The Russian invasion of Ukraine underscores our excessive dependence on fossil fuels, leaving us at the mercy of both oil producing nations, many ruled by unsavory strong men, and giant transnational oil companies that are engaging in price gouging at the expense of the American public. We must oppose GOP calls to increase oil production, which would have devastating environmental effects.

The fiction of the “US-funded bioweapons labs in Ukraine” reveals how Putin’s lies are promoted as fact by US conservatives. Tucker Carlson (whose show is pushed to Russian media by the Kremlin) touted this piece of Russian propaganda on Fox.. Even after the story was revealed as a hoax, Tucker declared the lie “totally and completely true.” Officials are now worried the lie was a pretext for Russia to launch its own chemical or biological attack on Ukraine.

The radical Republicans’ war on democracy has come down to a battle over the ballot box. Their goal is to flatten the Black and Brown vote and ensure that white men control history, women’s bodies, and more. If you hold democracy dear, fight for the reintroduction and passage of the transformative Freedom to Vote Act. Fight like hell. Fight like Ukrainians. After all, America’s democracy inspired them.

The sanctions locked up over $600 billion that Russia had parked in foreign banks, and they have stopped Russia from using the dollar, the Euro, and the SWIFT foreign payment system–all making international sales or purchases challenging. This will likely cause energy prices here to soar. Nevertheless, Biden has brilliantly directed the financial war.

We are living through historic events. Remember when we thought Trump’s election was a disaster? Then a pandemic. Then the sacking of the Capitol. Now, Ukraine. This week, Indivisible Oregon’s Daily Actions sorted through events with two DAs on Ukraine: DEMOCRACY’S BATTLEGROUND on Tuesday, and UKRAINE IS FIGHTING FOR ALL OF US Wednesday. Then Biden has nominated a former public defender, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, who we believe will be A SUPREME COURT JUSTICE FOR US ALL. Check out the DAs.

For decades, Putin has been fighting a shadow war to divide and destabilize free nations. In the US, his efforts have radicalized fringe Republicans. The Putin Republicans are successfully dismantling democracy’s most fundamental right, the right to vote, in many states. Before he attacked Ukraine, citizens there had rejected a Russian puppet and elected a comedian who has become democracy’s hero.

Even as Europe careens into war, we still need to press our Members of Congress to move forward on progressive legislation and to sharpen and regularly repeat their midterm message–outlining Democratic successes in terms the electorate understands and clearly painting the massive differences between them and obstructionist Republicans. So, keep calling your MoCs using this week’s Daily Action scripts.

And, since the Senate will vote Monday on The Women’s Health Protection Act (S.1975) that safeguards abortion nationwide, demand they support this legislation too.

Putin’s invasion of Ukraine starkly demonstrates the conflict between democracy and dictatorship. Biden has committed the US to protecting democracy, and Americans must stand behind him. We must continue to do so, even if, as Biden has warned, protecting Ukraine’s fragile democracy will likely come with a cost at home.

Democrats need to present our accomplishments and strengths more clearly than we have in the past. So too, our Members of Congress must speak to successes and party unity rather than allow the GOP to control the discourse and define us.

Companies are making record profits because they are charging more, a lot more. Tyson, for example, jumped its meat prices 31.7% in one year. The sticker prices leading to eye–popping profits are set far beyond increases in the inflated cost of labor and materials.