Saturday, May 20th

(Adapted from The  Progress Report)

When every day brings new information about who is involved in this Russia web it can be hard to keep things straight. Luckily, our friends at The Moscow Project straightened things out for us. Read this complete timeline of who knew what about Russia and when. Key points: VP Mike Pence has a strange habit of claiming to only be aware of major issues when they become public; Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Speaker Ryan were briefed on Russia as early as summer 2015; and Rep. McCarthy—the one who said he thinks Putin pays Trump—had already seen reports on Russian hacking when he made that comment.

Action You Can Take Today

#ThinkingCAP. The first episode of the Center for American Progress’ podcast, Thinking CAP is live—and just in time for maybe the busiest news week of all time. On the first episode of Thinking CAP, Michele and Igor talk with Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) about the growing calls for impeaching President Donald Trump and Booker’s moving speech on Tuesday at CAP’s 2017 Ideas Conference. Also on is hear from Ben Wikler, Washington Director of MoveOn.org, who tells the story of MoveOn and online activism and shares how you can sustain the Resistance. Listen here and rate the podcast on iTunes to help other people find it!

Friday, May 19th

(Adapted from Rogan's List)

Pass the strawberries, hold the pesticides. (Photo: Creative Commons) - See more at: http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/2017/04/03/state-ag-commissioner-troxler-pleased-epas-ruling-allow-brain-damaging-pesticide-crops/#sthash.sHfyYQXN.dpuf

Chlorpyrifos is an insecticide that can harm children's brains and nervous systems has been banned for home uses.

On Monday, May 22nd, a new EPA rule (calling for stricter requirements for applying restricted-used pesticides, essentially the most dangerous ones that are still allowable) was supposed to go into effect. But a week ago, May 12, EPA head Scott Pruitt announced he would delay the new rule by at least a year.

The EPA only will allow the public to comment on Pruitt's decision through the end of today, instead of the normal 30-day public comment period.

Action You Can Take Now

Tell the EPA how you feel about pushing off this regulation by entering a comment in the Federal Register:  https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2017/05/15/2017-09386/pesticides-certification-of-pesticide-applicators-rule-extension-of-effective-date

It's not necessary to select a "government agency." You can write your name in the "Organization Name" field.

Tell the EPA that you care about how pesticides are regulated and want our children's health and the health of the planet protected.

The EPA has to approve the comments so you won't see yours posted immediately.

Thursday, May 18th

(Adapted from Rogan's List)

Yesterday, the Department of Justice took a step in the right direction by appointing former FBI Director Robert Mueller as special counsel to investigate Russian interference in the 2016 election and ties between Russia and the Trump administration. (Read more.)

Let’s thank Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein for taking this crisis seriously and doing the right thing.  We can reach him at:  U.S. Department of Justice, 950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20530-0001 or here:  https://www.justice.gov/doj/webform/your-message-department-justice

 Wednesday, May  17th

(Adapted from Rogan's List)

U.S. Capital Building, Washington D.C. (Photo via Creative Commons)

Action You Can Take Today

(aka Fun with Twitter)

• Here are some clickable tweets for us to use urging various senators to live up to their oath to protect our country from foreign threats:  https://medium.com/@CAPAction/call-on-senators-to-fulfillyouroath-cef957e25fb

 
If you're so inclined, there's more tweeting you can do, courtesy of #theresistancetweetsheets:

• Ready-to-go tweets for Trump discussing classified intel with the Russians:  https://resistancetweetsheets.wordpress.com/2017/05/15/emergency-tweetsheets-for-potus-discussing-classified-intel-wrussians/
  
  

If you don't tweet yet, you should try it out - it's fast and entertaining.  You can always adapt the ideas in the tweetsheet for Facebook or other social media.

Tuesday, May 16th

(Adapted from Rogan's List)

Trump continues to make his actions more and more indefensible, and the Republican leadership keeps defending him. Our voices rejecting this inaction must be heard loud, clear, and ceaselessly.

Action You Can Take Today

Write a postcard, fax, or call Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan. Contact info is below the letters.

Long form:

Dear _____,

I am an American citizen who loves our country. I am not sure what Donald Trump’s goal is, but the result of whatever he is doing is that he is offending reason, convention, ethics, respect for his constituents—and maybe even the law. Over the past week, he fired the person investigating him, lied about his reasons for the firing, admitted he did so because of the investigator’s lack of loyalty, and then threatened the subject of his actions on social media. As if that weren't enough, it turns out he also gave highly sensitive intelligence information to the Russians while they were in the Oval Office. I cannot express to you enough how concerned I am about his judgment, mental health and suitability for his role, and, more to the point, for the safety of the country in his hands.

Why do you continue to support him? From down here in regular Americaland, you look awfully bad—either more craven and greedy than can believed or profoundly clueless. And I know you’re not clueless.

Where is your humanity? Where is your love of country? Checks and balances only work if all three branches participate. Do your job. You are putting us all in danger.

Short form:

Dear _____,

I am an American citizen who loves our country. Over the past week, Donald Trump fired the person investigating him, lied about his reasons for the firing, admitted he did so because of the investigator’s lack of loyalty,  threatened the subject of his actions on social media, and gave highly sensitive intelligence information to the Russians while meeting with them in the Oval Office. I cannot express to you enough how concerned I am for the safety of the country in his hands.

Why do you continue to support him? Checks and balances only work if Congress participates. Do your job. You are putting us all in danger.

Tweet/quick postcard form:

Checks and balances only work if Congress participates. Do your job. You are putting us all in danger.

Contact info:

Mitch McConnell
317 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-2541 or (502) 582-6304 or (859) 224-8286 or (859) 578-0188 or (606) 864-2026
Fax: (202) 224-2499 – or use Resistbot

Paul Ryan
H-232 The Capitol
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-0600 or (608) 752-405 or (262) 654-1901 or (262) 637-0510
Fax: (202) 225-2012 or (608) 752-4711 or (262) 654-2156 or (262) 637-5689 – or use Resistbot