STEPS:

1. Choose an issue you care about from the list (27 choices)

2. Provide your location to identify your congressional district

3. Based on your issue, 5calls will provide the script, whom to call (governor, congress person, etc) and the phone number

4. Make the call

5. You’ve made a difference!

5 Calls- Makes it quick and easy to make daily calls.

• ICE: Multiple reports from July and August 2025 project ICE's total budget to be between $27.7 billion and $30 billion or more, which includes a base budget plus significant supplemental funding. This large increase is due to a budget bill passed in mid-2025 that allocated $75 billion for ICE over four years.

• Marine Corps: The Marine Corps requested $57.2 billion for FY 2026. 

The Marine Corps recently unveiled its budget request for fiscal ...

Jul 6, 2025 — The Marine Corps recently unveiled its budget request for fiscal 2026 that calls for spending $57.2 billion on new airc...

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Big Budget Act Creates a “Deportation-Industrial Complex”

Aug 13, 2025 — The biggest piece of the pie for enforcement operations in the United States will go to Immigration and Customs Enforc...

 This is how a private extra constitutional military force is created. Like the NAZI Gestapo.

More on ChoosingDemocracy.blogspot.com

First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

—Martin Niemöller

This quote is attributed to a prominent German pastor Martin Niemöller.

After World War II, Niemöller openly spoke about his own early complicity in Nazism and his eventual change of heart. His powerful words about guilt and responsibility still resonate today. 1944.

Submitted by Duane Campbell

Read the report from the NY Times Editorial Board, Oct. 31, 2025, 

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/10/31/opinion/trump-autocracy-democracy-report.html

He has persecuted opponents, by passed Congress, sent troops into cities, defied the courts, changed election rules, vilified minorities, and enriched himself and his family. 

A great summing up of the current situation.

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/10/31/opinion/trump-autocracy-democracy-report.html

Building networks to create and sustain resistance.

Views from the South,

https://ourmoralmoment.substack.com/p/america-has-seen-authoritarianism?

Excellent advice.   A conference at Vanderbilt, , and the Poor Peoples Campaign.  

Duane Campbell

In response to federal actions in Minnesota, our California Catholic Bishops have issued a Statement on Recent Violence, Public Trust, and the Call for Peace and Accountability, expressing their concern that what is unfolding in American cities "may unravel the essential social covenants that protect us all from violence and abuse." Parishioners may read the full statement on the diocesan website.

You are invited to join Bishop Soto and other local faith leaders at the Moss Federal Building, 650 Capitol Mall, for an Ecumenical Ash Wednesday Service, on February 18 from 5:00 to 6:00 PM.  According to the diocese, "these liturgies are opportunities for us to publicly witness to our faith and the need for conversion to the Gospel of Life and Dignity, both personally and socially." 

May Day is 10 days away. From coast to coast, working people are already building something powerful.

NEA has been working to bring activists together. State affiliates are mobilizing. Local leaders are organizing actions from the ground up. More than 880 events are already planned in every state across the country.

This is how power grows. Not handed down, but built together.

On May 1, educators and our allies will show up everywhere—standing together for public schools, for our students, and prioritizing workers over billionaires. We are not asking for attention. We are showing where the power already is: in the people who teach our kids, support our students, and hold our communities together.

Find an action near Sacramento!  ➤ 

There are rallies, marches, teach-ins, and community events planned from Fresno to Philadelphia. Find out where to get plugged in. If there's not an event near you, there’s still time to organize one. We'll even provide you with a toolkit to get started.

This is our moment to step in, step up, and build the kind of power that will make a difference in the lives of educators and students.

Be part of May Day!

In solidarity,

The NEA EdActionTeam

Get involved in a May Day action!  ➤ 

This election is critical to the resistance.
The anti Becerra  ads funded by Tom Steyer for governor are endless and deceptive. Becerra is being blamed for Trump  era immigration failures.  The failures  were created by the overcrowding of immigrants detention facilities during the Trump era.

The Truth is Xavier Becerra inherited the failures at HHS caused by the Trump era assault on immigrants and immigrant children.

See Here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SntyYRugBgY&t=1224s

 Duane Campbell

 NO WAY!

***VOTE STRATEGICALLY IN JUNE 2 PRIMARY*** 

HERE’S THE SITUATION:

California has a “jungle primary,” meaning the two candidates with the highest votes will be on the ballot in November, regardless of party. 

Democrats have at least six candidates competing, while the Republicans have two. Democrats are diluting the vote so much that NONE of them are frontrunners. Tom Steyer, Xavier Becerra and Katie Porter are at 14-10% in polls. (See links at bottom for information on the candidates.)

Both Republicans are MAGA Trump supporters. Steve Hilton is a Fox News commentator. Chad Bianco is a Republican sheriff. Both are at 17% in polling.

If we don’t organize and strategize RIGHT NOW, the two Republicans could end up being our only two choices on the ballot in November!

DEMOCRATS HAVE TO BE STRATEGIC TO GET A CANDIDATE ON THE BALLOT. 

WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO DELAY CASTING YOUR VOTE UNTIL 7-10 DAYS BEFORE THE PRIMARY. 

THEN VOTE FOR THE DEMOCRAT (OPPONENT OF DONALD TRUMP )  WITH THE HIGHEST POLLING NUMBERS. 

Despite what you may feel about some of the candidates, ANY of these Democrats would be much, much better than either of the two Republicans!!! 

A REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR IN CALIFORNIA COULD MEAN:

 - more ICE agents in the streets, deportations, detention facilities

 - subverting, disrupting, hijacking the election in 2028

 - appointing Republican judges and other officials hostile to democratic rule of law

 - dismantling environmental regulations

 - reducing social services and safety net programs 

 - reducing protections for LGBTQ people, racial minorities, immigrants

FURTHER ACTIONS TO HELP GET AN OPPONENT OF DONALD TRUMP ON THE BALLOT:

SEND THIS INFORMATION TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW, so that people understand why they need to hold off voting until a week before the primary.

POST THIS ON YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA. SPREAD THE WORD.

VOTE IN THE PRIMARY!

PLEASE TAKE YOUR BALLOT TO THE NEAREST SAFE BOX RATHER THAN GOING THRU THE U.S. POSTAL 

SERVICE TO ENSURE THAT YOUR VOTE GETS IN ON TIME.

Thank you for your participation in helping to save our democracy!

Nicky Silver, nickysilver3@icloud.com

Rebecca Silverstein, rebsilver74@gmail.com

Renée Allen, eenera@icloud.com

Ruth Hurvitz, itzruth@mac.com

Further reading:

https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5848331-california-governor-race-becerra-steyer/

https://calmatters.org/politics/2026/03/california-governor-candidates/

https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/election/voter-guide/article315281369.html

The scenarios are worth a read.

 Duane Campbell

Tom Steyer should end his negative, inaccurate, destructive media campaign distorting the reality of Becerra’s work on immigration. Instead, if he hopes to be governor, he should campaign on what he is in favor of. 

The anti Becerra  ads funded by Tom Steyer are endless and deceptive. Becerra is being blamed for Trump  era immigration failures.  The failures  were created by the overcrowding of immigrants detention facilities during the Trump era.

The Truth is Xavier Becerra inherited the failures at HHS caused by the Trump era assault on immigrants and immigrant children.  And he resolved many of the problems.  Now, Trump has done it all again- even more.

See Here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SntyYRugBgY&t=1224s

Steyer has gained substantive progressive support in recent weeks including from major unions and political organizations.  He should campaign positively and accept the voters solutions whichever way the votes come in.  If he refuses, progressive groups should reconsider their endorsements which endanger this elections.

If Steyer continues to misrepresent the issues, here is an alternative for those of us who do not want a November election where we are faced with a choice between two bad Republicans.  ( Proposal Reprinted from another source. )

A REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR IN CALIFORNIA?

 NO WAY!

***VOTE STRATEGICALLY IN JUNE 2 PRIMARY*** 

HERE’S THE SITUATION:

California has a “jungle primary,” meaning the two candidates with the highest votes will be on the ballot in November, regardless of party. 

Democrats have at least six candidates competing, while the Republicans have two. Democrats are diluting the vote so much that NONE of them are frontrunners. Tom Steyer, Xavier Becerra and Katie Porter are at 14-10% in polls. 

Both Republicans are MAGA Trump supporters. Steve Hilton is a Fox News commentator. Chad Bianco is a Republican sheriff. Both are round 14 %  in polling.

If we don’t organize and strategize RIGHT NOW, the two Republicans could end up being our only two choices on the ballot in November!

 In spite of Steyers flooding the airways  and our mail boxes with inaccurate campaign ads,,,

We should be strategic to get a candidate on the November that we would be willing to vote for.  

WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO DELAY CASTING YOUR VOTE UNTIL 7-10 DAYS BEFORE THE  June 2 primary.  

THEN VOTE FOR THE DEMOCRAT (OPPONENT OF DONALD TRUMP )  WITH THE HIGHEST POLLING NUMBERS. 

Despite what you may feel about some of the candidates, ANY of these Democrats would be much, much better than either of the two Republicans!!! 

A REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR IN CALIFORNIA COULD MEAN:

 - more ICE agents in the streets, deportations, detention facilities

 - subverting, disrupting, hijacking the election in 2028

 - appointing Republican judges and other officials hostile to democratic rule of law

 - dismantling environmental regulations

 - reducing social services and safety net programs 

 - reducing protections for LGBTQ people, racial minorities, immigrants

Further actions to help get an opponent of Trump on the November ballot.

SEND THIS INFORMATION TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW, so that people understand why they need to hold off voting until a week before the primary.

Post this on your social media.  Spread the word.

VOTE IN THE PRIMARY! Check to see if your neighbors will vote.

We recommend that you take your ballot to the nearest Safe Box.

Thank you for your participation in helping to save our democracy!

Nicky Silver, nickysilver3@icloud.com

Rebecca Silverstein, rebsilver74@gmail.com

Renée Allen, eenera@icloud.com

Ruth Hurvitz, itzruth@mac.com

Further reading:

https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5848331-california-governor-race-becerra-steyer/

https://calmatters.org/politics/2026/03/california-governor-candidates/

https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/election/voter-guide/article315281369.html

Guess what ? Influencers  and Tik Toc  and Joe Rogan influence.  This was a major contributor to the Trump victory in 2024.  It will be even more powerful in 2028.

https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article315718825.html

As of mid-July 2026, the SAVE America Act has not yet passed the Senate and is stalled after multiple failed votes. This bill is a top priority for the president (47) ahead of the 2026 midterms. He has consistently urged Congress to pass it and has even withheld his signature on other bills until the SAVE America Act is sent to him. 47 is demanding that the Senate cancel its August recess until the voting bill is approved.

Why should we oppose this legislation and protect our democracy? We must make our congressional leaders hear our voices. Please call, text, email, visit their district offices, and demand that they vote NO!

The SAVE America Act will introduce additional obstacles for eligible voters trying to register and cast ballots, disrupting the way elections are conducted nationwide just months before the midterms. Specifically, the bill would eliminate online and mail-in voter registration, impose excessive civil and criminal penalties on election officials, and disenfranchise millions of Americans by requiring documentary proof of citizenship and photo identification both when registering to vote and when voting at the polls. Currently, only 6% of voters register in person at an election office, and over 146 million Americans do not own a passport.

It's important to note that it is already illegal for noncitizens to vote in federal elections, and instances of such voting are extremely rare. Federal law requires voters to swear under penalty of perjury that they are citizens and eligible to vote.

Like many civil rights organizations at the national, state, and local levels, we urge Congress to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act and invest in expanding access to voting rather than restricting it. The proposed SAVE America Act conflicts with the U.S. Constitution by granting states primary authority over the timing, locations, and methods of federal elections, with only limited oversight from Congress.

Additionally, this bill emerges amid heightened tensions surrounding election administration. Recent events, such as the FBI's seizure of hundreds of boxes of 2020 election ballots in Fulton County, Georgia, and similar incidents in other battleground cities, have fueled concerns—especially as Trump continues to falsely assert that he won in 2020.

The Brennan Center for Justice highlighted that the bill would disenfranchise Americans of all ages and races, disproportionately affecting younger voters and people of color. Women, particularly those whose married names do not match their birth certificates or passports, would also face additional challenges in voicing their opinions.

We must contact California's two senators and demand that they vote NO on the SAVE America Act as written. We should write letters to the editors of local newspapers, include information about the bill in our organizational newsletters, and share it with friends, family, and colleagues. While resources may be limited, we should also support organizations fighting for justice on the front lines.

It is essential to stand in solidarity with other progressive community-based groups working to dismantle white supremacy and promote justice. If enacted, the SAVE America Act would create significant hurdles for both voters and election officials. We must take direct action, organize peaceful protests, and actively raise awareness!

 If enacted, the SAVE America Act would create hurdles for voters and election officials.   Please call California's two United States Senators:

• United States Senator Alex Padilla

501 I Street, Suite 7-800

Sacramento, CA 95814   website: https://www.padilla.senate.gov/about/

*This office is currently under renovation and is only available by appointment only

(916) 448-2787 or (202) 228-3865

Posted by Duane Campbell