Netflix put Arkansas on the map

Let’s talk about the Duggars and the state of Arkansas politics. {NAME} – My hometown of Springdale AR has been in the news, thanks to the new Netflix docuseries, Shiny Happy People.  The documentary is about the Duggar family, but it’s about a lot more than that. It covers the authoritarian, patriarchal teachings of Bill Gothard and the Institute of Basic Life Principles, of which the Duggars are a part. [A graphic featuring a headline from OK Magazine which reads: “Secrets Exposed: Duggar Family Docuseries producers reveal the culture of abuse and disturbing reach of religious cult”]( Like a lot of folks, I didn’t grow up with a dozen or more siblings, but I did grow up in a home and church heavily influenced by Bill Gothard’s teachings.  Because of this, a lot of the documentary wasn’t new news to me. But I was interested to learn more about how this wing of the Religious Right has mobilized very effectively to influence our electoral politics.  The IBLP has infiltrated conservative politics in this country so deeply that virtually every mainstream Republican elected official parrots their talking points. And their grip on Arkansas is STRONG.  [ A collage of two photographs and a screenshot. The photo on the left shows former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee posing with Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar. The photo on the right shows Senator Tom Cotton and his wife posing with Josh and Anna Duggar. At the bottom is the screenshot of a 2014 tweet from Sarah Huckabee Sanders, which reads: “Good friend Josh Duggar introducing my dad Governor Mike Huckabee at FLS 2014. It’s good to be back in Iowa.]( There’s no question, between their lobbying and legislative agenda to efforts to elect adherents to office (Jim Bob himself was elected to the Arkansas House of Representatives and ran for multiple higher offices), these cultural warlords are a force to be reckoned with.  The result has left Arkansas in the clutches of extreme right-wing politicians for decades, which has left a lot of people in this state – even lifelong conservative voters – feeling powerless to change that.  That’s exactly why we started Vortex.  We need to do everything we can to match the organization and effectiveness of the Religious Right.  [So we are organizing in every county to rally voters and flip ALL FOUR Arkansas congressional seats. Can you pitch in $25 now to help us break the grip of far-right politics in Arkansas?]( If you've saved your payment information with ActBlue Express, your donation will go through immediately: [Express Donate: $25 >>  Â]( [Express Donate: $50 >>  Â]( [Express Donate: $100 >> Â]( [Express Donate: $500 >> Â]( [Express Donate: $1,000 >>]( [Donate Other Amount: >> Â]( People ask us all the time, “Why Congress?” The answer is simple.  What happens in Arkansas doesn’t stay in Arkansas. Sadly, the culture warring Right has a sympathetic audience in the Arkansas congressional delegation. We see this toxic influence creeping into our national dialogue – and worse, our laws.  We’re going to change that.  Together we can elect four bold Democrats who will stand up for the rights and dignity of ALL Arkansans and ALL Americans.  The far right is attacking LGBTQIA rights, reproductive rights – even the right for your children to learn history or read books they don’t like.  [But with your help, Arkansas is ready to rise up, break free from this radical ideology, and chart a new course.](  Let’s go!  Robb Ryerse Executive Director [Contribute to Vortex PAC](      Vortex PAC is a new grassroots movement to transform Arkansas politics away from the far-right. We are recruiting, training, and supporting Democratic candidates to flip all four of Arkansas’ U.S. congressional districts and help win back the House majority in 2024. [DONATE >>](   Paid for by Vortex PAC  ©2023 Vortex PAC, all rights reserved  Our mailing address is: Vortex PAC PO Box 1141 Springdale, AR 72765 We're sad to see you go, but if you believe you received this email in error, or you no longer wish to receive our emails you can unsubscribe using the link below: [Click here to unsubscribe.]( Sent via [ActionNetwork.org](. To update your email address, change your name or address, or to stop receiving emails from Vortex PAC, please [click here](.