Take Action
Tell your reps that Trump must be rebuked for his comments in Helsinki
But first, here’s Lyin’ Cornyn:
“Nobody disputes the fact that they were unsuccessful in changing a single vote or affecting the outcome.”
—Sen. John Cornyn, speaking on the Senate floor after Trump’s abysmal, traitorous performance in Helsinki.
It’s a lie. And a common lie among Republicans unwilling to accept an uncomfortable truth: that Russian information warfare might very well have swung the election to Trump.
Because it seems like a year ago, read the Washington Post’s chronology of the Helsinki debacle to refresh your memory. Then, call your reps!
Talking Points
(with a hat tip to Celeste Pewter)
- Censure the President for his remarks.
- We need new, bipartisan sanctions—stronger than the previous ones, and actually enforced.
- Get a transcript of what was said privately between Trump and Putin.
- Support legislation to protect the Mueller investigation.
- The translator and the U.S. national security team that accompanied Trump to Helsinki must testify on Capitol Hill.
- Condemn any suggestion of, or hesitation over, Russia interrogating members of our intelligence community.
- A second meeting with Putin—at the White House, no less—sends exactly the wrong message. It’s galling.
Bonus script for Texas Secretary of State Rolando Pablos:
secretary@sos.texas.gov
(512) 463-5555
“Given the additional indictments concerning attempts to hack into our election system, and with November midterms coming up, I would like to know how Secretary Pablos is protecting the integrity of elections in Texas.”
Tell John Cornyn and Ted Cruz that Brett Kavanaugh’s White House records must be released
During Elena Kagan’s nomination process, 11,000 of her emails and 160,000 documents from her tenure in the Clinton White House were released to the public. So why would Brett Kavanaugh—who served in the George W. Bush White House—be treated any differently? That is the question for Senators Cornyn and Cruz, both of whom serve on the Senate Judiciary Committee. Call and ask them. We have a right to know.
Ryan Bounds' racially-charged college writings convinced Republicans to oppose his nomination to the 9th Circuit. How can Republicans possibly argue that Brett Kavanaugh's records from the WHITE HOUSE aren't relevant to a Supreme Court nomination? #ReleaseTheRecords
— Sen Dianne Feinstein (@SenFeinstein) July 19, 2018
Read more on why we must stop Kavanaugh from becoming Trump’s next Supreme Court Justice >>
Our government continues to separate families at the border and putting toddlers on trial—demand a stop to it!
The Russia news overshadowed the ongoing border crisis last week. It’s important to remain focused on the cruelty that the Trump administration continues to inflict on blameless children and their frequently desperate parents. July 26th is the court-ordered deadline to reunite most families. The Texas Tribune has expanded its coverage at the border. Get caught up—and then call your reps.
“The Trump administration has summoned at least 70 infants to immigration court for their own deportation proceedings since Oct. 1, according to Justice Department data provided to Kaiser Health News.”
—Texas Tribune, “Immigrant infants too young to talk called into court to defend themselves”
“On the brink of being released from detention and reunited with children separated from them sometimes months ago, migrant parents are held at a South Texas facility in a sort of limbo — not free to leave, but without access to phones or commissary accounts that regular detainees get.”
—Texas Tribune, “Incommunicado in South Texas: Migrant parents await reunification in seclusion”
Also read:
ACLU: “Inside the Family Separation Legal Drama” >>
Indivisible Austin: Tired of calling your reps? Write a letter to the editor! >>
How your voices are making a difference
- Will Hurd penned a startlingly frank op-ed
- A federal judge temporarily halted deportations of families
- The big angry Trump baby is coming to America
Featured Event
#BeATexasVoter Phone Bank with Indivisible founders and co-executive directors Leah Greenberg and Ezra Levin
Sunday, Jul. 29, 1-3 PM, Austin History Center Come join Indivisible Austin and our special guests, Indivisible founders and co-executive directors Leah Greenberg and Ezra Levin, at our #BeATexasVoter kickoff phone bank! We’ll be just about 100 days out from the November midterms, and we’re celebrating by calling prospective voters to make sure they know why this election is so important, and to get them engaged NOW so they’re ready to go to the polls as soon as early voting starts. There will be snacks and swag for all phone bankers!
YOU WILL NEED TO BRING:
- a laptop or tablet
- your cellphone
- earbuds
If you’ve never participated in a phone bank, it’s easy! We’ll teach you!
(IATX event info; Facebook event)
Also:
- Thursday, Jul. 26, 11 AM-12:30 PM, NeWorlDeli – IATX Women’s Coffee Meetup (Facebook event)
Congress Critter
From Republican strategist John Weaver:
Without a doubt, and this is saying something, @JohnCornyn is the worst member of the U.S. Senate. Sniveling, cowardly and stupid as an addled coyote. https://t.co/F0QJWU65VA
— John Weaver (@JWGOP) July 19, 2018
Moment of Zen
It’s record-breakingly hot in Austin this week. Elsewhere, Buttercup the bulldog enjoyed a kiddie pool of ice:
Funding the Fight
You made it! You’re all the way at the bottom of the email, but if you look back at the top you’ll see something very important: Help Lead Indivisible Austin’s GOTV Work.
We have to knock on doors, call, text, mail, organize and build community throughout Central Texas to do our part to bring some accountability and decency to DC and to our own capitol here in Austin.
You know how important this is. Be a part of the solution by supporting our efforts NOW so we can bring change in November.