April 4, 2025 - 1 Day to Hands Off
Who's ready to hit the streets tomorrow?
Contact all members of Congress:
By phone: (202) 224-3121
By email: Congress.gov
By US mail: Representatives / Senators
By fax: Representatives / Senators
By Resistbot: Resist.bot
Contact White House or other federal agencies:
If you have questions, comments, and especially submissions for actions, please email us at roganslisttips@gmail.com!
MARCHING SHOES ON, TOMORROW WE TELL MUSK AND TRUMP HANDS OFF
Tomorrow we hit the streets for the Hands Off national mobilization at one of more than 1200 events in all 50 states and at least five other countries – we can find one near us to attend here. Coming off Trump and Musk’s defeat in Wisconsin, their wrecking ball to trade and growing resistance among Washington Democrats, we are going to send a message to MAGA and the entire country that no one can miss: hands off our health care, our Social Security, our education, our economy, our civil rights, our freedom. We’ve got one last day – let’s do what we can to make it a success by:
Recording short videos about why we’re going to protest and posting them on social media to spread the word – and sharing them with the coalition at bit.ly/April5socials. Or we can use this social media toolkit from our friends at .
Getting our signs and slogans ready – has pulled together links and suggestions for where we can print them out here, along with some pump-up playlists and inspiring videos. We can also check out these free downloadable posters from Meenal Patel (h/t Julia Smith)
Asking at least one more person we know who might not otherwise attend to come to a 4/5 protest near us - especially folks who are newly upset about Trump’s trade wars.
Looking forward to seeing everyone in the streets – drop your slogans and where you’re headed in the replies, and please share your protest photos with us at roganslisttips@gmail.com!
NATIONAL SECURITY STAFF FIRED… BUT NOT OVER SIGNALGATE
We’ve had multiple new revelations the last few days about how Trump’s national security staff has ignored basic security protocols, exposed sensitive information that could put Americans in danger, and deliberately undermined transparency. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and his aides have been doing government work via Gmail, including sending information about weapons systems and troop positions. The national security team was also regularly using Signal chats to coordinate official work: “Waltz built the entire NSC communications process on Signal.” Then yesterday, Trump fired at least six senior staffers on the National Security Council – not because they broke the law and put military personnel at risk, but because right-wing extremist Laura Loomer questioned their loyalty to him. He then followed up by firing the director of the National Security Agency.
A conspiracy theorist’s finger-pointing must not be treated more seriously than criminal acts that threatened our troops. And while the acting Pentagon inspector general has announced a probe into Hegseth and the Defense Department officials involved, it’s not nearly enough. Let’s let our members of Congress know we are demanding the removal of Hegseth and Waltz, and their impeachment if they will not quit or be fired. And let’s tell them to push for an independent prosecutor to investigate this whole pattern of purposeful security breaches and destruction of records. We can use this script from 5Calls as base language or email working off of this language on Resistbot from our friend .
SENATE REPUBLICANS ADVANCE “COMPROMISE” ON MEDICAID KILLER BUDGET
After long delays to make sure they had the votes nailed down, Senate Republicans managed to secure enough support to open debate on their “compromise” version of the “rob for the rich” budget yesterday. There should be a long day or two ahead full of amendments and arguing, but they’re now set for a final vote sometime this weekend, sending this measure to the House for passage - and then they can start the hard work of nailing down the details.
Let’s be sure to reach out to our senators today and let them know we say no - no cuts to Medicaid, no cuts to food assistance, no tax giveaways to billionaires. We can find scripts and resources here and here.
THE BATTLE AGAINST TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS
Not content with attacks on undocumented immigrants, Trump has sought to go after groups who are here completely legally. One group they’ve targeted is those with temporary protected status (TPS). These are folks who come to the United States from a country formally designated as a place of danger for political or natural disaster reasons and get a financial sponsor – they go through a full process with our government and are granted a two-year work permit. In December 2024, folks who fled 16 countries were potentially eligible for TPS.
Since her confirmation as Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem has been attempting to vacate and terminate temporary protected status for refugees from multiple countries, leading to her announcement on March 21st that TPS status of more than half-a-million people from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela will be stripped away, leaving them vulnerable to deportation in about a month. Those who have fled several other countries, including Ukraine and Afghanistan, fear they may be next.
U.S. district court judge Edward Chen ruled the protections for Venezuelans had to remain in place, for now. A similar suit involving TPS for Haitians is still going, but as of now Haitians, Cubans and Nicaraguans remain in danger.
While the lawyers are fighting to keep TPS in place, we can do the work for a more long-term, stable solution. Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia (D-TX) has reintroduced the American Dream and Promise Act to create a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers and for people on TPS. Let’s contact our members of Congress and ask them to condemn Noem’s revocations and support this legislation. We can find base language to use from Resistbot here and from this petition from the American Friends Service Committee here.
DEFENDING DEI ON CAMPUS FROM THE RESEGREGATIONISTS
The resegregationist drive against “DEI” – both actual diversity, equity and inclusion programs and anything from which someone other than an able-bodied cishet white Christian man might benefit – is taking its toll on our universities. They’re in a challenging and uncertain situation which demands immediate and strategic action. Education for All is a network of thought leaders dedicated to helping higher education leaders, particularly college presidents, to confront these challenges. We can sign up, find resources, and get more information here, and share Education For All with those connected with higher education in our lives. We can also take this moment to urge any college or university we’re connected with – as students, parents of students, employees, alums, or otherwise – to fight back against the resegregationists and for opportunities for everyone.
TIPS ON MESSAGING
One of the goals of Hands Off is to get through to the general public exactly what Trump and MAGA are doing to this country, and that work will continue long past this weekend. When we’re on social media or talking to friends and neighbors about politics, we’re trying to educate and persuade. This resource by Aso Communications gives us very useful tips and scripts on how to craft our messages in a way that will get through to those who might not initially agree with us about the Trump regime. Let’s check out the guide, put it to use, and share widely!
KEEPING AN EYE ON…
Pressuring Congress to step in and stop Trump’s trade wars - amendment votes likely during budget process
Kill The Cuts Day of Action to save research and education funding April 8th
Comment deadline on forced registration of undocumented immigrants April 11th
Detention Watch Network’s Communities Not Cages Day of Action April 17th
Target Fast boycott in effect through April 17th, Latino Freeze boycotts on resegregation supporters continuing
Resistance Rangers rallies at national parks for Earth Day April 22nd
Join the federal workers #SaveOurServices rapid response network here
If you’re showing up today—or even just thinking about what it means to—this might resonate. I wrote about the protests, the fear, the resolve, and the quiet turning of despair into something else.
This Is What Hope Looks Like → https://www.brittleviews.com/p/this-is-what-hope-looks-like
I'll carry a large American flag tomorrow. It's ours to reclaim.