Dear John,

From the impeachment hearings to presidential debate moderated entirely by women, it’s been a big week in politics.

As easy as it is to get sucked into what’s happening in our country every day, we find our minds wandering to one big question.  

Is this the beginning of a new progressive era?

Somali workers are taking on Amazon. Young activists are moving world leaders on climate justice. Congresswoman Ilhan Omar is proposing national Homes for All legislation as part of the Green New Deal. Presidential candidates are talking about Medicare for All and national paid family and medical leave.

We feel change coming. Let us know what you think.

We’re off next week for Thanksgiving.

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

1. Impeachment Guide

The good people at Vox are tracking everything. Get up to speed on this week’s impeachment hearings.

2. Paid Time to Care

Care makes all work possible. Finally, at this week’s Democratic debate, candidates were asked about child care and paid family & medical leave – which 92% of voters support. Read more.

3. Democratic Primary

Black women are the base, backbone, and future of the Democratic Party. But as presidential candidate Julián Castro sharply pointed out, the primary process gives outsized weight to two of the whitest states in the country. Read more — and learn what we can do about it.

4. Homes for All 

Policy solutions should match the scope of the problems we face. Congresswoman Ilhan Omar rolled out a Homes for All proposal this week that would create 12 million new affordable homes. We’re here for it. Learn more from Vice.

5. State Department Scammer

Even by the standards of the Trump administration, this is a weird one: a state department official grossly inflated her resume. We’re not just talking about fake degrees (although there are those too); we’re talking about fake Time Magazine covers. Read more.

6. Hollywood Primary 

Want to know which candidate has the most celebrity donations? Curious who has given money to Marianne Williamson? Guess who Larry David donated to? (Hint: Not Bernie Sanders.) Check out this interactive piece from the LA Times for the answers.

7. Joe Biden

Joe Biden has a stutter. A reporter from The Atlantic who also stutters talked to the former Vice President to understand his past struggles – and his current campaign. You’ve got to read this beautifully written piece. Read more.

8. The Minnesota Billboard Project

If you live in St. Paul, you might have seen the colorful billboards supporting abortion rights pop up this summer. Now they’re appearing in Duluth too. Read about the folks behind the Minnesota Billboard Project and their fight for reproductive freedom.

9. Alcatraz Occupation 

Fifty years ago, Native Americans occupied Alcatraz, reclaiming the former federal prison. But today, the occupation is often forgotten even though it launched the current era of Native activism. Read more.

10. Thank You, Twitter

Some days, we don’t know if we should laugh or cry. But the viral memes and songs birthed out of Trump’s “I want nothing” rant this week gave us life. Watch here.

That’s a wrap.

-- Kenza Hadj-Moussa and Patrick Burke