Dear John,

I hope your weekend is off to a great start. I’m getting ready to celebrate my birthday and pick a bunch of mushrooms growing in the yard. Let me know how you’re doing and what you’re reading.

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

1. Jan. 6 Hearings

There are lots of emotions as the House holds hearings on the January 6^th insurrection. The truth of that day is made uglier as we remember a white mob freely attacking the U.S. Capitol compared to the militarized police response to Black Lives Matter protests in D.C. months earlier. Find live updates of the hearings on NPR. From the New York Times, Jan. 6 Was a ‘War Scene,’ and Trump Was the Director.

2. MPD

Since George Floyd’s murder, the City of Minneapolis has paid more than $22.2 million in workers’ comp settlements to police officers. This is more important reporting from the Minnesota Reformer: Some MPD officers leave with a trail of lawsuits, complaints while pocketing six-figure settlements.

3. Primaries Matter

A few weeks ago, a grassroots campaign ousted Big Pharma’s BFF in the House, Rep. Schrader, a Democrat from Oregon.

4. Midterms

“You really can’t win an election with a bumper sticker that says: ‘Well, we can’t do much, but the other side is worse.’” – Bernie Sanders, June 2022

Read Bernie to Dems: Change course before you nosedive in November.

5. Protect Trans Youth

Recommended essay: This Pride Month, We Must Remember the LGBTQ Youth Who Can’t Celebrate.

6. Frontline Worker Pay

Spread the word: frontline workers in Minnesota can soon sign up for pandemic bonus pay.

7. Wisdom

adrienne maree brown’s words are medicine. An Emergent Strategy Response to Mass Shootings is a must-read.

8. Pole Dance

Fun fact: Pole dancing has been approved for the 2024 Olympics. In honor of last weekend’s international pole dance convention, check out this dance masterpiece by the GOAT, Ashley Fox.

9. Music

I’m pumped to see brother-sister duo Durry tonight. Who’s Laughing Now is an absolute summer rock banger.

10. Sky Gazing

 In a super rare event, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn will all be visible in June (in the order they appear from the sun…think 6^th grade science class!). Check out the ‘planet parade.’

That’s a wrap. 

- Kenza Hadj-Moussa