Your. Calls. Are. Working.

They're causing a stunning reversal among congresspeople in the past 48 hours.

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One of my biggest pet peeves is when people say “calls don’t matter” because members of Congress “don’t listen to us.” First, not trying to pressure them is guaranteed failure. And second, the past two days should make the cynics quiet.

For two weeks, you’ve shared scripts that I wrote/posted — plus instructions on how to call your senators. Basic tools and info. The posts spread on Instagram and elsewhere, amplified by those with followings both large and small.

Here are the results of your shares — purely of scripts/info about calling senators.

This data is from Instagram only; it doesn’t include Facebook, Threads, Substack, YouTube, X, WhatsApp, or anywhere else that the scripts and videos were posted.

To be clear, I’m far from the only one sharing resources. Many others I respect and admire — friends, strangers — have spread helpful info and action items. But I believe, as a whole, that the reason we’re seeing stunning 180s from congresspeople across America is because of your calls.

The incentives are simple. Congresspeople care about their reputation, legacy, and reelection. Thanks to you, all have been threatened.

I first noticed a shift when Rosa DeLauro — the lead Democratic negotiator for the DHS (ICE) funding bill — voted against her own bill. Hakeem Jeffries, the House Democratic leader, also rejected it. But it passed the House 220-207 and Republicans sent it to the Senate, packaged with other bills to fund education, defense, health, labor, housing, and transportation. The media considered it too hard to oppose.

But after the murder of Alex Pretti — and the outreach you did — things changed. Here’s a non-exhaustive list:

• Chuck Schumer, Senate Democratic leader, says Democrats plan to shut down the government Friday over the bill if it remains unchanged (remember, Republicans need seven Senate Democrats/Independents to pass it)

• Some House Democrats who voted for the bill on Thursday (seven in total) have apologized for their vote, like Tom Suozzi

• At least 133 House Democrats are supporting the impeachment Kristi Noem, DHS Secretary

And congressional Republicans are speaking out too:

• Senators Thom Tillis (NC), Bill Cassidy (LA), Lisa Murkowski (AK), and Susan Collins (ME) are calling for a full investigation, accountability, ICE reforms for the murder of Alex Pretti

• Senator Pete Ricketts (NE), Senator Dave McCormick (PA), and Representative Michael McCaul (TX) also support a full, transparent investigation

• Rand Paul and John Curtis have been even more strong in their condemnation of DHS and Noem and calling for investigations

Republican governors are even putting out statements — from Kevin Stitt (OK) to Greg Abbott (TX) to Phil Scott (VT), who didn’t mince words.

Of course, this isn’t enough. The Senate vote still needs to happen. But members of Congress voting against their own bills? Apologizing for their votes days later? Forcefully criticizing their own party in the White House? In the world of Washington, nothing like this transpires in just 96 hours.

So what changed? Why the sudden strength from Democrats, dam-cracking from Republicans, and cultural/business pushback from the Fortune 500 to the NBA?

You.

Your calls, advocacy, and outreach. Especially those of you doing it for the first time. I want to share a handful of the thousands of messages I’ve received from people taking this leap, who have never called or pressured their lawmakers previously.

Years ago, I learned that success in pressuring leaders requires volume. There’s nothing a single person can do to affect change. Numbers compel action, move the needle, and scare politicians. It’s cliche to say there’s strength in numbers — but, when it comes to pressuring leaders, that’s all there’s strength in.

The work isn’t over. But because of you, something’s changing.

I can feel it. I hope you can too.

Keep calling senators this week. Don’t let up until a) ICE doesn’t receive any more funds and b) there are significant changes/reforms to the agency — even abolition — so what happened to Renee Good, Alex Pretti, and so many others off camera never happens again.

We hire members of Congress through elections. We pay their salaries through taxes. We’re their bosses. If we don’t like what they do, we tell them. If they ignore us, we find new members. And we can actually do that this year.

Keep sharing, calling, protesting (especially the brave people in Minneapolis), and speaking out.

It’s working.