Daily Dems Doing the Work, Making Noise and Fighting Back Day 246
Now THESE stories should be viral.
Today is just confusing, because two of these stories absolutely should have gotten attention. They’re flashy, they’re shocking, and I bet you haven’t heard a single word about them.
Intrigued?
Repping the Rep-elect: Adelita Grijalva (AZ-07)
Is not yet a member of Congress. But if that doesn’t change by the end of this week, that’s a problem. She was elected during recess, and a Jewish Holiday, at that, so, the problem isn’t that she’s not sworn in yet. The problem arises if after tomorrow, when recess should be over, she still isn’t sworn in.
So, I’m highlighting her all week, because we need to talk about her and keep talking about her till Johnson feels there’s too much attention on him and he finally swears her in. I hope to god that happens this week.
Some of the stories will be about her upcoming swearing in, this one isn’t.
She attended the 35th anniversary of Jobs with Justice Arizona. They do a lot of work with unions, faith leaders and community organizers for workers rights.
I had never heard of the organization till I saw this video yesterday, but I’m glad I know about it now.
I love that even though she’s not sworn in, she’s still fighting for and supporting her district, which is her MO. This is why she was elected, after all.
Rep Maxine Waters (CA-43)
Joined Civil Rights icon, Delores Huerta and civil rights lawyers, Luis Carrillo and Christian Contreras at a press conference announcing their petition to the UN for an investigation into human rights violations concerning the treatment of immigrants in the US.
Rep Waters said:
Let me be plain. We cannot rely on this administration to police itself. When peaceful dissent is met with intimidation, when people are targeted because of how they look, or the language they speak, the government is absolutely failing in their most basic duty. As a member of congress, I have a constitutional oversight responsibility.
She goes on to say:
I’ve joined my colleagues in multiple letters to the DHS. Including a FOIA request, to support letters to DHS secretary Kristy Noem on Jan 25, 2025, seeking records on raids and enforcement action in and around LA, since Jan 20th. DHS has provided only cursory responses, and continues to withhold any substantial information we requested, stonewalling congress does not build trust, it deepens the crisis of confidence. This is why I support the urgent petition to the United Nations Human Rights Council. The UN petition process exists for when patterns of serious, reliable. attested violations occur. It allows independent experts to press governments for answers, to urge immediate safeguard and to keep situations under review. It does not replace US oversight, it reinforces it.
Sorry if that quote is a little long, but it’s too important to cut too much from. I mean I could cut the beginning of the second quote, but I think it really shows the importance of the “strongly worded letters” everyone hates. And proves that it’s never JUST the letters, they’re one tool in the toolbox.
Honestly, I’m speechless. I’m angry that I only know about this because I follow ABC7 on Threads. I’m angry Rep Water’s staff didn’t think this was worthy of plastering all over social media, in fact, it started out in my Three Wins, because all I knew about it was Dolores Huerta’s involvement. I’m angry that I don’t think it’s because of whatever Trump did today that you don’t know about it, I think even massive stories like this are too positive to get any attention.
And that fucking sucks.
You can read the full petition here. Yes, I know this is a change.org, but this is the only place you can find the full petition, and this was set up by Contreras, so yes it is legit.
Rep Frank Pallone (NJ-06)
As Ranking Member on the Energy and Commerce Committee, along with Health Subcommittee Ranking Member, Diana Degette (CO-01) and Oversight and Investigation Subcommittee Ranking Member, Yvette Clarke (NY-09) sent a letter to RFK Jr. demanding access to the recording of his meeting to fire former CDC director, Susan Monarez.
Does the recording exist? we don’t know for sure, but we do know that Senator Markwayne Mullin was bragging about having seen it at the recent hearing:
Senator Markwayne Mullin claimed that a meeting between you and then-Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Dr. Susan Monarez, was “a recorded meeting.”1 Senator Mullin repeatedly attacked Dr. Monarez’s credibility claiming that he knew “how that conversation went” and that Dr. Monarez was not being honest.
After claiming that a meeting was recorded, Senator Mullin later claimed to the press that there was not a recording.
I chose this story because it gives yet another reason that the letters are so important. It’s not just about a paper trail, it’s also a way to announce something to the public. Not that the public heard about his. Why? I wish I knew. I mean, you’d think this story would be a big deal, but I guess Trump invading yet another city gets top billing again.
Part of the “flood the zone” strategy is to keep us in despair and feeling like our Dems aren’t doing anything. They can’t do what they’re doing if we have collective hope, and seeing our Dems fight back does just that.
Looking forward to what comes next with this letter. I really hope they get the recording, and if not that they make noise about the refusal.
Rep Betty Mcollum (MN-04)
Held her third listening session on how the administration has affected Minnesotans:
I’m holding to collect formal testimony about the community impact of these actions. Trump and congressional Republicans are pushing so many cuts to services Americans rely on. They’re doing it so quickly and they’re doing it on so many fronts, it’s difficult to keep track of the damage they are doing. That’s the main reason we’re here today.
She was joined by a panel of experts and activists: State Rep Amanda Hemmingson-Jaeger, healthcare and disability rights youth advocate, Justin Smith, president elect of Minnesota Medical Association, Dr. Lisa Mattson, member of MN Nurses Association, Joseph Steiger, VP of policy and communications for the MN Hospital Association, Bob Hume, and CEO of MN Association Community Health Center, Johnathan Watson.
But this listening session took place this past Wednesday, the day of the Dallas Detention Center shooting, so she started the listening session with a speech about gun violence. I love how it doesn’t matter that it had nothing to do with the topic at hand, she discussed it anyway.
You can watch the full listening session below
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I hope this serves as yet another reminder that just because you aren’t seeing our Dems fight back in creative ways, doesn’t mean they aren’t, it just means, media, new and old, kinda suck.
If you made it to the end of this post, comment 🌎 (a globe) cause it’s well past time that the UN gets involved.
And if you watched or read any of these stories, comment ⏺️ (record button) cause, I don’t know about you, but I really want to see wtf RFK Jr. Said to Dr. Monarez.
Our voices are our superpower, but only when we use them!
🌎⏺️ Restacked and posted to my Spoutible. Had no idea about these. I signed the petition. Way past time for the UN to get involved, for sure.
🌎 ⏺️