We need to call, call, call our elected officials today. Call every office they have. I think Durbin has about five!
I’m gonna outsource most of this post to Simon Rosenberg.
Call/Contact Your Senators And House Member Today, Demand They Fight To End These Terrible Tariffs, Help Little Cracks Become Big Cracks
The new Reuters/Ipsos poll released yesterday captures it well:
- Trump Week 1 – 47% approve, 41% disapprove (+6)
- Trump April 3 – 43% approve, 53% disapprove (-10)
This is a 16 point swing against him even before the terrible events of the last 36 hours.
His undeniable madness and Russian-backed wrecking ball government are loosening his grip on the public, and Washington.
All of us have one job today – we must call/contact our Senators and House Member and demand they work to roll back these deeply destructive tariffs and rein in our madman leader.
As we discussed in yesterday’s post, Republicans are showing signs of an increased willingness to buck Trump as the economy craters, his numbers plummet, they lose elections and his madness becomes impossible to ignore. 9 Rs voted with Dems to block the House leg package this week. Senator Tim Kaine helped bring 4 Senate Rs along to vote with Dems on Wednesday night to override Trump’s Canada tariffs. Yesterday Republican Senator Grassley teamed up with Democratic Senator Maria Cantwell to introduce a bill that would establish a Congressional review of Trump’s tariffs.
As we’ve say here little cracks can become big cracks and this week we’ve begun to see much bigger cracks in Trump’s Congressional support. Note this new Tweet this morning from Trump enthusiast and Senior Fox Business Correspondent Charles Gasparino. It’s another big crack.
Twitter will not let me see this tweet – now I understand the jumble of tweets you guys talk about where nothing is chronological and all the dates are scrambled – so all I’ve got is this screen capture from Simon Rosenberg
Actually scratch that. 2/3 of the tweet makes me puke with the Trump admiration. But even Trump’s guy wrote this before he went back to boot-licking:
Wall Street’s pretty large contingent of True supporting Republicans is doing a lot of soul searching these days as Trump goes all in on trade. They can’t believe he’s blowing up the economy and the markets and he isn’t in office three months. They’re right on this: The markets are reeling and the economy will suffer if this trade war persists. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
Back to Simon Rosenberg:
Why we need to be loud today, as loud as we can be, and put as much pressure on Ds to fight with everything they got and on the Rs to keep challenging Trump.
Trump is breaking things that will be very hard, if not impossible to repair, and we need to leave it all out there on the playing field today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
When you call, let us know in the comments.
Open thread.
Elizabelle
Personally, I think tomorrow’s Hands Off protests are going to be massive, and that congresscritters may be even more receptive to calls next week.
Besides which, didn’t Pastor Mike send them home this week?
Get their attention by getting out there to protest. They notice that.
CaseyL
@Elizabelle:
I am going to one of the protests, but I feel compelled to point out that politicians do not notice protests. GOPers, in particular, don’t care about protests. What they notice is whether or not they stay in office
sixthdoctor
Called my senators (Van Hollen/Alsobrooks) and left messages to 1) support Grassley/Cantwell and 2) make public comments that Republicans can end this nonsense in hours if they wanted.
Will also call my rep (Mfume) and ask him to push the tariff bill that passed the Senate (knowing it’s an uphill climb at best) and similarly make clear who’s at fault.
Edited to add this point regarding protests which had me thinking “Oh. Oh, yes, that’s smart.” even though it was probably obvious to everyone else:
Friends, I know you’re excited to try protesting, but under no circumstances should you ever sign up to attend one. I’m suspicious of any org asking people to put their name on a list that is easily accessible via warrant or may even be public. You can just show up day of.
https://bsky.app/profile/bookjockeyalex.bsky.social/post/3llyi2lyzvs2x
XeckyGilchrist
Done. Thanks for the encouragement.
Harrison Wesley
@Elizabelle: There are going to be protests at 45 locations in Florida. There are three that I can get to; just have to figure out which one.
Raoul Paste
Going to the protest tomorrow (rain or shine) and I will call today.
Elizabelle
@CaseyL: Funny thing. Voters notice protests, and I actually think GOP politicians notice too, even while they may not admit that in public.
Otherwise, they would be doing lots of public events and town halls. But they don’t. they stick to safe spaces. Because they are avoiding protests. Funny that.
Elizabelle
@Harrison Wesley: @Raoul Paste:
Good for you two for showing up.
rodwell
Call my Senators (Booker/Kim) both went to voicemail and asked both to support Grassley/Cantwell bill and make public comments. My representative (Sherrill), I got a staffer and asked that she support removing the emergency authority that Trump is using. Staffer was very pleasant.
frosty
Too late now. They’ve got my name, phone number, and zip code. Just like every Democratic candidate in the country bombarding me begging money.
Princess
If people can, I think going to one of the protests tomorrow is. Good idea, not least as a morale booster.
Shalimar
It just occurred to me that the Dow Jones Industrial index could fall below $36,000 by the end of next week, again making that 1999 book look stupid. Whatever happened to that Kevin Hassett guy, anyway?
sixthdoctor
@frosty: Yeah, I realized that my personal data ship has sailed more or less 20 years ago when I started regularly donating.
Dupe1970
I emailed my congresswoman and Senator (Cornyn) but since they are both Republicans I have little hope they will take action. I typically only donate to campaigns but if these two don’t take action I have told them I will actively campaign against them. I doubt it will move the needle but this disaster is going to make me much more active in trying to get them out of office.
Mousebumples
I should look at my 401k and call Sen RoJo and complain about losing X%. I figure that resonates with his office more, lol. Same for my Trumpy Rep.
It’s similar enough to fuck ’em that I thought I’d share here.
AM in NC
I’ll be calling Tillis and Budd as I drive down to visit my dad today. I’ve been calling all week, and will add today’s message: YOU can stop the tariff madness. Senators McConnell, Paul, Collins and Murkowsky have shown you that it can be done. Senators Grassley and Cantrell have a bill to rein in the idiotic predations ready to go. Is Senator Budd going to stop the Trump tariff taxes on American consumers? Is Senator Tillis going to stop the Trump tariff tax increases? What is the Senator doing to protect the NC economy from Trump/Musk/MAGA?
Also may mention defunding public libraries and how that hurts rural, Republican voters the worst.
Nelle
I just left a message for Grassley. Third call this week. I might wander back to his office again next week. I said what a sad chapter in his legacy. It wipes out everything he might have regarded as good and encouraged him to use the power given him be the Constitution and the people to stop the madness? How can any farmer make any plans in this chaos?
frosty
@Dupe1970: I’m wondering about Dave McCormick. Does licking Trump’s boots mean more to him than his hedge fund wealth?
rodwell
@Shalimar: Kevin Hassett is back as Trump Chair of Economic Advisor (same position as the first term). Thinking about also, He can write a sequel, and the goal will be achieved when there is a Democratic president. He still has not thank Joe Biden for making his book come true. JD Vance will be very upset for not thanking the President.
Nelle
@frosty: Do the Dems have any clue as to how much they are turning off potential contributors? Do something first, then I can send money. Anyone know how much came to Booker this week?
WaterGirl
@CaseyL: I agree, Casey. I think our elected officials pay a lot more attention to calls than to protests.
Either way, everything is on fire, and we have to do everything we can.
Call today. Protest and call tomorrow. Call on Sunday. Call on Monday.
Cheryl from Maryland
Emailed Van Hollen, Alsobrooks, and Raskin.
Princess
If anything, calling Republicans congresspeople is even more important than Dems today. Bonus if you can pretend to be their voter, even a swing voter.
New Deal democrat
A commenter asked last night why no one has filed a lawsuit against these tariffs, since there is no credible “emergency” supporting this unilateral move by a President.
Well, they have now:
https://bsky.app/profile/tonyromm.bsky.social/post/3llyfr2kjf22f
I have no idea what the Courts will do with this.
Omnes Omnibus
@WaterGirl: Everything doesn’t need to be about influencing Congress. Rallies and marches are about keeping up morale as much as anything. Tens of thousands at the big ones create a sense of community and we can use that right now. Twelve people in a red rural town? It lets you know you aren’t alone.
Also, there is no reason that someone at a protest can’t call their representatives. We can multitask.
Dupe1970
@frosty:
One would hope so but who can tell now. I am not expecting any responses from Cornyn or Van Duyne as they are both terrible but I am hoping I can add a drop to the bucket that makes them reconsider the path we are on.
eclare
Wow. I just called Marsha Marsha Marsha’s local office, and someone picked up on the second ring. She voted in favor of the Grassley amendment this morning.
Next up, Hagerty.
jlowe
Today, I’m busy drafting a letter to my Congressional representatives about layoffs at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). NIOSH is an important part of standard of practice for the work I do protecting occupational and environmental health and safety. A NIOSH lab in my town will be closing in June, costing the community dozens of jobs. Next on my list is a letter seeking protection of the Institute of Museum and Library Services in order to preserve library services in my town (mentioned earlier in the comments).
Advocacy around tariffs is just going to have to f*&k off for awhile. Too many people wanted this really, really bad and tariffs are just going to work their painful will for awhile to perhaps change a few minds. I’m doubtful about the effectiveness, though. The MAGA crowd would cheerfully slit their throats first before admitting they were wrong.
Baud
@New Deal democrat:
Interesting. I think that’s a right wing group.
Suzanne
Saw on Xhitter:
LMAO.
Suzanne
@jlowe:
Acceptable.
sixthdoctor
@eclare: Whoa. That’s encouraging.
And now under Rand Paul in the “one-time agreement” column I can put *sigh* Ben Shapiro.
https://bsky.app/profile/thetnholler.bsky.social/post/3llxjgyrmi22g
dc
Can’t all the countries targeted by these tariffs sue the U.S. in the WTO? What good are all these trade agreements if not?
eclare
Just called Hagerty’s local office. The staffer didn’t know how he voted on Grassley, but when I mentioned that Blackburn voted for it, the staffer said that they usually vote in tandem.
I’m just impressed that I got live staffers for both!
Elizabelle
@Omnes Omnibus: Thank you.
A Ghost to Most
“With the energy of the innocent, they went flying around in the rain, and their wings, once so fine, grew torn and tattered ”
Jackson Browne
Emily B.
Left voicemail messages for my NJ senators, and spoke to a staffer for my congresswoman. (Apparently I have called so often that my number is in the system—the staffer called me by my name before I introduced myself.)
Percysowner
I called Moreno and Husted. Got a live person on Moreno and voicemail on Husted. I’m sure it will do absolutely NO good, but I tried. Will call Joyce Beatty. I know she will do the right thing if Pastor Mike gives her the chance, but giving her an atta girl won’t hurt
eclare
Did not call my rep, Cohen (TN-9). He is a solid D and will vote the right way, if Johnson ever brings the House back into session.
Chief Oshkosh
@Omnes Omnibus: Yep, you never know. From an acorn…
I participated in a march decades ago that went huge and changed things for the better. That march occurred because a tiny march the previous weekend had gotten some press because of bad behavior of redneck shitstains who thought they owned the county. They found out otherwise when thousands showed up the next weekend. I wish I could claim that I was anything more than a reluctant participant (Chieftess Oshkosh was bound and determined to march, so I went to at least stand between her and the rednecks, having been more-or-less born and raised a redneck and so knowing how thick they can be). Of course, all of this was 35+ years ago…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1987_Forsyth_County_protests
Kristine
I phoned my rep’s DC office and spoke with a pleasant young man—asked that the rep (Schneider) support a House equivalent of Grassley-Cantwell and any other mechanism to rein in SFB. Also mentioned Social Security and how those of us who thought decades of savings would see us through are seeing it all being whittled away from both sides.
DC offices of Duckworth and Durbin were getting slammed and not taking calls so I emailed. I read somewhere that emails count as well as phone calls.
Jackie
Heh! Interesting tidbit of news:
Great job everybody!!!
wonkie
ONce again Dems to the rescue–and the effect will be that Republicans will retain unearned credibility and will shit all over Dems as soon as they can.
rikyrah
Tristan Snell (@TristanSnell) posted at 0:51 PM on Thu, Apr 03, 2025:
As you watch your retirement savings plummet — remember that Republicans in Congress could stop all of Trump’s insane tariff taxes with a single vote.
And they’re choosing not to.
(https://x.com/TristanSnell/status/1907853372264182059?s=03)
CCL
@Princess: Yes, this. That’s one of the messages Sen. Murphy made in his ACLU townhall with Joy Reid – we need to move just enough republicans (as happened with protecting the ACA) to get it done.
rikyrah
Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) posted at 2:24 PM on Thu, Apr 03, 2025:
The optics of Trump demolishing the economy and then peacing out for some R&R at a Saudi-funded golf tournament held at a private club he still owns and profits from aren’t great
(https://x.com/atrupar/status/1907876954646237436?s=03)
Percysowner
And WaPo loses another one Pulitzer-winning columnist leaving Washington Post In his last Q&A he said he was sticking around until they actually censored him or if the reporting became skewed. I don’t know which of the 2 it was, but he’s gone. Glad I’ve already canceled. He was one of the ones I missed, now I won’t miss him on WaPo. Hope he finds another forum.
rikyrah
MAGA Will Fall![]()
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(@ProteccMeg) posted at 3:16 AM on Fri, Apr 04, 2025:
Notice that Kamala didn’t apologize and didn’t entertain the idea that it was a ‘difficult choice.’ That’s why we didn’t want Tim to speak for her.
She’s honest, she knows that the electorate got it wrong!
(https://x.com/ProteccMeg/status/1908071277719433261?s=03)
jowriter
@Omnes Omnibus: I agree that protests are the way to find your tribe. The magats are nothing if not tribal. Damn, folks, the TEA party were paid for their participation, and look what they did in 2010. I called the local office for my feckless GOP congressperson in NY-17, Mike Lawler. It’s always fun to feel that cold shoulder (s) but I do it anyway. I am particularly offended by the SHARE act, which could disenfranchise me since I changed my name when I married my husband. But there’s so much more. I have to call every day to keep up. The tariffs were of course part of today’s call. They probably roll their eyes when my number comes up on caller ID. Too bad. Looking forward to the phone answerers’ unemployment in 2026. I remain an optimist.
eclare
@Percysowner:
No surprise.
Jackie
This, too, is interesting: Gav Newsom is negotiating his own trade agreements! Other governors – including my governor – should jump in!
If successful, this could cause FFOTUS the massive stroke we’ve been wishing for!
rikyrah
OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) posted at 10:15 PM on Thu, Apr 03, 2025:
General Timothy D. Haugh, the Commander of U.S. Cyber Command (CYBERCOM), Director of the National Security Agency (NSA), and Chief of the Central Security Service (CSS) has been removed tonight from all of his military and civilian positions effective immediately, alongside his Deputy Director at the NSA Wendy Noble, who has been reassigned to the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence. The reason for both of their removals is currently unknown, with General Haugh hosting Trump Advisor Elon Musk last month at the NSA’s Headquarters in Fort Meade, Maryland.
https://t.co/07A7QB18SY
(https://x.com/sentdefender/status/1907995510033756643?s=03)
Malcolm Nance (@MalcolmNance) posted at 6:14 AM on Fri, Apr 04, 2025:
THIS IS DANGEROUS. Firing intelligence professionals like DIRNSA General Haugh and his civilian DDIRNSA is the start of a purge of America’s most sensitive secrets. Also one that could be massively abused.
On a good note, @NSAGov Employees won’t obey crimes if ordered.
(https://x.com/MalcolmNance/status/1908115936961298656?s=03)
rikyrah
She should put it on a t-shirt. I’d buy one.
👑 Mr. Weeks 👑 (@WonderKing82) posted at 11:08 PM on Thu, Apr 03, 2025:
“I’m not here to say I told you so”
– Vice President Kamala Harris
(https://x.com/WonderKing82/status/1908008814135095386?t=myBzneGeeCmDJChy52PhvQ&s=03)
rikyrah
Fred Wellman (@FPWellman) posted at 2:42 PM on Thu, Apr 03, 2025:
The crash is the goal. They want to destroy the economy. They want to destroy the government. They want us to be serfs in their new oligarchy. The destruction is the entire purpose of all of it. Stop saying you don’t understand the goal of the destruction…the destruction is the goal.
(https://x.com/FPWellman/status/1907881429205397571?t=aq1-A50IP4o-5mhme24PsQ&s=03)
sentient ai from the future
I’m in the deepest blue district but called all 3 anyway, also asked senators to oppose and deny unanimous consent for harmeet dhillon to head doj civil rights, as parent of a trans kid
rikyrah
Christopher Webb (@cwebbonline) posted at 6:02 AM on Fri, Apr 04, 2025:
PUT THIS ON BLAST:
Trump’s tariffs just pushed the risk of a U.S. and global recession this year up to 60%—up from 40%, according to J.P. Morgan.
THATS NOT ALL:
The White House made up the numbers—Trump Math![]()
https://t.co/Y98nhtO266
(https://x.com/cwebbonline/status/1908113005658935622?t=YZ2XyNM4gWgSbR0QbyVo2w&s=03)
Jackie
@Percysowner: Good for Eugene Robinson!!! We’ll be hearing from him! He is regularly on Morning Joe – I doubt that’ll change.
rikyrah
Mike Madrid (@madrid_mike) posted at 5:03 PM on Thu, Apr 03, 2025:
The stock market is SO bad that FOX News took the ticker off of its screen for the first time in their 28 year history. Read that again.
(https://x.com/madrid_mike/status/1907916935419015556?t=wX5I6uiI9OFgZNIKx1Zv4w&s=03)
wonkie
BTW, the Grassley Cantwell bill will do very little. It allows a president to impose a tariff for sixty days, which is plenty of time to fuck things up. Besides, they don’t need to pass a bill at all since the pussygrabber has no real authority to impose tariffs anyway. To really stand up to him they need to censure him or impeach him or even undue the war times law he is acting under.
Trump has fucked up so badly that it is impossible to ignore. He lost money for the oligarchs! But everything he does is a Republican fuck up and Republicans never act in good faith, so…I’m not sure what the right thing to do is, but “standing up” to Trump with the weak bill is just cover for the Rethugs so they can pretend they aren’t responsible for the effects. I think if I was in the Senate I’d be suggesting amendments to make a better bill and I might even be renouncing the Rethugs supporting it as cowards. But I’m not in the Senate and am incapable of running for any office and what do I know?
eclare
Beautiful photo today, WaterGirl.
rikyrah
SuperJojo47![]()
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(@SJojo47) posted at 5:38 PM on Wed, Apr 02, 2025:
Hillary warned you. Joe warned you. Kamala warned you. Every Democrat everywhere warned you. You didn’t listen, and this is the result. Really hope you’re enjoying that white male grievance, ’cause it’s gonna be expensive.
(https://x.com/SJojo47/status/1907563420586836064?t=2AUQ8VWjlB0DhZxOPCRWZg&s=03)
Sean
@wonkie:
I think the fact that there is a bill at all, co-sponsored by a Republican is the point. That means there is some acknowledgement of how fucked this all is, where there was none from them before. We can be advocates for a better bill, or really any action against this insanity, but we gotta start somewhere. Bill or no, this drove a lot of news of “another republican turns on Trumps tarriffs” this morning, and that’s good for framing how the whole thing is bad, even Republicans think so, etc
I just called Cruz and Cornyn in both the Texas and Washington offices. All voicemail all the time. Left as restrained of a message as I could asking them to support the bill, or to forcefully reassert their authority under the constitution to regulate these policies. I’m sure I’ll get a real thoughtful response. (Har har)
Lobo
Restore the Federation. Right now it is the Terran Empire, terminal, crazy and mean.
Kristine
@Jackie: Gov Pritzker just signed a Memo of Understanding with Mexico. Not sure how much federal pressure these agreements can withstand, but I am guessing we will find out.
Glidwrith
@rikyrah: I believe that September date that they are claiming it will all be over with is when they’ve succeeded in crashing the system and starved/killed all the sick/seniors/disabled.
StringOnAStick
In all the noise, you may not have heard that The Daily Wire is circling the drain; their CEO stepped down last week and rumor in DC is they have hired bankruptcy lawyers. That might explain why Shapiro is having a change of heart, because if he keeps blowing smoke up his viewer’s asses about how great these economic moves are, he’ll have no audience either.
I think this tariff crap and disruption is to distract from the firings at the top of US Cyber Command and NSA; it’s different from blowing up an apartment building of your own citizens but it’s a classic Putin technique for covering the really bad things that they are doing. The market is just an excellent shiny object to go crazy over, and the media will oblige.
EarthWindFire
I thanked Kaine for his leadership so far and told Warner and Connolly to get on board. Of the three, Warner’s normally the most GOP friendly but I think him being up for reelection next year might change that. He has a lot of pissed off government employees who are now seeing the retirement funds they’ve been laid off into using go to shit. I suspect and hope that he’ll be more of a fighter than usual.
H.E.Wolf
Called! Thanks for the reminder.
rikyrah
Liam Nissan™ (@theliamnissan) posted at 9:21 AM on Thu, Apr 03, 2025:
So basically Trump sits back and waits for the captains of industry to all come grovel at his feet, and then he grants them tariff waivers if they pay him extortion money. It’s the biggest grift in world history, folks
(https://x.com/theliamnissan/status/1907800620095930824?t=5t3rac8hHqPdF45yg8xClw&s=03)
comrade scotts agenda of rage
@wonkie:
Exactly. It’s toothless legislation in the strategic sense and worse, provides Republicans with a bipartisan sheen saying “See, we’re trying to stand up for ‘Murkans and our Dem colleagues in the Senate are with us!” or some nonsense to that effect.
Hopefully, Senate Dems will do exactly what you describe, try to amend it and play good political theater with the (R) opposition.
rikyrah
LongTime![]()
FirstTime![]()
(@LongTimeHistory) posted at 0:23 PM on Thu, Apr 03, 2025:
Trump promised to raise tariffs & start trade war—now Whirlpool has fired 1/3 of its workforce in Iowa.
What’s worse? Iowa Republicans just reduced number of weeks for unemployment benefits nearly in half from 26 to 16.
The layoff of 651 workers is the largest this year—so far— https://t.co/4FVKl4BTR1
(https://x.com/LongTimeHistory/status/1907846321421107503?t=psh76Dni8c1n-djDRjq2HQ&s=03)
rikyrah
Nicky Frank (@NickyFrank30) posted at 9:13 AM on Thu, Apr 03, 2025:
In a meeting this morning and I don’t know if I can verbalize the level of panic among the people in this meeting. They truly thought he wouldn’t do this or someone would stop him if he tried.
(https://x.com/NickyFrank30/status/1907798660613632356?t=cUgh6uw8_Nz7AcdTqD_4Ng&s=03)
Baud
@rikyrah:
People believe what they want to believe.
Chief Oshkosh
@rikyrah: Who is Nicky Frank? I mean, the response is understandable, but which group is panicking?
Ksmiami
I think states are already going on their own for trade etc. California just announced – Like I predicted, Trump will break the union.
rikyrah
@Baud:
WE TOLD THEM.
These folks make me sick
rikyrah
@Chief Oshkosh:
Works with regular YT men who believe that they are MOTU
Bupalos
Voicemail full so I used the email contact form for David Joyce, with just a pretty short message, essentially “I really don’t think this is in your political interest and it’s fucking all your constituents over… whether they know it or not yet, they will.”
Joyce could be part of a splinter house R group I’d think.
New Deal democrat
Just in case you were wondering, the NYSE “circuit breakers” calling for a temporary halt to trading kick in at a decline of 7% in the S&P.
I had thought it was 5% down, which we are a few hundredths of a percent of hitting at the moment.
Ksqrd
I emailed Cornyn and Cruz.
Then spoke to a staffer in Beth Van Duyne’s office.
I asked her if they had been getting many calls. “Yes sir”
Then asked her if any of the calls were in support of the tariffs “No sir”
This is a well heeled, ruby red district in the DFW area
rikyrah
Cornell Belcher (@cornellbelcher) posted at 10:35 AM on Thu, Apr 03, 2025:![]()
’s econ graveyard is a case study tribalism
If Obama’s policies were destroying the markets, slowing growth, and rising the likelihood of a recession they would scream he’s trying to destroy America & absolutely call for impeachment. Watching these people smile & grin towards
(https://x.com/cornellbelcher/status/1907819356941172798?t=gdbfeNbh_a8oUzP5eIePuA&s=03)
zhena gogolia
@Mousebumples: That’s good. Wish I could see it.
I hate “Do not comply in advance” for all those reasons. And that guy’s going to Canada.
Bupalos
@Kristine: What could this mean? We’ll let you offload at the port of Chicago without customs enforcement if you can just figure a way to get your containers up here through the St. Lawrence?
This strikes me as counterproductive posturing that is going to make people think Governors have some kind of control here.
princess leia
I hope Anne Laurie is okay; did I miss that she was taking time away? I know she wasn’t feeling totally up to par recently. Her posts bracket my day and I missed her this am.
munira
I contacted all three of mine. Since they almost always vote the way I want them to, I thanked them for doing what they could to curb Trump’s illegal power grab – particularly Cantwell for the bill with Grassley – and urged them to do more and hit up their Republican friends (not exactly in those words.)
Bupalos
@wonkie: Seems to me a temporary tariff won’t fuck up much at all, it would probably just time-shift deliveries.
sentient ai from the future
the stupid, it burns. burns so much that it’s fucking acid-washing my retirement fund.
https://bsky.app/profile/rpsagainsttrump.bsky.social/post/3llyoytshh22q
Melancholy Jaques
While I support calling & writing Republican congress-creatures & attending public protests, I’m wondering if it might be more effective to go to their homes, drag them out of bed, put them in tumbrels, & haul them around. I mean, just for practice in case things go completely out of control.
Seriously, though, the combination of gerrymandered districts, compliant political media, unreachable cult members, & abysmally stupid voters insulates most of them from electoral consequences. And even those are 20 months away, when all this will be forgotten.
I guess what I’m saying is that we have to go beyond the usual means of making our feelings known. I don’t really know what might shake the normies out of their stupidity or the political media & major law firms out of their complicity. I do know that what we have done in the past does not work.
Elizabelle
@Chief Oshkosh: And that touches on another thing.
Media will cover protests, if they are big enough, and there are enough of them. It is starting to happen with the Tesla takedowns, and tomorrow’s Hands Off protests should be much larger.
Which will inspire more protesters to come out in following demonstrations
People want to see us out there fighting. Especially during such unsettled times, with our investments and careers being trashed at the whim of one con artist man and his billionaire wingman.
Chief Oshkosh
@rikyrah: Thanks.
BritinChicago
@New Deal democrat: I asked that, though I’m sure I’m not the only one, so thanks for the info. I’d be surprised if it hadn’t happened before, but if so why was it not publicized? I think the courts give the Pres v wide latitude in determining what is and what is not an emergency (it wouldn’t surprise me if right now a natural disaster in a Democratic state was deemed to be no big deal). But it’s really obvious that there’s (or there was) no national emergency (and doesn’t if have to be a national security emergency? against Canada??), so maybe, just maybe.
Ksmiami
@Melancholy Jaques: I think dragging out every single Republican and their families is… a good start
sentient ai from the future
@Ksmiami: Where’s a bona fide Esso station when you really need one?
Ksmiami
This is going to end badly. But worse for MAGA.
Ksmiami
@sentient ai from the future: ah the good old Piazzale Loretto- yes!
ExPatExDem
No one know what comes next, but what was will never be again. Our erstwhile allies will never again pin their economic or national security interests on the whims of a few thousand voters in Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin. And our enemies are looking for ways to throw us an anchor as we sink.
Helluva a time to be alive, isn’t it? :-(
Ksmiami
@ExPatExDem: I hope we can build something better, but yeah Trump is national suicide. It’s over
comrade scotts agenda of rage
@Melancholy Jaques:
Heh heh, you win Teh Internetzez for today!
More seriously, yeah, they pay almost no electoral price for this.
Dr. Fungus
Called my rep and both senators. Voicemail trifecta.
WaterGirl
@Omnes Omnibus: Totally agree. I just didn’t take the time to spell out what the protests and marches do. I was responding to the first comment, suggesting that calls might be more effective next week.
In a post encouraging people to call today, I didn’t want to let that stand without comment because first comments often set the tone for the entire thread. And I didn’t want “call next week instead of today” to stand without comment.
As to your second paragraph, also agree, that’s why I said “protest and call tomorrow.”
frosty
@rikyrah: Who are the people in the meeting? The X link doesn’t give me any more info than your copy/paste, probably because I don’t have a login.
SEA
Called Russell Fry, Trump bootlicker here in SC. Used local # spoke to staff. He’s killing my 401K!!!!
Tazj
I called my Republican representative Nick Langworthy’s office. After he tweeted “The Golden Age” along with a graphic of the job numbers from last month, I had to tell the office how disgusted I was with everything that is happening.The district is very red and I think it’s going to take a while for him to feel any heat, but sooner or later his constituents in the more affluent suburbs aren’t going to be happy.
Joy in FL
I called my two Florida MAGA senators. Voicemails, there.
I called my MAGA congress rep and got the same person that I talked to on Wednesday. I told her I was calling to basically repeat one of points from Wednesday.
dww44
I spoke with Republican Rep’s staffer (Rep rep is Adam Scott ) who listened but was kinda unresponsivle so I will be calling Scotts office every day. Asked him to tell Scott to push to get Johnson to release the Senate approved resolution for a floor vote. Spoke with staffer in Ossof’s office who was very supportive and accessible. Called Warnock’s office and left a message. I’ve never gotten a live person when calling his office. I will be weighing in with all 3 on Monday.
Am attending a Hand-off rally here where I live and thankfully won’t have to drive to Atlanta to go to one with daughter who lives there. This will be much smaller, but honestly I think I will feel more connected and will continue to network with like minded folks.
They’re having a sign painting session in the a.m. at 10 (the rally is from 1 to 2:30), so I’ve got to get supplies for that. I’ve been looking up ideas for sign painting. Lots of them out there.
brendancalling
Called both PA senators (the useless one AND the useless one from CT) and left messages.
They’re both pretty stupid and useless though, so who knows. I doubt either of them can read.
lowtechcyclist
Called Steny Hoyer’s office and both MD Senators’ offices. Talked with a staffer at Hoyer’s, and left recorded messages with the Senators, letting them know that while I realized they were in the minority, they should do whatever they could to roll back these destructive Trump tariffs.
The Very Reverend Crimson Fire of Compassion
Called Jason Smith, Josh Hawley and Eric Schmidt’s offices. Got a live staffer at Smith’s and left voicemails for the other two. For anyone on this site who isn’t already using the 5calls app, it’s incredibly useful in aggregating political numbers (Reps, Senators, Governors, Attorneys-General, etc.) for your area, and even provides you with a script for your issue de jour (there’s a menu to pick from, or you can free-form it). Moves you from number to number, and each page has a button to mark whether you got through, left a message, talked to a staffer, etc. It’s a MAJOR time-saver and force multiplier!
Ksqrd
Emailed Cruz and Cornyn and left voicemails.
Talked to a staffer at Beth Van Duyne’s office. Asked the staffer if they had been getting lots of calls – “Yes sir” was the answer. Asked her if anyone was supportive “No sir.” This is a well-heeled ruby red district in DFW
Ohio Mom
When I wasn’t as frazzled as I am nowadays, I used to try to chat up the young interns when one actually answered the phone. I like to think I planted a few seeds of clarity in a couple of them.
Most learners have to hear new information repeatedly until it finally sinks in. So if it takes 20 repetitions for a young Republican to grasp that Trump is breaking the law by usurping Congress’s power of the purse, or that Social Security isn’t supporting people who are 150 years old, after my careful explanation, complete with the type of “are you following me” questions teachers ask, well, only 19 more explanations needed. It’s a relay race.
Kayla Rudbek
@EarthWindFire: I swear that I am going to vote for whoever primaries Warner. Beyer at least has been actually doing something and having open houses.
williamrd
On my fifth attempt I got a live person at Rep. Daryl Issa’s local office (he’s Republican). Asked him what stance Issa was taking on tarrifs — was it “Trust Trump” or work with other Congresspeople to fix things. Told him my retirement account was down by a third (true!). Anthony the nice person I talked with said Issa had not released any position yet on tarriffs, but he would relay my message. Issa has actully gotten more Trumpier with age it seems, but one hopes this could be an issue that helps him break out of that. Well, small hopes.
also, wondering if any Balloon Juicers are attending the Hands off protest in San Diego.