleted a post citing a woman’s tiny raise as an accomplishment of the GOP tax cut.

Ryan was responding to an Associated Press story about the controversial tax overhaul’s effect on Americans’ paychecks.

He highlighted Julia Ketchum, a secretary earning an additional $1.50 a week under the new withholding guidelines from the IRS following the passage of the bill.

“A secretary at a public high school in Lancaster, PA, said she was pleasantly surprised her pay went up $1.50 a week …she said [that] will more than cover her Costco membership for the year,” read Ryan’s tweet.

Ryan was responding to an Associated Press story about the controversial tax overhaul’s effect on Americans’ paychecks.
(J. Scott Applewhite/AP)

Ketchum will see her pay increase by $78 a year, which she said she will put toward her membership at warehouse club Costco, according to the Associated Press.

The richest 1%, meanwhile, will earn an extra $51,000 per year, according to the Tax Policy Center.

Ryan’s Democratic opponent, Randy Bryce, used the blunder as a fund-raising opportunity.

“Moments ago, @PRyan deleted this tweet after we told him just how out of touch he was. Show Paul Ryan what you think of his tax bill. Chip in $1.50 now to help us repeal and replace Ryan permanently this November.” He linked to a fund-raising page that suggests a $1.50 donation to his campaign.

Social media users and Democratic lawmakers blasted Ryan over the since-deleted tweet.

Speaker Paul Ryan on Saturday deleted this tweet about a Pennsylvania woman whose paycheck increased by $1.50 a week because of the recently passed GOP tax bill.
(Twitter)

“$1.50 doesn’t even buy you a pack of gum,” one Twitter user responded to a screenshot of the tweet.

“We’ll work an extra 2 mins a day for our $1.50/wk. Can we have our 1.5 TRILLION back now?” another wrote.

“If only he would delete himself,” said another.

Earlier this week, Republicans attacked House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) when she called the payouts after the tax bill “crumbs.”

“If you’re going to say that $1,000 is crumbs, you live in a different world than I’m living in,” Vice President Mike Pence said.

Ryan preserved a second tweet in reaction to the AP story quoting a man saying, “I have heard time and time again that the middle class is getting crumbs, but I’ll take it!”

End of MPEN e-Newsletter