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***Content Warning: Mass shooting. If you need to avoid this topic, jump
to the line break below. ***

 

Indivisibles,

Once again, an AR-15 style rifle has been used in a mass shooting. 

Yesterday, at least five people were killed and eight more injured at a
bank in Louisville, Kentucky. 

This was at least the [ [link removed] ]145th mass shooting this year, up from the 130 we
reported to you just two weeks ago. More than 11,519 people have died from
gun violence this year in total. 

It is only April. 

In an echo of nearly every other occasion of gun violence in this country,
MAGA Republicans are signaling their ‘devastation’ while refusing to act.
President Biden said:

[ [link removed] ]Tweet from Biden: Once again, our nation mourns a senseless act of gun
violence - Jill and I pray for the lives lost and impacted by today's
shooting. Too many Americans are paying for the price of inaction with
their lives. When will Republicans in Congress act to protect our
communities.

And he’s right -- the primary barriers to action are Republicans bowing to
their donors in the gun lobby and blocking common-sense reforms for the
safety of the American people.

[ [link removed] ]Public pressure is working…slowly. But we can continue to hold those
MAGA officials accountable.
Indivisible Action will hold Republicans accountable for their
unacceptable and destructive positions this cycle through our
[ [link removed] ]Unrepresentatives campaign. These 18 Republican representatives
currently serve in Biden-won districts from 2020, and they are the
Achilles' heel of the MAGA Majority. They vote with extremists like
Marjorie Taylor Greene 95% of the time, are a major roadblock in moving
forward any substantive Democratic legislation, and are the most
vulnerable Republicans in 2024.

We can push them to act. We can hold them accountable when they don’t. And
ultimately, we can vote them out.

[ [link removed] ]Visit Indivisible Action's Unrepresentatives campaign website and take
the fight directly to the MAGA Republicans who are ensuring that no
progress on common-sense gun reform will ever happen while they are
empowered.

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 Indivisible Unpacked April Recess

The House is in recess this week which means it’s a great chance to catch
your Republican representative and get them on the record about their
unpopular stances. 

Whether it’s MAGA Republicans supporting Trump dodging accountability, an
extremist judge attempting to force the FDA to revoke access to safe
abortions, or attacks on Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security,
Republicans are doubling down on deeply unpopular and dangerous positions
meant to undermine our freedoms and line their pockets. 

[ [link removed] ]Use this April 23 MAGA House recess birddogging guide to strategize the
best way to hold your Republican representative accountable.

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 Your 5 Indivisible Project weekly to-dos 

 1. [ [link removed] ]RSVP for our National Activist Call: The MAGA Default Crisis
tomorrow, Wednesday, April 12 at 8pm ET/5pm PT. We know the Republican
majority in Congress is promising to hold the economy hostage in an
attempt to cut critical programs like Social Security, Medicare, and
Medicaid. Join us to learn how we plan to fight back and send a clear
message that House Democrats will not allow American lives and
livelihoods to be used as bargaining chips. 
 2. [ [link removed] ]Read and share our MAGA Default Crisis page. This page is the new
home for everything concerning the MAGA effort to throw our nation
into chaos by forcing our government to default on our debts in order
to cut Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. Our current focus is
on getting Democratic members of the House of Representatives to sign
on to the Boyle, Jayapal, Kuster letter opposing the MAGA Default
Crisis and refusing to cut vital services. [ [link removed] ]Check here to see if
your representative has signed on.
 3. If your Democratic representative has not yet signed on, [ [link removed] ]call and
tell them to add their name to the Boyle, Jayapal, Kuster letter
opposing any cuts to Social Security and Medicare. Republicans are
threatening to hold the world economy hostage. Democrats need to stand
strong and join President Biden in saying we’re not negotiating with
hostage-takers. Every Democratic member who signs onto this letter
makes it clearer to Republicans that Dems won’t cave, and clearer to
all Americans that the Democratic Party can be counted on to protect
Medicare and Social Security. Once you’ve called, [ [link removed] ]write a letter
to the editor (LTE) encouraging your MoC not to negotiate with MAGA
hostage-takers and then [ [link removed] ]tweet at your MoC demanding they sign on.
 4. If your Democratic representative has already signed on, [ [link removed] ]call your
representative and thank them for signing on to the letter. Our
representatives need to know when we’re in support of their actions,
there’s no better way to let them know than to call them directly. The
stronger we show our support, the more likely they will work for the
people in the future. When you’re finished calling, [ [link removed] ]write an LTE
thanking your representative for signing on. Don’t just support your
MoC in private, submit an LTE thanking your representative so that
your community, and other MoCs paying attention, know that your
representative is doing the right thing and supported by their
constituents. Public praise helps put the pressure on the remaining
MoCs to sign on too. 
 5. If you have a Republican representative, [ [link removed] ]call and tell them you
oppose the MAGA default scheme. Republicans on the House Ways and
Means Committee have advanced a scheme to “prevent a default” that
would essentially give congressional MAGA extremists the power to
decide which bills get paid (and potentially put critical payments to
hospitals, schools, and social safety net programs at the back of the
line). Call your Republican representative and tell them you oppose
the “debt prioritization” scheme. 

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 Mifepristone Rulings 

On Friday, a Trump-appointed judge in Texas, Matthew Kacsmaryk, ruled to
invalidate the FDA’s approval of mifepristone for medication abortion.
Less than an hour later, a judge in Washington state ruled that the FDA
must continue to make mifepristone available. These two opposing rulings
will almost certainly ensure that the FDA’s approval of mifepristone will
go to the Supreme Court.

As of right now, mifepristone, and medication abortion in general, is
still federally legal in the United States.

Judge Kacsmaryk’s ruling has widely been denounced as the work of an
anti-abortion activist rather than the unbiased opinion of a federal
judge. It’s also important to note that this has never happened before:
This ruling is the first time ever that a judge has sought to overrule the
decision of the FDA on [ [link removed] ]a safe and effective use of medicine and to
remove it from pharmacy shelves. 

The Texas decision is so extreme that, in a rare unifying moment, over 250
executives at drug companies sent a [ [link removed] ]scathing rebuke of the ruling
stating, “judicial activism will not stop here. If courts can overturn
drug approvals without regard for science or evidence, or for the
complexity required to fully vet the safety and efficacy of new drugs, any
medicine is at risk for the same outcome as mifepristone.”  

That’s right -- even the usually MAGA-aligned drug lobby is speaking out
against this ruling.

SCOTUS will now have an opportunity to issue a stay, pending their review
of the case, and could do so while upholding either the Washington or
Texas ruling in the meantime. We do not believe the FDA needs to comply
with this unscientific, activist ruling out of Texas. Regardless, if
SCOTUS does issue a stay that revokes FDA approval, medication abortion
will still be available through a solo-regimen of misoprostol. 

In the meantime, here’s what you can do:

* [ [link removed] ]Continue to give to partners like the National Network of Abortion
Funds who are leading the way on the fight for abortion access across
the country. There are incredible organizations doing the deep work of
fighting for the future of abortion access nationwide, they need our
support. Donate to the National Network of Abortion Funds to help
support many of the local organizations across the country doing this
work.
* If you have a Democratic senator, [ [link removed] ]call and tell them to ditch the
“blue slip” and confirm as many of President Biden’s judicial nominees
as possible. We’ve seen the impact that federal judges can have on
national policy -- if this case had not been brought to a
Trump-appointed judge, you wouldn’t be reading this right now. Biden
has been nominating judges at a historic pace, but Senate Democrats
are still handing significant power to Republicans to block
confirmations through an archaic Senate rule called the “[ [link removed] ]blue
slip.” Unsurprisingly, Republicans did not follow this rule very
strictly when they controlled the Senate under Trump. Democrats cannot
continue to follow this rule now, and they have the power to get rid
of it immediately. They are allowing Republicans to block
confirmations on a purely partisan basis. Tell your Democratic senator
to support ditching the “blue slip” today (and if mailboxes are full,
call back Monday). 
* If you have Republican senators or do not have Senate representation
at all, [ [link removed] ]submit a letter to the editor on MAGA’s terrifying attempt
to control our medicine cabinets. MAGA Republicans have not stopped at
trying to outlaw abortion, they are now attempting to overrule medical
professionals for purely ideological reasons. This is an extreme
violation of our reproductive freedoms by a hyper-partisan judge.
Republicans should not be in our bedrooms and Republicans should not
be in our medicine cabinets. Submit a letter to the editor to make it
clear that their position is unacceptable and directly counter to the
will of the constituents who elected them. 
* [ [link removed] ]Learn how to hold your representative accountable with this
abortion-specific birddogging resource. One of the most important
steps to holding your representatives accountable is to first get them
on the record. This resource provides guidance on what’s at stake, key
questions to ask your rep, and what sort of events provide
opportunities for this type of action. Brush up on birddogging today. 

One more time for good measure -- Medication abortion is still currently
available in spite of Friday’s ruling. But, we need to put in the work to
ensure that it stays that way and that our country continues to be ruled
by science and not MAGA extremism. 

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 Tennessee

On Thursday, two state representatives, Rep. Justin Jones (HD-52,
Nashville) and Rep. Justin Pearson (HD-86, Memphis), were expelled from
the Tennessee House of Representatives a week after they, along with Rep.
Gloria Johnson (HD-90, Knoxville), led a gun reform protest following a
school shooting in Nashville that killed six people. 

This is an appalling attack on democracy in Tennessee carried out on a
partisan basis. 

The Republican supermajority in the Tennessee House of Representatives
have tried to tie this peaceful protest to the January 6th insurrection,
showing a complete inability to distinguish between an attempted coup by
MAGA extremists and a foundational freedom granted to all Americans. In a
further illustration of this point, when Tennessee Republican Rep. Terri
Lynn Weaver attended January 6th and when State Sen. Mark Pody paid for a
group of people to attend the riot ([ [link removed] ]here’s more on Pody and Weaver’s
responses), Tennessee Republicans made no effort to remove them from
office. 

The difference is striking if not surprising. When asked why the other two
representatives were expelled and she wasn’t, Rep. Johnson was
unequivocable, “[ [link removed] ]well, I think it’s pretty clear. I’m a 60-year-old
white woman and they are two young Black men.”

Tennessee deserves better than a state legislature that acts based upon
partisan racism. These reps did not commit acts of aggression, they
participated in the legacy of peaceful protest that we Americans hold so
dear; you can even hear the echoes of MLK Jr. in [ [link removed] ]Rep. Pearson’s
refusal to give in to this charade.

The Nashville Metropolitan Council reappointed Rep. Jones yesterday
evening while the Shelby County Board of Commissioners also appear to be
leaning towards reappointing Rep. Pearson. These are necessary steps in
addressing this gross misconduct by Tennessee Republicans, but the damage
has already been done as the Tennessee legislature’s racism has been put
on full display leaving around 130,000 Tennesseans without representation
over the weekend. 

Here’s how you can help:

[ [link removed] ]Call your senator and tell them they must condemn these
anti-democratic expulsions in the strongest of terms. These actions go
further than just Tennessee, they are a blueprint for you MAGA majorities
across the country can disenfranchise voters to achieve their unpopular
goals. Contact your senator to make sure they are speaking out today! When
you’re finished, [ [link removed] ]call your representative and make sure they too
condemn the actions of the Tennessee House.

[ [link removed] ]Rep. Jones said in an interview with Democracy Now, “I’m tired of the
injustice that rules the state capitol…but they have not won the moral
narrative as we go forward.” When politicians disenfranchise voters for
selfish gain, all Americans lose. We know the “moral arc of the universe
is long,” let’s bend it towards justice for the two Justins.

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[31]WE LOVE TO SEE IT!

***In the 2023 Indivisible Guide, one of the most important things we
wanted to see was our Members of Congress (MoCs) show up as fighters! We
need a Congress that works for the people, not just their bank accounts
and special interests! So, why not highlight those fighters? We Love To
See It! will highlight the work being done by MoCs fighting for everyday
people’s well being, advancing democracy, and/or protecting personal
freedoms. Let’s stand up for our representatives when they stand up for
us! We Love To See It!***

 

President Joe Biden

[ [link removed] ]A picture of Biden giving a speech in a blue suit on the headline page
of a Reuters article titled: Exclusive: Biden would Veto Republican bill
blocking Washington, D.C., police reform.

President Biden committed to veto a Republican-backed bill to overturn
police reforms in D.C. In December, the D.C. Council unanimously passed
the [ [link removed] ]Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Amendment introduced in
response to the murder of George Floyd and subsequent protests in 2020.
Unfortunately, Congress has exclusive jurisdiction over D.C., notably
including the power to overturn local laws despite the will of the people
who actually live here. MAGA Republicans are continuing to attempt to
exert control over D.C. in defiance of its local population and
locally-elected lawmakers. 

President Biden’s commitment to veto this bill is exactly what we want to
see out of him. It is a win for D.C. home rule and legislative autonomy,
and it is a sound rejection of the House GOP’s bad faith attempts to force
bad policy through Congress using ‘gotcha’ votes. In a split Congress,
Democrats need to fight back against the GOP’s framing of hot-button
issues, and present a clear vision about what we're for and what we're
against. This sets the tone for how Democrats should respond to Republican
nonsense. [ [link removed] ]Read about President Biden’s commitment to veto here.

 

**Bonus Points: If you see your MoC showing up as a fighter and want to
highlight them, reply to this email with a link to the story and we
might feature it in our next Newsletter.**



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 National Events 

[ [link removed] ]RSVP for our Press and Media Training on Tuesday, April 18 at 8pm
ET/5pm PT. One of the core principles of Indivisible activism is holding
our representatives accountable. Whether that’s through birddogging them
for bad votes at their events or celebrating their accomplishments,
accountability is key to advancing our agenda. One of the best tools of
accountability is earned media coverage. Join us on Tuesday, April 18 to
learn more about how to establish relationships with local press, build
events that get media coverage, and take advantage of high-visibility news
moments with your groups.

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 IndivisiWin of the Week 

[ [link removed] ]Picture of Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth smiling in an Indivisible Illinois
tweet reads: Congratulations @lenihoppenworth, co-founder of
@indivisibleIL, on an incredible victory in the 48th ward! Your dedication
to our Indivisible IL community & tireless advocacy inspire. Excited to
syou you make change happen. #ElectionVictory #Chicago48thWard
@IndivisibleTeam

Last Tuesday, Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth, co-founder of Indivisible Illinois,
won the runoff election for Alderperson of Chicago’s 48th ward.

Follow us on [ [link removed] ]Facebook, [ [link removed] ]Twitter, and [ [link removed] ]Instagram to keep up on
the latest information, and text “INDIVISIBLE” to 59798 to opt-in to our
text messaging program where we send rapid response actions a few times a
month.

Last week was one of the most eventful weeks of 2023 so far. Now is the
time to stay engaged. We must continue to fight for the safety and freedom
of Americans all across the country. We are stronger when we work
together.

In solidarity,
Indivisible Team

[ [link removed] ]Indivisible Facebook

[ [link removed] ]Indivisible Twitter

[ [link removed] ]Indivisible Instagram



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