Quote of the Week:“Our institutions are not going to save us. Only we can do that. We may be on our own, but together we can fight, and we must believe that when we fight, we will win.” – Marc Elias’ Democracy Docket, December 17, 2024 Federal Actions: ABC News Obeys in Advance Source: The Walt Disney Company, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons From Our Friends at Rogan’s List Many institutions that we count on to check those in power are preemptively surrendering in the face of challenges by Donald Trump. The newest addition includes ABC News, which agreed to give $15 million to the Trump presidential library to settle a defamation suit over news host George Stephanopoulos describing Trump as having been found liable for raping E. Jean Carroll where Trump was technically found liable for sexual abuse. This attempt at using civil suits to silence negative press is a common Trump tactic, and journalists need to be ready to resist if they intend to report accurately about this administration. Let’s remind ABC News of their responsibilities. Action: Contact ABC News President Almin Karamehmedovic online here using the following. Subject: Settling a Trump defamation suit. Brand: ABC News. Category: I have an issue with this program because. Subject matter: Host. Description: ABC News has failed its news consumers miserably. You preemptively surrendered to Donald Trump by giving $15 million to his presidential library in order to settle an arguably winnable defamation suit. Your unwillingness to fight back when pressured by those in power will adversely affect ABC news viewership going forward. We need you to do better. Tell President Biden: Pardon Leonard Peltier Now  Source: Wikimedia Commons From our friends at NDNCollective.org Leonard Peltier, a member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, is in his 50th year of imprisonment. The injustice of his long incarceration has led the U.S. Attorney who handled the prosecution of his case, James Reynolds, to now plead for his release. In December of 2022, retired FBI Special Agent and former Minneapolis Division Counsel, Coleen Rowley also called for clemency – both noting the racism and oppressive treatment of Indians as an underlying factor in what is now widely recognized as a flawed prosecution, trial, and conviction of Peltier. In 2022, their voices were also joined by the UN’s Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. President Biden promised to be a friend and ally of Indigenous Peoples. It’s time to call on him to grant executive clemency to Leonard Peltier. Action: Call the White House at 202-456-1111 and leave a message telling President Biden to grant executive clemency to Leonard Peltier. (The White House has closed down their email address, so the only way to leave messages is to call between 8am and noon, Monday - Thurs.) Script: As a citizen who voted for you in 2024, I am calling to urge you to grant executive clemency to Leonard Peltier. His long incarceration is unjust and his health is failing. You promised to be a friend and ally of Indigenous People. Show that you mean this. Grant executive clemency to Leonard Peltier now. Save Old Growth! Oppose S. 1889  Photo Source: Mark Brennan via Flickr From our friends at TCAT We oppose S.1889/H.R. 4748 the “Unrecognized Southeast Alaska Native Communities Recognition and Compensation Act (aka “Landless”) S. 1889 is a bill which would privatize 115,000 acres of the Tongass National Forest, in Alaska, is at risk of slipping through the Senate in the next few days. Senator Cantwell has been opposed to this bill and is getting targeted by proponents by a huge emailing campaign to try to get her to flip her position. This legislation would open 80,000 acres of old growth forest to logging including 60,000 acres currently protected by the 2001 roadless rule. If you want to learn more about this bill, check out this podcast episode: The Biggest Threat to the Alaskan Rainforest Action: Contact Senator Maria Cantwell, Phone: 253-572-2281; Contact Form Script: Please continue to oppose S. 1889. It is vital that we protect the Tongass National Forest, in Alaska. Thank Our Senators for Supporting the Social Security Fairness Act From the American Federation of Teachers For decades, the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO) For decades, the WEP and GPO have undermined the ability to retire with dignity. Now, Congress has the power to get this done and pass legislation that would be a real solution for millions of retirees. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has delivered on his promise to bring the crucial vote on the Social Security Fairness Act to the Senate floor. On Friday night, the Senate voted to repeal these two unfair provisions by passing the Social Security Fairness Act. Both our Senators were co-sponsors of S.597 - Social Security Fairness Act, which would eliminate the WEP and GPO. (So are Sen. Sanders and Warren.) Let’s thank them for their support on this bill. Action: Thank Senators Murray and Cantwell for co-sponsoring the Social Security Fairness Act (S.597)
Suggested Script: Thank you for co-sponsoring S.597 - Social Security Fairness Act (H.R. 82) and voting YEA on this past week’s procedural vote and vote of passage. Your leadership on this bill means a lot to me. Hands Off the Alaska Wildlife Refuge Source: Wikimedia Commons, Yukon Kuskokwim Delta Alaska Photographer: Joseph from Cabin On The Road, USA From our friends at Earthjustice The Department of the Interior has proposed an ecologically destructive land swap and road in Alaska that would slice through a critical refuge for migratory birds essential to the food security and cultural practices of Native Village of Hooper Bay. This land swap and road are likely to irreparably harm the Native Village of Hooper Bay and many other tribes, who oppose the project. The Izembek National Wildlife Refuge and Wilderness Area provides habitat for several animal species, including Pacific black brant and emperor geese. These and other migratory birds are a critical food source and are essential to the traditional ways of life for tribal communities in the region. The Native Village of Hooper Bay and other tribal bodies have asked the agency to consider a reasonable compromise that would provide transportation while avoiding harm to tribal members. Instead of supporting this compromise, the agency is moving forward, disregarding the harm this project could do to the people of Hooper Bay and other communities across the Yukon-Kuskokwim region. The public comment ends December 30. It’s time to weigh in. Action: Tell the Dept. of Interior: Hands off the Alaska Wildlife Refuge. Local Actions:Help Guide Climate Mitigation in Thurston County  The Thurston Climate Mitigation Collaborative (TCMC) is recruiting to fill three seats on the Community Advisory Workgroup, including one youth seat. Applications are open now through January 31. TCMC is a partnership among Thurston County and the cities of Lacey, Olympia, and Tumwater to identify and implement actions to reduce locally generated greenhouse gas emissions. Action: To get more information and apply, go to the Community Advisory Workgroup’s website. Public Service Announcement: Spruce Up Your Home – And Save On Your Utility Bills As You Do From the Office of Gov. Jay Inslee A winter chill is in the air, and you may have been reminded that your home could benefit from better windows or insulation. State and federal programs might help – though some may not be around for long. The state’s Climate Action website lists a number of state and federal programs that help Washingtonians buy electric cars or e-bikes, weatherize their homes, purchase heat pumps, and more. Right now, federal tax incentives can discount the purchase price of electric cars by $4,000 to $7,000, and state sales tax exemptions for clean vehicles spell even deeper savings over gas guzzlers. Incoming President Donald Trump has threatened to kill the federal credit once he assumes office, however. FundHubWA offers another great library of incentive programs for individuals and businesses. Right now, for example, the state’s home electrification program offers rebates on energy-efficient appliances (which may already have holiday shopping season discounts). Action: ‘Tis the season to spruce up your home – and save on your utility bills as you do. Your Work Pays Off:Destructive MAGA Government Spending Bill Fails;
Bipartisan Stopgap Bill Passes –Thank you for Helping Make this Happen! This past Thursday, Republicans in Congress tried and failed to pass a MAGA-drafted Musk/Trump government spending bill which would have ripped away research for pediatric cancer and torn down policies that help America outcompete China. The vote was 366 to 34, with one member voting “present.” All of the 34 votes against the bill were cast by Republicans. The House then passed a stopgap spending bill without the destructive provisions of the MAGA draft On Friday evening, the Senate voted 85-11 to approve that bill, which will fund the government until March 14. Both our Senators voted to approve. This measure, signed hours later by President Biden after days of chaos, is a solid rebuke against Trump and Musk. To all of you who responded to OI’s Friday Urgent Alert to tell Rep. Strickland to vote against the destructive Trump/Musk bill, thank you! Your work paid off! Comments are closed.
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