Hello, fellow Kansans!

Here we are, another week into the Resistance, and it's been a whirlwind - from false alarms of ballistic missiles to new revelations in the Russia investigation. Yet even as we become more accustomed to weeks like this, it's so important to remember that none of this is normal.

But speaking of the new normal, how are your #RevolutionResolutions coming? Have you started talking to friends to come with you to events? Have you subscribed to the newsletters of your congresspeople, state and federal? If you haven't set your resolution for the year, come over to the form, and seek inspiration! We've already gotten some great responses from Indivisibles just like you, excited to go into the new year!

Did you see the news?

Kris Kobach's now-defunct Advisory Commission on Election Integrity just keeps looking worse. Despite Kobach's claims to the contrary, the White House announced that the commission had not uncovered any preliminary findings of voter fraud. Not only that, it would be destroying the data that had been collected. And, despite Kobach's claims to the contrary (we're noticing a theme!), the Department of Homeland Security said that Kobach would not be advising the agency in matters of voter fraud going forward. So after finding no evidence of voter fraud, producing no results, and not being asked to stay, Kobach will go home and focus on his mission to run the state of Kansas.

...which isn't going very well for him either. According to campaign finance figures from 2017, Lt Gov Jeff Colyer outraised Kobach in donor contributions, despite Kobach having a major event with no less than the President's son (ouch).  

Of course, while fundraising and similar horse-race numbers tell one part of the story, we encourage you to check out the platforms of the candidates, watch for local events, and decide for yourself who will get your vote, and perhaps your dollars and volunteer time!

National news drives our calls to action this week:

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released a report this week regarding the costs of CHIP (Children's Health Insurance Program), and it's all good news for advocates of the program that offers health insurance for low- and middle-income children. First, the estimated costs of a five-year extension were significantly less than previously expected. Second, extending the program for ten years rather than five would actually save the government $6 billion dollars.

Trump rejected a bipartisan deal (CW: language) on immigration reform, which included action for DACA recipients, additional funding for border security, and changes to family sponsorship rules. While the vulgar language the president used to reject the deal has created a firestorm in itself, the heart of the issue is that the President stated, in a discussion of federal policy, that he believes people from poor countries, people of color, are intrinsically less worthy. This cannot stand in America. This is not who we are as a people or as a nation.

What's going on this week?

The fight to protect our Dreamers is getting more and more urgent. Call your Members of Congress and urge them to support and pass a clean DREAM Act - no useless, expensive wall, just legal protection for some of the hardest working young people in America. Click here for phone numbers and additional information.

Call your Members of Congress and tell them there's no excuse for them to not vote for a ten-year reauthorization of the CHIP program. Click here for more details and phone numbers to call.

From our friends...

The League of Women Voters does amazing work in registering and educating voters, something we know a lot if our members are interested in, and we really want to see more folks out at their events! Join us the morning of Saturday, January 20th to listen to plans for 2018, give feedback and contribute ideas!

The next phase of the Women's March movement is Power to the Polls: channeling the energy and activism of the Women's March into tangible strategies and concrete wins in 2018. We love it! The closest local marches this week are in Lawrence on Saturday the 20th and Topeka on Sunday the 21st.

We'll see you out there!

In solidarity -
Indivisible KC