Indivisibles, 

The first presidential debate of 2024 is this Thursday, June 27 at 9pm ET/6pm PT.

That’s right. Trump is still facing criminal charges in multiple venues, awaiting sentencing for 34 felonies, and his MAGA-controlled Supreme Court has yet to rule on his immunity claims. Meanwhile the election schedule moves right along, gracing us with our first debate of the 2024 cycle. 

Today is also the two-year anniversary of the Dobbs decision that reversed Roe v. Wade and set abortion rights in this country back 50 years. When Trump stands behind that podium on Thursday, he will be doing so as the man most responsible for ripping away our reproductive freedoms. Abortion is now banned in 14 states across the US, and 7 more states have highly restrictive laws in place resulting in nearly no access. Republicans are gearing up for a nationwide ban if they win in November. We know it's up to us to stop them -- and we know there are many, many Americans out there who oppose these bans that we can rally to our side.

So why is a debate important?

For undecided voters, debates can be an important deciding factor in who to support at the ballot box. Debates provide candidates with equal platforms to articulate their values and vision for the country, while giving voters an accessible format to gain valuable information about the candidates and their positions on important issues.

But Indivisibles aren’t undecided. We know there’s no actual debate here: Democracy and abortion rights are on the ballot, and nothing Donald Trump says on that debate stage will convince us that he and his MAGA Republicans will stop attacking our institutions, elections, and basic freedoms the second they get more power.

So why bother watching? 

That’s a fair question. Here are five reasons why we think it’s worth watching: 

1. It gives us an opportunity to directly engage with, and respond to, what’s said on the debate stage. It’s unique to be in conversation, in real time, with the future leader of our country, and we don’t wanna pass it up. Our national staff will be watching and putting reactions out on social media throughout the debate -- follow along with us. We’ll also be sharing takes from the movement, so be sure to tag @IndivisibleTeam so we can see and share your posts.
2. It keeps us attuned to what voters are hearing. In order for us to be effective messengers, we need to know what undecided voters are hearing. For a lot of those voters, the debate could very well be the first time they’re engaging with this election, making it their only reference point as they decide who to support.
3. It reminds us of the stakes. Trump is going to say a lot of things during the debate that are truly unhinged and fascistic. Those should serve as a fortifying reminder of what we’re up against, of what the stakes are, and that we need to fight like hell against the anti-democracy, anti-abortion politics of MAGA.
4. It’s a fun way to get together with your Indivisible community! These debates are bound to have an air of spectacle, so why not make an event of them? Invite over your community of Indivisible activists for a Debate Watch Party! They’re an easy way to bring some levity back to the hard and real work of saving democracy. You can even turn the debate into a game by playing Presidential Debate Bingo.
5. It can help grow your local Indivisible movement. Watch parties are a low barrier space that can appeal to folks who are just getting activated and looking for an organizing home. You found your way to this movement for a reason: a sense of urgency that we may lose our democracy if we don’t act now. There are people around the corner from you who are feeling your same urgency, but who haven’t found their community. A debate watch party is a great way to invite them into yours!

Making an impact in elections is hard and invaluable work, and it’s gonna take all of us to defeat the anti-democracy, anti-abortion politics of MAGA. If we’re going to make it the next 4.5 months without burning out or losing faith, we’ve got to lean into community, find space for joy, cultivate rest, and remind ourselves of why we’re in this fight.

That’s why we’re encouraging you to gather with your local Indivisible crew (and maybe invite some new people, too!) to tune into the first presidential debate of 2024!

With that, here are your weekly to-dos:

 Your weekly to-dos 

1. Use our toolkit to host a Presidential Debate Watch Party. Bring your community together to watch exactly what the candidates present to the American people. We know that Trump will be a loose cannon (thankfully, they’re muting the microphones this time). Make sure you know exactly what extremism he’s bringing to the people so that you can let others know. Don’t want to host or attend a watch party, but still want to engage with the debate? Play Presidential Debate Bingo! 
2. Register for our next Coffee Klatch with Leah and Ezra on Monday, July 1 at 4pm ET/1pm PT. Hear our organizational reactions to and analysis of the debate in this informal virtual chat. Don’t forget, you can pre-submit questions when you sign up. 
3. Sign up to phonebank, textbank, or write to voters with our new Majority Over MAGA: State to State resource. Neighbor2Neighbor (see below) may only be available in our target districts, but it’s going to take everyone coming together to drive wins in November. This State to State page will be our home for all of the other resources and strategies that will power us to a true Democratic trifecta that will codify reproductive freedoms and enact democracy reforms. Check this page to learn about phonebanks, textbanks, postcards, reimbursements, and more that will be the backbone of our 2024 election program.
4. Neighbor2Neighbor is open!!!! Check and see if it’s available in your area, and help get out the vote. We have opened 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. 

P.S. We rely on grassroots supporters to help fund the tools Indivisibles use on a daily basis -- including the call pages and LTE tools on your to do list! If you're able, pitch in today to help fund our work and keep this movement going.

Justice Alito and SCOTUS Corruption

After it was reported that Justice Samuel Alito had flown two separate versions of flags that are symbols of support for the January 6th insurrection outside of his homes, Alito has stated his refusal to recuse himself from cases involving Trump’s attempted overthrow of our government.

This would be a conflict of interest for any judge, but is especially horrific given our ongoing need for impartial checks and balances as Trump makes continued allusions to refusing to accept the results of an election.

The MAGA Supreme Court doesn’t just have a corruption problem, it has an insurrection problem.

It is past time for Congress to take action, and we need your help to make that happen:

If you have Senate representation, ask your senators to take a stand against Supreme Court corruption. Make sure your senators are being vocal about the need for a thorough investigation into Alito’s corruption. Congress cannot just accept a corrupt court; they must do everything in their power to expose that corruption and root it out.

Take a moment to defend our democracy today.

Demand Your Members of Congress Say No To Netanyahu

This weekend, Netanyahu pushed back against President Biden’s assertion that the Israeli government had agreed to terms on a three-phased ceasefire, once again asserting that his government is:

“Prepared to make a partial deal -- this is no secret -- that will return to us some of the people… But we are committed to continuing the war after a pause, in order to complete the goal of eliminating Hamas. I’m not willing to give up on that.”

This comes three weeks after President Biden delivered a speech announcing an agreement with Netanyahu that was only awaiting Hamas’ acceptance. In those intervening weeks, Netanyahu has done everything in his power to undermine Biden and undercut the deal. These are not the actions of a man striving to end the war and bring back the remaining hostages alive.

This is the climate in which Benjamin Netanyahu is being invited to address Congress. 

We cannot allow our elected representatives to show their tacit support to a warmonger whose only goal is his personal political ambitions, not the safe return of the hostages or a path to peace in the region. 

Call your representative and tell them to say “No to Netanyahu” and skip his address to Congress. Netanyahu’s address will not end this brutal campaign. But we have the tools to advance that goal. Our Members of Congress must skip his address and stop the transfer of offensive weapons to the Israeli military, so that responsible leaders can work to broker a ceasefire, ensure the safe return of the hostages, and allow the flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza.  

Contact your Members of Congress today!