Action Items 1/16/24

* "US program collecting a vast library of DNA from BP and HSA stops:" https://amaebi.dreamwidth.org/2552605.html

How to contact the Whitehouse: https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/

* "Republicans move to repeal law that saves older Americans billions in health care costs: Pennsylvania Republican Rep. Scott Perry is cosponsoring a bill to repeal the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.:" https://pennsylvaniaindependent.com/politics/republicans-health-care-costs-inflation-reduction-act-repeal-scott-perry/

* "U.S. House approves legislation to deport undocumented immigrants charged with minor crimes:" https://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/07/congress-bill-deportation-undocumented-crimes/

"Charged with" means that police can arrest anyone brown and get them deported without due process. Just getting arrested for any reason no matter how bullshit is enough.

The states suing the Feds part is expensive and dangerous.

This is scary police state stuff.

"Even though studies show that recent immigrants in the United States commit crimes at a lower rate than U.S.-born citizens, Riley’s murder became a rallying cry for conservative lawmakers to adopt stricter immigration laws."

* "Legal expert says the bipartisan Laken Riley Act is unjust, wasteful and a Trojan horse:" https://www.npr.org/2025/01/11/nx-s1-5254134/legal-expert-says-the-bipartisan-laken-riley-act-is-unjust-wasteful-and-a-trojan-horse

It is going to the Senate now.

Please contact your senate critters.

For Democrats, I suggest targeting the racial profiling/due process angle and the sue the Feds if any immigrant does a crime ever angle., but you know your critters better than I do, so if you can tailor to their interests, do.

Anyone have suggestions for Republican critters? Write it up in the reblog so I can publicize it.

* Please contact your senators and ask them to reject dangerous and unqualified cabinet picks. I don't have a lot of hope at this point, but better to fight than roll belly up. I am leaving the early in the week ones in, as these are the committee hearings. They still need full senate Votes.

Usually they just log for or against. If they want a reason, I've listed some below. Use reason for Democrats. For Republicans: Stress military readiness, national security, and the integrity and morale of the military, law and order, etc..

All of these are terrible. Complain about whatever you have energy for (most important bolded):

* TUESDAY:
Pete Hegseth is one of the first ones, set for a Tuesday Hearing. (Allegedly a rapist and an alleged alcoholic who ran two small veteran's charities into the ground with alleged financial mismanagement and is on the record about purging women, queer folk and anyone with ethics from the military, and limiting soldiers of color to the lowest ranks for racist reasons.) He has less management experience than the person managing your local dairy Queen. He's dangerous and incompetent. FIGHT THIS.

(The other two are cancelled because Trump's transition didn't bother to file all their paperwork.)

* Wednesday:
Pam Bondi is an election denier and a Trump over the law loyalist who is expected to weaponize the federal justice system against anyone trump doesn't like.

Here is a Rachel Maddow piece full of disqualifying things: "Five things to know about Trump's (second) pick for attorney general:" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/rachel-maddow-on-pam-bondi-five-things-to-know-about-trump-s-second-pick-for-attorney-general-229011013866

Sean Duffy has massive conflicts of interests and should not be in charge of Transportation.

John Ratcliffe was in the first Trump Administration. There are questions about his qualifications and he's an extreme Trump loyalist with plans to fuck up our intelligence agencies.

Here's more: "The Rise of John Ratcliffe: A partisan loyalist with a history of politicizing intelligence will soon be running the CIA:" https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2025/01/ratcliffe-dni-cia-trump/681197/

Chris Wright is a real danger in the Energy Department. He is all in on fossil fuels, wants to destroy the environment and accelerate the climate crisis for profit. He has serious conflicts of interest.

Russell Vought is one of the authors of Project 2025.

Marco Rubio's going to sail through as people like Fetterman are backing him. Don't waste your energy.

* THURSDAY:
Scott Turner is tapped for Housing and Urban Development and is against helping the poor, which is an obvious problem.

"Trump’s Pick to Lead Federal Housing Agency Has Opposed Efforts to Aid the Poor:" https://www.propublica.org/article/scott-turner-hud-nominee-trump-public-housing-texas

Lee Zeldin, who is opposed to environmental protection and fighting the climate crisis, being in the pocket of Big Oil, will be disastrous in the Environmental Protection Agency.

"Trump’s EPA Pick Has Been Writing Op-Eds on Behalf of Secret Clients: Former Rep. Lee Zeldin, who says he’ll pursue “energy dominance” at the EPA, authored paid commentaries without disclosing who paid for them:" https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/lee-zeldin-trump-epa-op-eds-1235233073/

Doug Burgum's hearing is postponed: see Republican laziness about paperwork and opposition to even basic vetting.

Scott Bessent is normal republican terrible instead of Trump level disastrous as far as I can tell, so likely not worth the energy to fight.

* FRIDAY:

Kristi Noem is allegedly corrupt and massively mismanaged her state.

* Kash Patel, Tulsi Gabbard and RFK Jr., aren't scheduled yet. This week, it's best to focus on the ones who are.

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Have something you want to tell your Congress Critters? If you can't safely contact them in person, here are some other options:

Call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to be connected to the representative of your choice.

Here is one that will send your reps a fax: https://resist.bot/

To get your Critters' numbers to call direct: https://www.congress.gov/members/find-your-member

Five Calls to your critters: https://5calls.org/