Friday, May 27, 2016

Tell the IRS: Hold billionaires accountable

Dear MoveOn member,

I'm Alexis Goldstein of the organization Americans for Financial Reform, and I started a petition to Treasury Secretary Jack Lew, IRS Commissioner John Koskinen, and IRS Chief Counsel William J. Wilkins, which says:

We urge the IRS to gather information so that the public can understand the TRUE amount of tax money we lose each year due to millionaire and billionaire private equity fund managers using the unfair carried interest tax loophole.

The carried interest tax loophole allows wealthy private equity managers to pay taxes at a lower rate than teachers, firefighters, and nurses. What's even worse is that we don't even know how much tax money we lose each year to millionaire and billionaire fund managers taking advantage of this loophole. But the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has the power to fix this, and to "show us the (lost) money."

We urge the IRS to require alternative asset managers—like private equity funds—to disclose in their annual tax filings the amount of carried interest they received.

Click here to add your name to this petition, and then pass it along to your friends.

Thanks!

—Alexis Goldstein

P.S. Want to learn more? See Americans for Financial Reform's letter to the IRS: bit.ly/showusthelostmoney

You're receiving this petition because we thought it might interest you. It was created on MoveOn.org, where anyone can start their own online petitions. You can start your own petition here.

Want to support our work? MoveOn member contributions have powered our work together for more than 17 years. Hundreds of thousands of people chip in each year—which is why we're able to be fiercely independent, answering to no individual, corporation, politician, or political party. You can become a monthly donor by clicking here, or chip in a one-time gift here.


Thursday, May 26, 2016

Bernie Sanders, Bill McKibben, and Keith Ellison need you

Every vote that Bernie wins in California will get us closer to the "strongest progressive agenda that any political party has ever seen."

MoveOn for Bernie

Dear MoveOn member,

Bernie Sanders won "unprecedented say over the Democratic Party platform" this week and named progressive powerhouses, including climate change author and visionary Bill McKibben and Congressional Progressive Caucus co-chair Keith Ellison, to the party's platform drafting committee.1

Progressives now hold a majority of seats on this committee, which will set the Democratic Party's policy platform for the next four years.2

Every vote and every delegate that Bernie wins in California and the other states voting on June 7 will give Bernie's committee members more leverage to write the "strongest progressive agenda that any political party has ever seen” at the Democratic convention.3

California has more delegates at stake than any other state, and a new poll out yesterday shows the race in California is a dead heat.4

Can you help Bernie win California by calling Californians this weekend to help identify Bernie supporters? Bernie's staff and volunteers will then make sure those supporters get out and vote. Call from your own home or meet up with a friend and call together.

Democratic Party operatives typically appoint the 15-member drafting committee. But the strength of Bernie's political revolution forced party officials to the table to negotiate with Bernie’s campaign.

Bernie was able to appoint five members, who will be fighting for the Democratic Party to officially embrace a $15 minimum wage, break up big banks, ban fracking, and end our corrupt campaign finance system.

If Bernie wins big on June 7, his team will have the momentum and power to shape the Democratic Party platform for the next four years and beyond.

Will you sign up for one or more shifts this weekend to call Californians? Calling is fun and easy with Bernie's state-of-the-art tools, and it's the most effective way you can make a difference.

Thanks for all you do.

—Matt, Mark, Hannah, Emily, and the rest of the MoveOn for Bernie team

Sources:

1. "Sanders wins greater say in Democratic platform; names pro-Palestinian activist," The Washington Post, May 23, 2016
https://act.moveon.org/go/3928?t=4&akid=165429.10220574.-Kdy5q

2. "The Democratic Platform Committee Now Has a Progressive Majority. Thanks, Bernie Sanders." The Nation, May 24, 2016
http://act.moveon.org/go/3909?t=6&akid=165429.10220574.-Kdy5q

3. Ibid.

4. "California Up for Grabs, Poll Finds, as Clinton and Sanders Battle," The New York Times, May 26, 2016
http://act.moveon.org/go/3929?t=8&akid=165429.10220574.-Kdy5q

Want to support our work? We're going all out to help Bernie Sanders win the Democratic nomination and change the Democratic Party. But we can't do it without small-dollar donations from people like you. Click here to chip in.


PAID FOR BY MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION, http://pol.moveon.org/. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

This email was sent to Eddie Alfaro on May 27th, 2016. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To opt out of "MoveOn for Bernie" emails, click here. To remove yourself from the MoveOn.org list, click here.

Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Put the sun to work in Inwood

Make the simple, meaningful switch to solar energy for your home.

Dear MoveOn member,

One day last week, Germany generated so much renewable energy that power prices went negative—it had to pay people to use electricity!1 How amazing is that?

This suggests the vision of powering a country with 100% renewable energy is closer than we think. Adopting clean energy on a mass scale will make a big difference in the important fight against climate change.

With a simple step, you can be part of the big wave of Americans switching to clean energy and battling the climate crisis—go solar and help turn this renewable vision into reality.

MoveOn is working with solar company Sungevity to help members go solar in an easy, cost-effective way.

Find out more about switching to solar. Sungevity will give you a $1,000 discount on your solar system if you sign up this month via this email.

If you request more information with the link above, Sungevity will call you and walk you through the options. They’ll manage all the details of any installation and offer various financing choices, including 0% down.

Sungevity will also give MoveOn.org Civic Action $750 for each sign-up. This will help power our campaigns for progressive change, including the fight against climate change and the harmful influence of the Big Oil lobby in Congress.

Click here to learn more about how solar can work for you. If you switch in May via MoveOn, you’ll get a $1,000 discount.

Solar is the fastest-growing energy source in America, and it's now cost-competitive with fossil fuels in many places across the country.2 Fight climate change and help bring our 100% renewable energy future closer by switching to solar today.

Thanks for all you do.

—Tzyh, Robert, Bobby, Jamiah, and the rest of the team


P.S. This partnership with Sungevity is part of a bigger effort to connect MoveOn members to paths for wider progressive change—while raising funds to help make MoveOn stronger in the process. We'll always be transparent about how partnerships like this one help our work together—and we'd love to know what you think! Please click here to tell us what you think of this email.

P.P.S. If you would like to stop receiving our emails about Sungevity, you can opt out here.

Sungevity offer valid for new solar energy plans entered into, or purchases made using MoveOn's referral code between 5/1/2016 and 5/31/2016. After this period, discount will revert to $750. Offer is non-transferable and cannot be combined with any other offers or promotions, or redeemed for cash. Payment will be made to MoveOn Civic Action within 90 days of system interconnection. Availability varies according to location, electricity usage, and utility company. Your actual savings will vary and are dependent on several factors, including your payment plan, system production, geography, weather, shade, electricity usage, and utility rate structures and rate increases. For more information on how we calculate savings, please visit http://www.sungevity.com/savings. Solar customers can earn credit from their utilities through a process called “net metering”. Net metering policies can be changed in the future by entities over which Sungevity has no control. In some areas, the right to claim environmental impacts may be sold in the form of renewable energy credits (RECs). More information can be found here: https://www.epa.gov/greenpower/renewable-energy-certificates-recs. CA CSLB 909236; MA HIC 168572; other contractor licenses: http://www.sungevity.com/contact-us. Sungevity Inc. 66 Franklin St. Suite 310, Oakland, CA 94607.

Sources:

1. “Germany had so much renewable energy on Sunday that it had to pay people to use electricity,” Quartz.com, May 10, 2016
http://qz.com/680661/germany-had-so-much-renewable-energy-on-sunday-that-it-had-to-pay-people-to-use-electricity/

2. “US Solar Market Set to Grow 119% in 2016, Installations to Reach 16 GW,” Solar Energy Industries Association, March 9, 2016
http://www.seia.org/news/us-solar-market-set-grow-119-2016-installations-reach-16-gw

Want to support our work? MoveOn member contributions have powered our work together for more than 17 years. Hundreds of thousands of people chip in each year—which is why we're able to be fiercely independent, answering to no individual, corporation, politician, or political party. You can become a monthly donor by clicking here, or chip in a one-time gift here.


Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Attend a screening of my movie?

Dear MoveOn member,

Last week, I emailed MoveOn members offering them a copy of my latest movie, "Where to Invade Next," for a donation to MoveOn, and the response was just overwhelming. Tens of thousands of you responded by donating! Now I'm excited to announce that MoveOn members across the country will be opening their homes and hosting community screenings of "Where to Invade Next" next week, on Thursday, June 2.

I have to admit ... this is one of the very cool things about MoveOn members. You open your homes to each other. You get together in person to share ideas. These days, that's more important than ever, which is why I hope you'll join fellow MoveOn members to check out my film and get to know a few of your neighbors.

Good news: there's a screening near you on June 2. What could be easier? Want to go?

Yes, I want to attend a movie party to watch "Where to Invade Next"

The movie is about how America can grab some good ideas from the rest of the world to make our own economy and society work better for everybody. Other developed countries have successfully implemented progressive ideas such as breaking up the big banks, universal health care, and criminal justice reform, but the movie is also about how change happens—and how what seems impossible can become real, if we just work together, think big, and don't give up.

The movie party nearest to you is at  7:30 PM on June 2 in Flushing - Queens - NYC, NY.

RSVP now to attend this screening on June 2.

You can also click here to search by zipcode for other screenings in your area.

This will be a great opportunity to meet like-minded community members and discuss how we as a country can take back the conversation from Trump's divisive rhetoric and move our progressive values back to the center of the political debate.

Thanks for all you do.

—Michael Moore


You can see WHERE TO INVADE NEXT now on DVD, Blu-rayTM and On Demand.

Want to support our work? MoveOn member contributions have powered our work together for more than 17 years. Hundreds of thousands of people chip in each year—which is why we're able to be fiercely independent, answering to no individual, corporation, politician, or political party. You can become a monthly donor by clicking here, or chip in a one-time gift here.


Monday, May 23, 2016

Oh no no no no

The latest polling on Trump is very, very scary news for America. We need to act.

Dear MoveOn member,

The unthinkable is happening: Donald Trump is surging in major new national polls out this past week.1,2,3

Now that he's the presumptive GOP nominee, Trump is polling within the margin of error—or even ahead—in match-ups against Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton. Their once substantial leads over Trump are gone.

We simply cannot indulge in the fantasy that Democrats have this election in the bag.

MoveOn has been preparing a three-pronged plan to make sure Trump never gets anywhere close to the nuclear codes. But these polls are telling us that we urgently need to speed up the timeline. Can you chip in $3 to accelerate the fight against Trump before he locks in a lead in the polls?

Click here to chip in right now to help stop a Trump presidency.

Remember the Republican primary, when the political data analyst Nate Silver gave Trump a 2% chance of winning the nomination?4

Let’s make a collective promise to ourselves: no more déjà vu. We need to stop underestimating Trump. 

We’ve got the right strategy (more on that below). We know that we’re united as a MoveOn community against Trump: In an all-member vote this April, 71% voted to launch a major campaign to show that America rejects Trump’s racism, misogyny, and violence, while continuing our work to support Bernie Sanders in the primaries and caucuses. And members made that commitment even before Trump locked up the primary—since then, the commitment of MoveOn members has only grown stronger.

The question now is whether we’ll have the resources to hit full speed ASAP in the anti-Trump campaign. Can you chip in?

Please click here right now to chip in $3 to help stop Trump’s momentum.

What’s the plan to beat Trump? It’s a 1-2-3 punch:

  • Wake everybody up. If progressives snooze, we’ll lose. MoveOn is reaching out to celebrities and other high-profile people of every sort to engage them in a campaign to reach every progressive in America and convince them that Trump may win this election. Our first video, featuring Van Jones, has already been viewed 1.3 million times. We’ve got to ramp this up until nobody on our side wrongly believes this election will be a cakewalk.
     
  • Persuade the conflicted middle. For millions of Americans, some aspects of Trump are repellent—but some are appealing. These voters aren’t centrists, they’re conflicted. We need to reach them where they are. We’ve begun an intensive research operation to figure out, for folks on the fence, exactly what ideas will pull them back from supporting Trump. Next up: a massive cultural campaign to ensure they hear the best messages from the right messengers.
     
  • Organize, organize, organize—leaving no voter behind. Political scientists talk about the “rising American electorate”: people of color, unmarried women, and millennials, who together will make up a majority of voters in 2016. Well, a lot of people on the right are determined to keep this electorate from rising. We won’t let them. We’re going to build a massive grassroots organizing program to turn out these and other anti-Trump voters, aiming to win—and to win big enough that we not only beat Trump, but we also beat Trump's hateful rhetoric. We have to make it crystal clear that stoking hate is not a viable strategy in American politics.

You might be thinking, “Great! But we need to get started on this yesterday.”

Fortunately, we did. Months ago, in fact. But we’ve still got to accelerate the timetable—because even though we told ourselves not to underestimate Trump, we didn’t think he’d move this far this fast.

Can you chip in to help us supercharge the anti-Trump campaign?

Yes, I'll chip in $3 now to help keep Trump out of the White House.

This fight is about more than winning an election. It’s about defining the kind of country we want to be.

Already in America, we’re hearing stories about Muslim children waking up scared, terrified that Trump will win and kick them and their families out of the country—or worse.5 Kids of all religions are seeing someone powerful on TV saying that this country is not for everyone, hurling insults, supporting violence, and bullying adults into submission.

We can’t wait any longer. This isn’t politics. This is about being able to tell future generations that when our nation's soul was on the line, we wasted no time and spared no effort.

Thanks for all you do.

—Ben W., Maria, Scott, Hannah, and the rest of the team 

Sources:

1. "Poll: Election 2016 shapes up as a contest of negatives," The Washington Post, May 21, 2016
https://act.moveon.org/go/3860?t=17&akid=165323.10220574.0yJrSl

2. “Fox News Poll: 2016 national release May 18,” Fox News, May 18, 2016
http://act.moveon.org/go/3830?t=19&akid=165323.10220574.0yJrSl

3. "Exclusive: Trump surges in support, almost even with Clinton in national U.S. poll," Reuters, May 11, 2016
http://act.moveon.org/go/3831?t=21&akid=165323.10220574.0yJrSl

4. “Donald Trump’s Six Stages of Doom,” FiveThirtyEight, August 6, 2015
http://act.moveon.org/go/3832?t=23&akid=165323.10220574.0yJrSl

5. "Muslim child's fear: 'Is Trump going to exile us?'" Chicago Tribune, March 3, 2016
http://act.moveon.org/go/3845?t=25&akid=165323.10220574.0yJrSl

 

Want to support our work? MoveOn member contributions have powered our work together for more than 17 years. Hundreds of thousands of people chip in each year—which is why we're able to be fiercely independent, answering to no individual, corporation, politician, or political party. You can become a monthly donor by clicking here, or chip in a one-time gift here.


PAID FOR BY MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION, http://pol.moveon.org/. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

Sunday, May 22, 2016

Verizon management: Can you hear us now?!

A month ago, Verizon workers went on strike. They walked out to demand fair jobs from a company that makes billions of dollars of profit a year and to protest plans to offshore more jobs, to make workers move outside of their communities, and weaken benefits for experienced workers and retirees.

Nearly 40,000 striking workers are now entering their third pay period without a paycheck, and, to date, Verizon hasn't budged. But the company is under increasing pressure, and if Verizon sees that enough of its customers and the customers of its competitors stand with workers to demand fair jobs, they'll have no choice but to listen to workers. Can you add your voice? Stand with Verizon workers and sign Verizon employees Jennifer Masferrer and Isaac Collazo's petition to tell Verizon to do the right thing.


Dear MoveOn member,

We're Jennifer Masferrer and Isaac Collazo. We're striking Verizon employees and members of the Communications Workers of America, and we started a petition to Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam, which says:

​Enough is enough. Settle a fair contract with Verizon and Verizon Wireless workers now.

We are on strike because we will do whatever it takes to create a better workplace for ourselves and those that follow.

We're standing together to make sure the needs of working families are met, instead of standing by as a handful of individuals get richer and richer.

We're standing together because Verizon has fired, threatened, and intimidated working people at Verizon Wireless who are trying to create a better future for themselves and their families.

We're standing together because we want to earn a living in our own communities instead of moving away from our homes and our families. We want good jobs to stay in the United States, not be sent overseas.

We're standing together to make sure that working people at Verizon like us can not only make a good living, but also have a good life.

Let Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam know that you stand with us.

Click here to add your name to this petition, and then pass it along to your friends.

Thanks!

—Jennifer Masferrer and Isaac Collazo

Sources:

1. "36,000 Verizon workers go on strike," CNN Money, April 13, 2016
http://act.moveon.org/go/3753?t=5&akid=165300.10220574.XXXxjS

2. "Bernie Sanders Rallies With Striking Verizon Workers," NBC News, April 18, 2016
http://act.moveon.org/go/3754?t=7&akid=165300.10220574.XXXxjS

You're receiving this petition because we thought it might interest you. It was created on MoveOn.org, where anyone can start their own online petitions. You can start your own petition here.

Want to support our work? MoveOn member contributions have powered our work together for more than 17 years. Hundreds of thousands of people chip in each year—which is why we're able to be fiercely independent, answering to no individual, corporation, politician, or political party. You can become a monthly donor by clicking here, or chip in a one-time gift here.


Saturday, May 21, 2016

Poisoned by DuPont

DuPont has already agreed to compensate victims of its misconduct, but the company is lining the pockets of Wall Street billionaires instead. Sign the petition.

Dear MoveOn member,

I'm Earl Botkin of Corporate Action Network, and I am dying from C-8, a chemical that DuPont deliberately dumped into the Ohio River and landfills, where it made its way into the water that I, my family, and thousands of others drink every day.1 I started a petition to DuPont CEO Ed Breen, which says:

DuPont already agreed to compensate me and the other victims of its misconduct, but the company is delaying helping us in order to line the pockets of a couple of Wall Street billionaires. People are dying. It's time to put health over Wall Street profits.

C-8 is a byproduct of Teflon, which DuPont manufactured in Parkersburg, West Virginia since the 1950s. The company knew the chemical was harmful since the 1960s, but they never told anyone, including the thousands of West Virginia and Ohio residents that were drinking it in their water every day.2

Now I and thousands of others are dying from C-8, and DuPont is delaying compensating us and cleaning our water in order to save money for Wall Street investors.3

Why are our lives worth less than theirs?

Click here to add your name to this petition, and then pass it along to your friends.

Thanks!

—Earl Botkin

Sources:

1. "Toxic legacy: key players," The News Journal, April 3, 2016
http://act.moveon.org/go/3827?t=5&akid=165286.10220574.dLeFvP

2. "The Lawyer Who Became DuPont’s Worst Nightmare," The New York Times, January 6, 2016
http://act.moveon.org/go/3828?t=7&akid=165286.10220574.dLeFvP

3. "C8 victims, DuPont fight over merger documents," The News Journal, May 13, 2016
http://act.moveon.org/go/3829?t=9&akid=165286.10220574.dLeFvP

You're receiving this petition because we thought it might interest you. It was created on MoveOn.org, where anyone can start their own online petitions. You can start your own petition here.

Want to support our work? MoveOn member contributions have powered our work together for more than 17 years. Hundreds of thousands of people chip in each year—which is why we're able to be fiercely independent, answering to no individual, corporation, politician, or political party. You can become a monthly donor by clicking here, or chip in a one-time gift here.


Friday, May 20, 2016

Stand with the transgender community

Right-wing laws like North Carolina's HB2 aren't just about bathrooms. They are deliberate and coordinated attacks on transgender people.

Dear MoveOn member,
 
Right-wing Republican lawmakers keep claiming that laws like North Carolina's HB2—the anti-LGBT law that denies transgender people the right to use the bathroom that corresponds to their gender—are simply about privacy and safety in the bathroom.

But these laws are a deliberate and coordinated attack on transgender people.

That's why the U.S. Department of Justice announced a lawsuit against the state of North Carolina. Attorney General Loretta Lynch made clear when she announced the lawsuit two weeks ago that HB2, and laws like it, are in direct violation of the Civil Rights Act.1

Her speech was a major moment in the fight for civil rights for all Americans, and it's important for everyone to hear, in Attorney General Lynch's words, why the U.S. Department of Justice has taken this historic step to protect the rights of transgender Americans.

Will you watch and share this video of Attorney General Lynch announcing the Department of Justice's lawsuit against the state of North Carolina?

Click to watch and share the video now.

By legalizing discrimination, laws like HB2 contribute to the alienation of, violence against, and institutionalized criminalization of transgender people.

Transgender youth are far more likely than their peers to suffer from depression, to be expelled from their communities, and even, tragically, to end their lives. And transgender people of every age risk harassment and assault every time they leave their home or simply use a public bathroom.2 One school board member in North Carolina was even encouraging students to carry pepper spray to use to hurt transgender students in school bathrooms.3

Attorney General Lynch made it clear why this fight is so important and what's at stake. She said: 

"This is not the first time that we have seen discriminatory responses to historic moments of progress for our nation. We saw it in the Jim Crow laws that followed the Emancipation Proclamation. We saw it in fierce and widespread resistance to Brown v. Board of Education.
You've been told that this law protects vulnerable populations from harm—but that just is not the case. Instead, what this law does is inflict further indignity on a population that has already suffered far more than its fair share. This law provides no benefit to society—all it does is harm innocent Americans."4

Click here to watch and share Attorney General Lynch's remarks now.

Since HB2 was passed in North Carolina, the backlash has been furious: corporations have announced plans to leave North Carolina, musicians have canceled concerts and festivals, and protests have erupted across the state.5 The issue of transgender rights and equality have been forced into the public eye and the nation is taking notice.

In the last two weeks, President Obama has directed all public schools to treat transgender students fairly.6 And we let corporations that take a progressive stand on this issue, like Target, know that they have our support. More than 125,000 MoveOn members like you signed a petition started by a teacher and MoveOn member in Washington state standing with Target in support of transgender Americans. Thousands more have sent messages directly to Target executives.7

Right-wing legislators across the country are still pushing bills to deny LGBT people their dignity and civil rights. It's more important than ever to hear and share Attorney General Lynch’s words with others in our community. Will you watch and share her speech now?

Click here to watch and share Attorney General Lynch's remarks now.

Thank you for all you do.

—Corinne, Ann, Robert, Ben O., and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "Four Reasons Attorney General Loretta Lynch’s Speech is a Milestone for Transgender Equality," Human Rights Campaign, May 10, 2016
https://act.moveon.org/go/3801?t=5&akid=165284.10220574.otUz0M

2. "Transgender people face alarmingly high risk of suicide," USA Today, August 16, 2015
http://act.moveon.org/go/3802?t=7&akid=165284.10220574.otUz0M

3. "N.C. School Board Member Encourages Students to Pepper Spray Trans Classmates," The Advocate, May 11, 2016
http://act.moveon.org/go/3803?t=9&akid=165284.10220574.otUz0M

4. "Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch Delivers Remarks at Press Conference Announcing Complaint Against the State of North Carolina to Stop Discrimination Against Transgender Individuals," United States Department of Justice, May 9, 2016
https://act.moveon.org/go/3804?t=11&akid=165284.10220574.otUz0M

5. "How North Carolina’s bathroom law sparked a business backlash," PBS NewsHour, April 28, 2016
http://act.moveon.org/go/3805?t=13&akid=165284.10220574.otUz0M

6. "U.S. Directs Public Schools to Allow Transgender Access to Restrooms," New York Times, May 12, 2016
http://act.moveon.org/go/3806?t=15&akid=165284.10220574.otUz0M

7. "Backlash, praise for Target's position on transgender issue picks up steam," Minneapolis Star Tribune, April 30, 2016
http://act.moveon.org/go/3589?t=17&akid=165284.10220574.otUz0M

Want to support our work? MoveOn member contributions have powered our work together for more than 17 years. Hundreds of thousands of people chip in each year—which is why we're able to be fiercely independent, answering to no individual, corporation, politician, or political party. You can become a monthly donor by clicking here, or chip in a one-time gift here.


Host a screening of Michael Moore's latest movie?

Dear MoveOn member,

Will you host a fun, engaging movie night to watch Michael Moore's latest film with fellow MoveOn members?

Michael Moore is an Oscar-winning filmmaker, an activist, and a longtime MoveOn partner—and his newest documentary, "Where to Invade Next," uses his signature humor, irreverence, and humanity to show how commonsense policies like universal health care, paid family leave, and free higher education actually work.

The timing couldn’t be better. The Democratic presidential primary has brought focus to the need to take on our rigged economy and create a more just society—as millions of voters have demanded that candidates speak to a truly progressive agenda. But now, Donald Trump's campaign of hate and vitriol threatens to hijack our political discussion. The best way to stand up to Trump’s divisiveness is to join together around a hopeful vision for our country—and “Where to Invade Next” helps us do just that.

Can you host a screening of “Where to Invade Next” on Thursday, June 2? We'll send you a free copy of the DVD, invite other MoveOn members in your area to join you, and help you make this a fun, engaging, successful event.

Thousands of MoveOn members will gather in living rooms across the country to watch this thought-provoking, subversive, entertaining film. And we'll discuss how to take back the conversation from Trump's hateful, divisive rhetoric and bring concrete, aspirational policies that reflect our progressive values back to the center stage of the 2016 Presidential elections.

Click here to host a “Where to Invade Next” Watch Party on Thursday, June 2.

To host, all you'll need is a home we can invite people to, a DVD player, and a copy of the DVD, which we'll make sure you have. You can set the number of guests you're willing to host, and we'll help you recruit them. Plus, our team will be there every step of the way to help make this event a success.

Thanks for all you do.

—Justin, Jo, Rivkah, Mark, and the rest of the team

Want to support our work? MoveOn member contributions have powered our work together for more than 17 years. Hundreds of thousands of people chip in each year—which is why we're able to be fiercely independent, answering to no individual, corporation, politician, or political party. You can become a monthly donor by clicking here, or chip in a one-time gift here.


Wednesday, May 18, 2016

Sign the petition re: Trump's tax returns

Presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump is refusing to release his tax returns, claiming that "there's nothing to learn from them." But we think that's up to the voters to decide. Add your name if you agree.

Dear MoveOn member,

I'm Aaron Scherb from Common Cause, and I started a petition to Donald Trump, which says:

Voters have a right to know, and anyone seeking to lead our country should be fully transparent with voters. Like the other two candidates, Donald Trump must immediately release his tax returns, so voters can make an informed choice for president.

Presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump is refusing to release his tax returns, claiming that "there's nothing to learn from them."1 But we think that's up to the voters to decide.

Before we pick our next president, voters should have a clear picture of every candidate's background, experience, and business interests—and if there are any potential conflicts of interest, we have a right to know.

Click here to sign the petition to Donald Trump demanding that he release his tax returns, dating back at least five years, for public scrutiny. He wants to conduct the people's business from the highest office in the land—so we deserve to see how he's conducted his private business too.

Trump says he can't release his returns because the IRS is currently auditing them—but he didn't have a problem doing that when his private business interests were at stake. And the commissioner of the IRS gave him the go-ahead too, saying, "if you're being audited, and you want to do something else, share that information with your returns, you can do that."2

Even Trump's predecessor as Republican nominee, Mitt Romney, thinks that Trump needs to come clean, saying, "It is disqualifying for a modern-day presidential nominee to refuse to release tax returns to the voters, especially one who has not been subject to public scrutiny in either military or public service."3

The other two candidates still in the race, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders, have already released their tax returns. In the interest of transparency and a fully informed electorate, Donald Trump ought to join them.

Click here to add your name to this petition, and then pass it along to your friends.

Thanks!

—Aaron Scherb, Common Cause

Sources:

1. "'Nothing to Learn': Trump Says He Likely Won't Release Taxes Until After November," NBC News, May 12, 2016
http://act.moveon.org/go/3715?t=5&akid=165141.10220574.c2Qf6h

2. Ibid.

3. Ibid.

You're receiving this petition because we thought it might interest you. It was created on MoveOn.org, where anyone can start their own online petitions. You can start your own petition here.

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PAID FOR BY MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION, http://pol.moveon.org/. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

Monday, May 16, 2016

Van Jones: President Trump?

Dear MoveOn member,

I need to give you some bad news today.

Donald J. Trump not only can win the presidency, he's got a darn good shot at it, bigger than most of us think. And if he does, it will be our fault.

Have I gotten your attention yet? Good.

Watch my video and learn three dangerous ideas that we progressives have that could make Donald Trump president. 

Van Jones has some bad news

When Trump announced his run for president, Democrats, Republicans, the media ... we all laughed at the thought.

"He’s unelectable!" we said.   

Well, folks, plenty of us well-meaning people were wrong. Trump defied everyone's expectations. Now he is the presumptive Republican nominee for president of the United States.  

And multiple polls this past week have Trump within a hair of the presidency.

The Republicans are now begrudgingly falling in line behind the new leader of their party.

Still, progressives have some dumb ideas as to why he's not a threat. 

We can't bank on the notion that Donald will gaffe himself out of this election. Donald Trump is changing the game of politics. He's mastered social media and has turned this election into a reality show.

Trump's complete lack of knowledge and experience on policy doesn't matter either, because "the quest for sound policy" is not what is firing up the vote.

We can't even count on demographics to save us, because we've got some "blue states" that are hanging on by a thread.

We can beat Trump, but we have to beat back these dangerous ideas first.

Our country deserves better. Progressives can't bank on the fact that Donald will self-destruct. It is time for all of us to come together and vow to pull out all the stops against Trump for president.

Watch this video and share it with everyone you can! Let’s take action and stop Trump.

In solidarity.

—Van Jones

Want to support our work? MoveOn member contributions have powered our work together for more than 17 years. Hundreds of thousands of people chip in each year—which is why we're able to be fiercely independent, answering to no individual, corporation, politician, or political party. You can become a monthly donor by clicking here, or chip in a one-time gift here.


PAID FOR BY MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION, http://pol.moveon.org/. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

Sunday, May 15, 2016

Last chance: My "most dangerous and subversive" film

I'm so excited: I can't wait to put my film directly into your hands to own and watch whenever you want. Just you and me and my new movie, the much-acclaimed and Oscar-shortlisted "Where to Invade Next."

Dear fellow MoveOn member,

I've written to you before about issues of war and peace, fixing our health care system, confronting gun violence, kicking George W. Bush out of office (remember him?!), and fighting for justice for the people of Flint, Michigan. And most recently, I wrote to you about my latest film, "Where to Invade Next," which just came out on DVD.

I'm really excited to say that in the past few days, more than 15,000 MoveOn members have ordered copies of my film with a donation to MoveOn. So I just wanted to check in with you one last time: Would you like a copy of my film too? This email is your last chance to get my new movie while supporting MoveOn.

As a fellow MoveOn member, you can get a copy of "Where to Invade Next" now, with a contribution of $27 or more to MoveOn Civic Action. Just click here.

Not only will you get my new film, but by getting it through MoveOn, your donation will help fuel the fights for the economic, social, and racial justice MoveOn is known for.

Here's why I'm so excited: I can't wait to put my film directly into your hands to own and watch whenever you want. Just you and me and my new movie, the much-acclaimed and Oscar-shortlisted "Where to Invade Next."

This is your last chance to get my new movie from MoveOn—get it right now, with a contribution of $27 or more. Just click here.

MoveOn's campaigns range from successfully defending our nation's refugee program from xenophobic backlash, to pushing President Obama to take executive action on gun violence, to helping take down the Confederate flag, to standing up against toxic water in my hometown of Flint ... Basically, fighting against the bad guys, like big corporations and the extreme right wing.

Click here to chip in to MoveOn. If you give $27 or more, I'll send you my DVD.

By getting my film through MoveOn, you'll help fund high-impact campaigns on many of the same issues explored in my film.

Thanks for all of your support through the years. Thanks for your well-wishes over the past months. I’m very happy I got to make this particular movie at this particular moment in history, and I can't wait to share it with you.

All my best,

—Mike

P.S. In case you missed my last email, I wanted to tell you a little about the film—and why I think it's a great fit for MoveOn members like you and me. "Where to Invade Next" is, as one critic pointed out, my “most dangerous and subversive film.”

It’s dangerous because it shows the American public exactly how we can achieve—quite easily—a very decent society. One where we all take care of each other, where there’s true, free, and universal health care, and an amazing educational system; a place where no one needs a second job, everyone gets at least a month's paid vacation, all families have paid maternity and sick leave; where the war on drugs is over and the prisons are now half-empty because people got help or were just left to live their lives in peace.

Those places actually exist. Where? The rest of the world!

Americans have been lied to and misled for too long. And I don’t just talk about this—I show you the schools in Finland, the prisons in Norway, the health clinics in Tunisia, the bright and humane factories in Germany (where everyone makes a middle class wage), and the public school lunchroom in France where students are fed a gourmet meal. You'll also get to meet the college students in Slovenia who have absolutely no friggin’ idea what a "student loan" is.

This is what makes "Where to Invade Next" so subversive, because if enough of you see this movie, that’s it. Once millions have this information—and inspiration—the game is over. For Wall Street. For the bought-off politicians. For the boss or the dean or the candidate who keeps telling you, "It just can’t be done!" That’s collectively the biggest con ever, and I am here to blow it up once and for all with this movie.

I really want you to see "Where to Invade Next." What do you say?

Just click here to make a contribution of $27 or more to MoveOn, and I'll send you the film!

Michael Moore is an Oscar-winning filmmaker, author, and activist. His ninth film, "Where to Invade Next," is now out on DVD.


Saturday, May 14, 2016

Should MoveOn support this petition?


Dear MoveOn member,

A MoveOn member named Ben Marcus recently created a petition on our public petition website entitled "Demand Congress Fund Zika Virus Testing & Treatment in Vulnerable Communities"–and we'd like to know what you think of it.

The petition is addressed to The United States House of Representatives, The United States Senate, and President Barack Obama, and reads:

Congress has been slow to act in funding testing, treatment and prevention for the Zika virus. Unfortunately, minority and poverty-stricken communities are hit hardest by this and action needs to be taken.

Sign Ben's petition.

Here's what Ben wrote about it:

There have been a number of bills introduced and a lot of talk about the issue, but none that's gotten a passing vote. As the virus starts in on many parts of the United States, those with poor access to health care are most affected. As a Florida resident, I'm concerned for my neighbors, and myself, and want to see my leaders act to help us.

Can you click to let us know what you think?

I want to sign this petition.

I don't think MoveOn should support this petition.

We'll decide whether to send this petition out to additional MoveOn members in your area based on your feedback.

In case you haven't heard about it, MoveOn's petition site allows anyone to start an online petition and share it with friends and neighbors to build support for their cause.

Thanks for all you do.

—Milan, Maria, Manny, Bobby, and the rest of the team

Want to support our work? MoveOn member contributions have powered our work together for more than 17 years. Hundreds of thousands of people chip in each year—which is why we're able to be fiercely independent, answering to no individual, corporation, politician, or political party. You can become a monthly donor by clicking here, or chip in a one-time gift here.


Friday, May 13, 2016

A bank that shares your progressive values

Drop too-big-to-fail banks. An alternative: This bank which supports economic and social justice.

Dear MoveOn member,

Why leave your money in America's most reckless and irresponsible banks? The harmful practices of these Wall Street banks helped cause the financial crisis and they continue to fight and lobby against consumer protections even now.1

How about banking with a financial institution that has progressive values and supports issues that we all care about, like a $15 an hour minimum wage, worker protections, affordable housing, and more.2

Meet Amalgamated Bank, founded in 1923 and union owned.

It’s a bank that is aligned with many MoveOn goals, which is why we’re supporting its “Banking That Gives Back” campaign. The bank will give $150 to each MoveOn member who opens a new checking account. It will also contribute $50 to MoveOn Civic Action, helping fund our work fighting for progressive change.3

Click here to find out more about opening a new account with Amalgamated Bank, a bank that’s aligned with your values.3

Amalgamated Bank offers a simple, convenient online banking experience, as well as branches in New York City and Washington, D.C.

If you think the actions of too-big-to-fail banks that led to the Great Recession are wrong, and if you oppose these banks using their huge financial influence to fight regulations that protect ordinary Americans, you have an alternative place to put your money.

By supporting Amalgamated Bank, you’ll also support MoveOn and the progressive causes you’re passionate about.

Find out more now about opening a checking account at Amalgamated Bank.3

With this one simple action, you’ll support progressive change through Amalgamated Bank and through MoveOn.

Thanks for all you do.

—Tzyh, Bobby, Robert, Adam, and the rest of the team

P.S. This offer with Amalgamated Bank is part of a bigger effort to connect MoveOn members to ways we can make America more progressive—while raising funds to help make MoveOn stronger in the process. We still do not sell our members’ information to any external groups, and we'll always be transparent about how partnerships like this one help our work together. We're keen to know what you think! Please click here to tell us what you think of this email.

P.P.S. If you would like to stop receiving our emails about Amalgamated Bank, you can opt out here.

Sources:

1. “As Dodd-Frank Fight Continues, the Resistance Scores Some Victories,” Bloomberg Businessweek, April 21, 2016
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-04-21/dodd-frank-court-challenges-may-eat-away-at-wall-street-reforms

2. “Mission and Values,” Amalgamated Bank, accessed April 19, 2016
https://www.amalgamatedbank.com/mission-values


3. Rules of Amalgamated Bank's "Banking That Gives Back" Promotion

To qualify for this bonus of $150, you must open a Convenience+ Checking Account between April 15 and June 30, 2016, using the URL provided or by mentioning this special offer when you apply by visiting a branch, and you must set up a qualifying recurring direct deposit (including ACH credits of payroll, pension or government payments payable to you) (hereinafter “qualifying direct deposit”) of $500 or more. At least one qualifying direct deposit of $500 or more must post to your account within 60 days of account opening. Once you have met these requirements, the bonus will be directly deposited into your Convenience+ Checking Account within 30 days. The value of the bonus may have to be reported to the IRS; consult your tax advisor. Offer is limited to one per customer, is subject to withdrawal at any time, and is valid only for accounts in good standing. All accounts subject to the bank’s Terms and Conditions.

If you qualify for the $150 bonus, we will also donate $50 to the non-profit organization above. There is no cost to you and this donation is paid fully by Amalgamated Bank. There is no substitute for this $50 donation and you cannot opt to receive it directly.

For Convenience+ Checking Accounts there is a $10 monthly maintenance fee that can be waived with a qualifying recurring direct deposit of any amount. Note that a direct deposit of less than $500 will not qualify you for the $150 bonus; please see the footnote above for terms and conditions related to the bonus offer. There is no minimum opening deposit or minimum balance requirement to maintain in the account in order to obtain the bonus stated above. The Convenience+ Checking Account is a variable tiered interest rate account. The Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on this account works as follows: if the daily balance is $0-$499.99, the APY paid on the entire balance is 0.01%; for balances $500-$999.99, the APY paid on the entire balance is 0.05%; and for balances $1,000+, the APY paid on the entire balance is 0.10%. The APY stated is accurate as of April 15, 2016 and is subject to change at any time without notice. Fees may reduce earnings.

Want to support our work? MoveOn member contributions have powered our work together for more than 17 years. Hundreds of thousands of people chip in each year—which is why we're able to be fiercely independent, answering to no individual, corporation, politician, or political party. You can become a monthly donor by clicking here, or chip in a one-time gift here.


Thursday, May 12, 2016

My "most dangerous and subversive film"

"Where to Invade Next" is my "most dangerous and subversive film," as one critic pointed out.

Dear fellow MoveOn member,

I'll be honest: I love MoveOn.

You probably thought I was going to talk about my movie, "Where to Invade Next," which just came out on DVD this week. And I'll get there in a minute. But really, the movie is about creating a more just society—and that's what MoveOn members are all about, day in and day out, in campaign after campaign.

And we need that mix of passion, savvy, and effectiveness this year, if we're going to beat back the right-wing forces and promote ideas that work for all Americans—which is why I'm asking you to make a donation to MoveOn.

Click here to chip in. If you give $27 or more to MoveOn Civic Action, I will send you a DVD copy of my new movie "Where to Invade Next" as my thank-you gift for being a part of this fight.

Let me tell you a little about MoveOn and me.

In November, when I was offering to open my home to Syrian refugees after the anti-refugee backlash, MoveOn helped lead the fight to successfully defend the refugee program in Congress.

In December, when I was standing outside Trump Towers holding an anti-Islamophobia sign, MoveOn members were launching #WeAreBetterThanThis, a campaign against the hate and fearmongering of the right wing, and beginning to prepare a massive mobilization against Trump's campaign of violence-inciting vitriol.

In February, when I was calling on Governor Rick Snyder of Michigan to be arrested for the crimes committed against the people of Flint, MoveOn was delivering a quarter-million signatures demanding justice for Flint—and raising $100,000 for a non-profit focused on the long-term health of Flint's children.

And when I endorsed Bernie Sanders for president, MoveOn Political Action members were right there with me—recruiting volunteers, getting out the vote, producing pro-Bernie videos, and raising money for the campaign in state after state.

Basically, MoveOn stands with me and I stand with MoveOn—arm-in-arm on the fights we need to fight and aim to win. And whether it's helping to take down the Confederate flag (which I talk about in my film) or pushing President Obama to take executive action on gun violence, MoveOn knows how to win.

So will you contribute to MoveOn today? Just click here. If you chip in $27 or more, I'll send you a DVD to say thanks.

I have a long history with MoveOn members. We worked together to try to beat President Bush in 2004. MoveOn members organized screenings of my movies "Fahrenheit 9/11" and "Sicko." Basically, when I've been in the trenches, you've been there with me—and vice versa.

It's a tough year ahead—election years bring some pretty unsavory elements of our country into the spotlight. Fortunately, MoveOn also brings the passion and commitment of its members front-and-center—and we'll need those types of inclusive, diverse, progressive campaigns in the fights ahead.

Will you chip in so MoveOn can keep fighting against the hatred and violence of the Republican primary, can keep pushing for a progressive economy and to get big money out of politics, can keep fighting to break the GOP chokehold in Washington, and can keep supporting members in creating change—big and small—across the country?

Chip in $27 or more, and I've got a DVD that'll be yours.

Thanks for all you do.

Michael Moore

P.S. Here's a little more about the film:

"Where to Invade Next" is, as one critic pointed out, my "most dangerous and subversive film." It’s dangerous because it shows the American public exactly how we can achieve—quite easily—a very decent society. One where we all take care of each other, where there’s true, free, and universal health care, a stunningly amazing educational system, a place where no one needs a second job, everyone gets at least a month’s paid vacation, all families have paid maternity and sick leave, where the war on drugs is over and the prisons are now half-empty because people got help or were just left to live their lives in peace.

Those places actually exist—and they're called … the rest of the civilized world! We’ve been lied to and misled for too long. I don't just talk about this—I show you the schools in Finland, the prisons in Norway, the bright and humane factories in Germany (where everyone makes a middle class wage), the public school lunchroom in France where students are fed a four-course meal, and you get to meet the college students in Slovenia who have absolutely no friggin' idea what a "student loan" is.

This is what makes "Where to Invade Next" so subversive, because if enough of you see this movie, that’s it. Once millions have this information—and inspiration—the game is over. For Wall Street. For the bought-off politicians. For the boss or the dean or the candidate who keeps telling you, "It just can’t be done!" That’s collectively the biggest con ever, and I am here to blow it up once and for all with this movie.

That’s why I so desperately want you to see "Where to Invade Next." 

Click here to chip in $27 or more to MoveOn, and I'll send you a DVD copy of my new movie.

Michael Moore is an Oscar-winning filmmaker, author, and activist. His ninth film, "Where to Invade Next," is out on DVD this week.


Tuesday, May 10, 2016

We're in deep trouble

Hey. It's Michael Moore. We need to talk.

Dear fellow MoveOn member,

Hey. It’s Michael Moore. We need to talk.

Now, I know I don’t have to tell you that America is pretty screwed up. (Unless you were really confused when you signed up for MoveOn’s email list.) The lead crisis in Flint. The Senate refusing to do its basic constitutional duty and vote on a Supreme Court nomination. The mass shootings so commonplace that most of them don’t even get news coverage anymore. And Trump. Oh, Trump.

America’s in pretty big trouble right now, and the only way it’s going to get fixed is with regular folks like you and me fighting back.

MoveOn is doing incredible work fighting back on all these issues. And so here’s my ask: If you have any money you can spare, will you make a donation to MoveOn? Every little bit helps. Even a buck or two. And just to sweeten the deal, if you donate $27 or more, I’ll send you a DVD copy of my latest movie, "Where to Invade Next."

How about it? Are you in?

Click here to chip in. If you give $27 or more, you'll get a DVD copy of "Where to Invade Next."

The movie is about progressive ideas that we could adopt right here in America. But it’s also about how change happens—and how what seems impossible can become real, if we just work together to create an alternative.

OK. So we have problems. What are we going to do about it? You know, besides watching my movie.

I know I already said make a donation to MoveOn. And I’m going to get back to that. But I actually have a longer to-do list for you.

First, vote. And make your friends and family vote. I know, it’s basic. But year after year, millions of people don’t bother, and we’re never getting out of this mess until that changes.

Second, find a candidate you believe in and sign up to volunteer. I don’t care who it is. Someone running for city council, mayor, Congress, president, whatever. If you can’t find anyone, then pick an office to run for and run yourself.

But I want you to commit to spending at least as much time working on a campaign this year as you do watching "Game of Thrones." Tweeting and Facebooking about politics doesn’t count. You have to get out in the real world and talk to actual breathing humans.

OK, then last but not least, chip in whatever you can to MoveOn.

And again, if you donate $27 or more, I’ll send you a DVD copy of my latest movie, "Where to Invade Next." (Not that you, as a good, altruistic MoveOn member, would ever be so materialistic as to be motivated by such a crass commercial offer.)

Oh, and one more thing you can do: watch the movie, of course! 

Click here to chip in today.

Thanks for all you do.

Mike

Michael Moore is an Oscar-winning filmmaker, author, and activist. His ninth film, "Where to Invade Next," is out on DVD today.


Monday, May 9, 2016

GMO mushrooms are not worth it

Tell the FDA: GMO mushrooms should not be approved for sale until their health and ecological impacts have been fully tested.

Dear MoveOn member,

Cutting up complex genetic material is a risky game—and for what? In the case of whiter mushrooms, it's just not worth it. Click here to sign the petition to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which says:

In light of scientific uncertainty about the long-term health and ecological risks associated with GMOs, we urge you to perform substantial and meaningful safety tests on the CRISPR-edited white button mushrooms. Until those tests are done, these mushrooms should not be approved for sale.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture just gave the green light to a genetically modified mushroom that ... stays whiter?1 This is a foolish use of GMO technology and yet another example of how high-minded GMO rhetoric falls flat in light of more common vanity applications.

Now the product is headed to the FDA for review. As the agency dedicated to protecting citizens from potentially unhealthy or even dangerous products, the FDA has a responsibility to fully test these mushrooms before they go to market.

Tell the FDA: This genetically modified mushroom should not be approved for sale until the health and ecological impacts have been fully tested.

Click here to add your name to this petition, and then pass it along to your friends.

Thanks!

—Andre Delattre, Executive Director of U.S. PIRG

Source:

1. "Gene-Edited CRISPR Mushroom Escapes U.S. Regulation," Scientific American, April 14, 2016
http://act.moveon.org/go/3609?t=5&akid=164925.10220574.GJdywl

You're receiving this petition because we thought it might interest you. It was created on MoveOn.org, where anyone can start their own online petitions. You can start your own petition here.

Want to support our work? MoveOn member contributions have powered our work together for more than 17 years. Hundreds of thousands of people chip in each year—which is why we're able to be fiercely independent, answering to no individual, corporation, politician, or political party. You can become a monthly donor by clicking here, or chip in a one-time gift here.