Quote of the Week:“The freedom to live fearlessly, the opportunity of liberty, and the American dream. That is all Plaintiffs seek. Instead, they are told to atone for their race, leave because of their names, and purify their blood. The Court disagrees.”–US District Judge Trina L. Thompson, 7/31/25, NTPSA II v. Noem Get Out on the Streets: Photo by zaya odeesho on Unsplash Want the scoop on upcoming rallies, marches, and related events? Visit OI’s Rallies, Marches, Town Halls and Boycotts webpage! Vote and Help Our Candidates Win!  Action: Volunteer! Help progressive candidates for our city councils, school boards, and Port win by showing up for boots-on-the-ground events this month. There are plenty of options: door belling, rallies, sign waves, and meet-and-greets. You’ll find them all on our Local Elections 2025 Events calendar. This calendar will be continuously updated. Also check it out on our website at any time. Federal Actions:Stop EPA from Gutting Environmental Protections Photo by shun idota on Unsplash Background:
During his campaign Trump said he would obliterate what he called ‘‘electric vehicle mandates” adopted under the Clean Air Act. Now his Environmental Protection Agency is moving ahead to annihilate greenhouse gas regulations that protect our climate against pollution. Under the Clean Air Act, in 2009 the EPA found that greenhouse gas emissions cause an “Endangerment” to health. Requirements were adopted to cut greenhouse gas and for the automobile industry to produce more electric or hybrid cars by 2030. These requirements have been gaining ground in the last few years. Now, Trump wants them rolled back, even though greenhouse gasses made worse by climate change are dangerous pollutants causing heat waves and fires. EPA announced the rescission of greenhouse gas vehicle standards at the end of July. Its formal comment period lasts until September 21. The agency must consider all comments. Write a direct comment letter with your own comments or using the attached suggested script to the agency. Action: Send comments to the EPA before September 21 to Administrator Zelden at the EPA using this script or your own variation. Identify yourself as an individual. Script: The existing regulations serve to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and must be retained. The existing regulations have already begun to have a significant and positive effect on the market. Automakers are continuing to increase fuel economy numbers. This year more automakers have made new electric and hybrid cars available for the first time. A number are made in America, and prices for many are relatively low. Electric cars are selling well even without incentives. It is time to forge ahead on these important ways to reduce greenhouse gases. Our climate is critically important to everyone. In recent years many regions of America have been endangered by increasing numbers of wildfires and heat waves. As a matter of life and death for a number of Americans each year, we must continue to protect our population and future generations from greenhouse gasses. For these reasons, I request that the EPA retain the existing regulations. Keep the Orbital Carbon Observatory Going! Photo by NASA on Wikimedia Commons Background The Trump administration has asked NASA employees to make plans for ending at least two major satellite missions that collect data on planet-warming greenhouse gases, missions that supply detailed information about carbon dioxide and crop health to scientists, oil and gas companies, and farmers – the only two federal satellite missions designed and built specifically to monitor greenhouse gases. The equipment involved is state-of-the-art, good for many more years. Like DHHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s recent dismissal of the entire CDC vaccine advisory panel and cutoff of $500 million for mRNA vaccine development, this is not only an attack on evidence-based science but a usurpation of Congress’s power of the purse. The funds for these missions were allocated by Congress. It is not up to the president to retain them or spend them on something else. Action: Contact your MOCs:
Script: As a constituent in Olympia I’m concerned about the Trump administration’s moves to shut down the Orbital Carbon Observatory. The information this program provides is vital to our understanding of climate and crop health, and Trump’s attempt to hold back or reallocate funds intended to support this mission is an attack not just on science but on Congress’s power of the purse. I urge you to call NASA Acting Director Sean Duffy before Congress to address the future of this mission. Stop the Attack on Home Healthcare Labor! Photo from: Wikimedia Commons From Alan Unell Ph.D. from Healthcare Advocacy, Trump Attacks Labor - Stand Up-Fight Back Background:
No minimum wage for home health care workers Under one of the Labor Department’s proposals, an estimated 3.7 million workers employed by home care agencies could be paid below the federal minimum wage — currently $7.25 per hour — and made ineligible for overtime pay if they aren’t covered by corresponding state laws. Action:
Extra Credit:
Sample Script for Home Healthcare Workers Rule: Comment on RIN 1235-AA51: Opposing the Rescission of the 2013 Home Care Rule I. Repealing the 2013 Rule Harms a Vulnerable and Essential Workforce This is skilled, demanding, intimate labor that requires emotional intelligence, consistency, and trust. This workforce is paid poverty-level wages. The 2013 rule recognized the importance of these workers and extended long-overdue wage and overtime protections under the FLSA. Repealing it now would:
I firmly oppose rescission of the 2013 Home Care Rule. Respectfully submitted, [NAME] Thank Texas Dems for Standing Up to Trump Photo Source: Prya Karkare Pexels. From the OI Federal Team Background
When Donald Trump audaciously demanded that Texas Governor Greg Abbott gerrymander the state’s congressional districts to give Republicans five more House seats, Democratic legislators recognized the move as a power grab and would have none of it. Courageously, they broke quorum by leaving the state. Their noncompliance was both courageous and strategic, for it halted, at least temporarily, the illegal and unconstitutional redistricting, which would consolidate Trump’s power by giving Republicans a probable House majority. “It would be unethical and immoral,” they said, to allow Trump to advance his authoritarian reach. These Texas legislators are risking their careers to stop an anti-democratic coup. Let’s thank them for showing us that refusing to obey is a powerful act of democratic resistance. Action: Write Texas state representatives a note of gratitude (in an email or card) to let them know you stand with them. Email Address: [email protected] OR Mail Address: Texas House Democrats PO Box 12453 Austin, TX 78711 Scripts (take your pick or write your own): Dear Texas House Democrats, Thank you for your courage in refusing to participate in the Trump, Abott, and Republican redistricting scheme. While the Trump regime is doing all it can to disenfranchise voters that do not support them, your noncompliance provides at least a temporary bulwark to their plans. That will provide the time to enable a permanent solution. I am grateful that you drew this line, demonstrating that you will not tolerate such manipulation of our voting rights. Sincerely, Your signature Dear Texas House Democrats, Saying no to power grabs is not easy, but you have done so. Your bold decision to break quorum has provided an example of resistance from which other legislators, especially those in Washington, can learn. As you have shown, we must take risks and be creative to stop Trump’s authoritarianism and Abbot’s complicity in it. Thank you for showing everyone how to do it. In gratitude, Your signature WA State Actions:Take the Attorney General’s Data Privacy Survey Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash The Attorney General (AG) office has published a data privacy survey and has asked us to help get the word out; they’d like as many responses from across the state as possible. There are 35 questions and it takes about 10 minutes. Per the AG office: “This survey is your opportunity to tell us what is and isn’t working with your online experiences, your feelings about and knowledge of data privacy, and what you would like to see from the AGO and policymakers in the future. This includes questions about your comfort sharing information with certain entities, knowledge of certain privacy terms, experience with certain privacy tools, and demographic information. We will use the responses you provide to guide our office's work on developing tools and resources to help educate and support consumers on issues pertaining to data privacy.” Action: Take the Data Privacy Survey Local Actions:Congratulate Our Award-Winning Thurston County Auditor Thurston County has just won 19 achievement awards from the National Association of Counties (NACo) this year, the most of any county in the state of Washington. The single-largest number of awards were earned by the Thurston County Auditor’s Office (TCAO), headed by County Auditor Mary Hall, for five programs increasing voter security, combatting voter disinformation, assisting with passport applications, and expanding voter services. Action: Send an email of congratulations and thanks to Thurston County Auditor Mary Hall and her staff for their work to protect civil rights and voting in Thurston County: [email protected] Suggested Script: Dear Auditor Hall, As a citizen of Thurston County, I wish to thank you and your staff for your award-winning programs to protect civil rights and voting. Please accept my congratulations for the five achievement awards your Office just received from the National Association of Counties. Bravo! Have You Scheduled This Event?Come to Olympia Indivisible's Small Group, In-Person Meetups Every Weekend! Olympia Indivisible has grown very fast the last six months, and many of us have never met in person. Let’s fix that! Membership Team invites OI members to come to our weekend get-togethers. Here’s the scoop:
Saturday, 10 AM: OI Coffee Connection at Soul Cafe What: Come to the Cafe, support a local business by purchasing a cup of coffee and/or some breakfast, and get to know your OI community! You’ll meet representatives from OI’s Membership Team and/or Small Groups team members. Where: Soul Cafe, 300 5th Ave. SW When: Saturday, August 16th at 10am Action: Come join us – no sign-up or RSVP necessary! Sunday, 11 AM: OI Capitol Lake Walk What: Walk the Capitol Lake with OI member Zella. Make new friends as you get in your steps! Where: Meet outside the restrooms adjacent to Heritage Park. Zella will be wearing an OI pin. Stroll as long or as far as you feel like. When: Sunday, August 17th at 11am Action: Come join us – no sign-up or RSVP necessary! Comments are closed.
|
Archives
January 2026
At the bottom of the page lick the "<<Previous" link to see older posts.
|
RSS Feed
