Trump's out of office, but DeJoy's still running the Postal Service to the ground. That changes now

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Monday May 15, 2023 · 10:00 AM PDT

2023/05/15 · 10:00

WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 24: Rep. Katie Porter (D-CA), remotely questions U.S. Postal Service Postmaster General Louis DeJoy during a hearing before the House Oversight and Reform Committee on August 24, 2020 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. The committee is holding a hearing on "Protecting the Timely Delivery of Mail, Medicine, and Mail-in Ballots." (Photo by Tom Williams-Pool/Getty Images)

Donald Trump may be out of office (and facing a host of legal troubles), but his devastating legacy lives on. Almost three years after Trump appointed Louis DeJoy as U.S. Postmaster General, the wealthy Republican donor's plans to privatize the Postal Service are in full force.

That's because the U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors—the only entity that can actually fire DeJoy—has not replaced him. But two of the current members' terms have expired, and President Joe Biden can nominate replacements who would flip the board of governors' current pro-DeJoy majority.

Sign and send the petition to President Joe Biden: Appoint two new USPS governors who are committed to ending Louis DeJoy's reign of privatization.

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Thursday May 11, 2023 · 10:00 AM PDT

2023/05/11 · 10:00

no image description available — Reps. George Santos and Marjorie Taylor Greene.

On May 9, the U.S. Justice Department charged Republican Rep. George Santos of New York with seven counts of wire fraud, three counts of money laundering, one count of stealing public funds, and two counts of lying to Congress.

But this is not really about George Santos—a corrupt and pathetic liar who already relinquished his committee assignments. It is about House Republican leaders who desperately need his vote to pass their agenda, and are standing in the way of the most obvious and efficient solution: expelling Santos from the House of Representatives.

Sign and send the petition to your member of Congress: Expel George Santos.

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Thursday May 04, 2023 · 6:00 AM PDT

2023/05/04 · 06:00

Campaign Action

It's the point of no return. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen says the U.S. government may run out of "extraordinary measures" by June 1 to pay off its existing debts, at which point we would face an unprecedented fiscal calamity. Now is not the time to play politics. However, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy—under the control of MAGA extremists—pushed through an extreme ransom note that would make children poorer, veterans sicker, families hungrier, and would likely trigger a deep recession.

Further, in exchange for all this, Republicans only offer to extend the debt limit by less than a year, at which time they can attempt to extract more concessions. Fortunately, there is a way out of this mess that doesn't involve Kevin McCarthy—or even most Republicans.

House Democrats are collecting signatures for a discharge petition that would allow a clean increase to the debt limit to receive a floor vote, no matter what Kevin McCarthy thinks. This strategy was quietly prepared months ago to overcome procedural obstacles, and is now ready. It's our job to help pressure members of Congress to get on board.

We need all House Democrats and just five Republicans who are willing to bring a clean funding bill to a floor vote. It won't be easy getting those five votes, but 18 House Republicans represent districts that voted for President Joe Biden. Their constituents do not support eviscerating food stamps, nor do they support an economic meltdown.

Sign and send the petition to your members of Congress: Support the discharge petition to bring a clean funding bill to the House floor before June 1st.

The 18 House Republicans whose constituents voted for Joe Biden in 2020 are: David Schweikert (AZ-01), Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06), John Duarte (CA-13), David Valadao (CA-22), Mike Garcia (CA-27), Young Kim (CA-40), Michelle Steel (CA-45), Don Bacon (NE-02), Tom Kean Jr. (NJ-07), Nick LaLota (NY-01), George Santos (NY-03), Anthony D'Esposito (NY-04), Mike Lawler (NY-17), Marc Molinaro (NY-19), Brandon Williams (NY-22), Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), and Jen Kiggans (VA-02).

Elizabeth Warren warned us about rolling back Dodd-Frank. Now, a third bank fails in two months

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Tuesday May 02, 2023 · 5:10 PM PDT

2023/05/02 · 17:10

Earlier this week, First Republic Bank failed. Federal regulators seized its assets and promptly sold most of it to financial behemoth JPMorgan Chase & Co. It was the second largest bank failure in U.S. history, and the third such bank to collapse in two months after Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank in March.

What did these three banks have in common? They all benefited from a 2018 weakening of the Dodd-Frank Act, which loosened oversight and regulation of midsized banks that then allowed executives to recklessly gamble with our money. Elizabeth Warren warned us this would happen, and it did. Now Congress must take action.

Sign and send the petition to Congress: Banks cannot gamble with our money. Bring back tougher regulations. Pass the Secure Viable Banking Act.

Paul Hogarth for Daily Kos Activism

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Tuesday April 25, 2023 · 2:00 PM PDT

2023/04/25 · 14:00

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) attends at a news conference with fellow House Republicans at the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2022 in Washington, DC. The news conference focused on critiques of President Joe Bidens first year in office. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

As the United States creeps closer to financial calamity, Barely Speaker Kevin McCarthy is rallying House Republicans this week to pass his extreme "debt-limit" bill. It will be heard in committee today, with a possible floor vote later in the week.

McCarthy's extortion would cut $4.5 trillion out of the budget—decimating food stamps, Medicaid, green energy programs, and ousting President Biden's student loan forgiveness plans. Experts say it would cost 2.6 million jobs, and lead us into a recession. All to extend the debt ceiling to March 2024, so that Republicans can repeat this game in an election year—demanding policy objectives they could never achieve otherwise.

Of course, McCarthy's salvo is so inhumane that it would never pass a Democratic Senate or get White House approval. But that's not what this week's vote is really about. McCarthy wants to prove he can pass something with 218 House votes, in order to force concessions. And that's the scary part, because the full faith and credit of the United States is not up for negotiation: only a clean funding bill is acceptable.

Sign and send the petition to your member of Congress: No cruel, unconscionable cuts. We must pass a clean funding bill to extend the debt limit immediately.

Paul Hogarth for Daily Kos Activism

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Friday April 21, 2023 · 10:00 AM PDT

2023/04/21 · 10:00

Nancy G. Abudu, nominee to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Eleventh Circuit, testifies during her Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing on judicial nominations in Dirksen Building on Wednesday, April 27, 2022. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call via AP Images) — Civil rights lawyer Nancy Abudu was nominated in 2022 by President Joe Biden to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. Her Senate confirmation sits in limbo due to Republican obstruction. It is time for Senate Democrats to fight for her and other great nominees.

For the umpteenth time, Senate Democrats place civility over reality while Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell steamrolls them every step of the way. And with scores of judicial nominations at stake, we cannot have the GOP Senate minority obstruct our needed progress.

When Donald Trump was president and Republicans held the Senate, they got 234 federal judges confirmed—including three Supreme Court justices. Trump may have lost reelection in 2020, but his judicial appointees are still on the bench, voting to overrule Roe v. Wade and blocking an abortion pill that is safer than Tylenol.

We must counteract this by confirming President Joe Biden’s judges—and for a while, things were going well.

Despite a precarious 50-50 Senate majority during his first two years, Biden had (as of February) 105 confirmed judicial appointments. These judges have brought much-needed diversity to the bench, helping to create a judicial system that looks more like America. But now that pace has slowed to a grinding halt—and prospects are not looking good.

Sign the petition: The Senate must cancel August recess to focus on confirming judges.

Paul Hogarth for Daily Kos Activism

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Monday April 17, 2023 · 10:00 AM PDT

2023/04/17 · 10:00

As elected members of the Tennessee House, Reps. Justin Jones, Justin Pearson, and Gloria Johnson did what their constituents wanted them to do: Speak out on the tragedy of gun violence, and demand that their colleagues take meaningful action. But as we have seen across the country from Republicans enthralled by the gun lobby, Republican Tennessee legislators will not fix it. Their only response to the March 27 Covenant School shooting was to introduce legislation that would arm teachers with guns.

So on March 30, the Tennessee Three joined in solidarity with teachers and students who came to the state capitol to protest. As a result, the House Republicans moved to expel them. Despite all three lawmakers participating in this action, only Jones and Pearson—who are Black men—were expelled, while Johnson’s expulsion vote failed.

This action denied thousands of Tennesseans a voice in the legislature and is only the third time since the Civil War that Tennessee legislators have been expelled—with the prior reasons being serious criminal or ethical charges (bribery and sexual harassment). Now that their respective county commissions have unanimously reappointed Jones and Pearson, it is time to hold the GOP accountable for this illegal and unconstitutional move.

Sign the petition to the U.S. Department of Justice: Investigate the expulsion of Reps. Justin Jones and Justin Pearson for constitutional violations and breaking federal law.

Paul Hogarth for Daily Kos Activism

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Wednesday April 05, 2023 · 12:40 PM PDT

2023/04/05 · 12:40

Wisconsin Supreme Court candidates Republican-backed Dan Kelly and Democratic-supported Janet Protasiewicz participate in a debate Tuesday, March 21, 2023, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash) — Judge Janet Protasiewicz decisively beat conservative Dan Kelly by a 55-45 margin to flip the Wisconsin Supreme Court's conservative majority. This will be the first time in 15 years that Wisconsin Republicans can no longer rely on the Court to uphold their gerrymanders.

Tuesday night, Wisconsin voters took back their democracy. They flipped control of the state Supreme Court with Janet Protasiewicz's 10-point victory over conservative Dan Kelly. Now, Wisconsonians can defend abortion rights, unrig the most partisan maps in the country, stop voter suppression, and defend the 2024 presidential election results.

We saw what happened in Michigan after we ended GOP gerrymandering, and now it can happen in Wisconsin.

Paul Hogarth for Daily Kos Activism

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Friday March 31, 2023 · 10:00 AM PDT

2023/03/31 · 10:00

What if we told you that just an hour of talking to voters and getting them to vote can end the Republican reign of terror in a key battleground state? As Politico reported, Tuesday's Wisconsin election could have a "domino effect" on abortion rights, the Republican House majority—and maybe the 2024 presidential election.

Rarely has such a low-profile judicial election been so consequential. And with the election being in April of an off-year, every single effort to get Democrats out to vote will matter. One conversation that you have with a Wisconsin voter can determine if they vote or not.

Click to make phone calls with Wisconsin Democrats to reach voters between now and Tuesday.

Looking for other opportunities? Many progressive groups are doing phone banks, canvassing, and more to reach Wisconsin voters between now and Tuesday.

Paul Hogarth for Daily Kos Activism

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Thursday March 30, 2023 · 10:00 AM PDT

2023/03/30 · 10:00

It has been 20 years since George W. Bush lied us into war with Iraq. And it has been three decades since we fought Saddam Hussein for invading Kuwait. But incredibly, the authorized use of military force (AUMF) resolutions that Congress passed at the time are still on the books. These vague resolutions gave the president expansive authority, and can be recklessly used again with no accountability. That could change soon.

On March 29, the U.S. Senate voted 66-30 to repeal the 2002 AUMF in Iraq and the 1991 Gulf War resolution, and it now heads to the House. President Joe Biden has said he will sign it into law. Now, we must make our voices heard and have the House pass the bill.

RELATED STORY: The Senate is finally ready, mostly, to admit the nation’s 20-year-old mistake in Iraq

Sign and send the petition to your member of Congress: It’s time to close the door on endless war. We must repeal the 1991 and 2002 AUMF resolutions now.

Paul Hogarth for Daily Kos Activism

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Friday March 24, 2023 · 6:15 AM PDT

2023/03/24 · 06:15

Fox News is not a legitimate organization in any way, shape, or form. But every time Democrats appear on the network to answer bad-faith, loaded questions, they acknowledge its credibility as a news organization to the audience.

We've always known that Fox is a GOP fanfiction factory, but now with the Dominion lawsuit, there is undeniable proof.

Sign the petition: Democratic politicians and pundits must boycott Fox News.

Paul Hogarth for Daily Kos Activism

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Thursday March 23, 2023 · 10:00 AM PDT

2023/03/23 · 10:00

WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 19: U.S. Rep. Katie Porter (D-CA) speaks as other House Democrats listen during an event at the Rayburn Room of the U.S. Capitol December 19, 2019 in Washington, DC. House Democrats held an event celebrating the "legislative progress the House Democratic Majority has made For The People in 2019.â€ (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) — Democratic Rep. Katie Porter of California and Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts have introduced the Secure Viable Banking Act that would have prevented the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank & Signature Bank. This would restore the basic Dodd-Frank protections that Congress undid in 2018.

In 2018, Congress rolled back parts of the Dodd-Frank law that protected consumers from banks gambling with our money. Two banks that directly benefited from the reduced oversight were Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank. We all know what happened next.

How we got into this mess five years ago is a textbook example of everything that goes wrong in Washington. As the Associated Press analysis recently reported:

The rollback was leveraged with a lobbying campaign that cost tens of millions of dollars that drew an army of hundreds of lobbyists and it was seeded with ample campaign contributions.

The episode offers a fresh reminder of the power that bankers wield in Washington, where the industry spends prodigiously to fight regulation and often hires former members of Congress and their staff to make the case that they are not a source of risk to the economy.

Sign and send the petition: Banks cannot gamble with our money. Bring back tougher regulations by passing Sen. Warren and Rep. Porter's Secure Viable Banking Act.

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Trump's out of office, but DeJoy's still running the Postal Service to the ground. That changes now

Sign if you agree: George Santos cannot remain in the House to serve the GOP agenda

We face default on June 1. Pass a discharge petition to raise the debt limit NOW

Elizabeth Warren warned us about rolling back Dodd-Frank. Now, a third bank fails in two months

Ruin Kevin McCarthy's week. Tell your member of Congress to pass a clean funding bill

Senate Democrats should be playing hardball: Cancel August recess to confirm judges

By expelling two Black lawmakers, Tennessee Republicans may have broken the law. Time to investigate

Daily Kos helped make a Democratic victory in Wisconsin possible. Onward to 2024!

End the GOP reign of terror in Wisconsin: GOTV for Tuesday's election

Sign the petition: Only Congress can decide if the U.S. goes to war. Time to repeal Iraq AUMFs

Sign the petition: Democrats must stop appearing on Fox. Full stop

Congress made a big mistake in 2018 in deregulating Silicon Valley Bank. Now, we can undo the damage