Good News from the Resistance: As Good News goes to press, we’re close to a month into the longest government shut down in U.S. history, our corpulent Twitter Laureate-in-Chief is busy doing photo ops with massive piles of junk food, Mitch McConnell continues to flaunt his bonafides as the world’s largest invertebrate (apologies to the colossal squid), and Nancy Only-Kidding! Pelosi has disinvited our Pinocchio-in-Chief to deliver the State of the Union. Which is too bad, because we recently uncovered a helpful List of Terrible Things to Do Instead of Watching Trump on TV. (Keep it on hand).
And yet, kindness keeps breaking through. Restaurants across the country are proving there is such a thing as a free lunch, at least for furloughed government workers — at a brewpub on Chicago’s South Side, Poor Richard’s in Colorado Springs, at a celebrity chef pop-up cafe on Pennsylvania Ave. in D.C., and a pop-up food bank in Boston. Kudos to the Canadian air traffic controllers who sent pizza to their U.S. counterparts who are working without pay.
Call it payback, karma, or plain ‘ole Democracy, Congress’s new committee chairs are already making our Liar-in-Chief’s life hell. House Intelligence Committee chair Adam Schiff (D-CA) has hired an entire staff to investigate Putin Asset-in-Chief’s Russia connections. Maxine Waters’ (D-CA) House Financial Services Committee — which oversees Wall Street – is stacked with members like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), who are beholden to no one, and took no corporate campaign donations. Presidential Oversight Committee chair Elijah Cummings (D-MA) has already filed over 50 subpoenas, as his team investigates family separation, former EPA chief Scott Pruitt, and so, so much more. Our Future Convict-in-Chief’s response? He’s hired 17 new lawyers.
Yes, there’s even more Good News from the Resistance:
- Applaud the creativity of this Ladders for Trump’s Wall campaign
- Be grateful that these 270+ Trump nominees are in limbo
- Wish you had waited to see Hamilton in Puerto Rico
- Know that a new day has come in Ferguson, MO
- Laugh with Elizabeth Warren in the Quiet Car
- Go to NYC to see this play
- Cheer for the size & clout of the new Congressional Black Caucus
- Be amazed at the 7 craziest expenses from the Trump Inauguration
- Take Action: Volunteer on MLK Day
Sign Up. Show Up. Never Give Up.
WE LADDERS OVER THE WALL
When a Trump supporter created a GoFundMe campaign with the goal of raising $1 billion to help build The Wall, a counter-campaign raised tens of thousands for “ladders” to help migrants over The Wall.
WE WHEN TRUMP’S APPOINTEES ARE BLOCKED
The Senate (!!) refused to confirm 270+ Trump nominees at the beginning of this year’s new session. Among them were the nominations of 70 judges, and the director of the national counter-intelligence and security center.
WE LIN-MANUEL IN PUERTO RICO
Hamilton is playing in Puerto Rico for two weeks, with Lin-Manuel in the lead. The show is raising millions for people still struggling in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria.
WE ST. LOUIS COUNTY’S NEW PROSECUTOR
Wesley Bell, a former Ferguson councilman, ran against the prosecutor who was instrumental in letting off the police officer who killed black teenager Michael Brown. Bell won. One of his first tasks was to fire three key players in the Brown case.
WE WARREN’S SENSE OF HUMOR
And for the record, we think she’s “likable.”
WE DOCUMENTARY THEATER
If you liked The Vagina Monologues, you’ll love this play.
WE EXPANDING THE CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS
In 1971 there were 13 members of the Congressional Black Caucus. Today there are 55. Size matters, but so does clout. We think this group’s got it.
WE ALL THE DIRT ON TRUMP’S INAUGURATION EXPENSES
Don’t all newly elected presidents fly in showgirls from Vegas?
WE TAKING ACTION: FIND A PLACE TO VOLUNTEER ON MLK DAY
There are many ways and places to serve. Find an opportunity near you.
Great links! Thanks for helping us keep apace with the news and allowing laughter to break through the grim mood.