Category: Newsletter

Politics Bulletin: 007

The SAME PAGE

In this issue:

  1. Feeling Stressed
  2. The Michael Luttig Article that everyone is talking about
  3. Voting Information
  4. An Invitation from Monarca – Democracy Defense

1. Feeling Stressed

The stress I’m feeling is nothing compared to an ICE abduction. I am not searching for water in the middle of a war zone that used to be a city park. Nevertheless, the anxiety is real. It has been hard to watch my country bend to a dictator who stirs constant uncertainty (an oxymoron), like when back in April he threatened to bomb Iran “back to the stone ages,” only to back down ninety minutes before a fake deadline to open the Straights of Hormuz. By preschool, I knew that a nuclear holocaust was inevitable; naturally, I’m feeling tweaked. More importantly, the chaos is destabilizing our democracy. That a private individual can change foreign policy with a literal flip of a switch, unilaterally shifting the United States from Ukraine’s ally to that of its Russian invader by cutting off access to privately owned satellites, is alarming.

If you are likewise struggling with the headlines, one way to stay grounded is to get involved in something that matters to you. Right now is the time to volunteer to maintain a public garden, read to a child, attend a PUC meeting, or teach someone how to set up a Signal account at the library. Or if you want to do something with urgency, help Get Out the Vote for the midterm elections. Sign up for a shift at mobilize.us/dflcc. Or sign up to give people rides to the polls at tinyurl.com/SamePage-Rides. Record turnout will be needed in order to secure democracy in Minnesota and to flip Congress so that we can reign in the dictator and begin to restore sanity and justice, while taking the opportunity to re-imagine how much better we can be.

Another way to keep your balance is to be socially engaged. How well do you know your neighbors? Why not take that drumming class you saw in the community ed catalog? Now is the time to say yes to the invitation. Better yet, extend one. Related, as a matter of resistance and to feel better, we must also reclaim our attention span. After Facebook and YouTube have been found liable for engineering their platforms to be addictive, it would be a good idea to keep them in check if not flee for higher ground (try BlueSky or Mastodon).

One step at a time. First, we vote on or before Tuesday, November 3.

(Rebekah Smith)

2. The Michael Luttig Article that everyone is talking about

Read full article in The New Republic

“So unalterably subjugated to Trump is today’s Republican House that even a decisive victory for Democrats and a resounding repudiation of Trump and the MAGA Republicans at the polls in November will not guarantee that a Democratic majority-elect will be seated in the 120th Congress on January 3…
Over the past year and a half since his return to the White House, Trump has exploited every conceivable unlawful means possible to rig the midterm elections in favor of the Republicans, and the federal courts have struck down as unconstitutional every one of these unlawful attempts. He will try every unlawful means over the remaining weeks to ensure that Republicans handily win the midterm elections in November. Those of us who oppose his illegality will look to the courts, but the federal courts will be institutionally incapable of checking his final unlawful rampage.

This is how the crisis would unfold. The precursor of the crisis will come sometime before noon on January 3, when Speaker Johnson removes current House Clerk Kevin McCumber and replaces him with a person loyal to Johnson and House Republicans who they know will refuse to list on the statutory roll of representatives-elect to the 120th Congress any Democrat-elect whom Johnson and the Republicans direct him or her not to list…”

Read full article in The New Republic

Please make it known with your calls and letters to Congress that we will not stand for a January 3 turd. If we can save Jimmy Kimmel by ditching a Disney subscription, what’s the least we can do for our democracy?

3. Voting Information

Vote by Tuesday, November 3. Find everything you need to know to vote in this critical midterm election at the MN Secretary of State’s website.

4. An Invitation from Monarca – Democracy Defense

Worth forwarding: A message from Madi at UNIDOS.

Election Day is right around the corner, and what’s at stake for all of us goes beyond who wins in November. The leaders we elect will make decisions that shape what we can accomplish at the Capitol in 2027. From protecting immigrant families and our freedoms to making healthcare, housing, and energy more affordable.

For too long, working families in Saint Paul have faced rising costs and policies that put corporations and wealthy interests ahead of our communities. We have the power to change that by organizing our neighbors and moving a legislative agenda to advance prosperity for all Saint Paul and Minnesota families in 2027.
The road to building the future we want starts now.

Join Saint Paul leaders on Wednesday, October 28, for a virtual community meeting to plan how we will move together this legislative session.
Together at this meeting, we’ll discuss:

  • Election Defense: How we can use our voices and votes this November and how we can make sure our elections are free, democratic, and protected
  • Our 2027 Legislative Agenda: The policies we want to move at the Capitol around freedom from surveillance, immigration justice, climate justice, healthcare, and prosperity for all families.
  • What’s Next: How we can organize our neighbors and build the power we need to turn these priorities into real material changes for our communities.
  • Join us Wednesday, October 28 at 6:20PM via Zoom

Register Here

Be sure to also save your seat for the November 15th Saint Paul Legislative Caucus meeting. This meeting will bring together neighbors and Saint Paul representatives and senators to talk about how we can move our Prosperity Agenda forward this legislative season.

The election will help determine who makes decisions at the Capitol next year. But it’s our organizing before and after Election Day that will help determine whose voices are heard and which priorities move forward. Join us to ensure our communities are prioritized this legislative session.

Sunday Update 001

Plans

I’m bouncing between taking advantage of the nice weather and washing windows, partly in an attempt to reclaim the porch which has fallen into a mess (along with many other things, but you have to start somewhere) and finishing a variety of frames. First, I am making frames that will essentially serve as a storm window once I cover them with plastic. I’m also making frames to block the sun in the summertime. I’ve already made them for the French windows in the living room, and they have been working great. I thought it would be nice to have something that looks decent (as opposed to the raw panel of silver insulation that I’ve been throwing in there on the oppressively hot days). I am also making a frame to weave on for a “special project.” Once I figure it out, I’ll share more. As for the frame, after trying to make it with EMT conduit, I’m taking my dad’s advice and making it with wood. I’m about to finish one frame, which I would already change given a few things I’ve learned. But it will be good enough to make a second prototype (the first being the one I made with the conduit). Hopefully, my third try will be the answer for a strong but light-weight and inexpensive frame. The list of things to do today continues, and I will return to that list, should I manage this first part.

Progress

As I mentioned above, I’m getting close to figuring out a frame that I can weave on for a top-secret project. Other than a cover that I am making for the cat litter box, writing a cook book and finishing a novel, this is the only thing I want to work on, though it is very satisfying to look out of a clean window.

Puzzles

The weaving frame has been the biggest puzzle, though I just encountered another one yesterday. My clothes drying racks kept tipping over on the deck as it was windy and I had sheer curtains on them (to make a sail). In the past, I’ve tied them down or wedged them between patio furniture. But this time, I wondered how I could screw an eye hook on the railing between the deck boards so that I can attach a bungee cord to it and by that means hold down the drying rack. This way, the hooks would be hidden such that one wouldn’t stub a toe on them, but ready to use whenever needed. I only wish that I would’ve thought of this before I put down the deck boards, as there is no way that I know to add them after the fact. On the other hand, maybe adding a hook as I’ve described would defeat the purpose of the gap between the boards (to accommodate wood expansion). But if it were possible one could incorporate many such hooks on a deck, making it (maybe) easy to erect a temporary awning, for example. Maybe I could still put in some hooks on the side of the deck our house so that I can easily secure my clothes drying racks.

Burning Questions

I’ve been thinking about social grace and observing various forms of it or lack of it.

Something Amusing

Brian has been working on painting the trim on the garage and plans to be done with it today. But he took time to use the recently acquired Uprooter to remove a sapling that got away from us. So, happy (again) with how well it works he was compelled to bring the evidence to me where I am working in a very messy dining room.

How it Went

I’ll post “how it went” later. In the meantime, if you have a “Sunday Update” to share, I’d love to read it.

Politics Bulletin: 006

In this issue

  1. Call U.S. Senators (Right now, if you can!)
  2. Protect the 2026 Elections
  3. Where are the churches?
  4. Upcoming Events
  5. Inspiration

You don’t have to do everything. But do something.

1. Call U.S. Senators

After setting the conditions to pass the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) budget, the Democrats in the U.S. Senate must stand strong. Minority leader Sen. Chuck Schumer insists that Democrats will not give an inch and that they will not pass the DHS budget until some basic demands are met: 1) No Roving ICE Units, 2) Accountability, 3) No Masks, 4) Body cameras.

If you don’t think that the Democrats are asking for enough, you are not alone.5Calls.org suggests stronger language that includes a ban on deporting children, a ban on tracking people, and oversight to ensure humane conditions in detention facilities. See 5Calls.org for more information. Meanwhile, restaurant workers have launched an 86 Ice Campaign (See VIDEO or Read ARTICLE).

Minnesota U.S. Senators Contact Information

5Calls.org is just one organization that makes it easy to contact your representatives. Or use the numbers below.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar

Sen. Amy Klobuchar

Contact Form

Minneapolis Office

612-727-5220

DC Office

202-224-3244

More Locations

Online

Website

Scan QR code on the left to add Sen. Klobuchar to your contact list. Then send her a quick message to support her in holding the line. DHS must not be funded until ICE is held accountable.

With Sen. Klobuchar seeking the DFL endorsement for MN Governor, now is the time to remind her that we’re paying attention. We expect all Democrats to use all of their power to protect us from Trump’s secret police.

Sen. Tina Smith

Sen. Tina Smith

Contact Form

St. Paul Office

651-221-1016

DC Office

202-224-5641

Online

Website * Bluesky * Shitter * Facebook * Instagram

Scan QR code on the left to add Sen. Smith to your contact list. Then send her a quick message to support her in holding the line. DHS must not be funded until ICE is held accountable.

2. Protect the 2026 Election

The SAVE Act has passed the U.S. House of Representatives. Again, the U.S. Senate is our last chance to stop this voter suppression bill. Read more:

Not to sound like a broken record but…

Please call your senators. They must use everything within their power to stop the SAVE Act, including making the defeat of this bill a condition of passing the DHS budget. Now more than ever, we need Democrats to be tough. “The SAVE Act is designed to block eligible people from voting, not to protect elections. Demand your representatives oppose the SAVE Act and protect voting rights for all.”1 Right now it doesn’t seem like this bill will pass in the Senate and that it will not take a filibuster to stop it. Nevertheless, we must be loud in our opposition to it.

  1. https://5calls.org/issue/save-act-voter-suppression/ ↩︎
Make it Real * Make it Fun
  • Host a “Call Congress” party.
  • Film yourself making calls and post your short videos.

How can we be proactive?

Elections attorney Mark Elias of DemocracyDocket.com has proposed legalization that states can pass to protect elections. In this article (and video below) he proposes that states immediately:

  • Ban third-party voter challenges and other forms of vigilantism.
  • Provide criminal and civil remedies for voter intimidation.
  • Revise and strengthen election-certification laws.

For a full list of recommendations for state and federal legislation, see DemocracyDocket.org.

3. Where are the churches?

After minister and activist Nekima Levy Armstrong and St. Paul School Board member Chauntyll Allen were indicted for protesting alongside journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort, Leslie E. Redmond – former president of the Minneapolis NAACP – has some questions: “I wonder how Cities Church can stay quiet and silent when peaceful protesters are being prosecuted politically. Where journalists are being prosecuted politically. I wonder where all the churches are…

Minnesota Council of Churches, where are you? Isaiah, where are you?

Minnesota Council of Churches, where are you? Isaiah, where are you? …We have to ask ourselves, who is not present and accounted for? Where are they and why are they silent? Why do we live in a world where Nekima and Chauntyll… have mug shots before Jonathon Ross… You’re telling me that voices and speaking truth to power is more of a crime than killing someone in cold blood… We wouldn’t be here today but for Rene Nicole Good being killed for standing up for her immigrant brothers and sisters.”

Watch the full press conference on YouTube.

4. Upcoming Events

Day on The Hill, Minnesota State Capitol

In Minnesota, February is “Day on The Hill” month at the Minnesota State Capitol. It’s a popular time when – right as the legislative session gets going – constituents lobby their representatives. Though anyone can make an appointment with their state representatives, in February many travel in groups. For example, the Minnesota Nurses Association has a day on the hill planned for March 3, and Unidos MN has a “day on the hill” planned for February 26.

If you have never lobbied an elected official, make it a first this year. Find out who represents you in the MN Legislature.

In addition to the legislation that Mark Elias is proposing, we can support Minnesota lawmakers who have been busy drafting legislation related to the impact that ICE has had on our community. Here is a press conference of state lawmakers from around the country, including those from “red states,” who are working to do what they can to protect states from federal abuse.

Truth, Trust & the Ballot Box: Understanding Election Security

Tuesday, March 24, 2026

6:30 PM – 7:45 PM

Ramsey County Public Library, Roseville, MN

Going into the 2026 elections, we will need to be informed about how elections work in our state. Minnesota has some pretty amazing safeguards, including random audits that can trigger statewide recounts. We’ll need to be prepared to be able to talk about this issue, as attacking the validity of the vote will be a tactic to steal the election in 2026.

No Kings Protest

March 28

A Valentines Concert – TODAY

TODAY! February 14, 3 PM,

Art Gallery of the historic Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church

511 Groveland Avenue in Minneapolis.

Our neighbor Ralph will be performing in Love, Chorus Polaris – Premier Minneapolis jazz vocalist Thomasina Petrus will be the special guest performer at Chorus Polaris’ 20th season Valentine’s Day afternoon gala. Artistic director William Mathis will lead the chorus in selections celebrating love, drawing from classical, Broadway, and pop genres. An ensemble will perform the hilarious Warren Martin semi-staged comedic musical work, “The True Story of Cinderella.”

Inspiration

We are working in concert with each other. Even when we call our representatives, we are not alone. Here’s a funny stories to prove it. Recently, Cheryl was at Costco looking at the peanut butter. She and the stranger next to her quickly realized that they were allies, both answering a call for a local food drive, like the one Annie recently led. She opened up her porch to receive donations and people responded!

Politics Bulletin: 005

In this issue

  1. Training & Resources
  2. Contact Congress (even if they are useless bastards)
  3. Precinct Caucus – Tuesday, February 3-7
  4. No Kings Protest, March 28
  5. Protect the 2026 Elections
  6. Inspiration

You don’t have to do everything. But do something.

Training & Resources

Defend 612 has local and national resources for legal issues, rapid response best practices, school patrol, where to get whistles and more.

Eyes on Ice – Document & Record – This is a recording of a training about exercising your rights in a moment when federal agents are terrorizing our communities and using excessive force. A neighbor writes: “A mix of practical information and encouraging words. Not too in depth but helpful I thought.”

ACLU Activist Toolkit

2. Contact Congress (even if they are useless bastards)

If Congress were functioning properly and keeping Trump in check, we would not be in the crisis that we are in. So, contacting our reps might seem futile. It isn’t. We should all do that. In addition, we need to be asking others to do it. That is where our power is. We must turn up the volume.

Action: Gather and list ways we can lobby our friends , family and neighbors to raise their voices. Try some things. See what works. Share what works. We need your creativity in this moment.

How do I contact my representatives?

Indivisible

Indivisible ma1kes it easy to contact your congressional representatives. Regarding ICE, they have talking points if you need a place to start. They are leading a campaign to keep up the pressure to “make sure Dems don’t accept empty reforms and call that a win,” offering talking points and advice for contacting your Senators.

5calls.org

5calls.org makes it easy to contact your congressional representatives about timely issues.

ACLU

Sign a petition, “Stop ICE’s Attack On Our Communities”

Speed Dial

You can always contact your representatives directly. To find out who represents you on the state and national level, us this tool from the MN Legislative Coordination Commission. Put their contact information in your address book.

Local Representatives

While you’re at it, add your local representative to your address book.

3. DFL Precinct Caucuses – Tuesday, February 3 – 7 PM

If you are looking for caucus information pertaining to any other party in Minnesota, look here:

Where do I caucus on Tuesday?

At the precinct caucuses neighbors will gather according to political parties to cast “preferential ballots” for candidates who are seeking the endorsement for the 2026 elections. While there will also be a primary that will ultimately advance candidates to the general election, DFL endorsed candidates will enjoy the support of the Party in the general election.1

Supporting Candidates

By attending your caucus, you can have an impact on who your party endorses in a competitive Governor’s race and U.S. Senate.

Governor’s Race

At your precinct caucus, the preferential ballot for the governor’s race will be a single write-in line. This is because candidates did not make the deadline to declare that they wanted to be on the ballot. Instead, according to someone I talked to at DFL HQ, candidates will be listed on a white board. HQ would not tell me who would be listed. There were rules. There were reasons. It was weird. Weirder yet is that the best list I could find was on Wikipedia.

MN U.S. Senate Race

The preferential ballot will not include senate candidates. To support a candidate for US Senate, delegates will move up through the conventions to the DFL state convention. The top two DFL candidates are Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan who is not funded by corporations and Angie Craig who is.

Read More About Candidates for US Senate

How to Support a Candidate who is Seeking the DFL Endorsement

The poll that will be taken at the precinct caucus is non-binding. A candidate for governor will actually be endorsed by delegates at the MN DFL State Convention. The best thing you can do to support a candidate on an level who is seeking the DFL endorsement is:

  • Attend the precinct caucus on Tuesday;
  • Get elected/volunteer as a delegate to the next convention level (i.e., move up as a delegate) and move up through the convention system as far as you are able. The goal is to become a state delegate; or you can
  • Help elect delegates who support your candidate.
What will be on the MN 2026 Ballot?

The MN Secretary of State’s office lists:

  • U.S. Senator (Sen. Tina’s Smith’s seat is open)
  • U.S. Representative
  • Governor & Lt. Governor
  • Secretary of State
  • State Auditor
  • Attourny General
  • MN State Senator
  • MN State Representative
  • Judicial Seats

Voters might also see:

  • County Officials
  • City Officials
  • School Board Members
  • Township Officers
  • Local Ballot Questions

Passing Resolutions

ICE Out of Minnesota – You can present this resolution at your DFL precinct caucus on Tuesday. Print it and when the chair asks for resolutions, you can submit it.

Download ICE Out Resolution

4. No Kings Protest, March 28

Watch Jen Rubin’s interview with Indivisible founder Ezra Levin to learn more.

5. Protect the 2026 Election

As a condition of pulling ICE out of Minnesota, in a letter to Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi demanded that Minnesota allow the Department of Justice to have access to its voter rolls. As Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison commented, “She said the quiet part out loud.”2 Elections Attorney Mark Elias of Democracy Docket has been sounding the alarm regarding the 2026 elections. In September 2025, he argued that Trump is planning to steal the 2026 election.

Summary of Elias’s remarks.

Prepare to Protect the Elections

Given what we know about Trump’s intentions to disrupt the 2026, we must be prepared. I don’t know what that means, but I think it will be useful if we start to formulate some ideas about it. As a starting point, Elias recommends:

  • Be informed. Pay attention to state and local election board meetings. As he stresses in the video, “Rules matter!”
  • Communicate with Congress and your state legislature about this issue. What are they doing to prepare?

I would add:

  • Attend this forum: “Truth, Trust & the Ballot Box: Understanding Election Security,” on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, 6:30 PM – 7:45 PM at the Ramsey County Public Library, Roseville, MN
  • Become an election judge (Minnesota Info)
  • Join local groups involved in protecting the vote, registering people to vote, or working on other election issues. For example, FairVote MN advocates for Ranked-Choice Voting. There is also American Promise. They are “building a non-partisan citizen action campaign for a constitutional amendment that will protect free speech and bring reasonable, transparent and accountable rules for how money is used to influence elections.”
  • If you are organizing in your neighborhood, see if there is anyone who can follow these issues and keep the neighbors updated about any actions that are needed.

Inspiration

Merriam Park is showing up: Lights for Alex Pretti & Renee Good.

Notes

  1. Unless you’re Zohran Mamdani or Omar Fateh. Anomalies aside – I’m sure that Sen. Chuck Schumer and the Clintons had their reasons for joining Trump in supporting a sexual harasser who lied about COVID numbers and who left New York’s governor’s office in shame over a wildly popular progressive. ↩︎
  2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pc1b0OMXB24 (Min. 7:41) ↩︎

Politics Bulletin: 004

Friday, January 23 Day of Truth and Freedom March & Rally

No Work. No School. No Shopping.*

Friday, January 23

Day of Truth and Freedom

2 PM – March from The Commons, 425 Portland Ave S to the Target Center

3 PM -Rally at the Target Center (inside)

Day of Truth and Freedom is a statewide day of nonviolent moral action that is being supported by multiple organizations. It is a day for community, conscience, and collective action. As Minnesotans who value truth, freedom and life we ask that:

  • ICE must leave Minnesota now.
  • The officer who killed Renee Good must be held legally accountable.
  • No additional federal funding for ICE in the upcoming Congressional budget and ICE should be investigated for human and Constitutional violations of Americans and our neighbors.
  • We call upon Minnesota and National Companies to become 4th Amendment businesses, cease economic relations with ICE and refuse ICE entry or using their property for staging grounds.

Note that temps are forecast to be sub-zero, and wind chills in the dangerous -40-50 range. We are tough Minnesotans, but understand that in these dangerous conditions, only people in specialized outerwear should be outside for more than a couple of minutes. Prepare accordingly.

*(except for emergency services, immigrant-owned and/or micro-businesses)

Prayer Sessions

In addition to the march and rally, ISAIAH is hosting prayer sessions:

Prepare

Be Ready to Communicate with Groups

Since email, texting/SMS and social media DM’s are not secure or private methods of communicating, many are switching to apps like Signal that encrypt messages.

Download the Signal App on your phone and install it.

If you’re not familiar with the app, someone can help you set it up. Once that’s done, you will find that the app is like texting. Once you’re on Signal, you will be better prepared to help. You’ll be able to join the appropriate groups to receive updates, coordinate and respond.

Know your Rights

Know your rights. No matter how you are plugging in to help, having a grasp of your rights is critical. Print fact sheets and have them ready to share with others.

Join a Group

I’ll keep an ongoing list of groups working for democracy. Below are examples of groups that are organizing.

ISAIAH – We are a statewide multiracial group of faith communities, Black barbershops, childcare centers, and more fighting for racial and economic justice in Minnesota.

Immigrant Defense Network – Once you connect with this organization, they will send you a volunteer application and connect you with multiple ways you can help using the skills you have (organizing events, service work, writing…).

Take Action MN has been hosting Zoom meetings twice a week with updates from different people and groups. Register for an upcoming meeting here.

Engage

In your neighborhood…

Host a Gathering – Whether the purpose is purely to socialize and get to know each other or you want help developing an idea for taking action, take the initiative to invite people to join you.

Call Congress

Call your Congressperson – We must call our representatives on an ongoing basis. It doesn’t matter whether they are Democrats or Republicans. The 5 Calls website is one place to find calling campaigns for different issues. Pick an issue and hammer on it. Every time you see a relevant article, meme or video, tag your representative in whatever social media platforms apply. Or email your representative. Ask where they stand. Ask why they did what they did. Do not let anyone off the hook for anything, regardless of party affiliation.

Tell Rep. Betty McCollum to defund ICE. She lists (651) 224-9191 for “time-sensitive” matters.

After children were taken from their school, including a 5-year-old, Columbia Heights School is asking everyone to call their representatives in Congress to ask for an immediate and peaceful resolution to the occupation of ICE in Minnesota (and elsewhere) and to restore peace in the schools.

We must convince others to contact Congress, especially in red states and districts. So, call your representative. And then call five friends and ask them to call their representatives. Go to the mall and ask people to call their representative on the spot. Film it. Post it on YouTube. Film your book group taking turns to call their representatives. Model democracy. Model engagement. And post it everywhere.

Vote on Tuesday, January 27

In our neighborhood (Merriam Park) and beyond we have a special election on Tuesday, January 27 for the Minnesota Legislature, House District 64A. Even if it looks like the winner is obvious and there is no reason to show up, show up. Lets light up those numbers so that our representatives understand that we’re paying attention. On a related note, congratulations to our neighbor Meg on Iglehart who prevailed in the primary!

Prepare to change social media platforms

It is conceivable that we will need to leave the Zuckerberg nest. For some people, disentangling our lives from his platforms will be difficult. But we must view Facebook, Instagram, etc. as levers of power that we are prepared to pull. With this in mind:

Open a Mastodon account and invite your friends to join you there.

Here’s what was trending there at the time of posting:

Mastodon is a decentralized network of open-source servers that anyone can host. BlueSky is another popular alternative to the Zuckerverse.

Give BlueSky a try.

Prepare to bank elsewhere

Another thing you could do to prepare for possible future action is to:

Open an account at a Credit Union.

Where we bank is another lever of power. It will be easier to pull that lever if we have a plan.

Make a list of the services that you could drop to send a message

We saw how we returned Jimmy Kimmel to network television when we boycotted ABC’s parent company Disney. With that in mind, be prepared to drop similar services. Make a list of subscriptions and streaming services that can be cancelled to make a point. What about a credit card boycott? Take an inventory of where you levers of power are.

Read this article:

Want to Stop ICE? Go After Its Corporate Collaborators.

Boycott The World Cup

In the Star Tribune article Jim Souhan writes:

So what should a sportswriter say about the United States in 2026?

Authoritarian governments love sportswashing — using international events to put a smiling face on their grim realities.

That’s what the United States will try to do this summer with the World Cup.

Eleven U.S. cities are scheduled to play host to World Cup matches this summer.

The United States does not deserve this privilege as long as uniformed thugs are attacking people in the streets with the support of the federal government.

If you live elsewhere, don’t come to the United States.

If you live in the United States, don’t go to the games.

Foreigners would be foolish to visit. Americans would be foolish to attend

Follow

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Politics Bulletin: 003

Today is Election Day. In my precinct, there is a mayoral race and two questions on the ballot to consider. Once again, with just hours before the polls open, I checked with neighbors and friends to get their thoughts on the candidates and issues. As of this posting, two have graciously responded. If I hear from others as the day goes on, I will amend this post accordingly.

Sample Ballot

CITY QUESTION 1 (St. Paul)

Referendum on Ord 25-2 amending the City Charter.

Should Ordinance Ord 25-2, amending Chapter 6.03 of the St. Paul Charter, regarding Administrative Citations take effect? Ordinance Ord 25-2 amends the City Charter to authorize the issuance of Administrative Citations that may result in the imposition of civil fines for violations of City Ordinances. Administrative Citations are not Criminal Citations. A “yes vote is a vote in favor of amending the City Charter to allow the City to issue administrative citations. A “No” vote is a vote against amending the City Charter and against administrative citations.

SCHOOL DISTRICT QUESTION 1 (ISD #625)

Approval of New School District Referendum Revenue Authorization

The board of Independent School District No. 625 (Saint Paul), Minnesota has proposed to increase the School District’s general education revenue by $1,073 per pupil, subject to an annual increase at the rate of inflation. The proposed new referendum revenue authorization would be first levied in 2025 for taxes payable in 2026 and applicable for ten (10) years unless otherwise revoked or reduced as provided by law.

Comments

Below is what I’ve heard as of this posting. Should I receive more comments, I will add them below.

One trusted neighbor wrote:

Hi Rebekah. I hope you and Brian are well.

I voted for Her but am not as politically active as previously and cannot offer an insider perspective. As my Rep., after redistricting moved me from Dave Pinto territory, Her had the right positions but I find her rather elusive. Compared to Pinto, she is quiet and not strong on outreach. During the mayoral, she seemed to recognize that and emphasize her “get it done,” no show-boating style.

That professed (and maybe real) style served her well in this campaign because more people now realize that Carter is pretty much hot air. His mirco-versions of potential national solutions come as his own city is falling down around him. A quiet yeoman Mayor who will fix the basics sounds pretty good in comparison.

I voted for both ballot questions in spite of my respect for Jane Prince’s warning about limitless administrative citations. I’m assuming there will be penalty guidelines. And I’m in favor of heavy investment in public schools not just for facilities, personnel, and curricula but to fend off the largely right-wing attack on them.

Your newsletter had a welcome section of food shelves. I’ve been delivering groceries from Keystone to homebound individuals in Saint Paul and surrounding territory. Doing a little is alternately satisfying and very troubling for the recognition it affords of how much more is needed. And then there are the fucking Republicans.

Another thoughtful neighbor wrote:

Hi Rebekah,

Two reasons not to vote for Mayor Carter:

  1. He did not bother, despite multiple requests, to respond to a questionnaire from Neighbors for Responsible and Livable Development about a proposed moratorium on the tear-downs of original homes the the neighborhood and their replacement with barn-like structures to be used as private student dormitories. Like I said when we chatted this morning, I don’t oppose greater housing density, but I do oppose perfectly good century-old homes in the neighborhood being demolished and replaced with cheaply built, hideously ugly structures.
  2. He is apparently not in favor of requiring bird-safe glass in new zoning rules for the Mississippi River Corridor. We should all know by now that regular glass is deadly to birds. Requiring bird-safe glass for construction in a city in the Mississippi flyway should be a total no-brainer.

So, who gets my vote? I asked a number of my politically savvy friends about their choices for mayor. Most of them favor Her, with Chen in the #2 ranked choice spot. I am probably going with Her as #1.

My Thoughts

As I watched a debate last night, Brian grumbled with every hostile jab between candidates: “Debates are useless.” He’s right. They lack nuance and the time it takes to tease out viable solutions to problems.

What’s with the hostility?

As for the hostility, I’m worn out by the lack of civility in politics. We can disagree and even correct a statement without resorting to making enemies of each other. Please, to every candidate everywhere: Stop it. To be clear, I’m not arguing against passion. We need people to – for example – stand up for the poor with some vigor. But it’s disheartening to watch politicians who should be allies tear each other down with petty complaints. If I were teaching a debate class, I would ask my students to rewrite this one such that candidates were cordial and made their points without the snark. In my view, Rep. Kaohly Her would need the most editing in this regard. Yan Chen seemed to mainly stay above the fray, while Mayor Carter came across as the most likeable. If I based my decision on this debate alone, he would be my first choice.

Unresponsive government

However, Carter’s unresponsiveness to advocacy groups who oppose tearing down single-family homes, as mentioned above, is very concerning. The current Mayor and the City Council seem intent on bulldozing their way to solutions without acknowledging the harm they are doing to our neighborhoods in the process.

It’s hard to see how tearing down blocks and blocks of quality homes that have lasted over a hundred years and replacing them with cheap eyesores can be a serious response to the “climate refuges” we are expecting. Aside from wasting resources, these buildings are not even a solution to affordable housing for the people who already live here. For example, a neighbor recently became homeless (one crisis away from homelessness is real). She lived within blocks of dense new construction but she couldn’t afford the rent. Meanwhile, college students (who – despite the justifications for doing away with parking requirements – do drive) seem to be able to swing it.

Unlike my friend quoted above, I like that Carter is thinking beyond the “nuts & bolts” and is trying to do what he can to address things like gun violence in the face of failure elsewhere in government. It’s a little ironic to fault him for this while complaining about crime. In any case, anyone who is resisting the Trump administration, which Carter has been doing, deserves some credit, even if there are potholes that need to be filled. There will always be potholes.

If Kamala were president…

At the recent No Kings Day protest near St. Kate’s college, I saw a sign that said, “If Kamala were president we’d all be at brunch.” Like a lot of the signs that day (“Clean up in aisle 47,” “No Faux King Way”), it made me laugh. Brunch did sound good. But the sentiment also points to a problem. To believe that electing Democrats means that we can let our government churn along unattended, as if they too aren’t tainted by corporate money that makes things like universal health care – as then presidential candidate Sen. Amy Klobuchar put it – “pie in the sky,” is a mistake. Even today, presidential hopeful Pete Buttigieg is singing the same song. Anyone who says that universal healthcare is impossible in America should be disqualified from consideration for any office, let alone the presidency. Now is the time to make this clear. Just like last month was the time to start a discussion with my neighbors about an election that is happening today.

Our collective “brunching” is the reason why our democracy is on the verge of collapse. Thank goodness for the advocates who are keeping an eye on things.

I’m inclined to support them.

As for the questions on the ballot, I’m inclined to support my neighbors who are feeling crushed by their property taxes. May I suggest looking into establishing a state bank, as they have in North Dakota, to finance the public good? In the Minnesota House, there used to be a bill with bipartisan support to establish one. That was a while ago, and I’m not sure where the bill stands today. The ultimate solution is to tax the rich appropriately. In the meantime, as a neighbor suggested, we can try to fund our schools with a tax on plastic bags.

No Kings

Here are some pictures from the No Kings rally that Brian and I attended on October 18.

Protect kids, not guns
Deport Stephen Miller
Don’t obey
Healthcare is a human right
1,000,000 died for our democracy. Don’t let one man take it away.
Only you can prevent fascist liars.
Does this all make my democracy look small?
I thought we settled this in 1945

Politics Bulletin: 002

At a time when our national and international affairs is a source of anxiety, grief and a feeling that democracy in the United States of America might be sunk, people like Heather Cox Richardson have been encouraging us to do two things:

  • Plan for the future
  • Pay attention to local politics

So, it was with some embarrassment that I reached out to friends and neighbors to hear their take on the special election in St. Paul’s Ward 4. As it turns out, a day before the election, Brian and I weren’t the only one’s who were unprepared to vote. Like us, a few were still undecided as of last night. Until I mentioned it, others had forgotten about the election entirely.

First Choice Results

As of now, eleven people answered my survey that had two questions and room to include comments. 1) Who is your first choice for city council person (We have ranked-choice voting in St. Paul); 2) Have you ruled out any of the candidates. 90.9% of the vote for first choice went to Molly Coleman with the rest (1 vote) going to Cole Hanson. Chauntyll Allen and Cole Hanson had a 28.6% elimination rate, while Carolyn Will earned 71.4% for elimination.

In addition to the survey, I’ve heard from nine other neighbors and friends in my ward, most of whom said that they would be voting for Coleman, with some interesting exceptions. A couple of people expressed enthusiasm for Coleman, saying that she’s good on transit and housing. Some liked her political lineage, others held it against her. Most seemed like they were choosing the best from an uninspired lot of candidates. Indeed, as Brian and I looked closer at our choices, we were bummed.

Comments

Here are the comments that I received. Some are edited to take out identifying personal information, shorten, etc.

One trusted neighbor wrote:

I am voting for Molly Coleman. I went to a candidate forum about climate change where I thought she did a good job. Then someone I trust had Molly Coleman answer questions for 90 minutes in her back yard and again Molly did a great job. I wish she was not part of a political family – makes St. Paul feel too insular. I also don’t like her answer about the tear downs and the student overlay district, but I hope to influence her on this.

Carolyn Wills is against the proposed bike plan for Summit. I was involved in two years of public engagement where the decision was make to switch the bike and parking lanes – mostly for safety, esp for children. Tree loss will primarily occur because of new water, sewer, and a needed full reconstruction of the road. There has been a lot of misinformation about this.

On a counter train of thought, another very progressive friend wrote:

I voted for Will and did not rank but am uneasy about it. My neighborhood is threatened by teardowns and student barns. She is the only candidate who showed understanding. I’m uneasy being single issue and she is imperfect in other ways but others just don’t get it.

In response to my friend, I wrote:

We are struggling. No one seems right for different reasons… It’s a united front for Molly Coleman over here (with the exception of Brian who admits that his aversion to a slick dynasty candidate isn’t rational). I’m starting to accept the idea that my vote will be some kind of a statement (that no one will hear)…

To which my friend responded:

“Slick dynasty candidate” is the perfect phrase. I liked C Allen as the opposite. 

If you’re scratching your head wondering on what planet is a liberal voting for a Republican, let’s remember that liberals have a lot of experience voting for Republicans. They either do it or get blamed when the Democrats lose elections. But I digress. Aside from my friend, two others spoke to me about leaning toward supporting Will. One consulted with her brother who is politically connected. The other seems weary of the lack of experience and thoughtfulness that has been driving a blind push toward density.

NOTE: A reader points out that Carolyn Will identifies as a moderate independent.

Another neighbor had this to share:

… I’m affiliated with [progressive organization] who individually interviewed each candidate personally.  Molly has the most cogent approach and would bring legal expertise to the council.  Cole is a Democratic Socialist and may rattle some cages.  Carolyn headed up Save Our Streets and described herself as a “moderate”.  Chauntyll is a school board member and does a good job in that capacity.  Vote for 3 only, ranking favorite 1st.

Other comments included:

I’ve interviewed all candidates and rank them Molly (by a wide margin), then Cole Hanson, and begrudgingly Carolyn Will.

I like the energy Molly Coleman brings to the table. She seems very balanced in understanding everything that’s at stake. She’s definitely well qualified.

Molly is smart and is open to listening. We met with her personally and she listened to what we had to say. Met with Cole and unfortunately he was not open to listening and told us that he was opposed to our concerns.

Where I Stand

As for my vote, given that every candidate is problematic, I’m leaning toward using it to say something about campaign finance reform. At some point, we have to say enough is enough. But at this moment, the polls having already opened, I feel like I’m standing in front of the refrigerator wishing there was something there I felt like eating.

More Thoughts

This just in…

You made me rethink some of my ideas and I have been listening to and watching youtubes, thanks to you, and have kind of rearranged my thinking. Since we have ranked choice, here’s my present lineup: Carolyn Will, Cole Hansen, Molly Coleman, and Chauntyll Allen.  Carolyn because I think she will do her best to try to prevent more of those shipping container apartments and also I think she understands money and where it’s coming from. I am impressed with Cole’s enthusiasm, but I think he’s not ready for this yet–but in the future will be dynamite. I think Molly has raised an awful lot of money and I wonder about some of her priorities. Chauntyll is certainly sincere but I don’t think she has the chops for this. I might switch these last two people and put Molly last. Still, any one of these people would be better than Mitra, but that is setting the bar awfully low.

Links

Naomi Kritzer’s blog post:

Special Elections 2025: Saint Paul City Council, Ward 4

League of Women Voters St Paul candidate forum on YouTube channel.

Interviews on the Wedge Live podcast/YouTube channel:

Chauntyll Allen – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZiVIAS14b8

Molly Coleman – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGIVLrkVJHw

Cole Hanson – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XYIrjaUR98

Carolyn Will – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhImvznYow8

Politics Bulletin: 001

Inspired by my old friend, Charley Underwood who used to publish the Peace Calendar, instead of responding to the latest headline by forwarding every urgent message that I receive, I’m going to resist the temptation and collect information and action items and post them here. For now it’s my answer to managing information such that I’m not peppering my friends with ALERTS. I appreciate receiving such emails (please keep them coming) and have included some things from my inbox below. But when I realized that I was soothing myself with indiscriminately forwarding messages, I thought there should be a better way. This is what I’m trying for now.

This not a to-do list. It is my attempt to organize ideas and resources. I would also like it to be a reflection of what people have been doing, a reminder that we are not alone. To the extent that it’s relevant to current affairs, I will also include art and entertainment items. Mainly, I hope this will be useful to anyone who is looking for concrete ways to be one of the many stewards who will share whatever talent they have to help protect our democracy.

I welcome your thoughts about how to make it better.

Rebekah

Keep in Mind

Nothing is inevitable. We have a say in what happens next.

MN Governor Tim Walz and former Congressman Beto O’Rourke rally in Texas.

“I want to remind us all that the power is with the people. These are very dark days. These are very strange times in this country. We have a president who is pushing our democracy, the rule of law, the very Constitution itself up to the precipice. And I think we all must remember that we can push back.”

-Former Congressman, Beto O’Rourke

I like how Beto O’Rourke and the organization he founded, Powered by People, are focused on registering people to vote. I also appreciate leadership that models taking action.

What can we do?

Learn Something

  • Subscribe to Jim Hightower’s newsletter, Lowdown. Both paid and free subscriptions are available. TIP: To manage your inbox, try reserving a certain time in the week to look through your newsletters.
  • Listen to this podcast episode of the Ralph Nader Radio Hour, D.C. Gutted. Grassroots Galvanized (58 min). It is also available on YouTube.
  • Discuss the above podcast episode (or another podcast, book, etc. of your choosing) with at least one other person. If you can, gather a few people in the same room and see what others think. “One-way communication” in which we listen to a podcast, watch a YouTube video or read something where ideas are promoted without any chance to raise questions or offer suggestions can be frustrating and dispiriting. The solution is to make it a habit (a rule?) to talk with each other about the news.
  • Sharon recommends subscribing to Joyce Vance on Substack. She says, “Joyce Vance is the best. A former US prosecutor and US attorney, she knows the ins and outs of what’s going on, and several times a week posts with enlightening but not overwhelming summaries of current events and what’s important, while staying optimistic and fair.”

If you’re in the Twin Cities…

  • Tuesday April 1, 8, 22, and 29th at 7:00 PM  – Storytelling for Social Change. A four session in-person / hands-on class on how stories can be used for community building and advocacy.  For more information see The American School of Storytelling.
  • Visit the Hennepin County History Museum, which was recently featured on KSTP. The collection of Heart of the Beast Theater puppets that is on display looks amazing! In 1983, the Circle of Water Circus used these huge constructions to raise awareness of the ecological distress of the river, with performers traveling down the Mississippi River from Minnesota to Louisiana.

Be Counted

  • Join the AFSCME UMN rally supporting students targeted by ICE at the University of Minnesota campus on Monday, March 31, 12 PM at 100 Church St SE, East Bank Campus, Minneapolis in front of Morrill Hall.
Join the AFSCME UMN rally supporting students targeted by ICE at the University of Minnesota campus on Monday, March 31, 12 PM at 100 Church St SE, East Bank Campus, Minneapolis in front of Morrill Hall.
  • My neighbor Jill writes: 
"Dear Friends, quick action item, please sign if you can. We need to keep hammering these F-heads until it hurts! I just signed the petition "To President Zelenskyy, From Embarrassed Americans" and wanted to ask if you could add your name too. This campaign means a lot to me and the more support we can get behind it, the better chance we have of succeeding... Thank you!"
  • My neighbor Mary Ann forwarded an idea to contact the president. As of this post, it is past March 15, the date suggested for this action. But if you are so moved to try it, here’s the info:
Dear Family and Friends,

Members of the church of a long time friend, along with people from many other groups, are sending postcards to Trump on March 15 to tell him how we feel about his policies. 

Our friend wrote, "Nothing vile, just the truth.  I said that the way he was treating people made me feel embarrassed to be American.  Spread the word!  We'd like Trump to get an avalanche of a million postcards. You can easily turn any greeting card into a postcard.

(Maybe) Every little bit counts!"

Would you also spread the word via your contacts?

Here's the address:
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20500

Rise up!

Steve
Min: 13:47

Elias: "How [does DOGE] fit into or not fit into the constitutional structure? And...what can people do about it? People are worried that their data has been compromised..."

Raskin: "...the United States District Court for the District of Columbia rendered yet another victory for the forces of democracy and freedom. They found DOGE is in fact a federal agency, something that DOGE was resisting. And yet the federal district court... found that DOGE is a federal agency and is subject to federal law, specifically, The Freedom of Information Act. The last thing I did before I got on this call... I completed filling out a form... demanding of DOGE... in my neighborhood we call it the 'Dissing our Government Employees statute,' I was demanding... that they turn over to me all the data they have on me from the Social Security Department, from the Department of Education, college student loans, anything they would have from any federal department that they've assembled. I want to see it. And guess what? I've got a right to see it... I want to know whether they've made any changes to it. I have a right to determine whether everything in there is accurate... I also want to know whether it's been diverted and leaked out to any third-party source, whether it is Elon Musk's artificial intelligence program... or any other business. I have a right to know that. That's my data. And guess who else has that right? 340,000,000 Americans. And for the cost of a stamp, you can... say give me all this information."
  • My friend Santwana has been hosting gatherings that have been steadily growing. The group has been attending town hall meetings and organizing protests in Richfield, MN.
A protest in Richfield, MN

Be a Campaign Volunteer

This Tuesday, April 1, there is a special election for a supreme court justice in Wisconsin. Once again, Elon Musk is trying to subvert democracy and buy voters so that he can control the courts. This weekend is your last chance to be a campaign volunteer for Susan Crawford who is running against the MAGA candidate. You can “push back” against Musk and join a virtual phone bank to remind Wisconsin Democrats to vote on Tuesday, April 1.

For more information, see the Wisconsin Democratic Party. They could use some help this weekend making calls and knocking on doors. Also, Heather Cox Richardson discussed the urgency of this election with Ben Wikler, Chair of the Wisconsin Democratic Party, on her YouTube channel.

Democracy Now: Can Elon Musk Buy Wisconsin?

Take Care of Yourself & Others

De-isolate & Connect

  • Call the friend you’ve been meaning to call.
  • Send a thank you note.
  • Volunteer at a food shelf or other organization where they are helping people who are being negatively impacted by illegal Republican policies and cuts.

Conserve Energy

  • Be selective about your news sources. Don’t let a 24-hour news cycle demoralize you. Do not reward bad actors with your clicks.
  • Limit social media. After reading More Than Words – How to Think About Writing in the Age of AI by John Warner, Brian was inspired to remove social media apps from his phone and to check his social media once a week. In the meantime, I’ve been mostly off of social media since before the pandemic. I’m considering joining Mastodon, which is an open-source federation of social media servers that operates much like what we’re used to, except no one owns it. At the very least, get off Shitter (everyone you were following moved over to BlueSky). Get off of InstaScam and Tic-Toxic. Stop feeding the beast.

This Made me Laugh

A sign in support of Ukraine.

Final Thoughts

There are lots of different ways to gather. The important thing is to find your people and to be with them. Before we can “speak truth to power,” we have to talk to each other.

Questions to Ponder

How much of your daily communication is “one-way?” How can you balance it with conversations in which you are a contributor as opposed to just a consumer?

Jim Hightower feels hopeful about the new National Democratic Party Chair, Ken Martin who is from Minnesota. He thinks it could be a good indication that the party is at least considering returning to its grassroots. At the moment, given that the Democrats are out of power, Martin is the top dog. What should be communicated to him from the grassroots?

Resources

5 Calls is a website that makes it easy to contact elected officials. My friend Santwana mentioned it in an email where she was encouraging people to advocate for a University of Minnesota student who has been detained by ICE.

Follow

If you want to follow this bulletin (as opposed to the following entire TP&AC blog, which you can do here), the RSS FEED is twopeopleandacat.com/category/politics/feed. If you need a newsreader to subscribe to RSS feeds, try Feedly.com. If you’d rather just get an email notifying you of posts of this political bulletin, send me your email address here. If you would like to submit an item for this bulletin or you have suggestions for how to make it more useful, you can reach me here.

Goals & Policies

  • Make an actionable political digest that inspires people to be stewards of our democracy, and to find a way to contribute to the effort that makes the most sense for any given individual.
  • Link to clean websites that are free and whenever possible do not bombard the user with ads.

What people are reading: 001

Book cover: This is Happiness by Niall Williams.

While she does not want to join one, my sister likes to know what her friends are reading in their book clubs. So, when I received a reminder that the Merriam Park Book Club would be discussing This Is Happiness by Niall Williams, it gave me an idea. I thought it might be fun to occasionally assemble a list of books based on the titles that come up in conversations.

From my neighborhood, Susan writes:

“I am currently reading a novel called Stacken (The Colony) by Swedish writer/songwriter-singer Annika Norlin. I am reading it in Swedish for an American Swedish Institute literature class. The online class is very similar to a book club only our discussions are in Swedish. (The reading isn’t too hard for me, but talking about the book in Swedish is a struggle.) The book was a bestseller in Sweden. It is about a burned out go-getter who flees to the northern forest where she encounters a group of people who, for various reasons, have dropped out of mainstream society. The book is weird but very engrossing. It was only recently translated into English.”

Meanwhile, Ann’s book club recently read The BeeKeeper of Aleppo by Christy Lefteri. “It is about a family fleeing Syria during the civil war and trying to get to England as immigrant refugees. Very timely in general.”

Also timely, at the open coffee hour that we host most Saturday mornings, we learned that the young Jacob across the street just purchased George Orwell’s 1984. Apparently, he needed something to cleanse murder from his pallet as he also picked up Crime and Punishment. Upon hearing this, Ralph blurted “Dostoevsky!” The kid’s mother told him that reading it would “make him feel as though he had actually committed the crime and was now suffering through the punishment.” Not to be outdone by the 14-year-old, Ralph recommended Winston Churchill’s The Gathering Storm. It is part of a WWII series and pairs well with the headlines of the day.

At a recent political salon that we hosted, Joel mentioned Arlie Russell Hochschild’s works Stolen Pride and Strangers in their Own Land. Later he wrote: “The librarian in me needs to share these recommendations for understanding the current, angry electorate.” He suggested starting with Strangers in their Own Land.

Joel also shared news that Minnesota Senator John Marty’s father passed away at the age of 97. While I knew of Sen. Marty’s progressive politics, I did not realize that his father, Martin E. Marty, was a prominent religious scholar and, according the New York Times, a “staunch champion of pluralism.” Marty wrote such books as: The One and the Many – America’s Struggle for the Common Good and Modern American Religion, Volume 2, The Noise of Conflict, 1919-1941.

Brian says that More Than Words – How to Think About Writing in the Age of AI by John Warner was a highly energizing book. He liked how Warner “continuously puts human needs first without whining so much about how AI is an affront to this approach…” Knowing my hatred for “content,” he interrupted a YouTube video about toggle bolts to quote from the book:

“The biggest shift over the course of my life as a writer has been the transformation of writing into something known as ‘content’.  Content is anything that can be consumed by an audience via a platform. Content is stuff where the primary purpose is to draw an audience to feed them advertising. Lots of content on the internet is writing, but there is also content made of words that does not qualify as writing. The meaning, purpose, and quality of the content is immaterial, provided it can be monetized through clicks. There is no genuine communicative intent behind content… One of the most immediate and potentially damaging consequences of generative AI is its potential to drown us in content whose only purpose is to capture clicks to generate revenue through online advertising.”

In an age of market-worship, it can be easy for a humanitarian to feel like a dinosaur. So, it’s refreshing to stumble upon anything that affirms a sensibility that says that we’re more than what we can produce and that some of the best things in life are inefficient, and that our humanity is worth preserving.

As for the Williams book that sparked the idea for a post like this, Cheryl writes that This is Happiness is a gorgeous Irish novel with a strong recommendation by all in her book club. “It is lovely and dense and yummy and peaceful.” Next the group will be reading Girl Woman Other by Bernadine Evaristo. “God only knows how we come to our choices,” Cheryl writes. “But it’s always a lively conversation and we have stumbled on some beautiful books.”

Cheryl is herself a debut author. Her book Poised is a story set in 1990s Kentucky where “a naïve but spirited doctor, Shelly Riley, slogs through a two-year fellowship. Continually hampered by chauvinist mentors and exhausting training, she battles for the lives of her cancer patients… Cancer care isn’t funny, but people are…”

Tooting my own horn, Big Talk is a book of 42 Questions in which your friend circles can write in their answers. It tracks with my podcast, QuOTeD – The Question of the Day, in which I ask people one question and then assemble audio montages using their answers. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading the answers that my neighbors have supplied in my copy of the book. I self-published it as a way to learn about that process.

If you choose to purchase any of these books, please consider supporting a local bookstore whenever possible. Or find them at your library. You can even check out digital books and audio books using a library app.