““Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.””
— William James

Lizzy’s List: Focus on Washington

Many of us are feeling overwhelmed by the flood of dangerous, illegal, and harmful acts of this administration. But many of us also want to know: what can we do to fight back? My goal is to do the work to bring background and ideas to one place so all of us take action, because together it matters. Please share this page with friends and family, especially those in red states where their pressure on elected officials could matter even more. —Lizzy

Actions

FIND YOUR FRIENDS in key states and districts and urge them to call their elected officials. The Republican majorities in the Senate and House are small, so the Democrats only need a few to help them rein in Trump's abuse of power. Find your friends in these states and districts, and urge them to call on their elected officials to act -- defend federal funding that our states rely on; defend Ukraine against Russian aggression; and end the assault on federal government workers. 

    • Maine Senator Susan Collins is up for reelection in 2026. 

      • 202-224-2523; 207-618-5560

    • North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis is up for reelection in 2026. 

      • 202-224-6342; 919-856-4630

    • Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell is retiring, and that's when they seem to grow a conscience! 

      • 202-224-2541; 859-224-8286

    • Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski has shown some willingness to vote against Trump.

      • 202-224-6665; 907-586-7277

    • NY 17th Representative Mike Lawler won narrowly in a Harris district.

      • 202-225-6506; 845-201-2060

    • PA 1st Representative Brian Fitzpatrick won in a Harris district.

      • 202-225-4276; 215-579-8102

    • NE 2nd Representative Don Bacon won narrowly in a Harris district. 

      • 202-225-4155; 402-938-0300

Regarding Ukraine: Share these posts from European leaders. Here are the facts and statements made by our allies:

Prime Minister Trudeau, Canada: https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1Ay1UQq1v4/

Finland President Alexander Stubb: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1A9CZL9v6k/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Then take courage with the statements made by Congresswoman Becca Balint: https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1Q2du8CLcN/

WRITE letters to the editor in your local paper about the federal services you and your family rely on -- whether it's Medicaid, our National Parks, the EPA, the VA, Social Security, or NOAA (where we get our accurate weather alerts!). Use the state-by-state info at the bottom to see the impact on your state! 

Every Day

TALK with your friends, family, and neighbors.
We are past the time to avoid “talking politics” with people who disagree with us or who are just unengaged. Be constructive, but do it.

  • Start by asking them a question and listening to what they say. For example: “What are you most concerned about?” “What is keeping you up at night?” Acknowledge their perspective and what’s important to them. And agree on something if you can.

  • Share your own story about why XXX matters to YOU: Why you think what’s happening is dangerous and harmful; how the actions of this administration affect you, your family, someone you know; and why you care. Then share how you are taking action.

  • Ask them if they want more information and tell them you can provide it. Use the state-by-state info below to provide information about how what is happening affects them, not just “other people.”

  • If it seems like there is an opening, encourage them to take action—small ripples by many will matter. If they ask “what can I do?” give them some examples. Remind them to check the Lean Left Actions page often for up-to-date calls to action.

  • Encourage them to engage in social media posts constructively to correct disinformation and share facts. The person posting disinformation might be too brainwashed to listen, but those commenting and reading comments might not be!

Resources


Power of the Purse

Download the Goods Unite Us app (iOS Link, Android Link, Goods Unite Us website) so you can identify companies that support Trump's agenda and ensure your dollars support your values. Goods Unite Us tracks political donations by companies and their leadership.

  • Here are just a few major brands that support Trump: ACE Hardware, Auto Zone, LL Bean, Land o Lakes, McDonalds, Smucker's, Walmart.

  • Here are some of the companies that have abandoned their DEI initiatives or targets since Trump took office: McDonald’s, Walmart, Molson Coors, Lowe’s, Ford, Jack Daniels, Harley Davidson, John Deere, Paramount, Bank of America, Citigroup, Pepsi, JPMorgan Chase, Disney, GM, PayPal, GE, Chipotle, Target, Amazon, Meta, and Comcast.

  • Companies that have not backed down from DEI policies include: Costco, Apple, Delta Airlines, Coca-Cola.


Current Issues by State


Percentage of state revenue from federal funds. This article shows how much of each state's revenue comes from federal grants and could be impacted if all federal funds are frozen or drastically reduced. Scroll to the middle of the article for percentages by state.  

USAID agricultural ties by state. Many people think cuts to USAID will only be felt internationally. This is false: USAID supplies $28.9 billion to U.S.-based organizations. This Google Doc lists the impacts by state.

Civilian federal employees by state (see pp 2-3).

National Institute of Health (NIH) grants by state and United for Medical Research.

U.S. military veterans by state.

Active duty military troops by state.


How to Pressure Congress

GUIDANCE for calling your elected representatives:

Whatever state you’re in, your elected leaders have some power. Democratic elected leaders can speak out, pressure their Republican colleagues, and refuse to act as though this is “business as usual.” Senators, in particular, have many tools to obstruct and slow down Trump’s agenda. Republicans can actually stop this, so please share this with fellow citizens in Red states.

Some pointers:

  • Calls have more impact than emails. Be sure to call both the Washington, DC, and home state office (numbers will be available on their websites).

  • Tell them who you are and where you’re from. If you only get a voicemail, leave a message.

  • Make it personal and specific—what are you calling about, why it matters, and ask them directly for a response.

Example Scripts:

  • I’m calling about the huge DOGE cuts to federal service. My local hospital relies on federal funding, I’m worried it will close. What are you doing about this?

  • I’m calling about layoffs at FEMA. FEMA relief was essential to us after XX disaster. What are you doing about this?

  • I’m calling about the layoffs at the National Park Service. My business relies on tourism that will be hit by the gutting of the NPS. What are you doing about this?

Contact Info

Share these links with out-of-state friends and family:

  • Find your U.S. Congressional Representative by zip code here.

  • Find your Senator by state here.

For Vermonters:

Who is Lizzy? Lizzy is an active member of Lean Left VT, chair of the Rochester Town Democratic Committee, and a former career US diplomat who served in Poland, South Sudan, Somalia, and Washington, DC.