Dear John,

The last month has been a hectic whirlwind of political happenings, nationally and internationally. So let’s celebrate some people and stories from the last week - especially those right here in Minnesota - (and maybe a few we’ve been holding on from the previous few weeks)!

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

1. MN State Senator backing tribal reparations effort

MN State Senator Mary Kunesh has backed multiple pieces of legislation to return land claimed from Indigenous people in violation of treaties, and some of them have been successful! This interview dives into her motivation, her ongoing campaign, and even the connection between the land back movement and the fight against climate change.

If you deep-read one article from this week’s news digest, make it this interview with Kunesh!

2. We mean carbon-free!

Polluting industry is trying to avoid accountability around Minnesota’s clean energy transition, by including a whole host of “clean” energy plans that aren’t actually clean. 

Check out this summary of what’s at stake here.

3. The Future of Housing Organizing: Tenants Unions

Another piece dense full of good information, this article on tenants unions spells out the case for building renter power, just like we build worker power. One of our core organizing teams is a Tenant’s Union in Duluth; check them out!

4. Kamala Harris “ready to take on corporate landlords”

On that note, Kamala Harris spoke in Atlanta, and among other notes, promised to tackle the greed and corruption of corporate landlords, in defense of everyday renters. This could be a HUGE deal, but only if we keep the pressure up on Democrats every day to be the party we know we deserve.

5. May Day 2028 looking to shake the foundations of American corporate power

When UAW set the expiration of their new union contract for May 1, 2028, it set off a wave of speculation - and an organizing strategy - that other unions would follow suit with that date, bringing about a massive union strike all at once.

AFT joined the growing wave of unions whose contracts expire on May 1st 2028, and we’ve got the date on the calender already!

6. The fossil fuel industry is slowly losing

Fossils are the long-dead corpses of plants and animals long lost to history, and fossil fuels have the same source. As cheesy as it may sound, the fossil fuel industry itself is on its way to fossilization, eventually. Clean, renewable energy is getting cheaper every day (and is already cheaper than fossil fuels), while local communities are uniting to reject polluting facilities from their neighborhoods. In a few weeks, a Minneapolis community will have finally and completely won one such fight, and the Smith Foundry will close.

7. Walz among frontrunners for VP

In 2023, Minnesota passed one of the most progressive slates of legislation any state has ever seen, with wide ranging impacts from investments in housing and healthcare to rights of workers, women, and trans people. We are building the vision of the left right here in Minnesota, and other states are looking to us for guidance.

While we’ve had our fair share of disagreements with Walz, his choice as VP would be a strong signal about the direction of the Democratic Party. Will we see our North Star State as the North Star for the Democratic Party and progressive politics?

8. St. Paul’s own Suni Lee wins gold medal in gymnastics

Simon Biles of course took home another gold medal, continuing to establish herself as one of the best athletes of all time.

But joining her on the pedestal was Suni Lee, hailing from Saint Paul!

9. Joy Is the Justice We Give Ourselves

Organizing is not an act of stoic suffering. It’s visionary act of community building. Winning the world we want means connecting to love and joy and art, and we really connected with this poem by J. Drew Lanham.

And that’s a wrap!

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

Until next time,

Mattias Lehman (he/him)
Narrative and Communications Director