“Poverty is a policy choice,” says Sen. Wyden. In a sense, so is extraordinary wealth. Wyden, chair of the Senate Finance Committee, and Rep. Blumenauer on the House Ways and Means Committee, can help correct both with the Billionaire’s Tax. It would help restore fairness in the tax code, and fairness is a democratic value worth fighting for.

Although we have not yet protected our freedom to vote and President Biden’s domestic agenda has stalled for the moment, now is not the time for despair. President Biden’s chance to appoint a progressive black woman to the Supreme Court is a cause for celebration. It is also time for us to begin gearing up for the 2022 midterm elections. The GOP’s attempts to keep us from voting will be met with increased activities, so be sure to check out our Action 3 for suggestions on how you can get involved. Given the uncertainties of the moment, it is more important than ever to keep reminding our Members of Congress that they need to keep fighting for us.

Biden’s question “What are Republicans for?” sent political journalists scurrying for answers. They found zilch. ”(S)tanding for nothing is not a long-term survival strategy for a party that has managed to win the popular vote in only one presidential election since 1988.” Karen Tumulty, WaPo (1/23). So, to hold power, they have to change how our government is chosen.

Two days ago all 50 Senate Republicans and 2 Democrats refused to modify the filibuster and allow a vote on pending voting rights legislation. Afterwards, Senator Warnock stressed that, despite this major loss, “we cannot turn away. This will not be the last opportunity we get to fight for voting rights. We will meet the moment again, to try again. And again. Until we succeed”—making it more important than ever to keep reminding our Members of Congress that they cannot give up this fight.

The January 6 Commission, the Justice Department, and others are finding damning evidence of government officials and some candidates who aided the Trump coup attempt. The 14th Amendment’s Disqualification Clause prohibits people who’ve engaged in an insurrection against the United States from running for public office. Let’s use it.

Senate Republicans and at least two Democrats are reportedly ready to kill voter protection laws. Denying the vote to people who would vote against them is part of the Republican war on our government. If the bills do indeed fail, it will deliver hard but essential lessons for the fight ahead.

We are experiencing many of the same problems as those countries whose democratic institutions are withering away or have died. We must impress on Congress and President Biden the need to act quickly and decisively to reverse our slide into authoritarianism before it is too late.

Democrats will be using a bicameral bill about NASA also containing the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, that passed the House yesterday, to begin debating these voting rights acts with only a simple majority.

The first debate this Congresswill begin next week, culminating in a motion to end debate, which Republicans will filibuster. Dems will then try to modify the filibuster to allow for an up-or-down vote.

This is the closest to passage we’ve come, making it imperative that we continue calling.

Democrat Joe Manchin is certainly not working for his voters. And in state after state, people of goodwill will find it impossible to get elected because the MAGA mobs have used the “Big Lie” to get GOP legislatures to pass laws to decide who can vote and who can win. We can negate these laws with Senate passage of pending voting rights legislation.

States have enacted 33 laws designed to block likely Democrats from the ballot box. Biden is pulling all levers of his office to override these laws. Also, Senate Leader Schumer has pledged to defang the Republican nuke, the filibuster loophole, allowing votes on two bills to protect the will of the majority through fair elections.

On the anniversary of the January 6 insurrection President Biden acknowledged our democracy’s in peril and called for Senate action on voting rights. Senators Wyden and Merkley also spoke forcefully of the urgent need to pass these bills, which Majority Leader Schumer’s again vowed to bring up for a Senate vote. To ensure this happens, we must keep calling daily.

Protecting our democracy also requires removal of those members who assisted the insurrection.

The MAGA militants, including many leading Republicans, are waging a slow-motion war against our country, weaponizing lies about vaccines and elections, inciting right-wing violence, and attacking our elections and even school boards, so they can rule for the wealthy and powerful few. You can help stop them.