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: CT, HI, IL, KS, ME, MI, SC, TX, WA

The Ask: Tell your state legislators to ban child marriage.

The Action: Send this digital letter to your state reps via Unchained At Last.

The Background: Unknown to many, child marriage is a huge issues across the US, with the practice still being legal in 43 states and apparently to the fanfare of this Missouri state rep. Those married under 18, mainly young girls to older men, can’t enter a contract, can’t file for divorce or initiate another legal proceeding, can’t make medical decisions for themselves, and the practice undermines statutory rape laws. For these reasons and more, there is a growing movement for outlawing child marriage. The laws are different state by state and the change needs to happen at the state level.

ACTION 2:

The Ask: Tell your member of Congress to co-sponsor the Holocaust Education & Antisemitism Lessons Act [HR 603].

The Action: Hit send on this pre-written digital letter.

The Background: According to research conducted by the ADL, more than half of the people they surveyed from ages 18-30 couldn’t accurately identify that six million Jews were murdered in the Holocaust. In tandem with that number, they found that those educated on the horrific events in school of the Holocaust harbor less antisemitic prejudice than those that learned about it elsewhere. And, in addition, those that have even basic knowledge of the Holocaust are significantly less likely to believe in antisemitic ideas. All in all, in the wake of a terrifying increase in antisemitic events and activity, the need for education on the Holocaust is clear. The Holocaust Education & Antisemitism Lessons Act would identify the standards and requirements schools mandate on this Holocaust education across the country, and more.

ACTION 3: ^Sponsored

The Ask: Urge lawmakers to invest in electric vehicle infrastructure.

The Action: Sign this petition.

The Background: We’re working with We Stand For Energy and Edison Electric Institute (EEI) to urge lawmakers to deploy the $7.5 billion in EV charging funds from the Infrastructure Investment and Job Act (most commonly known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill). Specifically, this petition is designed to ensure lawmakers are aware of the support for EV charging stations that will allow the industry to grow and support the projected 18+ million EVs that will be on the road by 2030.

New On Girl and the Gov, The Podcast

Unfortunately and continually relevant, the latest interview episode covers gun violence in America, with a specific focus on assault weapons bans. To zero-in on this type of legislation, the pod tapped the author of the California state assault weapons ban, Congressman Garamendi, CA-08 who made the legislation happen back when he was in the CA state legislature. Now in a federal role, he shed light on what’s happening with S.25, whether it has a chance, and what conversations with colleagues look like. He also shared details on the evolution of the gun industry and how this problem became the epidemic we’re dealing with on a daily basis. Discussion of the ‘94 federal ban was also included and can be heard by tuning in on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. The episode can be viewed on YouTube.

If you need to play catch up on the top political stories to keep an eye on, the latest edition of Top Stories can be popped on the pods here. Take the episode for a walk and tune in tomorrow for this week’s variation on a theme. And while you have your fave audio app open, please help get the pod into more [air]pods by leaving the show a rate and review.

PREVIEW: Missouri has been dominating the national headlines because of things like this. Cue, a podcast interview with Missouri State Representative Deb Lavender on education funding, library funding, and Missouri state politics as a whole. Loads of questions, loads of answers coming your way Wednesday.

BEFORE YOU SCROLL: 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.

Pro Podcast Tip: Download your episodes. By downloading your episodes, you’re able to listen to fave shows on the go. No wi-fi? No problem. Bad service? Same story.

Bookmark It

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

FREEDOM TO CHOOSE PA: Governor Shapiro’s office gets gold stars for this new resource – a dedicated site that provides details on abortion access in the state for residents and nonresidents. The site specifically outlines the legality of it all, which let’s be real, the last few weeks has made it all feel murky, no matter the state one is in. This site removes some of the confusion and gets right to the point: abortion care is legal in PA. Especially gold star-worthy is the site’s tools, one that makes searching for providers easy af and, one that highlights ways to pay. It’s a one-stop-page for all-things PA abortion access. Bookmark it and share it with PA pals.

CRT FORWARD: The yelling, screaming, and fighting over teaching in CRT in schools has gotten to such a fever pitch that CRT Forward has been able to flag 670+ anti-CRT legislative efforts across the county. And how have they tracked it? By developing an initiative [CRT Forward] launched by the Critical Race Studies Program at UCLA dedicated to identifying, tracking, and analyzing anti-CRT measures from coast to coast. And this initiative doesn’t just track, it maps, showing what anti-CRT bills have been introduced, passed, or taken up by federal, state, and local offices.

UNCHAINED AT LAST’S CHILD MARRIAGE LAW TRACKER: On the topic of maps, Unchained at Last’s map tracker on the progress of child marriage laws is another one to bookmark and share. For the quick background on this issue scroll up to action items. For an idea of where these laws are at, check the map here.

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:

• In the green mountain state [Vermont], a bill banning paramilitary training in the state is in its final stages. Paramilitary training basi means training for militia groups [ex: the Proud Boys] and the bill [S.3] would make it a crime to “teach, train, or demonstrate” how to use violent methods to create “civil disorder” ya know like an insurrection.

• Minnesota keeps flexin’ its ability to bring good bills to the table, and that includes the Democracy for the People Act [H.F.3]. If passed, signed, and dated, the bill would allow 16- and 17-year-olds to pre-register to vote, AND establish voter registration. It would also jumpstart a program called “Democracy Dollars” that would refund registered voters up to $50 for campaign contributions. It’s v much in the fam-jam of NYC’s matching funds program, and CT’s. And it would do all of these things that expand voting rights.

• In Colorado, a bill is on the move to address water quality issues for 130K mobile home park residents. The bill [HB23-1257] would create a water quality testing program that’s required to test the aqua of all mobile home parks by July ‘28. It also would require an action plan to be put into place to address issues found and establish a grant program that would help to implement water quality solutions. It goes a little something like this: identify the problem, create a plan to fix it, deliver funds to make it happen.

…and a bill that need to get the boot:

• Montana - do you need a Snickers? You’re not acting like yourself….except wait nope, you’re just like that…set on playing games and limiting free speech by banning TikTok in the state. While this bill [ SB 419] still needs to make it to the governor’s desk, this is like a classic romcom, we all know how this one ends. The bill specifically bans the download of the TikTok app in the state, with penalties of up to $10K a day for any app store that makes the clock app. Now here’s the thing, this law would be pretty impossible to enforce and is lawsuit city. But Republicans love lawsuits, specifically when they use them to move laws up through the court system to SCOTUS [which they stacked]. They play the long game, and that’s what Montana’s GOP has on deck for this one. PS if the law itself does go into effect, it won’t be until Jan ‘24.

Pro Tip: Make your life easier, add your reps’ office number to your contacts. And for good measure, make sure you’re registered to vote.

Read All About It

Gather ‘round, it’s story time featuring reads in the horror department, as well as some that could be categorically called comedy. All-in-all, these reads are certainly something:

• North Dakota has forged a name for itself. First as the location where the world’s largest hamburger was eaten, as the home to the badlands, and as the state that’s requiring sex education classes to show videos and renderings of fetal development from an extremist anti-abortion group known as Live Action. If you’re not already subscribed to Abortion, Every Day, do it now because Jessica Valenti who’s behind the newsletter broke this story. What’s wilder than rice is that the group behind this now required film fest of fake news, is known for producing and distributing deceptive videos. So to recap, in a country where sex ed is not required nor is it required to teach scientifically proven facts, this state is including propaganda in its curriculum. Sick.

• Meanwhile in Iowa, the state’s Republican AG Brenna Bird got in touch with her inner villain and ended state funding for emergency contraception [ex: Plan B] for rape victims. While not required by law for victims previously, the state’s victim compensation fund had covered the cost of Plan B for victims. That fund is funded via fines and penalties paid by individuals convicted of crimes, not general taxpayers – so that classic argument of “taxpayers shouldn’t have to pay for abortions” is out the window.

• If you know someone that works for a company that makes chocolate pudding, maybe check in with them…It’s been a brutal few weeks for the childhood fave food since it was reported that DeSantis eats it with his fingers. And now that it got turned into a full on political ad from MAGA PAC, which dubs him as ‘pudding fingers’ [it kinda rolls off the tongue, no?]. It really gets into the visual and makes one think about how much pudding must get stuck under his nails [hard ick]. It also makes one think about how the fight between Trump and DeSantis is about personality, not policy.

• In a total and complete ‘the girls are fighting’....again moment, tweets were heard ‘round the Democratic sphere about whether Senator Feinstein should stay or should she go. In a move that would never happen with a male senator, numerous elected officials including Congressman Khanna called for her to resign, citing her inability to attend a large number of votes due to illness and its impact on the democratic process [in this case approving judges]. But here’s the thing - Khanna himself decided not to run for the seat that Feinstein holds and has said she is retiring from in ‘24 [which was the girls are fighting round one]. Then he joined Congresswoman Lee’s campaign for the seat. And in parallel but not connected, California Governor Newsom said if Feinstein’s seat needed to be filled, he would appoint a Black woman to it. So in other words, is Khanna’s campaign strategy for Lee to force Feinstein to resign, have Lee appointed and for her to win the seat in full in ‘24 with incumbent advantage? We think so.

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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.

• Congresswoman Katie Porter wants you to know how to white board your way to success in an argument. It’s a brilliant campaign ploy TBH in her run for senate, unlike this swing and miss moment.

• Clarence Thomas now has a diss track. Apparently this happens when you’re a Supreme Court Justice and fail to disclose a real estate deal with a Republican mega-donor who also collects Nazi memorabilia. Ever hear of that phrase “you are the company you keep…” yea, well certainly applies here – and to Clarence’s wife, and insurrection instrumentalist. Anyways, this track will 100% be featured here.

• Speaking of scandals, Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton is going viral on TikTok [and Twitter] for an alleged affair he’s having. Not sure where one fits that into their schedule of ousting democratically elected officials, but alas. As Taylor Swift would say, “karma is my boyfriend.” While we’re on the Swiftie front, this Era’s tour sign is a hard slay.

• The Missouri GOP doesn’t want billboards that look like this, but are down if it looks like this. Talk about a game of hide and seek.

• This water scientist is running for county supervisor in a county that is the size of the entire state of New Jersey. That’s not the only fast fact about it, there’s more here.

• What did Tennessee’s GOP’s wild and wacky actions result in? Progressive Gen-Z’s inspired to run for office, with a surge of interest notched and noted at Run For Something.

The Download

The download on an app you should download.

LALEGE APP: The Louisiana state legislature has released an app dedicated to making the 2023 legislative sesh easier to understand for residents and beyond – think state leg website meets app form. The app, named LALEGE shares deats on the lawmakers in office, committee meetings and floor debates, live vid of chambers [basically Louisiana CSPAN in the palm of your hand], and more to keep people in the know on what’s going on in the state leg. The app can be downloaded for free in the Apple App Store or the Google Play store.

From the official office of…

It’s another D2C [direct to constituent] moment on a Monday, with this resource comin’ in hot off the press [list] to constituent:

BOSTON, MA: Big news for Boston – and no, not because of the marathon [happy marathon Monday to all that celebrate, drink responsibly]. Mayor Michelle Wu has just announced that six Boston community colleges will be offering free tuition of Boston residents. The program provides up to three years of tuition and fee costs at these designated schools. It also provides funding for related education expenses [ex: transportation to school, textbooks, etc]. It also helps with outstanding balances students may have and allows them to re-enroll in these schools. And, omg, yes there is more, it’s available to residents regardless of age, income, or immigration status. That’s the quick 411 of excitement. This is the full FAQ and breakdown of how the Tuition-Free Community College program works.

ELECTION SZN

The following have said put me in coach for….

Candidate Watch ‘23

• NYC Councilmember Julie Won is running for re-election. Learn more about her campaign here.

• Aaron Regunberg has shared that he’s running for Congress, aiming to fill Rep. Cicilline (RI)’s seat in a special election scheduled for September. Learn more about his campaign here.

Candidate Watch ‘24

• US Senator Tammy Baldwin officially announced that she’s running for re-election. Learn more about her campaign here.

• Josh Riley has decided to run for Congress, challenging Republican Marc Molinaro in upstate NY. Learn more about his campaign here.

Follow the money, honey with…

• Decision Desk HQ: Connecting the money trail to the results, Decision Desk keeps readers up to date on election night and every day in between. Forecasting impact and showcasing where the money is flowing and to who, Decision Desk HQ’s newsletter is a must have resource. I mean….this is tea.

• FWIW Newsletter: Tracking digital spending amongst campaigns, advocacy groups, PACs, and political players, the FWIW newsletter keeps the reader's eye on the $ sign – and the trends emerging.

On The Calendar

Tempe, Arizona Special Election: The city of Tempe, AZ has a special election scheduled for May 16, 2023. The ballot will include three ballot propositions for voters to decide on. And, today [April 17] is the last day to register to vote in order to participate in this particular election.

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.

Other Stories to Watch

• A white man shot a 16-year old Black teenager, Ralph Yarl for ringing his doorbell. Ralph was going to pick up his siblings and rang the wrong doorbell. Coverage of the story here and here.

• Marjorie Taylor Greene is beefing with Lindsey Graham. She’s backing the Pentagon leaker, i.e. in support of a member of the military releasing sensitive defense information. Lindsey called her out. She retaliated by posting a doctored image of him with a Bud Light which has now become a far-right dog whistle. Coverage of the story here and here.

• More mass shootings occurred over the weekend including one at a birthday party in Alabama. Coverage of the story here and 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 moodboard 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.

Book a Discovery Call today.

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].