HEALTH, GUNS, ENVIRONMENT — AND VOTING!

My Fellow Resisters,

Starting this week, we will change our format and begin each Action Plan post with (STOP, LOOK, LISTEN), which provides suggestions for inspiring reading/watching/listening compiled by our own Kathy Sherretts. This will be followed by some recommended actions given by groups such as PAGE (Progressive Action Global Exchange), Indivisible, and Action Checklist for Americans of Conscience
 
We welcome your comments!

In solidarity,
Sage
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STOP, LOOK, LISTEN! by Kathy Sherretts

I got my Maine absentee ballot in the mail this week. If it hadn't come directly to my house I might not have been motivated to read up and vote in a local election—but as we now know, that's where politics starts. Does your home state have a special election or ballot referendum? Are you registered to vote in it? What about friends and family back home?

I debated whether to concentrate on environmental issues or travel scandals this week. As it turns out, I didn't have to choose.

Kathy Sherretts

Articles:
New York Times: EPA Chief's Calendar: Industry Meetings and Trips Home by Eric Lipton and Lisa Friedman

Since February E.P.A. chief Scott Pruitt has held meetings almost daily with top corporate executives and lobbyists from major economic sectors that he regulates — and almost no meetings with environmental groups or consumer or public health advocates. 

Los Angeles Times: Trump's Interior Chief 'hopping from campaign event to campaign event by Ben LeFebvre and Esther Whieldon

Ryan Zinke is under investigation over his use of taxpayer-funded private planes for trips that included GOP fundraisers.      

Podcast:
NPR, Fresh Air: NRA-Backed Gun Laws Have Found Success In State Legislatures Across The U.S (45 min)

What are the chances that meaningful gun laws will be enacted? Journalist Mike Spiers says it's all up to the NRA.

Graphic:
Washington Post: FEMA buried updates on Puerto Rico. Here they are. by Philip Bump  

The Federal Emergency Management Agency removed information from its website documenting how much of Puerto Rico still lacked power or access to drinking water, providing only positive information on numbers of federal workers and the extent of road clearance. WP provides a tool to track the status of repairs, updated hourly.
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Bonus Quiz:
Slate Magazine, The Vault: Guess whether these headlines came from Breitbart or a 1920s KKK Newspaper

​Priority Actions

• Unhack the vote: Fight against Hackable EVMs, Gerrymandering and Crosscheck. We have the right to vote. We have the right to have our vote counted correctly. Make sure you get your absentee balloting material on time, and/or help others to do so.

 

• Advocate for gun regulation.

 

• Speak out against the Trump administration’s infringement on women’s rights and healthcare, and for equality.Tell Bosses Women Deserve Birth Control No Matter Where They Work . Use and follow the hashtag on Twitter #handsoffmybc

 

• Promote ACA open enrollment, because the Trump administration won’t do it. Share on Facebook: Use this link in English and this link in Spanish.. Share on Twitter: Retweet this image.(from Jennifer Hofmann)

 

• Get corporate sponsors to #TakeAKnee.

 

• Oppose DHS’ proposed social media monitoring of immigrants and citizens.

 

• Tell Congress that needs to Reauthorize the Children’s Health Insurance Program

Extra actions

• Show your gratitude! Thank Sens. Patty Murray (D-WA) and Lamar Alexander (R-TN) for continuing to work collaboratively on a bipartisan solution to shore up ACA.



• Support the Save the Arctic campaign to help fund Greenpeace Norway and Nature and Youth's climate lawsuit heading to the Oslo District Court this November!