March 21, 2025 - 11 Days to Wisconsin
Standing with teachers, farmers, Wisconsin, Canada, and anyone who buys food this weekend
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!
TRUMP MAKES IT OFFICIAL: THEY ARE GOING AFTER THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Yesterday, Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at realizing the longstanding Republican dream of eliminating the Department of Education and funneling more money to corporate schools.
Dismantling the department would impact Title I funding for low-income school districts, Individuals With Disabilities Act (IDEA) funding to support students with disabilities, anti-discrimination protections offered by the Department’s Office for Civil Rights, oversight for for-profit universities and the administration of federal student loans. Even if these programs are ultimately shifted elsewhere, there will be plenty of chaos and ultimately less resources, less accountability, and less support making it to the kids who really need it – and we may be looking at massive cuts to federal aid for schools portrayed as “block grants.” The costs for America’s public school kids would be devastating, especially those in low-income communities and those with disabilities – reduced help for the most vulnerable, bigger classes, teacher layoffs. There are also serious concerns about whether or not students will be able to access financial aid next year if Trump and company continue their war.
Let’s make sure we’re getting updates from the National Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers, who will be leading the fight to protect our kids. Let’s also contact our members of Congress and ask them to:
Use all procedural tools available to slow Congress until the attack on the Department of Education stops - we can use this resource from the NEA to see how much our state stands to lose if Trump gets his way to help make our case
Do media events with teachers and students who will be hardest hit by eliminating the department in their own districts and those of their Republican colleagues, making the positive case for the department
Demand a floor vote in both the House and Senate on eliminating the department – so no member of Congress can escape accountability for it
REINSTATE LOCAL FOOD INITIATIVES
Last week, the USDA cancelled the Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program, a popular effort that provided grants for states to purchase food from local farms for schools and child-care facilities. Not only was this a means of assuring that children had access to healthy food, it was a boon to local farmers from the 42 states, both red and blue, that participated. Now they’ve followed up by cancelling hundreds of millions of dollars worth of deliveries to food banks through the Emergency Food Assistance Program without explanation. The effect of these decisions are being exacerbated by other federal cuts to programs that impacted farmers, and the increasing expense of groceries that Trump promised to curb on Day 1 in part thanks to his tariffs. Several Senate Democrats have written to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins asking her to reinstate the local food program. Now let's educate all our MoCs, Republicans and Democrats on why both these efforts are important and why they should join calls to reverse the cuts.
ALL EYES ARE ON WISCONSIN - INCLUDING TRUMP’S
Donald Trump Jr told Republicans “the presidency can be put to a halt” if Democratic Judge Susan Crawford beats former Republican state attorney general Brad Schimel for the swing seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court. The DNC is making its earliest-ever new election cycle investment in this race. Total spending is on track to reach $100 million dollars – including $20 million by Elon Musk-backed groups alone, who are paying people $100 each just to sign a petition. This is the last weekend before GOTV, and we all have the reminders we need of what’s at stake. Let’s check out all the ways we can volunteer here, sign up for a shift and share the doc with others who might be interested in making sure Republicans don’t take the majority.
SUPPORT COMPANIES IN OUR ALLY COUNTRIES
In response to Trump’s resegregation efforts and the tariffs that are ruining the U.S. economy and destabilizing other countries, Americans and folks through the nations Trump is targeting are wielding their power with boycotts. Among others, Tesla and Target are feeling the consumer heat. Let's support these movements by switching to non-U.S. services and finding phone apps that align our purchases with our political preferences – such as the new Buy Canadian app or Goods Unite Us. And to make it clear they’re suffering brand damage, we can follow up with calls and emails to customer service departments saying what competitor brand we’re switching to and why. We can also check Choose Democracy’s Boycott Central database to see what other boycotts are active and how well designed they are! (h/t Chris Tachibana)
30 LONELY BUT BEAUTIFUL ACTIONS - HONEST CONVERSATIONS, PART #2 (Via )
We’re continuing to highlight a series of actions from Barnraisers Project founder
on small ways to stay grounded and help others – helping everyone find something to fit our comfort level. Next on the list, another way to encourage honest conversations… and pressure our elected officials:We can put up a little table outside of a grocery store with a sign that says, “Have your grocery bills come down? Why not?” When people come to talk to us, we can give them instructions on how to call their congresspeople right now. Conservatives have long done exactly this sort of thing, and it’s been a big reason why they won some of their largest victories. (We may be asked to leave – we can do so politely and set up at another store.)
STATE-SPECIFIC ACTIONS
CA – MARCH FOR IMMIGRANT RIGHTS ON CESAR CHAVEZ DAY
The immigrants Donald Trump is attacking are our family, our friends, and our neighbors. They are also the people who care for our elders, build our homes and grow our food. They are workers, a part of the backbone of our economy, and the labor movement is showing solidarity with them. To mark Cesar Chavez Day, the United Farm Workers and thousands of union members from across California are gathering in Delano on March 31st for a march for immigrant rights. Let’s consider joining them – we can learn more and RSVP here. We can also donate to help cover expenses for organizing the event here.
KEEPING AN EYE ON…
Tesla Takedowns this weekend and every weekend - 500 Protest Saturday March 29th
Hands Off National Day of Action April 5th, find a protest near you here or organize one here
Target Fast boycott in effect through April 17th, Latino Freeze boycotts on resegregation supporters continuing
Continue to push leaders to fight on Trump’s defiance of the courts
Join the federal workers #SaveOurServices rapid response network here
Fraud on the American people runs rampant. The courts are now intervening. We tha people are the 5th estate that must back up the courts. DOGE has cost us taxpayers $ billions already. We the people pay the bills here. I hear the world’s wealthiest person, not a tax payer, whining about suffering equitably from the anger that he in fact caused. I wish him neither the pain, nor the stain. One does not easily shake off international disgust. Musk will need to change his stripes and become the giver, not the taker. This is his call.
https://hotbuttons.substack.com/p/musk-whines-poor-poor-pitiful-me?r=3m1bs