Dear John,


Across the country, a bunch of us are taking to the streets tomorrow in a huge wave of coordinated actions. (ICYMI: Check out one of the local events - Hands Off! MN State Capitol). Whether you’re marching tomorrow, going to upcoming townhalls, or following Bernie and AOC’s fighting oligarchy tour, getting in the streets is a key tactic we need in the fight against fascism. But we also need to plan for what comes before, during, and after the protest. This is what we’re tackling in this week’s NewsDigest: how to keep fighting against rising authoritarianism after the march wraps up.
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Here’s what we’re reading, watching, and listening to this week.

1. TakeAction’s 2025 Election Endorsements & Caucus Training
Between the Minneapolis Mayoral and City Council races, TakeAction Minnesota has endorsed an exciting slate of progressive candidates. We need and deserve strong, progressive voices that aren’t afraid to stand by their values and get the work done for the people. You can check out our endorsements on our website and read our blog to hear more about why these candidates won our endorsements. If you’d like to ensure your voice is a part of our city’s future and dive into caucusing, we encourage you to join us for our Minneapolis Precinct Caucus Training this Saturday at 10 AM.
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2. Sen. Cory Booker on his marathon 25-hour speech on the Senate floor
This week, we watched U.S. Senator Cory Booker stand and give a speech to the American public for 25 hours, breaking the previous record held by Storm Thurmond, who had been trying to block the Civil Rights Act of 1957. While this speech made history by eclipsing Thurmond’s hateful legacy, more importantly, it was a plea for all elected leaders to listen to their constituents and change course. Senator Booker himself stated that “I hope that perhaps this is one of many ignition points that get people to kind of galvanize and come together and stop him,” he said to Juana Summers at MPR.
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3. Democratic-backed Susan Crawford wins Wisconsin Supreme Court seat, cementing liberal majority
Susan Crawford, Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate, has defeated her Musk-backed opponent and secured a liberal majority on the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Elon Musk, the richest man in the world, threw 21 million dollars into this race in hopes of securing the win for the conservative candidate, Brad Schimel. Musk even personally held rallies in Wisconsin and handed out 1 million dollar checks to two voters. This election signals that voters are unhappy with the Trump administration, even in a state Trump won in 2024, and that they do not take too kindly to billionaires interfering with our elections.
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4. Legal status revoked for five international students at MSU-Mankato
We’ve seen the disturbing kidnappings by ICE agents across the country, including here in Minnesota. Five students have had their legal status revoked and another student has been detained by ICE with no information about the student’s detention at MSU Mankato. ICE agents are intentionally causing confusion to paralyze action. Still, it’s equally clear their methods are confusing the department themselves as there are multiple stories of innocent and legal immigrants being wrongly deported. Whether it's in our schools, workplaces, or public spaces, the potential for ICE to show up remains a threat to our immigrant family, friends, and neighbors. But the American Civil Liberties Union and Minnesota staff Attorneys outlined actions we can take together to stop them from entering our spaces. Nonprofits across the state are training school staff to be prepared and safe in the event of an ICE raid on their classroom.
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5. Organizing Across Greater Minnesota
An organization that was started as a place for to vent about the current administration has grown into a powerful grassroots political organizing force across our state. These folks have taken their frustration, anger, and disappointment and turned it into action. They are organizing protests at Rep. Pete Stauber’s office in Hermantown, Presidents Day protests, protests in support of the U.S. postal service, and have even held a letter campaign mailing pink slips to Trump. Their group, now known as We the People: Cloquet Area Indivisible, is a shining example of the action the people need to take against this administration. From Rochester to Grand Marais, there are people in your community just like you, feeling frustrated by their representation and looking for an outlet for that energy.
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6. Senate Republicans buck Trump, join Dems in rejecting Canada tariffs
“Liberation Day,” as Trump and his cronies call the date of the sweeping tariff implementation, is upon us. Four Republicans joined Senate Democrats in rejecting the national emergency proposed by Trump to justify his tariff plan. While this vote is symbolic, it sends a clear message: the narrow margins the Republican party holds are not infallible, and there are still representatives willing to listen to the concerns of their constituents.
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7. Stefanik’s withdrawal suggests Republicans are sweating their thin margins
U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik's nomination as U.N. ambassador has been withdrawn, making it clear that Trump’s administration isn’t confident in his party’s ability to win elections. While they’ll never admit it, they clearly fear the grassroots organizing against his administration that has been taking place across the nation.
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8. Update: Minnesotans are more prosperous than our lower taxed neighbor states
Higher taxes are a hard sell, oftentimes because the benefits of those taxes take time to see. But, here in Minnesota, we are reaping the benefits of a higher tax rate. Whether it’s lower crime, a higher health care coverage rate, or a lower poverty rate, our state is doing better in each of these categories and beyond compared to our neighbors in the Dakotas, Iowa, and Wisconsin. Imagine what more we could do if our higher taxes were distributed more proportionally, with more taxes on corporations?
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9. Documentary about Indigenous activist Leonard Peltier opens Twin Cities film festival
The documentary, Free Leonard Peltier, covers 50 years of the American Indian Movement and the conviction of Leonard Peltier in 1975. The film seeks to highlight the injustices in our world and how communities can work to right the wrongs of the past.
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10. Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival, a Mexican-inspired opera
Whether you love films, operas, or zines there’s something out there for art lovers this weekend in the Twin Cities. Be a part of “Ofrenda”, an Opera bringing to life a story of a Mexican immigrant, as their performers and creators experiment and revise it live infront of an audience, join Queermunity MN for their “Zine Extravaganza” workshop, or attend the Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival to experience a lineup of BIPOC stories on the silver screen.
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That’s a wrap!

As always, please send us what you’re reading, watching and listening to.

Until next time,

Amanda Otero
Co-Executive Director


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