This is a special message for those who have been joining us here. This project is the culmination of a lifetime in the graphic arts and journalism. Today this experience is being brought to bear in s daily column to, not only highlight key moments in the news, but also help crystallize ideas and include important actions we can take every day.
We are now encircled by hate and propaganda. We all need to stick together at this time . . . and to be loud and brave with and for each other. This work does not happen without you. The thousands who subscribe make this happen. In exchange for your paid subscriptions you have access to any piece of art of mine that you would like to download for use in your own social media feeds and activism. That includes today’s :free downloads of posters for our upcoming October 18 events, which I will post later today.
I hope that before you sign off here today you will drop a dime on this substack. We need you more than ever to keep the lights on against the darkening media.
Very gratefully,
Steve
This week:
ACTION:
From Barbara Nusbaum:
2 IMMEDIATE (11/4/25) ELECTIONS, IN 2 WEEKS: crucial to clawing back the 2026/2028 elections:
PENNSYLVANIA SUPREME COURT & CALIFORNIA REDISTRICTING (PROP 50)
Please help, by writing postcards/letters. Info below. Writing has big impact on down-ballot elections.
THE CRUCIAL ELECTIONS:
1. PENNSYLVANIA Supreme Court Judge Retention
Voters will decide if three Democratic State Supreme Court justices keep their seats and this will potentially impact Presidential elections for decades to come.MOST PA VOTERS DONT KNOW about the retention election and there are aggressive. expensive misinformation campaigns being waged to confuse Democratic voters to vote against their wishes.
NY TIMES: “The elections, called retention elections, will decide whether three justices who were elected as Democrats keep their seats, which will determine the tilt of the seven-member Pennsylvania State Supreme Court through the next presidential election. What’s at stake is nothing less than control of the highest court in the most important swing state in the country.”
2. CALIFORNIA Prop 50
CA voters will decide if California may adopt a temporary congressional district map, drawn by the state legislature — counterbalancing Texas’ (and other states) partisan redistricting efforts. Many voters are not familiar with the term “Prop 50” and millions of dollars have been pouted into opposition messaging.
WHAT TO DO IN 2 WEEKS (even do just a few….)
1. Postcards/Letters at home
2. Donate to Defend our Courts: Pennsylvania
3. Donate to Yes on 50: Election Rigging Response Act
2) Write postcards/letters at home (easy sign-ups)
- Letters: Get addresses and download letters here: Vote Forward (buy stamps)
- Postcards: Get addresses here: https://sincereapp.com/join/92GAm8Oqlu7_nNGZsjQiYw.
Order postcards on Etsy- https://www.etsy.com/your/purchases?ref=hdr_user_menu-txs (I’m avoiding amazon these days)
All letters/postcards must be mailed by October 28th.
From Jess Craven:
Call Your Senators (find yours here)
Hi, I’m a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
I’m calling to say, first, that I oppose the decision to allow Qatar to build a military base in Idaho. This is clearly happening because Trump took a jet as a bribe and has business interests with the Qataris. The corruption is blatant and absolutely despicable; this is NOT America first.
Second, the military invasions of our cities must stop. I’m furious about it. The governors of these states don’t want or need the National Guard there—they’ve been extremely clear. What Trump is doing is illegal, unconstitutional, and autocratic. The Senator needs to speak out against it loudly.
[For Republicans add:]
Finally, Congress needs to come back to DC, pass a stand-alone bill that ensures that our military gets paid, then pass legislation that extends the ACA premium tax credits permanently and ensures that Trump can’t stop appropriations. This is what the American people demand and we won’t accept any other outcome.
Call Your House Rep (find yours here)
Hi, I’m a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
I’m calling to say, first, that I oppose the decision to allow Qatar to build a military base in Idaho. This is clearly happening because Trump took a jet as a bribe and has business interests with the Qataris. The corruption is blatant and absolutely despicable; this is NOT America first.
Second, the military invasions of our cities must stop. I’m furious about it. The governors of these states don’t want or need the National Guard there—they’ve been extremely clear. What Trump is doing is illegal, unconstitutional, and autocratic. The Congressmember needs to speak out against it loudly.
[For Republicans add:]
Finally, the House needs to come back to DC, pass a stand-alone bill that ensures that our military gets paid, then pass legislation that extends the ACA premium tax credits permanently and ensures that Trump can’t stop appropriations. This is what the American people demand and we won’t accept any other outcome. We also want Adelita Grijalva sworn in and the Epstein Files Transparency Act passed. Enough of the games. Republicans need to do their jobs. Thanks.
Extra Credit
Your input is needed NOW in opposition to the right wing’s latest attack on voting rights. They’ve petitioned the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) to require documentary proof of citizenship for anyone using the federal voter registration form. That means all eligible citizens in every state!
Get the details about this extreme voter suppression measure here, submit your comments in opposition to the measure here, and spread the word to your networks. Input is needed before October 20, but please act on this today!
Get Smart!
Disinformation 101: How to Identify and Fight It
Thursday, October 16, 7:30 PM - 8:30 PM ET
Distinguishing real news from fake can be challenging today with bots spreading disinfo far and wide, deep fakes on our feeds and the amplification of bad information by influencers. We all see the impact that disinformation has on politics in our country. Are you ready to take a stand and fight back against it? Join Red, Wine, and Blue to learn what exactly is disinformation, how to recognize it and what we can do to fight its spread.
Messaging! Messaging! Messaging!
Messaging strategist Jennifer Fernandez Ancona joined us on the Practivist Pod this week and her interview is really worth hearing if you want to improve your messaging. You can listen here or watch below—the whole episode is great, if I may say so, but her part is in the middle if you want to fast forward.
Give !
A NATIONAL REFERENDUM STARTS IN TENNESSEE! PLEASE HELP!
This week, Aftyn Behn officially won the Democratic primary for Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District — setting the stage for one of the most closely watched elections in America. On December 2 voters will decide whether to keep a Trump-aligned Republican or send a progressive, young female to Congress. I LOVE AFTYN! She is the real deal, folks. Also, a Run For Something alum!
This is the first (and last) major R to D congressional special election since the passage of the Big Ugly Bill. A gerrymandered R+18 district in the Deep South has now become one of the most competitive battlegrounds in the nation! Democrats have been outperforming Republicans by 16–18 points nationwide, and TN-07 is poised to keep that streak alive. On December 2, all eyes will be on Tennessee.
Right now, Behn’s campaign is asking for donations because they don’t have the money to compete with the Republicans. Please give if you can!
Thanxx!
Thank you for all that you are doing 🙏