I know what you did ... and it is summer
The sun is shining, Congress has packed up and Donald Trump has started his 17-day stint at his New Jersey golf resort.
But the resistance doesn’t do vacation.
Indivisible and NextGen America have teamed up this summer to give activists an action plan. The progressive organizations say the recess for Congress is no reason for activists to take a break from holding their elected officials accountable.
Both Indivisible and NextGen have created a series of videos showing actions progressives can take in August. Indivisible even has a specific section guiding people to events this month.
“August recess is constituents’ biggest moment to demonstrate their power and make their voices heard,” Leah Greenberg, Indivisible’s co-executive director, told Teen Vogue.
“By following the tips in these videos, constituents can make sure their members of Congress know that, no matter where they are, back home in the state or [in the] District, you’re always there to hold them accountable,” Greenberg added.
Hannity ban-nity
Activists are trying to push Fox News to fire host Sean Hannity for his promotion of a conspiracy theory about the recent death of Seth Rich, a Democratic National Committee staffer.
Hannity has been heavily criticized for circulating a disproven theory that Rich, shot dead in Washington DC in July 2016, had provided DNC emails to WikiLeaks.
And Hannity’s resistance to facts has prompted the launch of firehannity.org by Democratic Coalition, a progressive group. The website makes it easy for activists to email, call and tweet about the companies advertising on Hannity’s show – businesses including Alfa Romeo and Mercedes-Benz – and urge them to drop their spots.
A similar strategy contributed to Fox News’ April firing of Bill O’Reilly in the wake of sexual harassment allegations.
Sanders for kids
Bernie Sanders has a new book coming out this month – a title that aims to educate youthful readers.
The Bernie Sanders Guide to Political Revolution promises to educate young people about his 2016 campaign and organizing in general.
“You’ll learn how to understand and navigate the current system of policy and government; work to change the system to reflect your values and to protect our society’s most vulnerable [and] organize for the causes you care about most,” the blurb says.
Sanders noted that the book would expose younger generations to “an unusual political campaign, the excitement of politics and what being a progressive is all about”.
What we’re reading
•Paula Jean Swearengin, an environmental activist who is challenging Joe Manchin, a Democratic US senator from West Virginia, hosted an “as me anything” or AMA session on Reddit on Monday. She talked about the opioid epidemic (West Virginia has the highest overdose death rate in the country) and her support for Medicare for all. The exchange makes for a good read.
•“The catastrophic Trump administration presents a crisis that rivals the Great Depression, which opened the way for the New Deal,” Heather Cox Richardson has written on our site. That crisis represents a historic opportunity for the left, Cox Richardson says.
