Alito confirms what we all suspected

June 11, 2024

President Biden is actively engaged in global foreign policy at the highest level. He just returned from D-Day ceremonies in Europe where he sought to rebuild US relations with NATO allies. Later this week, he will be heading back to Europe to attend the G-7 summit, where he will urge European nations to provide a $50 billion loan to Ukraine from frozen Russian assets. And on Monday, the UN Security Council endorsed a US-backed hostages-for-ceasefire deal in Gaza. That is the power of the American presidency exercised in the service of global peace and security—a power that President Biden has exercised with a steady hand.

Meanwhile,

• Convicted Felon Trump descended into a bizarre rant about choosing between death by electrocution from a sinking electric boat or a hungry shark,

• Forty-six House Republicans voted to withdraw from NATO, and

• Justice Samuel Alito said the quiet part out loud—i.e., that the reactionary majority on the Supreme Court is engaged in a religious battle “to return the country to a place of godliness.”

Among those important stories, the admission by Justice Alito is the most disturbing—because it confirms the worst fears and suspicions of millions of Americans that the Supreme Court has become a partisan advocate for Christian nationalism.  

We are in for a rough week as far as the Supreme Court is concerned. The Court usually releases opinions on Thursdays. It has added a second day for opinions to be released this week—suggesting that several of the blockbuster cases the Court still has on its docket will be released this week, possibly including opinions regarding presidential immunity or availability of mifepristone. Either way, the Court could drop two extraordinarily controversial decisions at a moment when its legitimacy is in tatters. It will be all the worse if Alito is a deciding vote.

So, what happened? A documentary filmmaker, Lauren Windsor, attended a Supreme Court Historical Society meeting and secretly recorded conversations with Justice Alito and his wife. During those conversations, Alito agreed, in effect, that the Court is presiding over an irreconcilable conflict between “the Left” and religious fundamentalist forces. Alito says that those groups have “differences on fundamental things that really can’t be compromised” and agreed that we needed to “to return our country to a place of godliness.” See New York Times, In Secret Recordings, Alito Endorses Nation of ‘Godliness.’ Roberts Talks of Pluralism.

In those brief comments, Alito eviscerated the disingenuous reasoning of Dobbs and made clear that the reactionary majority was exercising brute force in imposing their religious views on all Americans--i.e., “returning our country to a place of (their view) of godliness.”  The opinion in Dobbs was a sham.

Equally disturbing were comments by Martha Alito, who railed against the fact that she was forced to look at Gay Pride flags from her beach house. She suggested that she could not wait until Justice Alito retired, at which point she would hoist a flag with yellow flames bearing the Italian word for “shame”—presumably referring to her belief that gay Americans would be subjected to the flames of hell and should be ashamed of their lifestyle.

For a detailed explication of Alito’s comments, see Lucian K. Truscott IV, The private Alito is even worse than we thought.

The revelations about Alito’s apocalyptic religious views of America are a scandal standing alone. By the end of this week, we may receive another opinion in which Alito uses his extremist religious views to deny women access to a safe and effective drug approved by the FDA.

We must communicate the urgency of reforming the Court to all Americans—but especially to couples planning families, women seeking full personhood under the Constitution, LGBTQ people fighting to preserve their dignity and rights, Black Americans seeking an equal voice in our democracy, and young Americans hoping for a future free of mass gun violence and destructive climate change.

---

Help engage young voters!

My wife (aka Managing Editor) and I frequently visit with reader groups nationwide to help spread hope during challenging times. We did so over the weekend, visiting with Commit to Democracy (commit2democracy.com) in Walnut Creek, CA, for a wonderful event designed to raise money to take back control of the House, defend the Senate, and reelect President Biden. A picture of the attendees is included at the end of the newsletter.

As always, there was an air of confidence, enthusiasm, and cautious hope for the outcome of the 2024 election. But, as some readers note whenever I publish a picture of a meeting with readers, those who show up are in their 60s and older—mostly women. An occasional reader asks, “Where are all the young people?”

Generally, younger voters don’t read long-form newsletters. So, the people who show up deserve to be thanked for their unflagging defense of democracy—regardless of age! Bless everyone who took time on a Sunday to raise money for the 2024 election!

Still, reaching young voters is an independent goal we must pursue with vigor. I am excited to announce that I will be co-hosting an event for the Gen-Z-led Tour to Save Democracy. The Tour is a nationwide bus tour by young people to reach young people who “have to bear the brunt of the devastating effects of gun violence, the climate crisis, and a national abortion ban.”

The details are below. It would be great if you could attend to hear from young voters concerned about their futures. It would be even better if you could convince young people in your lives to attend! As an added bonus, the force-of-nature Jessica Craven and social media influencer Jo Carducci (@JoJoFromJerz) will be part of the panel discussion.

Virtual Event & Fundraiser in support of Tour To Save Democracy—Gen Z flipping seats red to blue!- with Robert Hubbell, Jessica Craven, and Jo Carducci

Thursday, June 20, at 5pm PT/8pm ET, on Zoom

RSVP HERE to receive the Zoom Link.

Support the Tour To Save Democracy HERE

Are you worried about the youth vote in 2024? Wondering what you can do to ensure Gen-Z takes action in November?

Please join Jessica Craven, Robert Hubbell, tour director Sam Schwartz and Democratic social media influencer Jo Carducci (@JoJoFromJerz) for an inside, behind-the-scenes look at the Tour To Save Democracy and the Gen-Z activists behind it. 

Starting in Texas on July 12th, the tour will visit over 20 “red-to-blue” flippable swing districts to inspire youth action and get out the vote to secure a Democratic trifecta in Congress in November! Completely led by young people, the Tour To Save Democracy is a summer bus trip across the nation with one goal: Flip. Seats. Blue! 

“Our generation has to deal with the detrimental impact of the climate crisis, daily mass shootings, and a national abortion ban, all while democracy faces unprecedented challenges. More than anything, we want progress on solving these issues, but that is impossible while Republicans hold a majority in Congress. We’re going on tour to change that.” 

             —Sam Schwartz, Executive Director of Tour To Save Democracy

Co-hosted by Robert Hubbell, Jessica Craven, Jo Carducci, Downtown Nasty Women Social Group, Markers For Democracy, Team Min, The Wednesday Group, and Seniors Taking Action. 

Don’t miss this special, one-time event supporting the upcoming Tour To Save Democracy, organized by Gen-Z activists to engage fellow young voters in swing districts and obtain a Democratic trifecta!

---

Violent crime continues to DECREASE under Biden’s administration

As with many issues, Republicans have managed to create a disconnect between reality and perception regarding the effort to reduce crime under Joe Biden. See Statement from President Biden on Record Decrease in Crime in First Quarter of 2024 | The White House. Per the statement:

Violent crime is dropping at record levels in America. It’s good news for our families and our communities. Today, the FBI released preliminary data collected from over 11,000 law enforcement agencies around the country showing that, in the first quarter of this year, murders decreased by 26%, robberies by almost 18%, and violent crime overall by 15%. These large decreases follow major reductions in crime in nearly every category in 2023 – including one of the lowest rates for all violent crime in 50 years and significant declines in murder.

Be a messenger for Joe Biden! When you see or hear someone spread misinformation about increasing crime under Biden’s administration, direct them to the above link for the true facts!

---

Standing up for Joe and Kamala!

I have been urging readers to make their support for Joe and Kamala visible. I received a note from Paul Spector, who founded FridayAction.org | Hope Grounded in Action. In response to comments from readers of this newsletter who have been wearing Biden/Harris tee-shirts to the grocery store, Paul is urging the thousands of members of his group to do the same. Here is an excerpt from his most recent newsletter:

Dear Friends,

It's time for us to be visible!  The focus of Friday Action Group's June project is to counteract the negativity and fear of the MAGA mob by making a statement to our community and to each other that we, and tens of millions of other Americans,  proudly support the Biden/Harris administration!  

Trump's campaign strategy, like authoritarians and fascists everywhere, is to create the illusion of invincibility!  The MAGA crowd flaunts their allegiance to Trump with their hats, t-shirts,flags, and other paraphernalia to scare us into silence, to make us think they are strong and we are weak, that they are powerful and unstoppable!!!  It's a lie!!! Don't let them demoralize or frighten you into submission.  Be vocal!  Be visible!

Besides, don't you feel better when you see someone sporting a Biden T-shirt or displaying a Biden yard sign or bumper sticker? Enthusiasm is uplifting. Help yourself and each other feel better in these scary times!  Join thousands of others in this  summer's Visibility for Victory campaign!!! 

Go to  https://shop.joebiden.com/shop-all/  to buy your Biden/Harris gear.

Well said, and a great reminder by Paul! I would add another source of cool shirts and SWAG is Dems Make Life Better.

---

Concluding Thoughts

Every time I attend a grassroots meeting with readers, someone approaches me to say they are distressed by the current political environment and fearful about our nation’s future. They thank me for the hope this newsletter gives them.

I relate that fact not to pat myself on the back, but to make four important points:

First, if you feel that way, you are not alone. Millions of Americans share your feelings of anxiety and worry.

Second, one of the most effective things you can do is to seek out community. Being with others who are working to defend democracy is uplifting! As the saying goes, “Come for the cause, stay for the people!”

Third, action is the antidote to anxiety. If you are able, funnel your nervous energy into action! You will feel better while doing good!

Fourth, if you are one of the lucky people who can maintain a hopeful outlook in the face of anxiety-producing news, display your optimism and confidence! It is contagious! If you model hope and optimism, you will lift others in ways you will never know.

These are difficult times, made worse by the amplifying effect of a 60-minute news cycle, social media, and constant news alerts. But we have endured and prevailed over worse—and we can do it again.

Finally, avoid apocalyptic thinking if possible. The 2024 election is hugely important, but it will not be the last election in which we will be called upon to defend democracy. America is on an unstoppable path toward greater diversity, inclusion, tolerance, and liberty. We may suffer setbacks and disappointments, but we are going to win! It is only a matter of time. Armed with that certain knowledge, let’s do the best we can—and then repeat until the next generation reports for duty. We can do that. We are doing that.

Talk to you tomorrow! Stay strong!

Commit to Democracy, June 9, 2024