The Gov Hub: May 1, 2023

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Gov Hub
May 01, 2023

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

ACTION 1: North Carolina

The Ask: Tell your state representative to vote no on HB-819, The Medical Ethics Defense Act.

The Action: Find your reps phone number and give them a call using this script.

The Background: HB-819 is similar to the MED Act in Florida that they passed recently – and that’s not a good thing. It’s a bill to allow healthcare providers, hospitals, and insurance companies to deny care or coverage for anything they “don’t agree with”, for whatever reason, based on their “conscience.” This applies to vaccines, birth control, IVF, gender affirming healthcare for trans and cis folks, abortion, and basically anything except for emergency care (so EMT’s and any other emergency room kind of care). The bad bill is expected to go up for a vote either tomorrow on 5/2 or Wednesday, 5/3. Tell your rep it’s not gonna fly with you, call them today.

ACTION 2:

The Ask: Tell your state legislators to The Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC) and reject conspiracy theories-based voting bills.

The Action: Hit send on this pre-written digital letter from the Brennan Center.

The Background: The Big Lie just won’t die, and election-focused conspiracy theories are more than just alive and well, they’re being used as the basis for election laws. Part of the dismantling election protection approach includes the target of The Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC). This below the radar multi-state nonprofit voting coalition came to be over a decade ago with the goal of improving the accuracy of state voter rolls. Specifically, ERIC IDs registrants who should be taken off state voter rolls because they’ve either moved or passed away. It also helps to register new eligible voters. Interestingly, ERIC has long had bipartisan support and many of its OG members were Republican-led states. But the times, they are a changin’, and several Republican-led states have abandoned the ERIC ship, including Florida, Missouri, and West Virginia. Ohio, Texas, and Wisconsin have also been saying ‘count us in too,’ so it’s time to tell state legislators to act and protect the bipartisan data-sharing system that keeps our elections in a good state.

New On Girl and the Gov, The Podcast

What would it be like to be at brunch with a crew of tea-loving political friends? It would be something like this episode, which features an interview with The Tent Podcast Hosts, Daniella Gibbs Léger and Colin Seeberger. This episode covers a lot of ground and certainly keeps commentary on today’s current political events top of mind. To that point, the conversation goes in on how communicating political wins to voters is critical, but often a missed moment. Through the chit chat we cover how CAP Action solves for this problem and look at what policies need to be brought into the spotlight. PS if you’ve ever wondered how Think Tanks work, this is also a must-listen, which can be done on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and by watching on YouTube:

News cycles happen in a flash. Not sure how or where to catch up on what’s been rockin’ and rollin’ in the political news sphere, check out last week’s Top Stories episode, and follow the show on Spotify to be notified when tomorrow’s new episode drops. If you’re an Apple listener, subscribing here will do the same trick o’ the trade.

OTHER SHOW NOTES:

INTERVIEW EPISODE PREVIEW: We’re not just Keeping Up With The Candidates, we’re also keeping up with political careers. This week’s Wednesday drop explores the DC job search, networking, and how to get started on The Hill courtesy of Communications Director for Congressman Eric Swalwell, Jessica Gail. If we could describe this episode it be something like “the West Wing, but better.”

DREAMING OF PODCASTING IN 2023? 

If you’ve been thinking about starting a podcast and don’t know where to start, the Girl and the Gov® team can help with that. Offering three tiers of podcast consulting for every step of the way, #GATG can help get yours off the ground. Book a discovery call with the team to chitchat about the possibilities.

Back On Our BILLsh*t

New bills, new BILLsh*t. We’re always keeping an eye out for the bills that make us go YAY and the ones that make us scream NAY. A few recent bills of note that floated our boat:

  • DISEASE PREVENTION: Speaking of Colorado, Senator Bennet introduced a bipartisan bill called the PASTEUR Act. We’ll first say, major props to whoever on staff was tasked with trying to make a workable acronym with flow – A for effort. Is it great? No, but it’s better than “Pioneering Antimicrobial Subscriptions to End Upsurging Resistance Act.” Anyways, this bill is designed to get ahead of major health crises, ya know like pandemics. Specifically, the bill looks to ensure that drug companies have the funding to develop new antibiotics for drug-resistant infections that are becoming more commonplace and worrisome. In exchange for this funding, drug companies would be required to provide their antibiotics at no cost to seniors, low-income families, and veterans. The companies would also be required to administer their antibiotics more responsibly.

  • PRISON REFORM: On the topic of bipartisan bills, Georgia Congresswoman Lucy McBath and North Dakota Congressman Kelly Armstrong introduced the Federal Prison Oversight Act. Meanwhile, on the Senate side, Senator Ossoff, Senator Braun, and Senator Durbin introduced the bill’s companion. The bill would establish new, independent oversight of the Federal Bureau of Prisons [BOP]. More specifically, it would “establish an independent Ombudsman to investigate the health, safety, welfare, and rights of incarcerated people and staff. The Ombudsman would create a secure hotline and online form for family members, friends, and representatives of incarcerated people to submit complaints and inquiries.” Who supports the bill? An intriguing list of orgs.

  • ABORTION COVERAGE: Moving to the state leg level with this one, the Rhode Island House passed the Equality in Abortion Coverage Act. The legislation “ensures that state workers and Medicaid recipients have coverage for abortion procedures in their health insurance plans.” The bill also repeals a current law that “prohibits state employees and Medicaid recipients from having abortion covered, except in cases of rape, incest, or if the mother's life is in danger.” Getting the bill this far, however, was no easy feat.

…and a bill that need to get the boot:

  • PETTY POLITICAL GAMES: It’s Biggs versus Bragg with a bill dubbed the ALVIN Act. The bill, introduced by election lie[s] spreading passion-ista and least liked Biggs family sibling, Andy Biggs, is designed to play petty political games. The bill [H.R. 2581] stands for ‘Accountability for Lawless Violence in Our Neighborhoods,’ and if passed, would ban all federal funds from the Manhattan DA’s office, and require the office to replay all federal dollars it’s received since January 2022. Because defunding the DA’s office would totally help to reduce crime….? From the guys they back the blue and their crew, this bill is a wild ride down hypocrisy lane. The bill comes in retaliation for Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg indicting Trump on 34 felony charges.

Oh boy, what are [some of] the [key] stories morning glories?

  • Nearly half of Missouri kids 5 and under live where? No, not Chuck-e-Cheese [#tbt], but in a daycare desert. As reported by The Missouri Independent and MuckRock, daycare deserts have continued to get drier and drier despite an influx of federal funds, like literally millions of dollars in funds. What their investigation found was a number of things – rural areas are hit the hardest, with more than 20 kids per available seat at a licensed child care facility; money has been given to areas that haven’t been hit as hard by shortages; the money given has realistically only kept facilities afloat, but it hasn’t provided enough dolla dolla bills to hire enough qualified and licensed staff at livable wages meaning staff shortages are high [the media hourly wage was under $12.00/hour in 2021]. Demand is way greater than supply, and this issue isn’t just a Missouri problem, it’s a nationwide crisis in care.

  • Things we didn’t have on our 2023 bingo card? Fangirling over the filibuster. No, like really. The use of the filibuster in both Nebraska and South Carolina has resulted in two abortion bans that were in the works being axed. In Nebraska, filibustering stopped a vote on a six-week ban, keeping abortion legal in the state up with these guidelines. Meanwhile, in South Carolina, one of the few places abortion has remained available in the south, a filibuster on an abortion bill halted a near total abortion ban. To our surprise [this year is keeping us on our toes], the SC effort also included three Republican women who joined a Dem, and an Independent on this. For SC resources, the team at WREN has it covered.

Subscribe while you scroll, sign up for The Gov Hub Newsletter here if you’re not already on the list.

Save & Sends

Sometimes you have to save it, sometimes you have to send it, and sometimes you have to do both when it comes to a social media post. And that is very much the case with this roundup, which will be finding their way right into your group chat.

  • It might’ve been a wee bit confusing to see Senator Schumer vote ‘no’ on the ERA. Like, hello headscratcher. But this debrief explains the strategy behind it all.

  • Get ready to vote [Texas] with this GRWM. And yes, elections are happening even in ‘23.

  • This might give you happy tears just like it does the show’s host.

The best of nerd prom – the White House Correspondents Dinner:

@thehillpolitics

Comedian Roy Wood, Jr. packed his White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) dinner punchlines with barbs aimed at President Biden and... See more

  • The Best Pop Culture Reference: Biden brought Harry Styles into it – and shares how Don Lemon might call Rupert Murdoch a guy in his prime.

Honorable Mention: Apparently, we as a chronically online society, have memed Dark Brandon into reality. 10/10 would’ve loved to have been in the first meeting with Biden where the concept of Dark Brandon was brought to his attention.

RSVP, YES PLEASE

Add to calendar, add to calendar, and again, add to calendar with these politically and civically charged events. RSVP, register, and rockin’ roll on over to these must-attends.

Community Conversation on Gun Violence Prevention

About: Minnesota Congressman and Girl and the Gov, The Podcast alum, Dean Phillips is hosting a virtual conversation on gun violence with a panel of experts from the Violence Project. The Congressman will be moderating the panel and is taking questions here.

When & Where: Virtual; Monday May 8, 2023; 6:30-7:45pm CST

Pack the Capitol to fight the Religious Right

About: The Texas Freedom Network will be at the Texas State Capitol tomorrow to stand up for the state’s transgender community. The event will pack the capitol with supporters and make their presense known and visible in the face of debate on SB14, a bill that would ban life-saving healthcare for trans kids.

When & Where: May 2, 2023; starting at 8:00am CDT; 1100 Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78701

Bookmark It

Don’t lose the link, bookmark it, and revisit and reload.

Myth or Bust: CAP’s Fact Sheet Debunking Myths the Gun Lobby Spews on the Reg: The fact sheet sheds light on all of the heavy hitters shared by the NRA and its pals. Easy to digest, easy to share, and a resource to go back to time and time again, the fact sheet is a must bookmark. For a preview, a little game of mythbusters:

  • Myth 1: An armed school is a safer school.

  • The Bust: Efforts putting more guns in schools have caused more harm than good. “Of the 225 incidents of gunfire on school grounds identified by The Washington Post from 1999 to 2022, there were only two cases where a school resource officer was able to stop or disarm an active shooter”

  • Myth 2: Hardening schools with visible security measures will deter mass shooters.

  • The Bust: Attempts to harden schools have been ineffective at preventing school shootings and often leave students and faculty feeling less safe.

Bust ‘em all with this round-up. Bookmark it and bring it to convos with family and friends.

The Download - an app to add:

The ACLU of Mississippi Mobile Justice App: The App, made for smartphones, is designed with holding law enforcement agencies accountable for their actions. The app is easy to use and offers four key features:

  • Record: The app allows citizens to capture exchanges between police officers and themselves, or other community members in audio and video files that are automatically emailed to the ACLU of Missouri.

  • Witness: The app also gives citizens the option to alert nearby Mobile Justice App users when they are stopped by police so that they can move toward the location and document the interaction.

  • Report: Importantly, the app provides citizens with the option to provide a more-detailed account of their interactions with police in an incident report, which is transmitted directly to the ACLU of Missouri.

  • Know Your Rights: The Mobile Justice App provides an overview of what rights protect Mississippi residents when they’re stopped by law enforcement officers.

The app is also in its 2.0 version and has a few spiffy updates that include the ability to:

  • Automatically save a copy of the video to your phone’s camera roll.

  • Save notifications on a newsfeed so that app users can view all notifications they have received.

  • Better protect people’s privacy via an independently operated database.

  • Ask users to provide their contact information when sending a submission.

Download the app here on the Apple App Store or here, via GooglePlay.

ELECTION SZN

The following have said put me in coach for….

Candidate Watch ‘23

  • Fabina Nelson is running for the Mississippi House of Representatives. Learn more about his campaign here.

  • Celia Segel is running for the Massachusetts House of Representatives [SPECIAL ELECTION]. Learn more about her campaign here.

  • John Moran is running for the Massachusetts House of Representatives [SPECIAL ELECTION]. Learn more about his campaign here.

Candidate Watch ‘24

  • Dulce Vasquez is running for California State Assembly. Learn more about her campaign here.

On The Calendar

  • Two Massachusetts special elections are right around the corner, with the primary scheduled for May 2, 2023 and the general election scheduled for May 30, 2023. The two special elections are being held for state house seats, one in the 10th Suffolk Representative District and the 10th Suffolk Representative District.

The Gov Club

Focused on political networking and community amongst civically engaged besties, The Gov Club provides members access to free virtual networking events, 1v1s, and connect with one another. The Gov Club has also made moves from its old Slack channel home to the Geneva platform to make connecting with one another easy as pie. Sign up for the Gov Club, here.

Comms Corner

Step into the Political Podcasting Game

Thinking about dipping a toe into podcasting? Already have a podcast but not sure how to take it to the next level? Girl and the Gov® can help bring it from daydream to reality. The company’s podcast consulting service is designed to assist political organizations, thought leaders, and elected officials launch podcasts unique to their expertise and target audience. The service is built to be comprehensive in nature, and covers everything from structural design to best practices to graphics, and launch strategy. The offering menu includes an option for every step of the way, all which start with a Discovery Call:

  • BYOP, Build Your Own Podcast: Girl and the Gov®’s Build Your Own Podcast service is designed to bring podcasts from the ideation phase to launch. This is built for clients who’ve determined that they are going to start a podcast and need help navigating how to do it.

  • The Brainstorm Sesh: Girl and the Gov®’s Brainstorm Sesh service is designed to walk potential podcasters through their mood board of ideas and help them determine what next steps they want to take – to take the step into podcasting or to keep thinking on big ideas. This is for clients considering podcasting but have not launched a podcast yet.

  • Podcast Audits: Girl and the Gov®’s Podcast Audit service provides a comprehensive review of the client’s existing show with the goal of identifying areas of improvement. This is for clients with existing podcasts at any stage.

Social Media, From Zero to Hero

Think it’s time for a social media audit? Girl and the Gov® can help with that. Get up to speed on what needs to stay, and what needs to go on your social media accounts for it to go from zero to hero. Book a Discovery Call to learn more about Girl and the Gov®’s Social Media Audits.

#VIRAL, The Newsletter

Skip the meeting, make it an email – subscribe to Girl and the Gov®’s paid newsletter, #VIRAL, dedicated to providing the 411 on the social media trends, tricks and tips, and how-to’s for politicos is hitting inboxes with a splash, weekly. A sample of the newsletter, which we dub ‘social media consulting to your inbox,’ can be viewed here, and you can subscribe here.

Other tings of note on the comms front:

For pitches, PR, partnerships, and collaborations, and more, send all details to [email protected].