Indivisible Weekly: Coronavirus Edition

Indivisibles,

As many of you have likely seen and heard in the news, U.S. and global leaders are working on preparing their response to the coronavirus outbreak. We’re excited to report that a bipartisan funding bill to address the coronavirus outbreak has been signed into law to fund efforts to develop a vaccine and assist local and state governments’ responses. This bill also includes safeguards like transfer restrictions for the funding to keep Trump from stealing money for bad things (like his border wall, immigration enforcement, etc).

The bill also has language to help ensure that treatments and vaccines are affordable and accessible to everyone, not just the wealthy. We’ll keep you updated as we learn more as these measures get implemented, but we wanted to give a big “thank you” to all who called Congress to urge an appropriate response to this outbreak. You can read NPR’s coverage of the bill by clicking here.

We also want to acknowledge concerns we’ve heard that activists (even our own) are feeling apprehensive about hosting meetings and events in light of the virus. We encourage folks to respond in a way that feels appropriate and comfortable based on the information and resources you have about the status of coronavirus in your area. Here are some resources that may be helpful to you in planning:

• How to prepare for coronavirus in the U.S. Read this article for practical tips on how to prepare.
• Free advanced video conferencing for meetings of up to 250 participants through Google. If you feel more comfortable hosting meetings virtually, consider using this resource that Google announced it is rolling out for free to all users in response to the outbreak to meet virtually.

Even though we’ve helped push legislation through Congress, there are some things you can be doing right now to alleviate those worries and help prevent catching or spreading #COVID19:

1. Avoid close contact with people who are already sick.
2. This one seems like common sense but still needs to be said — cover your coughs and sneezes. And afterward, you need to throw away your tissue and get a new one.
3. This one is hard to do once you’re told to but it is so important! Don’t touch your face! Not your eyes, your nose, mouth, cheeks, any of it.
4. Stock up on disinfectant and use it. Clean any and all frequently touched surfaces and objects.
5. Stay home if you’re sick except to get medical care. Unfortunately in the world we live in this one is difficult for many people but if you’re able to please stay home.
6. Wash your hands often WITH SOAP for at least 20 seconds. Just sing happy birthday to yourself twice — that’s the suggested length of time.

The reality is that even if you think you’re fine and have a strong immune system, it’s important that we all follow these steps to protect our neighbors and friends who are more vulnerable to the disease. We all have a responsibility to take care of each other and these are small first steps.

Okay. Now, we wanna plug you into the top 5 ways you can get involved right now and a whole host of issues our Indivisible groups are focusing on:

Our Top 5 Weekly To-Dos

1. Demand that Congress stop war with Iran. The House may vote this week on Sen. Kaine’s war powers resolution (S.J.Res.68) that would prevent Trump from waging war with Iran unless Congress authorizes it. Call your MoC this week to tell them to vote Yes on the Kaine war powers resolution.
2. Demand that your Representative support the #NoBanAct. This week, the House will vote on the No Ban Act to repeal Trump’s Muslim Ban. The ban was one of the first executive actions Trump announced when he took office, and since then he has only made it broader and more severe. Use the resources at the #NoMuslimBanEver campaign website linked here to contact your Representative and tell them to #RepealTheBan!
3. Tell your Representative it’s time to end surprise medical bills. Every day, over 10,000 families in the United States receive a surprise medical bill. Congress needs to act to protect patients, and in the process hold down health care costs for families and the health system overall. Call your Representative and tell them to end surprise medical bills for health services!
4. Text PAYBACK to 977–79 and join this fight right now. Even in the three weeks since we launched this project, we’ve already seen twists and turns and had to drop everything to respond to new Republican schemes. We know that’s not going to stop, which is why we need even more folks texting, donating, and joining local groups as we continue to get payback now until the election!

2020 Presidential Primary Update

Last week was a bit of a rollercoaster, folks. Super Tuesday took some unexpected turns and the race winnowed even further. There are still 3,405 delegates — 62% of all delegates — up for grabs in this Democratic primary cycle, and there remain ample opportunities for the race to shift. Read on to get a recap of the last 7 days, and what to expect this week.

• Super Tuesday shifted the balances. Last week’s contests on Super Tuesday dramatically changed the landscape of this primary cycle. In an unexpected shift, former VP Joe Biden gained a strong foothold from his surprising wins in Texas, Massachusetts, and Minnesota, all places where Sen. Bernie Sanders was projected to win. Biden netted 78 more Super Tuesday delegates than Sanders, putting Biden ahead in the total delegate count with 664 to Sanders’ 573.
• Sen. Elizabeth Warren dropped out of the Democratic primary on March 5. Warren’s campaign was historic, inclusive, responsive, and grounded in heart AND policy. She earned the top spot on our 2020 candidate scorecard for her progressive platform and democracy plans. Though she’s out of the race, we know that she’ll continue to inspire the grassroots to persist. Self-funded billionaire candidate Mike Bloomberg also dropped out of the race on March 4, after three months on the campaign trail and over $500,000,000 spent on advertising alone. Bloomberg has endorsed Biden and pledged to put his personnel and financial resources behind the eventual nominee.
• Six states will be voting tomorrow in the Democratic primary: Idaho, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota, and Washington. A total of 352 delegates will be up for grabs. We’ll be keeping a close eye on delegate-rich Michigan, which holds over 1/3 of tomorrow’s delegates. The outcome in Michigan could, yet again, shift the trajectory of the primary. Want to improve your candidate’s chances in any of the “Big Tuesday” states? There’s still time for you to make an impact in this primary! Check out Indivisible’s “How to Impact the Primary” resource for more info on what you can do. Not sure who to support? Take a look at our scorecard and see how the candidates stack up.

That’s all we have for you today. Stay aware, stay vigilant, and above all, it’s important to be safe. We’re committed to keeping you informed as we know more about the outbreak and how it may impact our work going forward.

In solidarity,
Indivisible Team