SENATE DEMOCRATS HANDED WEAPON TO STOP TRUMP’s BUDGET BILL
Good news: Yesterday, David Dayen at the American Prospect detailed how Senate Republicans have unwittingly handed our Senate Democrats a powerful weapon. Republicans did so when they ignored the Senate’s Parliamentarian in their eagerness to kill California’s ability to set stricter emission standards than the rest of the country, which California has had the authority to do for decades.
Essentially, Republicans sidestepped the Parliamentarian by abusing the Congressional Review Act (CRA) by greatly expanding what is eligible for review. With the changed Senate rules, any 30 senators can force *any* CRA resolution onto the floor.
Senate Democrats can use this to stop Trump’s insane budget bill – if Chuck Schumer & co are willing to play hardball. In fact, they can effectively bring the Senate to a screeching halt for as long as they wish.
"[A]ccording to Senate procedure, they have to be dealt with if enough senators force them onto the floor. They must be debated and voted upon ahead of other Senate business if brought up for consideration. This means that Democrats can tie up the Senate floor for upwards of ten hours with any single CRA resolution."
And it’s not difficult to bring up dozens or even hundreds of such resolutions.
"That means the Senate would never have the ability to take up executive branch or judicial nominations, or legislation like the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that recently passed the House. Senate Democrats could put the chamber into permanent gridlock, and thereby save 14 million people from losing their Medicaid coverage, save millions more from loss of SNAP benefits, while also forcing the 2017 Trump tax cuts to expire. That’s the level of hardball that can be played here."
– David Dayen, in the article
.
"If the current Senate Majority were to open this door, the CRA could be weaponized to retroactively invalidate decades of agency actions, and effectively hijack the Senate floor."
– Chuck Schumer, Minority Leader, warning Senate Republicans against bypassing the Parliamentarian.
.
"Every agency action that Democrats don’t like—whether it’s a rule or not—will be fair game, from mining permits and fossil fuel projects to foreign affairs and tax policies."
I am so encouraged to see that our direct actions have made a difference with Elon Musk stepping away from DOGE. Our two-pronged approach of associating him with the Tesla brand to make negative impacts on his company's profit margins and opposing his unauthorized assault on our government, including access to our data, has made him less useful for Republicans than they originally thought. I'll take that win. I'm also excited about the ruling about the illegality of the tariffs. Trump thinks it's cute to make threats about the tariffs, then TACO out, then he and his buddies make money on insider trading. This ruling makes it less feasible to continue to do this to the economy for personal gain. This, on top of the epic TACO meme (trump always chickens out) emphasizes his weakness through ridicule.
Self report from WI. Calls, 2 sets, are in to R congressman regarding members over budget/tariffs and academic institutions/science research and our safety imperiled by (a long list) I dropped a thank you to our Dem AG for his work to defend our democracy and called D Senator about tariff/budget.
Thanks, Simon! The news about the tariffs is such a boost!
I'm also pleasantly surprised at how TACO seems to first, really piss Trump off and, second, be sticking. I remember what the Rs did to John Kerry calling him a "flip flopper." Turn about is fair play. As Simon has noted, we never know exactly what's going to click with voters. If TACO does it, I'm fine with that. So happy TACO Thursday, everyone!
I called my Maryland Congressman and Senators about the budget bill and about the COVID vaccine being ripped away from Americans. The young woman in Congressman Raskin's office was surprised to learn this has happened. I'm writing postcards to register voters in North Carolina today.
Trump's reaction to the TACO comment reminded me so much of Biff in Back to the Future. "Don't ever call me chicken!" It was his undoing. I salute that reporter!!!! We need more of it, because it is obviously getting under his skin.
I wonder if the tariffs+reconciliation bill isn't more dangerous that the reconciliation bill without the tariffs. Or if it doesn't make much difference.
Both seem to act in the direction to increase inflation and cause trouble in the bond market. The thing that always struck me about the two together was that the negative impacts of both seem to point in the same direction.
But maybe this makes the reconciliation bill untenable or indefensible. Hard to know where they go from here. They might try to pass it anyhow. I've never seen numbers for tariff revenues.
- Tariffs = higher prices, slower economic growth, supply chain upheaval, hatred to US around world, regressive tax increases born by working and middle class
- Reconciliation = continued shift of tax burden from wealthy to working people, cutting Medicare/Medicaid/ACA and weakening US public health system, rolling back IRA investments across US, higher food and health care bills for tens of millions, explosion of deficit and debt, threat to fiscal integrity of the US
- Immigration roundup - creates worker shortages across US, disrupts businesses, increases prices as labor shortages increase labor costs and things like food, restaurants, child care, hotels, travel become more expensive and we lose highly educated immigrants who have driven innovation in the US
- Attack on science, knowledge, academia will make us permanently poorer, our companies less competitive, us less healthy
All of it is bad. Stopping any one of these is good. The fiscal impacts of the loss of tariff revenue is a huge problem for Trump and the Rs in building support for the reckless reconciliation bill. So yes the prospect of losing that revenue now makes the reconciliation bill far harder to pass, as the fiscal risk is far greater and Trump's authority takes a huge hit. Here we've spent most of our time on 1 and 2, are doing more about 4 and perhaps need to do more about 3.
My point (which as I read what I wrote is a bit vague) was that taking pressure off of the bond markets by dropping most tariffs reduces some of the pressure. The lost tariff revenue, where I am unaware of estimated numbers, seems to me to be one part of the story with the reconciliation bill and the likelihood of it passing in its current form.
I hope this kills the reconciliation bill too as you suggest. But they are already trying to do such irresponsible things it's hard to know where they will draw the line. It's like they are playing Russian roulette and maybe they will empty another chamber first.
But I will continue calling about the bill. I've been calling almost every day about every single issue you cited above. I'm about to get back onto it.
This is great news about the tariffs, especially the potential impact on the BBB. I love Abigail Spanberger's first ad.
Self report from VT: made my three calls to my folks in DC. I've joined my local Indivisible group - a very busy gang! - and we're planning events to raise awareness in the run-up to 6/14 and over the summer. Doing sign painting, fundraisers/funraisers, honk and waves in a neighboring town that wants to start their own Indivisible chapter, and tabling at area Farmers Markets. I think this last is a great idea. In some cases, we need to set up on the fringes of the market, but we'll still be there. For those of you who do tables at local events, do you have sample flyers? We're curating a list of reliable pro-democracy news sources and I'm sure we're reinventing the wheel. How about other flyers? Any suggestions welcome.
I watched Lawrence O’Donnell last night. His coverage of the challenge to the Trump tariffs was of course more hard hitting than the Times. The latter is so cautious these days. And Heather Cox Richardson emphasized the way Trump is deploying tariffs for corruption in countries like Vietnam. I am very worried about RFK. I live on in a red state and was on a thread from our local paper about the way he’s limiting vaccine access. Responses from Trump voters caused me to have pandemic flashbacks. The anti-vaccine people are so fixated and crazy. I hope we find a way to end RFK’s career. I’m also concerned to hear that he’s going after ADHD and depression treatments for young people—as if they don’t suffer from medical conditions.
“I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.”
Without being puerile, I will leave it to others to discover Ms. Shanahan’s previous connection to Leon of Tesla. We are dealing with a relatively small set of concentric circles coming out of Silicon Valley. So, taking down HHS (and vaccine regiments) might just have been a campaign promise to another wealthy donor; for Dolos, everything registers as just another transaction to his reptilian brain.
It is a fact that science has helped this society make amazing strides. Although Ms. Shanahan’s extreme wealth was ultimately derived from the “Computer Science” education of her ex-husband, I guess that it is easier to blame a vaccine rather than your own genes and a statistically fickle developmental environment for a child’s autism. Also, she did threaten to fund primaries against any senators who voted against RFK jr.: https://www.businessinsider.com/nicole-shanahan-fund-primary-challenge-senators-rfk-jr-confirmation-2025-1?op=1.
CARTHAGO DELENDA EST (via nonviolence).
P.S.: Dolos or the nation, you can only have one! The other side must choose! The madness will only subside until the next urge for “narcissistic supply” arises. This is not 4-D chess. It is most likely a form of something else. The new media must promote mental health practitioners— like the MSM has lawyers and other professionals.
P.P.S.: Do the following now! FIRST, TEACH CIVICS. Second, register voters. THIRD, TEACH CIVICS. Rinse. Repeat.
Just now called my AZ senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego to remind them to continue to vote against this disastrous reconciliation bill. I also emailed my intrepid AG Kris Mayes for her part in the lawsuit against the tariffs, which the International Trade Court ruled unconstitutional. Those trade tariffs wouldn't have happened if Congress hadn't abdicated their responsibility to their constituents and ceded their power to Taco Don.
Hey y'all. I've sort of taken a couple steps back the last few weeks. Burnout can come on quick, and things have been more challenging than I expected on my side. But with NJ primaries coming in less than two weeks - I wanted to take a couple minutes to share what I've been doing.
1. My city ward club is starting to take shape but its very slow and very anemic. With a pretty low-profile Governors primary despite having six candidates in an open race, and nothing on the ballot locally - its been hard to drive interest. Nonetheless, we've had two postcarding potlucks that have brought a few folk together, and we were able to reach over 100 voters in our neighborhood to remind them of the upcoming vote. I also designed door cards to share with local Democrats to give to their neighbors to remind them of the ballot decisions that are on the primary ballot.
2. I am behind Ras Baraka for the upcoming Primary. I've always been impressed with his quiet commitment to equity and equality, and his actions at Delaney Hall have made me into a true believer. His campaign also had a canvass in my often forgotten city about ten days ago, and I knocked doors for him proudly alongside SEIU volunteers.
3. I continue to make calls to my electeds, thanking them for when they do the right thing, and calling to urge them to do more when I can. My pace there has slowed, but they are still getting a call or two a week minimum.
4. I am planning on getting local folk out to the Trenton NO KINGS rally on June 14th. Not going to cede the day to a tinpot dictator military parade. There's work to be done and we'll be on the steps of the statehouse to do it.
It never feels like enough, but there's energy out here to make good trouble and positive changes. There's good work to do, so let's do good works!
Self Reporting - Well attended protest at Ciscomani's office this morning. We have cloud cover so it made for a comfortable morning. A lot of chanting - "Hey Hey Ho Ho Ciscomani Has Got To Go" - so there was good energy in the air. I continue to write postcards headed to Dems & Indys encouraging calls to Ciscomani asking for a No Vote on the tariffs/taxes. I was fortunate to meet JoAnna Mendoza. Navy Vet and Retired Marine. She has decided to challenge Ciscomani for AZ-06. Currently collecting signatures to get on the ballot.
I am looking forward to your plans, Simon, in challenge Kennedy's horrific healthcare policies he's inflicting on us all. My granddaughter is getting over a bad bout of Covid and under Kennedy I do not know if the vaccine will even be available to her. A trip to a CVS Minute Clinic, in the area of Queen Creek (a 'red' town) she wasn't tested or even offered a test for Covid. Covid is now running rampant in her office. She has had to cancel 2 visits to see me. 2 weeks of feeling awful and a 2nd visit to an urgent care. We can all see how Covid may become an issue again. I follow Karen From Chicago, Cohost @TruBluPolitics; her son has Covid and found out Insurance is NOT covering Plaxovid. Not a good sign for any of us!
Hi all -- Called my electeds. For Bera I mentioned his effective use of the visual of a starving child in his recent questioning of Rubio, in which he advocated for continuing foreign aid. I think he's a particularly effective advocate for that issue, as a medical doctor. For Schiff I applauded the science video, which worked really well as both a reminder of America's strong science tradition and as an explanation of why science is a target for Trump and his ilk. And for Padilla I asked him to continue to strongly oppose the reconciliation bill -- he seems to have been much more visible on that issue.
Thanks for posting these every day, Pamela! How appalling. I have tattooed Venezuelan cousins (dual citizens, but still), and this scares the tar out of me. The reason I joined Hopium was because my Venezuelan cousin Andres told me that his friends in the diaspora were all in for Trump. Until that conversation, I was laboring under the delusion that Harris was going to win. My search for sanity and hope led me here. These are stories we need to know about!
SENATE DEMOCRATS HANDED WEAPON TO STOP TRUMP’s BUDGET BILL
Good news: Yesterday, David Dayen at the American Prospect detailed how Senate Republicans have unwittingly handed our Senate Democrats a powerful weapon. Republicans did so when they ignored the Senate’s Parliamentarian in their eagerness to kill California’s ability to set stricter emission standards than the rest of the country, which California has had the authority to do for decades.
Essentially, Republicans sidestepped the Parliamentarian by abusing the Congressional Review Act (CRA) by greatly expanding what is eligible for review. With the changed Senate rules, any 30 senators can force *any* CRA resolution onto the floor.
Senate Democrats can use this to stop Trump’s insane budget bill – if Chuck Schumer & co are willing to play hardball. In fact, they can effectively bring the Senate to a screeching halt for as long as they wish.
"[A]ccording to Senate procedure, they have to be dealt with if enough senators force them onto the floor. They must be debated and voted upon ahead of other Senate business if brought up for consideration. This means that Democrats can tie up the Senate floor for upwards of ten hours with any single CRA resolution."
And it’s not difficult to bring up dozens or even hundreds of such resolutions.
Fascinating details and analysis in the article!
https://prospect.org/politics/2025-05-28-senate-democrats-stop-big-beautiful-bill/
"That means the Senate would never have the ability to take up executive branch or judicial nominations, or legislation like the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that recently passed the House. Senate Democrats could put the chamber into permanent gridlock, and thereby save 14 million people from losing their Medicaid coverage, save millions more from loss of SNAP benefits, while also forcing the 2017 Trump tax cuts to expire. That’s the level of hardball that can be played here."
– David Dayen, in the article
.
"If the current Senate Majority were to open this door, the CRA could be weaponized to retroactively invalidate decades of agency actions, and effectively hijack the Senate floor."
– Chuck Schumer, Minority Leader, warning Senate Republicans against bypassing the Parliamentarian.
.
"Every agency action that Democrats don’t like—whether it’s a rule or not—will be fair game, from mining permits and fossil fuel projects to foreign affairs and tax policies."
– Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA)
Yes, let's go for this, Senate Democrats!
Hopefully Schumer has the guts to do this. These are not normal times - they call for extraordinary action.
I am so encouraged to see that our direct actions have made a difference with Elon Musk stepping away from DOGE. Our two-pronged approach of associating him with the Tesla brand to make negative impacts on his company's profit margins and opposing his unauthorized assault on our government, including access to our data, has made him less useful for Republicans than they originally thought. I'll take that win. I'm also excited about the ruling about the illegality of the tariffs. Trump thinks it's cute to make threats about the tariffs, then TACO out, then he and his buddies make money on insider trading. This ruling makes it less feasible to continue to do this to the economy for personal gain. This, on top of the epic TACO meme (trump always chickens out) emphasizes his weakness through ridicule.
Self report from WI. Calls, 2 sets, are in to R congressman regarding members over budget/tariffs and academic institutions/science research and our safety imperiled by (a long list) I dropped a thank you to our Dem AG for his work to defend our democracy and called D Senator about tariff/budget.
Thanks, Simon! The news about the tariffs is such a boost!
I'm also pleasantly surprised at how TACO seems to first, really piss Trump off and, second, be sticking. I remember what the Rs did to John Kerry calling him a "flip flopper." Turn about is fair play. As Simon has noted, we never know exactly what's going to click with voters. If TACO does it, I'm fine with that. So happy TACO Thursday, everyone!
I called my Maryland Congressman and Senators about the budget bill and about the COVID vaccine being ripped away from Americans. The young woman in Congressman Raskin's office was surprised to learn this has happened. I'm writing postcards to register voters in North Carolina today.
Just one more reason to love tacos!
I'm so old I remember when we were going to get taco trucks on every corner if we elected Hillary.
And that was a THREAT! LOL
I still want those taco trucks on every corner!
Trump's reaction to the TACO comment reminded me so much of Biff in Back to the Future. "Don't ever call me chicken!" It was his undoing. I salute that reporter!!!! We need more of it, because it is obviously getting under his skin.
Good news. Thanks Simon.
I wonder if the tariffs+reconciliation bill isn't more dangerous that the reconciliation bill without the tariffs. Or if it doesn't make much difference.
Both seem to act in the direction to increase inflation and cause trouble in the bond market. The thing that always struck me about the two together was that the negative impacts of both seem to point in the same direction.
But maybe this makes the reconciliation bill untenable or indefensible. Hard to know where they go from here. They might try to pass it anyhow. I've never seen numbers for tariff revenues.
Trump's agenda is economic sabotage:
- Tariffs = higher prices, slower economic growth, supply chain upheaval, hatred to US around world, regressive tax increases born by working and middle class
- Reconciliation = continued shift of tax burden from wealthy to working people, cutting Medicare/Medicaid/ACA and weakening US public health system, rolling back IRA investments across US, higher food and health care bills for tens of millions, explosion of deficit and debt, threat to fiscal integrity of the US
- Immigration roundup - creates worker shortages across US, disrupts businesses, increases prices as labor shortages increase labor costs and things like food, restaurants, child care, hotels, travel become more expensive and we lose highly educated immigrants who have driven innovation in the US
- Attack on science, knowledge, academia will make us permanently poorer, our companies less competitive, us less healthy
All of it is bad. Stopping any one of these is good. The fiscal impacts of the loss of tariff revenue is a huge problem for Trump and the Rs in building support for the reckless reconciliation bill. So yes the prospect of losing that revenue now makes the reconciliation bill far harder to pass, as the fiscal risk is far greater and Trump's authority takes a huge hit. Here we've spent most of our time on 1 and 2, are doing more about 4 and perhaps need to do more about 3.
Great question. Hope this helps - S
Of course I agree with all of that.
My point (which as I read what I wrote is a bit vague) was that taking pressure off of the bond markets by dropping most tariffs reduces some of the pressure. The lost tariff revenue, where I am unaware of estimated numbers, seems to me to be one part of the story with the reconciliation bill and the likelihood of it passing in its current form.
I hope this kills the reconciliation bill too as you suggest. But they are already trying to do such irresponsible things it's hard to know where they will draw the line. It's like they are playing Russian roulette and maybe they will empty another chamber first.
But I will continue calling about the bill. I've been calling almost every day about every single issue you cited above. I'm about to get back onto it.
Thanks for all your work by the way.
This is great news about the tariffs, especially the potential impact on the BBB. I love Abigail Spanberger's first ad.
Self report from VT: made my three calls to my folks in DC. I've joined my local Indivisible group - a very busy gang! - and we're planning events to raise awareness in the run-up to 6/14 and over the summer. Doing sign painting, fundraisers/funraisers, honk and waves in a neighboring town that wants to start their own Indivisible chapter, and tabling at area Farmers Markets. I think this last is a great idea. In some cases, we need to set up on the fringes of the market, but we'll still be there. For those of you who do tables at local events, do you have sample flyers? We're curating a list of reliable pro-democracy news sources and I'm sure we're reinventing the wheel. How about other flyers? Any suggestions welcome.
Seriously?
I watched Lawrence O’Donnell last night. His coverage of the challenge to the Trump tariffs was of course more hard hitting than the Times. The latter is so cautious these days. And Heather Cox Richardson emphasized the way Trump is deploying tariffs for corruption in countries like Vietnam. I am very worried about RFK. I live on in a red state and was on a thread from our local paper about the way he’s limiting vaccine access. Responses from Trump voters caused me to have pandemic flashbacks. The anti-vaccine people are so fixated and crazy. I hope we find a way to end RFK’s career. I’m also concerned to hear that he’s going after ADHD and depression treatments for young people—as if they don’t suffer from medical conditions.
"...if Chuck Schumer & co are willing to play hardball."
Therein lies the rub.
I am guessing Schumer got sufficiently slapped around last time
Don't get me started...
“I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.”
― Frank Herbert, Dune
Here is an explanation of “End Times Fascism” of the “Bunker Boys” (AKA “Tech Lords”): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HAeAHcCW14 .
Simon et al.:
Dolos has known only deals and never love or compassion. Here is a recent take by his now-famous, clinical psychologist niece: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSyAdZnAJcg&list=TLPQMjgwNTIwMjXukRkF7mURog . Thus, his openness to measles likely comes from the billionaire ex-wife of a Google founder: https://www.forbes.com.au/news/billionaires/sergey-brins-2-billion-plan-to-tackle-parkinsons-bipolar-autism/ . She was also the running mate and well-known fellow anti-vaxxer of our current Secretary of HHS.
Without being puerile, I will leave it to others to discover Ms. Shanahan’s previous connection to Leon of Tesla. We are dealing with a relatively small set of concentric circles coming out of Silicon Valley. So, taking down HHS (and vaccine regiments) might just have been a campaign promise to another wealthy donor; for Dolos, everything registers as just another transaction to his reptilian brain.
It is a fact that science has helped this society make amazing strides. Although Ms. Shanahan’s extreme wealth was ultimately derived from the “Computer Science” education of her ex-husband, I guess that it is easier to blame a vaccine rather than your own genes and a statistically fickle developmental environment for a child’s autism. Also, she did threaten to fund primaries against any senators who voted against RFK jr.: https://www.businessinsider.com/nicole-shanahan-fund-primary-challenge-senators-rfk-jr-confirmation-2025-1?op=1.
CARTHAGO DELENDA EST (via nonviolence).
P.S.: Dolos or the nation, you can only have one! The other side must choose! The madness will only subside until the next urge for “narcissistic supply” arises. This is not 4-D chess. It is most likely a form of something else. The new media must promote mental health practitioners— like the MSM has lawyers and other professionals.
P.P.S.: Do the following now! FIRST, TEACH CIVICS. Second, register voters. THIRD, TEACH CIVICS. Rinse. Repeat.
It’s always Taco Tuesday somewhere!
This time of year I’m busy on my farm. Planting, fertilizing, mowing, cutting hay, clearing unwanted brush and keeping fence rows pristine.
But I still make time to call my senators and representatives, send emails, show up for protests and encourage everyone I know to do the same.
Brick by brick, inch by inch, day by day we are moving the ball forward.
Never (ever) quit!!!!!
Just now called my AZ senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego to remind them to continue to vote against this disastrous reconciliation bill. I also emailed my intrepid AG Kris Mayes for her part in the lawsuit against the tariffs, which the International Trade Court ruled unconstitutional. Those trade tariffs wouldn't have happened if Congress hadn't abdicated their responsibility to their constituents and ceded their power to Taco Don.
Hey y'all. I've sort of taken a couple steps back the last few weeks. Burnout can come on quick, and things have been more challenging than I expected on my side. But with NJ primaries coming in less than two weeks - I wanted to take a couple minutes to share what I've been doing.
1. My city ward club is starting to take shape but its very slow and very anemic. With a pretty low-profile Governors primary despite having six candidates in an open race, and nothing on the ballot locally - its been hard to drive interest. Nonetheless, we've had two postcarding potlucks that have brought a few folk together, and we were able to reach over 100 voters in our neighborhood to remind them of the upcoming vote. I also designed door cards to share with local Democrats to give to their neighbors to remind them of the ballot decisions that are on the primary ballot.
2. I am behind Ras Baraka for the upcoming Primary. I've always been impressed with his quiet commitment to equity and equality, and his actions at Delaney Hall have made me into a true believer. His campaign also had a canvass in my often forgotten city about ten days ago, and I knocked doors for him proudly alongside SEIU volunteers.
3. I continue to make calls to my electeds, thanking them for when they do the right thing, and calling to urge them to do more when I can. My pace there has slowed, but they are still getting a call or two a week minimum.
4. I am planning on getting local folk out to the Trenton NO KINGS rally on June 14th. Not going to cede the day to a tinpot dictator military parade. There's work to be done and we'll be on the steps of the statehouse to do it.
It never feels like enough, but there's energy out here to make good trouble and positive changes. There's good work to do, so let's do good works!
Self Reporting - Well attended protest at Ciscomani's office this morning. We have cloud cover so it made for a comfortable morning. A lot of chanting - "Hey Hey Ho Ho Ciscomani Has Got To Go" - so there was good energy in the air. I continue to write postcards headed to Dems & Indys encouraging calls to Ciscomani asking for a No Vote on the tariffs/taxes. I was fortunate to meet JoAnna Mendoza. Navy Vet and Retired Marine. She has decided to challenge Ciscomani for AZ-06. Currently collecting signatures to get on the ballot.
https://www.joannamendoza.com
I am looking forward to your plans, Simon, in challenge Kennedy's horrific healthcare policies he's inflicting on us all. My granddaughter is getting over a bad bout of Covid and under Kennedy I do not know if the vaccine will even be available to her. A trip to a CVS Minute Clinic, in the area of Queen Creek (a 'red' town) she wasn't tested or even offered a test for Covid. Covid is now running rampant in her office. She has had to cancel 2 visits to see me. 2 weeks of feeling awful and a 2nd visit to an urgent care. We can all see how Covid may become an issue again. I follow Karen From Chicago, Cohost @TruBluPolitics; her son has Covid and found out Insurance is NOT covering Plaxovid. Not a good sign for any of us!
Hi all -- Called my electeds. For Bera I mentioned his effective use of the visual of a starving child in his recent questioning of Rubio, in which he advocated for continuing foreign aid. I think he's a particularly effective advocate for that issue, as a medical doctor. For Schiff I applauded the science video, which worked really well as both a reminder of America's strong science tradition and as an explanation of why science is a target for Trump and his ilk. And for Padilla I asked him to continue to strongly oppose the reconciliation bill -- he seems to have been much more visible on that issue.
My Thursday congresspersons call script that anyone can riff off of:
- I’m calling about Widmer Sanguino, one of the Venezuelan men who was sent to CECOT.
- Last week, Judge Keith Ellison in Texas ordered the regime to facilitate contact btx Sanguino & his immigration lawyer.
- Sanguino was detained b/c of tattoos. DHS has offered no evidence of gang affiliation other than tattoos. No criminal record.
- His family hired the immigration lawyer to help him. But the regime sent him to CECOT, BEFORE his immigration case was scheduled to resolve.
- It is unconstitutional to disappear ppl to foreign gulags where they are not allowed to have contact w/ their lawyers.
- Ppl who are incarcerated have the right to petition the courts.
- ALL CECOT detainees are being deprived of their rights b/c they aren’t allowed to speak to counsel.
- Congressional democrats must stand up for everyone’s right to access counsel & the courts. Trump already said “the homegrowns are next.”
- If the CECOT detainees can be deprived of their right to speak to counsel & access the courts, then it can happen to any American.
Thanks for posting these every day, Pamela! How appalling. I have tattooed Venezuelan cousins (dual citizens, but still), and this scares the tar out of me. The reason I joined Hopium was because my Venezuelan cousin Andres told me that his friends in the diaspora were all in for Trump. Until that conversation, I was laboring under the delusion that Harris was going to win. My search for sanity and hope led me here. These are stories we need to know about!
I'm in my happy place on Minnesota's North Shore. I'll be rejoining the fight shortly!
say hi to the north shore for me
Will do! 😊