Dear John,

First things first: today’s the last day to get your early bird tickets to the 2021 People’s Celebration hosted by TakeAction Minnesota on December 11^th from 6-7 p.m. We’re pulling out all the stops at this year’s virtual event. Reserve your early bird tickets, celebrate TakeAction’s 15^th anniversary, and fuel this work.

Keep me posted on what podcasts, TV shows, books, and articles are keeping you busy these days. I’ve been taking a media break to play a lot of chess! Thank you for your notes last week.

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

1. Police Reform

The status quo for MDP is not an option. ICYMI: Read this Star Tribune commentary by Attorney General Keith Ellison about moving forward. Listen to this interview from Slate by MPR’s Jon Collins about what happened in the Minneapolis election and what’s next.

2. MPD

“Professor Thomas Coghlan, a retired New York Police Department detective and professor of clinical psychology at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, said police unions sometimes stage “sickouts” or encourage cops to “go dead,” meaning they stop writing tickets and making arrests and take their time on calls to “discipline” the police department or community.” Read more in the Minnesota Reformer.

3. True Public Safety

"In the longer term, Medicaid expansion, access to drug treatment and mental health care, and even a guaranteed basic income have also been found to reduce crime — perhaps with fewer downsides than policing." Learn more in the New York Times.

4. Progressive Governance

This is a great reflection on the legacy of the progressive Minneapolis City Council over the past 4-8 years who fundamentally changed the level of policy leadership we can expect from local elected officials in Minnesota and nation-wide. Read more here.

5. Great Resignation

The trend continues—big time. See the latest.

6. Enbridge

Despite environmental threats, Enbridge is leaving its dirty old pipeline in the ground. Read the story.

7. COP26

As COP26 climate conference ends, youth activists are petitioning the U.N. to declare a systemwide climate emergency. Learn more.

8. Virginia

Very interesting interview with political strategists behind the GOP Governor-elect in Virginia. Listen here.

9. Music

This song performed by a Russian opera singer on Italy’s The Voice popped up on TikTok and gave me chills. Enjoy.

10. Lunar Eclipse

97% of the moon will be eclipsed on November 19. Checkout how and when to see next week’s lunar eclipse.

That’s a wrap. Send me what you’re reading!

- Kenza Hadj-Moussa