EXACTLY!!! Thank you for contributing. This is amazing and a REAL way to make changes, although I would never diminish the effect of a well, organized protest and I'm certaintly not implying that.
By having an avenue being made available for all to utilize while simutaneously capturing the ears and attention of those individuals who can make immediate changes is EARTH SHATTERING! The elements can't be used as an excuse for not going outside to participate. Being captured on camera and being fearful of being exposed is no longer valid. Not having transportation to the nearest event due to living in a smaller city or town is no longer a deterent. This can be done in the comfort and privacy of our own homes.
WE ALL HAVE CELLPHONES. No excuses. Our children and democracy needs us!!! Thank you in advance for your consideration.
No hagiography intended — I'm more a fan of Gore Vidal than of any president — but this reminded me of Obama's first acceptance speech, when he emphasized that we all had work to do, Change™ wasn't going to happen automatically just because we voted him in, etc.
I've been sending emails for decades, but I never had the guts to call until the 5calls app was up and running.
Thanks for your service towards the future of humanity, those calls and emails and everything really do matter. It's the real work of democracy and it is meaningful 🌲🌲 🌲
Thanks for recharging our optimism!! Even if it turns out to be too late for this nightmare administration to be as disgraced and buried as they deserve to get.
Thanks for fighting to make the world a better place, it's a public service that benefits everyone 🌲🌲🌲
Also I appreciate the kind words and the fact that anyone finds my work useful is something I am so grateful for. Even when things seem insurmountable, we have to keep fighting.
The winner will be whichever side wants it more, so we need to want it more. Justice and a fair future, hell any future at all, that's what's on the line and every phone call and email and letter and signature, they all compound from tiny nudges to strong winds of change!
Send all your suggetions, Christopher, to the DNC & their fundraising flurry. So many of us can’t give money & the DNC is relentless & often demeaning (asking why I voted R when I’ve never in my life voted R) in begging for more & more dough. It’s a form of bullying I always delete.
Send your ideas to Hillary & Obama & Schumer & all the rest of the bigwigs & celebrities asking us for money( they comprise a bleak list every day on my fone, & it turns me off to helping at all.
I know what you mean, Colleen. I gave a lot during 2020-2024 election cycle, even though it blows my mind that with all the money in politics these days, they are still tipping us upside down in case a nickle falls out.
But this is something I can do that makes sense.
I think Pete Buttgieg would like this too, if he doesn't already have this info.
Regardless of your (COVID) vaccine choices, Kennedy is dangerous and should never have been confirmed.
Maybe one-down-and-more-to-go? Removing him would be the first domino; case in point, Hegseth and Gabbart.
Clearly, the damage to what was once a Democracy will take a generation to repair.
If you have children or grandchildren, family and friends with children, it does not take much time to call after hours for their sakes.
Adam Kinzinger suggests full name and zip, thank them for their courage in these challenging times then, ever so briefly, state the concern for your call.. call after business hours.
Currently, suggesting rep consider their legacy moving forward.. then "stay safe, stay boosted."
If you happen to speak with a young intern, I close with "I want you to be safe because your life is precious."
This is so insane, so I constitutional, no one would see the movie. Actually, Michael Moore said, ages ago, he wouldn't do it as we've already lived this.
Question: why has BOTH sides of the isle waited this long to speak up?
Shout-out to so many Boomers and Vietnam Vets who continue to rally and protest. At 78, when leaving this earth, must know that I tried 🇺🇲
Hey Christopher, would you repost the link for template to write state attorney generals regarding class action lawsuit about stealing Soc Sec information from 350 million people against DOGE, Musk etc please
They keep saying there are more of us than there are of them so PROVE IT! WE THE PEOPLE ARE THE ONLY ONES THAT CAN STOP THIS SO IF WE DONT I GUESS IT DOESNT GET STOPPEF... SIMPLE AS THAT!!!!!!!!
Authoritarian power feeds on dysregulated nervous systems — people living in fear, humiliation, or perceived loss. When individuals lack emotional literacy, they are more vulnerable to manipulation, propaganda, and calls for domination.
Those who have survived abuse recognize a painful truth: harm persists not because it is constant, but because it becomes normalized.
Abuse ends when:
• the pattern is named
• boundaries are enforced
• consequences are real
Societies are no different.
You do not negotiate peace by appeasing domination.
You create peace by changing the conditions that allow abuse to continue
Have you shared any of this with the nationwide Indivisible group (Ezra Levin) as they do a zoom each week and discuss strategies going forward. Thousands of people join them on zoom in these discussions.
Really great information! I had heard years ago that calling was the absolute best thing to do. I live in FL…the reddest of states & in the most red city in the entire state. I passed this info to a friend who is the president of our local DWC.
We are encountering major craziness since Kirk’s death!
What happens when your State AG allows ICE agents to sit outside of county without a signed Judicial Warrant to pick up your friends when they go to bring their renewal paperwork? Police brutality has allowed us to believe this is acceptable behavior. I dare to call out police misconduct in Colorado in 2026. I am stuck in probate court hell waiting for a competency hearing. Guess who was on a Trust at "375 Mill Creek." There is a lot of corruption at many levels of different branches of government here in Colorado. We are a hot mess express.
This is fantastic. As someone who briefly worked on Capitol Hill in the 1990s (Senate side, Rissell Building), I can vouch for the effectiveness of the strategy. Everyone call. Call, call, call!! Get loud and lock it up. Love these scripts.
Sorry, _Russell_ Building typo. Also, the year I was there they were working to pass (and passed!) the ADA. I don't know if constituents can call to make appointments to meet with staffers to discuss their concerns, but can tell you from experience, nothing rearranged the senator's office priorities for the day than a group of people from the district, calmly wanting a few minutes. This works in both DC and in the district offices in the field. Of course some senators and representatives might just avoid their voters - at their own peril - but it's always worth asking how you can see someone in person.
Some of the advocates then were just kind of roaming the halls and popping in on surprise mode - which, if you're calm and focused, and have your talking points in hand (see script), really works. (If you can stuill do this after January 6.) I like Chris's suggested documentation of contacts and social posts. Always tag the office so their social media staff take note!
Before the invasion of Iraq, I spent time in the offices of the NM Senators and we had talking points and a bunch of people following each other. I was so hopeful we could stop Bush Jnr but we failed. I need to remember how important such tactics are! Let’s do more of direct contact appeals.
The 2004 election results were painful. The fight never ends though, because as much as we want to make the world a better place, there are absolutely inexhaustible zealots who will keep trying to destroy the world with their oligarch greed driven death cult garbage. Ideally, I figure we just try to have fun while waging this war for a future that doesn't involve living in a world torn apart by religious crazies and absolutely insane technocrats.
I was a team-leader for MoveOn in the 2004 election and at least Santa Fe voted 78% for Kerry/Edwards. I redeveloped asthma that election-night after I’d lost my voice going door to door for over a month or two! I got discouraged when Bush won again.
It was such a bummer when Edwards dropped the ball, he seemed so promising. Also thanks for everything you've contributed to political causes, MoveOn has done so much of the work.
I've started reading the local paper. It's a nice way to relax at a diner. Although they have zero political courage but that's a whole other problem haha
We need to support our local papers. There was a time whole communities depended on them for all the news they needed to know. That time may come again.
Thank you Christopher, sharing. I have been amplifying and following your direction. I need to be more pointed and specific. The scripts are fantastic! Sharing with my groups. Our timeline is shrinking, pedal to the metal!
Physical letters, knocking on their doors, putting bumber stickers with insults all over their cars, mocking/bullying/harassing. Maybe then they'll consider allowing more civil means if discours.
Another thing I forgot to say. At the top of this article, on the top right-hand side the three vertical dots. Click there and save this article so that you can go to it in the future. In order to follow the scripts you're supposed to say. 😊
Thanks. I just pasted & formatted into a Word doc. (I think I knew I could save or bookmark it somehow, but.) Maybe multiple formats of saving increases my probability of action! (Plus I shared.)
The state treasurer are the ones we nees to be calling more than anything aside from our representatives. Because they technically control the money 💰 🤑. So peeps let's get on it! Call your state treasurer and tell them to move that money 💰 🤑 💸 ASAP!! Because their allowing these corrupt criminals do whatever the fuck they want with money that should be going to more important causes. Share this Substack article with all your friends, family, neighbors, social media. Restack it as well. Share, share, share! So we can get those 1k calls 📞 a day. Let's GO. 🇺🇸🗽#FreeTheUSA.
Chris. Just a suggestion. You don't have to do it if you don't want to. But you may want to do a collaboration with Meidas Touch Network. Since they have such a huge platform. When I say collaboration, I mean just talk to them. And they will move mountains to make your content showed to the masses. You can probably do a live with them here on Substack. That would be so damn cool.
Thank you for this. And for the record, all that’s happening with abortion is also happening with gender-affirming care (subpoenas of patient and pharmacy records, going after providers…). I plan to include this in my calls and I hope others will as well, for this cruelly targeted population.
Thank you for making the calls and for fighting for the people who need it. Apologies for not mentioning the trans community directly, I'll do my best to include that in the future because that's the right thing to do.
Appreciate you reading and trying to make the world a better place 💜
I may be personally pro life and anti abortion but I'm politically pro choice, pro privacy, pro Dr Patient relationship, and pro Mind Your Own Damn Business! Oh, and just curious, why aren't we ALL pro let's make choosing life not so damn difficult? While I wouldn't send either of my kids back with the stork, I would never say keeping them didn't completely and utterly upend my life. But they were planned and we are a highly educated 2 good income stable family. I've had many friends and coworkers who were only blessed by their kids, not their jobs, parents, baby making partners or timing, and definitely not the complexities of govt assistance.
I also think The Bulwark (Sarah Longwell does focus groups with independents), and Pete Buttagieg who is going around the country supporting candidates in key races. He's great at everything from strategy to debate prep to messaging, and this completely fits with what Chris has just given us.
After I read your 90 day blue state stop fascism post, I went to yoga and couldn't stop thinking about how we need a state by state strategy & script, beginning with CA, IL, and NY. And then boom, you beat me to it:) Thank you!
Since you're obviously reading my thoughts, I think it would be great to give folks an action plan for engaging their local friends community to do a democracy power hour together this week, take pics, post, and encourage folks to do the same next week.
For the last few decades I’ve been saying “The federal government is toast!” … largely because a nation of 1/3 of a billion people is way beyond being able to be guided by 435 people (the House chamber) in Washington DC!
Now, the whole thing has reached its peak with Trump & Co. actually dismantling significant chunks of it.
The only way forward is not to try to fix it on the federal level; it’s too late for that (the numbers can’t be changed significantly enough) but to decentralize and diversify! That’s what’s so important about the effort described here in this post. The future belongs to the states, to the cities, to the communities and to even the neighborhoods.
I just posted my latest essay here on Substack. When I mentioned the "states, to the cities, to the communities, and to even the neighborhoods" I was referring to more than just state and local governments. i mean groups of people with at least a common geographic place, as well as perhaps common interests.
Indeed, local government has a lot on its hands and not much in the way of voter support. This article is about what that may be.
Not very smart providing scripts imo. The reason petitions carry little weight is that those who receive them know little effort was involved in someone’s signing the petition. Little or no individual thought went into framing the message. We don’t want a congressman X hearing constituents saying pretty much the same thing. The calls will
Quickly become devalued. If use you the script at all, use it loosely a basis for putting together your own message.
Scripts or talking points allow more people to call, which is better, period. Making the effort to call is most important. We don't need to reinvent the wheel as to what we say, and scripts don't get in the way of anyone who would have called without one.
It will never go exactly by script. But it will get you started. And once you do this a couple of times, it gets very easy to have the conversation and speak from the heart. BTW, you will usually get an aid, unless you are somewhat important, and it's much less intimidating. It doesn't have to be angry, either. You can be kind, but firm. And if you have an appropriate sense of humor, like Jared Moskowitz, that can sometimes work. Be yourself, but let the script get you started.
Holy cats! This is great stuff. I have called the spineless worms in Congress and the Senate repeatedly while Trump was/is in office. I’m ashamed to say I never bothered to call my state Senator or Rep (always Republican in this very red area). Luckily my state-wide officials are all Democrats. But you have given out some terrific ideas.
Just a follow up. I live in Illinois. It took me three calls to three different phone numbers to speak to a person in the comptroller’s office. I used the script provided here. I was told I would receive a follow up call and am wondering what I can say in response. The phone number that finally gave me a person who would receive my message is 312-814-2451.
Just make a bullet point list of questions about what they will do about five issues pertaining to their office. Pick two and then jot down their answers.
For instance, what happens if the federal administration witholds emergency funds? How much will we have to pay extra? How will you get that money back?
Thank you for this info—I’ll be calling my elected officials in CA. I especially want to push for a soft secession by the blue states. We should not be sending the feds and the pathetic red states our money when they are trying to burn us all down! 😡
Brilliant! It’s all about leverage. There are more of us – that should count.
A link to this article will go in the weekly newsletter for my Indivisible group, & on BlueSky.
For people who are not members of a grassroots group – we can flex our democratic power 💪 together if you call together three or four or 5 of your friends /neighbors/fam to make sure the people that want to do this project actually do .
Thank you, Chris!
The states are the key. The gov’s got it first, now we have our marching orders
When this Phone project is done, we take a look at the critical state races coming up this fall in VA & NJ
DESPITE DIRTY TRICKS, DESPITE INTIMIDATION, WE CAN KNOCK IT OUT OF THE PARK IN EVERY SINGLE FASCISM/DEMOCRACY CONTEST
There are enough of us now who understand what’s going on and have the spunk to come together and do something about it
Take heart, Carlotta! The Indivisibles in Denton,Texas, will be making these calls. Our Lege is gerrymandeRED, but we are gonna burn up their phone lines!!
Thank you — this is so much more valuable than just telling folks to call or giving a quick script. People are very conditioned to be polite, to “not waste someone’s time”, to think that their call won’t matter. It all does and this is such a good step by step way to do it, effectively.
As a whole we need to be way more aggressive if we want to save the world and all of humanity from this insane death cult. Thanks for reading!
Thank you for the templates! It’s tooth and claw time. Playing nice got us a pat on the head like a dog would receive.
I became a paid subscriber because your work, time and that brilliant mind are worth supporting.💙🇺🇸💙
Aw shoot you're very kind Karola! I do my best, thank you for being awesome 💙💙💙💙
Actually that should Crayola !!!%
C'mon slave come get aggressive shitstain let's see what happens !!!%
You're on a roll here, Chris. Keep it going. And yes, WAY, WAY, WAAAY more aggressive tactics now. This is war to fight for our country.
EXACTLY!!! Thank you for contributing. This is amazing and a REAL way to make changes, although I would never diminish the effect of a well, organized protest and I'm certaintly not implying that.
By having an avenue being made available for all to utilize while simutaneously capturing the ears and attention of those individuals who can make immediate changes is EARTH SHATTERING! The elements can't be used as an excuse for not going outside to participate. Being captured on camera and being fearful of being exposed is no longer valid. Not having transportation to the nearest event due to living in a smaller city or town is no longer a deterent. This can be done in the comfort and privacy of our own homes.
WE ALL HAVE CELLPHONES. No excuses. Our children and democracy needs us!!! Thank you in advance for your consideration.
No hagiography intended — I'm more a fan of Gore Vidal than of any president — but this reminded me of Obama's first acceptance speech, when he emphasized that we all had work to do, Change™ wasn't going to happen automatically just because we voted him in, etc.
I've been sending emails for decades, but I never had the guts to call until the 5calls app was up and running.
Thanks for your service towards the future of humanity, those calls and emails and everything really do matter. It's the real work of democracy and it is meaningful 🌲🌲 🌲
Thanks for recharging our optimism!! Even if it turns out to be too late for this nightmare administration to be as disgraced and buried as they deserve to get.
I love a good strategy!! This has given me more energy and focus than I've had in weeks.
What about adding election officials to the list. I've read Dissent in Bloom and This Will Hold. We need to quickly secure a paper ballot alternative.
Thanks for the tips on how to put teeth into our demands. Including fair and transparent elections.
Thanks for fighting to make the world a better place, it's a public service that benefits everyone 🌲🌲🌲
Also I appreciate the kind words and the fact that anyone finds my work useful is something I am so grateful for. Even when things seem insurmountable, we have to keep fighting.
The winner will be whichever side wants it more, so we need to want it more. Justice and a fair future, hell any future at all, that's what's on the line and every phone call and email and letter and signature, they all compound from tiny nudges to strong winds of change!
You are amazing to send me such a thoughtful and strong message. You nailed it. "The winner will be any side that wants it more".
Carry on clarifying and encouraging.
Send all your suggetions, Christopher, to the DNC & their fundraising flurry. So many of us can’t give money & the DNC is relentless & often demeaning (asking why I voted R when I’ve never in my life voted R) in begging for more & more dough. It’s a form of bullying I always delete.
Send your ideas to Hillary & Obama & Schumer & all the rest of the bigwigs & celebrities asking us for money( they comprise a bleak list every day on my fone, & it turns me off to helping at all.
Colleen 9-21-25
I know what you mean, Colleen. I gave a lot during 2020-2024 election cycle, even though it blows my mind that with all the money in politics these days, they are still tipping us upside down in case a nickle falls out.
But this is something I can do that makes sense.
I think Pete Buttgieg would like this too, if he doesn't already have this info.
I created this spreadsheet with all of the comptroller, treasurer, and attorney general phone numbers: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1jVKE3_Z1Dqh3ZaKLCvysdExLUVb39Jqu65a2tUn7edM/edit?usp=sharing
Please share this resource with others! Also let me know if anything looks wrong.
Wow, that's awesome! Thanks so much! I will copy and share.
Thanks for your work and contribution!!
Thank you for this is n formation. I will be using it.
Word!
My Nextdoor post this morning:
"Executive Decision" here.
Less posting, more calls Monday through Friday.
Regardless of your (COVID) vaccine choices, Kennedy is dangerous and should never have been confirmed.
Maybe one-down-and-more-to-go? Removing him would be the first domino; case in point, Hegseth and Gabbart.
Clearly, the damage to what was once a Democracy will take a generation to repair.
If you have children or grandchildren, family and friends with children, it does not take much time to call after hours for their sakes.
Adam Kinzinger suggests full name and zip, thank them for their courage in these challenging times then, ever so briefly, state the concern for your call.. call after business hours.
Currently, suggesting rep consider their legacy moving forward.. then "stay safe, stay boosted."
If you happen to speak with a young intern, I close with "I want you to be safe because your life is precious."
This is so insane, so I constitutional, no one would see the movie. Actually, Michael Moore said, ages ago, he wouldn't do it as we've already lived this.
Question: why has BOTH sides of the isle waited this long to speak up?
Shout-out to so many Boomers and Vietnam Vets who continue to rally and protest. At 78, when leaving this earth, must know that I tried 🇺🇲
Hey Christopher, would you repost the link for template to write state attorney generals regarding class action lawsuit about stealing Soc Sec information from 350 million people against DOGE, Musk etc please
They keep saying there are more of us than there are of them so PROVE IT! WE THE PEOPLE ARE THE ONLY ONES THAT CAN STOP THIS SO IF WE DONT I GUESS IT DOESNT GET STOPPEF... SIMPLE AS THAT!!!!!!!!
Authoritarian power feeds on dysregulated nervous systems — people living in fear, humiliation, or perceived loss. When individuals lack emotional literacy, they are more vulnerable to manipulation, propaganda, and calls for domination.
Those who have survived abuse recognize a painful truth: harm persists not because it is constant, but because it becomes normalized.
Abuse ends when:
• the pattern is named
• boundaries are enforced
• consequences are real
Societies are no different.
You do not negotiate peace by appeasing domination.
You create peace by changing the conditions that allow abuse to continue
Have you shared any of this with the nationwide Indivisible group (Ezra Levin) as they do a zoom each week and discuss strategies going forward. Thousands of people join them on zoom in these discussions.
Really great information! I had heard years ago that calling was the absolute best thing to do. I live in FL…the reddest of states & in the most red city in the entire state. I passed this info to a friend who is the president of our local DWC.
We are encountering major craziness since Kirk’s death!
What happens when your State AG allows ICE agents to sit outside of county without a signed Judicial Warrant to pick up your friends when they go to bring their renewal paperwork? Police brutality has allowed us to believe this is acceptable behavior. I dare to call out police misconduct in Colorado in 2026. I am stuck in probate court hell waiting for a competency hearing. Guess who was on a Trust at "375 Mill Creek." There is a lot of corruption at many levels of different branches of government here in Colorado. We are a hot mess express.
I would say assertive rather than aggressive. And I agree
ROTFLMFAO poor liddle sparklefairy dicklicker, come get aggressive with me and find out what happens cunt !!!%
This is fantastic. As someone who briefly worked on Capitol Hill in the 1990s (Senate side, Rissell Building), I can vouch for the effectiveness of the strategy. Everyone call. Call, call, call!! Get loud and lock it up. Love these scripts.
Sorry, _Russell_ Building typo. Also, the year I was there they were working to pass (and passed!) the ADA. I don't know if constituents can call to make appointments to meet with staffers to discuss their concerns, but can tell you from experience, nothing rearranged the senator's office priorities for the day than a group of people from the district, calmly wanting a few minutes. This works in both DC and in the district offices in the field. Of course some senators and representatives might just avoid their voters - at their own peril - but it's always worth asking how you can see someone in person.
Some of the advocates then were just kind of roaming the halls and popping in on surprise mode - which, if you're calm and focused, and have your talking points in hand (see script), really works. (If you can stuill do this after January 6.) I like Chris's suggested documentation of contacts and social posts. Always tag the office so their social media staff take note!
Before the invasion of Iraq, I spent time in the offices of the NM Senators and we had talking points and a bunch of people following each other. I was so hopeful we could stop Bush Jnr but we failed. I need to remember how important such tactics are! Let’s do more of direct contact appeals.
The 2004 election results were painful. The fight never ends though, because as much as we want to make the world a better place, there are absolutely inexhaustible zealots who will keep trying to destroy the world with their oligarch greed driven death cult garbage. Ideally, I figure we just try to have fun while waging this war for a future that doesn't involve living in a world torn apart by religious crazies and absolutely insane technocrats.
I was a team-leader for MoveOn in the 2004 election and at least Santa Fe voted 78% for Kerry/Edwards. I redeveloped asthma that election-night after I’d lost my voice going door to door for over a month or two! I got discouraged when Bush won again.
It was such a bummer when Edwards dropped the ball, he seemed so promising. Also thanks for everything you've contributed to political causes, MoveOn has done so much of the work.
Agreed! That night, I woke up to Edward’s voice on the radio saying: “ we need to count every vote because every vote counts!”
Open letters to Congressfolk and State Reps posted in local papers used to work. Back when people read newspapers.
I've started reading the local paper. It's a nice way to relax at a diner. Although they have zero political courage but that's a whole other problem haha
We need to support our local papers. There was a time whole communities depended on them for all the news they needed to know. That time may come again.
Same. Agree. Especially call state and local elected and other officials. I worked in Hart in the 1990s.
Thank you Christopher, sharing. I have been amplifying and following your direction. I need to be more pointed and specific. The scripts are fantastic! Sharing with my groups. Our timeline is shrinking, pedal to the metal!
Physical letters, knocking on their doors, putting bumber stickers with insults all over their cars, mocking/bullying/harassing. Maybe then they'll consider allowing more civil means if discours.
So break the law?
You sound really sensitive are you going to be ok
If a law is unjust, a man is not only right to disobey it, he is obligated to do so.
-Thomas Jefferson
Don’t mock me Bro!
Another thing I forgot to say. At the top of this article, on the top right-hand side the three vertical dots. Click there and save this article so that you can go to it in the future. In order to follow the scripts you're supposed to say. 😊
You're so awesome thank you for letting people know 🌲 🌲 🌲 🌲 🌲 🌲
You're so welcome! Anything to get your information out! 👏👏👏
Thanks. I just pasted & formatted into a Word doc. (I think I knew I could save or bookmark it somehow, but.) Maybe multiple formats of saving increases my probability of action! (Plus I shared.)
Horizontal
😂😂😂 Yes, Horizontal!
The state treasurer are the ones we nees to be calling more than anything aside from our representatives. Because they technically control the money 💰 🤑. So peeps let's get on it! Call your state treasurer and tell them to move that money 💰 🤑 💸 ASAP!! Because their allowing these corrupt criminals do whatever the fuck they want with money that should be going to more important causes. Share this Substack article with all your friends, family, neighbors, social media. Restack it as well. Share, share, share! So we can get those 1k calls 📞 a day. Let's GO. 🇺🇸🗽#FreeTheUSA.
HECK YESSSSSSSSSS
Chris. Just a suggestion. You don't have to do it if you don't want to. But you may want to do a collaboration with Meidas Touch Network. Since they have such a huge platform. When I say collaboration, I mean just talk to them. And they will move mountains to make your content showed to the masses. You can probably do a live with them here on Substack. That would be so damn cool.
Great idea, I'm going to message them immediately
I did so too, on your behalf! Lmao.. I couldn't help myself. I sent direct messages to all three brothers. 😂🤣🤭
I'd also reach out to Marianne Williamson, as her followers are older, motivated and have more time on their hands.
Thank you for this. And for the record, all that’s happening with abortion is also happening with gender-affirming care (subpoenas of patient and pharmacy records, going after providers…). I plan to include this in my calls and I hope others will as well, for this cruelly targeted population.
Thank you for making the calls and for fighting for the people who need it. Apologies for not mentioning the trans community directly, I'll do my best to include that in the future because that's the right thing to do.
Appreciate you reading and trying to make the world a better place 💜
I may be personally pro life and anti abortion but I'm politically pro choice, pro privacy, pro Dr Patient relationship, and pro Mind Your Own Damn Business! Oh, and just curious, why aren't we ALL pro let's make choosing life not so damn difficult? While I wouldn't send either of my kids back with the stork, I would never say keeping them didn't completely and utterly upend my life. But they were planned and we are a highly educated 2 good income stable family. I've had many friends and coworkers who were only blessed by their kids, not their jobs, parents, baby making partners or timing, and definitely not the complexities of govt assistance.
I also think The Bulwark (Sarah Longwell does focus groups with independents), and Pete Buttagieg who is going around the country supporting candidates in key races. He's great at everything from strategy to debate prep to messaging, and this completely fits with what Chris has just given us.
After I read your 90 day blue state stop fascism post, I went to yoga and couldn't stop thinking about how we need a state by state strategy & script, beginning with CA, IL, and NY. And then boom, you beat me to it:) Thank you!
Since you're obviously reading my thoughts, I think it would be great to give folks an action plan for engaging their local friends community to do a democracy power hour together this week, take pics, post, and encourage folks to do the same next week.
It shall be done 😎😎😎
Also I just actually read comments of people saying they wanted scripts and was like... "Oh, yea. I need to do that."
Then I was going to just put them into the 90 day article as an edit but they ended up being longer than rhe original and here we are.
So yes, next step is to work on some organizing plans. I'd love to integrate behaviorial psychology into that conversation.
For the last few decades I’ve been saying “The federal government is toast!” … largely because a nation of 1/3 of a billion people is way beyond being able to be guided by 435 people (the House chamber) in Washington DC!
Now, the whole thing has reached its peak with Trump & Co. actually dismantling significant chunks of it.
The only way forward is not to try to fix it on the federal level; it’s too late for that (the numbers can’t be changed significantly enough) but to decentralize and diversify! That’s what’s so important about the effort described here in this post. The future belongs to the states, to the cities, to the communities and to even the neighborhoods.
I just posted my latest essay here on Substack. When I mentioned the "states, to the cities, to the communities, and to even the neighborhoods" I was referring to more than just state and local governments. i mean groups of people with at least a common geographic place, as well as perhaps common interests.
Indeed, local government has a lot on its hands and not much in the way of voter support. This article is about what that may be.
https://glennckoenig.substack.com/p/where-have-all-the-local-voters-gone
Not very smart providing scripts imo. The reason petitions carry little weight is that those who receive them know little effort was involved in someone’s signing the petition. Little or no individual thought went into framing the message. We don’t want a congressman X hearing constituents saying pretty much the same thing. The calls will
Quickly become devalued. If use you the script at all, use it loosely a basis for putting together your own message.
I agree, hopefully people can put their own twist on it. Since people asked, I provided.
Scripts or talking points allow more people to call, which is better, period. Making the effort to call is most important. We don't need to reinvent the wheel as to what we say, and scripts don't get in the way of anyone who would have called without one.
Completely agree, well said
It will never go exactly by script. But it will get you started. And once you do this a couple of times, it gets very easy to have the conversation and speak from the heart. BTW, you will usually get an aid, unless you are somewhat important, and it's much less intimidating. It doesn't have to be angry, either. You can be kind, but firm. And if you have an appropriate sense of humor, like Jared Moskowitz, that can sometimes work. Be yourself, but let the script get you started.
Thought about this as well.
Holy cats! This is great stuff. I have called the spineless worms in Congress and the Senate repeatedly while Trump was/is in office. I’m ashamed to say I never bothered to call my state Senator or Rep (always Republican in this very red area). Luckily my state-wide officials are all Democrats. But you have given out some terrific ideas.
Appreciate your efforts, they're never wasted and really do help nudge things!
This is phenomenal. Thank you for putting this all in one place. It needs to be shared widely and used to destroy project 2025.
Appreciate it, hopefully it helps move the needle towards freedom and justice!
Just a follow up. I live in Illinois. It took me three calls to three different phone numbers to speak to a person in the comptroller’s office. I used the script provided here. I was told I would receive a follow up call and am wondering what I can say in response. The phone number that finally gave me a person who would receive my message is 312-814-2451.
Just make a bullet point list of questions about what they will do about five issues pertaining to their office. Pick two and then jot down their answers.
For instance, what happens if the federal administration witholds emergency funds? How much will we have to pay extra? How will you get that money back?
All good suggestions- ty
Thank you for this info—I’ll be calling my elected officials in CA. I especially want to push for a soft secession by the blue states. We should not be sending the feds and the pathetic red states our money when they are trying to burn us all down! 😡
Hell yes. No more funding our own destruction!
Brilliant! It’s all about leverage. There are more of us – that should count.
A link to this article will go in the weekly newsletter for my Indivisible group, & on BlueSky.
For people who are not members of a grassroots group – we can flex our democratic power 💪 together if you call together three or four or 5 of your friends /neighbors/fam to make sure the people that want to do this project actually do .
Thank you, Chris!
The states are the key. The gov’s got it first, now we have our marching orders
When this Phone project is done, we take a look at the critical state races coming up this fall in VA & NJ
DESPITE DIRTY TRICKS, DESPITE INTIMIDATION, WE CAN KNOCK IT OUT OF THE PARK IN EVERY SINGLE FASCISM/DEMOCRACY CONTEST
There are enough of us now who understand what’s going on and have the spunk to come together and do something about it
Game on !!!!
Thanks for the work you do. You're doing the real work and I feel fortunate to be on the same team 😎
Take heart, Carlotta! The Indivisibles in Denton,Texas, will be making these calls. Our Lege is gerrymandeRED, but we are gonna burn up their phone lines!!
I just mentioned Denton in my latest article!
Thanks for the work you're doing!
!!!!!!
Thank you — this is so much more valuable than just telling folks to call or giving a quick script. People are very conditioned to be polite, to “not waste someone’s time”, to think that their call won’t matter. It all does and this is such a good step by step way to do it, effectively.
Definitely worth it. Call their max donors while you're at it.
Appreciate it, thanks for reading!