Good morning! The number of voters who google candidates and ask ChatGPT who to vote for is increasing in frightening numbers. What AI says about a candidate matters. Through a partnership with Run for Something, Swing Blue Alliance is working with dozens of candidates to analyze, monitor, and improve how …
Good morning! The Trump regime is trying to quietly strangle the Head Start program. The proposal would eliminate staff-child ratio and child size requirements, remove limits on suspensions and expulsions, weaken the standards for health and mental health services, lower the qualification standards for teachers, weaken background checks, remove guidelines …
Good morning! I hope you are all enjoying the summer! I had hoped to be more active in sending action alerts this summer, but with family from Germany coming throughout the month of August and our daughter’s wedding in the middle, I have been swamped with preparations. Reading/seeing the flagrant …
Good afternoon! Every time a government agency proposes a rule change, it is required to notify the public and accept feedback. In March, DJT signed an executive order directing the U.S. Post Office to cut off ballot delivery in any state that refuses to turn over their voter rolls, including …
Good morning! Of the many hideous architectural plans DJT has proposed and/or acted on, the “Triumphal Arch” ranks as offensive as its proposed height. This 250-foot-tall monstrosity will dwarf the Lincoln Memorial (99 feet tall) and obstruct the sight line from the Lincoln Memorial to the Arlington Cemetery where over …
Good morning! MAGA’s campaign to eradicate trans-inclusive information in sex education is not supported by most Americans. Recent polling conducted by EducateUS, in partnership with YouGov and Voss Strategies, found that 72% of Americans from all walks of life support trans-inclusive sex ed being taught in school. Sex ed gives young …
Good morning! The Senate and Congress will recess for Memorial Day weekend on Friday and will return June 1st. This is a good opportunity for them to hear from their constituents. And what an earful we could give them. Call the local office of your Representative and make their Memorial …
May 18, 2026 Good morning! If you have found it difficult to look at or read the barrage of insanity that flows constantly from this administration, you are not alone. We truly have a madman in the White House, aided and abetted by the GOP. What can we do? We …
A tribute to my native country and generations of a family friendship
A tribute to my native country and generations of a family friendship
APRIL 8, 2026 Good morning! DJT’s Easter rant showed how deranged he is. Republicans in Congress and the Senate still have control and it seems useless to call for the removal of the President when we know that will most likely never happen. However, for the history books and for …
Good morning! Tomorrow, SATURDAY, MARCH 28th, is the big day for NO KINGS. Just a reminder about how to find a protest near you. To find a location near you on a map click here. For a list by state and city click here. These protests tend to have an …
Good morning! In nine days the third NO KINGS protest will take place on Saturday, March 28th, across the U.S. and in many other countries as well. The first No Kings protest in June 2025 drew approximately 5 million participants; the second march in October 2025 drew over 7 million. …
Good morning, Last week, the Department of Justice issued a proposed rule that would remove current and former Department of Justice lawyers from the existing disciplinary system that applies to all practicing lawyers in the U.S. (Disciplinary authorities have authority overall practicing lawyers, including DOJ lawyers.) The proposed rule would …
Good morning, Protests against the war in Iran will be taking place across the U.S. on Saturday, March 7th. As DJT spews one lie after another and attempts to justify a) starting a war and b) starting a war in the Middle East, the most volatile part of the world, …
Good morning, There are so many issues to protest, and the war on Iran is indisputably the highest. It is cruelly ironic that over 160 girls were killed when their school was destroyed—in a country that disparages educating women. Sunday, March 8, 2026 is International Women’s Day. We may have …
Good morning, House leaders are preparing to vote on a war powers resolution aiming to stop the military campaign against Iran and require that any hostilities against it be authorized by Congress, tomorrow, Thursday, March 5. (Senate leaders are voting today.) Please call your Representatives and urge them to pass …
Good morning! I am excited to share with you that one of our members (and dear friend) Scott Ferson, has authored a must-read book, How the Democrats Lost America: Making Sense of the 2024 Election and the Future of American Politics which will be released on April 7th! Scott’s detailed …
Good morning! Here in Massachusetts this week is school vacation. If you want to show what peaceful resistance is to your children, students, and friends, here is a nationwide list of places to show up. Many of these protests are small scale which is manageable for families. There is no …
Good morning,If you missed learning how to record ICE, there is another session scheduled for this Thursday, February 5, at 8:00p.m. EST. I learned some very useful tips. You can sign up here: https://www.mobilize.us/nokings/event/892452/?utm_source=nokingsweb Once again, the Democrats have the leverage (by using the filibuster) to stop the funding bill …
Good morning, Last night Mobilize.us led a webinar on how to safely record and document ICE actions. I don’t know if they will be posting the webinar, but there is a webinar produced by WITNESS and the Immigrant Defense Project. It is 58 minutes long but well worth watching. Knowing …
Good morning, The Senate will be voting on the bill (passed by the House) that will keep 100% of funding for Homeland Security intact. We must tell our senators to vote against funding out-of-control ICE. Blue and Purple states: Here is our chance to use our political clout. Betty Call …
For JANUARY 23, 2026 Good evening, Tomorrow there will be a nationwide protest against ICE. I’m sending this out tonight so that if you want to participate you can plan ahead. For a location near you check: https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/?show_all_events=true https://www.visibilitybrigade.com/group-directory https://www.mobilize.us/commoncause/ In Minnesota: https://minnesotareformer.com/briefs/fridays-ice-out-of-minnesota-day-is-a-general-strike-heres-what-that-means/ And https://www.iceoutnowmn.com/?link_id=3&can_id=4f3a43ff6f0348eb9b23801b8808453d&source=email-heres-are-your-next-steps-for-2026&email_referrer=email_3063695&email_subject=heres-are-your-next-steps-for-2026-_&& In Dorchester MA: https://www.mobilize.us/n2nma/event/889445/?referring_vol=10643402&share_context=dashboard-event-details&sharer_role=2 In …
JANUARY 21, 2026 Good morning, As DJT’s mental decline accelerates we are anxiously awaiting a tipping point. The tipping point we hope will not occur—a military confrontation over Greenland, or the other tipping point—that enough Republicans will realize they won’t be reelected with or without DJT’s help and will finally …
Good morning, When is enough more than enough? The murder of Renee Nicole Good by ICE agents in Minnesota is infuriating. DJT and his cabal of assassins are out of control. It is up to us to show the world that there are Americans who have morals and a conscience. …
Good morning! On Thursday, the Senate will vote on a war powers joint resolution by Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) that would bar U.S. military action in Venezuela without congressional authorization. Whether or not this resolution will pass in Congress is up for debate, but we must force every politician to …
Good evening! I apologize for not sending out any action alerts recently. The daily bombardment of hateful actions in December overwhelmed me. I will do better in 2026! A friend sent this link and I want to share it with you. It’s always good to start off a new year …
NOVEMBER 27, 2025 Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Wherever you are, whomever you’re with, whatever you’re eating, know that I am thankful for this group. Together we kept hope alive from 2016-2020, and continue to do so again. I hope you enjoy a day free of politics. Betty And now the music: …
NOVEMBER 7, 2025 Good morning! If you are doubtful about the effect of protesting you might be persuaded otherwise by the 3.5% rule. Compelling research by Erica Chenoweth, a political scientist at Harvard University, shows that nonviolent protests are twice as likely to succeed as armed conflicts – and those engaging …
Good morning! Somehow this slipped away from me. The deadline to comment is October 20th. If you can comment please do so! The U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC), an independent, bipartisan commission that offers assistance to the states in administering elections, has become the epicenter of a new effort to …
Good morning! Another mass demonstration is going to take place across the U.S (and internationally.) “NO KINGS” protests will be happening on Saturday, October 18th. Get out your signs and click on this link to find a gathering near you. Happy Indigenous Peoples’ Day! Betty https://www.nokings.org/ And now the music: …
Good morning! Jimmy Kimmel is joining Stephen Colbert in the club of censored comedians. ABC is following CBS’s trail of cowardice and compliance by giving in to MAGA demands. This is not surprising. In December 2024 Disney (the parent owner of ABC) agreed to donate $15 million to Trump’s future …
Good morning! The horrific ICE kidnappings continue but there is something you can do. APPLE has an app that notifies you of any ICE agents nearby. It is available for iPhone users only. You can download it here. Share it widely, especially with anyone who might need it. When we …
Good morning! Governor Gavin Newsom (D-California) is fighting back with social media posts mocking DJT’s style. Unlike the Republicans he is not bullying California to redistrict. He will only proceed if Texas doesn’t back down from its redistricting demands, and will request California voters’ approval by ballot vote, as required …
Good morning! Brown University, Columbia and Penn have capitulated to Trump’s demands. So far Harvard is staying true to its motto “Veritas” (Truth.) Indivisible has partnered with Crimson Courage to support an open letter urging Harvard to stand firm and reject Trump’s demands. You can sign the open letter to …
Good morning! I have unwittingly joined the club of not knowing where to turn next as DJT’s daily destruction continues. The only way I know how to exit this club is to focus on one issue at a time. For today, I’m focusing on what our Democratic Senators and Representatives …
Good morning! My month in Portugal seems to have put me in permanent vacation mode, which is probably not a bad thing, but not productive in political terms! I hope you have been enjoying the summer wherever you are. Our visits with long-time friends and family in Portugal were heartwarming …
Good morning! As we kick off the month of July, I’m sending out a message from activist Scot Nakagawa. It’s rather long but I hope you’ll find some nuggets for future actions. I sure did! Betty Pro-Democracy Movement Playbook Seizing the Moment and Building Lasting Power Strategic Orientation for …
On June 14th, 2025, Indivisible, along with many other supporting organizations is planning a nationwide protest “No Kings.” Instead of the military parade DJT is planning for that day (coincidentally his birthday) I hope the U.S. gives him and his Republican co-dependents a view of what the majority of Americans …
Good morning! Focus4democracy is presenting a session on messaging, a crucial step in regaining control of online media. Their first event drew over 2,000 attendees. This next event will be held on: JUNE 4th 8PM ET/5PM PT You can register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_zljqCKb-RIynEm1mZ92hbQ#/registration I will be in transit that day/evening and …
Good morning! Harvard University is offering 4 FREE government courses online to U.S. Citizens. The free courses currently available are: – American Government: Constitutional Foundations – U.S. Public Policy: Social, Economic, and Foreign Policies – Citizen Politics in America: Public Opinion, Elections, Interest Groups, and the Media – U.S. Political …
Halos, crowns, tiaras, wreaths—what symbols of reverence! I chose the irreverent path and never looked back.
Good morning! Since my last action I have protested in three different locations. I can’t tell you enough how this wave of support fuels my resolve. I hope you have a chance to experience this! I have some catching up to do. In today’s message there are several actions on …
Good morning! May 1st is International Workers’ Day, also known as Labor Day is celebrated in more than160 countries all over the world. It is a tribute to the working classes and laborers. Traditionally parades, marches and protests are held on this day. Although it is not Labor Day here …
Good morning! On Saturday, April 19th protests are once again being held all over the U.S. You can find an event to join here: https://www.fiftyfifty.one/ Over 5 million activists participated in the April 5th protests. This weekend there will be many other events, religious, athletic and patriotic that can either …
Good afternoon! I want to share this opportunity with you. The Chicago Poetry Center is offering free online “Critical Conversations: Anti-Racism sessions.” Using poetry, two trained and racially diverse facilitators will lead discussions of contemporary poems, sharing of personal experiences, and guided writing practice centered on racial justice. Two types of …
APRIL 11, 2025 Good morning! Yesterday House Republicans passed the SAVE act. The SAVE Act would: bar active duty military and citizens abroad from voting by ending mail-in and online ballots enact broad purges of voter rolls and force voters to prove their citizenship when registering give each of the …
Good morning! The next national protest is this Saturday, April 5th. Under the banner of “Hands Off!” we are marching for women’s rights, BIPOC rights, trans rights, LGBTQ rights, Immigrant rights, and many more of the rights that Trump in collusion with Musk are trampling over. You can find a …
Greetings! You probably have heard about the ongoing protests at Tesla showrooms. Starting in February the Tesla Takedown protests have grown in momentum and are leading up to a nationwide day of action this Saturday, March 29th. The goal is to protest at all 500 Tesla showrooms. Protesting together is …
Good morning! If you are in need of connection to a powerful activist group, Indivisible holds a weekly call on Thursdays at 3?00 P.M. Eastern Time. Co-founders Leah Greenberg and Ezra Levin carve out an hour to discuss what’s happening and – more importantly – what’s the plan. Most of …
MARCH 18, 2025 Good morning! I thought this article, although long, was fascinating about how we create word associations. It is written by Antonia Scatton who writes on Substack. You can find her here and subscribe if you’d like. Have a good week, Betty How to stop helping MAGA spread …
MARCH 10, 2025 Greetings! The Wisconsin Supreme Court election on April 1st is important with the retirement of a left-leaning justice. Democrats are backing Dane County Judge Susan Crawford, who has represented Planned Parenthood and stood up in court for voting and workers’ rights, including arguing for the teacher’s union. …
MARCH 5, 2025 Tonight, March 5, at 9:00 PM EST / 6:00 PM PST, DNC Chair Ken Martin, Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and Members of the House Democratic Caucus are convening Democrats nationwide. They will give updates and what actions to take. If you want to participate RVSP HERE. Keep calling …
MARCH 1, 2025 Greetings! As we reel from the disgraceful meeting between Zelensky and DT and JV there is something we can do to show our support for Ukraine beyond flying a flag. United24 was formed to aid Ukraine financially. 100% of all donations go to Ukraine, and donors can …
FEBRUARY 25, 2025 Greetings! On February 28th,from midnight to 11:59 p.m., a national shopping boycott has been organized by John Schwarz, founder of The People’s Union USA. The purpose is to show the power of the purse, our purse, to the billionaire and wannabe billionaire businesses who are supporting Trump. …
Good afternoon! I thought this information would be of interest to some of you. 50501 and Political Revolution have partnered together to help organize this march. If you want to find out if and where a march is taking place in your state/city this link gives some information, but you may …
Good morning! Does it matter if we call our Congressional Representative or Senators, especially if we live in a blue state? Absolutely. Here is a breakdown of what happens when you call. (Courtesy of several organizations) If you want to skip this explanation, scroll down to ACTION. What Actually Happens …
FEBRUARY 10, 2025 Good morning! I am writing to the whole group because many people asked why they weren’t getting my action alerts. (I sent one out for inauguration day.) I had requested that people let me know if they wanted to remain on the list, but that wasn’t clear. …
January 19, 2025 Tomorrow is a day when we can honor those who have earned, or will earn, a respected place in history. These are people who were compassionate humanitarians first, leaders second, and role models for Americans. Obviously, I am not referring to DT. If you need suggestions for …
Most publications look for a timely connection and an edge when accepting a piece, something that is often the generator of my essays. But every once in awhile, there is a piece that you have to write simply because it’s what you feel, no matter the correlation to current events, …
Hello Friends! It’s been a long time since I’ve reached out to you. After those intense four years of daily, or almost daily actions, I needed to take a break and have remained minimally involved with political activity. In 2016, anger and shock motivated so many of us to form …
I’ve been experimenting with flash non-fiction, using this vessel to zoom into moments of my work-in-progress-memoir. It’s challenging to distill a story into 1,000 or 500 words but poets have been doing this for centuries. I can certainly learn from them! Here is my latest published piece. Hope you enjoy …
Before mani-pedis were affordable, before limos were the chariots of choice, before the first kiss of the night was the breathalyzer you put your lips on, the spring prom was a rite of passage, sometimes for drinking, sometimes for sex, for wearing a gown or that first French kiss mangled in braces.
Good morning and Happy New Year! It’s been awhile since I’ve posted any actions. There is always more work to do and I know that many of you depend on these action alerts. So I will try to post more regularly, using actions from Susan Rogan and Jessica Craven, both …
Good morning! I have been clearing out my parents’ home these last couple of months and have not had the time or focus to send out as many political actions as I wanted to. But as we all know, our lives are often directed not by our plans but by …
Good morning! Like you, I’m waiting on pins and needles to see the final results of the midterm elections. If you want to get started on Georgia’s runoff to elect Rev. Warnock to the Senate, you can find information from Jessica Craven’s list below. Have a not-too-nervous weekend! Betty HELP …
Good morning! There is still time to help Democratic candidates in battleground states. Phonebank with Joan’s Democracy Cafe Text with Movement Labs Choose an action at Vote Save America Have a winning Wednesday! Betty
Good afternoon! Just a quick note about another way you can help to GOTV! @Rideshare2Vote connects drivers with voters who need a ride to cast their ballots. You can volunteer or sign up yourself if you need it. Click here: rideshare2vote.com Have a great weekend! Betty
In late September, as Breast Cancer Awareness Month approached, Betty Reed interviewed Ann Bookman, poet, social anthropologist, social justice advocate and policy expert in work/family balance and women’s issues.
BIRCH BARK EDITING MicroLit Almanac Field Notes: An Uneasy Legacy by Elizabeth Reed Blood Lines by Ann Bookman What’s it like to carry a ticking time bomb in your body? What kind of battle are you fighting and does that make you a warrior? Women with the BRCA 1 or …
Good morning! Voting has started and all focus is on Getting Out The Vote. Texting has proven effective and you can participate in this effort. Movement Labs runs text banks for many organizations. All you need to do is a 1 hour training session. Then, you can text from their …
Good morning! Today’s action comes from Jessica Craven’s daily actions. I have limited internet tonight so I have not actually tried the action myself but can vouch for her reliability in posting useful actions. Here it is: As we all know, INTERACTIVE conversations are THE most important tactic this close …
Good morning! This Sunday, October 16th at 5 p.m. EST you can join (online) a coalition of speakers from Swing Blue Alliance, VoPro Pros and Indivisible Acton Area to learn the steps you can take to protect the voting online, on the phone, or in person. The speakers are: Steve Miller, volunteer …
Good morning! Looking for an organization concentrating on voter turnout? Focus For Democracy is partnering with Working America and Movement Labs to mobilize voters for the midterms, especially Black, Latino and Asian American voters. They are using texting campaigns based on behavioral science and lessons from recent elections. Their results have been highly effective. …
Good morning! Writers—we need you!! Postcards for Voters needs volunteers to help write 1.5 million postcards. Click on this link to sign up: https://www.turnoutpac.org/postcards/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email Greenpeace launched a new letter-writing campaign, focusing on environmental positions of Democrats running in key swing Congressional districts. The letters are bilingual. You can print them …
We fell in love when our bodies were still whole, long before children, long before the map of our lives was etched with medical detours. Now Uli and I step off the boat and onto Monhegan Island, just as we arrived from Boston in 1994 for our honeymoon, elated from our wedding.
Good morning! School gun violence is still on the front burner. As the new school year gets underway here is something you can do. Action Contact your local School Board Chairperson (Google the contact information) and ask if they have a “hardening” policy in place. If they do, urge them …
Good morning! If you are looking for a resource of volunteer opportunities across the board (virtual, in person, writing, calling, texting) take a look at this: https://www.mobilize.us/ Have a good start to the week! Betty
Good morning! Our trip through three countries put miles between me and politics and now I am ready to hunker down for the home count! Action: Spread this information in any way you can. Just in time for the new school year. . . The Brooklyn Public Library is offering …
Good morning! The month of July was a blur with taking care of my father, who passed away on July 25th, on his 95th birthday. He had a long and full life, and my two sisters and I were with him on his final journey. No matter the age, the last …
Good morning! Last week’s Digital Defenders webinar presented by the Women’s March was excellent. I will send out more information as I review and research the content. For now let’s start with an upcoming opportunity for women AND men. Join the Feminist Cyberforce The Digital Defenders program is looking for folks …
Good morning! I will be attending the digital defenders virtual workshop tonight, organized by the Womens March organization. Come join me! https://www.womensmarch.com/initiatives/digital-defenders Voting rights: Several members reminded me that the League of Women Voters has excellent information on elections. You can always count on them: https://www.lwv.org/ One action you can take: Join …
Good morning! It was a welcome relief to ignore politics during our two-week trip to the Azores, even better because we were traveling with good friends. SCOTUS’s decision on Dobbs vs. Jackson wasn’t anything I could stick my head in the sand about, even in the Azores, but I have …
Good morning! Many of my past resources have retired from political resistance so I am always on the lookout for individuals/groups who are promoting actions that can make an impact. I recently discovered a group that is focusing on voter registration and participation. I encourage all of you to take …
Good morning! With state restrictions on access to abortion clinics, many women will have to go to another state to get an abortion. But most women don’t have the funds for this. The following organizations offer financial support. You can spread awareness of their existence through social media. You can …
Jessica Pearce Rotondi has written a suspenseful and intriguing memoir, “What We Inherit” that centers on the life of someone she never met. Combining her investigative skills and vivid writing we are taken into the prison camp her grandfather survived in World War II and the Vietnam war era that downed …
Good morning, I apologize for the wrong date on yesterday’s message – it should have been May 25, a day we will long remember for all the wrong reasons. If you want to contribute to gun safety organizations here is a good list: The Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence provides …
Good morning, There are no more words of comfort, no more thoughts to send, no more prayers to whisper. Do whatever brings you peace but hold onto the anger, nurture the rage, remember the devastation, save the determination to save ourselves and our country from this madness. I send you all …
Lori Desrosiers has captured the essence of being a mother in the poem that is also the title of her book “Keeping Planes in the Air.” In this poem her elderly mother’s job was to keep planes in the air through the power of her worried prayers. But after the …
Good morning! Do you know someone looking for a part-time research assistant job? Send them this link: https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/were-hiring-a-part-time-research-assistant/ SwingLeft has an excellent map showing what key elections (federal & state) are coming up. You can click on this link to see what is at stake in your state, or a …
Stephanie Niu has written a refreshing collection of poems in “She Has Dreamt Again of Water” that brings water in its many forms, the sea, a lake, a creek, directly into the room. Her cool thoughts float on the surface while deeper emotions trawl underneath or ripple in the current. …
Good morning! Marches organized by Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Ultraviolet, and MoveOn, will be taking place this weekend across the country to protest the expected reversal of Roe v. Wade. Anchor marches are planned for New York, Washington, Chicago and Los Angeles. Hundreds of parallel marches will take place …
Good morning! This week has been hard. The day Ruth Bader Ginsburg passed, we knew we were going to lose the Supreme Court. We knew the Republicans couldn’t wait to get their hands on Roe v. Wade and strip 50% of Americans of a constitutional right. We knew Roe v. …
