Indeed, there’s a reason the Federal Worker Unions are saying to vote against the CR despite the likely shutdown that would entail
Plus it would teach senate Republicans that they can do basically whatever they want as long as they threaten a shutdown. You have to stand up strong to bullies it’s the only thing they understand
That’s even better certainly. Showing up and protesting outside their office or someplace they can see is great
But the vote is in the morning, so I imagine most of the people here are not going to be able to show up at such short notice
Not immediately
Unlike executive branch agencies, the federal courts can continue operations for about two weeks following a government shutdown. When a shutdown loomed in September 2019, the U.S. federal courts confirmed they could use reserve or carryover funds accumulated from various revenue sources not dependent on Congress, such as case filing fees. When courts are on notice that a government shutdown may be looming, they can take steps to conserve funds by deferring non-critical expenses — for example, by curbing travel, new hires, and certain contracts.
Plus voting in favor of this CR would be codifying much of what these cases are about. Many of the illegal spending cuts would become legal until September making the cases moot.
It would also fuck over DC local government in a way the executive branch cannot easily do. Congress can control DC budgets but very little of the DC budget comes from federal money (<1%) where Trump could mess with. The CR has a clause to cut $1 billion from their budget despite that not saving the federal government any money
I mean that they tally support / oppose issue in volume. Congressional staffers do note that calls matter in terms of people’s votes. They are used a proxy for the opinions of constituents and also how strongly people hold those beliefs. Whether or not that’s fair is a different question. Republicans have historically been waaaay better than leftists about flooding the phone, but the large backlash here is starting to have an impact.
Some of the senators have switched their pledged vote in large part due to the calls. For instance, Tim Kaine went from actively encouraging others to vote in favor of letting it pass the filibuster to now being a hard no against it
Plus other dems in congress are deeply pissed about it on the house side. The larger the number of calls the more ammo they have to senate dems. This is the kind of ideal situation for outside voices mattering - when people within the system are pissed with you
What we’re hearing: House Democrats’ text chains lit up Thursday night with expressions of blinding anger, according to numerous lawmakers who described the conversations on the condition of anonymity.
“People are PISSED,” one House Democrat told Axios in a text message. Several members — including moderates — have begun voicing support for a primary challenge to Schumer, floating Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.) as possible candidates, three House Democrats said.
One lawmaker even vowed at the House Democratic retreat to “write a check tonight” supporting Ocasio-Cortez, said the senior House Democrat
https://www.axios.com/2025/03/14/house-democrats-angry-chuck-schumer-shutdown
Leave voicemails, those matter too when they see them in the morning
This is about volume of calls. That’s what they tally
House dems are pissed enough at senate dems right now that she actually might be able to move up. This is the ideal moment for outside leverage where people within the system are pissed off
What we’re hearing: House Democrats’ text chains lit up Thursday night with expressions of blinding anger, according to numerous lawmakers who described the conversations on the condition of anonymity.
“People are PISSED,” one House Democrat told Axios in a text message. Several members — including moderates — have begun voicing support for a primary challenge to Schumer, floating Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.) as possible candidates, three House Democrats said.
One lawmaker even vowed at the House Democratic retreat to “write a check tonight” supporting Ocasio-Cortez, said the senior House Democrat
https://www.axios.com/2025/03/14/house-democrats-angry-chuck-schumer-shutdown
Turns out it was actually 10 as I accidentally counted Cortez Masto as two people whoops
Schumer, Hassan, Peters, Durbin, Schatz, King, Shaheen, Fetterman, Cortez Masto and Gillibrand
https://bsky.app/profile/joshtpm.bsky.social/post/3lkbxyja44s2c
In terms of what’s more confirmed by statement and such here’s one tracker that seems to somewhat regularly update
Kevin McCarthy would still be the house leader if that were 100% true. Congressional leadership can changed with enough intrer-party pressure. Schumer is highly unlikely to face any expulsion vote from congress, but he could more realistically be stripped of leadership position. This is a breaking point that might actually build that pressure and we can play a roll in that by calling your senators.
Not delaying Trump’s nominees with all tools (only some of them) isn’t nearly serious as him pushing to give up the one piece of genuine dem leverage until September for basically no gain. Directed pressure - not on social media - but in places senators can see will let us do it. That means calling them, emailing them, hell even faxing, showing up in person to their office and town halls, etc.
Also do this for the bill vote itself too before tomorrow morning. See my comment about we can still block this vote
Call your senators, they can still block this despite Schumers push. The vote is tomorrow. If all republican vote for it, they need 7 dems. 8 with Rand Paul who has said he’ll vote no. (Republicans are not using reconciliation so it needs the the filibuster)
Many senate dems are publicly coming out against voting for cloture (meaning they won’t vote to let it get through the filibuster). As of what I last read, around 11 10 dems are thought to potentially vote to let it pass filibuster. Most of those are still not sure. We only need a handful more of those to become noes and it will get blocked. Some yeses have flipped to noes because of public pressure. We cannot let up now
Link to find direct numbers your senators
https://www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm
Or call the capitol switch board (202) 224-3121
House dems are publicly telling the senate not to do this (and it’s not just AOC on this - it’s quite a few of them). Earlier read that 7 Dem state AGs are saying the same. Federal worker unions are telling senate dems not do this. Keep the pressure up
They are doing a lot of these things, the media is just barely covering it. Here’s that coverage brought up higher. Could they and should they do more, absolutely and do put directed pressure them to do more, but let’s not pretend they are doing nothing. That just creates defeatism instead of the energy we need to keep the pressure up
Handful of the lawsuits that you probably didn’t hear about:
Democratic AGs win preliminary injunction against DOGE access to Treasury payment systems
Gov. Josh Shapiro Says Over $2 Billion of Federal Funding Is Unfrozen for Pennsylvania (following PA’s lawsuit)
20 Dem AGs sue over Trump efforts to fire probationary employees
Democratic AGs sue over cancellation of teacher grants
More than a dozen state attorneys general file lawsuit challenging Musk and DOGE’s authority
Democratic attorneys general sue to block Trump’s attempt to end birthright citizenship
Democratic National Committee Files Lawsuit Against Trump
And so many more. There are an insane number of lawsuits going on right now
In delay tactics, they could do more, but they have now starting using them. It’s more than zero that’s for sure. Keep the pressure up here for them to do more. Call your reps to deny unanimous consent more often - it’s starting to get through a bit. Here’s a few examples
Senate Democrats Hold Floor In All-Night Protest of Trump’s OMB Nominee (they held it for the maximum 30 hours)
Scoop: Senate Dems delay Tulsi Gabbard nomination (were able to do so because of some procedural stuff with how she filed her clearance)
Senate Democrats delay Kash Patel committee vote
In terms of protests, they are also speaking and rallying at them with again limited coverage. Here’s a few
Democrats Protest Outside USAID Headquarters as Trump Seeks to Dismantle Agency
Dems protesting outside the department of education, trying to get in and denied entry
Dems protesting outside of the EPA
And so on
Watch for any movement / build up of troops. He could still be bluffing here, but this is more than what he’s done for other places as far as I’m aware. His actions and orders from here out will be much more telling than any of his words will be