Dear John,

I hope you’re doing as well as possible.  After a few weeks hiatus, the news digest is back and I'm glad! If you’re in the Twin Cities, I hope to see you at the Our Future: March for Abortion Access hosted by unRestrict Minnesota on Sunday. Let's get to it.

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

1. Abortion Rights Victory

ICYMI: A huge victory for abortion rights was announced this week in Minnesota led by Gender Justice and the UnRestrict campaign. Check out this primer in Axios: Judge Strikes Down Minnesota Abortion Restrictions.

2. Public Safety

Read the op-ed by Minneapolis City Councilor Robin Wonsley, The movement was right about public safety all along in the Star Tribune.

3. 988

There’s a new national mental health crisis hotline launching tomorrow. Besides making it easier for people in crisis to access help, it’s a breakthrough in our nation’s approach to mental health. Learn more about the 988 roll out. (cw: suicide)

4. Life After Roe (Podcast)

Listen to this podcast: Nothing Ends With the Law. Let’s Talk About Life After “Roe.”

5. Big Pharma

After $2.5 billion in public research went into their COVID-19 vaccine, Moderna’s CEO is sailing away with a $926 million golden parachute. There’s a reason why prescription drug costs are out of control in the U.S.—and it doesn’t have to be this way.

6. Meta

We’re tracking all things big tech + midterm elections. From the New York Times, As Midterms Loom, Elections Are No Longer Top Priority for Meta C.E.O.

7. Local Leadership

We loved this legacy story on Richfield Mayor Maria Regan Gonzalez, the state’s first Latina mayor.

8. Edibles

Everything you need to know about Minnesota’s new edibles law. If you’ve read any good pieces on the importance of record expungement with legalization, send them my way.

9. The Bear

I just finished watching Hulu’s new show The Bear and highly recommend it. I grew up in the restaurant industry which made me love it even more. Read the review in The Atlantic TV’s Best New Show Is a Study of Masculinity in Crisis and checkout the trailer.

10. Space Photos

 Checkout this TIME piece on 5 mind-blowing photos from the James Webb Space Telescope!

That’s a wrap. Have a great weekend. 

- Kenza Hadj-Moussa