Dear John,

We hope readers enjoyed safe and fun spring breaks and legislative breaks and 3rd-snowiest-winter-slush-shoveling breaks. (One of the authors of this week’s Digest must admit she kind of hopes we get enough snow to enter the top 2 snowiest winters next week).

Here’s what we’re reading, watching, and listening to this week:

1. People > PhRMA

Conservative groups are targeting swing-district Democrats with ads going after a bill that would create a Prescription Drug Affordability Board to set limits on costly drugs. Rep. Zach Stephenson said, “That’s why it’s so hard to make change in health care to bring down costs for people who are struggling,” he said. “Because the stakeholders who have the ability to print money use it to spread misinformation.”

2. Grocery workers' historic contract

“This year’s contract campaign was like nothing I’ve ever seen,” said Dave Mueller, who works in produce at the Uptown Minneapolis [Cub] store. “I’ve been on the bargaining committee six times, and we’re so much more powerful than we ever were before.”

The UFCW rank and file overwhelmingly voted to approve the contract after 3000 workers at 33 Cub locations nearly went on strike last week.

3. Black Tennessee Representatives reinstated

Democratic Reps. Justin Jones and Justin Pearson have been reinstated to their seats after being expelled from the legislature over their participation in a gun control protest. “Today we are sending a resounding message that democracy will not be killed in the comfort of silence,” Jones told a crowd at the Tennessee Capital. 

4. Mayor Johnson, brought to you by Chicago movements

Historian and longtime political activist Barbara Ransby writes beautifully in the Nation about the energy and long-haul commitment of the left-led unions, grassroots organizations, movements, and ordinary folks that delivered the Chicago mayoral election to progressive Brandon Johnson. 

5. Supreme Court Justice Protasiewicz, brought to you by young + rural voters

In The Washington Post, read about how Democrats drove record turnout on college campuses.

And in Daily Yonder: rural WI voters moved 5 points towards the Democrats in this special election, compared to the 2020 and 2022 elections.

6. $6 billion in student debt forgiveness

The Supreme Court will allow the student debt from certain for-profit colleges to be discharged. A ruling on Biden’s more massive one-time student loan forgiveness plan is expected this June.

7. Call to prayer in Minneapolis

After a City Council vote this week, Minneapolis will become the first city in the U.S. to allow the adhan, or Islamic call to prayer, to be broadcast 5 times a day, year-round.

8. Community is not only IRL

As high-risk individuals are marginalized from a society eager to ignore the ongoing harmful impacts of the pandemic, tech companies must do more to expand the digital security and accessibility of virtual spaces.

9. Hard Fork

Many people (including Laura, the essential editor of the News Digest!) have recommended to us this New York Times podcast, Hard Fork, about Artificial Intelligence and the ways technology shapes our society.

10. Yum

JD Hovland is a Minnesota Instagram must-follow. He visits and reviews restaurants all over Minnesota, including 110+ pho restaurants!

And that’s a wrap!

Send us what you’re reading, watching, and listening to.

Until next time,

Katie Blanchard (she/her)
Basebuilding Director

Jessica Zimmerman (she/her)
Development Director