Welcome to The Gov Hub Newsletter by Girl and the Gov®. This weekly pop of politics is designed to share action items, resources, and quick links to civic engagement tools and topics to inboxes far and wide.

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THE ACTION ITEMS

Jump right in

ACTION 1:

The Ask: Urge Congress to keep the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP fully funded.

The Action: Sign this petition.

The Background: As deadly extreme heat waves continue across the United States, low-income families need support for their energy bills now more than ever. The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP, plays a crucial role in addressing energy poverty and helping struggling communities get access to the energy resources they need. Recipients of energy assistance (such as for heating and cooling bills) are among the most vulnerable populations in America. More than 90% of these households include at least one person with a disability, a child under 18, a veteran, or a senior citizen. As punishing heat continues across much of the country, now is not the time for Congress to abandon these families! Since LIHEAP was originally created to address cold weather conditions, the allocation of funds often leaves warmer states and their most vulnerable communities out to dry. As deadly heat waves persist across the country, Congress needs to step up and ensure ALL low-income Americans have access to energy. It’s truly a matter of life-and-death. But to support millions of vulnerable Americans each year, the program requires adequate funding levels.

ACTION 2:

The Ask: Parents – if you’re not sure if you’re eligible for your state’s Medicaid children’s health insurance program or need to renew, check the guide shared below.

The Action: Use this step by step guide to make sure your child is covered.

The Background: Now that the COVID-19 pandemic is over, states are restarting their yearly eligibility reviews for Medicaid children’s health insurance programs. In other words, for parents reading or those who have parents in their circle, it’s time to make sure your child is signed up for or re-enrolled in health insurance. If you’re not sure whether you qualify (or still qualify) for your state’s Medicaid children’s health insurance program, take a look through the step by step guide. The guide also shares info on needed details like updated contact info and renewal forms.

ACTION 3:

The Ask: Pledge to act in solidarity with Starbucks Workers United.

The Action: Take the pledge here.

The Background: Starbucks workers have been and are unionizing – and at the chagrin of Starbucks corporate. Facing union busting tactics and labor violations, Starbucks Workers United is fighting back and organizing to create change. It’s a fight that’s won with not just workers but with the support of customers [hence the pledge].

Looking for more action items? Check our library of past Gov Hub’s.

FULL SEND…TO A FRIEND

Just about guaranteed to make it to the group chat

• The Jerz is officially the last state with a ban on self-service gas pumps after Oregon’s Gov signed a bill late last week allowing people across the state to choose between pumping their own gas or having an attendant do it. Best wishes to our fellow people who’ve never pumped their own gas like the writer of this newsletter who is OG from NJ – you’re in our thoughts & prayers.

• The video of the Macarena being danced about at the 1996 DNC is like a fever dream we can’t unsee nor stop watching.

• These fast food chains prefer donating to Republicans. And these fast food chains prefer donating to Democrats. Do with this information what you will.

• This Senator is known as the ‘nicest guy in DC.’ And also one with a sense of humor.

• “It all started with a DM” – a story of business meets politics comes to a screen near you.

• Getting heckled in Kentucky is apparently the theme of the week for the GOP with this sitch and this sitch.

FWD, SUBSCRIBE

Inbox musts and mentions

The Up and Up: A must-read newsletter from Rachel Janfaza that focuses on Gen Z’s political zeitgeist, The Up and Up looks at how young Americans are organizing, mobilizing and participating in civic life and politics – or how and why they’re not. Ahead of 2024, Rachel will be traveling across the country talking to young voters about their most pressing concerns. If you're interested in being featured or have an idea for a story, please reach out!

THE GIST Sports Biz: The USWNT might not have won this tournament in linear terms, but in the abstract, the team has continued to paint and illustrate the incredible momentum around women’s professional sports. The GIST Sports Biz has been on the money quite literally following the dollars going into the industry and highlighting the immense cultural, political, and financial power that women athletes across sports have. The newsletter talks about women's sports and the business around it – she shoots, she scores weekly knowledge.

Putting the News in Newsletter: This newsletter does exactly what it says and brings digestible news updates directly to your inbox. Written and produced by a name that may ring a bell from the world of TikTok legal meets news, Aaron Parnas, the POV on current events also includes a legal lens.

BOOKMARK IT

Don’t lose the link you love; bookmark it

STATE OF MY DEMOCRACY: Depending on what state you call your own, you might read this and weep – or find it to be an inspiration to put your hat in the ring to run for elected office. Regardless, the details shared across this tool paint a picture of the current state of women’s representation per state legislature. It shows the good [hi, Nevada] to the painful [South Carolina, let’s work on this] and the correlation between representation and issues like abortion. Bookmark it.

BIDEN ADMIN’S INVESTMENT TRACKER: Follow the money honey, which is exactly what you can do with this tool that lets you track where investments from the Biden admin are going – and how much dinero is coming to your neighborhood and for what. Specifically, the tracker takes all of the investments that came from the trifecta - the Inflation Reduction Act, the CHIPS and Science Act, and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and shows where the money landed and for what. it's easy to use and lets you search by state, keywords, congressional district, and more. Bookmark it.

WAIT, WAIT UPDATE ME

ICYMI, droppin deats, ‘dates, and stories you might’ve missed

HOUSE DEMS REQUEST LIVE BROADCASTS OF TRUMP COURT DATES: In a move that supports transparency and the popcorn industry, the House Democrats sent a letter requesting that the Judicial Conference authorize the broadcast of the court proceedings related to the charges against Trump for his efforts to overturn the 2020 election. The letter features the John Hancock of 36+ Congressional Dems including members of the House select panel that had investigated the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection. The goal of seeking live video of the proceedings is to shine a light on fact as opposed to fiction.

CALIFORNIA – STATEWIDE EXPANSION OF RENT CONTROL TO MAKE ‘24 BALLOT: The 2024 ballot is looking to be chock full of ballot props – we’ll be taking guesses on how many pages it’ll be that’s for sure. Regardless, one of the props that’s made the ‘24 ballot is one that will allow voters to decide if expanding rent control rules statewide is a go or not. The measure, dubbed the Justice for Renters Act, if passed, would repeal the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act of 1995. The ‘95 Act limits local rent control regulations. This prop has come to the ballot two other times, so will the third time do the trick?

PITTSBURGH TO ESTABLISH $1M MEDICAL DEBT RELIEF PLAN: How is this an update? Because the plan involves ARPA [American Rescue Plan Act] dollars and it’s an update on how these federal funds are being used. It’s also just a positive story, so here we are. Alas, Pittsburgh’s City Council approved the use of $1 million in ARPA funds to “contract with a company that will buy dischargeable health care debt from hospitals and forgive tens of thousands of city residents” as reported by TribLive. The plan comes as a result of a measure introduced by City Councilman Bobby Wilson and aims to bring relief to residents, allowing them to rebuild their credit, purchase homes, and pay their bills. The measure is expected to impact 24,000 residents.

JUDICIAL BATTLE OVER TX ABORTION BAN CONTINUES: On Friday, a Texas judge ruled that the state’s abortion ban has proven to be too restrictive for women with serious pregnancy complications. To that end, the judge, Travis County District Judge Jessica Mangrum, ruled that the ban must allow for exceptions without doctors fearing criminal charges will be filed against them for acting on behalf of the patient’s welfare and health. A temporary injunction issued by the judge put a hold on the law’s ability to come after doctors for providing abortions to patients whose pregnancy they deem dangerous/unsafe for the pregnant person or in cases where the fetus is unlikely to survive. The ruling came via a fight taken on and brought to the table by 10+ women who sued Texas via the Center for Reproductive Justice after the state’s abortion ban put both their lives and long term health at risk. Then came the appeal from the Texas attorney general’s office to the state’s fully GOP State Supreme Court, which basically blocked the injunction. A rollercoaster of emotions and injunctions to say the least. What will come next? We’ll see.

FORMER AG BILL BARR WOULD TESTIFY AGAINST TRUMP: In a twisted lesson in political reputation management, former Attorney General Bill Barr said he would be willing to appear as a witness in Trump’s trial while chit chattering away on CBS’s Face the Nation. Now, which trial was this in reference to? The trial focused on Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election. We’ll take this moment to use what little high school French stuck with us: très intéressant!

OTHER STORIES TO HAVE ON YOUR RADAR THIS WK:

• AP: Trucking giant Yellow Corp. declares bankruptcy after years of financial struggles

• KTOO: Juneau’s worst glacial outburst flood destroys homes and displaces residents

• AXIOS: Pence says Trump’s lawyers asked him to “reject votes outright”

• ProPublica: Wisconsin’s Dairy Industry Relies on Undocumented Immigrants, but the State Won’t Let Them Legally Drive

MARKETING MAVERICKS

Political marketing moves that make us swoon

• I LIKE MY COFFEE DARK: We’ve always said mugs make good props, and this seals the deal. Dark Brandon has entered the chat, coffee in hand. This is a great example of taking ownership of a narrative and running with it [literally for President of the United States].

• HOOK, LINE, SINKER: This video on the Biden admin’s new student loan debt plan got us with the hook, the lines, and the sinker – i.e. how the new plan will make a world of difference for so many people. This is what we call testimonial advertising, which like Google reviews for a restaurant, are often more powerful than a billboard.

BACK ON OUR BILLSH*T

New bill, new BILLsh*t

FEDERAL: It’s hot strike summer, and Senator John Fetterman, with Reps. Alma Adams (D-NC) and Greg Casar (D-TX) have proposed legislation to help workers while they strike. The Food Secure Strikers Act of 2023 would allow striking workers to qualify for SNAP benefits [Supplement Nutrition Assistance Program]. Currently, workers that are striking, along with their households are not eligible for the program, which leave workers dealing with financial and food insecurity as a result of striking [aka fighting for fair wages and safe work enviros] with few assistance avenues. As best shared by Rep. Adams: “No one in the United States should go hungry, especially for exercising rights guaranteed by law. That’s why I’m proud to join my colleagues in leading the Food Secure Strikers Act.”

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NEW ON THE POD

New week, new guest

This summer’s SCOTUS decision on affirmative action yielded an array of reactions across the sociopolitical spectrum. And it also yielded many questions. Some focused more on what affirmative action is or perhaps at this stage, was. Other q’s were pointed at whether affirmative action worked and who it helped if it did. And more questions were aired on what will happen next and who this decision will leave behind. These questions naturally made it to this episode with Dr. Shaun Harper, who is the founder and executive director of USC's Race and Equity Center. Said episode:

He gave us the good, the bad, and the ugly – but actually quite a lot of good on the topic. Oh, and some stats on legacy admission that’ll blow your mind. Prepare for a rollercoaster of need-to-know facts, a merch line you didn’t know you needed until now, and a glass half full vibe. Tune in on Apple Podcasts, Spotify Podcasts, or wherever you like to get your pods.

HIT PLAY

Explore more must-listens

• UNLADYLIKE – THE HOMESCHOOLING LOBBY: You may have heard of ‘big oil’ or ‘big coal,’ but what about ‘big homeschool?’ Well, it’s a thing. The homeschooling lobby is powerful af but totally under the radar. It’s connected to other issues from abortion and beyond, and it’s one that Unladylike’s host Cristen Conger dives into on this episode.

• NO ONE IS COMING TO SAVE US – CHILDCARE IN AMERICA: Child care no matter which way you slice it, from access to quality to affordability and beyond is in crisis. But on the positive, there are people working to fix this catastrophe, and the season three kickoff of No One Is Coming To Save Us puts a spotlight on the people and policies that aim to get child care in tip top shape.

ALL THINGS GIRL AND THE GOV®

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Other *things* of note on the comms front:

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