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Your weekly Indivisible Newsletter Indivisibles,
This Wednesday, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in Idaho v. United States and Moyle v. United States -- a consolidated case (often referred to simply as Idaho v. United States) that would have national implications on the safety of pregnant women seeking life-saving care.
In short, the case calls into question the ability of doctors to follow the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) when faced with a pregnant patient. EMTALA guarantees treatment for emergency medical conditions to prevent serious risk to a patient’s health, but Idaho’s abortion ban only allows doctors to provide emergency abortion care to prevent a patient’s death.
Anti-abortion activists hope that a ruling upholding state abortion bans over EMTALA’s federal patient protections will clear the way from more cruel bans and allow ‘states rights’ to trump longstanding federal laws whenever it suits their political interests.
Let’s be clear: This case is about Republicans being so hellbent on banning abortion that they would rather women die than receive necessary, life-saving abortion care.
In a potential preview of SCOTUS’ intentions: After a federal district court in Idaho issued a stay on implementation while the case works its way through the courts, the Supreme Court agreed to hear the case and allowed the law to go into effect -- blocking EMTALA for pregnant patients who need emergency abortion care in Idaho at least until their full ruling comes this year. That means women in Idaho are being denied emergency abortion care because they are pregnant right now.
Nothing about the Idaho ban, and its subsequent attempt to override federal law, is based in medical reality. It is solely another attempt by Republicans to steal from women their rights to bodily autonomy and freedom -- and it comes at the literal cost of their lives.
When we talk about the price of MAGA extremism, when we say this is (once again) “the most important election of our lifetimes,” this is what we mean. It is on each of us to do everything we can to prevent MAGA from achieving their goals. Yes, for our freedoms, but also for our very lives.
With that, here are your weekly to-dos:
Your 5 weekly to-dos
- Check and see if Neighbor2Neighbor is available in your area. We have opened pre-registration for Indivisible Action’s version of our highly effective, community conversation program -- Neighbor2Neighbor. If you want to have the biggest impact on voter turnout, this is the most effective way we’ve found to mobilize community members (our numbers prove it). Check and see if Neighbor2Neighbor is available in your area and, if it is, sign up today.
- Join Leah and Ezra for an informal virtual Coffee Klatch this Wednesday, April 24 at 4pm ET/1pm PT. In his Sunday Newsletter, Ezra talked about the political impact of Republican extremism on abortion, how it has played out specifically in Arizona, and how we need to continue to be loud about it through November (if you missed his newsletter, read it here). Join Ezra and Leah for an informal conversation on how we will use MAGA extremism against them to win in November.
- Sign up to defend democracy from Trump with Project 2024: Majority Over MAGA. Our Project 2024 was made in direct opposition to Trump’s dangerous MAGA objectives. This new electoral program will ensure Indivisibles all across the country have the opportunity to make a difference in the highest-priority races this cycle and prevent a MAGA catastrophe from taking place. This will include tactics like phonebanking, postcarding, and direct-to-voter texting along with our groundbreaking community conversation strategy: Neighbor2Neighbor. Sign up to be the first to know when we launch our tools in your area.
- Call your senator and demand they protect in vitro fertilization (IVF) access nationwide. The MAGA agenda did not just stop at repealing Roe. They intend to ban contraception, IVF, gender-affirming care, marriage equality, and more. Sen. Tammy Duckworth has introduced the Access to Family Building Act, a bill that would enshrine access to IVF and related services as a federal right, protecting both would-be families and their medical providers. If your senator is a Democrat, call and make sure they are a cosponsor. If your senator is a Republican, tell them to put their money where their mouth is, pass this bill, and actually support families. When you’re finished calling, send your senators an email urging them to protect IVF access.
- Email your MoC about cosponsoring H.R. 732 -- the Save Medicare Act. We know the MAGA agenda includes ending Medicare as we know it -- and a big part of their scheme includes handing the reins to private insurers. But we’ve seen what happens when greedy insurance companies are put in charge: Medicare Advantage, the privatized option for Medicare, is rampant with fraud and overspending. If we allow insurance companies unchecked power to run the program, we risk sticking millions of Americans with coverage that promises quality healthcare only to deny coverage for essential care and services. Congress must hold these predatory Medicare Advantage plans accountable, and that starts with blocking the deceptive naming of these private plans.
P.S. We count on the small dollar donors to help fund this movement! If you're able, please pitch in today to support the grassroots organizing that powers our progressive wins.
Stop The Relentless Power Grab Kickoff Call
Join us with partners including United For Democracy in the Stop the Relentless Power Grab virtual kickoff event this Wednesday, April 24 at 8pm ET/5pm PT. The broken Supreme Court has eliminated our right to abortion, made it harder to prevent school shootings, allowed massive corporations to pollute our air and water, blocked student loan relief, helped politicians suppress people’s votes, and so much more -- all while accepting lavish ‘gifts’ from billionaire backers.
This clear lack of ethical boundaries is exactly the SCOTUS Trump dreamed of when he stacked the court. If justices can be bought, there’s no end to the depravity they could enact on the American people.
It is crucial that we push our lawmakers to stand up to the relentless power grab and fix the Court. Join the call this Wednesday and, as a bonus, hear from our very own Ezra Levin.
IndivisiWin of the Week
Indivisible Worcester in Maryland getting press coverage for their event highlighting the threat of abortion bans and the damage they’ll cause. Read more coverage from ABC47 WMDT here.
Indivisible Rural Summit
**RESCHEDULED** Register for Off to the Races: Rural Summit 2024 our virtual rural convening on Saturday, May 4 at 1pm ET/10am PT. We’re off to the races! Join Indivisible’s Rural Caucus for our annual Rural Summit, where we will hone in on the importance of having hope in rural America despite the many challenges ahead of us. We will do a deep dive into state-level electoral work, focusing on gubernatorial elections, judicial elections, state legislative races, and ballot initiatives. Come hear from experts in the field on how you can more effectively use Indivisible’s tools and resources to stand in the face of MAGA extremism and harness your own power not just this year but for years to come! Stay tuned for special guest speaker announcements as they are confirmed!
Call for a Humanitarian Ceasefire
| **Content Warning: Talk about the current humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Jump to the line break if you need to avoid this topic.** |
Over the weekend, the House passed a $95 billion aid package headlined by separate bills providing aid for Israel and Ukraine. A group of courageous House progressives organized opposition to the bill providing offensive weapons to Israel, referencing the regret many representatives felt over their votes to fund the Iraq war. Rep. Joaquin Castro explainined, “we’re either going to participate in the carnage, or we’re not.”
In the end, 37 Democrats voted against sending unrestricted aid to Israel with many, like Rep. Becca Balint, making a distinction between support for a safe and secure Israel and “supporting Netanyahu’s war in Gaza.” Though the bill ultimately passed (and that was never in doubt), having 37 Democrats take a principled stance that we cannot green-light Netanyahu’s unchecked aggression is unprecedented and worthy of praise.
It is vital that we remember that support for Israel does not have to equal support for Netanyahu’s relentless campaign on Palestinian civilians. The US could choose to send defensive armaments to secure the safety of an Israeli state without arming its military with weapons to potentially invade Rafah. Those simple restrictions would save lives in every direction.
As Israel and Iran trade tactical strikes, flirting with a larger regional conflict, we must acknowledge that no escalation in this crisis creates a safer region for its people. For Israel to achieve the safe return of the hostages, they must agree to a ceasefire. For Palestine to secure safety for its people, they must agree to a ceasefire. And for the United States to uphold its ideals as a world leader who stands for peace and liberty, they must use their position to uphold US and international law and secure a ceasefire.
Call your representatives today!
BIPOC Caucus
| **This is a space reserved specifically for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color Indivisibles. We ask that you only attend if you are a part of one of those communities.** |
Join the BIPOC Caucus for our monthly call with special guest Rep. Jasmine Crockett tomorrow, Tuesday, April 23 at 7:30pm ET/4:30 PT. Every month, the Indivisible BIPOC Caucus meets to be in community with one another, learn from each other, and talk about the specific issues facing BIPOC Indivisibles across the country. This month we will be joined for a special Fireside Chat with Representative Jasmine Crockett from Texas’ 30th Congressional District. Join your fellow BIPOC Indivisibles in this space reserved just for you and take advantage of a special chance to hear from Rep. Crockett.
Truth Brigade Wednesday Workshop
Join the Powering Progress Truth Brigade for a Workshop and New Member Orientation this Wednesday April 24 at 6:30pm ET/3:30pm PT. On the fourth Wednesday of every month, the Truth Brigade builds our skills, orients new members, and amplifies our work together. Connect with a community of people who care as much as you do about rebuilding a society based on truth and trust. This week’s focus: practical social media skills with Tim Chambers.
Indivisible Civics' Spring Into Action
Spring Into Action with the Invisible Civics Powering Progress campaign. The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) has had a big impact on the lives of Americans across the country. The problem: Most Americans don’t even know about it.
Whether it’s new green projects popping up in neighborhoods across America, a $35 cap on the price of insulin for Medicare, or the approximately 9 million jobs that will be created in the next 10 years, the IRA is touching every corner of the country and we need to make sure the people know so they can take advantage of the benefits.
Through May, we will be sponsoring our Spring Into Action movement moment with events all across the country celebrating the benefits of the IRA. But we need your help.
- Use this toolkit to find out everything you need to know about how we can help you plan an event to celebrate the IRA.
- Make sure to register your event with us so that you can qualify for reimbursements and support.
- Get access to:
Join us in celebrating an incredible piece of legislation while ensuring your neighbors know about the programs and projects that could be making a difference in their lives right away. Check out the Spring Into Action Toolkit today.
Follow us on Facebook, Mastodon, Threads, and 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.
In solidarity,
Indivisible Team 
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