March 10, 2025 - 4 Days to Shutdown
Rejecting Trump's slush fund, showing up at Social Security offices, #HandsOffHUD day of action, 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:
If you have questions, comments, and especially submissions for actions, please email us at roganslisttips@gmail.com!
SHUTDOWN UPDATE: A SLUSH FUND FOR TRUMP
Over the weekend Speaker Johnson rolled out a Trump-approved appropriations bill to keep the government operating through September 30th, the end of the current fiscal year. We could see a vote as soon as tomorrow. Even with the current deal set to expire midnight Friday, It’s an absolute non-starter.
Democrats have been demanding provisions to ensure that Trump actually spends the money he’s legally required to, and activists have been urging Congress to use their leverage to put a stop to the illegal multi-front attack on public services. Instead what we’ve gotten is a blank check for Trump, a slush fund without even the standard checks on administration action of a normal appropriations bill. This is a go-ahead to let the Trump-Musk thefts continue.
Beyond that, this is not a remotely “clean” continuing resolution – rather than preserving current government funding levels, it makes significant changes including more money for the deportation machine and less for substance abuse and mental health programs and health research.
Republicans can pass this bill in the House without a single Democratic vote – but they’ll need almost total unanimity. And in the Senate, they’ll need all of their members plus seven Democrats to break the filibuster. Let’s contact our members from both parties and tell them to reject this power grab and any appropriations deal that does not end the Trump-Musk coup. We can find scripts and language here and send this Resistbot message by texting SIGN PZOBQT to 50409.
OUR LOCAL SOCIAL SECURITY OFFICES ARE AT RISK – LET’S SHOW UP
We need to keep up the pressure on the Trump-Musk threat to Social Security – one we’ve been warned could lead to an interruption of people getting their benefits within weeks. While we should continue reaching out to our members of Congress (scripts and language, Resistbot), we also have pressure points very close to home. There are more than 1200 Social Security Administration field offices across the country, many of which would be shuttered with Trump and Musks cuts. Let’s use this tool to find the office nearest us and consider organizing a #SaveSocialSecurity protest to build awareness in our community and with local media. Or we can make a sign and head out there ourselves and make sure we post a picture of our standout on social media to spread the word about the threatened cuts. (Folks who choose to do this, please let us know so we can boost! Tag us @roganslist.bsky.social on Bluesky, drop us a reply in the comments, or email us at roganslisttips@gmail.com.)
MEDICAID IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN DECORUM
Rep. Al Green (D-TX)’s protest to defend Medicaid at Trump’s congressional address continues to reverberate in the halls of Congress. Republicans are determined to silence those highlighting their threats to health care for 1 in 5 Americans, and last week voted to censure Rep. Green – with the support of 10 Democrats. But that isn’t enough for them. The House Freedom Caucus is planning to offer a resolution to strip Green of his committee assignments. Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) intends to force votes on a measure that would do the same to dozens of Democrats who “broke decorum” to sing “We Shall Overcome” and disrupt the reading of the censure resolution. And all the while, they continue to plot against Medicaid and lie to us about it. Let’s reach out to our members of Congress and tell them:
these efforts to silence dissent are outrageous and pathetic, and they need to vote them down and publicly oppose them.
Rep. Green is right, they have no mandate to attack Medicaid and we demand they act to stop the GOP plan to cut it.
if our reps are Democrats, let’s add that we support these efforts to fight back and our health care is more important than “decorum.” Let’s them know we appreciate those who protested the reading of the censure, and if they’re among the Democrats who backed punishing Rep. Green tell them we’re disappointed and angry with their votes.
#HANDSOFFHUD DAY OF ACTION TODAY
Amidst a national crisis in housing affordability, the Trump Administration seems bound and determined to make things worse for folks who are struggling. Musk is proposing gutting the Department of Housing and Urban Development, decimating its ability to help address housing issues. Affordable housing activists led by the National Low Income Housing Coalition are pushing back with a national day of action today, and they’re asking for our help. Let’s use their tool and talking points to contact our members of Congress to urge them to protect HUD programs and staff. We can also post on social media using the hashtag #HandsOffHUD, and if we’re part of a local, state or national organization ask our group to sign on to this national letter opposing cuts to HUD.
COMMUNITY IMPACT HEARINGS FOR FEDERAL WORKERS IMPACTED BY TRUMP-MUSK CUTS
Democratic attorneys general are holding a series of community impact hearings to receive testimony from those affected by Trump and Musk’s “DOGE” federal firings and funding freezes. Here’s a video of the first hearing held on March 6. Let’s participate in the Community Impact Hearing to be hosted by CO AG Phil Weiser, WA AG Nick Brown, and NV AG Aaron Ford on Wednesday, April 16, 2025. We can sign up for updates here. We can also reach out to our own state attorneys general or other elected officials we think would be interested in casting a spotlight on this problem and ask them to holding community hearings of their own.
STATE-SPECIFIC ACTIONS:
NH – GOP UNDERMINING VACCINES FOR ALL PROGRAM
As Texas cities see shortages of measles vaccines in the face of a growing epidemic, politicians in New Hampshire are continuing to push an antivax agenda. Last week a narrow majority in the House gave initial approval to HB 524, which would eliminate the New Hampshire Vaccine Association. The NHVA is a nonprofit that manages the fund through which the state purchases vaccines in bulk at a 30% discount, and then offers them to families at no cost – ensuring access to vaccines for all our kids, regardless of means or insurance status. Dissolving it would mean higher prices for vaccinations and fewer kids getting the protection they need, as insurance companies who currently pay into the fund would pass the added cost of each clinic or doctor’s office managing their own inventory on to patients. The bill is now headed to the House Ways & Means Committee. Let’s check out how our members voted, then reach out to our reps, our state senators and Governor Ayotte to tell them to reject this measure and work to strengthen our vaccine infrastructure instead of attacking it. We can also share this op-ed by local doctors with our networks to let folks know what’s happening.
KEEPING AN EYE ON…
Trump order aimed at abolishing Department of Education could come as soon as today
Solidarity sip-ins at non-union Starbucks continue through tomorrow
22 days until the April elections, here’s all the ways we can help win the Wisconsin Supreme Court and compete for House seats in Florida
Tesla Takedowns this weekend and every weekend, national day of action April 5th
Target Fast boycott in effect through April 17th, Latino Freeze boycotts on resegregation supporters continuing
FYI: The NH link about the op-ed by local doctors has an error code. ALSO. a big thank you for all you do!!!
Coming to grips with Russia’s agenda and their talking points. Those now emanate from the seat of U.S. power, the White House. Our President acts very suspiciously. Is he fully compromised? Things were clear in my mind, as I wrote in this post. I have little doubt. https://bit.ly/4heWKvb