STATE OF THE UNION: Not long ago the state of the economy was a rock-solid predictor of election outcomes. Then, if economic news was bad, incumbents were in trouble. But in the last congressional election 62% of voters picked incumbents despite record inflation and a sour economy. Extremism on the far-right proved to be a bigger concern even though Donald Trump wasn’t on the ballot. For 2024, enter Bidenomics and the White House’s effort to change the narrative about the economy and voters’ perspectives about the state of the union.
Bidenomics aims to improve perceptions about the economy
THE PLAYBOOK: The armchair quarterbacking about the 2024 Presidential Election will soon shift into hyper-drive. Attention will turn to motivating each party’s base of loyal voters. But too much of a shift toward the left could come at a perilous cost for Democrats. David Byler observes that non-college White working-class voters gave Biden almost one-third of his votes in 2020. These moderate, generally independent-minded, voters sit at the ideological center of the Democratic Party and are its largest demographic bloc.
White non-college educated voters are essential to Biden
THE PULSE: Alarms are sounding louder these days about Moms for Liberty. This extremist group, focused on hijacking local school boards, recently wrapped up its convention in Philadelphia. It poses an ominous threat to the integrity of public education in America. Its goal is to be the tip of the spear of extremist culture wars and have a leading role in selecting the 2024 Republican nominee for President. The Union has a team focused on school board elections. Please hit “reply” to this email if you’d like to get involved.
Moms for Liberty threatens freedom and public education
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All hands-on-deck for Ohio voting: Ohioans are already casting early ballots on a measure that would require a 60% vote (up from 50% +1) to approve state constitutional amendments. The proposal is a blatantly anti-democratic attempt to undercut self-determination in the Buckeye state. Conservatives there want to make it significantly harder for a majority of voters to have their voices heard on measures like reproductive rights, minimum wage, and other vital matters. We need your help; Election Day is August 8.
Help defeat Ohio’s Issue One: Take action here:
Biden is making government work again: “Government is broken” is a refrain we hear all the time. It doesn’t listen or care and can’t get anything done. President Biden’s success is rooted in his ability to deliver results for Americans. Through hard work, wisdom, and experience, he’s enacting meaningful legislation that shows how government can respond and work for people. His Administration is placing a big bet that people will notice.
Proving to America that government can work again
Republicans celebrate infrastructure spending they opposed: Critical investments funded by the hard-fought-for infrastructure law are beginning to deploy across the nation. These projects will improve lives and bring jobs to thousands of communities. What’s ironic is that many Republicans who opposed the legislation are now claiming credit for it and celebrating the very spending they opposed.
Celebrating spending they opposed
Obama talks about democracy: President Obama sat down recently with David Axelrod to talk about the state of democracy here and abroad. This Axe Files podcast has good insights on the economy, technology, and our polarized politics. And some great advice for the GOP, if they’ll listen.
Axe Files talks democracy with Barack Obama
Can Republicans save themselves from MAGA? We’re doubtful given the stranglehold Trump has on his cult of primary voters. But retired conservative Judge J. Michael Luttig, notable for his condemnation of Donald Trump, offers the GOP a way back from the brink. He says, “If recent events fail to shake the Republican Party from its moribund political senses, then it is beyond saving itself. Nor ought it be saved.”
It’s past time to put country over party
Republicans from moderate districts hit turbulence: As MAGA extremists steamroll through a far-right agenda in the U.S. House of Representatives, Republicans representing moderate districts are getting nervous about their political futures. So, they’ve begun using procedural rules of the House to block some of the most extreme agenda pushed by their own party. But it only adds to the ongoing chaos that has defined the House Republican Caucus.
Possible losses scare Republican moderates
It’s time to ask tough questions: Most members of Congress will be at home holding meetings with constituents next month. We hope you’ll take the time to find and attend some of these events to ask your elected officials about Trump’s indictment and how they plan to uphold their sworn duty to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States from all enemies, even a former president.
Indivisible’s toolkit for meeting with elected officials
GETTING THINGS DONE AT THE UNION
The Union’s Q2 activity report: We had a very active second quarter this year. You can review and download our volunteer report here.
We’re getting noticed on Twitter: The Union’s social media work is gaining more traction. Our Democracy is no Spectator Sport tweet recently surpassed 100,000 views. You can help amplify this social media work by using our SpeechifAI tool. It’s a quick and easy way to add your voice and build awareness of the fight to protect democracy.
Inspire others to act: Thank you to the volunteers who shared personal stories about why protecting democracy and the American flag is important. John, from Georgia, wrote that his uncle “gave his life on Okinawa in WWII in defense of American freedom. We proudly fly our nation’s flag in his memory, and we daily hold our elected officials accountable for building a future of freedom and justice for all.”
Share your own story here: What democracy means to me.
A resource to help others join The Union: Everyone who believes MAGA extremists are a threat to American democracy needs to join The Union. We’ve created a handout you can share with friends and family about signing up for this important cause. Review and download the handout.
Thank you for all you are doing to protect democracy.
Together,
The Union
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