Dear,

In the middle of the worst pandemic in modern times, Donald Trump just unilaterally halted U.S. funding to the World Health Organization.

Trump is using the WHO as a scapegoat for his unprecedented mishandling of the coronavirus outbreak. The U.S. is the top funder of the international organization, so Trump’s move is a dangerous blow to the WHO as it attempts to coordinate a global response.(1)

Everyone, from the American Medical Association to Bill Gates to world leaders from Germany, the U.K., and Australia, have condemned the cut -- and with Democrats in charge of the House of Representatives, we have a real shot at getting the WHO funding restored.(2) But on May 12, we may lose the California 25th to a Trump Republican -- putting Trump one step closer to totally unchecked power.

We’re fighting to keep the House of Representatives in Democratic control to hold Trump accountable. Will you donate $5?

Yes, I’ll donate $5.

Right now, more than 2 million people worldwide have tested positive for the coronavirus, and more than 600,000 of them are in the United States. We have outstripped Italy and China in number of cases, and the positive tests keep growing.(3)

Trump has blown the U.S.’s coronavirus response at nearly every step of the way, from turning down tests from the WHO to refusing to declare a national emergency for more than two months after he was alerted to the problem. Now he wants the country to believe the WHO is to blame -- and he is doubling down by withdrawing more than $500 million in funds from the essential organization.(4)

However, without the Democrats in control of the House, the situation could be so much worse. The stimulus package pushed by the Republican-led Senate was full of bailouts for corporations, with very little help for working families, until the House forced the Senate to come to a compromise.(5) And if Trump had a Republican Congress to cater to every whim, nothing would stand in the way of him allowing millions to suffer while he handed even more giveaways to his billionaire cronies.

On May 12, California will hold the last special election before November. The CA-25 is in a swing district, and we worked hard to win it in 2018. Now Christy Smith is running neck and neck with her Republican opponent. Turnouts for special elections are typically low, and with the coronavirus pandemic, it will be more difficult than usual to get people to vote.

Courage California needs to run digital ads for its voter guide everywhere possible to make sure that people in the CA-25 know they need to vote for Christy Smith on May 12. Will you donate today?

Yes, I’ll donate to help elect Christy Smith on May 12.

Yours in the fight for our democracy,

Eddie, along with Angela, Anne, Brian, Caitlin, Deepthi, Gabby, Jay, Lindsay, Molly, and Raquel (the Courage team)

Footnotes:
1. https://www.vox.com/2020/4/15/21221964/coronavirus-update-trump-who-new-york-city-retail
2. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-52291654
3. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2020/04/16/coronavirus-latest-news/
4. https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/04/15/834666123/trump-and-who-how-much-does-the-u-s-give-whats-the-impact-of-a-halt-in-funding
5. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/26/us/coronavirus-senate-stimulus-package.html