Bezos' Couture
Met Gala Exclusive
It was hard for the press to cover Bezos at the Met Gala. As soon as they got close, he gobbled them right up.
Thank you for subscribing to my dailies. As the skies get dark for media, we need to support the uncompromised voices more than ever. Your help here keeps this project alive.
THANK YOU.
A quick action:
If you happen to live in New York State fast connection HERE will stop Gov. Hochul from slipping by weakened Climate laws.
If not a New Yorker, here’s a list from the wonderful Jess Craven. Do ONE THING and you will feel ONE-derful!
More tomorrow,
Steve
Call Your Senators (find yours here)
Hi, I’m a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
[If GOP say:] I’m calling because I don’t want another penny of my taxpayer dollars to go toward ICE and Border Patrol. Republicans already voted to give them the budget of a small army last year, and now I see you are trying to use the reconciliation process to give them billions more. Enough. Let’s focus on funding healthcare and housing instead of shoveling even more money to these out of control agencies. As for the billion dollars for the ballroom? NO WAY. I’m livid about it. Tell the Senator to oppose this reconciliation bill. [h/t]
[If Dem say:] I’m calling to urge the Senator to use every tool at their disposal to fight any budget reconciliation bill that shovels more taxpayer dollars to ICE and Border Patrol. Republicans already voted to give them the budget of a small army last year, and now they’re trying to use the reconciliation process to give these agencies billions more. And a billion dollars for the ballroom? NO WAY. I want Congress to focus on funding healthcare and housing instead. I urge the Senator to vote NO on the reconciliation legislation and use all available leverage to delay, obstruct, and build public opposition to Republicans’ backwards spending priorities. Thanks. [h/t]
Call Your House Rep (find yours here)
Hi, I’m a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
[If GOP say:] I’m calling because I don’t want another penny of my taxpayer dollars to go toward ICE and Border Patrol. Republicans already voted to give them the budget of a small army last year, and now I see they are trying to use the reconciliation process to give them billions more. Enough. I want Congress to focus on funding healthcare and housing. As for the billion dollars for the ballroom? NO WAY. I’m livid about it. Tell the Congressmember to oppose this reconciliation bill. [h/t]
[If Dem say:] I’m calling to urge the Congressmember to use every tool at their disposal to fight any budget reconciliation bill that shovels more taxpayer dollars to ICE and Border Patrol. Republicans already voted to give them the budget of a small army last year, and now they’re trying to use the reconciliation process to give these agencies billions more. And a billion dollars for the ballroom? NO WAY. I want Congress to focus on funding healthcare and housing instead. I urge the Congressmember to vote NO on the reconciliation legislation and use all available leverage to delay, obstruct, and build public opposition to Republicans’ backwards spending priorities. Thanks. [h/t]
Extra Credit
Please send Indivisible’s letter demanding that Congress stop Trump’s war and investigate his corruption.
Get Smart #1!
The fight for democracy is being won—and challenged—state by state.
Join BigTentUSA on Wednesday, May 6 at 7pm ET for a dynamic virtual conversation with Michigan Secretary of State, Jocelyn Benson, and New Mexico’s Doña Ana County Clerk, Amanda López Askin—two leaders who have stood on the frontlines of protecting free and fair elections.
Amanda López Askin is running for Secretary of State in New Mexico and has successfully defended her office’s work against denialism, extremism, and repeated legal challenges. Jocelyn Benson has done the same in Michigan—and now brings that fight to her campaign for Governor. Together, they’ll break down the real challenges election officials face, what it takes to safeguard elections at the state level, and how individuals can take action to support election integrity in their own communities.
Democracy doesn’t defend itself—be part of the effort to protect it where it matters most.
Get Smart #2!
Celebrate World Press Freedom Day with the Media and Democracy Project! You’re Invited to their SPECIAL EVENT: Free Film Screening + Panel Discussion of How to Fight Media Mega-mergers a two-part event on Tuesday, May 5, from 7-9 pm ET.
First, there will be a group screening of “Democracy Under Siege,” (2024) a film by Oscar-Nominated Director Laura Nix that features insights of historian Heather Cox Richardson, Representative Jamie Raskin, editorial cartoonist Ann Telnaes, and others.
The screening will be followed by an empowering panel discussion with Laura Nix (Director/Producer), Gigi Sohn, Senior Fellow and Public Advocate at the Benton Institute, Marjan Safinia, documentary filmmaker and organizer at#BlockTheMerger, and MAD’s Executive Director Milo Vassallo. The panel will grapple with the ever-growing harms of media consolidation and outline specific actions you can take to join those fighting back!
Give !
My friend Michelle Fowle, who’s a member of Cambridge Indivisible in MD, just sent me a note telling me about new billboards her Indivisible group is funding in their Congressional district. They are trying to unseat a terrible Republican incumbent, Andy Harris.
They just got two billboards up on Route 50 in Cambridge (MD) calling out Harris on healthcare and affordability. They also launched TheAndyFiles.com— his full congressional record, sourced, in plain language.
They’re trying to expand the billboards across the Eastern Shore and keep them running through November. I love this whole effort! Please give to support their billboards if you can! I did!
Win Races!
Sign up to be a Poll Observer for the August 11th Primary in Wisconsin
Are you interested in protecting Wisconsin voters this August for the primary? Sign up and be one of their poll observers!
Poll Observers are the eyes and the ears of WisDems’ team on the ground on Election Day and are the last line of defense against instances of voter suppression and a crucial resource for voters.
After you fill out this form, their team will reach out within 2-3 days to take you through the next steps. There is no residency requirement to be a poll observer and you can observe anywhere in the state! They will provide full training and resource materials and welcome new and experienced poll observers alike.
Want to sign up as a poll observer for August? Click here!
Interested in poll observing for the November 3rd election? Click here!
Resistbot Letter (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.)
[To: all 3 reps] [H/T Coleman Rogers ] [Text SIGN PHQYFR 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.)
Congress must immediately invoke and enforce the War Powers Resolution to end President Trump’s unauthorized war with Iran unless Congress openly debates and specifically authorizes continued hostilities.
This is not a technicality. It is one of the central constitutional safeguards of our democracy. The Framers gave Congress, not the president, the power to decide whether the United States goes to war. The War Powers Resolution exists because presidents of both parties have tried to evade that limit. It requires the president to notify Congress when U.S. forces are introduced into hostilities, and it requires those hostilities to end within 60 days unless Congress declares war or grants specific authorization.
That 60-day clock is now expiring. Congress cannot allow the deadline to pass as if silence were consent.
[Read the rest here]
The octopus looks better than Bezos.
Sadly, perfect 😕