Dear John,
 

We’re happy to share that organizer and cultural strategist LyLy Vang-Yang is tapping in to co-author the news digest. LyLy has been a behind the scenes contributor for years. You’re in good hands, friends.  

We’re going to get right to it.

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

1. #VotersDecided

Trump is attempting a coup and a scam. This is a succinct, important analysis of Trump’s attempt to steal the election after clearly losing. Read this thread.

2. Hope is a Discipline 

Dancing is saving democracy. Read how strategy, planning, and celebration in the streets held the lines of democracy. Then, listen to Reclaiming Possibility: A Rant Against Despair. Podcast here.

3. #EmbracetheBase

"We need to have an unapologetic agenda, have an actual alternative and counter-messaging that is distinct from the Republican Party instead of trying to play to notions of civility...I just really hope that it gets through to a lot of peple that this idea that we can win over white voters on a civility arguement is like, not a reliable strategy." - AOC. Read more on the progressive memo circulating this week.

4. Minneapolis Budget

Across the country, cities are re-imagining community safety and re-aligning city budgets. In Minneapolis, it doesn’t matter if crime goes up or down - MPD demands more money. As the Minneapolis budget process ramps up, read this important thread. Also, just going to drop this here.

5. Georgia

Six Black women organizers share how they flipped Georgia and what comes next. GA’s runoff election in January will decide which party controls the U.S. Senate. Read this now.

6. Line 3

State Senator-elect Mary Kunesh-Podein published an important guest post on our blog. Read about the impact of Line 3.  

7. COVID

We’re still in a global pandemic, folks. Learn more about the state of Minnesota’s most recent safety measures. Listen to doctor and State Rep. Alice Mann’s impassioned speech on the House floor.  

8. Nikki Villavicencio

Huge congrats to TakeAction member and endorsed candidate Maplewood City Council Member-elect Nikki Villavicencio. Read more about her and her campaign. 

9. Gritty 101

Patrick Burke shared this primer for understanding what Philadelphian hockey mascot, Gritty, is all about. Watch the video.

10. Friday the 13th

Before the patriarchy got to it, Friday the 13^th was a celebration of the goddess, women, and divine feminine. Friday (Venus Day in Latin) was associated with women, and 13 is the number of moon and menstrual cycles in a year. Read about it and celebrate today!

That’s a wrap. Send us what you're reading. 

--Kenza Hadj-Moussa & LyLy Vang-Yang