February 3, 2025

Administrative coup in motion, the Trump tax on our pocketbooks, Black Lives Matter and labor organizers fight back, and more

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:

• usa.gov/federal-agencies

If you have questions, comments, and especially submissions for actions, please email us at roganslisttips@gmail.com!

• AN ADMINISTRATIVE COUP IS ROLLING THROUGH WASHINGTON

  Over the past few days, we’ve seen frightening developments from the administrative coup in progress in Washington (here summarized by independent journalist Marisa Kabas, who has led the way on this story). On top of last week’s federal funding freeze, Elon Musk and his assistants have taken control of the Department of the Treasury’s payment processes with the permission of the newly-confirmed secretary. This system distributes Social Security and Medicare benefits, federal salaries, tax refunds and so much more - more than $6 trillion annually in payments to households, businesses and government agencies. They now claim to be actively shutting off payments to federal contractors, including Lutheran Family Services, although it is unclear if they actually have this capability. This could effectively serve as the extension of the funding freeze that has been blocked by court order. Musk’s minions have also taken over data systems at the Office of Personnel Management and locked actual civil servants out, giving them unfettered access to the personal data of millions of federal employees; taken over the General Services Administration, with access to internal government systems and sensitive data; and gained access to classified information at the U.S. Agency for International Development, which Musk has said is a “criminal organization” that should “die.” There have been reports that extensive government data has been downloaded onto private servers. An unelected billionaire and his henchmen has now seized personal data for almost every American and say they have the power to personally shut down government payments as they see fit. Let’s tell our members of Congress we demand they take immediate and dramatic action against both the funding freeze the Musk takeover. Business as usual is not acceptable and they need to show leadership to stop the coup. We can work off these scripts – and ask to know what specifically they are planning on doing, because they should have an answer. With our senators, let’s go on to urge them to #FreezeTheSenate while the power grab continues – using blanket opposition, quorum calls and objecting to unanimous consent. We can find details and talking points from Indivisible here, and toolkits for organizing group visits to senators’ local offices here.

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• TRUMP’S IMPORT TAX WILL COME OUT OF OUR POCKETS

  Trump has officially imposed massive tariffs on our three largest trading partners, hitting more than 40% of America’s imports, and promised more are coming for Europe. This is an import tax, and we’re going to be the ones to pay for it with higher prices on almost everything we buy – from clothes to shoes to food to fridges to water heaters to laptops to cellphones to cars to oil to homes. One study suggested the average American will pay $830 a year more for the exact some goods thanks to Trump. Worse, Canada and Mexico have already announced retaliatory tariffs and China has promised “necessary countermeasures,” which means fewer people buying American-made products, putting American jobs at risk. Previous tariff hikes have hurt growth and haven’t brought manufacturing jobs home as promised, and there’s no reason to think this will be any different – with both the United Auto Workers and the National Association of Manufacturers agreeing. Even Trump himself has admitted Americans will suffer from his import tax. The President has wide authority to impose tariffs unilaterally, but only because Congress has granted the White House that power. If they want to step in and stop the economic wrecking ball from swinging by revoking that power or putting guardrails on its use, they absolutely can. Senators Chris Coons (D-DE) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) have already introduced S. 348 to do just that, forcing presidents to seek congressional approval for implementing tariffs on trading partners. Let’s remind our representatives and senators the constitutional power to impose tariffs ultimately lies with them, and they can stop Trump if they wish… and if they choose not to, we will hold them accountable for spiking costs on things we buy every day. We can use this language from Resistbot or send the letter directly by texting SIGN PBSFBM to 50409. We can also find some tips on how to effectively talk about the Trump tariffs from Navigator Research posted here.

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• UNDER GOP PLAN BILLIONAIRES WIN, WORKING PARENTS LOSE

  While Trump and Musk are busily spiking prices on nearly everything we buy and cutting funds for kids in Head Start, seniors relying on Meals on Wheels, infants and expectant mothers who get nutrition through WIC, they’re also hard at work putting together tax legislation that will directly enrich his oligarch backers at our expense. House Republicans have circulated a memo on how they intend to pay for Trump’s proposed sweeping tax cuts for the rich – including yet another massive reduction in the corporate tax rate and eliminating the estate tax which only impacts those worth more than $14 million. Among the options they’re proposing are deep cuts to Medicaid and food stamps. They are also considering eliminating the tax credit for child care expenses and a tax break for single parents. This is a giveaway to Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos coming out of the pockets of working moms just trying to take care of their kids. Let’s reach out to our members of Congress and tell them we know they’re working on plans to sell out working parents to pay off their donors, and we demand they vote no against any plan like this. Let’s also join the Working Families Party for a phonebank TODAY at 2pm Eastern to reach folks in key districts to make sure they know what Trump and the GOP are up to and ask them to call their reps as well.

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• SOLIDARITY IN ACTION WITH ORGANIZED LABOR THIS WEEK

  Much of the work of combating inequality and oligarch rule will happen far away from Capitol Hill and the halls of power, and unions will be at the forefront of it. Organized labor has answered the call to arms in the face of the Trump takeover, leading the legal fight against the civil service purge. They are also busily claiming victories at workplaces nationwide, with the Teamsters securing a tentative agreement to avert a strike at Costco over the weekend. This week we will have multiple opportunities to show solidarity with labor organizers with practical action. Fresh off the largest unfair labor practices strike in their history in December, Starbucks Workers United is making a major push to organize new stores, including canvassing non-union locations in ten metro areas and phonebanking workers from non-union stores to get them into the fight. Carolina Amazonians United for Solidarity and Empowerment (CAUSE) is continuing to rally support for their union election at an Amazon warehouse in Garner, North Carolina later this month by phonebanking undecided votes on weekdays. And the Oregon Nurses Association strike, the largest health care strike in state history, is now in its fourth week, and in need of donations for the strike fund. Let’s consider signing up for a phonebank or canvass shift or make a donation if we’re able!

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• BLACK VOTERS MATTER TEXTING TUESDAYS RETURN TOMORROW

  Power building can’t be confined to a few weeks right before an election. Black Voters Matter works to rally folks year-round, keeping them updated on local elections and educating them on environmental justice, police reform and more ways to uplift marginalized folks. BVM is holding their first Texting Tuesday training for new volunteers in 2025 TOMORROW at 6:00pm, and they’ll have regular opportunities for new and returning texters every Tuesday over the coming weeks. Let’s sign up to join them here.

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STATE-SPECIFIC ACTIONS

• PA – RENEWED EFFORT AT MEDICAL DEBT RELIEF

  A bipartisan group of lawmakers led by Rep. Arvind Venkat (D-Allegheny) and backed by Governor Shapiro have introduced a bill to potentially buy up and clear hundreds of millions of dollars in medical debt for working families in Pennsylvania. H.B. 79 would set up a medical debt relief program for folks at or below 400% of the federal poverty level or whose medical debt is 5% or more of their household income. Previous versions of this legislation passed the Democratic-controlled House but stalled in the GOP-held state senate. We’re trying to make things different this time around. Let’s reach out to our state legislators, especially our state senators, and tell them we want to see this passed into law. We can also consider a donation to Undue Medical Debt to support their efforts on medical debt relief. (h/t

  Progress Report
  )

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KEEPING AN EYE ON…

Wisconsin state supreme court election less than two months away… North Carolina supreme court steal will go to trial… Gabbard, Kennedy nominations still at risk while pressure grows on Vought, Finance Committee vote on RFK Tuesday… Los Angeles wildfires contained, need for relief remains… keep eyes out for denied funding from the “freeze”…

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