2023 National Campaign Highlights
Indivisible activists organized over 3,400 civic engagement events online or in their communities in 2023.
Preventing a default crisis.
We ran a national campaign to prevent funding cuts to essential programs like Social Security during the debt ceiling fight, which would have wrought havoc on our economy and in our communities. We employed advocacy tactics tailored to two groups of legislators: (1) those who supported draconian budget cuts and (2) those who defended the critical social programs that were under threat.
Image from Castleton Indivisible VT Network
This work culminated in a national week of action with Indivisible groups holding over 150 local public pressure events all aimed at preventing the devastating blow to our economy that would result from default. Indivisible groups hosted rallies across the country, raising public attention to the issue in states including Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, and Maryland, among others. In the face of reckless Republican demands for austerity, Indivisibles played a critical role in keeping the pressure on and preventing cuts to life-saving programs like Medicare and Social Security. Through the debt ceiling crisis, we continued to employ the messaging frame that highlights a contrast between extremists and the normal majority.
Educating the public about the historic Inflation Reduction Act.
In 2023, we worked with local Indivisible groups to spread the word about how this transformative legislation saves families’ money, creates jobs, and reshapes the energy sector for a greener future. Our strategy used race-class messaging to celebrate the potential for an active government to positively impact everyone, regardless of race or place. We piloted Powering Progress with a cohort of 9 local Indivisible groups in five states: Georgia, Indiana, Minnesota, New Mexico, and Nevada.
Image from SAWW
Indivisibles galvanized support for the IRA’s popular clean energy and healthcare benefits, holding 85 community events across our 20 states.
The pilot offered a wide range of possible tactics and encouraged creativity from local Indivisible groups in what and how to celebrate: groups created an IRA jeopardy game to build group capacity; a website to highlight county-level benefits; flyering at an earth day event, health fair, and senior centers; an overpass celebration; billboards and ads; MOC roundtables focused on the IRA; discussions about the IRA at union meetings; and a planned symposium about benefits to ranchers with elected officials. By mid-summer, we applied learnings from the pilot phase to launch a scaled program to the full Indivisible network, centered on the 1st anniversary of the IRA. Indivisibles galvanized support for the IRA’s popular clean energy and healthcare benefits, holding 85 community events across our 20 states. A group near Sacramento, CA hosted a fun and informational table at their local farmers market – it was so popular that they plan to do it monthly to have even more conversations about the IRA. Another group in Mankato, MN wrote a letter to the editor encouraging home energy audits. Throughout the year, Indivisibles took over 400 actions to spread the word about the IRA—including submitting letters to the editor, participating in a social media day of action on the anniversary date, and combating online disinformation about the legislation. Through message guidance and training sessions for Indivisibles, we contributed to building a bigger, multi-racial “us” and showing the collective impact of good government.
Combatting disinformation through the Truth Brigade.
In monthly messaging campaigns, Truth Brigade volunteers were trained on both evergreen and timely disinformation topics, such as how to identify scapegoating, counter climate lies, and unmask local disinformation. Our volunteers were inspired to act when, thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, HHS announced the first group of prescription drugs eligible for negotiation between Medicare and pharmaceutical companies. We advised volunteers to check sources and developed their readiness to identify common tactics deployed by drug companies, who perpetually put their bottom line above the health of the American people. Other campaigns educated volunteers on evergreen topics such as how to spot local disinformation through “astroturf” campaigns and remaining vigilant about deceptive video content that may be edited or missing context. Throughout the year, over 1,100 volunteers joined trainings on strategic writing and speaking to increase critical thinking.
Advocating for SCOTUS reform.
We lobbied legislators in key leadership positions alongside partners in the Unrig the Courts coalition. In May, we sent a letter to Members of Congress, urging them to cosponsor the Judiciary Act of 2023. This bill calls for expanding the number of Supreme Court justices from nine to 13. And, as stories broke about unethical behavior by far-right SCOTUS justices in the summer, we channeled grassroots energy into the “Do Better, Durbin” campaign, strategically aimed at Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Dick Durbin. Indivisible groups in Illinois called for him to hold SCOTUS justices accountable by ushering through major ethics reforms. We equipped Indivisibles with scripts for meetings with their MOCs, letter templates, and sample social media posts so they could amplify the risk of further emboldening corruption. Indivisibles in Illinois will continue to keep the pressure on Sen. Durbin in 2024, advocating for him to do everything in his power to reform the corrupt Supreme Court.
Indivisible Project (501c4) drives coordinated campaigns, powering the grassroots Indivisible movement to defeat the rightwing takeover of American government, and win an inclusive democracy and bold progressive policies.
Indivisible Civics (501c3) provides movement coordination, resources, training, and tools to fuel a powerful and aligned national movement of Indivisible groups and activists to organize for change.
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