Who to Call and Email Today: May 12, 2026
Three calls. Ten minutes. Real pressure where Congress can feel it.
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The Senate is scheduled to vote today on Kevin Warsh’s nomination to a 14-year term on the Federal Reserve Board, followed by a cloture vote on his nomination to serve as Fed Chair. Senate Republicans are pushing a roughly $72 billion enforcement package through reconciliation, including major new funding for ICE, CBP, and Secret Service security upgrades connected to Trump’s East Wing ballroom project. And last week, Tennessee enacted a new congressional map carving up Memphis’s majority-Black district, becoming the first state to adopt new districts after the Supreme Court undermined a key Voting Rights Act protection.
Today’s Three Calls
Today, we are asking everyone to contact their senators on three issues that are happening right now.
First, tell your senators to oppose Kevin Warsh’s confirmation to the Federal Reserve Board. The Senate is scheduled to vote on his 14-year term as a Fed governor today, with a cloture vote on his Chair nomination to follow.
Second, tell your senators to oppose the $72 billion reconciliation package that would fund ICE, CBP, and security upgrades connected to Trump’s White House ballroom project, all through a process that bypasses the normal 60-vote threshold. Committee markups are expected the week of May 19, which means this week is the best window for pressure.
Third, tell your senators to support federal voting rights legislation and oppose any redistricting effort that eliminates Black representation. Tennessee just carved up Memphis’s majority-Black congressional district in a special session, and other states are preparing to do the same.
The Message For Today:
Protect independent institutions.
Fund people, not enforcement without accountability.
Defend the right of every American to be represented.
Call One: Oppose Kevin Warsh’s Confirmation to the Federal Reserve Board
The Senate voted 49-44 last night to advance Kevin Warsh’s nomination to the Federal Reserve Board of Governors. The Senate is scheduled to vote on his 14-year term today, Tuesday, May 12, with a cloture vote on his separate nomination to serve as Fed Chair to follow. Jerome Powell’s term as Chair expires Friday, May 15.
Trump has repeatedly demanded that the Fed cut interest rates. The administration launched a criminal investigation into Powell, reportedly focused on headquarters renovation cost overruns. A federal judge blocked the investigation, calling it a “mere pretext” to pressure the Fed on rates. The DOJ dropped the probe only after Sen. Thom Tillis refused to advance Warsh until they did. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, who ended the investigation, said at the time she would restart a criminal investigation “should the facts warrant doing so.”
The Senate Banking Committee advanced Warsh on a party-line vote, 13-11. Sen. Elizabeth Warren called it the first fully partisan committee vote on a Fed Chair nominee in the committee’s history, and warned that confirming Warsh “will bring the president one step closer to completing his illegal attempt to seize control of the Fed.”
The Federal Reserve is supposed to operate independently from political pressure. That independence is what protects the value of your paycheck, your savings, and your retirement. When the president gets to install a loyalist at the Fed after using the DOJ to force out the sitting Chair, that is not business as usual. That is institutional capture.
Sens. John Fetterman and Chris Coons were the only Democrats to vote to advance Warsh.
Call script: Kevin Warsh / Federal Reserve
Hi, my name is [NAME], and I am a resident of [CITY, STATE].
I am calling to urge Senator [NAME] to vote no on Kevin Warsh’s confirmation to the Federal Reserve Board.
The independence of the Federal Reserve is not a partisan issue. It protects every American’s savings, wages, and retirement. The circumstances around this nomination, including the DOJ investigation into Chairman Powell and the president’s repeated demands for rate cuts, raise serious concerns about whether this appointment is about competence or political control.
Please vote no and protect the independence of the Fed.
Thank you.
Call Two: Oppose the $72 Billion ICE/CBP Reconciliation Package
Senate Republicans released the text of a roughly $72 billion reconciliation package on May 4. The Judiciary Committee’s portion includes $30.7 billion for ICE and $3.5 billion for CBP-related immigration enforcement. The Homeland Security Committee’s portion adds $32.5 billion more for DHS, including CBP personnel, border security, immigration enforcement, and related programs. Committee markups are expected the week of May 19, and the full Senate could take up the package within two weeks after that.
The package also includes $1 billion for the Secret Service for “security adjustments and upgrades” connected to what the legislation calls the “East Wing Modernization Project.” That is the White House ballroom. Trump has said private donations would cover the ballroom itself, but the proposed security upgrades connected to the project would be charged to taxpayers through this package.
Republicans are using reconciliation because Democrats refused to fund ICE and CBP without reforms, especially after multiple reports and investigations involving deadly force by federal immigration officers. Reconciliation lets the Senate pass the bill with 51 votes instead of the usual 60, which means public pressure before committee markup is the best window for influence.
When families ask for help with health care, housing, food, and education, Congress asks how to pay for it. When power wants $72 billion for enforcement and a ballroom, somehow the money appears.
Call script: ICE/CBP reconciliation and ballroom funding
Hi, my name is [NAME], and I am a resident of [CITY, STATE].
I am calling to urge Senator [NAME] to oppose the $72 billion reconciliation package that would fund ICE and CBP without meaningful accountability, oversight, or reform.
I also oppose any public money being used for security upgrades connected to the White House ballroom project. Families are struggling with health care costs, rent, groceries, and basic services. Public money should go to people, not political vanity projects or enforcement agencies operating without accountability.
Please oppose this package.
Thank you.
Call Three: Defend Voting Rights and Black Representation in Tennessee and Nationwide
Last week, Tennessee’s Republican-controlled legislature enacted a new congressional map that carves up the state’s only majority-Black congressional district, centered in Memphis. The map splits Memphis’s political power across three Republican-leaning districts and gives Republicans a chance to win all nine of Tennessee’s congressional seats in November.
Gov. Bill Lee called a special session amid Trump’s broader push for Republican-led states to redraw maps before the midterms. The legislature convened on May 5, repealed a state law that had prohibited mid-decade redistricting since 1972, drew a new map, and passed it on May 7. Lee signed it into law the same day.
This happened days after the Supreme Court’s April 29 ruling in Louisiana v. Callais, which significantly weakened how Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act can be used to protect voters of color in redistricting cases. For decades, Section 2 has been one of the central tools communities used to challenge maps and election systems that dilute minority voting power. The Court’s ruling gave Republican-led states new grounds to attack majority-Black districts before the midterms.
The NAACP Tennessee State Conference sued in state court on May 7 to block the map. On May 12, three Memphis voters, represented through the ACLU, filed a separate federal lawsuit alleging that the new map discriminates against Black voters.
Tennessee Democratic Rep. London Lamar put it plainly. “You cannot take a majority Black city, fracture its voting power, and then tell us race has nothing to do with it. Racism does not become less racist because it’s called partisan.”
Tennessee is not the end. Louisiana, Alabama, and South Carolina have also taken steps toward new maps, and Alabama may now be able to eliminate one of its two largely Black congressional districts before the midterms. This is a national pattern, and it requires a national response.
Congress has the power to restore voting-rights protections. The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act would strengthen federal protections against racial discrimination in voting. Your senators need to hear that this matters today.
Call script: Voting rights / Tennessee redistricting
Hi, my name is [NAME], and I am a resident of [CITY, STATE].
I am calling to urge Senator [NAME] to support the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and to oppose any redistricting effort designed to eliminate Black representation.
Tennessee just carved up Memphis’s only majority-Black congressional district in a special session amid the president’s push for states to redraw maps before the midterms. The Supreme Court’s ruling weakening the Voting Rights Act opened the door to this, and other states are preparing to follow.
Congress must act to restore voting-rights protections. Please support federal legislation to protect fair representation for all Americans.
Thank you.
Bonus Call: Protect Medicare from Automatic Cuts
For those who have time for one more call, this is a strong one.
Budget rules known as PAYGO could trigger automatic Medicare payment cuts as a result of the deficit impact from last year’s reconciliation bill, H.R. 1. Unless Congress acts to exempt Medicare, providers could face automatic payment reductions of up to 4%, which would ripple through hospitals, doctors, rural health systems, and patient access. This is a budget process most people never hear about, and it could affect care for millions of seniors if Congress does not act.
Bonus call script: Medicare
Hi, my name is [NAME], and I am a resident of [CITY, STATE].
I am calling to ask Senator [NAME] to support legislation protecting Medicare from automatic cuts triggered by PAYGO rules.
Lawmakers promised not to touch Medicare. Seniors, patients, and families should not pay the price for reckless budgeting decisions they had no say in.
Please protect Medicare.
Thank you.
Email Template
Subject: Please oppose Kevin Warsh, the ICE/CBP reconciliation package, and attacks on voting rights
Dear Senator [NAME],
I am a resident of [CITY, STATE], and I am writing to urge you to take action on three issues before the Senate this week.
First, I urge you to vote no on Kevin Warsh’s confirmation to the Federal Reserve Board. The circumstances surrounding this nomination, including the DOJ investigation into Chairman Powell and the president’s public demands for rate cuts, raise serious concerns about the independence of the Federal Reserve. The Fed must remain independent from political pressure. That is not a partisan position. It is a structural safeguard for every American’s economic security.
Second, I urge you to oppose the $72 billion reconciliation package that would fund ICE and CBP without meaningful accountability or reform. This package also includes $1 billion in security upgrades connected to Trump’s White House ballroom project. Public money should be used for health care, housing, education, food assistance, and essential services, not enforcement without oversight or vanity projects.
Third, I urge you to support the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and oppose any redistricting effort designed to eliminate Black representation. Tennessee just carved up Memphis’s only majority-Black congressional district in a special session amid the president’s push for states to redraw maps before the midterms. The Supreme Court’s ruling weakening the Voting Rights Act opened the door, and other states are preparing to follow. Congress must act to restore these protections before more communities lose their voice.
Congress should protect independent institutions, fund people, and defend the right to vote.
Sincerely, [NAME] [CITY, STATE, ZIP]
Where to Find Your Lawmakers
Find your senators through the official Senate contact page. The Capitol Switchboard number is 202-224-3121.
Find your House representative through the official House lookup tool.
You can also use 5calls.org for issue summaries, call scripts, and direct lawmaker contact information. Or text your ZIP code to Resist Bot at 50409 to send letters to your representatives by text message.
Today’s Action:
Make three calls and send one email.
Reading List
Here are the sources behind today’s post, so you can read further and share with confidence.
Warsh’s Fed Nomination Clears First Senate Vote (Bloomberg, May 11, 2026)
Warsh Moves Closer to Fed Role with Senate Cloture Vote (Roll Call, May 11, 2026)
Trump Fed Pick Kevin Warsh Clears Key Senate Hurdle (CNBC, April 29, 2026)
Ballroom Fight, Warsh Confirmation on the Agenda This Week (Roll Call, May 11, 2026)
Reconciliation Bill Text Would Fund ICE, CBP, Ballroom Security (Roll Call, May 5, 2026)
Congressional Budget Office Score of Reconciliation Legislation (CBO, May 2026)
Senate Republicans Release $72 Billion Reconciliation Bill (National Low Income Housing Coalition, May 2026)
NAACP Sues Tennessee to Block Elimination of Black Voting District (NAACP, May 7, 2026)
Memphis Voters File Federal Lawsuit Against New Congressional Map (WSMV, May 12, 2026)
Tennessee Republicans Pass Map Carving Up Memphis After SCOTUS Guts Voting Rights Act (Tennessee Lookout, May 7, 2026)
NAACP Tennessee Files Lawsuit Challenging Redrawn Map (Tennessee Lookout, May 7, 2026)
Tennessee Redistricting Plan Splits Memphis Neighbors (AP via Washington Times, May 9, 2026)
Thanks for these scripts! Remember, you can also make after-hours calls to ANY member of Congress with these same requests by calling the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and leave a message!
Thanks so much for the invaluable call information and scripts. Done!