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Your weekly Indivisible Newsletter Indivisibles,
We took a quick break last week. Did anything happen while we were gone?
Vice President Kamala Harris is the Democratic candidate for president? Incredible! We’re excited by what can be, unburdened by what has been. 😉
Seriously, what an astounding turn of events. President Biden made what had to be one of the most courageous decisions in presidential election history and, in so doing, has ignited a movement that we are going to ride right into the White House, Senate, and House in November.
And that energy is growing beyond those of us who were already active:
- Win With Black Women hosted an event that brought together 44,000 virtual guests and raised $1.6 million in three hours
- Following in their footsteps, Win With Black Men hosted a call with 53,000 guests and raised $1.3 million
- Answering the Call then broke Zoom, hosting over 100,000 guests on an event targeted at white women and raising over $8 million
In the week since Kamala Harris announced her candidacy, she has raised $200 million and signed up 170,000 volunteers with 66% of her donations coming from first-time donors.
And there are still more calls to come:
The momentum is building.
The people are ready.
We are building a coalition to prevent Project 2025, reject MAGA extremism, and elect a true trifecta in November that will codify abortion rights, institute democracy reform, and root out corruption in our courts.
Let’s capitalize on this movement. Let’s show MAGA that they are not now, and never will be, the majority. And let’s not waste a single one of the next 98 days to win!
With that, here are your weekly to-dos:
Your 5 weekly to-dos
- Register for our national phonebank in support of Josh Riley for NY-19 on Wednesday, August 14 at 6pm ET/3pm PT. Josh Riley is running for one of the 18 most-competitive House districts in the country and looking to unseat MAGA Republican Marc Molinaro. If you don’t have experience with HubDialer, don’t worry, we’ll get you trained up and ready to go. If you’re a seasoned vet, we’ll get you on the phone ASAP. But first, we’ll let you hear from local group leaders in the district so you’ll be armed with the current state of play and hear some special remarks by Shaina Taub -- Recent Tony Award winner for Suffs.
- Check out our new Project 2025 resources. You asked for more specific resources on Project 2025, its impact, and how we need to talk about it to win in November, and we answered. Project 2025 is the most thorough blueprint we have ever seen from MAGA Republicans on how they plan to strip away our rights, protections, and freedoms if they achieve power. But as dangerous as their plan is for the American people, it is just as damaging to their electability. But only when people know about it. We have to make sure people understand just how extreme Project 2025 intends to be, and here’s your literature to do it.
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.
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.
Review our resource on safety and deescalation strategies. We know that the uncertainty that follows events like the shooting at a Trump rally leads to worry about security and safety for yourself and fellow activists in your community. Your safety remains our highest priority, and we've prepared this resource to address these serious concerns. Use this guide to help you feel prepared to deescalate tense situations and keep yourself, and your fellow activists, safe as we continue to work toward a brighter tomorrow. For those of you working on Neighbor2Neighbor, check out our Canvassing Best Practices Guide from the bottom of that resource.
P.S. We rely on your support to keep call pages up and running, fund ads to get the word out, and continue all the work we’re doing this year. If you’re able, click here to donate to help fund our work.
Majority Over MAGA Book Talk with Ari Berman
Register for Co-Executive Director Ezra Levin’s conversation with Ari Berman -- author of Minority Rule -- on Wednesday, September 4 at 5pm ET/2pm PT.
The mob that stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021, represented an extreme form of the central danger facing American democracy today: a blatant disregard for the will of the majority.
This crisis didn’t begin or end with Donald Trump’s attempt to overturn the 2020 election. Through voter suppression, election subversion, gerrymandering, dark money, the takeover of the courts, and the whitewashing of history, reactionary white conservatives have strategically entrenched power in the face of a massive demographic and political shift. Ari Berman charts these efforts with sweeping historical research and incisive on-the-ground reporting, chronicling how a wide range of antidemocratic tactics interact with profound structural inequalities in institutions like the Electoral College, the Senate, and the Supreme Court to threaten the survival of representative government in America.
And, surprise, we are offering a free copy of Minority Rule to the first 250 people who register for the event.
Chilling and revelatory, Minority Rule exposes the long history of the conflict between white supremacy and multiracial democracy that has reached a fever pitch today -- while also telling the inspiring story of resistance to these regressive efforts. Sign up for the book conversation today!
Majority Over MAGA 30-Minute Clinics
From our inception, Indivisible has been powered by the people. We are a grassroots movement fueled by our membership to defeat the MAGA agenda and drive progressive change. The people come first.
So how do we make sure we’re setting ourselves up for success in creating a welcoming, safe, and collaborative atmosphere for new activists?
Join our 30-Minute Clinics to find out.
Our Majority Over MAGA 30-Minute Clinics will be a series of quick, practical sessions focused on building your people power this election cycle. We’ll focus on making your group a welcoming space for new members and building community through electoral work that can last past November. Each round offers an afternoon option and an evening option for maximum access. The sessions will not be recorded, so join in real time.
Round 1: Putting Out the Welcome Mat
Evening Session: TONIGHT -- Monday, July 29 at 8pm ET/5pm PT
Afternoon Session: Thursday, August 1 at 3pm ET/12pm PT
This session will focus on concrete steps you can take to spread the word about your groups and welcome in new people.
Round 2: Welcoming and Onboarding New Members
Evening Session: Monday, August 12 at 8pm ET/5pm PT
Afternoon Session: Thursday, August 15 at 3pm ET/12pm PT
This session will focus on getting people to stick around once you’ve gotten them in the door.
Round 3: To Be Determined
Evening Session: Monday, August 26 at 7pm ET/4pm PT
Afternoon Session: Thursday, August 29 at 3pm ET/12pm PT
The topics for this last session are still being finalized. We want to make sure we’re being responsive to the needs of the groups and will set the topics closer to the event date. Check out our 1-pager for updates.
Local Voices, Local Power Round 4 Endorsements
Local Voices, Local Power (LVLP) is our group-driven endorsements program that puts money and resources into our local groups’ hands to power wins for Democratic champions all across the country, up and down the ballot.
Check out our fourth round of candidates, the groups who endorsed them, and a quick summation of why they endorsed in their own words:
Heidi Beidinger is endorsed by Michiana Alliance for Democracy for Indiana House Seat 5. Heidi strongly supports our progressive values and is running because, across the country and in Indiana, extreme Republicans are continuing their attacks on our freedoms, families, and futures. She is running against a MAGA Republican who has consistently voted against unions, public education, teachers, and environmental protections. She draws a sharp distinction with her opponent, emphasizing his corruption and association with MAGA-backed organizations. She has been active in helping to improve our local school districts, has served seven years on the county Board of Health, and has served on a statewide coalition for lead poisoning prevention that helped pass two pieces of legislation focused on improving services for children at risk for lead poisoning. Heidi has put together a strong campaign and a strong team. Republicans now hold a supermajority of the Indiana state legislature. Democrats need to flip four seats to break this supermajority. We believe that Heidi will win her election, and so are anxious to help make this happen.
Jennifer Schultz is endorsed by Itasca Area Indivisible for MN-08. Jen Schultz was a successful and accomplished State of Minnesota Legislator for four terms. She has a PhD in Healthcare Economics and is a union faculty member at the University of Minnesota, indicating intelligence and determination to succeed, despite the barriers faced by her and her family. Jen is mounting a vigorous and inspiring campaign. Her determination and energy are contagious and an inspiration to members of Itasca Area Indivisible and other local activist groups. Jen is “fearless” and will cheerfully and enthusiastically approach individuals and groups of all political persuasions. Her campaign is positive -- but with no fear of criticizing the opponent -- and is very aligned with Itasca Area Indivisible’s values. She is an excellent and experienced candidate, and a champion who has earned our enthusiastic confidence and support.
Dawn Stevenson is endorsed by Salt Lake Indivisible for Utah House District 27. Salt Lake Indivisible is excited to support Dawn Stevenson because of her years of work within our public schools. As a former school counselor, Dawn has come face to face with some of the greatest challenges young people and their families face when navigating our education system. Because of the many perspectives and experiences she’s been exposed to through her work, we believe she has the necessary experience to find solutions that work for everyone. Dawn is an original thinker and a dedicated problem solver. She has served our community for years, and we think it’s time to empower her to bring her skills and solutions to all of Utah as the next District 27 representative.
These candidates reflect our local groups’ commitment to finding and supporting candidates who reflect a Democratic ideal that will drive the sorts of change we desperately need. Whether that’s enshrining reproductive freedoms on the federal level, or fighting for the dignity of all people across a single city, we are looking for true Democratic fighters who will defend democracy and champion the will of the people come November.
IndivisiWin of the Week
Indivisibles in Arizona a few months ago with our newly endorsed presidential candidate Kamala Harris.
Demand Your Members of Congress Call For A Ceasefire
| **Content Warning: Talk about the current humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Jump to the line break if you need to avoid this topic.** |
Last week, Benjamin Netanyahu addressed a joint session of Congress, attempting to frame his completely inept, corrupt, and horrific handling of Gaza in a positive light and begging Congress to provide him with more weapons to “finish the job.”
Except he wasn’t addressing a full joint session -- More than 100 Democratic Members of Congress skipped his address (up from the 58 who skipped his speech in 2015), demonstrating that the Democratic Party is continuing to move toward more forceful criticism of Netanyahu’s brutal campaign in Palestine.
As Leah said in our press release:
Rather than dignifying a man perpetuating a brutal onslaught and humanitarian crisis, our elected leaders should be pressuring him to take the peace deal that’s on the table. No more US bombs should be sent to be dropped on Gaza, and the US must use every ounce of diplomatic pressure available to secure an immediate ceasefire, now.
This weekend, the brutal onslaught continued as an Israeli airstrike hit a school in Gaza on Saturday, killing at least 30 Palestinians including several children.
In a horrific preview of escalating tensions in the region as a whole, Israel accused Hezbollah of firing a rocket from Lebanon into an Israeli-controlled Druze town on the Syrian border killing twelve children and teens. Though Hezbollah has denied responsibility, the bombing has only increased tensions, pushing the area closer to a broader all-out regional conflict.
It is time for our leaders to step up and do everything in their power to de-escalate this situation, and that means ending the supply of offensive weapons to Netanyahu’s military to force his government to negotiate a true ceasefire, bring home the remaining hostages, end the suffering, and allow unrestricted humanitarian aid into Gaza. Call your representative now.
Indivisible Civics' Powering Progress Education Series
Join us for Apathy To Action -- Protecting our Democracy: De-escalation & Bystander Intervention Tactics on Wednesday August 7 at 7pm ET/4pm PT.
What do you do when conversations begin to turn adversarial or downright scary? Learn the tactics you can use to prevent escalation in the first place and the best ways to intervene when it occurs. We’re excited to be able to provide you this training from Right to Be (formally known as Hollaback), so that you can continue doing the work of having persuasive conversations with the knowledge to keep yourself, and your fellow activists, safe.
This is the first installment of a new, four-part educational series we will be rolling out soon. Check this call series guide to keep up to date on the future sessions, but don’t worry, we’ll make sure to send you reminders as each one is scheduled. We can’t wait for you to learn more about bystander intervention and de-escalation, they are invaluable tools not just in your organizing work, but for life in general.
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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