The Gov Hub
Posts
The Gov Hub Newsletter: September 9, 2024

The Gov Hub Newsletter: September 9, 2024

Gov Hub
September 09, 2024

Welcome to The Gov Hub Newsletter by Girl and the Gov®.

This edition is brought to you by Oath, the one-stop-shop for political giving that helps you maximize your impact through data-driven recommendations paired with the issues that are most important to you. Pick the issue that you want to champion and let Oath put your donations to work in critical races and ballot measure campaigns across the country, here.

Was this email forwarded to you? Subscribe here.

THE ACTION ITEMS

Get ‘em done from your phone

ACTION 1 – REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS x BALLOT MEASURES

This action is brought to you by Oath

The Ask: Donate via Oath to secure reproductive rights in SIX states.

The Background: There are six states with stunning gorgeous ballot measures on the ticket this fall that have the power – if voted yes on – to protect reproductive rights for millions of people. A critical component to getting these ballot measures over the finish line is ensuring that voters are aware of them and what they mean – something that requires dollar, dollar bills y’all. Your donation strategically made via Oath can bring necessary awareness and education to voters on these ballot measures in Florida, Missouri, Nebraska, Arizona, Nevada, and Colorado.

ACTION 2 – ELIZABETH STREET GARDEN, NYC

The Ask: Tell Mayor Eric Adams to stop the eviction and demolition of Elizabeth Street Garden.

The Background: For those that frequent or know Elizabeth Street Garden in NYC’s Nolita, you’ll know that it’s core to the community and neighborhood. You’ll know that it’s the only public green space in the neighborhood, something that’s critical in lowering temperatures in this climate crisis. You’ll know that it’s where community programs and events come alive, taking aim at both the loneliness epidemic and the mental health crisis. You’ll know that this park is special – and that demolishing it – when several other project proposals for affordable housing, which would replace empty lots or buildings instead of a park – would be a mistake [and a multi-generational loss] for the community at-large.

ACTION 3 – GUN REFORM

The Ask: Demand grocery stores owners in TX, AL, & OK remove ammunition for sale in their vending machines.

The Background: Three states currently have vending machines that sell ammunition, and it’s legal. In Texas, Alabama, and Oklahoma, access to amo is as easy as finding the closest vending machine - making it more accessible than alcohol despite being a leading killer of children in the U.S. These vending machines need to go.

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

NYFW gave classic Americana the past few days with First Lady Jilly B at both Vogue’s Fashion For Our Future March and Ralph Lauren’s iconic Hampton’s runway show. We’d mention some of Second Daughter Ella Emhoff’s outfits, but y’all already read about our fave one in Yapper’s Digest, right?

A question that needs to be asked more often before making new ‘couple friends’ – do y’all sit on the same side of the booth or across from each other? It’s a litmus test, and this is where Kamala Harris stands [or sits rather] on it.

The most DC app to ever hit the App Store, InPress, now has a waitlist for DC residents and future users who can make friends or romantic connections based on the app matching you via news reading habits and preferences.

This clip making its rounds of VP Harris talking about her prior work in taking crime data and creating solutions that help people is an excellent window into how she approaches getting shit done.

ELECTION SZN 2024

Guides, chatter, who’s who

2024 is a year of surprises, including this potentially competitive US Senate race in Nebraska featuring an Independent candidate and a Republican incumbent.

In a more traditional Dem v. GOP match-up, this congressional race in Alabama is heating up thanks to a redrawn district, putting a Dem flip very much in the line of possibilities.

If you were a teenager and above during the Bush-Cheney years, you’d have never put your money on former VP Dick Cheney endorsing a Democrat for president. But here we are, in 2024, throwing out our bingo cards, as Cheney gets behind Kamala because country > party.

Kamala has her stances on education policy. Trump has his stances on education policy. This split screen shares where they’re each at on six key education policy pillars.

On the topic of “where do they stand” this is where Trump stands on what he’ll do with his adversaries should he win – the short answer: jail them.

HGW LISTENS

Hit play on these pods

The connection between vending machines and politics isn’t one we necessarily saw coming, but it’s one that Oklahoma State Rep. Mickey Dollens chipped away at [this is a pun, IYKYK] on this episode of Girl and the Gov, The Podcast.

Inevitably someone in your circle will ask “okay, but who really is Kamala Harris and what has she done?” and when that happens, you can send them this part one episode of Right Answers Mostly Podcast’s deep dive into our VP and candidate for Prez.

The vibes these days are…. Indescribable because they’re a little this and a little that, and that’s the point of conversation [plus Trump’s unhinged behavior] on this episode of Vibes Only.

Dick Cheney isn’t the only Republican shutting the door on Trump for Kamala this election season, and this episode of Democracy Docket’s podcast with Sarah Longwell, the founder of Republican Voters Against Trump sheds light on what’s going on here.

WAIT, WAIT UPDATE ME

Political stories of note

MARINES AIM TO TACKLE INTERNAL EXTREMISM WITH NEW RULE: Extremism is trying to not just bring main character energy into the atmosphere, but to really be the main character. This has particularly been the case as of recent years within the Marine Corps, which has been battling an influx of extremism related incidents and reports. As a result, a new rule has been issued with the goal of countering the growth in extremism within its ranks. The rule requires that any extremist activity uncovered must be reported within 30 minutes of its discovery. The rule also retracts the security clearance of any military member that possesses it upon a credible accusation. According to USA Today, the new rules follow similar policies undertaken by the U.S. Navy and Army, and also now utilizes the Pentagon’s updated definition of ‘extremism.’

TX SUES BIDEN ADMIN. WITH GOAL OF BEING ABLE TO ACCESS WOMEN’S MEDICAL RECORDS: The state run by the party that claims to want less government is suing the Biden Administration over a federal rule put in place that according to AP, “shields the medical records of women from criminal investigations if they cross state lines to seek abortion where it is legal.” In other words, they want access to those records so that they can pursue criminal investigations against Texans who have sought abortions in other states or otherwise in line with their dangerous state abortion bans and tandem laws. The regulation that they’re seeking to throw to the wind by suing via GOP stat AG [and man who paid $300K in restitution to bring a criminal securities fraud case against him to a close] Ken Paxton, was finalized in April 2024. The rule bans state and local officials from putting on their Sherlock Holmes hats and gathering medical records related to reproductive health care for the purpose of a civil, criminal, or administrative investigation. The rule is vital to protecting those in states where abortion is illegal like Texas.

U.S. TAKES ON MASS SCALE EFFORT BY RUSSIA TO INFLUENCE US PUBLIC & ELECTIONS: Russia loves long walks on the beach, propaganda, espionage, and interfering in U.S. elections [and politics at-large] via social media, traditional media, and a whole strategy – one that has the DOJ announcing several indictments and material seizures in an effort to combat what it’s calling a ‘covert foreign influence operation.” And yes, we are the target of what can only be described as a comprehensive top to bottom media strategy that even included duping conservative influencers – v cute. The 207 page document probs isn’t something you’re going to read [minus our legal jargon aficionado subscribers], but this short explainer will give you the deats in a nutshell.

TRUMP’S SENTENCING IN HUSH $ TRIAL DELAYED TO POST-ELECTION DAY: Teflon Don was debatably handed a win [again, debatably] with the Judge in his hush money [aka election interference] trial postponing his sentencing to November 26, 2024. Judge Juan M. Merchan gave Trump the gift of time in pushing the sentencing date which had been scheduled for September 18, 2024. All-in-all, voters will go to the polls without knowing whether or not the orange man will wear Don an orange suit down the line.

BOOK THESE BOOKS

Reads for your book club

Ballot measures have become the belle of the ball, and this new guide on how to utilize this form of direct democracy by Oklahoma State Rep. Mickey Dollens is a must-read for those trying to get the gist on how they work and beyond.

Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson’s book, titled Lovely One, is out in the world, dropping deats on her life outside of the robe, the sacrifices made, the barriers overcome, and the work to be done.

Lest we forget the massive scandal out of Mississippi that paired Brett Favre and the robbery of welfare funds [like a lot of money] – because it often does go under the radar – this new book, Mississippi Swindle tells the need-to-know story about a state that needs more [Dem] eyes on it.

**BACK ON OUR BILLSH*T**

Bills, bills, bills

FEDERAL: TBT to when 5G was a BFD. Now, this bill – the FUTURE Networks Act or in its long form, the Future Uses of Technology Upholding Reliable and Enhanced Networks Act – would require the FCC to create a 6G Task Force that would report the 411 on ‘six-gen’ wireless technology, with a focus on how it can used and the standards needed. The task force would be composed of companies in the tech-comms industry, institutions and public interest orgs, and government representatives at the from local up to the federal level.

FEDERAL: Who is routing for this bill? A Republican and a Democrat in the House, who’ve sponsored the ROUTERS Act. The bill, if passed, would have the Secretary of Commerce create a study that would investigate the national security risks that exist or don’t exist with regards to consumer routers, modems, and any devices that combine modems and routers. TBH, if we can also get a bill that makes modems less ugly and ensures they actually work, that would be fab too TYSM.

BOOKMARK IT

Save it, send it

NONPROFIT EXPLORER: Please note that the use of this tool will require you to don a Dora the Explorer ‘fit. It’s just the rules. Anyways, the tool – Nonprofit Explorer – from ProPublica, lets you see what nonprofits are up to monetarily, from where they spend the money to how much their execs make. You can also see what orgs are trending in terms of views. Feels like tea szn. Bookmark Nonprofit Explorer here.

KEY READS

Important stories from around the USA

USA Today: In Tim Walz’s home state, Somali immigrants push back on GOP refugee rhetoric
AP: Hawaii can ban guns on beaches, an appeals court says
Politico: ‘People need to see it’: How politics hung up a $42B Biden internet buildout
Axios: Georgia shooting brings gun violence policy into focus in 2024 race