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On the Calendar
- Jan. 22, 1 pm to 2 pm, Women's March - Bigger Than Roe, Bremerton
- Jan. 24, 10 am to 2 pm, Gateway Church, North Kitsap Project Connect, connecting people with food, employment and housing assistance in Kitsap County.
- Jan. 24, 6 pm, Zoom, Puget Sound Energy presents their four-year clean energy plan. Flyer
- Jan 25, 2 pm to 3:30 pm, Postcards on Wednesday upstairs at the T&C.
- Feb. 3, 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm, Zoom, Something to Talk About with David Harrison
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Join TAN to Help Pass Good Bills in WA
Join Take Action Network! With Take Action Network (TAN), you'll receive by email easy actions you can take to support bills in our Washington state legislature and get them passed. Most actions can be done on your desktop computer, laptop or cell. Email Kathy to find out how to join Take Action Network.
If you haven't joined TAN but still want to take some actions, you can take any or all of the actions listed below. For sign-in actions, you are telling the committee that is holding a hearing on a bill that you support or oppose the bill. You are NOT signing in to testify.
- Sign in as "Con" against HB1071, "Securing schools by authorizing funding for a school resource officer in every school." We need funding for mental health services, school nurses and school counselors, not more police. Take this action by Jan. 23, 12:30 pm.
- Sign in as "Pro" in favor of SB5242, which requires that if a health insurance policy covers maternity services it must also cover abortion-related services. Take this action by Jan. 24, 7 am.
- Sign in as "Pro" in favor of SJR 8202, "Amending the Constitution to address reproductive freedom." Take this action by Jan 24, 7 am.
- Sign in as "Pro" in favor of HB1155, to provide strong privacy protections for Washingtonians’ health data, including abortion. This law was requested by AG Ferguson. Take this action by Jan. 24 by 9:30 am.
- Sign in as "Pro" in favor of HB1025, "Creating a private right of action for harm from violations of the state Constitution or state law by peace officers." If enacted into law, this bill would bypass the federal shield of qualified immunity. Take this action by Jan. 25, 7 am.
- Sign in as "Pro" in favor of HB1281, which ensures Washington's Death with Dignity law (passed by voters in 2008) is honored by the religious-based health care providers that are taking over hospitals in our state. Legal physician-assisted suicide gives dying patients a compassionate option for how they spend their final days. Take this action by Jan. 25, 12:30 pm.
- Sign in as "Pro" in favor of SB5190, to ease our state's housing shortfall by increasing the number of homes allowed per lot in population-dense cities and near frequently-used transportation. Take this action by Jan. 25, 12:30 pm.
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Postcard Writing Is Back!
We're meeting upstairs at the T&C at 2 pm on Wednesday Jan. 25.
We'll be finishing up our list of addresses to Wisconsin Democrats urging them to sign up to vote by mail for the entire year.
A right-winger is retiring from the Wisconsin State Supreme Court. If voters elect a Democrat to replace that right-winger, Democrats will have a 4-3 majority. That will position the Court to strike down the extreme gerrymandering the Republican-controlled legislature has brought to this formerly "blue wall" state.
The New York Times calls this the most important election of the year.
Getting a ballot in the mail is a tremendous reminder to vote, especially in low-turnout elections like a Supreme Court election, so let's finish the list!
Also, we have a list of 100 addresses for Democrat Jennifer McClellan, running in a special election to fill the seat of Virginia's CD-4. It became vacant with the death of Rep. Donald McEachin (D) three weeks after the mid-term election. If elected, Jennifer will be the first Black woman elected to Congress from Virginia. These cards need to be in the mail by Feb. 1.
If you want to write postcards but can't stop by the T&C, please email Kathy and we'll work it out.
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President Biden and His Administration
- Debit Ceiling
- How Pres. Biden can sidestep hitting the debt ceiling in June. Details
- What extraordinary measures can Treasury take to prevent US from default? Details
- Treasury resorts to ‘extraordinary measures’ after US hits debt limit. Details
- Behind the White House’s debt ceiling strategy. Details
- White House signals Biden will meet with McCarthy in coming weeks. Details
- DOJ
- DOJ reserves right to not cooperate with certain House GOP requests. Details
- Toxic exposure victims slam DOJ and military for delaying their pursuit of justice. Details
- Treasury study shows stark racial differences in tax breaks and credits. Details
- White House announces additional sanctions against Russia’s Wagner Group. Details
- Ukraine
- Defense meeting ends with no tanks for Ukraine. Details
- Ukraine appeals to the world for help keeping the lights on. Details
- Help children in Ukraine: ukrainecap.org
- AWOL Navy SEAL killed while fighting in Ukraine. Details
- US and Chinese officials vow improved communication to avoid conflict. Details
- Authorities seize crypto website Bitzlato and arrest founder for allegedly operating a criminal haven. Details
- FTC asks court to hold ‘pharma bro’ Martin Shkreli in contempt. Details
- Despite White House efforts, abortion pill access diminishes across states. Details
- The Economy
- Retail sales slumped in December as Americans braced for slower economy. Details
- 2022 was slowest year for US home sales in nearly a decade. Details
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In Congress
In the Senate
- Sen. Schumer vows to help confirm Pres. Biden’s pick for FAA Chief after system debacle (named in July); the position has been empty since March. Details
- Gallego set to launch Senate bid, teeing up potential Sinema challenge. Details
- Senate Democrat calls for investigation of mass money transfer surveillance. Details
- Manchin seeks bipartisan cooperation on debt ceiling in exchange for scrutinizing social safety net programs. Details
In the House
- House rules package gives Democrats a [atj tp averting a debt ceiling crisis (but it will take five brave Republicans to use it - are there any?). Details
- McCarthy tries to get out of his box on the debt ceiling. Details
- The U.S. hit the debt limit on Thursday. The debt was $19.9 trillion when Trump took office and $26.9 trillion when he left office. The debt ceiling was raised three times under Trump. Details
- Kevin McCarthy has packed the House Oversight Committee with election deniers including Marjorie Taylor Greene, Lauren Boebert and Paul Gosar. Details
- Republicans didn’t really want to cut the military budget after all. Details
- The George Santos absurdities keep coming:
- A former friend in Brazil posted what she claims is a photo of Santos in drag. Details
- Santos denies ever having been a drag queen. Details
- While using the name Anthony (or George) Devolder, George Santos took $3,000 from dying dog’s GoFundMe, veterans say. Details
- Santos said his mom died in 9/11, but she was in Brazil at the time. Details
- Sign Adam Kinzinger's petition to oust Santos.
- The House GOP would make it easier for feds to give public lands away to states. Details
- GOP lawmaker demands feds 'release everything' on UFOs because it's soooooo important. Details
- The House passed a bill:
- H.R.22, prohibiting the sale and export of crude oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) to China. Rep. Kilmer voted "Yay." This bill was sponsored by Washington's own Cathy McMorris Rodgers.
- Kay Granger (R-TX) is now the chair of the Appropriations Committee. New GOP members of the committee include election-deniers* Stephanie Bice (OK), Andrew Clyde (GA), Jerry Carl (AL), Michael Cloud (TX), Scott Franklin (FL), Michael Guest (MS) and Jacob LaTurner (KS). As of today, it's hard to find comprehensive information on who is on what committee. Presumably, Rep. Kilmer is still on the Appropriations Committee. Lucky him!
- House Republican files impeachment resolution against Mayorkas, and it's as silly as you think. Details
Old Business
- The $1.7 trillion bipartisan spending package that Congress passed in December
- includes billions to fight HIV and malaria abroad. Details
- includes Rep. Kilmer's Planning for Aging Veterans Act. The new law aims to pave the way for future investments in long-term care, improve the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) relationship with State veterans’ homes, and expand the care veterans residing in state-run veterans' homes.
- Correction: Last week, we said H.R.6878, the Pregnant Women in Custody Act, which would protect pregnant women in federal custody from being put in solitary confinement was passed by the Senate and signed by Pres. Biden. That is incorrect. The Senate did not take up the bill in the lame duck session.
- Correction: Last week, we said 44 House GOP-ers voted against H.R. 5561, the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Act. That number is incorrect. The correct number is 17.
*Voted to overturn the election of Pres. Joe Biden after the Jan. 6 insurrection.
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In the Courts
- Supreme Court is unable to ID the leaker in Dobbs decision, but with no evidence at all, the report (likely written by Roberts) pins the leak on liberals. Details
- Lower federal courts
- Watch attorney Michael Popok discuss the decision by a federal judge that DeSantis illegally suspended an elected state attorney from office but determines he cannot force DeSantis to reinstate him. Details
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In the States
- In Michigan, this is what gerrymandering looks like. With the exception of one year ((2016), from 2012 to 2020, Democrats won the popular vote for the Michigan state house, but Republicans won control of the the state house. Voters passed a redistricting initiative in 2018 that created fair maps in 2022. With fair maps, Democrats finally won the popular vote and control of the state house.
- In Florida
- Watch attorney Ben Meiselas discuss Florida governor, Ron DeSantis' loss in in court over the trafficking of immigrants to Massachusetts.
- Florida blocks high school AP African American studies class because African American history "lacks educational value." Details
- In New Mexico, a losing GOP candidate was arrested for a string of shootings at New Mexico Democrats' homes. Details
- In Wisconsin, a member of the Wisconsin Elections Commission bragged that GOP successfully suppressed the Black and Hispanic vote in 2022. Details
- In Kansas, survivors of sexual abuse plead for changes in Kansas law that protects pedophiles. Details
- Missouri Republicans adopt stricter House dress code — but just for women. Details
- In Utah, Tami Pyfer, a high-level Republican, introduced the Dignity Index. Details
- In Washington, D.C., abortion opponents hold first post-Roe March for Life in DC. Details
- In New York, the next phase of the abortion fight is happening right now in New York. Details (NY TImes subscription required) Hear this article read.
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Holding Trump Accountable
Jan. 6
- Watch former federal prosecutor Glenn Kirschner discuss the way a federal judge calls out Donald Trump for being responsible for the insurrection. Details
E. Jean Carroll Rape and Defamation Lawsuit
- Watch attorney Ben Meiselas read the transcript of the deposition for this case in which Trump looks at a photo "not my type" E. Jean Carroll and identifies her as someone who presumably was his type, his former wife, Marla Maples. (!) The trial starts in April.
Trump News
- Watch attorney Ben Meiselas discuss how the judge in Trump's lawsuit against Hillary Clinton and 30 others slapped Trump and his attorney, Alina Habba with nearly $1 million in sanctions for filing this frivolous lawsuit.
- Possibly feeling that loss, Trump immediately withdrew his Florida lawsuit against New York attorney general Letitia James. Details
- Donald Trump's Saudi Arabia payments spark calls for fresh investigation. Details or watch attorney Michael Popok discuss details revealed in court filings in a lawsuit between PGA Golf and Live Golf.
Enablers
- Proud Boys Trial
- Prosecutor says the Proud Boys led Jan. 6 riot to keep Trump in office. Details
- The Proud Boys are right about one thing: It's ridiculous that Trump's not in prison. Details
- Judge slaps down Peter Navarro’s attempt to dismiss contempt of Congress case. Details
- The GOP-controlled House plans to investigate Hunter Biden and the dick picks on his laptop. Watch attorney Ben Meiselas discuss all the reasons why Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, should be investigated.
- While advising Trump on judges, Conway sold her business to a firm with ties to Federalist Society judicial activist Leonard Leo. Details
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This newsletter was prepared by Holly Brewer and Kathy Wallace of Indivisible Bainbridge Island.
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