Hi, all, and happy Monday.
I missed you. Hope you had a nice holiday weekend.
Of course, it couldn’t be totally “nice,” could it, since Trump dropped one of his most dangerous and unhinged Truth Social posts ever yesterday. I’m sure you’ve seen it, so I won’t link to it. Suffice it to say that it threatened war crimes, grievously insulted every Muslim on earth, and made Trump sound not just unpresidential but absolutely deranged.
It’s not normal, and we’re not going to pretend it is. Today we’ll be calling and demanding the invocation of the 25th amendment, and failing that, impeachment and removal. Will it work? Likely not—or not at first, anyway. But shame on us if we don’t rise up and insist upon it. It’s the only obvious next right step—any sane country would have removed him months ago, but yesterday’s post made the necessity entirely clear.
As Robert Hubbell wrote in his newsletter last night:
Imagine, twenty years hence, when your children or grandchildren ask you how you reacted to Trump’s call to commit war crimes against the Iranian people. Unacceptable answers include, “Nothing,” “I don’t recall,” and “I criticized his statement to anyone who would listen.” Compare, “I called for his immediate removal as president and did everything I could to make that happen.”
Trump is unfit to hold the office of president, dangerously so. We should say so, preferably in words of one syllable. No artifice, no euphemisms, no double standards, no defeatism, no learned helplessness. If we don’t call for his removal, what will our elected leaders think?
Indeed. So call for it we will. I suggest, in fact, that such a demand be appended to every Congressional call we make going forward.
We should couple that demand with one stating that we oppose—strongly!—any additional funds being allocated to this illegal war, or 1.5T being given to an agency that recently failed its eight consecutive audit. The Trump administration’s all-guns-no-butter approach will be the destruction of America as we know it; we must fight back, hard.
One way to make Republicans pay attention to our demands, by the way—and to put the fear of God in them—is to win elections everywhere, and by massive margins. So please remember we have elections tomorrow in Wisconsin, where winning another Supreme Court race could give liberals a dominant majority on the state court, Georgia, where there’s a runoff election for Marjory Taylor Green’s seat, Alaska, Arizona, Missouri, and Oklahoma. If you live in one of those places please learn about your races here and do everything in your power to get people out to vote in them.
OK, all. I know things are unbelievably stressful right now. I hope you’re taking time to breathe, eat, drink water, and spend time with loved ones. Things are escalating and that feels scary, but panicking won’t help us. Self-care coupled with calm, steady, unified action will. So that’s what let’s do now.
Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I’m a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
First, I’m calling to say that Donald Trump is unfit to remain in the presidency and must be removed at once, either via the 25th amendment or impeachment and removal. Trump’s Easter post was unhinged, deranged, and sickening. It proves that he is no longer able to perform the duties of the president. He’s also threatening war crimes, which means that tens of thousands of people will die if you don’t act. No one in the world is safe until this man is out of office.
On a related note, I don’t want the Senator to support a penny of funding for Trump’s unauthorized, unjustified war of choice. Taxpayer dollars should be used to fund healthcare and housing at home, not bombs and bullets a world away. I urge the Senator to reject supplemental funding and do everything in his/her power to end the war on Iran.
Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I’m a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
First, I’m calling to say that Donald Trump is unfit to remain in the presidency and must be removed at once, either via the 25th amendment or impeachment and removal. Trump’s Easter post was unhinged, deranged, and sickening. It proves that he is no longer able to perform the duties of the president. He’s also threatening war crimes, which means that tens of thousands of people will die if you don’t act. No one in the world is safe until this man is out of office.
On a related not, I don’t want the Congressmember to support a penny of funding for Trump’s unauthorized, unjustified war of choice. Taxpayer dollars should be used to fund healthcare and housing at home, not bombs and bullets a world away. I urge the Congressmember to reject supplemental funding and do everything in his/her power to end the war on Iran.
Extra Credit #1 ✅
[H/T Rep. Stansbury]
Protect Chaco Canyon in New Mexico! Trump’s DOI has announced a proposal to revoke protections for the Greater Chaco Canyon Landscape to open it to oil and gas drilling—potentially destroying sites that have been sacred to Pueblo and Diné indigenous communities for generations. And, they have given only 7 days for public comment!
We need your voices before April 7—to say NO to drilling in the Greater Chaco Landscape and revoking protections for this sacred place.
Click here and then click on PARTICIPATE NOW to comment. There’s more information about Chaco Canyon here if you need background for your comments. They can be simple and heartfelt. Basically, protect our public lands and sacred sites. Every comment matters.
Extra Credit #2 ✅✅
Updates on the fight to stop AI mass surveillance in Congress:
If you’ve been reading this newsletter, you know that there’s a vote coming up in Congress that could ban AI surveillance—but only if Democrats hold the line.
Congress is voting to reauthorize the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, or FISA, and that vote is our only chance to close a loophole that lets the government spy on you without a warrant. It’s called the “data broker loophole—” Trump used it to get away with spying on Muslims by buying their data from a prayer app. And now that the government has made a deal with ChatGPT, they can supercharge surveillance to be even worse.
Bipartisan Members of Congress, the same Republicans and Democrats who forced the release of the Epstein files, are rebelling against Mike Johnson and calling to amend FISA to close the loophole for good. Establishment Democrats, led by Jim Himes of Connecticut, are trying to rescue Johnson and preserve the loophole.
Here’s the good news: our pressure is making a difference. But we have a long way to go. We need to make DOZENS of Democrats hold the line. Our key target this week: Rep Adam Smith of Washington, is highly influential. Give him a call at (202) 225-8901.
And say: “Vote NO on FISA reauthorization unless Congress CLOSES the data broker loophole and bans no-warrant surveillance.” It’s OK if you’re not a constituent for this call. We just need a lot of voices speaking up.
EXTRA CREDIT:
More high-value targets in the FISA fight include:
Hakeem Jeffries, NY, who hasn’t taken a stance - (202) 225-5936
Dan Goldman, NY, who is publicly wavering - (202) 225-7944
Gregory Meeks, NY, who was persuaded by Jim Himes - (202) 225-3461
Pete Aguilar, CA - (202) 225-3201
Katherine Clark, MA - (202) 225-2836
Rosa DeLauro, CT - (202) 225-3661
Get Smart! 📚
You’ve likely heard me mention Blue Ohio and Blue Missouri, the grassroots monthly giving communities that fund Democratic state legislative nominees in the reddest, most gerrymandered districts in those states.
Well, good news! The organization behind those projects, Every State Blue, just launched something new and I think it’s worth your attention. It’s called First In Line; it’s a national crowdfunding initiative for Democratic state legislative candidates running in red districts—starting with those that were uncontested in 2024. Over twenty states are already live for Round 1.
I’m joining their launch celebration on Zoom this Thursday, April 9 at 7pm Central, along with Kate Barr of Can’t Win Victory Fund, Jess Piper of Blue Missouri, and Amanda Potter, a candidate from South Dakota who is one of First In Line’s new recipients.
Come hear why running everywhere matters.
Resources! Resources! 📣
Here are two resources that will help you talk to friends and family about escalating prices.
Gas Prices Tracker for the New York Times: breaks down prices to the county level in each state.
The Electricity Price Hub from Heatmap and MIT: Breaks down electricity costs and monthly utility bills by state, congressional district and even Zip Code. Updated monthly.
Give 💰!
Let’s make Congress a co-equal branch of government again.
Force Multiplier presents House candidates Christina Bohannan (IA 01), Rep. Vicente Gonzalez (TX 34), and former Rep. Elaine Luria (VA 02).
Monday, April 6, 7-8 pm ET on Zoom.
These three candidates are in some of the closest House races in the nation. Their races will help determine which party is in the majority. Come hear from them!
SIGN UP/DONATE (You can donate any amount to attend, but obviously the more the better. A Zoom link to complete your registration will be sent to your email address on the day of the event.)
Get in the Streets! 🪧
The next big mission for the No Kings coalition is to organize for May Day (May 1) 2026 – a day with no work, no school, and no shopping to bring down the regime, grind the economy to a halt, and put workers over billionaires.
Click here to take the pledge to join in on May Day, and check the map to see if there’s already a May Day Strong event scheduled near you. If not, consider throwing an event up on the map! May Day Strong will support you with materials, outreach and more.
Click here to join their mass call on Thursday April 9 at 7pm ET / 4pm,
Win Races! 🗳
Join the Fight Back Vote YES Phone Banks. Call voters. Cut through misinformation. Drive turnout.
We’re calling Democrats. People ready to act. This is built for everyone—even first-time callers. This is bigger than one state. We’re dialing for democracy. Bring a friend. See you there. Let’s get Virginia to YES.
Can’t make this one? You can also join the DNC to call Virginia voters to make a plan to vote YES for fair elections almost every day!
Sign up to call voters with the DNC
Resistbot Letter (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.) 💻
[To: all 3 reps] [H/T ] [Text SIGN PJWTYC to 50409, or to @Resistbot on Apple Messages, Messenger, Instagram, or Telegram]
(Note that for the most effective RESISTBOT it’s best to personalize this text. More about how to do this here. But if you’re short on time just send it as is using the above code.)
Donald Trump’s Easter Sunday threats against Iran should alarm every member of Congress, regardless of party.In public statements and social media posts, he threatened to destroy Iranian power plants and bridges, used profane and taunting language, and then suggested that if no deal were reached, very little would be off limits. This is not a question of style, and it is not about whether one agrees with his broader foreign policy. It is about whether a president who speaks this way about war, civilian infrastructure, and mass destruction can be trusted with the powers of the office.A president must show judgment, restraint, and the ability to distinguish between lawful military objectives and reckless threats against civilians. Trump’s words showed the opposite. Publicly threatening civilian infrastructure is not strength. It is evidence of dangerous instability and a profound disregard for the obligations of the office.Legal experts have already warned that attacks on civilian infrastructure such as power plants and bridges, absent a valid military justification, would violate the laws of war. Congress cannot ignore a president publicly threatening exactly that kind of conduct. Even if these statements were intended as bluster or coercion, bluffing about unlawful mass violence is itself disqualifying behavior in a commander in chief.What is most disturbing is not only the substance of the threats, but the evident instability behind them: shifting deadlines, contradictory claims of imminent peace and imminent destruction, vulgar public taunts, and a pattern of impulsive escalation in a wartime setting. None of that reflects disciplined leadership. All of it raises grave doubts about the president’s capacity to responsibly wield military power.Members of Congress and other public figures have already described these statements as unhinged, mentally unbalanced, and suggestive of 25th Amendment concerns. But outrage on social media is not enough. Congress has an independent constitutional duty to protect the country from reckless executive conduct. Silence, minimization, or partisan rationalization only further normalize behavior that would have triggered a national crisis under any other president.I urge you to call immediately for hearings on the president’s fitness to discharge the duties of office, including his capacity to exercise war powers responsibly. At a minimum, Congress should demand testimony from senior national security officials and require a full accounting of who is shaping military decisions, what legal review has been performed, and whether unlawful targets are under consideration.If Congress will not investigate this conduct now, after explicit public threats against civilian infrastructure, then it is hard to imagine what standard remains. This is a constitutional moment. No president should be waved through after speaking this way. Congress must act like a coequal branch and confront the obvious danger before reckless words become irreversible actions.
OK, you did it again! You’re helping to save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk soon.
Jess
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