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Susan Cox's avatar

I am calling Durbin and Duckworth every day. Congressman Quigley too. i am asking them to stand up, get louder and denounce Musk. When I received my cancer treatment this week , my nurse told me undocumented people and their families were not showing up for treatment. This is our America now.

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Linda (Evanston IL)'s avatar

Do you know if Durbin and Duckworth are doing a Virtual Town Hall this weekend. The Senate is in recess February 14 - 17. I will try calling later. Perfect time to do this. They don't need to fly back here. Have you seen the weather forecast? Brrrr

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Shelley Riskin's avatar

Linda, Were you at the Evanston, Northfield, Niles, and Skokie Democratic groups event last Saturday? Duckworth, Schakowsky, and many elected officials were there and spoke. Hundreds of us attended, and all the speakers said how energizing it was to see us after a beyond-horrible 3 weeks under Trump. We all chose groups (Reproductive Rights, Gun Violence, Environment, LGBTQ+, Democracy---I chose Democracy) and identified the issues, then called out actions we can take. I felt hope for the first time in a long time.

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Linda (Evanston IL)'s avatar

I did not even know about this. No one at the Evanston group sent out an email. How did you find out about this? I do not have time for social media, such as BlueSky. No way am I on Facebook. The Indivisible Evanston group did not know about this as far as I know. I haven't had newsletters from Durbin and Duckworth in months. Also, last Saturday was scheduled as the first candidate forums for our April 1 Mayor and City Council election.

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Faith Wilson's avatar

Currently bunkering down for the deep freeze here in Waukegan. I hope they do more telephone or Zoom type town halls. It helps with accessibility.

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Linda (Evanston IL)'s avatar

Me too. One half mile from Lake Michigan 🥶

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Janet Frohnmayer's avatar

Reporting in, been calling all my representatives every day and was shocked yesterday when both Senators aides answered the phone. Delivered my Hopium speech!! Also, in other forums, I keep reminding people to keep calling daily, that any drop off in calling is perceived as we don’t care any more. Also, what do we think about the Buy Nothing on 2/28 effort?

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Demanon's avatar

Buy nothing from republican/trumpets on 2/28. Economic dominance should be our biggest goal as a party, that will lead to political power. IMHO

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Lyn Gerry's avatar

Fantastic this is the sort of thing we need. It not only takes consequences directly to the opposition, it is an easy for any to put a toe in to activism even if they are super introverts. It's easy to understand.

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Cathy's avatar

I would like Simon's opinion on this. My thought is why not?

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Janet Frohnmayer's avatar

Yes, agreed, good to get Simon’s opinion when he has a moment. He’s good at knowing what’s worthwhile and what’s a distraction.

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Susan Dieterlen's avatar

I too would like Simon's opinion in this. What I'm seeing is a one day buy-nothing on 2/28, possibly with an exception for local businesses, and the potential for a longer blackout on buying sometime in March. I don't have a source - it's all just mentioned here and there. I'm attending the Indivisible mass call this afternoon and hope they'll talk about this. I can report back here if you all would like.

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Emily H's avatar

I don’t need Simon’s opinion to decide to cease spending money. Especially through Amazon. If my few sheckles are burning in my pocket, we have a good locally-owned independent bookstore next to a locally owned candy shop selling locally made candy.

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Cheryl Johnson's avatar

I am planning to support the program to buy nothing that day.

Does everyone know about the website for one of the groups organizing it? Please share!

https://jointhepeoplesunion.com/

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Susan Dieterlen's avatar

Thanks! This is the best info I've found, too.

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ArcticStones's avatar

Seems to me that Democrats have many fertile areas of attack on the Musk-Trump regime. One that is perhaps overlooked is to cast a bright light on how Musk’s DOGE-led demolition of the administrative state is actually making government LESS efficient and throwing away taxpayer money.

One of many examples: that up to $ 400 million worth of food aid is likely to spoil in warehouses. Why? Because of Musk-Trump’s insane eradication of USAID.

Another point: A key priority of the inspector generals (which Trump illegally fired en masse) is to – you guessed it – point out fraud and inefficiency!

If the regime had a semblance of rationality, DOGE would be working closely with the inspector generals to make the US government more efficient.

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Linda (Evanston IL)'s avatar

Farmers all over the country who in the past have provided wheat, soybeans, and many other agricultural products will lose huge markets with the destruction of USAID. Many farms could go under. Will this change the voting choices for these farmers? In addition, Project 2025 is devastating for farmers.

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ArcticStones's avatar

Yes!

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Angie's avatar

Trump and his billionaires will pay farmers in huge subsidies which is what they did the last Trump 'administration' - they are fine with wasting money as long as their agenda (which is racism, self-enrichment and power grabbing)

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Tom Thumb's avatar

True. It was the biggest bribe/campaign contribution made by anyone to his 2020 campaign, and it was by all of us, in the form of our tax dollars. But it still didn't stop our farmers from permanently losing overseas markets. I wonder if they'll really do it again. Trump may make noises about a third term, but it seems likely he was just playing to his base and "owning the libs." If so, then he's a lame duck, and since the only person he cares about is himself, he won't have what to him would be a good reason to bail the farmers out redux. It feels like they'd view every dollar given them as a dollar they can't give the 1% instead.

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Angie's avatar

.....not to mention that the hackers have made our data and data systems more vulnerable, so again, taxpayer money wasted (on security software and services) when they've now been hacked and possibly being sold for personal gain.

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Mango's avatar

And assuming compromised systems are no longer usable, cost to rebuild...what an enormous waste of taxpayer investments.

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Virginia Shultz-Charette's avatar

Please note that the 400 million of food and medicines that is going to waste is the same amount Musk wants the government to pay for his crappy trucks. If you saw Rachel last night you would notice just how ridiculous they are. Claimed to be bullet -proof, a rock was tossed by the engineer and it broke the windows front and back, doesn't appear to be very moveable in two inches of snow, etc. Yet the bill to purchase them seems to be making its way through Congress.

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Cheryl Johnson's avatar

Ah, but you are using LOGIC!!

Maga supporters don't need any stinking logic! /s

Its all about fear and hatred and RETRIBUTION - and of course sticking it to the libs!!

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Barbara Moschner's avatar

Self reporting: I called both TX senators and urged them to vote against Kash Patel and RFK, Jr. I also voiced my concern that TX will experience an economic downturn with lost federal jobs, deportation of immigrants that help our agricultural economy and loss of tourists from Canada.

I also talked to a staffer at Tony Gonzales office and repeated the same concerns about the TX economy and urged him to hold a town hall because constituents are fearful.

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Barbara Grothus's avatar

What about the measles outbreak in TX? These people will own the death and destruction across our country and the world. TB Kansas. Bird flu. It is outrageous.

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Virginia Shultz-Charette's avatar

This is what happens when you have a good number of people that don't vaccinate their children.

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Tom Thumb's avatar

This is why they aren't letting the CDC talk to anyone. That and the fact that they are no more prepared to deal with the next pandemic than they were with the last one. In fact, they're much *less* ready, b/c all the people of competence have been replaced by lackeys.

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Bobbie S's avatar

And no apparent media about the measles outbreak in Texas. All reported cases were UNvaccinated. And, Kennedy just got confirmed.

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Lyn Gerry's avatar

fuck

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Bobbie S's avatar

Well said!!

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Tom Thumb's avatar

Lol. And what else *can* be said. Except maybe aaaargh!

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Barbara Moschner's avatar

No major media reported it. However the TX Tribune did.

That’s how know about it as well.

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Elizabeth T.'s avatar

Also in today's Washington Post. Measles is the most contagious disease known to science, with an r0 value of 12 -18. Nine of the 24 infected people in Gaines County, TX were hospitalized. Measles also causes something called immune amnesia, which can last for months or years in affected people. It effectively resets the immune system and leaves people vulnerable to all sorts of nastiness, just when they are recovering from the initial measles infection.

I mention this because I posted it on FB today (thanks for the mention here -- I had no idea there was an outbreak!). I have many liberal friends who fall into the vaccine hesitant category, and those people are going to be stoked about Kennedy's appointment. I didn't make my post explicitly political; I just stated scientific facts about measles. But I figure that educating people means that they are aware and can see the effects of what is going to hit us more clearly. Since I almost never post political things on FB, I think I have more credibility with my more right-leaning friends (and in this case, the wellness mama community).

I think advocacy around particular issues is going to be critical in the months (deep sigh) and years ahead.

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Tom Thumb's avatar

I think you're right. A lot of what needs to be done is *educational,* not just dropping data points and facts, which means *repetition* is required, and that's just not what the legacy media is structured to do--it goes against the "new" in news. Partisan right-wing media understands this; so far we haven't shown that *we* do.

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Herbert Schaffner's avatar

I have made calls and will make more today to Rep. Bynum (Oregon Fifth, one of our flips/faves)--Senators and AG in Oregon. 2 messages. No budget deal until criming stops. Make Musk a criminal in the public's eyes, as he obviously is. Get even louder on his conflicts.

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Paul G's avatar

Emailed Ca/Schiff bc mailbox is full AGAIN!, called Padilla left message, tried AG Bonta- but honestly could not find a # on website. If anyone knows an effective # please leave

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Bobbie R's avatar

I used this number on Tuesday

(800) 952-5225

Press 1 for English, then 7 to leave a message.

I also emailed last week to this address: PIU.PIU@doj.ca.gov

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Daphne Drescher's avatar

Thanks for the Bonta contact info!!

As for Schiff and Padilla, I'm also having trouble getting a real person to pick up to (have left messages for Schiff - Padilla's voicemail is full or not a long enough space for messages). BUT I remind myself that these CA senators have over 40 MILLION constituents - that they're getting overwhelmed by calls right now should not surprise me. I will persist in calling!

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Bobbie R's avatar

Padilla has 5 district offices; I’ve only called the SF one, but the others might be an option. Yes, vms to Padilla need to be short.

Not sure if any of Schiff’s district offices are open yet; in SF it’s Feinstein’s old office. Phone number: (415) 393-0707 — but I’ve only gotten vm and yesterday it was full; (haven’t made calls today yet).

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Freda's avatar

See my Tip in this thread and also try using https://5calls.org/getting-started/

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Freda's avatar

Tip: call Schiff’s number after DC hours, about 9pm CA time. I’ve been able to leave a VM every time, as evidently his staffers clear his VM box nightly. AND received an email reply fm him within 2 days specific to the issue i called about. Use https://5calls.org/getting-started/

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Daphne Drescher's avatar

Great tip, thanks!

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Cathy's avatar

Thanks!

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Freda's avatar

Bonta’s number comes up for CA residents on any AG issue if you use https://5calls.org/getting-started/

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Kelly Green's avatar

I've been sending emails to Schiff and Padilla. It's my new routine after my morning coffee. I've gotten personalized responses from Schiff, but nothing from Padilla. So, at least I am getting my views out to them when the voiceboxes are full.

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Emily H's avatar

You’ll get something from Padilla eventually. I email using their contact forms every morning too.

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Emily H's avatar

There is a contact form for messaging buried on Bonta’s corner of the state Gov website. I used it yesterday to thank him.

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Lucy Johnson's avatar

Bonta and 14 additional state AG's sued the trump administration today. Saw it 1st on his Twitter account (when trying to find his contact info) - he posted it at 2:08 this afternoon. Here is the link to his press release: https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-bonta-sues-trump-administration-challenging-elon-musk%E2%80%99s

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Herbert Schaffner's avatar

More like 3 messages :)

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Janet Marcotte's avatar

I call Senators Kelly and Gallego and Congressman Ciscomani every day …. here’s to another 1 and 0 day!

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HH & ML's avatar

Thanks so much Simon. We will keep doing the work!

Also, everyone please share this clip below. There are some tiny cracks in the GOP. Here’s one 👇

💥💥💥Watch Republican Rep David Schweikert (AZ) explain why the GOP plan for spending and tax cuts is a disaster for average Americans:

🔶 If Trump’s 2017 tax cuts (for billionaires) are extended this year for 10 years, it will add $5T to our national debt PLUS $1.3T in interest bc it is not paid for. By 2035, we will have $70T in debt. This will require taking money out of Social Security Trust fund which is our money. (Our current debt is $28T and it went down under Biden.)

🔶The GOP plan will DOUBLE US debt in 9 years, adding more than $28T and will require that taxes on Americans will have to be DOUBLED in 20 yrs to maintain basic services. DOUBLED.

🔶Watch at least the first 5 mins - Schweikert is REALLY REALLY concerned about our children’s future and our retirement.

https://youtu.be/6RQEebQnejo?feature=shared

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SW's avatar

Thank you!

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Stephen Sepaniak's avatar

I'm in New York, so I've been calling Schumer and yelling about fighting back harder. I will do so again today. I can't believe that he's still talking about bipartisanship—what year does he think it is?

And I'm so ashamed about our betrayal of Ukraine. I'll yell about that too.

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Freda's avatar

Could not agree with you more. Schumer needs to step aside and we need a forward strategizing Minority Leader. The carving up of Europe via the desertion of Ukraine makes me vomit.

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Linda (Evanston IL)'s avatar

#1. I cannot imagine the Senate and House approving purchase of those Tesla trucks. I guess I am being too hopeful because the other side is just doing what they are ordered to do by musk/trump.

Great that Canada put on a 100% tariff on Tesla.

#2. I see a massive refugee crisis with more people leaving Ukraine. Where can they go? Poland? I studied the refugee crisis back in 2005-2006 with refugees leaving Syria and African nations. Where are they going to go??? This is horribly tragic and a huge stress on international refugee agencies. For example, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is a UN agency that protects refugees, internally displaced people, and stateless people. The UNHCR was established in 1950 to help Europeans displaced by World War II. This is going to be huge challenge.

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Simon Rosenberg's avatar

Congress is no longer in control of the federal budget. Musk is. He can now and is doing whatever he wants, lawlessly.

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Shelley Riskin's avatar

Additionally, I heard Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth speak live at a Dem event attended by hundreds. She said that 3 Republicans (she didn't name them) intended to vote against RFK Jr, but Musk told them he would give millions to their primary opponents. So they changed their votes. At this event, we came up with many actions we can take, including your suggestions, Simon. I'm already donating, calling, trying to do my part. NY Times has this list of groups who have filed lawsuits: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/us/trump-administration-lawsuits.html?unlocked_article_code=1.wk4.D9LK.2VbXsRlqM59V&smid=url-share

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Kari Hinman's avatar

Amazing that they are willing to give away their power to hang on to a neutered job.

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Virginia Shultz-Charette's avatar

Really, no backbone.

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Madam Geoffrin's avatar

What cowards! Lest these 🐓 forget, AOC defeated a far greater funded candidate when she first won her seat, and Trump’s Senate picks don’t fare well. Ask Senators Masters, Oz, Walker and Lake.

Neutered powers isn’t power.

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Virginia Shultz-Charette's avatar

You can see how they spend their donations by looking up UNHCR Donations and if you want you can make a donation.

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DENETTE MANN's avatar

Called Reps and my Republican (are they really anything at this point) about a criminal referral on Musk. Did the same yesterday. Yesterday I talked to someone twice and I called both local and state numbers. Today Cornyn’s Washington voicemail was full but left message at local office. Cruz - left msg on Washington line. Van Duyne was able to speak to a person. They are not talkative or particularly friendly here to my messages. Congrats to the people who get to have civil conversations with their reps!

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Moishe Swift's avatar

Started making my calls this morning - congressperson for now, senators after my (real) job.

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Freda's avatar

https://5calls.org/getting-started/ GREAT! This free app makes it easier.

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Moishe Swift's avatar

I'm at the point where all their offices and phone numbers are in my phone. I just call and pick different topics daily.

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Freda's avatar

What might be useful for you is that 5 Calls lists and updates issues of importance, as well as offering an extensive summary of info in each topic should you want, and a very efficient short script for each issue when youmake your call, i cluding reminding you to leave the contct info your rep wants, without which your call will not be tallied.

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Anne Hoke's avatar

Called my 2 Republican Senators - only able to leave voice messages at both local and DC offices. Asked them to vote "no" on Patel and RFK Jr. Latest is that only allowed to leave short voice message before clicks off. Also, asked Democratic Rep. to file criminal referral against Musk & make public statement about Musk's $400 million contract with State Dept to buy cyber trucks. Aide will look into it. Only takes 1/2 hour to make calls. Do it every morning after 9:30. It is very "doable".

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David E.'s avatar

I called my senators' offices and left messages, thanking them for their very public opposition to the Kennedy nomination. I asked them to join in the AGs' lawsuits by filing amicus briefs.

I spoke with a staffer for Rep. Larsen. I thanked Rep. Larsen for his opposition to the "Republican Rip-off," as he calls it. In particular, I thanked him for his message to his constituents in a recent video. He praised us for our support and for calls to his offices. For my ask, I wanted Rep. Larsen to join his Congressional colleagues by filing amicus briefs.

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David E.'s avatar

Today I read an informative article in the Irish Times about how vulnerable Ireland will be to targeted tariffs. The U.S. has the fourth largest trade deficit with Ireland because of all the pharmaceuticals Ireland exports to the U.S. Big Pharma, because of the tax breaks, produces the pharmaceuticals in Ireland and then exports them to the U.S. The danger of tariffs to the Irish economy is very high. Tariffs on Irish pharmaceuticals would also, of course, raise drug prices in the U.S.

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David E.'s avatar

Finally, I want to echo Simon's wise words about how we are in the thick of history and can't know how it will turn out. When I taught history, I tried to get my students to understand that while history seems inevitable when we study it in retrospect, it was not inevitable for those participating in it. It's one reason I liked having my student do role-playing exercises based on assuming the identities of various historical groups.

Yes, the uncertainty is difficult to deal with. But the antidote to worry is not whinging. It's putting hope into action.

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Thomas's avatar

I keep wanting to preface every remark with "If these were normal times...."

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Kay's avatar

My husband and I call and/or write our Republican representative and senator every day, as well as our dear fellow Fetterman, whatever the heck he is. I also did some info warring first thing, adding reels to my Insta stories of Sen. Murphy's livestream on RFK, and two reels from the DOGE oversight committee in which Representatives Greg Casar and Melanie Stansbury bring the fire. I want what followers I have to see that Dems ARE speaking up, standing up, and demanding accountability. I find it inspiring, and when Rep. Stansbury specifically referred to all the calls Dems AND Republicans are getting, I felt pumped up to keep it up. In the slang of my youth, we just have to keep on keeping on.

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Kay's avatar

OH! And PA Governor Shapiro announced today that he is pursuing legal action because the Trump administration has not restored funding to state agencies as directed by multiple federal judges.

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