"Our nation is shaped by the constant battle between our better angels and our darkest impulses. It is time for our better angels to prevail."
- President Joseph R. Biden
Trump is Gone; Trumpism Remains Strong
For all of us who supported them, the opening week of the Biden-Harris Administration has been a thrill, with fast decisive action to rejoin the Paris Climate Agreement and the World Health Organization, a path to citizenship for Dreamers, national leadership & hard science applied to Covid, and yesterday's sweeping plan to tackle climate change.
But it is equally clear Trump's popularity remains strong among Republican voters and their elected officials - and that the fundamental lie which led to the violent attack on the US Capitol continues to be preached by GOP leaders and rightwing media outlets. What can we do to combat this continued undermining of our democratic system? This is a question we'll likely engage with all year. For now, a few ideas:
Write or call Rubio & Scott. Let them know you take the impeachment of Donald Trump seriously and expect them to as well. Here's a strong legal case for impeachment.
Thank the growing list of companies who have pledged to withhold political funds from all the politicians who supported Trump's lies challenging the 2020 election. And let your dollars speak. For example, Publix has refused to take a stand; Walmart has pledged never to donate to the Reps & Senators who supported these lies.
UnFox your cable box. While Fox News has a large, loyal audience, millions of Americans get the channel whether they want it or not as a small part of their cable bundle. As Fox remains a prime conduit of false statements challenging the legitimacy of the Biden presidency, send them a pocketbook message too by letting your cable provider know you'd rather not pay for fake news.
Demand Answers on Florida's New Covid Strain
The new, more transmissible form of Covid first detected in Britain is now showing up in states across the US - with Florida and California leading the nation in cases. So far the DeSantis administration is sharing no information on this growing threat with the public. Write or call the Governor and his Surgeon General Scott Rivkees and urge them to do their jobs.
Florida Legislature Advances Anti-Protesting Bill
The Governor's bill criminalizing many aspects of public protest and making it illegal for jurisdictions to cut police funding got its first hearing before a legislative committee yesterday. Our own Representative Cord Byrd reacted to the massive crowds opposing the bill by limiting public testimony to 1 minute each and cutting off speakers who tried to use the 3 minutes they had expected to have. Read here for the details. To no one's surprise, the bill passed on a party-line vote and advances to its next committee. It's important to continue speaking out on this bad bill. For inspiration consider:
Join the Florida Action Network's effort to send more than 3,000 letters to our state legislators on this issue.
Colorful commentary from Mac Stipanovich
A recent survey of Florida voters show most don't support this bill.
Join this weekend's masked & distanced demonstration at the Duval Courthouse Saturday at 1:30 pm. More info below.
Brace Yourself for Redistricting
While the final report of the 2020 census was delayed by Covid and meddling from the Trump administration, it is expected this March. At that point we'll begin to see the process of adjusting voting districts to level population counts at both the state and county level. We'll keep you updated on ways to weigh in at the state level - where continued gerrymandering of districts to further advantage GOP candidates is certain to be proposed. Here in Duval, the city is promising an open process with extensive public input. We want to be part of that process and will keep you posted. For now, stay informed and get ready to speak up.
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