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  • MIDTERMS MINUTE 2022: Toss Up Senate Races in GA, NV, PA, and WI, and Senate Races (precariously) Leaning D or R

    Welcome to the Midterms Minute 2022!

    Today’s focus is on toss-up Senate races in Georgia, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, and the other key Senate races leaning (precariously) Democrat or Republican.

    The rating information below is based on Cook Political Report Senate ratings as of October 7th, 2022.

    Short on time? Support ALL Democrats in key Senate races with one donation to the SwingLeft Hold the Senate Fund, or the SwingLeft Immediate Impact Fund which supports all high-impact races (Senate and House) and is updated weekly.

     

    HOLD! GEORGIA Toss-Up Senate Race:

    (D Incumbent) Warnock vs. (R) Walker

    Having defeated Republican Kelly Loeffler in 2020 during a special election, Sen. Rev. Raphael Warnock - working on restoring the right to vote, helping Georgia farmers, and expanding healthcare access - is now defending his hard-earned seat against loose cannon, Trumper, and former NFL player Herschel Walker. Recently, news broke that Walker - who is staunchly against abortion rights - paid for an abortion for a woman he was involved with. (Obviously, Republicans do not care.)

    TAKE ACTION: Support Warnock with a donation to SwingLeft's Georgia Senate Fund fund and/or sign up to volunteer for the campaign.

     

    HOLD! NEVADA Toss-Up Senate Race: 

    (D Incumbent) Cortez-Masto vs. (R) Laxalt

    According to Ballotpedia, recent statewide Nevada races are won by 5 points or less, and the analysts say this one could come down to 2 points. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, the former Attorney General of Nevada, is trying to defend her Senate seat by focusing on abortion rights, the economy, law enforcement (too friendly), and healthcare. Her opponent, Republican Adam Laxalt is a lawyer from a big Nevada political family but has never held elected office. He claims Cortez Masto didn't support law enforcement enough after a police officer was injured during a protest after George Floyd's murder, then right afterward said he thinks the left is using the FBI as a political tool and can't support the agency. There are 3 others running for this seat (right-leaning Libertarians and Independents).

    TAKE ACTION: Support Cortez Masto with a donation to SwingLeft's Nevada Senate Fund fund and/or sign up to volunteer with the campaign.

     

    FLIP! PENNSYLVANIA Toss-Up Senate Race - OPEN (Prior R Incumbent):

    (D) Fetterman vs. (R) Oz

    This is a critical race. Pennsylvania's Democratic Lt. Governor John Fetterman is running for the Senate seat left open by Republican Pat Toomey (not seeking reelection). The unconventional Fetterman is focusing his campaign on the economy - tax cuts for working people and fighting corporate greed. His opponent is Republican "Dr. Oz", the former surgeon who used his national daytime TV show to push fake science and gimmicks as health information. He has never held political office and there are questions about whether he even lives in Pennsylvania (he seems to spend a LOT of time in New Jersey).

    TAKE ACTION: Support Fetterman with a donation to SwingLeft's Pennsylvania Senate Fund fund and/or sign up to volunteer with the campaign.

     

    FLIP! WISCONSIN Toss-Up Senate Race: 

    (D) Barnes vs. (R Incumbent) Johnson

    Biden took Wisconsin in 2020 with just 49.5% to Trump's 48.8%, so, this is likely to be a hard-fought race. Lt. Governor Mandela Barnes is Wisconsin's first black Lt. Governor and grew up in a poverty-stricken zip code where both parents had good union jobs that gave him a path to middle-class opportunities. He is focusing his campaign on creating more union jobs, protecting reproductive rights, and ending corporate handouts. Meanwhile, Sen. Ron Johnson's extreme anti-abortion views are well-known, which is why his sudden call for a state referendum on abortion as simply what it is: a political maneuver leading into the midterms. Johnson has said Jan. 6th insurrection was not an "armed insurrection" and in the same breath said the "protestors" taught us how to use flagpoles as weapons. He also wants to dismantle Social Security and calls all climate proposals "radical green energy policies."

    TAKE ACTION: Support Barnes with a donation to SwingLeft's Wisconsin Senate Fund fund and/or sign up to volunteer with the campaign.

     

     

    Key Senate Races Leaning Democrat

    HOLD! ARIZONA: (D Incumbent) Sen. Mark Kelly vs. (R) Blake Masters (<- Bankrolled by Peter Thiel and endorsed by ALL the other worst people)

    HOLD! COLORADO: (D Incumbent) Michael Bennet vs. (R) Joe O'Dea (<- Claims he's a "moderate", but would vote for Trump in 2024...)

    HOLD! NEW HAMPSHIRE: (D Incumbent) Maggie Hassan vs. (R) Don Bulduc (<- Has flip-flopped TWICE on whether or not he denies the 2020 results)

     

    Key Senate Races Leaning Republican 

    FLIP! FLORIDA: (D) Rep. Val Demmings vs. (R Incumbent) Sen. Marco Rubio (<- "Little Bigot Marco" who got his ass handed to him by a Florida drag queen he singled out in a fear-mongering campaign ad)

    FLIP! NORTH CAROLINA: OPEN - (D) Cheri Beasley vs. (R) Tedd Budd (<- Trump-endorsed and an election denier via avoidance)

    FLIP! OHIO: OPEN - (D) Rep. Tim Ryan vs. (R) Jim Vance (<- Endorsed by Trump, Jim Jordan and more of the worst, also running a dishonest, inflammatory, dog-whistling campaign)

     

    Remember: Voting is not enough. Check out our curated GOTV resources.

  • MIDTERMS MINUTE 2022: Toss Up Races in CA, NY and OH, and Open Races Leaning D or R

    Welcome to the Midterms Minute 2022!

    Today’s focus is on toss-up House races in California, New York, and Ohio, and open or new seats that are leaning Democrat or Republican. 

    The rating information below is based on Cook Political Report House ratings as of October 4th, 2022.

    Short on time? Support ALL Democrats in key House races with one donation to the SwingLeft Hold the House Fund, or the SwingLeft Immediate Impact Fund which supports all high-impact races (House and Senate) and is updated weekly.

     

    CALIFORNIA Toss-Ups: 

    HOLD! CA-13 - OPEN - This used to be Rep. Barbara Lee's district, but now she's running for CA-12 after redistricting. Republicans see this shuffle as a good chance to pick up a seat. The Democrat is state congressperson Adam Gray, a moderate on many issues, but whose voting record shows that he is in favor of abortion rights and expanding access. The Republican is John Duerte, a businessman and "school choice" advocate whose priorities include "securing the border" and squashing the defund-the-police movement. Both are focused on water rights for farmers. 

    FLIP! CA-22 - (R Incumbent) -  Republican Rep. David Valadao was representing the 21st district, but after redistricting he's running for the 22nd which includes most of his former district. The Democrat in this race is state assemblyperson Rudy Salas, who is focused on reducing drug prices and expanding access to healthcare, including mental healthcare. This used to be a "leaning D" race, but is now a toss-up. 

    FLIP! CA-27 - (R Incumbent) - Politico calls Republican Rep. Mike Garcia the most vulnerable GOP candidate in the country since his district in north Los Angeles voted for Biden by 13 points. The Democrat in this race is state assemblyperson Christy Smith, who is focusing on expanding affordable healthcare, improving education, and fighting climate change.

    TAKE ACTION: Support all of the Democratic candidates in CA House races with one donation to SwingLeft's California House Target fund and/or volunteer (virtual & in-person opportunities).

     

    NEW YORK Toss-Ups: 

    HOLD! NY-19 - OPEN (former D Incumbent) - Redistricting moved the Democratic incumbent. The Democrat, Josh Riley, is defending his seat after a special election. He is focusing his campaign on strengthening democracy, building an equitable economy, inflation, and abortion rights. His opponent is Republican is Marcus Molinaro. The redistricting appears to slightly favor Democrats, but it's still going to be close.

    FLIP! NY-22 - OPEN (former R incumbent) - The Republican incumbent is now running for NY-24 due to redistricting. The Democrat is Francis Conole, who is focusing on healthcare, the economy, and the environment - and wants to codify Roe v. Wade. The Republican candidate is Brandon Williams, a self-proclaimed "outsider" and veteran focused on "restoring rule of law". 

    TAKE ACTION: Support all of the Democratic candidates in NY House races with one donation to SwingLeft's New York House Target fund and/or volunteer (virtual & in-person opportunities).

     

    OHIO Toss Ups: 

    HOLD! OH-13 - Open - (Former D Incumbent) - This was Tim Ryan's seat, but now he's running for Senate. The Democrat is Emilia Sykes, who is prioritizing jobs and rising costs, and healthcare. The Republican candidate is Madison Gesiotto Gilbert, a former Trump campaign staffer (both times) and television commentator - that's really all you need to know.

    FLIP! OH-01 - (R Incumbent) - Democrat Greg Landsman is focusing on lowering costs for families (inflation) and jobs and the economy, and is pro reproductive rights. He is hoping to oust the Republican incumbent, Steve Chabot.

    Also, in Ohio, check out the Open Senate race between Democrat Rep. Tim Ryan and Trump Republican Jim Vance, rated "Leaning R".

    TAKE ACTION: Support all of the Democratic candidates in OH House races with one donation to SwingLeft's Ohio House Target fund and/or volunteer (virtual & in-person opportunities).

     

    Open/Vacant/New Races Leaning Democrat

    IL-13 - Open - (D) Delia Ramirez vs. (R) Justin Burau

    MI-03 - Open - Four candidates: (Working Class Party) Louis Palus | (D) Hillary Scholten | (R) John Gibbs | (Libertarian) Jamie Lewis

    NC-01 - Open - (D) Donald Davis vs. (R) Sandy Smith

    NY-03 - Open - (D/Working Families Party) Robert Zimmerman vs. (R) George Devolder-Santos

    OR-04 - Open - (D/ Working Families Party) Val Hoyle vs. (R) Alex Skarlatos vs. (Constitution Party) Jim Howard vs. (Independent Party/Libertarian) Levi Leatherberry vs. (Pacific Green Party) Michael Beilstein

    OR-06 - New Seat - (Democratic Party, Working Families Party, Independent Party) Andrea Salinas vs.  (R) Mike Erickson vs. (Consitution Party) Larry McFarland

     

    Open/Vacant/New Races Leaning Republican 

    CA-03 - Open - (D) Kermit Jones vs. (R) Kevin Kiley

    FL-07 - Open - (D) Karen Green vs. (R) Cory Mills vs. a write-in

    FL-13 - Vacant - (D) Eric Lynne vs. (R) Anna Paulina Luna vs. (Libertarian) Frank Craft vs. other write-ins

    FL-15 - New Seat - (D) Alan Cohn vs. (R) Laurel Lee ( a former Gov. Rick Scott judicial appointee)

    MI-10 - Open -  (Working Class Party) Andrea Kirby vs. (D) Carl Marlinga vs. (R) John James vs (Libertarian) Mike Saliba vs. 

    MT-01 - New Seat - (D) Monica Tranel vs. (R) Ryan Zike (big coffers and getting millions from GOP in the final weeks) vs. (Libertarian) John Lamb

     

    Remember: Voting is not enough. Check out our curated GOTV resources.

  • Fight to Pass the George Floyd Act, BREATHE Act, & Take LOCAL Action!

    George_Floyd_Act__._BREATHE_Act.pngThere are a few things you need to know upfront about the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act: it is not enough, it is not perfect, it will not come close to fixing everything, and it faces a steep uphill battle to get passed by the Senate.

    That said, the bill is still historic and sweeping legislation in a country that has done next to nothing legislatively to stop police brutality. The bill includes the creation of a national database of police misconduct, bans federal law enforcement from using chokeholds and from using no-knock warrants in drug cases, criminalizes officer sexual misconduct against detainees, and more.

    The key clarification here is that, if passed, the bill would mostly impact federal law enforcement. We’re talking about ICE, ATF and DEA officers, U.S. Park Rangers and police officers and many, many more law enforcement officers working under the federal government. But, as we know, police abuse and brutality happen frequently in these federal ranks and so the bill's potential impact should not be understated.

    Two provisions in the bill that would definitely affect local and state police forces are the end of qualified immunity - which currently protects officers from individual liability - and limiting transfer of military equipment to local police departments. It’s important to remember that this bill is also still a work in progress and proposed amendments are still being made. You can help shape this bill by calling and writing to your members of congress.

    The BREATHE Act is a project by The Movement for Black Lives unveiled in July 2020. This bill that aims to realign America’s moral compass by reallocating its massive investments in racist injustice systems, prisons and war toward incentives for decarceration, community-led approaches to public safety, and environmental, economic, health, education and housing justice. It’s basically “Defund the Police” on a national scale and an effort to acknowledge and right many of the wrongs committed over centuries. It is being called a visionary Civil Rights bill for the modern era. (See our segment from August 2020)

    However, without an end to the racist Senate filibuster, any legislation like this is already stalled. Sure, you can force a vote and put people on the record, but Democrats have the power to end the filibuster and it is their duty to do so. Making sure that happens is an essential first step to any legislative fight right now.

    So, should we keep fighting to improve and pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act? Yes. Should we keep fighting for the BREATHE Act from the Movement for Black Lives, which goes farther to address root causes of police brutality and its disproportionate impact on Black and Indigenous communities? Yes, and yes again.

    But remember that in this gridlocked political landscape the local and state level fight for change is powerful and essential. You can get involved by joining a local action group or national organization local chapter fighting police brutality where you live. If you want a starting point to understand the approach to fighting police abuse and brutality locally, the ACLU Fighting Police Abuse Community Action Manual is a great resource.

    From the halls of congress to your local city hall, tap into that local people power and make the change we need.

    So, if upending our culture of police brutality is important to you, be sure to tell everyone you know about Fighting to Pass the George Floyd Act, BREATHE Act, & Taking LOCAL Action so that others in your network can spread the word too.

     

    TAKE ACTION!

    Fight to improve & pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act

    Fight to pass the BREATHE Act (Movement for Black Lives) (BOTL segment from last summer)

    Join a local organization or chapter fighting police brutality: some suggestions

    Explore the ACLU's "FIGHTING POLICE ABUSE: A COMMUNITY ACTION MANUAL"

    EDUCATE YOURSELF & SHARE

    George Floyd Justice in Policing Act Explained (Note: Headline updated) (Vox)

    Now is the time to revolutionize policing (BREATHE Act) (Vox)

    Movement for Black Lives opposes George Floyd Justice in Policing Act (PBS)

    Why Police Brutality Is a Public Health Issue (Self)

     

    Posted March 28, 2021; Researched and written by Best of the Left Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman

    Hear the segment in the context of Best of the Left Edition #1407: Reclaiming the Streets (Defunding the Police and the Sarah Everard Outcry)

  • Voting Is Not Enough: FINAL PUSH! GOTV & DONATE STRATEGICALLY!

    Final_Push_GOTV_and_Donate.pngNext week, exactly seven days from now (Oct. 27th), America will watch the election results roll in. And chances are it will take days, possibly weeks, maybe even months until we know who won.

    Your actions this week can build the giant turnout we desperately need to overwhelm gerrymandering, make up for voter suppression and deliver a decisive victory for Biden. Maybe that doesn’t sound exciting to some of you - and I get that - but this is what it will take to have a chance at protecting peoples’ rights and fighting for progressive ideas.

    Last time, we highlighted the get out the vote campaigns Swing Left, Field Team 6 and Vote Save America. This week we’ll add Indivisible to that list at 2020.indivisible.org. Handwringing doesn’t help, but talking to likely voters might actually make you feel better. For our full list of volunteering opportunities, voting resources, and much more, visit our Voting Is Not Enough: 2020 Election Action Guide at BestoftheLeft.com/2020action.

    Today, we’re going to focus on how you can strategically and effectively donate in this final, critical week before the election. We know these are hard times for many people, so if you can give - please, please do.

    SwingLeft isn’t just getting out the vote, they’re also making it easy to donate strategically. The Swing Left Immediate Impact Fund sends 100% of your donation to the candidates in the closest races among the 12 Super States - the most important states to help flip the White House, the Senate and state houses key to rolling back Republican gerrymandering. Or, donate to one of the Super States and 100% of your donation will support close races up and down the ballot just in that state. Go to SwingLeft.org/fundsto donate.

    If you want to help the Democrats keep control of the House, the DCCC has established what they’re calling a Frontline Member donation fund. These are House members who won tight House races and flipped districts in the 2018 midterms and are vulnerable in 2020. Go to DCCC.org/frontline to see the list of candidates and scroll all the way down to click to donate. It’s worth noting that this list includes Sharice Davids from Kansas - one of the first two Native American women elected to congress, as well as the first openly gay person elected to congress from Kansas. Lauren Underwood from Illinois -  the youngest and first black woman to win in her district. Abby Finkenauer - the first woman elected to congress from the state of Iowa and nearly tied with AOC for youngest member of the House. And Jahana Hayes - the first black woman to represent Connecticut in congress. We don’t want to lose these 2018 gains in diversity and political outsiders.

    If you want to help flip more House seats, donate to the DCCC’s Red to Blue program at redtoblue.dccc.org. That list includes Kara Eastman in Nebraska’s 2nd district, who was endorsed by AOC’s Courage to Change PAC and Justice Democrats in the primaries. She was within 2 points of winning in 2018. This could be her year.

    (Not in on air segment) If you want to help flip state houses, you don't have to know about every state legislative seat that's in play. EveryDistrict does that for you. Read their blog post - complete with action buttons - about how they can help you strategically donate to help flip state legislatures.

    And don’t forget about governorships, which will be critical to protecting civil rights laws and implementing public health measures to fight against COVID-19. Right now, Utah and Montana have an open seat for Governor, while Missouri’s Republican incumbent is in a close race. Indiana, North Dakota, New Hampshire, Utah, Vermont and West Virginia all have Republican governors up for re-election. Head to DemocraticGovernors.org to donate.

    As we get closer to election day, remember that if you or someone you know encounters a problem when trying to vote, call Election Protection at 866-OUR-VOTE or visit 866OurVote.org. If you want to help voters, sign up to assist with Election Protection’s nonpartisan poll monitoring program at ProtectTheVote.net.

    Don’t get complacent. Trump could still win this thing. Republicans could still hold on to the Senate or erode the gains in the House. No one wants to wake up on November 4th wishing they had done more, so take action now. Voting is not enough, folks….it’s just not.

    So, if giving liberal candidates the resources they need to WIN this thing is important to you, be sure to tell everyone you know about Voting Is Not Enough: GET OUT THE VOTE & DONATE STRATEGICALLY FOR THE FINAL PUSH! so that others in your network can spread the word too.

     

    TAKE ACTION!

    GOTV: Swing Left | Field Team 6 | Vote Save America | Indivisible

    Swing Left Immediate Impact Fund & Super States (White House, Senate & State Level)

    DCCC Frontline Fund (Protect Vulnerable House Dems)

    DCCC Red to Blue (Flip More Red House Seats)

    EveryDistrict (Flip state legislatures)

    Democratic Governors Association (Support Incumbents & Flip Red Governorships)

    Voting Problems? Call 866-OUR-VOTE

    EDUCATE YOURSELF & SHARE

    The Battleground States Biden and Trump Need to Win 270 (The NY Times)

    How Biden — or Trump — could win 270 electoral votes (Vox)

    Stop giving your money to presidential campaigns, donate to local races instead (Business Insider)

    Vision 2020: How soon will we know the US election outcome? (AP)

    US Election 2020: When will we get a result and could it be contested? (BBC)

    A Night of Firsts: The Candidates Who Made History in the 2018 Midterms (The Guardian, 2018)

     

    Posted October 27, 2020; Written by Best of the Left Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman

    Hear the segment in the context of Best of the Left Edition #1377: Building a Solidarity Economy for a More Resilient Future

  • Voting Is Not Enough: GET OUT THE VOTE!

    Get_out_the_vote_final_2_weeks.pngIt’s crunch time, folks. There are less than 2 weeks until election day. Just 13 days (as of Oct. 21).

    And, yes, there is some positive news floating around regarding polling and fundraising…but, you know what?

    Ignore it.

    Dig deep and remember way, way, waaay back to 2016 when all that good pre-election news did not stop Trump from winning. Remember that every single day the GOP is working at the local level and through the courts to suppress votes. Remember that they may get their Supreme Court nominee through in time for the court to call a close election in favor of Trump. Remember that the right has been spending billions pushing a massive disinformation campaign to help reelect Trump and he has personally invited his supporters to practice voter intimidation at the polls. And beyond all of that, you should know that Republicans are now saying they are hopeful because they’ve seen a spike in Republican voter registrations in key states like Florida, North Carolina and Pennsylvania. In fact, they are calling these registrations their “secret weapon.”

    So, DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT get complacent. Getting Trump out is still a major uphill battle and right now - the the last two weeks before the election - we need all hands on deck. If you haven’t made volunteering a priority yet, please, please, please do it now. Even a couple hours a week can make a big difference.

    There are many volunteer opportunities out there, but today we’re just going to re-highlight a few of the big ones. To see a longer list of volunteering opportunities, and much more, visit our Voting Is Not Enough: 2020 Election Action Guide at BestoftheLeft.com/2020 action.

    First, you can volunteer from anywhere with Swing Left and help them continue implementing their Super State Strategy. This strategy focuses on 12 states that are each critical to the flipping the White House, the Senate and the state houses key to rolling back Republican gerrymandering. Go to TheLastWeekends.org to instantly find and sign up for phonebook and textbank shifts during the final two weekends before the election.

    In addition to volunteering, SwingLeft also lets you donate strategically. The Swing Left Immediate Impact Fund sends your donations to the candidates in the closest races among the Super States, or you can choose a Super State and your donations will support races up and down the ballot in that state. Go to SwingLeft.org/funds to donate.

    Next, you could get involved with Field Team 6 - a west coast-based get out the vote organization that strategically partners with over 100 state and national organizations to make the most impact. With multiple, remote phone banking and text banking events and trainings held every single day of the week, there is just no excuse to not get involved.

    Head to fieldteam6.org to check their Calendar of Events and sign up for a shift. If you’re not on the west coast, just a note that Field Team 6 lists the Pacific time first for all events, so adjust accordingly.

    And finally, there is Vote Save America, the get out the vote effort from Crooked Media, which allows you to volunteer from anywhere in six key battleground states. You can also Adopt a State and receive updates on everything you need to know to support the work of organizers and volunteers in that state. Go to VoteSaveAmerica.com to learn more.

    Voting is already underway, so if you or someone you know encounters a problem with ballot drop boxes, early voting, absentee ballots, or something else, remember that help is available. Call Election Protection at 866-OUR-VOTE or visit 866OurVote.org. If you want to help voters, sign up to assist with Election Protection’s nonpartisan poll monitoring program at ProtectTheVote.net.

    So, if building massive voter turnout that categorically throws Trump out of office is important to you, be sure to tell everyone you know about Voting Is Not Enough - GET OUT THE VOTE so that others in your network can spread the word too.

     

    TAKE ACTION!

    TheLastWeekends.org

    SwingLeft.org/funds

    FieldTeam6.org

    VoteSaveAmerica.com

    Voting problems?

    Call 866-OUR-VOTE or 866OurVote.org

    Help Voters: Volunteer at ProtectTheVote.net

    EDUCATE YOURSELF & SHARE

    The Billion-Dollar Disinformation Campaign to Reelect the President (The Atlantic)

    Behind in the Polls, Republicans See a Silver Lining in Voter Registrations (The New York Times)

     

     

    Posted October 21, 2018; Written by Best of the Left Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman

    Hear the segment in the context of Best of the Left Edition #1376: Tell Stories, Not Myths: America is a Force But Not Always for Good

  • Voting Is Not Enough: Fight Voter Suppression & Help Restore Native Voting Rights

    Fight_Suppression_-_multi_org_image.pngAs of the publishing of this episode (Oct. 13th), there are only 3 weeks left until Election Day. Just 21 days.

    Visit BestoftheLeft.com/2020action to explore our 2020 Election Action Guide, which we’re calling “Voting Is Not Enough.” Because…it’s just not.

    Voting is happening NOW in record numbers, but at the same time we’re also witnessing desperate attempts by the GOP to suppress votes in any way they can - legally and illegally. 

    We need to counter these voter suppression efforts with action. So, if you haven’t volunteered yet, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

    Help voters in voter ID law states get the IDs they need with VoteRiders.org.

    Phone-bank and text-bank with a get out the vote campaign and arm voters with the accurate information they need to ensure their vote is cast and counted. Go to TheLastWeekends.org to instantly find a shift for the final weekends before the election.

    And if you or someone you know encounters a problem with ballot drop boxes, early voting, absentee ballots, or something else, call Election Protection at 866-OUR-VOTE or visit 866OurVote.org. If you want to help, sign up to assist with Election Protection’s nonpartisan poll monitoring program at ProtectTheVote.net.

    It’s important to note that Native Peoples have not only been disproportionately affected by the coronavirus, but they are also disproportionately affected by voter suppression tactics. In fact, many barriers to the ballot uniquely target Native Peoples.

    Native Peoples are less likely to have a traditional street address making it more likely that their voter registration applications will get rejected, and many states with Voter ID laws just flat out don’t accept tribal IDs. Then there’s the closure of polling places and reducing ballot drop boxes in reservation counties, conflicting information from poll workers and lack of interpreters in states with high Native populations. The gutting of the Voting Rights Act in 2013 only made targeted voter suppression of Native Peoples easier for states like Arizona and Alaska and certain counties in North Dakota. (Source: Brennan Center for Justice)

    To help counter this suppression, nonprofits IllumiNative, Native Organizers Alliance and First Peoples Worldwide, have launched Natives Vote - a get out the vote effort providing detailed information on each state’s voting laws, registration dates, who to contact if issues arise, and more.

    In a release, IllumiNative Executive Director Crystal Echo Hawk said, “Exercising our grassroots political power is crucial to rebuilding what we’ve lost and preparing the future for the next seven generations.” Visit NativesVote2020.com to learn more.

    You can also help restore and protect Native voting rights by demanding your members of congress to support the Native American Voting Rights Act, which has already been introduced in both the House and Senate. Spearheaded by the Native American Rights Fund (2014), the Act would "create more communication channels between Washington and Native American tribes, direct states to accept tribal ID cards for voting purposes, and establish a clear pathway for Native communities to request federal election observers.”

    So, if making sure everyone can access the ballot - especially those we stole this land from - is important to you, be sure to spread the word about Fighting Voter Suppression & Helping Restore Native Voting Rights so that others in your network can spread the word too.

     

    TAKE ACTION!

    Help Voters Get IDs: VoteRiders.org

    Get Out the Vote!: TheLastWeekends.org

    Voting Problems? Call: 866-OUR-VOTE | Visit 866OurVote.org

    Volunteer as an Election Protector: ProtecttheVote.net

    Election Resources for Native Voters: NativesVote2020.com

    Tell Congress to Pass the Native American Voting Rights Act (2019-2020)

    EDUCATE YOURSELF & SHARE

    The State of Native American Voting Rights (Brennan Center)

    Native Vote Infographic (National Congress of American Indians)

    The 5 Million Americans that the 2020 Candidates Refuse to Talk About (Vox - First Person)

    How the Native American Vote Continues to be Suppressed (American Bar Association)

     

    Posted October 13, 2020; Written by Best of the Left Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman

    Hear the segment in the context of Best of the Left Edition #1374: Tell Stories, Not Myths: Columbus and the Centrality of Colonialism 

  • Voting Is Not Enough: Work to Overcome Racist Voter Suppression in Yet Another Election Without the Full Voting Rights Act via @VoteRiders @votedotorg @natlvoterregday @fieldteam6 @NAACP @morethanavote @fairerelections

    VoteRiders.pngAs of the publishing of this episode, there are exactly 42 days until Election Day. That’s 6 weeks. A month and a half.

    To make sure every one of those days to count, we’ve launched our 2020 Election Action Guide, which we’re calling “Voting Is Not Enough.” Because…it’s just not. All of the segments and information can be accessed from the “Voting is Not Enough” banner at BestoftheLeft.com, or directly at BestoftheLeft.com/2020action.

    We want to start today by acknowledging the devastating loss of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. May her memory be a blessing, and a revolution. Justice Ginsburg, using the law as her tool, dedicated her life to making our society more equal and to protecting rights of all kinds, including voting rights. When her conservative colleagues gutted the Voting Rights Act in 2013, she famously wrote in her passionate descent, “Throwing out pre-clearance when it has worked and is continuing to work to stop discriminatory changes is like throwing away your umbrella in a rainstorm because you are not getting wet.”

    As we face yet another national election without the key protections of the Voting Rights Act, we have to work 100 times harder to ensure marginalized groups get access to the ballot. New, strict voter ID laws, proof of citizenship laws, increased purging of voter rolls, increased closing of polling places in predominantly poor, Black, Brown and Indigenous communities…these are the fallouts of losing the full protections of the Voting Rights Act.

    So, how do we overcome these racist and oppressive hurdles? Here are a few ways…

    1) Confirm Voter Registration & Talk to Purged Voters: As we mentioned in our last segment, voter registration is key. But it’s not just about getting new people to register - though that’s important - it’s also about making sure registered voters haven’t been purged and have updated their address or name change. Having an updated registration can be the difference between a regular ballot or a provisional ballot on election day. With voter registration deadlines coming up fast, commit to helping people register and check their status. Visit Vote.org for all the links you need, or visit NationalVoterRegistrationDay.org and look under Resources for the Toolkit for Individuals.

    This year, Grassroots Democrats HQ and Field Team 6 have made it possible to volunteer to phone or text bank actual purged voters in key states and help them get re-registered! Many people never know they have been purged until it’s too late, so help alert these voters to their status and get them registered again. Go to FieldTeam6.org and check their Calendar of Events for opportunities.

    2) Help People Get Necessary Voter IDs: Voter ID laws aren’t going away any time soon, so Vote Riders has begun providing voter ID assistance to help every American cast a ballot. VoteRiders will help you identify the documents you need to get an ID, request and pay for the documents, pay the DMV fees, and even drive you to the DMV for free. Call or text their help line at 844-338-8743 or go to VoteRiders.org/freehelp to submit an online form and get started. If you don’t need an ID, you can become a volunteer to help make sure voters know the information they need and/or donate to support their sadly necessary work.

    3) Increase Black Voter Turnout: The NAACP’s Black Voices Change Lives is using indirect relational voter turnout to mobilize Black voters this fall. This means engaged Black voters call unengaged Black voters in specific battleground states where the data shows that the Black vote is the determining factor in the outcome. If you don’t identify as Black, you are still welcome to volunteer. Go to BlackVoicesChangeLives.org for more.

    4) Become a Poll Worker: As we’ve previously mentioned, becoming a poll worker is one of the most effective things you can do to help fight the closing of polling places and reduce long lines. Go to WorkElections.com to find out how to sign up in your state, or go to MoreThanAVote.org which is specifically recruiting poll workers in heavily Black districts across the country.

    We know the Supreme Court nomination and Senate races are at the top of everyone’s mind right now, but fighting voter suppression is essential to making sure we have a shot at saving our democracy come November. We’ll be focusing on the Senate races next time, but we’ve included links in the show notes today to get you started. Use the time saved to ponder how we came to have a system where the passing of one, 87-year-old-woman caused tens of millions of people to be gripped with justifiable fear and existential dread.

    So, if making sure disenfranchised voters have a voice this November is important to you, be sure to spread the word about Working to Overcome Racist Voter Suppression in Yet Another Election Without the Full Voting Rights Act via social media  - or, uh, maybe call a few friends instead? - so that others in your network can spread the word too.

     

    TAKE ACTION!

    Fight Systemic Voter Suppression:

    1) Confirm Voter Registration & Talk to Purged Voters:

    Vote.org

    National Voter Registration Day Toolkit

    Call purged voters: Field Team 6 Actions (with Grassroots Democrats HQ)

    2) Help People Get Necessary IDs to Vote:

    VoteRiders Free Help

    3) Increase Black Voter Turnout:

    NAACP Black Voices Change Lives

    4) Become a Poll Worker:

    WorkElections.com

    MoreThanaVote.org

    **React to Ginsburg's Passing with Action**

    Volunteer with SwingLeft to Flip the Senate & Target Super States

    Donate to Targeted Super States via SwingLeft

    Special Elections (Winner sworn-in in November!):

    AZ: Unseat McSally. Give to Mark Kelly.  (leading by 9% points) (CPR Rating: Leans D)

    GA: Unseat Loeffler. Give to Rev. Raphael Warnock. (down by 4% points) (CPR Rating: Lean R)

    Tightening Polls Toss Ups:

    MT: Unseat Daines. Give to Steve Bullock. (down by 1% point)

    GA: Unseat Perdue. Give to Jon Ossoff. (down by 2% points)

    IA: Unseat Ernst: Give to Theresa Greenfield. (leading by 3% points)

    ME: Unseat Collins. Give to Sara Gideon. (leading by 5-7% points)

    NC: Unseat Tillis. Give to Cal Cunningham. (leading by 6% points)

    CO: Unseat Gardener. Give to John Hickenlooper. (leading by 7% points)

    Close Polls Lean R & Likely R:

    AK: Unseat Sullivan. Give to Dr. Al Gross. (tied)

    SC: Unseat Graham. Give to Jaime Harrison. (down by 1% points)

    TX: Unseat Cornyn. Give to MJ Hegar. (down by 2% points)

    KS: Open seat. Give to Bollier. (down by 2% points)

    EDUCATE YOURSELF & SHARE

    7 Years of Gutting Voting Rights (Brennan Center for Justice)

    In 2013 the supreme court gutted voting rights – how has it changed the US? (The Guardian)

    Here's *exactly* how Democrats win the Senate (CNN)

     

    Posted September 22, 2020; Written by Best of the Left Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman

    Hear the segment in the context of Best of the Left Edition #1369: The Business Model That Ate the World (Facebook)

  • Voting Is Not Enough: Know Your State’s 2020 Voting Rules & Voting Best Practices & Help Others

    Know_the_rules_and_vote_asap.pngAs of the publishing of this episode (Sept. 15th), there are exactly 49 days until Election Day. That’s 7 weeks. Less than 2 months.

    To make sure every one of those days to count, we’ve launched our 2020 Election Action Guide, which we’re calling “Voting Is Not Enough.” Because…it’s just not.

    From now until election day, we’ll be highlighting different ways you can be spending time and/or money to support a free and fair election, as well as Democrats down the ballot and all the way up to the Biden-Harris ticket. All of this information can be accessed from the “Voting is Not Enough” banner at BestoftheLeft.com, or directly at BestoftheLeft.com/2020 Action.

    As you’ve heard today, the Republican attacks on the United States Post Office are nothing new. But in an election year, with an authoritarian wannabe as president and a pandemic gripping the nation, these attacks have reached a new level with dire consequences for democracy.

    By design, damaging the Post Office not only puts more of the burden on the voter to figure out the best way to vote, but also forces them to weigh their personal health risk. The resulting voter suppression should not be underestimated. While many will vote no matter what, millions of people are feeling overwhelmed.

    That’s why it is critical to understand and share the resources that make the new 2020 rules and voting options as clear and concise as possible. The statistical analysis publication, FiveThirtyEight, has put together a regularly-updated project called “How to Vote in the 2020 Election.” It color codes each state by how easy or difficult it is to vote by mail, then you can click on each state to instantly see everything form the voter registration deadline, to early voting information, to how to request a ballot, to how to vote in person. It also provides a brief summary with links on any pending lawsuits related to voting and notes whether any plans to close polling places have been announced. New rules in place for 2020 are noted so you can easily see what, if anything, has changed.

    But even if you know all of the rules, there are still some best practices to follow:

    #1: If you are planning to vote absentee, request your ballot NOW. Do not wait one more second. The ballot will be mailed to you, so you must factor in not only delays, but the unfortunate possibility that you never receive the ballot at all. You’ll need time to re-request one or find out if you can pick up the ballot at your local election office.

    #2: When you get your absentee ballot, do not wait to vote. Time is of the essence, but be sure you follow your state’s absentee ballot rules to the letter. There are many reasons a ballot could get rejected, like you forgot to sign it, or your signature doesn’t match the one on file, improper marking, or the ballot arrives too late. The Associated Press reported just last week that absentee ballot rejections could triple in battleground states because voters who usually vote in person are unfamiliar with the absentee ballot rules. So, be methodical!

    #3: Find your local drop boxes. If you are concerned about relying on the Post Office - and that’s a valid concern - go to your state’s secretary of state website or call your local election office to find out the location of ballot drop boxes. During the primaries, these boxes were often located at local city halls, but more rural areas may have more options.

    #4: Track your ballot. Most states provide a way to track your ballot online and see if it has been received and accepted. The sooner you submit your absentee ballot, the sooner you will know wether or not your vote counted and the more time you’ll have to try to resolve any issues that may arise. To find the tracker, first find your state or local election office. 

    And finally, voting in person is still an option (find your polling place). Experts are saying that as long as safeguards are in place - like mask requirements, 6 feet distance rules, and frequent wiping down of surfaces - your risk is relatively low and about the same as a trip to the grocery store. However, this is America and the sad fact is that you cannot always rely on your fellow citizens to abide by the health rules. Additionally, if we don’t have enough poll workers and polling places, lines could be extremely long. We say all this not to discourage you, but to help you make an informed decision and to help you help others in your life as well.

    So, if making sure every vote is accepted and counted is important to you, be sure to spread the word about Knowing Your State’s 2020 Voting Rules & Voting Best Practices via social media so that others in your network can spread the word too.

     

    TAKE ACTION

    Explore and share the "How to Vote in the 2020 Election" Project (FiveThirtyEight)

    Remember & Share These Voting Best Practices: 

    1. Request your absentee ballot ASAP! RIGHT NOW! 

    2. When you have your ballot, vote ASAP but follow ballot rules to the letter to avoid rejection!

    3. If you don't want to mail your ballot, find local ballot drop boxes through your state's Secretary of State website or by calling your local election office. Find my state or local election office

    4. Track your ballot online to ensure it was received and accepted! To find the tracker, first find your state or local election office

    Voting in person is still an option, but be prepared for people to disobey health rules, and for long lines and reduced polling places. Find your polling place

    EDUCATE YOURSELF & SHARE

    Voter Registration Deadlines (Vote.org)

    Voting by mail in a pandemic: A state-by-state scorecard (Brookings)

    How to Vote by Mail in All 50 States (Vice)

    The Most Important Mail You'll Ever Send: A Ballot (NPR)

    In battlegrounds, absentee ballot rejections could triple (AP)

    A white person and a Black person vote by mail in the same state. Whose ballot is more likely to be rejected? (NBC News)

    If You Can Grocery Shop in Person, You Can Vote in Person (The Atlantic)

     

    Posted September 15, 2020; Written by Best of the Left Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman

    Hear the segment in the context of Best of the Left Edition #1367: The Post Office and the Census, Unmaking the American Institutions That Most Bind Us Together

  • Fight at the State and Local Level for #HandmarkedPaperBallots in Elections #ProtectOurVote

    _handmarkedballot.jpegFirst, some good news. Just days ago, the state Senate in Maine voted to implement Rank Choice Voting for the 2020 elections. And in Massachusetts, a similar effort has just cleared a major hurdle. But, how can we benefit from things like rank choice voting or a national popular vote system if people have to use electronic voting machines that are hackable, broken, and don’t have voter-verifiable ballot paper trails?

    The federal government is not going to save us, for now. So, it’s time to turn to your state and local governments, and that starts with understanding how your state elections operate and who is in charge.

    As of November 2018, 21 states had paper ballot voting. The other 29 are using either Direct Recording Electronic systems, aka: electronic voting machines, or using a combination of paper and electronic voting. Some require paper trails, and some don’t. As of today, the eight states with electronic voting that don’t require backup paper ballots are Texas, Mississippi, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Tennessee, Kentucky, and New Jersey. We’ve included the Ballotpedia page with all of this information and links to each state’s voting policies in the show notes.

    Next, if you don’t already know, find out who the chief election official is in your state and how they got their job. Only 24 states have voter elected Secretaries of State as the ultimate authority over their elections. The rest have a board or commission, a governor appointed secretary of state, the lieutenant governor, or an official elected by the state legislature. As we saw with now Governor Brian Kemp in Georgia during the Midterms, the person or people in these positions have serious power. We’ve included a link in the show notes to help you easily find out how your state election officials are determined. Find out what they stand for and put pressure on them or fight to unseat them if they aren’t supporting voter-verifiable, hand-marked paper ballots.

    And finally, because America has a highly decentralized election administration system, local cities, towns, counties, and municipalities have a fair amount of control over elections. They are the ones running the actual elections on the ground, dealing with election day problems first-hand, and they often handle awarding voting equipment contracts. Even though the state dictates overarching election policies, each town’s election can operate quite differently from another within the same state. Start going to your town and city council public meetings and make noise. Highlight the serious problems with unverifiable electronic voting machines and barcodes, and emphasize the critical importance of hand-marked paper ballots and voter-verifiable paper trails. It is much easier to change minds on this level.

    To learn more about election integrity and the fight for hand-marked paper ballots, check out The Brennan Center for Justice, FairVote, Protect Our Vote dot com, the Coalition for Good Governance, Let America Vote, and Stand Up America.

    And in a related side-note: National Voter Registration Day is September 24th, in case you need an excuse to get yourself or someone you know registered. Vote Riders is hosting registration drives across the country and they need volunteers, so head over to voteriders.org.

    So, if ensuring election integrity in our country is important to you, be sure to hit the share buttons to spread the word about Fighting at the State and Local Level for Hand-marked Paper Ballots in Elections via social media so that others in your network can spread the word too.

     

    TAKE ACTION

    Understand your state and local elections & take action:

    1. Learn About Your State Election Policies&Voting System Paper Trail Requirements

    2. Learn How Your State’s Election Administration Officials Are Put in Office & Fight to Unseat Those Not Actively Advocating for Hand-marked Paper Ballots

    3. Attend Your Local Town/City/County Public Meetings and Advocate for Hand-marked, Voter-verifiable Paper Ballots.

    4 . Learn From/Get Involved With:

    The Brennan Center for Justice 

    Verified Voting 

    ProtectOurVote.com 

    Coalition for Good Governance 

    Let America Vote 

    Stand Up America 

    FairVote 

    EDUCATE YOURSELF & SHARE

    Vote Flipping Claims Underline Urgent Need to Fix Voting Machines (The Brennan Center)

    The scramble to secure America’s voting machines (Politico)

    How Officials and Citizens Can Protect the Integrity of Their Elections (City Lab)

    Groups push lawmakers for hearings on voting machine security (The Hill)

    Voters say touchscreen machines switched their votes in nine Mississippi counties (Salon)

    Georgia’s New Voting Machines Must Be Ready for 2020 Primary, Judge Says (The Wall Street Journal)

    A Top Voting-Machine Firm Calls for Paper Ballots (Wired)

    Voting Machine Security: Where We Stand Six Months Before the New Hampshire Primary (The Brennan Center)

     

    Posted September 6, 2019; Written by Best of the Left Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman

    Hear the segment in the context of Best of the Left Edition #1303: Election Systems are Not to be Trusted, They are to be Verifiable 

  • Support the Fight to Oust McConnell in 2020

    DitchMitch2020v2.jpgI don’t want to rain on anyone’s parade, but Mitch McConnell has been extremely unpopular in his own state since the last time he won reelection in 2014. So, even though he currently has a 47 percent disapproval rating and a 38 percent approval rating in Kentucky, we shouldn’t give that too much weight when it comes to defeating him in 2020.

    And this time, we have a new variable: Trump. Kentuckians give Trump a 53 percent approval rating, making Kentucky ninth on the list of states most approving of him. McConnell has hitched his wagon to Trump so closely in the past two years, you can hardly see where Trump begins and McConnell ends.

    And McConnell’s campaign is acutely aware of that. His first campaign ad sprinkles Trump’s praise throughout, while touting how he blocked Merrick Garland’s nomination, got Gorsuch and Kavanaugh’s confirmations through, confirmed 26 hand-picked conservative federal circuit court judges, and falsely frames the tax bill as a win for the middle class and catalyst for good job reports and economic prosperity.

    The man has been an effective tool of special interests and wealthy conservatives...at the expense of our democracy and political institutions. That’s the point of the ad: Don’t worry about how Mitch accomplished these things, what’s important is that he delivered.

    That’s what we’re up against, and Kentucky political analysts warn that the Democratic base in Kentucky - those that supported FDR, Harry Truman and Alben Barkely - is dying off.

    So, how do we beat McConnell? Well, here are the people and groups attempting to do it and their strategies:

    THE PACs & ORGANIZATIONS

    The PAC End Citizens United has leaned into McConnell’s fight to uphold political corruption, running an ad that shows McConnell’s lifelong resistance to campaign finance reform proposals and his vow to not to allow a vote on the most recent Democratic bill to overhaul campaign finance reform, voting access and ethics.

    A new DC-based PAC called Ditch Mitch has raised over one million dollars very quickly and has already started running ads highlighting McConnell’s fight to destroy the ACA, pointing to data that says the cost of healthcare is an important issue for Kentucky voters.

    Indivisible Kentucky has been waving the Ditch Mitch banner it since 2017, when they first ran a billboard campaign in the state with the message “You Make Us Sick” and “Kentucky Deserves Better” with the hashtag Ditch Mitch 2020. Those billboards have started popping up again and we can expect more from this group as we get closer to 2020.

    THE CONTENDERS

    In terms of actual opponents, it’s still early, but a few people have thrown their hat in the ring.

    On the Democratic side, healthcare professional Steven Cox, is the only one who has officially declared his candidacy.

    However, Senator Chuck Schumer has been trying to recruit Marine Corps Pilot Veteran Amy McGrath. Despite national coverage of her campaign during the midterms, McGrath lost her run for Representative in Kentucky’s 6th district by a slim margin. Some say her loss was partly due to her vow to not run attack ads against her opponent and that she couldn’t win against McConnell with that approach. *UPDATE*: Former fighter pilot Amy McGrath announces bid to take on Mitch McConnell in 2020

    Matt Jones, a local sports radio and political talk show celebrity in Kentucky, thinks he is the one that can beat McConnell. Despite his sports background, Jones graduated from Duke Law School and is known as an outspoken champion of worker’s rights with pro-gay marriage, pro-choice, and pro marijuana legalization views. And, he has name recognition.

    Mitch will be primaried by C. Wesley Morgan, a former 1 term state Rep and liquor store owner. He says McConnell is a “self-serving senator” who has only moved to the far right because Trump is so popular in Kentucky.

    'MONEY' IS THE NAME OF THE GAME

    But doing the bidding of special interest groups and lobbyists has put a lot of money in McConnell’s coffers. According to federal campaign records, he’s got millions more cash on hand than he had this time last cycle, and that doesn’t even count millions raised by other groups and super PACs supporting him.

    In 2014, McConnell was able to rake in $31 million to defeat Democrat Alison Lundergan Grimes, who raised $19 million. This election is going to depend on deep pockets and McConnell has spent his whole life making sure it stays this way.

    So, if supporting those trying to defeat McConnell in 2020 is important to you, be sure to hit the share buttons to spread the word about Support the Fight to Oust McConnell in 2020 via social media so that others in your network can spread the word too.

     

     

    TAKE ACTION

    Support End Citizens United

    Support Indivisible Kentucky

    Support the Ditch Mitch Fund

    Support Steven Cox

    Support Amy McGrath (if she announces)

    Support Matt Jones (if he announces)

     

    Posted July 5, 2019; Written by Best of the Left Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman

    Hear the segment in the context of Best of the Left Edition #1287: Mitch McConnell is the Forking Worst 

  • THE MIDTERMS MINUTE: THE FINAL PUSH - DCCC’s “Red Alert” House Races!

    MIDTERMS_MINUTE_IMAGE_FINAL.pngThis is our final installment of The Midterms Minute. We hope you’ve found value in these segments, even if hearing/reading them simply kept the 2018 Midterms at the top of your mind for the last four months.

    There are just a few more days to go before the election. You may be thinking that there isn’t much you can do at this point to make a difference, but…you’d be wrong. There’s still plenty of time to donate, phone bank, volunteer, and talk to your friends and family about voting and getting engaged. Check out our previous segment for a list of “4 things you can do to make a difference” and links to resources.

    This week, the DCCC announced it’s 6 “red alert” House races that need a big final show of support to finish strong. Four of these races are currently rated as toss ups by Cook Political Report.

    FL-15: Kristen Carlson is running in Florida’s 15th district,which encompasses two incredibly expensive media markets. This race is down to a 1-point, toss up race.

    IL-06: Sean Casten is running in Illinois’ 6th district and is tied in a head-to-head contest despite a $2 million dollar effort by Paul Ryan’s Super PAC and even more from the Koch brothers to drag him down.

    IL-12: Brendan Kelly is running in Illinois’ 12th district, which is a traditional swing district where Obama and Tammy Duckworth both won, but the race is leaning Republican at the moment.

    NJ-03: Andy Kim is running in New Jersey’s 3rd district against the wealthiest member of the New Jersey delegation who is injecting massive personal money into his campaign to try to win this toss up race.

    TX-07: Lizzie Pannill Fletcher is running in Texas’ 7th district,where the NRCC and Paul Ryan’s Super PAC have already spent over $1 million for her opponent in the one of the top ten most expensive media markets in the country. This is a toss up race.

    TX-32: Colin Allred is running in Texas’ 32nd district,where more Republican money has been spent than almost every other House race this year. It’s still a toss up.

    You can donate or learn other ways to help these candidates by going to Red to Blue dot DCCC dot org. Of course, information for ALL of the battleground races and ways to get involved can be found at The Midterms Minute H.Q..

    And to close out our last Midterms Minute of 2018, we’re leaving you with a passage from progressive pastor John Pavlovitz’ article entitled “You Can’t Change Hatred—But You Can Outvote It.”

    “If their consciences and compassion and reason have not been accessed and unearthed by now, I’m concerned those things will never be forthcoming.

    And since these people will not be moved, the rest of us need to move together.

    Democrat, Republican, and Independent, the deeply devout and the passionately irreligious, people of every pigmentation and persuasion—we need to move in concert, to affirm our shared regard for one another, and to vote to restore balance in something we all love that is teetering wildly.

    This isn’t a battle to change the minds of the few who refuse to be changed. That horse is dead.

    It also isn’t a test to see if we can manufacture the same hatred and vitriol for them as they dispense toward us.

    This is a golden moment for the vast, sprawling army of good people who believe in the beauty of diversity and in a fully accessible America to speak unequivocally—on our social media profiles, at family gatherings, in our church meetings—and most of all, in the voting booth.

    We don’t need to convince or coddle or win over hatred, and we don’t need to outdo it either.

    We need to outnumber it.
    We need to outlast it.
    We need to outlove it.
    We need to outvote it.”

     

     

    THE MIDTERMS MINUTE - FINAL PUSH!

    All Battleground Info/Resources: THE MIDTERMS MINUTE H.Q.

    "RED ALERT" HOUSE RACES:

    FL-15: Kristen Carlson 

    IL-06: Sean Casten

    IL-12: Brendan Kelly 

    NJ-03: Andy Kim 

    TX-07: Lizzie Pannill Fletcher

    TX-32: Colin Allred 

    4 THINGS YOU CAN DO BEFORE NOV. 6TH

    1. Donate

    House: DCCC Red to Blue Program

    Senate: DSCC.org

    Toss ups/Battlegrounds: The Midterms Minute H.Q.

    2. Virtual Phone Banking

    Indivisible Phone Banking (Sen/House/Gov)

    Swing Left Phone Banking (House)

    Resources for newbies / Hosting a Phone Bank Night

    3. Volunteer to GOTV

    National Indivisible Chapters Events List

    DNC State Parties

    Candidates websites: Visit The Midterms Minute H.Q.

    4. Talk to Friends & Family (and text people)

    Talk, invite them to volunteer with you, etc.

    Use OutVote to text friends and encourage them to vote

    Passage: "You Can't Change Hate, But You Can Outvote It" (By John Pavlovitz)

     

    Posted November 2, 2018; Researched & Written by Best of the Left Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman

    Hear the segment in the context of Best of the Left Edition #1224: Fixing the underlying mechanism of our democracy (Election Integrity)

  • THE MIDTERMS MINUTE: 4 Things You Can Do Before Election Day & Toss Up Gubernatorial Races!

    MIDTERMS_MINUTE_IMAGE_FINAL.pngThe Midterms Minute is a look at the candidates and races in battleground districts that you need to know about, shout about and support to make the biggest impact possible in the election on November 6th. (Quick links at bottom of page)

    As of the release date of episode #1223, we are exactly 1 week out from election day.

    So, let’s do a little visualization exercise for a moment: Imagine that it’s next Tuesday night and the election returns are coming in. Now imagine that Democrats don’t pick up enough seats to take control of the Senate or lose seats they had. Now imagine that Democrats don’t pick up enough seats to take control of the House. Now imagine waking up the next morning to Trump proclaiming ultimate victory and an unequivocal mandate for his horrific, hate-filled agenda that most Republicans support.

    Now, how do you feel? Do you feel like you did enough? Do you wish you had done more? How do you think the most vulnerable and disenfranchised among us will be feeling at that moment? Remember those feelings and keep them with you in this final week because this is quite literally the last chance to make a difference before election day.

    And because of that, today we’re going to tell you four things that you can do to make that difference over the next seven days.

    Don’t forget to scroll down for info and links for the ten toss up gubernatorial races across the country - six of which are open seat races previously held by Republicans. Of course, information for ALL of the battleground races and ways to get involved can be found at The Midterms Minute H.Q..

    And now, without further ado, here are the top four things you can do this week to make a difference on election day.

    1: Donate. This last week is going to require many, many hours of campaign workers’ time and those people need to be paid….and given lots of coffee and pizza. Ads need to be run. Signs need to be printed. Canvassing and phone banking materials need to be at the ready. Volunteers need to be trained and managed. Your donations can help candidates run a strong get out the vote effort in these final days. If you don’t know where to start, check out the DCCC Red to Blue Program and donate to a few candidates or easily support all candidates listed with one donation. To help Senate candidates, visit DSCC.org and contribute. If you’re only interested in donating to toss up races, check out the links in our previous segments which can be found at The Midterms Minute H.Q..

    2: Phone Bank. If you have even an hour to give, virtual phone banking is for you. Both Indivisible and Swing Left have selected races where candidates can benefit the most from phone banking and you can sign up for a shift and get started in seconds. Indivisible is hosting phone banking for a mix of House, Senate and gubernatorial candidates, so if that’s what you’re looking for go to Indivisible Phone Banking to get started. If you’re interested in focusing on tight races for the House, go to Swing Left Phone Banking. Never phone banked before? No problem. Swing Left offers plenty of resources for newbies.

    3: Volunteer. Yes, this requires more of your time, but it is so impactful and it can even be fun. Grab a friend and sign up to canvass a neighborhood for a candidate near you. Or go to a phone banking event organized by the local DNC party office, a candidate’s campaign or a political action group. When you see other people actively engaged, you’re going to feel better and you might meet some new friends along the way. One way to quickly find an event near you is by going to National Indivisible Chapters Events List for a national list of local Indivisible group volunteer events. Otherwise, check out your local DNC website or specific candidate’s websites for more volunteer opportunities.

    4: Talk to your friends and family. The current political climate has strained many a relationship, but if you know someone who is undecided or someone who will vote but isn’t engaged, talk to them.…in person. Have a discussion about civic action and all the personal reasons you have for getting involved. Lead them to resources invite them to volunteer with you. These conversations can be game changers for those who may feel disillusioned or don’t feel like politics really affects them. Additionally, you can use the OutVote app to find and send text messages to people in your network that may need some extra encouragement. 

    TOSS UP GUBERNATORIAL RACES:

    Connecticut (Open Seat (D))

    Ned Lamont (D) (vs. Bob Stefanowski (R))

    Georgia (Open Seat (R))

    State House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams (D) (vs. GA Sec of State Brian Kemp (R))

    Iowa (R Incumbent)

    Fred Hubbell (D) (vs. Incumbent Gov. Kim Reynolds (R))

    Maine (Open Seat (R))

    State Attorney General Janet Mills (D) (vs. Shawn Moody (R))

    Nevada (Open Seat (R))

    Clark County Commissioner Steve Sisolak (D) (vs. NV Attorney General Adam Laxalt (R))

    Ohio (Open Seat (R))

    Former Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director Richard Cordray (D) (vs. OH Attorney General Mike DeWine (R))

    Oregon (D incumbent)

    Incumbent Gov. Kate Brown (D) (vs. OR Rep. Knute Buehler (R))

    South Dakota (Open Seat (R))

    SD Sen. Billie Sutton (D) (vs. Rep. Kristi Noem (R))

    Wisconsin (R incumbent)

    WI Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Evers (D) (vs. Incumbent Gov. Scott Walker (R))

    Kansas (Open Seat (R))

    KS Sen. Laura Kelly (D) (vs. KS Secretary of State Kris Kobach (R))

    As a reminder, voter purging is happening across the country so we urge you to confirm your voter registration ASAP. Visit HeadCount.org to quickly be directed to your state’s specific website to confirm your voter registration. If there is a problem, contact 866-OUR-VOTE to report the problem and get guidance ASAP. If your registration is okay, help someone else confirm theirs or obtain the necessary ID they need to ensure there are no surprise problems on election day.

    So, if making the Blue Wave a reality in November is important to you, be sure to hit the share buttons to spread the word about supporting Democrats in battleground races across the country via social media so that others in your network can spread the word too.

     

     

    THE MIDTERMS MINUTE (Quick links)

    4 THINGS YOU CAN DO BEFORE NOV. 6TH

    1. Donate

    House: DCCC Red to Blue Program

    Senate: DSCC.org

    Toss ups/Battlegrounds: The Midterms Minute H.Q.

    2. Virtual Phone Banking

    Indivisible Phone Banking (Sen/House/Gov)

    Swing Left Phone Banking (House)

    Resources for newbies / Hosting a Phone Bank Night

    3. Volunteer 

    National Indivisible Chapters Events List

    DNC State Parties

    Candidates websites: Visit The Midterms Minute H.Q.

    4. Talk to Friends & Family (and text people)

    Talk, invite them to volunteer with you, etc.

    Use OutVote to text friends and encourage them to vote

    TOSS UP GUBERNATORIAL RACES!

    Connecticut (Open Seat (D))

    Ned Lamont (D) (vs. Bob Stefanowski (R))

    Georgia (Open Seat (R))

    State House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams (D) (vs. GA Sec of State Brian Kemp (R))

    Iowa (R Incumbent)

    Fred Hubbell (D) (vs. Incumbent Gov. Kim Reynolds (R))

    Maine (Open Seat (R))

    State Attorney General Janet Mills (D) (vs. Shawn Moody (R))

    Nevada (Open Seat (R))

    Clark County Commissioner Steve Sisolak (D) (vs. NV Attorney General Adam Laxalt (R))

    Ohio (Open Seat (R))

    Former Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director Richard Cordray (D) (vs. OH Attorney General Mike DeWine (R))

    Oregon (D incumbent)

    Incumbent Gov. Kate Brown (D) (vs. OR Rep. Knute Buehler (R))

    South Dakota (Open Seat (R))

    SD Sen. Billie Sutton (D) (vs. Rep. Kristi Noem (R))

    Wisconsin (R incumbent)

    WI Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Evers (D) (vs. Incumbent Gov. Scott Walker (R))

    Kansas (Open Seat (R))

    KS Sen. Laura Kelly (D) (vs. KS Secretary of State Kris Kobach (R))

     

     

    Posted October 30th, 2018; Researched & Written by Best of the Left Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman

    Hear the segment in the context of Best of the Left Edition #1223: How and why conspiracy theories infiltrate our politics

     

  • THE MIDTERMS MINUTE: Help Flip Toss Up Battleground House Races in OH, UT, WA!

    MIDTERMS_MINUTE_IMAGE_FINAL.pngThe Midterms Minute is a look at the candidates and races in battleground districts that you need to know about, shout about and support to make the biggest impact possible in the election on November 6th.

    As of the release date of episode #1222, we are exactly 12 days out from election day. Time is running out to make a difference. No one wants to wake up on November 7th wishing they had done more, so, do it for yourselves, do it for your family, do it for the most vulnerable among us. Get out there and canvas, get out the vote, email and text friends, donate - whatever you can do, do it. These elections will effect us, and the world, for decades to come. According to the latest early voting reports, Republicans are outpacing Democratic voters in key states. Do not take the “blue wave” hype for granted.

    Early voting is now open many states, so check out all early voting information by state, including the three vote by mail states. Information for ALL of the battleground races and how to get involved can be found at The Midterms Minute H.Q..

    Today we’re wrapping up the toss up battleground races for the House that we haven’t covered yet. As a reminder, to take the House, Democrats must flip 24 Republican seats.

    Let’s dive in….

    OH-01: In Ohio’s first district, Democratic attorney Aftab Pureval is challenging Republican incumbent Steve Chabot. Chabot lost this seat to a Democrat in 2008, but got it back in 2010 and has held it since. Trump won here by 6 points, but it was his narrowest margin of victory in Ohio’s congressional districts. Chabot was one of those no-shows when constituents demanded a town hall on healthcare last year and then voted for Trumpcare. Healthcare is at the core of Pureval’s campaign, along with protecting social security, but he is currently behind in the polls.

    UT-04: In Utah’s 4th district, Democratic Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams is challenging Republican incumbent Mia Love, the only Republican member of the Congressional Black Caucus. This district was only created in 2010, but was held by a Democrat until Love took the open seat in 2014. The latest polls have the candidates tied at 46 percent each with 8 percent undecided. Love is following the GOP playbook by trying to align McAdams with the Clintons and Nancy Pelosi. McAdams has said he won’t support Pelosi as Speaker and has expressed support for anti-corruption legislation to restrict the influence of lobbyists.

    WA-08: And finally, Washington’s 8th district is another open seat race. Democratic pediatrician with a degree in Astrophysics Kim Schrier is challenging Republican former state senator Dino Rossi. The last incumbent won reelection by 20 points, but the district has voted Democratic in the last three presidential elections by 2 to 5 points. Rossi calls himself a “fiscal conservative with a social conscience,” but his record doesn’t back that up. Schrier is calling for a Medicare buy in on a sliding scale, pointing to the outrageous overheads of private insurance and the minuscule overheads of Medicare. Rossi has lost his campaign for governor and both campaigns for U.S. Senate. He got to the state house by appointment.

    As a reminder, voter purging is happening across the country so we urge you to confirm your voter registration ASAP. Visit HeadCount.org to quickly be directed to your state’s specific website to confirm your voter registration. If there is a problem, contact 866-OUR-VOTE to report the problem and get guidance ASAP. If your registration is okay, help someone else confirm theirs or obtain the necessary ID they need to ensure there are no surprise problems on election day.

    So, if making the Blue Wave a reality in November is important to you, be sure to hit the share buttons to spread the word about supporting Democrats in battleground races across the country via social media so that others in your network can spread the word too.

     

    THE MIDTERMS MINUTE (Quick Links)

    REGISTER TO VOTE: RocktheVote.org/register-to-vote/

    CONFIRM VOTER REGISTRATION: HeadCount.org/verify-voter-registration/

    CHECK VOTING DATES & POLICIES: RocktheVote.org/voting-information/

    VOTER ID INFO/HELP: VoteRiders & 866ourvote.org

    All Battleground Info/Resources: THE MIDTERMS MINUTE H.Q.

    Early Voting Information by State

    TOSS UP BATTLEGROUND HOUSE SEATS (part 3)

    Ohio

    OH-01: Aftab Pureval

    Red to Blue OH-01

    Utah

    UT-04: Ben McAdams

    Red to Blue UT-04

    Washington

    WA-08: Kim Schrier

    Red to Blue WA-08

     

    Posted October 26th, 2018; Researched & Written by Best of the Left Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman

    Hear the segment in the context of Best of the Left Edition #1222: A crisis of illegitimacy of our institutions ​

     

  • THE MIDTERMS MINUTE: Help Flip Toss Up Battleground House Races in NC, TX, & VA!

    MIDTERMS_MINUTE_IMAGE_FINAL.pngThe Midterms Minute is a look at the candidates and races in battleground districts that you need to know about, shout about and support to make the biggest impact possible in the election on November 6th.

    This is it, folks. As of the release date of episode #1221, we are exactly 2 weeks out from election day. If you have been slacking on donating or volunteering, there is absolutely no time to lose. Early voting is now open many states, so check out all early voting information by state, including the three vote by mail states. Information for ALL of the battleground races and how to get involved can be found at The Midterms Minute H.Q..

    We continue today with our focus on toss up battleground races for the House that we haven’t covered yet. Specifically, we’re talking about states with more than one of these races. As a reminder, Democrats must flip 24 Republican seats to take the house.

    Let’s dive in….

    NC-09: North Carolina has two toss up battleground races. The state’s 9th district is an open seat race because, in a rare occurrence, the incumbent lost his primary. Now Democratic businessman and veteran Dan McCready is challenging Republican pastor Mark Harris, who led the fight against gay marriage in the state. Trump won the district by 11 points and the Republican primary was fought over who loved and supported Trump the most. However, McCready appears to have a slight lead in the polls even though a Democrat hasn’t held this seat in 56 years.

    NC-13: In North Carolina’s 13th district, Democrat and lawyer Kathy Manning is challenging Republican incumbent Ted Budd, who is adamantly anti-abortion and anti-gay marriage. Though Budd has already served a term in congress, he is still calling himself a “political outsider,” while Manning has never held political office. Manning has made standing up to the insurance industry a pinnacle of her campaign and says she will not vote for Nancy Pelosi as House leader, but she is slightly behind in the polls.

    TX-07: Now, moving on to Texas, which has two toss up battleground races. In Texas’ 7th district, which includes Houston, Democratic attorney and reproductive rights activist Lizzie Pannill Fletcher is challenging Republican incumbent John Culberson. Culberson is best known for co-sponsoring birther legislation, as well as denying climate change and opposing abortion and gay marriage. Culberson serves on the House Appropriations Committee and chairs the subcommittee on commerce, justice, science, and related agencies. If it’s concerning to you that a climate denying, oil and gas politician who didn’t mention climate change or zoning laws once after hurricane Harvey flooded Houston is sitting on these committees, that concern would be justified. Fletcher has pointed out that warnings about Houston’s flood risk came as long ago as 1996 but politicians ignored them. Clinton won this district by 1 percentage point and this race is neck and neck.

    TX-32: In Texas’ 32nd district, Democratic civil rights attorney Colin Allred is challenging Republican incumbent Pete Sessions, former chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee. Although Sessions won his last re-election by 26 points, Clinton won this district. The fact that End Citizens United has heavily invested in targeting Sessions with negative ads might tell you a bit about who he is. Sessions, of course, is trying to link Allred with Nancy Pelosi, who is once again the Republican embodiment of scary liberalism. The candidates are within a point of each other in the latest New York Times poll.

    VA-02: Virginia also has two toss up battlegrounds. In Virginia’s 2nd district, Democratic businesswoman and Navy veteran Elaine Luria is challenging Republican incumbent and former Navy SEAL Scott Taylor. Taylor won in 2016 by 23 points, however Trump only took the district by 3 points. The latest polls have Taylor leading Luria in this district that includes the world’s largest navy base and one of the highest concentration of veterans. Taylor, who wants more military spending but hates taxes and Obamacare, is a member of the House Appropriations Committee. It’d be nice to see him go.

    VA-07: In Virginia’s 7th district, Democratic former CIA operations officer Abigail Spanberger is challenging Republican incumbent David Brat, who won this seat in 2014 by beating then House Majority Leader Eric Cantor. This district has been held by Republicans since 1971. The district’s counties were split in the presidential election, but both voted Democratic in the 2017 governors race. As Brat has been calling Spanberger “Nancy Pelosi” every chance he gets instead of using her real name, a video of her forceful response to his idiocy during a recent debate has gone viral. She was inspired to run after Brat voted for an Obamacare repeal measure that passed the House and has called out Brat for avoiding town halls with constituents.

    As a reminder, voter purging is happening across the country so we urge you to confirm your voter registration ASAP. Visit HeadCount.org to quickly be directed to your state’s specific website to confirm your voter registration. If there is a problem, contact 866-OUR-VOTE to report the problem and get guidance ASAP.

    So, if making the Blue Wave a reality in November is important to you, be sure to hit the share buttons to spread the word about supporting Democrats in battleground races across the country via social media so that others in your network can spread the word too.

     

    THE MIDTERMS MINUTE (Quick Links)

    REGISTER TO VOTE: RocktheVote.org/register-to-vote/

    CONFIRM VOTER REGISTRATION: HeadCount.org/verify-voter-registration/

    CHECK VOTING DATES & POLICIES: RocktheVote.org/voting-information/

    VOTER ID INFO/HELP: VoteRiders & 866ourvote.org

    All Battleground Info/Resources: THE MIDTERMS MINUTE H.Q.

    Early Voting Information by State

    TOSS UP BATTLEGROUND HOUSE SEATS (part 2)

    North Carolina

    NC-09: Dan McCready

    Red to Blue NC-09

    NC-13: Kathy Manning

    Red to Blue NC-13

    Texas

    TX-07: Lizzie Pannill Fletcher

    Red to Blue TX-07

    TX-32: Colin Allred

    Red to Blue TX-32

    Virginia

    VA-02: Elaine Luria

    Red to Blue VA-02

    VA-07: Abigail Spanberger

    Red to Blue VA-07

     

    Posted October 23rd, 2018; Researched & Written by Best of the Left Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman

    Hear the segment in the context of Best of the Left Edition #1221: Strategies to take back power for the left

     

  • THE MIDTERMS MINUTE: Help Flip Toss Up Battleground House Races in IA, KS, KY, ME, MI & NM!

    MIDTERMS_MINUTE_IMAGE_FINAL.pngThe Midterms Minute is a look at the candidates and races in battleground districts that you need to know about, shout about and support to make the biggest impact possible in the election on November 6th.

    As of the release date of episode #1220, we are 18 days out from election day. That’s less than 3 weeks of volunteering left. Early voting is now open many states, so check out all early voting information by state, including the three vote by mail states. 

    Because we’re running out of time, we’re only highlighting battleground races that are considered toss ups from now on. However, information for ALL of the battleground races in the show notes at The Midterms Minute H.Q..

    For the next two segments, we’re going to focus on toss up battleground races for the House that we haven’t covered yet. Republicans are defending the vast majority of seats in the battleground races across the country, but the so-called “red exodus” of Republican incumbents leaving office is in Democrats favor this year. Thirty seven Republican held seats are now open and, therefore, more likely to flip. To take the House, Democrats must flip 24 Republican seats.

    Now, let’s dive into some toss ups….

    IA-03: In Iowa’s 3rd district, Democratic small business owner Cindy Axne is challenging Republican incumbent Representative Rep. David Young. Obama won by four points here in 2012, but Trump won by 3 points. Young pissed off his constituents last year when, after saying he was opposed to Trumpcare, he voted for it at the last minute. He is now running unbelievably misleading ads that claim he “stood up to his party” to protect people with pre-existing conditions. Yeah, keep telling yourself that. Early voting in Iowa began October 8th.

    KS-02: Kansas’ 2nd district is an open seat race. Former Democratic state house Minority Leader Paul Davis is facing Republican army veteran and engineer Steve Watkins. Trump won here by 19 points, but Davis, the Democrat, was recently endorsed by 36 Kansas state Republicans. One can only assume these are the Republicans that woke up to the severe damage extreme conservatism inflicted on their state. Early voting in Kansas began October 17th.

    KY-06: In Kentucky’s 6th district, Democratic Marine Corps pilot Amy McGrath is challenging three-term Republican incumbent Rep. Andy Barr. Although Barr won his re-election in 2016 by more than 20 points, McGrath is a strong, nationally-admired challenger and is only behind in this deep red district by 2 points - within the margin of error. Of course, Barr is trying to paint McGrath as a “radical” on abortion, climate and healthcare. McGrath supports a public option and a medicare buy-in option, but falls short of backing single-payer. Early voting is not available in Kentucky.

    ME-02: In Maine’s 2nd district, Democratic former Marine and state Rep. Jared Golden is challenging Republican incumbent Rep. Bruce Poliquin. No incumbent has lost an election here since 1916, but before Poloquin won in 2014, Democrats held this seat for 20 years. Obama won here by 9 points in 2012 and Trump won by 10 points. I know you’ll be shocked to hear, but Poloquin is also wildly waving around the term “radical” to make Golden sound scary… you know, for wanting to work toward Medicare-for-All and expanding Medicaid. Early voting in Maine begins November 1st.

    MI-08: In Michigan’s 8th district, former Democratic Obama administration official Elissa Slotkin is challenging Republican incumbent Mike Bishop. Trump won here by 7 points. Slotkin, who grew up in Michigan and moved back to start a business after working for the CIA under both Bush and Obama, is being called an “outsider recruited by Nancy Pelosi” by Bishop’s campaign. Slotkin has said she will not support Pelosi as House leader and is not accepting corporate contributions to her campaign. Early voting is not available in Michigan.

    NM-02: And finally, New Mexico’s 2nd district is another open seat race because the Republican Steve Pearce is running for Governor. Democratic attorney Xochitl Torres Small is facing Republican state Rep. Yvette Herrell to take this seat. Trump, Romney and McCain all won this district. Herrell is focusing on defunding Planned Parenthood, informing immigration laws and shrinking the government. Meanwhile, Small is focusing on affordable healthcare, lowering the cost of prescription drugs and fixing the VA. Small has raised three times as much as Herrell in a race where Latino turnout is critical. Early voting in New Mexico starts October 20th.

    As a reminder, voter purging is happening across the country so we urge you to confirm your voter registration ASAP. Visit HeadCount.org to quickly be directed to your state’s specific website to confirm your voter registration. If there is a problem, contact 866-OUR-VOTE to report the problem and get guidance ASAP.

    So, if making the Blue Wave a reality in November is important to you, be sure to hit the share buttons to spread the word about supporting Democrats in battleground races across the country via social media so that others in your network can spread the word too.

     

    THE MIDTERMS MINUTE

    REGISTER TO VOTE: RocktheVote.org/register-to-vote/

    CONFIRM VOTER REGISTRATION: HeadCount.org/verify-voter-registration/

    CHECK VOTING DATES & POLICIES: RocktheVote.org/voting-information/

    VOTER ID INFO/HELP: VoteRiders & 866ourvote.org

    All Battleground Info/Resources: THE MIDTERMS MINUTE H.Q.

    Early Voting Information by State

    TOSS UP BATTLEGROUND HOUSE SEATS (part 1)

    IA-03: Cindy Axne

    KS-02: Paul Davis

    KY-06: Amy McGrath

    ME-02: Jared Golden

    MI-08: Elissa Slotkin

    NM-02: Xochitl Torres Small

     

    Posted October 18th, 2018; Researched & Written by Best of the Left Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman

    Hear the segment in the context of Best of the Left Edition #1220: Fighting the Dark Money Machine

     

  • THE MIDTERMS MINUTE: FL, IN, MO, MT, ND: Help Democrats Retain These Toss Up Battleground Senate Seats!

    MIDTERMS_MINUTE_IMAGE_FINAL.pngThe Midterms Minute is a look at the candidates and races in battleground districts that you need to know about, shout about and support to make the biggest impact possible in the election on November 6th.

    As of the release date of this episode, we are 21 days out from election day. That’s exactly 3 weeks away, leaving just 3 weekends of volunteering left. State voter registration deadlines are quickly passing, so if you are still not registered, or know someone who is putting it off, make that your first priority.

    Because we’re running short on time, for the next few weeks we are only going to highlight on air the battleground races that are considered toss ups. However, we will still provide information for ALL of the battleground races in the show notes and at The Midterms Minute H.Q..

    Last time, we told you about the toss up Senate races where Democrats could pick up seats. Today, we’re going to focus on the vulnerable Democratic incumbents in toss up battleground Senate races who must retain their seats. These races are, of course, all taking place in states which Trump won in 2016. Every one of these Democrats is a moderate at best, but they all voted against Kavanaugh and the GOP tax bill. As a reminder, 35 of the 100 Senate seats are up this November, including two special elections. Democrats are defending 26 seats, 10 of which are in states Trump won. They must retain all 10 of those Senate seats and pick up at least 2 more to take the Senate.

    FLORIDA: We already covered Democratic incumbent Senator Bill Nelson’s toss up race in a previous segment on Florida’s battlegrounds. But just a quick update that Nelson is only ahead of Governor Rick Scott by one to two percent in most polls. It is going to be very, very close.

    INDIANA: In Indiana, where Trump won by 19%, Democratic incumbent Senator Joe Donnelly is facing Republican State Rep Mike Braun. Braun is a businessman and NRA member who is vehemently anti-abortion and wants to replace Obamacare with…oh, right, he doesn’t have any idea. Donnelly has a slight lead on Braun in most polls, but Politico has listed this race as the GOP’s best opportunity to pick up a Senate seat.

    MISSOURI: In Missouri, where Trump won by 19%, Democratic incumbent Senator Claire McCaskill is facing Republican State Attorney General Josh Hawley. Hawley is trying to paint himself as a legal champion of the people, but he is part of the multi-state GOP lead law suit that would completely invalidate the Affordable Care Act law if they win. Hawley has a slight lead in most of the polls and he is now using McCaskill’s vote against Kavanaugh to claim she only cares about her party. When McCaskill won her re-election in 2012, it was the last time a Democrat won a statewide election in Missouri.

    MONTANA: In Montana, where Trump won by 20%, Democratic incumbent Senator Jon Tester is facing Republican State Auditor Matt Rosendale. Tester won re-election in 2012 by less than 4 points. Trump publicly battled with Tester after he released allegations that the White House physician Ronny Jackson, Trump’s nominee for the next US Secretary of Veterans Affairs, engaged in professional misconduct, including a DUI and mistreating an employee. Rosendale is a big Trump supporter and real estate developer from Maryland who calls himself a “rancher” every chance he gets even though he doesn’t own any cattle. His ads bend over backwards to call moderate Tester a “radical leftist career ruiner.” Tester currently has a slim lead in the majority of polls.

    NORTH DAKOTA: And finally, in North Dakota, where Trump won by 36%, Democratic incumbent Senator Heidi Heitkamp is facing Republican Representative Kevin Cramer. Heitkamp won re-election in 2012 by only 1% and Trump’s margin of victory in Montana was the largest of any Republican presidential candidate in the last five elections. Though Heitkamp has tried to show her independence by saying she has voted with Trump 50% of the time, she voted against Kavanaugh. Cramer, an anti-abortion, anti-Obamacare candidate heartily endorsed by Trump, is pouncing on Heitkamp’s votes against Kavanaugh and last year’s tax bill as evidence that she is voting along party lines. And of course, he’s doing everything he can to make voters associate Heitkamp with Hillary Clinton, including - and I wish I was kidding - literally merging their faces in a TV ad and calling them “Heidary Clintkamp.” Yea…someone paid money for that creativity.

    Finally, for anyone who is already registered to vote or thinks they are, please, please, please take a few seconds today to confirm your registration. Voter purging is happening across the country and the sooner you know there is an issue, the better your chance of getting it corrected before election day. Visit HeadCount.org to quickly be directed to your state’s specific website to confirm your voter registration. If there is a problem, contact 866-OUR-VOTE to report the problem and get guidance ASAP.

    So, if making the Blue Wave a reality in November is important to you, be sure to hit the share buttons to spread the word about supporting Democrats in battleground races across the country via social media so that others in your network can spread the word too.

     

     

    THE MIDTERMS MINUTE

    REGISTER TO VOTE: RocktheVote.org/register-to-vote/

    CONFIRM VOTER REGISTRATION: HeadCount.org/verify-voter-registration/

    CHECK VOTING DATES & POLICIES: RocktheVote.org/voting-information/

    VOTER ID INFO/HELP: VoteRiders & 866ourvote.org

    Get Involved/Resources: THE MIDTERMS MINUTE H.Q.

    TOSS UP BATTLEGROUND DEMOCRATIC SENATE SEATS 

    FL-Sen: Bill Nelson (D) 

    IN-Sen: Joe Donnelly (D)

    MO-Sen: Claire McCaskill (D)

    MT-Sen: Jon Tester (D)

    ND-Sen: Heidi Heitkamp (D)

     

    Posted October 16th, 2018; Researched & Written by Best of the Left Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman

    Hear the segment in the context of Best of the Left Edition #1219: How the GOP became the most destructive force in the world ​

  • THE MIDTERMS MINUTE: AZ, NV, TN & TX: Flip These Toss Up Battleground Senate Seats!

    MIDTERMS_MINUTE_IMAGE_FINAL.pngThe Midterms Minute is a look at the candidates and races in battleground districts that you need to know about, shout about and support to make the biggest impact possible in the election on November 6th.

    As of the release date of episode #1218, we are 25 days out from election day. That’s less than 4 weeks to help candidates campaign. That’s just 4 weekends of volunteering. It’s October and state voter registration deadlines are quickly passing, so if you are still not registered, or know someone who is putting it off, make that your first priority.

    Because we’re running short on time, for the next few weeks we are only going to highlight on air the battleground races that are considered toss ups. However, we will still provide information for ALL of the battleground races in the show notes and at The Midterms Minute H.Q..

    Today, we’re just going to focus on the flippable, toss up, battleground races for the Senate that we haven’t covered yet. As a quick overview, 35 of the 100 Senate seats are up this November, including two special elections. Democrats are defending 26 seats, 10 of which are in states Trump won. They must retain all 10 of those Senate seats and pick up at least 2 more to take the Senate and though do-able, it’s not going to be easy.

    ARIZONA: We’ll start with Arizona, where Republican Jeff Flake’s Senate seat is open and entirely in play for Democrats. In fact, it might be Democrat’s best shot at picking up a seat. Since Flake decided to screw over the entire country for decades by voting for Kavanaugh before leaving congress, it’ll feel extra good to flip his vacated Senate seat. Arizona’s ninth district Democratic Representative Kyrsten Sinema is facing Arizona’s 2nd district Republican Representative Martha McSally. McSally is trying to paint Sinema as anti-military because she participated in anti-war protests after nine eleven. As of early September, Sinema has a slight lead in the majority of polls, but this race is still a toss up and a win requires Democratic latino voters to turn out in full force.

    NEVADA: Next-door in Nevada, Republican incumbent Senator Dean Heller is facing a challenge from Democratic Representative Jacky Rosen. This seat is in play because Nevada has the one Senate seat Republicans are trying to defend in a state Clinton won. The polls currently show Heller and Rosen tied, with Rosen leading within the margin of error. Trump is backing Heller and even held a rally for him last month in Las Vegas, while Heller tries to frame himself as very bipartisan. Rosen has nicknamed Heller “Senator Spineless” and called him out for cracking under GOP party pressure and voting for the Obamacare repeal bill. Heller also voted for Kavanaugh, and Rosen - a woman - is not about to let any voter forget that. The race is rated a toss up.

    TENNESSEE: After voting for Kavanaugh and pretty much everything else on Trump’s agenda, Tennessee Senator Bob Corker is finally going away. In this open seat race, former Democratic Governor Phil Bredesen is facing horror show Republican Representative Marsha Blackburn. The outside money flowing in has been gigantic, with Blackburn getting the majority. We don’t have time to highlight all the terrible things Blackburn has said and done while in the House, so I think all we have to say is that she is aligned with Trump on absolutely every thing and might like the idea of a border wall even more than he does. Bredesen is down in about half the polls and The Cook Political Report has rated this race a toss up.

    TEXAS: Moving on now to Texas, where we finally have a real shot at not having to look at or listen to Ted Cruz anymore. Wouldn’t that be nice? Democratic Representative Beto O’Rourke is a strong challenger who has been able to raise significant money and grab the national spotlight. Despite that though, O’Rourke is down in the latest polls by 5 to 9 percentage points. Cruz has been grasping at straws to try to damage O’Rourke’s image. His latest attempt was twisting O’Rourke’s completely valid criticisms of our criminal justice system to call him “divisive and dangerous.” But this is still a toss up race.

    Finally, for anyone who is already registered to vote or thinks they are, please, please, please take a few seconds today to confirm your registration. Voter purging is happening across the country and the sooner you know there is an issue, the better your chance of getting it corrected before election day. Visit HeadCount.org to quickly be directed to your state’s specific website to confirm your voter registration. If there is a problem, contact 866-OUR-VOTE to report the problem and get guidance ASAP.

    So, if making the Blue Wave a reality in November is important to you, be sure to hit the share buttons to spread the word about supporting Democrats in battleground races across the country via social media so that others in your network can spread the word too.

     

    THE MIDTERMS MINUTE 

    REGISTER TO VOTE: RocktheVote.org/register-to-vote/

    CONFIRM VOTER REGISTRATION: HeadCount.org/verify-voter-registration/

    CHECK VOTING DATES & POLICIES: RocktheVote.org/voting-information/

    VOTER ID INFO/HELP: VoteRiders & 866ourvote.org

    Get Involved/Resources: THE MIDTERMS MINUTE H.Q.

    FLIPPABLE TOSS UP BATTLEGROUND SENATE SEATS

    AZ-Sen: Kyrsten Sinema (D) 

    NV-Sen: Jacky Rosen (D)

    TN-Sen: Phil Bredesen (D)

    TX-Sen: Beto O'Rourke (D)

     

    Posted October 12th, 2018; Researched & Written by Best of the Left Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman

    Hear the segment in the context of Best of the Left Edition #1218: Kavanaugh forced upon America (Supreme Court)

  • THE MIDTERMS MINUTE: Illinois’ Battleground Races!

    MIDTERMS_MINUTE_IMAGE_FINAL.pngThe Midterms Minute is a look at the candidates and races in battleground districts that you need to know about, shout about and support to make the biggest impact possible in the election on November 6th. (Quick links at bottom of the page)

    Check out The Midterms Minute H.Q. at bestoftheleft.com/midterms to view every battleground spotlight segment we've produced, every battleground race in the country, all of the Justice Democrats, Brand New Congress and Our Revolution candidates running in November, volunteer resources, and more. 

    Today, we’re going to talk about the battleground races in Illinois, where all of the competitive seats are currently held by Republicans. Illinois has been identified by the political wonks as one of the five states that will help determine the House majority. Clinton won the state in 2016 with 55.8 percent of the vote to Trump’s 38.8.

    IL-06: In Illinois’ 6th district, which includes Chicago suburbs, Democratic energy executive Sean Casten is challenging Republican incumbent Peter Roskam. Though Casten comes from the energy sector, he says he wants to use that experience to create clean energy jobs for the economy and the environment. And he has some cred to back that up, as the co-founder of Recycled Energy Development, a company aiming to profitably reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This district is competitive this year because of Trump’s unpopularity in the Chicago suburbs and the fact that Trump lost here by 7 points. The race is currently rated by The Cook Political Report as a toss up. HELP FLIP IL-06!

    IL-12: In Illinois’ 12th district, Democrat and St. Clair County state's attorney Brendan Kelly is challenging Republican incumbent Mike Bost. Kelly’s campaign message is focused on reducing the role of money in politics to restore faith in democracy in southern Illinois. Until Bost’s win in 2015, this district had voted for a Democrat consistently since 1993. Trump surged here, but the race is competitive because of its Democratic history and because Democrats have put up a strong candidate this year. The latest polling has Kelly tied with Bost and the race is currently considered a toss up. HELP FLIP IL-12!

    IL-13: In Illinois’ 13th district, Democrat Betsy Dirksen Londrigan is challenging Republican incumbent Rodney Davis, who was first elected in 2012. Rodney is apparently still proud that he voted for the inhumane Trumpcare bill of 2017 and seems to think his wife - who had cancer - would still have been able to get coverage. Sure, maybe the Davis family could afford the astronomical Trumpcare premiums with their Congressional subsidy, but millions of other cancer patients would’ve been shit out of luck. Trump only squeaked by with a win in this district and the surge of engaged college students in the area could flip this seat for Democrats. However, right now, the race is leaning republican. HELP FLIP IL-13!

    IL-14: In Illinois’ 14th district, Democrat Lauren Underwood is challenging Republican incumbent Randy Hultgren, one of the more than 100 Republicans who voted against the Violence Against Women Act. Underwood is a registered nurse who served as a senior policy advisor to HHS under Obama. She is the first woman to have the Democratic nomination for her district and, at 32, she is the youngest black woman running for congress this year. If Democrats look like they are going to win this race on election night, that could be a sign that they are going to have a good night elsewhere. Trump won this district, but it’s a district with an urban-rural divide. Underwood is only down by 4 percent in the polls, but the race is currently rated as leaning republican. HELP FLIP IL-14!

    GOVERNOR: Illinois’ race for governor is on track to break a spending record set by the 2010 California gubernatorial race. Democratic philanthropist J.B. Pritzker is trying to unseat Republican incumbent Governor Bruce Rauner. Both candidates have self-funded campaigns. Rauner is using the upcoming 2020 redistricting process to try to inspire Republican voters, promising a state-wide Democratic takeover if they don’t show up for him. The race is currently leaning Democratic. HELP ELECT GOV. PRITZKER!

    IMPORTANT DATES: To vote in the Midterm Elections in Illinois you must be registered by October 9th, or have registered online by October 21st. There are also registration grace periods in Illinois, but if you don’t have to wait, don’t.

    It’s never too early to check registration cut off dates and absentee ballot request and submission dates in your own state. We highly suggest reviewing your state’s important dates and voter ID laws at rockthevote.org as soon as possible to ensure you will be able to vote in the general election.

    So, if making the Blue Wave a reality in November is important to you, be sure to hit the share buttons to spread the word about supporting Democrats in battleground races across the country via social media so that others in your network can spread the word too.

     

     

    THE MIDTERMS MINUTE (Quick Links)

    REGISTER TO VOTE: RocktheVote.org/register-to-vote/

    CONFIRM VOTER REGISTRATION: RocktheVote.org/resources/am-i-registered-to-vote/

    CHECK VOTING DATES & POLICIES: RocktheVote.org/voting-information/

    VOTER ID INFO/HELP: VoteRiders & 866ourvote.org

    Get Involved/Resources: THE MIDTERMS MINUTE H.Q.

    ILLINOIS BATTLEGROUNDS:

    Illinois Democratic Party

    IL Important Dates: Registered by October 9th, or have registered online by October 21st. There are also registration grace periods, but if you don’t have to wait, don’t. *More IL voting details* 

    U.S. HOUSE

    IL-06: Sean Casten

    Swing Left IL-06 | Red to Blue IL-06

    IL-12: Brendan Kelly

    Swing Left IL-12 | Red to Blue IL-12

    IL-13: Betsy Dirksen Londrigan

    Red to Blue IL-13

    IL-14: Lauren Underwood

    Swing Left IL-14 | Red to Blue IL-14

    GOV & LT GOV

    J.B. Pritzker & Juliana Stratton

     

    Posted October 2nd, 2018; Researched & Written by Best of the Left Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman

    Hear the segment in the context of Best of the Left Edition #1215: Demonizing welfare to divide and conquer 

     

  • THE MIDTERMS MINUTE: Minnesota’s Battleground Races!

    MIDTERMS_MINUTE_IMAGE_FINAL.pngThe Midterms Minute is a look at the candidates and races that you need to know about, shout about and support to make sure we have a blue tsunami on November 6th. (Quick links at bottom of the page)

    The primaries are over, the candidates are set and now it’s time to focus on the big picture fight. Everything we do between now and election day should be done while keeping the most vulnerable and disenfranchised among us in mind.

    We’ve included links to volunteer resources in the show notes, as well as those for Swing Left and the Democratic Party’s Red to Blue program for the races we’ll be mentioning today so you know how to help. You can also view all of our spotlight segments and every battleground race at THE MIDTERMS MINUTE H.Q..

    Today, we’re talking about the battleground races in Minnesota. Although Clinton won Minnesota, it was only by 1.5 percent. With the highest voter turnout in the country, it was the closest Presidential election in the state since 1984 and the first time the state had ever voted more Republican than the national average. There are only eight districts in Minnesota, but five of them are battlegrounds this year, making it one of the five states that will decide the majority in the House.

    U.S. SENATE: But Minnesota also has a hotly contested Senate race this year to fill Al Franken’s seat. Lieutenant Governor and Democrat Tina Smith was appointed to fill the vacancy when Franken stepped down after misconduct allegations. Smith will now face Republican Karen Housley in a special election this November. The Cook Political Report has rated this race as leaning Democratic.

    U.S. HOUSE

    MN-01: In Minnesota’s first district, Democrat Tim Walz is not seeking re-election because he is running for Governor. Now, former Obama administration official and Democrat Dan Feehan will be facing Republican Jim Hagedorn, who is working hard to scare voters by calling Feehan a “radical leftist” for “socialized medicine.” Obama won here by 2 points in 2012, but Trump surged to win by 15 points in 2016. The Republicans are targeting this district and the race is considered a toss up. HELP KEEP MN-01!

    MN-02: In Minnesota’s second district, Democrat Angie Craig faces freshman Republican incumbent Jason Lewis for the second time. The two faced each other in the 2016 election in which Lewis won by just 2 percentage points. Lewis has been called out for sexist and racist statements made on his radio show in 2012, but excused them by saying it was his job to be provocative. The district is extremely competitive, since Obama just barely won here in 2012 and Trump just barely won here in 2016. So it’s no surprise this race is rated as a toss up. HELP FLIP MN-02!

    MN-03: In Minnesota’s third district, Businessman and Democrat Dean Phillips is facing Republican incumbent Erik Paulsen. Phillips has been endorsed by End Citizens United, while Paulsen has the support of Paul Ryan. Misleading GOP-funded attack ads are trying to paint Phillips as a hypocrite on healthcare despite reality. Clinton won this district by 10 points and it is currently rated as a toss up. HELP FLIP MN-03!

    MN-08: In Minnesota’s eighth district, Democratic incumbent Rick Nolan is not seeking re-election. Democrat and former state Rep. Joe Radinovich faces St. Louis County Commissioner Pete Stauber. In a recent New York Times poll, the race was neck-in-neck with Radinovich up by one percent. The GOP is also throwing big money at this race since Trump won the district. The race is currently rated a toss up. HELP KEEP MN-08!

    GOV: And finally, the race for Governor of Minnesota is also neck-in-neck for a seat last held by a Democrat. Democrat and former 1st district Rep. Tim Walz is facing Republican Jeff Johnson, who has been endorsed by Trump. In the previous ten gubernatorial elections in Minnesota, six have resulted in the seat changing party hands. This race is currently rated as leaning Democratic. HELP ELECT GOVERNOR WALZ!

    IMPORTANT DATES: If you want to vote in the Minnesota Midterm Elections your online and paper registration must be received by Tuesday, October 16th. Minnesota does offer election day registration and voting, but if you don’t have to wait…don’t. Absentee ballot requests should be made by Monday, November 5th and completed ballots must be received by election day, November 6th.

    It’s never too early to check registration cut off dates and absentee ballot request and submission dates in your own state. We highly suggest reviewing your state’s important dates and voter ID laws at rockthevote.org as soon as possible to ensure you will be able to vote in the general election.

    So, if making the Blue Wave a reality in November is important to you, be sure to hit the share buttons to spread the word about supporting Democrats in battleground races across the country via social media so that others in your network can spread the word too.

     

    THE MIDTERMS MINUTE (Quick Links)

    REGISTER TO VOTE: RocktheVote.org/register-to-vote/

    CONFIRM VOTER REGISTRATION: RocktheVote.org/resources/am-i-registered-to-vote/

    CHECK VOTING DATES & POLICIES: RocktheVote.org/voting-information/

    VOTER ID INFO/HELP: VoteRiders & 866ourvote.org

    Get Involved:

    Swing Left (Help flip districts from anywhere) 

    Red to Blue (DCCC program to flip seats) 

    When We All Vote (Michelle Obama’s initiative) 

    Voter Circle (friend-to-friend outreach tool) 

    Vote Forward (mail letters to unlikely voters)

    Volunteer for Democrats 

    Abroad? Phone bank for Democrats  

    Let America Vote (voting rights focus) 

    Justice Democrats “Justice Dialer”

    Brand New Congress GOTV Dialer 

    National Democratic Redistricting Committee 

    Easily donate to candidates with DownTicket.com on your mobile browser. 

    “15 Ways to Help a Campaign Win Their Election” (Political Charge) 

    MINNESOTA BATTLEGROUNDS:

    Minnesota DFL

    Important Dates: If you want to vote in the Minnesota Midterm Elections your online and paper registration must be received by October 16th. Minnesota does offer election day registration and voting, but if you don’t have to wait…don’t. Absentee ballot requests should be made by Monday, November 5th and completed ballots must be received by election day, November 6th. *More MN voting details*

    U.S. SENATE 

    Must Retain Seat: Tina Smith (D - incumbent)

    U.S. HOUSE

    MN-01: Dan Feehan 

    Swing Left MN-01 | Red to Blue MN-01

    MN-02: Angie Craig 

    Swing Left MN-02 | Red to Blue MN-02

    MN-03: Dean Phillips 

    Swing Left MN-03 | Red to Blue MN-03

    MN-08: Joe Radinovich 

    Swing Left MN-08 | Red to Blue MN-08

    GOVERNOR:

    GOV: Tim Walz (D) 

     

    Posted September 21, 2018; Researched & Written by Best of the Left Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman

    Hear the segment in the context of Best of the Left Edition #1212: Feudalism with Dinner (Our Culture of Tipping)

     

     

  • THE MIDTERMS MINUTE: Florida’s Battleground Races!

    MIDTERMS_MINUTE_IMAGE_FINAL.pngThe Midterms Minute is a look at the candidates and races that you need to know about, shout about and support to make sure we have a blue tsunami on November 6th. (Quick links at bottom of page)

    The primaries are over, the candidates are set and now it’s time to focus on the big picture fight. Everything we do between now and election day should be done while keeping the most vulnerable and disenfranchised among us in mind.

    We’ve included volunteer links and resources in the show notes, including the specific Swing Left and the Democratic Party’s Red to Blue pages for the races we’ll be mentioning today so that you know how to help. You can also view all of our spotlight segments and every battleground race at THE MIDTERMS MINUTE H.Q..

    Today, we’re talking about the battleground races in Florida, where the lead up to the midterms is already proving to be brutal. Trump only won Florida by 1.2% and the state includes four “pivot counties” - counties that voted for Obama in 2008 and 2012, but went for Trump in 2016. Democrats are counting on some "Trump Regret" votes this November.

    U.S. SENATE: In the Senate, Democratic incumbent Bill Nelson is facing Republican and Florida Governor Rick Scott. Although Nelson won his second term by 13 points in 2012, this race is considered a battleground and currently rated a toss up. As a reminder, the Democrats must retain all ten battleground Senate seats and pick up two additional seats from Republicans to take the Senate.

    Moving on now to the House races.

    FL-15:  Florida’s 15th district is an open seat race, after Republican incumbent Dennis Ross did not seek re-election. Democrat and attorney Kristen Carlson is facing Republican and state Rep. Ross Spano. The latest poll shows the two candidates in a tight race, with Carlson narrowly leading. Trump won this district and it is currently rated as leaning Republican. HELP FLIP FL-15!

    FL-16: In Florida’s 16th district, Democrat David Shapiro will face Republican incumbent Vern Buchanan. Trump won here by a slim margin. Before the primaries were over, Buchanan was already running attack ads against Shapiro about his questionable investments. And while they do raise questions that Shapiro should answer, Buchanan’s horrifying voting record and large campaign contributions from the gun lobby, oil industry, and pharmaceutical industry are more concerning. This race is currently rated as leaning Republican. HELP FLIP FL-16!

    FL-18: In Florida’s 18th district, Democrat Lauren Baer, a former U.S. State Department advisor under Obama, is facing Republican incumbent Brian Mast, an Army veteran who lost both of his legs in Afghanistan. The race is drawing national attention. Trump won this district by a slim margin and it is currently rated as leaning Republican. HELP FLIP FL-18!

    FL-26: In Florida’s 26th district, which includes Miami, Democrat and Ecuadorian immigrant Debbie Mucarsel-Powell won her primary. She will now face Republican incumbent Carlos Curbelo, who is currently running ads portraying himself as a champion of Dreamers, while simultaneously making excuses for Trump’s family separation at the border. Even though Curbelo won re-election in 2014 by 12 points, this district went blue in both of the last two presidential elections, with Clinton winning by 16 points. The two candidates are currently neck-in-neck in the polls, but the latest Cook Political Report rating has moved this race from a toss up to leaning Republican. HELP FLIP FL-26!

    FL-27: Florida’s 27th is an open seat race after Republican Ileana Ros-Lehtinenn, who was first elected in 1988, announced she was not seeking re-election. Former Health and Human Services Secretary, Democrat Donna Shalala, is now facing a three-way race between Republican and broadcast journalist Maria Elvira Salazar and Independent Mayra Joli. Clinton won this district and the New York Times has called this race Democrats best pickup opportunity in the country. The race currently rated as leaning Democratic. HELP FLIP FL-27!

    GOV: And finally, in a thrilling upset, Bernie Sanders-endorsed, and Tallahassee Mayor, Andrew Gillum, won the Democratic primary for Governor in Florida. If he wins in November, Gillum will be the first black Governor of Florida, a state with one of the largest African American populations in the country. Now, he faces Republican and former Rep. Ron DeSantis, who the day after the primary began lobbing very audible, racist dog whistles. After calling Gillum “articulate,” DeSantis went on to say, “The last thing we need to do is to monkey this up by trying to embrace a socialist agenda with huge tax increases and bankrupting the state.” The race is rated as a toss up. HELP ELECT GOV. GILLUM!

    IMPORTANT DATES: To vote in the Florida Midterm Elections, you need to be registered to vote by Tuesday, October 9th. For most counties in Florida, absentee ballot requests must be made in person six days before election day. Some counties allow you to order the ballot online. All absentee ballots must be received by 7pm on election day. Early voting begins October 27th and ends November 3rd.

    It’s never too early to check registration cut off dates and absentee ballot request and submission dates in your own state. We highly suggest reviewing your state’s important dates and voter ID laws at rockthevote.org as soon as possible to ensure you will be able to vote in the general election.

    So, if making the Blue Wave a reality in November is important to you, be sure to hit the share buttons to spread the word about supporting Democrats in battleground races across the country via social media so that others in your network can spread the word too.

     

     

    THE MIDTERMS MINUTE:

    REGISTER TO VOTE: RocktheVote.org/register-to-vote/

    CONFIRM VOTER REGISTRATION: RocktheVote.org/resources/am-i-registered-to-vote/

    CHECK VOTING DATES & POLICIES: RocktheVote.org/voting-information/

    VOTER ID INFO/HELP: VoteRiders & 866ourvote.org

    Get Involved:

    Swing Left (Help flip districts from anywhere) 

    Red to Blue (DCCC program to flip seats) 

    When We All Vote (Michelle Obama’s initiative) 

    Voter Circle (friend-to-friend outreach tool) 

    Vote Forward (mail letters to unlikely voters)

    Volunteer for Democrats 

    Abroad? Phone bank for Democrats  

    Let America Vote (voting rights focus) 

    Justice Democrats “Justice Dialer”

    Brand New Congress GOTV Dialer 

    National Democratic Redistricting Committee 

    Easily donate to candidates with DownTicket.com on your mobile browser. 

    “15 Ways to Help a Campaign Win Their Election” (Political Charge) 

    FLORIDA'S BATTLEGROUNDS:

    Florida Democratic Party

    Important Dates: Must be registered by Tuesday, Oct. 9th. Most absentee ballot requests must be made in person 6 days before election day (some counties online). Absentee ballots must be received by 7pm on election day. Early voting begins Oct. 27th-Nov. 3rd. *More details on voting in Florida*

    U.S. SENATE 

    Must Retain Seat: Bill Nelson (D - incumbent)

    U.S. HOUSE

    FL-15: Kristen Carlson 

    Swing Left FL-15 

    FL-16: David Shapiro 

    Red to Blue FL-16

    FL-18: Lauren Baer 

    Swing Left FL-18 | Red to Blue FL-18

    FL-26: Debbie Mucarsel-Powell 

    Swing Left FL-26 | Red to Blue FL-26

    FL-27: Donna Shalala 

    (No Swing Left or Red to Blue page available for FL-27)

    GOVERNOR:

    GOV: Andrew Gillum 

    Sources: Ballotpedia; NBC News; Swing Left

     

    Posted September 18, 2018; Researched & Written by Best of the Left Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman

    Hear the segment in the context of Best of the Left Edition #1211: Corporate Monopoly and Political Power 

     

  • THE MIDTERMS MINUTE: Pennsylvania’s Battleground Races!

    MIDTERMS_MINUTE_IMAGE_FINAL.pngThe Midterms Minute is a look at the candidates and races that you need to know about, shout about and support to make sure we have a blue tsunami on November 6th.

    The primaries are over, the candidates are set and now it’s time to focus on the big picture. Democrats across the country, spanning the left side of the political spectrum, need to win and they need to win big in many cases to overcome gerrymandering. Everything we do between now and election day should be done while keeping the most vulnerable and disenfranchised among us in mind.

    So if you haven’t yet, take a moment today to figure out how you are going to make a difference in these historic and critical midterm elections. We’ve included volunteer links and resources in the notes at the bottom of the page, including the specific Swing Left and the Democratic Party's Red to Blue pages for the districts we’ll be mentioning today.

    Right up until election day, we are going to be highlighting the battleground races for the U.S. Senate, House and governorships, so that you know where your help and donations are needed most. You can also view all of our spotlight segments and every battleground race at THE MIDTERMS MINUTE H.Q..

    PENNSYLVANIA BATTLEGROUNDS

    Today, we’re talking about Pennsylvania, where the district lines were actually redrawn in February after the state’s supreme court ruled that they were illegally partisan. This was a huge win against gerrymandering and the new map gives Democrats a much better chance at picking up critical House seats in November. Pennsylvania is also one of five states with the biggest impact on the House majority and has a number of open seat races where incumbents aren’t seeking re-election. Incumbents are tough to beat, so this is more good news in a swingy state.

    U.S. HOUSE:

    PA-01 - In Pennsylvania’s 1st district, philanthropist Democrat Scott Wallace is facing semi-moderate Republican incumbent Brian Fitzpatrick, who has landed labor union endorsements. This district includes Bucks County, a suburb of Philadelphia where Clinton won by just one point. The race is currently rated by The Cook Political Report as leaning Republican.

    PA-05 - Pennsylvania’s 5th district is one of those Republican open seat districts where Clinton won. Democrat Mary Gay Scanlon faces Republican nominee Pearl Kim in November. As of right now, this new 5th district seat is rated as likely going to the Democrat. These candidates are simultaneously squaring off in a special election for the state’s old 7th district after Pat Meehan resigned over sexual harassment allegations.

    PA-06 - Pennsylvania’s 6th district also has an empty formerly Republican seat. Democrat Chrissy Houlahan is facing Republican Greg McCauley. Clinton won here by more than 9% and the race is currently rated as likely Democratic.

    PA-07 - Pennsylvania’s 7th district is the third open seat battleground race in the state. Democrat Susan Wild is facing Republican Marty Nothstein, who was recently accused of sexual misconduct. Clinton squeaked by with a win here and the race is currently rated as leaning toward the Democrat.

    Pennsylvania is also home to two battleground districts where Trump won, but Democrats have a shot.

    PA-17 - Democrat Connor Lamb won the special election for the Pennsylvania’s old 18th district in March by just 600 votes. But after the court’s redistricting, Lamb is now running to win in Pennsylvania’s newly drawn 17th district. His opponent, Republican Keith Rothfus, is also an incumbent from a redrawn district. Trump only won here by 2.6 percentage points and most ratings consider this race a toss up.

    PA-16 - In Pennsylvania’s 16th district Democrat Ron DiNicola is facing Republican incumbent Mike Kelly. Trump won this district by 20 points, but Romney only won here by 5 points in 2012, which is why the race is rated as just likely Republican. It’ll be tough, but a win is possible.

    U.S. SENATE & GOVERNOR:

    And finally, it’s worth noting that Pennsylvania Democratic incumbent Senator Bob Casey is up for his third term in November and has drawn the ire of Trump. His opponent is Republican Rep. Lou Barletta, who was on Trump’s transition team and whose voting record is a horror show. Pennsylvania’s Democratic incumbent Governor Tom Wolf is also up for re-election this year and his Trumpian opponent is thankfully a long shot. Both Wolf and Casey should be safe, but I think we’ve all learned by now to take nothing for granted.

    IMPORTANT DATES: To vote in the Pennsylvania Midterm Elections, you need to be registered to vote by October 9th. Absentee ballot requests must be made by October 30th and ballots must be received by November 2nd. Early voting is NOT available in Pennsylvania.

    As for your own state, it’s never too early to check registration cut off dates and absentee ballot request and submission dates. We highly suggest reviewing your state’s important dates and voter ID laws at rock the vote dot org as soon as possible to ensure you will be able to vote in the general election.

    So, if making the Blue Wave a reality in November is important to you, be sure to hit the share buttons to spread the word about supporting Democrats in battleground races across the country via social media so that others in your network can spread the word too.

     

     

    THE MIDTERMS MINUTE (Quick Links):

    REGISTER TO VOTE: RocktheVote.org/register-to-vote/

    CONFIRM VOTER REGISTRATION: RocktheVote.org/resources/am-i-registered-to-vote/

    CHECK VOTING DATES & POLICIES: RocktheVote.org/voting-information/

    VOTER ID INFO/HELP: VoteRiders & 866ourvote.org

    Get Involved:

    Swing Left (Help flip districts from anywhere) 

    Red to Blue (DCCC program to flip seats) 

    When We All Vote (Michelle Obama’s initiative) 

    Voter Circle (friend-to-friend outreach tool) 

    Vote Forward (mail letters to unlikely voters)

    Volunteer for Democrats 

    Abroad? Phone bank for Democrats  

    Let America Vote (voting rights focus) 

    Justice Democrats “Justice Dialer”

    Brand New Congress GOTV Dialer 

    National Democratic Redistricting Committee 

    Easily donate to candidates with DownTicket.com on your mobile browser. 

    “15 Ways to Help a Campaign Win Their Election” (Political Charge) 

    PENNSYLVANIA BATTLEGROUNDS:

    Pennsylvania Democratic Party

    Important Dates: Must be registered to vote by October 9th. Absentee ballot requests made by October 30th and received by November 2nd. Early voting NOT available.

    U.S. HOUSE

    PA-01 - Scott Wallace 

    Swing Left PA-01  |  Red to Blue PA-01

    PA-05 - Mary Gay Scanlon 

    (no Swing Left or Red to Blue page)

    PA-06 - Chrissy Houlahan 

    Swing Left PA-06  |  Red to Blue PA-06

    PA-07 - Susan Wild 

    Swing Left PA-07  |  Red to Blue PA-07

    PA-17 - Connor Lamb 

    Swing Left PA-17

    PA-16 - Ron DiNicola 

    Red to Blue PA-16

    “SAFE” BUT MUST RETAIN:

    U.S. SENATE - Bob Casey (D - incumbent)

    GOVERNOR - Tom Wolf (D - incumbent) 

    FURTHER PA MIDTERMS READING:

    What Pennsylvania’s new congressional map means for 2018 (Vox)

    These 6 Pennsylvania Democratic nominees are key to the battle for House control (Vox)

    5 States That Will Decide the House Majority (Roll Call)

    Pennsylvania voters prefer Democrats for Congress after choosing Trump in 2016: NBC/Marist poll (CNBC)

     

    Posted September 14, 2018; Researched & Written by Best of the Left Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman

    Hear the segment in the context of Best of the Left Edition #1210: Brett Kavanaugh and the Imperial Presidency (Supreme Court)

     

     

  • THE MIDTERMS MINUTE: California’s Battleground Races!

    MIDTERMS_MINUTE_IMAGE_FINAL.pngThe Midterms Minute is a look at the candidates and races that you need to know about, shout about and support to make sure we have a blue tsunami on November 6th.

    This is it folks. The 2018 Midterm Elections are almost here and the outcome will change our country for decades to come. And with that weight on our shoulders, let’s take a minute to remind ourselves of something: The primaries are over. The candidates are set, and we can feel good knowing that many new progressive faces are among them. The disagreements and in-fighting amongst the left will always be there, but right now, we have to focus on the bigger picture.

    Now is the time to volunteer, get out the vote, canvass, call, text and email while keeping the most vulnerable among us in mind, especially those who face Republican imposed barriers to casting their vote on election day. Democrats across the country, spanning the left side of the political spectrum, need to win and they need to win big to overcome gerrymandering. There is just no other way to look at this.

    So take a moment today to figure out how you are going to make a difference in these historic and critical midterm elections. Whether it is helping people get registered, volunteering to drive people to the polls, helping someone get the necessary form of ID, canvassing and calling on behalf of candidates, or all of the above. We all have a role to play and I know none of us want to wake up on November 7th and feel like we should have done more.

    For the next two months, in every show, we are going to highlight the battleground races in the U.S. Senate and House so that you know where your help and donations are needed most. You can also view all of our spotlight segments and every battleground race at THE MIDTERMS MINUTE H.Q..

    We’re starting with CALIFORNIA where there is actually still one race impacting the heart of the Democratic party.

    U.S. SENATE: The way California’s elections work, Senator Diane Feinstein is facing a fellow Democrat this November. Kevin de Leon is a State Senator who is laser-focused on Medicare for All and tried to get it through the state Senate. Feinstein opposed it. In a surprise twist, De Leon is the one who secured the California Democratic Party endorsement.

    U.S. HOUSE: As for U.S. House seats, there are six California districts with Republican incumbents where Clinton won in 2016. Two of those are open seats. They are all considered battleground districts, with four considered toss up races according to the Cook Rating.

    CA-10th - In California’s 10th district, Democrat Josh Harder is facing Republican incumbent Jeff Denham. This is a diverse district and the race is being called a toss up. The Latino voter turnout, which usually plummets in midterm elections, is critical here.

    CA-25th - In California’s 25th district, Democrat Katie Hill is facing Republican incumbent Steve Knight. This race is also considered a toss up and Latino voter turnout here is again key.

    CA-39th - In California’s 39th district, which includes Orange County and part of Los Angeles, a long time Republican incumbent is not running for re-election. The Democrat in this race is Gil Cisneros and he faces Republican Young Kim. This race is considered a toss up, but the demographics have shifted dramatically in this district, meaning conservative Orange County may not carry as much weight this time around.

    CA-45th - In California’s 45th district, Democrat Katie Porter is facing Republican incumbent Mimi Walters. This is a white collar suburban district and this race is currently rated as leaning Republican.

    CA-48th - In California’s 48th district, Democrat Harley Rouda is facing Republican incumbent Dana Rohrabacher. This district is also considered white collar suburban, but this House race is considered a toss up.

    CA-49th - In California’s 49th district, Democrat Mike Levin will be facing Republican Diane Harkey in November. The district is currently leaning Democratic.

    Again, all of these Republican-held districts were won by Clinton in 2016 so they are obviously winnable with the right organizing and get-out-the-vote efforts.

    IMPORTANT DATES: To vote in the California Midterm Elections, you need to be registered to vote online, or have your physical application postmarked by, Monday October 22nd. Absentee ballot requests must be received by October 30th. Early voting dates vary by locality.

    As for your own state, it’s never too early to check registration cut off dates and absentee ballot request and submission dates. We highly suggest reviewing your state’s important dates and voter ID laws at rockthevote.org as soon as possible to ensure you will be able to vote in the general election.

    So, if making the Blue Wave a reality in November is important to you, be sure to hit the share buttons to spread the word about supporting Democrats in battleground races across the country via social media so that others in your network can spread the word too.

     

    THE MIDTERMS MINUTE (Quick Links)

    REGISTER TO VOTE: RocktheVote.org/register-to-vote/

    CONFIRM VOTER REGISTRATION: RocktheVote.org/resources/am-i-registered-to-vote/

    CHECK VOTING DATES & POLICIES: RocktheVote.org/voting-information/

    VOTER ID INFO/HELP: VoteRiders & 866ourvote.org

    GET INVOLVED:

    Swing Left (Help flip districts from anywhere) 

    Red to Blue (DCCC program to flip seats) 

    When We All Vote (Michelle Obama’s initiative) 

    Voter Circle (friend-to-friend outreach tool) 

    Vote Forward (mail letters to unlikely voters)

    Volunteer for Democrats 

    Abroad? Phone bank for Democrats  

    Let America Vote (voting rights focus) 

    Justice Democrats “Justice Dialer”

    Brand New Congress GOTV Dialer 

    National Democratic Redistricting Committee 

    Easily donate to candidates with DownTicket.com on your mobile browser. 

    “15 Ways to Help a Campaign Win Their Election” (Political Charge) 

    CALIFORNIA BATTLEGROUNDS (Note: List may vary by org or outlet):

    Important Dates: Must be registered/post marked by October 22nd (more info)

    Local Action: California Democratic Party https://www.cadem.org/take-action

    Push Left! U.S. Senate - Kevin de Leon (D Safe Seat)

    Flip CA-10th: Josh Harder 

    Swing Left: https://swingleft.org/district/CA-10

    Flip CA-25th: Katie Hill 

    Swing Left: https://swingleft.org/district/CA-25

    Flip CA-39th: Gil Cisneros 

    Swing Left: https://swingleft.org/district/CA-39

    Flip CA-45th: Katie Porter 

    Swing Left: https://swingleft.org/district/CA-45

    Flip CA-48th: Harley Rouda 

    Swing Left: https://swingleft.org/district/CA-48

    Flip CA-49th: Mike Levin 

    Swing Left: https://swingleft.org/district/CA-49

    Sources: Ballotpedia; NBC News; Swing Left

     

     

    Posted August 31, 2018; Researched & Written by Best of the Left Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman

    Hear the segment in the context of Best of the Left Edition #1209: Being part of the solution (How to argue your values)

     

  • THE MIDTERMS MINUTE (Primaries): Support Progressives in New Hampshire on 9/11 and Rhode Island on 9/12

    MIDTERMS_MINUTE_IMAGE_FINAL.pngThe Midterms Minute is a look at the candidates and races that you need to know about, shout about and support to make sure we have a blue tsunami on November 6th.

    With the exception of Louisiana, the Senate and House candidates for the Midterms are nearly set. We want to remind you that the Massachusetts primary is coming up on September 4th and Delaware primary is on September 6th. If you missed our spotlights on those states, head to best of the left dot com slash activism.

    You can still make a difference by getting involved, no matter what state you live in. Both Justice Democrats and Brand New Congress offer Get Out the Vote online calling and texting tools, with scripts on individual candidates, allowing you to talk to voters from the comfort of home. This is a great way to make a real impact. 

    Today, we’re going to talk about New Hampshire and Rhode Island.

    SEPTEMBER 11TH

    NEW HAMPSHIRE (Reg. Deadlines: Primary & General: Same day registration & voting (*see details); NO online registration)

    1st District: Brand New Congress candidate and New Hampshire state representative, Mindi Messemer, is running for congress in a Democratic primary field of 11 candidates. She’s one of only two candidates not taking special interest or PAC money. A former environmental scientist, her whistleblowing on cancer-causing water contamination from a landfill in her community and the difficult fight to address it lead her to run for State Rep. New Hampshire’s 1st district is known as a district that constantly swings and Trump only won the district by less than 2 percentage points. On the Republican side, two candidates are spending way more than they are taking in while duking it out over which one of them is the “Trumpiest.”

    Governor: New Hampshire’s Republican Chris Sununu is up for re-election this year. The Democrats vying to run against him in November are State Rep Molly Kelly and Portsmouth Mayor Steve Marchand. Both are focusing on Sununu’s hindering of the sate’s renewable energy industry. Neither Kelly nor Marchand are championing Medicare for All, but Kelly says health care is a right while healthcare is not an issue listed on Marchand’s website. Both are opposed to a major hydro project and natural gas pipeline project proposed in the state.

    Important Dates: New Hampshire voting is sadly restrictive. Unregistered voters can theoretically register in person and vote on primary day, but details vary by locality and required documents and voter ID laws apply. If you want to be registered before primary day, your physical registration form must be received 10 days head of the election since online voter registration is not available. We’ve included a link to a list of contact information for all New Hampshire Local Election Offices in the show notes for your convenience. If you plan to vote in the general, don’t wait to start this process.

    SEPTEMBER 12TH

    RHODE ISLAND (Reg. Deadlines: Primary: August 13th / General: Oct 9th)

    Governor: In the race for governor of Rhode Island, Justice Democrat and former Rhode Island Secretary of State Matt Brown is running to take the nomination away from the Democratic incumbent Gina Raimondo. Brown has entered the race to roll back Raimondo’s restrictions on abortion, end her corporate giveaways at the expense of locals, fight for Medicare for All, and build a sustainable local renewable energy economy. Brown is also co-founder of the Nobel Peace Prize nominated organization Global Zero, which works to reduce and eliminate nuclear weapons.

    Lieutenant Governor: As for Lieutenant Governor, Justice Democrat Aaron Regunberg is hoping to knock out incumbent Democrat Daniel McKee. Regunberg has endorsements from Rhode Island chapters of Our Revolution. Sierra Club, Planned Parenthood, Clean Water Action, and many more.

    Important Dates: The voter registration deadline to participate in the Rhode Island primary was August 13th. The deadline to vote in the general election is October 9th.

    We want to emphasize registration cut off dates and absentee ballot request and submission dates are different for each state, sometimes even each county. We highly suggest reviewing your state’s information, and voter ID laws, at rockthevote.org as soon as possible to ensure you will be able to vote in both the primary and general elections.

    So, if building the bluest of blue waves is important to you, be sure to hit the share buttons to spread the word about supporting progressive candidates across the country via social media so that others in your network can spread the word too.

     

    THE MIDTERMS MINUTE:

    *Reminder! Massachusetts on 9/4 & Delaware on 9/6*

    Check on candidates endorsed by Justice Democrats | Brand New Congress | DSA | Latino Victory | Our Revolution

    PHONE BANK with Justice Democrats “Justice Dialer”  & Brand New Congress GOTV Dialer & Voter Circle

    Check your state registration deadlines and voter ID laws with rockthevote.org

    For an easy way to donate to candidates, check out DownTicket.com on your mobile browser.

    “15 Ways to Help a Campaign Win Their Election” (Political Charge)

    SEPT. 11TH - NEW HAMPSHIRE

    NH Voter Info from Rock the Vote

    List of NH Election Offices

    1st district: Mindi Messemer 

    Governor: Molly Kelly vs. Steve Marchand  (Further Reading: NHPR | Concord Monitor)

    SEPT. 12TH - RHODE ISLAND

    RI Voter Info from Rock the Vote

    Governor: Matt Brown 

    Lt. Governor: Aaron Regunberg 

     

    Posted August 31, 2018; Written by Best of the Left Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman

    Hear the segment in the context of Best of the Left Edition #1206: The war on journalism, truth and democracy itself

     

  • THE MIDTERMS MINUTE (Primaries): Support Progressives in Massachusetts on 9/4 and Delaware on 9/6

    MIDTERMS_MINUTE_IMAGE_FINAL.pngThe Midterms Minute is a look at the candidates and races that you need to know about, shout about and support to make sure we have a blue tsunami on November 6th.

    We want to remind you that primaries in Arizona and Florida are right around the corner on August 28th. If you missed our spotlights on those states, head to our Activism portal or click the link in the previous sentence.

    You can make a difference in all remaining primaries by getting involved, no matter what state you live in. Both Justice Democrats and Brand New Congress offer Get Out the Vote online calling and texting tools, with scripts on individual candidates, allowing you to talk to voters from the comfort of home. This is a great way to make a real impact. 

    Today, we’re going to talk about Massachusetts, which holds its primary on September 4th, and Delaware, which will hold its primary two days later on September 6th.

    SEPTEMBER 4TH

    MASSACHUSETTS (Reg. Deadlines: Primaries - August 15th/ General - October 17th)

    3rd District: There is an extremely crowded field of Democrats in Massachusetts’ 3rd District, where Justice Democrat and Latino Victory candidate Juana Matias is running for congress. With the incumbent retiring, this is the first contested Democratic primary for the seat since 1994. Matias is currently a state representative and is running a grass roots campaign against establishment candidates with big money behind them.

    7th District: In Massachusetts’ 7th District, Boston City Councilor Ayanna Pressley is a Justice Democrat making waves. She is primarying incumbent Michael Capuano who, to be fair, is a life-long champion of progressive policies before they were mainstream and has held this House seat since 1998. Though they both believe in progressive ideals, the two have very different approaches to solutions and identifying root causes. A video of Pressley, who is black, in which she shares her thoughts on identity politics and representation during a recent debate, has gone viral. According to the Boston Globe, the 7th district is one of the most diverse and economically unequal in the state.

    Governor: When it comes to Governor, Massachusetts is one of those deep blue states that more often than not votes in a moderate Republican. Mitt Romney wasn’t the only one. Current Governor Charlie Baker is another moderate Republican up for reelection this year and he’s popular because he doesn’t often rock the boat with Democrats. But although he says he accepts climate science, he’s a big proponent of new fossil-fuel infrastructure. The people of Massachusetts have better options this year. One of them is Democrat Bob Massie, a lifelong national healthcare system advocate and climate activist who founded both the New Economy Coalition and the Sustainable Solutions Lab at UMass Boston. He recently received the endorsement of Our Revolution and Massachusetts Peace Action.

    Important Dates: To participate in the Massachusetts primary on September 6th, you must have been registered to vote by August 15th. Absentee ballot requests must be received by August 31st and ballots must be received by September 4th. If you aren’t registered yet, make sure you are registered by October 17th to participate in the general.

    September 6TH

    DELAWARE (Reg. Deadlines: Primaries - August 11th / General - October 13th)

    U.S. Senate: The Senate race in Delaware is a stark example of establishment vs. bold new progressive blood. Friend of big banks and incumbent Senator Tom Carper has held political office of some kind in Delaware since 1976, and he’s got an endorsement from Joe Biden. His primary opponent is Kerri Evelyn Harris, a Justice Democrat and and veteran with backing from Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez. Harris is running a low budget campaign funded by the people and is working hard to expose the myth that making corporations happy is good for the people. If she wins in November, she would be the first woman, first African-American, and first openly LGBT candidate to be a U.S. Senator for Delaware.

    Important Dates: To participate in the Delaware primary on September 4th, you must have been registered to vote by  August 11th. Absentee ballots must be requested by September 5th at noon and ballots must be received by September 6th at 8pm. If you aren’t registered, make sure you register by October 13th to vote in the general.

    We want to emphasize registration cut off dates and absentee ballot request and submission dates are different for each state, sometimes even each county. We highly suggest reviewing your state’s information, and voter ID laws, at rockthevote.org as soon as possible to ensure you will be able to vote in both the primary and general elections.

    So, if building the bluest of blue waves is important to you, be sure to hit the share buttons to spread the word about supporting progressive candidates across the country via social media so that others in your network can spread the word too.

     

    THE MIDTERMS MINUTE (Quick links!)

    Check on candidates endorsed by Justice Democrats | Brand New Congress | DSA | Latino Victory | Our Revolution

    Phone bank with Justice Democrats “Justice Dialer”  & Brand New Congress GOTV Dialer

    Check your state registration deadlines and voter ID laws with rockthevote.org

    For an easy way to donate to candidates, check out DownTicket.com on your mobile browser.

    “15 Ways to Help a Campaign Win Their Election” (Political Charge)

    SEPT. 4TH

    MASSACHUSETTS (Reg. Deadlines: Primaries - August 15th/ General - October 17th)

    3rd District: Juana Matias

    7th District: Ayanna Pressley (Further reading)

    Governor: Bob Massie (Voter Circle) (Further reading)

    SEPT. 6TH

    DELAWARE (Reg. Deadlines: Primaries - August 11th / General - October 13th)

    Senate: Kerri Evelyn Harris (Further reading)

     

    Posted August 25, 2018; Written by Best of the Left Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman

    Hear the segment in the context of Best of the Left Edition #1204: The past, present and future of international trade

     

     

  • THE MIDTERMS MINUTE (Primaries): Support Progressives in Alaska and Wyoming on 8/21

    MIDTERMS_MINUTE_IMAGE_FINAL.pngThe Midterms Minute is a look at the candidates and races that you need to know about, shout about and support to make sure we have a blue tsunami on November 6th.

    As we produced this episode, primaries wrapped up in four states where, altogether, thirteen Justice Democrats were vying for congressional and gubernatorial nominations. If you’re kicking yourself because you wish you’d taken more action to support progressive and liberal candidates in those primaries, time to double down.

    Hawaii’s primary is August 11th and primaries in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Connecticut and Vermont are on August 14th. Check out the links to our previous spotlights on the races in these states and then, whatever state you live in, take action. Both Justice Democrats and Brand New Congress offer Get Out the Vote online calling and texting tools, with scripts on individual candidates, allowing you to talk to primary voters from wherever you are. This is a great way to make a real impact. 

    Today, we’re going to talk about Alaska and Wyoming which both have primaries coming up on August 21st. Although these are states where Democrats, let alone progressives, don’t often thrive, there are a few candidates trying to change that this year.

    AUGUST 21st PRIMARIES:

    ALASKA

    Governor: Alaska’s current governor, former Republican and current Independent, Bill Walker, and his Democrat Lieutenant Governor are up for reelection this year. But former Senator Mark Begich, a solid Democrat, threw his hat in the ring, causing Walker to run as a petition candidate. This has created a three way race that could divide left-leaning voters and so things may get very ugly as Begich and Walker each try to knock each other out. In July, the expected Republican candidate had a 5 point lead on Walker. Begich has the voting record of a relative moderate, but Walker was a former oil and gas lawyer with a long GOP history. Begich’s running mate is Debra Call, an Alaska Native and former executive of multiple Alaska Native organizations. Unfortunately, all candidates - on both sides - support the sale of drilling leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. As with every race for governor, the national importance is that whoever holds the office will be involved in the state’s redistricting process following the 2020 Census.

    U.S. House At Large: Alaska’s sole congressional seat is currently held by anti-woman, anti-environment, anti-LGBT Republican Don Young, the longest serving member of Congress. The two viable candidates running for the Democratic nomination are both political newcomers. Progressive Democrat Dimitri Shein supports Improved Medicare for All, investments in renewable energy and his campaign does not accept corporate PAC contributions. Independent Alyse Galvin is a public schools advocate who supports investments in renewable energy and believes responsible natural resource development is possible, though she opposes the Pebble Mine Project.

    Important Dates: Alaska Democrats have an open primary, but your registration must have been received by July 22nd to participate. Early voting is going on right now and we’ve included the link to the early voting locations in the show notes. Mailed ballot requests must be received by August 11th. Absentee ballots must be requested by August 20th and completed ballots must be received by August 31st.

    WYOMING

    We turn now to Republican controlled Wyoming, where, believe it or not, the state Democratic Party is feeling optimistic. A few state legislative seats appear likely to swing to the Democrats and others are at least plausible pick ups.

    Governor: Wyoming’s current Governor, Republican Matt Mead, has reached his term limit and six climate science-denying GOPers are in a tight primary race for the nomination. But there is a clear frontrunner in the Democratic primary: former state representative, Mary Throne. She is the only candidate proposing the absolutely necessary tax increases to resolve Wyoming’s deficit after years of cuts by Mead. But unfortunately, she’s still pandering to Wyoming’s energy sector. Her opponents, Rex Wilde and Ken Casner, both lean more toward renewables. Wilde is advocating legalization of marijuana to increase tax revenue and tourism. Again, the national importance of governorships is that whoever holds the office will be involved in the state’s redistricting process in 2020.

    U.S. House At Large: Like Alaska, Wyoming has just one congressional seat for the whole state and its held by Liz Cheney, daughter of Dick Cheney. Cheney is up for reelection this year but facing two GOP primary opponents. The Democrats eyeing Cheney’s seat are Travis Helm and Greg Hunter. Hunter wants to expand Medicaid in the state in the short term and supports “Medicare for All” as the long term solution. But this guy is from Wyoming, so when it comes to guns, he only supports more stringent requirements for AR-15s, not any ban of any kind. Hunter used to be a Republican, but switched parties in 2003 after the invasion of Iraq. His opponent, Travis Helm, has a similar political transition story, supports a public, universal healthcare system and keeping public lands under federal control.

    Heads up! U.S. Senate: Wyoming’s Senate seat is also up for grabs this year, but Gary Trauner is the only Democratic candidate so he will move on to November. Six Republicans are running for the GOP nomination even though incumbent Republican John Barasso is running for reelection. So far, ninety-five percent of Barasso’s fundraising has come from outside the state.

    Important Dates: If you’re a Wyoming resident, your registration must have been received by August 6th to vote in the primary. However, Wyoming does offer election day registration and voting, so you have another chance. Absentee ballot requests must be requested by August 20th and completed ballots must be received by 7pm on August 21st.

    We want to emphasize registration cut off dates and absentee ballot request and submission dates are different for each state, sometimes even each county. We highly suggest reviewing your state’s information, and voter ID laws, at rockthevote.org as soon as possible to ensure you will be able to vote in both the primary and general elections.

    To check out our previous Midterms Minutes segments, go to BestoftheLeft.com/activism.

    So, if building the bluest of blue waves is important to you, be sure to hit the share buttons to spread the word about supporting progressive candidates across the country via social media so that others in your network can spread the word too.

     

    THE MIDTERMS MINUTE (QUICK LINKS):

    Check on candidates endorsed by Justice Democrats | Brand New Congress | DSA | Latino Victory | Our Revolution

    Phone bank with Justice Democrats “Justice Dialer”  & Brand New Congress GOTV Dialer

    Check your state registration deadlines and voter ID laws with rockthevote.org

    For an easy way to donate to candidates, check out DownTicket.com on your mobile browser.

    “15 Ways to Help a Campaign Win Their Election” (Political Charge)

    August 21st Primaries:

    ALASKA (Reg. Deadlines: Primary: July 22nd / General: Oct. 7th)

    Early voting happening now! Find locations 

    Governor - Mark Begich and Dana Call

    U.S. House At Large - Dimitri Shein (Dem) vs. Alyse Galvin (Ind)

    WYOMING (Reg. Deadlines: Primary: Aug. 6th or day-of in-person / General: Oct. 22nd)

    Governor: Mary Throne  vs. Ken Casper vs. Rex Wilde

    U.S. House At Large - Greg Hunter vs. Travis Helm

    Heads up for Nov. 6th! U.S. Senate - Gary Trauner (uncontested in primary)

     

    Posted August 7, 2018; Written by Best of the Left Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman

    Hear the segment in the context of Best of the Left Edition #1200: The Democratic autopsy and the progressive path forward

     

  • THE MIDTERMS MINUTE (Primaries): Support Progressives in Connecticut and Vermont (and MN and WI) on 8/14

    MIDTERMS_MINUTE_IMAGE_FINAL.pngWelcome to The Midterms Minute: a look at the candidates and races that you need to know about, shout about and support to make sure we have a blue tsunami on November 6th. (Quick links at bottom of the page.)

    In our last two segments, we spotlighted the Minnesota and Wisconsin primaries which are both happening on August 14th. If you missed those segments, check out our previous episodes or visit bestoftheleft.com/activism. Today, we’ll round out the August 14th primaries with spotlights on Connecticut and Vermont.

    AUGUST 14th: 

    CONNECTICUT (Reg. Deadlines - Primary: Online, mail, or in person by Thurs. Aug 9th / General: Oct. 30th)

    Governor: There is a competitive Democratic primary for governor in Connecticut. Businessman Ned Lamont is the state Working Families Party choice and is running on criminal justice reform and a $15 minimum wage. His opponent is currently mayor of Bridgeport, but previously went to jail for seven years after being convicted of extortion and bribery while in office. Lamont is polling neck-and-neck with the expected Republican nominee. Politico has called this a race to watch, because, as you may recall, governors elected this year will be involved in their states’ redistricting process following the 2020 Census.

    5th District: Connecticut’s 5th district is another race where Republicans have a chance in November. And so, the Democratic primary has been heated. But Jahana Hayes, the 2016 National Teacher of the Year, has grabbed national attention with her energy and inspiring life story. Unlike her opponent, she supports single-payer and has received endorsements that include the Working Families Party and AFL-CIO Connecticut. If she wins, she could become the first African American to represent the state. Connecticut’s Democratic Party establishment has expressed concern about her lack of political experience, but she was drafted to run and has a strong ally in Senator Chris Murphy.

    Important Dates: If you’re a Connecticut resident, your voter registration, whether online, mailed, or in-person, must be received by August 9th.

    VERMONT (Reg. Deadlines - Primary: Early voting has begun. Must be registered by Aug. 14th / General: Nov. 6th)

    Representative At Large: Turning now to Vermont, Democratic incumbent Representative Peter Welch is facing a primary challenge for his congressional seat, which is the only House seat Vermont has. A few months ago, it came to light that Welch received campaign contributions and bought and sold stock from the very companies lobbying for the prescription drug bill he championed. Thank goodness Vermonters have a choice. Doctor and veteran Daniel Freilich is running a campaign primarily focused on campaign finance reform and anti-corruption that also includes medicare for all, a green revolution, and other progressive policies.

    Governor: Also in Vermont, Republican Phill Scot, a first term and well-liked governor, is up for reelection. As we’ve already mentioned, governorships are critical this year. In the Democratic primary there are two front runners. Christine Hellquist is the former CEO of the successful Vermont Electricity Cooperative. She’s running on a progressive platform, touting her leadership experience in utilities, and her campaign is the first ever in Vermont to organize a union contract with campaign staff. If she won in November, she would also be the first openly transgender governor in the country. Environmentalist, James Ehlers, is the other primary front runner. He’s also running on progressive policies, although the self-proclaimed “provocateur” has some strange tweets about unions and abortion in his past. He says his views have evolved since then and the AFL-CIO has endorsed him. It’s also worth noting that a 13 year old - Ethan Sonneborn - is another legitimate candidate in this primary race. Though he likely won’t win, he’s taking his campaign very seriously with a message that is all about inspiring young people to get politically engaged. 

    U.S. Senate: And finally, Vermont Senator, Bernie Sanders, the most well-liked politician in the country, is facing two primary opponents. One is a self proclaimed “Clintonian” and “Obamacrat” who moved to Vermont after the 2016 presidential election with the specific goal of unseating Sanders. The other is a farmer running as an Independent with a focus on fighting climate change. He says he likes Bernie but is concerned that his focus is too national and that he’ll leave the office to run for president again in 2020.

    Important Dates: If you’re a Vermont resident, early voting has already begun and you must be registered by primary day, August 14th, to vote in the primaries.

    We want to emphasize registration cut off dates and absentee ballot request and submission dates are different for each state, sometimes even each county. We highly suggest reviewing your state’s information, and voter ID laws, at rockthevote.org as soon as possible to ensure you will be able to vote in both the primary and general elections.

    So, if building the bluest of blue waves is important to you, be sure to hit the share buttons to spread the word about supporting progressive candidates across the country via social media so that others in your network can spread the word too.

     

     

    THE MIDTERMS MINUTE:

    Check on candidates endorsed by Justice Democrats | Brand New Congress | DSA | Latino Victory | Our Revolution

    Check your state registration deadlines and voter ID laws with rockthevote.org

    For an easy way to donate to candidates, check out DownTicket.com on your mobile browser.

    “15 Ways to Help a Campaign Win Their Election” (Political Charge)

    August 14th Primaries:

    Connecticut (Reg. Deadlines - Primary: Online, mail, or in person by Thurs. Aug 9th / General: Oct. 30th)

    Governor (Dem. Primary) - Ned Lamont

    5th District (Dem. Primary) - Jahana Hayes (Heads up! Republicans are vying for this seat in November.)

    Heads up! General Nov. 6th - U.S House - 2nd District - One large county in District 2 pivoted for Trump in 2016. Incumbent Dem. Joe Courtney will run against Republican Dan Postemski in the general.

    Vermont (Reg. Deadlines - Primary: Early voting has begun. Must be registered by Aug. 14th / General: Nov. 6th)

    U.S. House (statewide Rep.) (Dem. Primary) - Daniel Freilich (Read about incumbent Pat Welch corruption)

    Governor - Christine Hallquist vs. James Ehlers vs. Ethan Sonneborn 

    U.S. Senate - Bernie Sanders 

    *Minnesota (Reg. Deadlines - Primaries: Online: July 24th, In person: Until August 14th / General: Oct. 9th) 

    *Read our MN spotlight*

    U.S. House - 5th District: Ilhan Omar 

    U.S. House - 8th District: Michelle Lee 

    U.S. Senate (Dem. Primary for Nov. Special Election) - Tina Smith 

    Governor (Dem. Primary) - Erin Murphy 

    *Wisconsin (Reg. Deadlines - Primary: Post-marked by July 25th, or in-person by Aug 10th / General: post-marked by Oct. 17th, in-person by Nov. 2nd)

    *Read our spotlight*

    U.S. House - 1st District: Randy Bryce vs. Cathy Myers

    Star Tribune Article on Bryce’s arrests & Bryce’s response 

    U.S. House - 4th District: Incumbent Gwen Moore will very likely win her primary.

    U.S. House - 7th District: Margaret Engebretson

    Governor: Tony Evers | Mike McCabe

    Heads Up! General Nov. 6th: U.S. Senate - Incumbent Tammy Baldwin is running for reelection in Nov. and facing $8.5 million in conservative money against her. 

     

    Posted July 24, 2018; Written by Best of the Left Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman

    Hear the segment in the context of Best of the Left Edition #1198: All we have to fear is fear itself (Our Culture of Fear)

     

  • Build the Blue Wave: Confirm, Prepare & GOTV for Midterms 2018

    Blue_wave_vote_graphic.pngNovember is coming… and there has been a lot of talk about a so-called “blue wave” that I’m sure we’re already taking for granted. But we must keep reminding ourselves that the wave will not happen because we simply feel like it will. It’s going to take work. It’s going to take our free time and weekends. It’s going to take our limited patience and energy. And it is absolutely THE most important thing we will do in the Trump era.

    With a deluge of voter suppression laws in recent years, voting isn’t easy. It requires research and, depending on your situation, may require time sensitive actions ahead of election day. So here are your steps and resources for becoming a blue-wave-builder as we head into the midterm elections…

    1) Double, triple, maybe even quadruple, check that you are registered and on the voter rolls. Sadly, this is not just an action for people who have recently moved, this is for everyone. During the primaries there were multiple reports of long time residents heading to the polls only to find that they were not on the rolls. Those voters had to fill out provisional ballots. With the Supreme Court upholding Ohio’s purge of voter rolls if voters had skipped a few elections, every single one of us needs to be on guard when it comes to our voter registration status. Go to RocktheVote.org and under the “Resources” tab select “Voter Registration Lookup Tool.” Enter your information to confirm or check your voter registration for your current address. The results are almost instant. It’d be wise to check multiple times leading up to November 6th.

    2) Make sure you, and everyone you know, understands your state’s voter ID laws inside and out…and make time to make changes. Did your name change recently? If you live in a state with a voter ID law, you may need to get a new ID to ensure your name matches your voter registration. VoteRiders.org focuses entirely on helping people understand voter ID laws in their states and get what they need to vote. You can check out their voter ID info cards for each state on their website and/or call their hotline for help at 844-338-8743.

    3) Know your state’s cutoff date for voter registration and absentee ballot dates and rules. When it comes to registering, every state is different. Some let you register to vote the day before election day and other’s have registration cut offs months in advance. Some states’s require certain excuses to request an absentee ballot. Learn these rules for your state and be an evangelist for voting knowledge. Go to RocktheVote.org and under the “Get Ready to Vote” dropdown select “State Information.” There you will be able to easily find your state’s election dates and deadlines and other state-specific info.

    4) Help other people with steps 1, 2 and 3. Whether it’s an elderly family member or neighbor, or just a super busy parent you know, help educate people in your community on your state’s laws and encourage them to not only register, but confirm their voter registration and prepare for voter ID laws. Drive them to the town hall or the DMV if they need a ride, or offer to watch the kids while they go. Support each other in the name of democracy. And don’t forget to share the info social media too.

    5) And finally, join a get out the vote effort. There is so much on the line in this election and the results will impact the country for decades to come, especially the most vulnerable among us. We need people on the ground canvassing and registering voters EARLY. Find a local chapter of a Get Out the Vote effort like Rock The Vote and NextGen America, or GOTV arms of organizations like the ACLU (& check local chapters), the NAACP, NARAL, League of Women Voters, and Let America Vote.

    Together, we have the power to build a blue tsunami in November.

    So, if making sure the blue wave becomes a reality is important to you, be sure to hit the share buttons to spread the word about Build the Blue Wave: Confirm Voter Registration & Get Out the Vote for Midterms 2018 via social media so that others in your network can spread the word too.

     

    TAKE ACTION

    5 Steps & Resources to Build the “Blue Wave” for Midterms 2018:

    1. CONFIRM VOTER REGISTRATION: rockthevote.org “Voter Registration Lookup Tool” 

    2. LEARN/SHARE VOTER ID LAWS: VoteRiders.org State Voter ID Law Info Cards  

    3. LEARN/SHARE CUTOFF DATES/DEADLINES: rockthevote.org State Information

    4. HELP OTHERS register, check registration, learn dates. Share information in person and on social media!

    5. JOIN A LOCAL REGISTRATION/GET OUT THE VOTE EFFORT:

    Rock The Vote | NextGen America | ACLU (& check local chapters) | NAACP | NARAL | League of Women Voters | Let America Vote 

     

    Posted June 29, 2018; Written by Best of the Left Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman

    Hear the segment in the context of Best of the Left Edition #1193: Fighting for a representative democracy (Voting Rights and Gerrymandering) 

     

  • Help Students March for Their Lives on March 24th via @AMarch4OurLives #NeverAgain

    EudhspDO_400x400.jpgIn a time where a month of the news cycle feels like a year, the Parkland student activists have continued to hold court.

    On March 14th, the one month anniversary of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, students across the country - even some elementary school students - took part in a National School Walkout. Some students took part despite threats of suspension and detention by school administrators. In Pennsylvania, over 200 students were given Saturday detention for participating in a walkout and then performed a sit-in at that detention while wearing Parkland victims names.

    Ahead of the walkout, the admissions departments of many colleges and universities publicly announced that retribution students face in response to peaceful, lawful activism would not negatively affect their applications. This, of course, only gives solace to college-bound students, though it was a positive sign of general support.

    But maybe most encouraging of all was a meeting that took place earlier this month with Parkland students and  students from inner city Chicago. Parkland student activist Emma Gonzalez tweeted the following about the meeting:

    “Yesterday, the members of A March For Our Lives got to meet up with some of the most wonderful and most strong spoken students of Chicago. "Florida's safest city" and one of the cities in America most affected by gun violence came together to share stories, ideologies, and pizza. Those who face gun violence on a level that we have only just glimpsed from our gated communities have never had their voices heard in their entire lives the way that we have in these few weeks alone. Since we all share in feeling this pain and know all too well how it feels to have to grow up at the snap of a finger, we were able to cover a lot of ground in communicating our experiences. People of color in inner-cities and everywhere have been dealing with this for a despicably long time, and the media cycles just don't cover the violence the way they did here. The platform us Parkland Students have established is to be shared with every person, black or white, gay or straight, religious or not, who has experienced gun violence, and hand in hand, side by side, We Will Make This Change Together.”

    As far as legislative progress, Florida has increased the age limit for purchasing a gun from 18 to 21, implemented a 3 day waiting period for all firearm purchases, and banned bump stocks. But at the same time, the legislature funded arming some public school employees and refused to ban semi-automatic weapons - even just the AR-15. The Parkland students have expressed their frustration saying they feel like they only got “one point” in a game.

    Again, a reminder that this has all happened in only one month.

    The March for Our Lives is this Saturday, March 24th and there are now over 800 events taking place worldwide. Though the largest march will be in DC, if you can’t make it there you can easily find a sibling march near you by going to MarchforOurLives.com and entering your country or zip code.

    Besides marching, perhaps one of the best things you can do to support this movement is by donating to help support the logistics of this demonstration so that more people can make their voices heard. If you personally know students who want to take action, consider paying for their gas, driving them there yourself, offering your home as a safe place to stay if they have to travel to march, or taking them to pre-register or register to vote. Remember that these are kids and they still need support from adults in their communities. We’ve failed them on gun reform before they came into this world, let’s be damn sure we don’t fail in helping them make real change now.

    So, if helping the youth continue to seize the moment on gun reform is important to you, be sure to hit the share buttons to spread the word about Helping Students March for Their Lives on March 24th via social media so that others in your network can spread the word too.

     

    TAKE ACTION

    Find a March for Our Lives event near you

    Support the March for Our Lives - Donate

    Purchase the song “Shine” written and performed by members of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Drama to support Shine MSD - a nonprofit founded to encourage survivors of violence to express themselves through art.

    EDUCATE YOURSELF

    National School Walkout: Thousands Protest Against Gun Violence Across the U.S. (NY Times)

    Students from Parkland and Chicago unite to expand the gun control conversation (Vox)

    Florida passes gun control bill but fails to ban assault-style weapons used in Parkland school shooting (Independent)

    College and University Update on Disciplinary Actions (NACAC)

    Drive them to a march. Buy their gas. Whatever it takes, support all kids marching today (The Guardian)

    The Students of Stoneman Douglas (60 Minutes)

    Universities Tell Applicants That Protesting Gun Violence Won’t Affect Admissions (Huffington Post)

     

    Posted March 20, 2018; Written by Best of the Left Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman

    Hear the segment in the context of Best of the Left Edition #1172: The cultural legacy from the way The West was won (Gun Culture)

  • Divest from Nuclear Weapons Producers via @DontBankonBomb

    DBotB-banner-620x350.pngDon’t Bank on the Bomb is a regularly updated global report on the financing of nuclear weapons producers around the world. The report is produced by an organization from The Netherlands called PAX, which aims to bring together those who believe in peace and want to contribute to a just and peaceful world.

    The 2016 update of the report shows that 390 financial institutions from around the world invested 498 billion US dollars into just 27 companies involved in the production, maintenance and modernization of nuclear weapons since January 2013.

    Now, I’m sure you won’t be surprised to hear that about 60% of those financial institutions are U.S. institutions and they’re responsible for 68% of the total global investment. And, of course, you’ll recognize some of their names. BlackRock, Capital Group, Vanguard, State Street, Bank of America and JP Morgan Chase are the top 7 investors in the production, maintenance and modernization of nuclear weapons in the world.

    Whether you want to personally divest or put pressure on financial institutions to do so, head over to DontBankontheBomb.com and click the “Take Action” tab. There, you can tweet at your financial institution, download the organization’s Divestment Campaigner Guide, and get step by step guidance on how to personally divest from institutions supporting nuclear weapons.  Additional documents on engaging the public, media, government and financial institutions, as well as articles on the latest nuclear weapon news, are also available on the website.

    So, if stopping the further investment of nuclear weapons is important to you, be sure to hit the share buttons to spread the word about Divesting from Nuclear Weapons Producers via social media so that others in your network can spread the word too.

     

    https://youtu.be/Fkipas4Oqdo

     

    TAKE ACTION 

    Divest from financial institutions funding nuclear weapons production with DontBankontheBomb.com

    Get guidance on divesting, download the campaigner guide, and more, on the Action page

    Easily tweet at and tag financial institutions on Facebook to tell them to stop investing in nuclear weapons

    EDUCATE YOURSELF

    Who Invests? (Don't Bank on the Bomb)

    Who Divests? (Don't Bank on the Bomb)

    Nuclear Weapons Producers (Don't Bank on the Bomb)

     

    Posted March 6, 2018; Written by Best of the Left Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman

    Hear the segment in the context of Best of the Left Edition #1169: Playing with Winter (Threat and Effects of Nuclear War)

  • Demand Your MoCs Defend Dreamers and Pass a Clean #DreamActNow via Dreamer Pledge Project @IndivisibleTeam @UNITEDWEDREAM

    Dreamer_Pledge_logo.pngActivist groups have come together to defend Dreamers and demand a clean DREAM Act, and now they have made it incredibly easy for you to do the same.

    Groups including Indivisible, United We Dream, the National Immigration Law Center, Democracy Spring, NRDC, Credo Mobile, and many more, have banded together to launch DreamerPledge.org. This website is essentially a simple and effective one-stop-shop tool for voters to find out how their members of congress voted when it comes to Dreamers and provides call scripts to help you either thank them, or tell them just how furious you are.

    There are scripts for talking to Republican and Democratic members of congress and they’re written to specifically respond to the passage of the most recent Continuing Resolution bill that did not include the DREAM Act. As you’ve already heard, Democrats said they would not vote for that bill unless it included the DREAM Act, and then…many of them caved. The call scripts help you clearly demand that your Democratic and Republican members of congress vote against the upcoming February 8th Continuing Resolution unless it protects Dreamers in order to avoid complicity in Trump’s racist policies.

    Let’s take this moment to remember that Senators Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer have been promising to reach a deal with Trump to protect Dreamers since last September. Well, now it’s February and DACA expires just one month from now. Trump has vowed to deport DACA recipients when the program ends on March 5th, so there is no time to be congenial and make concessions. The Trump agenda is not business as usual and members of congress, especially Democrats, need to respond appropriately.

    It’s baffling that Democrats have wavered since they know full well that Trump and Republicans have miscalculated this one. According to multiple recent polls, the vast majority of Americans support allowing Dreamers to stay in the U.S. According to a Politico/Morning Consult Poll conducted last September, over 69 percent of Republicans and 84 percent of Democrats think Dreamers should be allowed to stay in the U.S. They differ only on wether they should be allowed to become citizens or just legal residents.

    The only thing that can stop Trump from ripping lives apart is passage of the DREAM Act. So head over to DreamerPledge.org and tell Congress to defend Dreamers today before it’s too late.

    So, if stopping Congress from complying with racist policies is important to you, be sure to hit the share buttons to spread the word about Demanding Your Members of Congress Defend Dreamers and Pass a Clean Dream Act Now via social media so that others in your network can spread the word too.

     

     

    TAKE ACTION 

    Use DreamerPledge.org tools and scripts to demand your MoCs protect Dreamers

    REMINDERS: DACA ends March 5th! Next Continuing Resolution deadline is Feb. 8th!

    EDUCATE YOURSELF

    Do three-quarters of Americans support the DREAM Act? Nancy Pelosi says so (PolitiFact.com)

    Senate Democrats cave, provide votes based on McConnell’s empty promise (Think Progress)

    Compromise or cave-in? Democrats' deal to end shutdown sows division (The Guardian)

    Dreamers are Americans Too (TIME)

    “Dreamers” could give U.S. economy – and even American workers – a boost (Salon.com)

     

    Posted January 26, 2018; Written by Best of the Left Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman

    Hear the segment in the context of Best of the Left Edition #1162: The economics of immigration and demonization

     

  • Raise Women’s Voices By Fighting Voter Suppression via @Let_AmericaVote

    Women_fought_for_the_right_to_vote_lets_keep_it.jpg

     

    Voting rights and women’s rights are inextricably linked.

    The gutting of the Voting Rights Act enabled vast voter disenfranchisement and restrictions that directly impacted the results of elections across the country, including, of course the 2016 presidential election. State by state, we saw voter suppression laws pop up wrapped in a fraudulent defense of democracy and disenfranchise the young, the old, the disabled, and minorities. And while Alabama was an example of what can happen when grassroots organizations work around-the-clock to overcome this injustice, that can’t be the new status quo. We need to address the root of the problem.

    As long as voting restrictions are in place, women, especially women of color, and the critical issues impacting their lives and their families will be underrepresented. And, as we know, when policies provide more choices for women and protect their rights, society as a whole reaps the rewards.

    So, with the mid terms right around the corner, we have no time to lose. We need to start critiquing candidates and calling them out for their record on voting rights now. If you’re not sure where to start, check out Let America Vote.

    Let America Vote was founded by former Missouri Secretary of State, and recent congressional candidate, Jason Kander. The organization aims to answer a simple question: what if politicians were actually held publicly accountable for supporting voter suppression? 

    Through online and grassroots organizing, an aggressive earned media strategy, and advertising, Let America Vote wants to play a crucial role among the existing network of organizations fighting for voting rights.

    Head over to LetAmericaVote.org to get involved by signing up for updates, volunteering to knock on doors, call or email legislators, write letters to the editor, host a voting rights house party, and more. While you’re there, check out the interactive map of the U.S. that highlights each state’s current and pending voter suppression laws and tactics. You can also follow the organization on Twitter: @Let_America Vote.

    So, if ensuring women’s voices are heard in every election is important to you, be sure to hit the share buttons to spread the word about Raise Women’s Voices By Fighting Voter Suppression with Let America Vote via social media so that others in your network can spread the word too.

     

    TAKE ACTION

    Hold officials accountable for their voting rights record with Let America Vote 

    Follow Let America Vote on Twitter: @Let_America Vote

    EDUCATE YOURSELF

    The Surprising Ways Voter Suppression Particularly Hurts Women (Alternet)

    Women's March 2018 Isn't About Trump —It's About Upending The Entire Political System (Newsweek)

    Voter Suppression Targets Women, Youth and Communities of Color (Issue Advisory, Part One) (NOW.org)

    In NC, Voter Suppression Hits Women & People of Color Hardest. (Southern Coalition for Social Justice; 2014)

     

    Posted January 26, 2018; Written by Best of the Left Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman

    Hear the segment in the context of Best of the Left Edition #1160: Backlashes (#MeToo and the Women's Movement)

  • What Can YOU Do To Support the #Medicare4All Movement?

    What_can_you_do_medicare4all.pngDesmond Tutu famously said, “Hope is being able to see the light despite all of the darkness.” 

    And it sure has been dark lately. But this month, as historic hurricanes and earthquakes added a new level of panic to an already frightening political landscape, the announcement of Bernie Sander’s Medicare for All bill was a much needed bright spot. 

    The significance of this announcement is getting lost in the mainstream media news cycle, so let’s lay it out here: This is the beginning of a major movement for a progressive idea that even just a few years ago was still seen as radical in the U.S. but now it actually has a chance at becoming law. It is an idea that will save lives, help counter growing income inequality, save us all money in the long run, and bring us up to speed with other first world nations. It embodies so much of what we stand for as progressives, and that’s why we need to get ready for the long and arduous battle against special interests with power and money to make sure it succeeds.

    We’re including links to groups and organizations you should get involved with in the show notes, but right now - other than the hashtag #Medicare4All and the videos Bernie is putting out - there is no formal, interactive, fancy campaign page to send you to yet.

    So, today’s activism is going to be a little different than usual. Today, we aren’t going to send you somewhere else, or tell you to call people (that should be a given), we’re just asking you to ask yourself: “What can I do?” when it comes to the fight for Medicare for All.  

    Maybe you’re part of a church or synagogue or mosque where you have discussion groups. If so, ask them to have discussions about healthcare and Medicare for All. 

    Maybe you go to every single town hall your politician hosts - and the ones they don’t. Make sure you, your friends and family attend together and put pressure on those politicians to support Medicare for All. 

    Maybe you have a personal story to share about you, a family member or friend, that illustrates just how much we need a single-payer system in this country. If so, make a video and share it or write about it in a letter to the editor of your local papers - or both.  

    If you want to start small, have your friends listen to this episode and then organize a get together to talk about it. Try a few different groups of friends or family, and be sure to include those who might not agree with you. 

    Maybe you’re a great organizer. You can pull together regular Medicare for All support rallies at the statehouse or in front of your representative’s local office and invite local action groups, doctors and nurses, and community leaders to take part. 

    Perhaps you’re the kind of person who always knows the right people. If you have access to politicians or influential public figures in your community or beyond, use those connections, engage those people on this topic and see if you can convince them to be an ally in this fight in a public way. 

    Of course, these are all just examples of things you could do. You might come up with something completely different. But all we’re asking is for you to take the time today to think about what you can bring to the table. Each one of us has something to offer in this fight and you don’t need to wait for a campaign to tell you what to do to start making progress. This issue effects every single one of us and it will only be won with a major, overwhelming grassroots movement. That’s you. 

    There are few opportunities to make such significant, lasting change in this country. So after listening to this show today, make a list of at least 3 things you might be able to do, long term, to help Medicare for All become law. Then, call into our voicemail line at 202-999-3991 to share your ideas and inspire others. Together, we can do this.  

    So, if you believe healthcare is a human right, be sure to hit the share buttons to spread the word about identifying what you can do to support Medicare for All via social media so that others in your network can spread the word too.

     

     

    TAKE ACTION

    What are the top 3 things you can personally do to contribute to the movement to support #Medicare4All?

    Call the voicemail line at 202-999-3991 and tell us your ideas to inspire others

    Read the details of Sen. Sanders’ Medicare for All bill

    Some other ways to get involved: 

    Our Revolution groups (Sen. Sanders’ action organization) 

    Health Over Profit (nonprofit grassroots org fighting for Medicare for All)

    Fight4Medicare.com (grassroots #Medicare4All action campaign) 

    Social Security Works (nonprofit defending our social programs) 

    Truth Out “Medicare for All” Series (independent media outlet looking to focus on Medicare for All coverage)

    MoveOn.org Petition (do NOT let signing this be all you do!) 

    EDUCATE YOURSELF

    Bernie Sanders's new Medicare-for-all plan, explained (Vox)

    The Political Genius of Bernie’s ‘Medicare for All’ Bill (The Nation)

    Bernie’s “Medicare for All” actually is the pragmatic health care solution (Salon)

    The Loss of Morality in America’s Healthcare Debate (Washington Post)

    Sanders's Bill Electrifies Growing Single-Payer Movement (truth-out)

    "Medicare for All": A Uniting Call to Action in the Age of Trump (truth-out)

     

    Posted September 29, 2017; Written by Best of the Left Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman

    Hear the segment in the context of Best of the Left Edition #1136: Doing the Right Thing After Exhausting All Other Options (Medicare for All)

  • #ProtectNEPA to #ProtectOurVoice on the Environment via @ProtectNEPA

    DJnOmyuWAAMxiL5.jpgIf you didn’t know it already, you have a legal right to know about and weigh in on federal government projects before any action is taken. Those rights are protected by the first bedrock piece of environmental legislation - a law called the National Environmental Policy Act, or NEPA.

    NEPA has three main components:

    1) It promotes transparency by requiring that plans for federal projects be released to the public,

    2) It promotes informed decision-making through requiring detailed studies on environmental impacts and alternatives, and

    3) It gives the public a voice on these projects through public hearings and comment periods.  

    It’s all important, but that last piece is vital. Because of NEPA, citizens have the opportunity to ask questions and voice concerns about plans that will impact the environment and their communities, and then hold their government accountable. That period of public review also takes time and shines sunlight on consequences, whether unintended or otherwise. And that’s essential to stopping dangerous, rushed or poorly planned projects.  

    NEPA requirements don’t just force the truth to come out, they allow time for movements to be built before projects are underway. They allow time for organizing and for media to be drawn in to alert the broader public and win the public relations war against giant companies. Think of the Dakota Access Pipeline. Think of Keystone XL. NEPA made it possible for these projects to become household names and public battles instead of inevitable… and that is, of course, why NEPA is under attack.

    A NEPA repeal would be incredibly difficult and unpopular, so instead conservatives are trying to chip away at it bit by bit. In a Heritage Foundation report last year, the organization wrote about their plans to “pave the way to rescission” of NEPA by introducing legislation that narrows NEPA reviews, mandates time limits, limits alternatives, and eliminates consideration of - you guessed it - green house gases and climate change. 

    In the last two Congresses, over one hundred and fifty bills were introduced that weakened or waived NEPA. Now, in the current Congress, there are already over fifty introduced bills that would limit or eliminate public input, government accountability, and environmental review of federal projects. Several of these bills have passed or are likely to pass soon.

    We will all lose if NEPA is damaged or destroyed. But low-income communities, indigenous communities and communities of color, which face environmental injustice every day, will lose a critical tool in their fight to protect their health, economy and environment. For 40 years, NEPA has given a voice to people who would otherwise be shut out of the process, but that could change unless you get involved today with the NEPA Works campaign. 

    Go to NEPAWorks.wpengine.com. There you will find details on the history and importance of NEPA, as well as a complete list of categorized legislative threats to this critical law in the House and Senate. Your next step is to call Congress and spread the word about the ulterior motive within these bills. You can also read and share success stories from every single state where NEPA requirements have quite literally saved the day. The things companies have tried to get away with will shock you. 

    Follow the campaign on Twitter @ProtectNEPA and join other environmental action groups in using the hashtags #ProtectNEPA and #ProtectOurVoice while shining a light on this subversive Republican plan. The NEPA Works campaign is just getting off the ground and so we encourage you to get involved now and keep checking in to see what else you can do to help. 

    If only there was a NEPA to help us defend the NEPA…

    So, if fighting for your right to protect your health, family, community and environment is important to you, be sure to hit the share buttons to spread the word about Protecting NEPA via social media so that others in your network can spread the word too.

     

     

     

    TAKE ACTION:

    Get involved with the NEPA Works campaign to protect your voice!

    Read about pending legislation that chips away at NEPA, share it, and call Congress (try Stance) to stop it

    Read and share NEPA success stories from every state

    Follow NEPA Works on Twitter @ProtectNEPA

    Use the #ProtectNEPA and #ProtectOurVoice on social media 

    EDUCATE YOURSELF:

    We will not be silenced. Stand up for a strong NEPA! (Earth Justice)

    Trump CEQ rolls out plans for swift NEPA reviews (Governors' Wind & Solar Energy Coalition)

    US people of color still more likely to be exposed to pollution than white people (The Guardian)

    Christine Todd Whitman: How Not to Run the E.P.A. (New York Times)

    Boston Communities Unite to Democratize Their Economy (Next City)

     

    Posted September 19, 2017; Written by Best of the Left Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman

    Hear the segment in the context of Best of the Left Edition #1134: Unnatural Disasters (Hurricane & the Climate)

     

  • What’s After Capitalism? Create Our Next Economy via @TheNextSystem

    thenextsystem.pngThe clips in today’s show couldn’t be more clear: we are living in the death throws of capitalism. And while technology has been able to let us limp along by solving some of capitalisms more dire problems, while exacerbating others, the issues that are left have no quick fix. So, it’s time…probably past time…to ask the question: What’s next? 

    Luckily, there are people working to answer that question. But they need and want you to be part of finding the solution. 

    The Next System Project is an ambitious multi-year initiative aimed at thinking boldly about what is required to deal with the systemic challenges the United States faces now and in the future. Working with a broad group of researchers, theorists and activists, they seek to launch a national debate on the nature of “the next system.” Using the best research, understanding and strategic thinking, on-the-ground organizing and development experience, their goal is to refine and publicize comprehensive alternative political-economic system models - fundamentally different from anything we’ve seen before - that are capable of delivering superior social, economic and ecological outcomes. 

    Admittedly, it's a big task, but ideas with these goals in mind are already being put forth. 

    In May, the Next System Project released “Principles of a Pluralist Commonwealth” - a project from economist, historian and activist Gar Alperovitz. This is an approach and model that offers a trajectory for wide-ranging institutional change towards real democracy over the long haul, guided by a transformative vision beyond both corporate capitalism and traditional state socialism. You can read this model and request a free copy of it for local reading and organizing groups by going to TheNextSystem.org/principles. 

    But if you don’t have to rely on economists to propose the next system. You can contribute your thoughts and be part of the discussion about what the next system should be with The Next System Teach-In Initiative. In 2016, teach-ins happened in communities and on college campuses across the country, engaging every day people in a discussion around the new economy and the type of world they want to live in. A complete archive of the resources created for these teach-ins is available at TheNextSystem.org/teachins. So, if your'e in a position to do so, you can go and get those resources and organize a meting in your community today. 

    The segment notes include all the links to this information as well as additional resources and, as always, this and every activism segment we produce is archived and organized under the activism tab at Best of the Left dot com. 

    So, if having an economy that works for everyone is important to you, be sure to hit the share buttons to spread the word about Creating Our Next Economy via social media so that others in your network can spread the word too.

    The writing is on the wall. The big questions are being asked. Make sure you get a say when it comes to what’s next. 

     

    TAKE ACTION

    Help find the answer to "What's Next?" with The Next System Project

    Read Gar Alperovitz "Principles of a Pluralist Commonwealth" 

    Download resources and organize a Next System Project Teach-In in your community

    Follow @TheNextSystem on Twitter   

    EDUCATE YOURSELF

    Is Capitalism Dying? (Forbes, 2013)

    ’Is Capitalism Dying?’ (Marxism, 2013) 

    The Pain You Feel is Capitalism Dying (Joe Brewer, Medium, 2016)

    Beyond the Minimum Wage Debate: Let's Move Toward a System That Works for All (Democracy at Work)

    Prof. Richard Wolff debates Fox's Stuart Varney (Democracy at Work)

     

    Posted August 1, 2017; Written by Best of the Left Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman

    Hear the segment in the context of Best of the Left Edition #1123: Preparing for the end of the world, or at least capitalism

  • Fight Corruption to Save America via @JusticeDems @WolfPAChq @RepresentDotUs

    liberty_and_justice_for_sale.pngAs our country marks its 241st birthday, this year of all years is especially ripe for reflection. Where we’ve been heading and where we are right now - politically and socially - is disturbing to say the least, but we can still change course. If nothing else, as Americans we can be proud of our track record of change and progress. It may be made with two steps forward and one step back, but eventually we get there. 

    But we don’t get there because of famous politicians and speeches. We get there because people like you care enough to get involved and push us in the right direction. So, today we’re highlighting three effective ways you can roll up your sleeves and fight corruption and money in politics - the primary sources of our ills as a nation. 

    If you’re passionate about pushing for change from the inside, get involved with Justice Democrats. Justice Democrats believes that the Democratic Party’s alignment with Wall Street over working men and women has allowed Republicans to take over most state legislatures, most governorships, Congress, and the presidency. Their plan is to promote quality, progressive candidates to replace corporate-backed Democrats and in turn, rebuild the Democratic Party from scratch to be a party that fights for a clear progressive vision. Visit JusticeDemocrats.com to read about the candidates and get involved. 

    if you want to work locally on an issue campaign to fight corruption nationally, get involved with Represent Us. In communities across America, Represent.Us members – including conservatives, progressives and everyone in between – are working together to pass local Anti-Corruption Acts. In 2016, Represent.Us members passed the first statewide Anti-Corruption Act in South Dakota (state Republicans repealed it earlier this year). But this isn’t one size fits all: every municipal and state Anti-Corruption Act creates their own common-sense ethics, conflict-of-interest, transparency, and campaign finance laws. State Acts create the opportunity for federal candidates from that state to campaign on the anti-corruption platform – accountable to their constituents, not special interests. Head over to Represent.Us today to find your local chapter and get involved. 

    And finally, if you’re passionate about bypassing Congress and using the states to make change, get involved with The Young Turks’ organization Wolf PAC, which you’ve been hearing about on this show for years. Their plan to save democracy in the United States is by getting a much needed amendment to the Constitution that will establish elections which are free of the corrupting influence of money in our political system and fair enough that any citizen can run for office - not just millionaires and their allies. Go to Wolf-PAC.com to find out how you can get involved in your state and help bring us one step closer to passing the Free and Fair Elections amendment. 

    All three of these movements are worth your time and are working in concert with each other, not at odds with one another. So pick the one that fits your style and passion and get involved. 

    The turn of the century activist, social worker, and Nobel Peace Prize recipient, Jane Addams, once said...

    “Unless our conception of patriotism is progressive, it cannot hope to embody the real affection and the real interest of the nation.”

    Now that’s a brand of patriotism we can get down with. 

    So, if fighting the forces that continue to leach power from the people is important to you, be sure to hit the share buttons to spread the word about Fighting Corruption to Save America via social media so that others in your network can spread the word too.

     

    TAKE ACTION 

    Replace corporate-backed Democrats with Justice Democrats

    Help pass local Anti-Corruption legislation with Represent.Us

    Help pass the Free and Fair Elections Constitutional amendment with Wolf-PAC

    EDUCATE YOURSELF

    The Logical Path to End Corruption (Wolf-PAC)

    South Dakota GOP uses 'emergency' rules to repeal anti-corruption law (CNN)

    What the Single-Payer Loss Reveals About the Role of Corporate Money in California Politics (In These Times)

    House Bill Would Ax Election Panel, Bar Limits on Money in Politics (Bloomberg BNA)

    Pro-Trump super PACs have already spent $1 million on Election 2020 (The Center for Public Integrity)

     

    Posted July 4, 2017; Written by Best of the Left Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman

     

    Hear this segment in the context of Best of the Left #1117: We were founded to resist corruption, now it’s all we know

     

     

  • STOP TRUMPCARE via @IndivisibleTeam and TrumpcareToolkit.org

    Kill_the_bill.jpgJust because it feels like everyone knows how utterly awful this dressed-up bill of tax cuts for the wealthy is, doesn’t mean it won’t become law. The pure fact that it is a reconciliation bill was a strategic way to get this through the Senate with only 50 Republican votes. 

    Thankfully, it looks like they’re coming up a little short. 

    After the Congressional Budget Office released their report revealing that this Senate bill is no less cruel than the House bill, a few Republican Senators are showing reservations. Those reservations must be cemented into “no” votes. And to do that, those Senators need to hear from you. 

    As of the air date of this show, Mitch McConnell has postponed the vote until after the July 4th recess. That means we have time on our side, and a big point to make on America’s birthday.

    The Center for American Progress Action Fund has created a website listing the fifteen Republican Senators who are most likely to vote against Trumpcare, along with their phone numbers and the ability to Tweet at them with a graphic showing the number of people in their state that will lose coverage if the Senate bill passes. Go to TrumpcareToolkit.org to check it out and take action. 

    For more detailed information on what this bill will do and call scripts to help you get the message across to your Senators, head over to IndivisibleGuide.com. Their Stop Trumpcare toolkit has been updated to provide all of the details and resources you need to fight against the Senate bill. These resources also include a layman terms explainer on why the bill STILL fails people with pre-existing conditions by allowing backdoor discrimination. And that’s important, since the architects of this bill are working hard to mislead the public on that very point. 

    If the lines are busy, try using one of our favorite calling tools: Stance. Stance allows you to record your message and delivers it directly to your Congressperson’s phone lines when call volume is low. 

    And finally, if you can, show up at your Congress person’s local office and go to town hall meetings. If your Congress person isn’t hosting a town hall, then consider hosting a citizen-lead town hall and invite your Congress person. This tactic has proven to be effective mostly because being represented by an empty chair is never good optics for a Congress person dodging their constituents. Go to TownHallProject.com or visit your congress person’s website to see if there is a town hall near you during the recess.  

    I probably don’t need to remind you, but I will, that Medicaid as we know it is on the line. Affordable coverage for those who actually need it is on the line. Lifetime coverage caps and limitless out of pocket expenses will return. Even quality employer sponsored insurance coverage is at risk. So please take action right now. I am not exaggerating in the slightest when I say millions of lives are at stake. 

    So, if you’re fed up with attacks on the most vulnerable among us to pay for tax cuts for the rich, be sure to hit the share buttons to spread the word about STOPPING TRUMPCARE via social media so that others in your network can spread the word too.

     

     

    TAKE ACTION

    Call & tweet at the 15 Senators most likely to vote against Trumpcare with Trumpcare Toolkit 

    Get info and call scripts on Trumpcare from Indivisible Guide's Stop Trumpcare Toolkit 

    Find a Town Hall with TownHallProject.com

    EDUCATE YOURSELF 

    CBO Analysis Endangers GOP Health-Care Bill (The Atlantic) 

    The Latest: 5th GOP senator opposes debate on health bill (MSN.com)

    Senate GOP health-care bill's tax cuts would be a big boon for the rich, analysis says (CNBC)

    The most devastating passage in the CBO’s report on the Senate health bill (Vox)

    The Senate Health-Care Bill Is Morally Indefensible (The Nation)

    Republicans Spent the Weekend Lying Their Faces Off About Health Care (The Nation)

    Police drag away protesters in wheelchairs from Mitch McConnell’s office (Salon)

    Sean Spicer: America Either Passes GOP Plan or Adopts Single Payer (The Ring of Fire)

    Opinion: The GOP says its healthcare bill will protect those with preexisting conditions. Um, no it won’t (LA Times)

     

    Posted June 27, 2017; Written by Best of the Left Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman

    Hear the segment in the context of Best of the Left Edition #1116: An enormous tax cut for the rich disguised as health care

     

  • Learn How to Effectively Fight & Report Hate in Your Community via @SPLCenter

    SPLC.jpgThe recent horrific events on a train in Portland, Oregon have left us all unnerved. And while there is kindness and love in this story, there is also the reminder that this is not an isolated incident. Across the country, hate groups have been rising and growing in their ranks for the last decade, and having Trump in the White House has only emboldened them.

    If you’re feeling helpless in trying to stop the neo-nazis, white nationalists and other extremists advocating for violence and white supremacy, you should know there are solid steps and actions you and your community can take.  

    Seven years ago, the Southern Poverty Law Center produced the publication “Ten Ways to Fight Hate: A Community Response Guide.” Despite its age, it is still extremely relevant. The guide sets out ten principles for fighting hate, along with a collection of inspiring stories of people who worked to push hate out of their communities. Read it. Share it. Discuss it. Practice it. 

    If you witness or are the victim of a hate crime, first, call the authorities. Then, help Southern Poverty Law Center monitor these incidents by submitting the details in a form on their website at SPLCenter.org/reporthate. You can also use the hashtag #ReportHate to share the link to this form with others and call out hate crimes on social media.

    And finally, Southern Poverty Law Center’s Hatewatch blog monitors and exposes the activities of the American radical right with articles about the latest news and headlines regarding hate crimes and hate groups, as well as updates on the organization’s pending law suits. One of the more recent articles highlights the disturbing surge in frequency of noose hate crime incidents, including two incidents in and near the African American History Museum in DC.  

    Look, this is not the kind of news most people seek out. This is a dark, viscous side of our country that the privileged among us can easily pretend does not exist. But we have to push past feeling uncomfortable and get to the part where we ask ourselves what we can do to counter the message of hate. Go to SPLCenter.org to educate yourself and gather the tools we all desperately need to take up this fight. 

    So, if standing up for each other and fighting hate is important to you, be sure to hit the share buttons to spread the word about Learning How to Effectively Fight & Report Hate in Your Community with Southern Poverty Law Center via social media so that others in your network can spread the word too.

     

    TAKE ACTION

    Read and share SPLC's "Ten Ways to Fight Hate: A Community Response Guide"

    #ReportHate crimes to SPLC at splcenter.org/reporthate 

    Stay informed about hate-fueled incidents across the country via SPLC's Hatewatch 

    EDUCATE YOURSELF

    SPLC Hatewatch: Headlines for 6/7/2017 (SPLC Hatewatch)

    Defiant Alt-Right “Patriots” Encounter Portland’s Simmering Anger After Train Killings (SPLC Hatewatch)

    As Hate Crimes Rise, The Trump Administration Blocks Funding to Fight Domestic Extremism (Right Wing Watch)

    Why Taking Down Confederate Memorials is Only a First Step (The Conversation)

    Protest in the Era of Donald Trump (Huffington Post)

     

    Posted June 7, 2017; Written by Best of the Left Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman.

     

    Hear Best of the Left Edition #1110: The rise of hate in America (White Supremacy)

     

  • Bring MORE Conservatives On Board to a Carbon Fee & Dividend #ClimateChange Solution via @RepublicEn @CreationCare @citizensclimate

    board-1521348_1920.jpgWe live in polarized world where hard-lined political ideologies make it difficult for us to talk, let alone hear each other. So, when faced with the existential crisis of climate change, how can we make any progress? Turns out there is hope.

    There is one solution to climate change that has actually been embraced by both sides of the political spectrum: Carbon Fee and Dividend (aka: Cap and Dividend). Carbon Fee and Dividend is the idea of applying a fee that companies would pay for their carbon output (or imports) and sending that money directly back to the people to offset the increase in fuel costs. It puts pressure on the market to move away from fossil fuels and the dividends provide an incentive for people to move toward more affordable renewable sources so they can use the extra money for other things.

    Conservatives like it because it is a market-based solution, it isn’t a tax (because it goes back to the people), it won’t increase the size of government, and would actually make less regulations required. Progressives like it because, well, it’ll actually work. 

    So, do you have some conservatives in your life that you’ve been avoiding lately? Instead of telling them they are wrong about everything, engage them with ideas from other conservatives that just so happen to align with your goals too. 

    Here are a few things you can share with them…

    • RepublicEN, highlighted in the BOTL #1108, is a group of over 3,000 conservatives and libertarians who are educating Americans about free-enterprise solutions to climate change. Share or get involved with RepublicEN at RepublicEn.org.
    • The Evangelical Environmental Network, highlighted in BOTL #1108, is a group of 200,000 evangelical, pro-life Christians, who see themselves as “stewards of the bounty upon which all life depends.” They believe being pro-life also means protecting the environment that is essential to our quality of life. Share or get involved with EEN at CreationCare.org
    • And finally, if you can get them onboard with Carbon Fee and Dividend, introduce them to the Citizens Climate Lobby, a non-profit, non-partisan grassroots advocacy organization focused on national policies to address climate change. They have chapters all over the country, and the globe, and they lobbying for one thing and one thing only: Carbon Fee and Dividend legislation. 

     

    SAMPLE TWEETS/POSTS: 

    • GOP friends: Thoughts on a free-market, reduced reg #climatechange solution? This conservative org has a plan: http://www.republicen.org/ 
    • These Evangelicals want to solve #climatechange b/c they are "stewards of the bounty on which all life depends." http://www.creationcare.org/

     

    So, if making sure we actually get to even try to solve climate change is important to you, be sure to hit the share buttons to spread the word about Bringing MORE Conservatives On Board to a Carbon Fee & Dividend #ClimateChange Solution via social media so that others in your network can spread the word too.

      

     

    TAKE ACTION

    Let’s solve climate change! Engage with your conservative friends…

    EDUCATE YOURSELF

    AN EVANGELICAL MOVEMENT TAKES ON CLIMATE CHANGE (Newsweek, 2016) 

    Conservatives Plan for a Carbon Tax (The New York Times)

    Citizens Climate Lobby pushes for a carbon tax and dividend (The Guardian, 2013)

    7 Reasons Conservatives Should Support Climate Change Solutions (Huffington Post)

    New economic study shows carbon tax refunded to households would create jobs (Citizens Climate Lobby, 2014)

     

    Posted May 30, 2017; Written by Best of the Left Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman.

     

    Hear Best of the Left Edition #1108: A conservative solution to solving climate change

     

  • Spread the Word about The People’s Budget via @USProgressives (Congressional Progressive Caucus)

    3Vcq_emv.jpgIt’s easy to criticize a budget or tax plan entrenched in corruption, cronyism and pandering to corporations and political donors. The op-eds and think pieces practically write themselves. But unless we offer a strikingly better alternative that lifts up all people and proves a peaceful and prosperous world is truly possible, all the criticism in the world will be for naught. 

    What most people don’t realize is that a guide to that alternative path already exists. The Congressional Progressive Caucus puts out a progressive, alternative budget every year called The People’s Budget. This year’s subtitle is “A roadmap for the resistance.” It’s chalk full of well thought out, progressive ideas that actually work, and the details on how we’ll pay for them.

    Here’s just a taste of what it says: It calls or $2 trillion in infrastructure investments to transform energy, water and transportation systems, and $100 billion to increase access to reliable, high-speed internet. It allows states to transition to single-payer health care systems and lowers the cost of prescription drugs. It ends corporate tax breaks for offshoring American jobs and profits. It closes corporate tax loopholes and raises taxes on the wealthiest few and expands the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Child Care Credit. It invests in development of community oriented policing reforms and increased funding for voter protection and legal assistance programs. It funds public financing of campaigns to curb special interests’ influence. It calls for $1 trillion in effective early learning opportunities and a child-care-for-all program. It invests in women, communities of color and their families. It implements immigration reform and includes a pathway to citizenship. It makes debt free college a reality and invests in computer science opportunities for all students. It supports the minimum wage increase and collective bargaining rights. It ends subsidies to oil, gas and coal companies and closes their tax loopholes, while investing in clean, renewable and efficient energy, and green manufacturing. It eliminates veterans’ homelessness and increases their access to mental health care as well as job training opportunities. And it even invests in our defense system while promoting peace, through increasing funding for diplomacy and strategic humanitarian aid, and increased funding for refugee resettlement programs. 

    And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. In summary, The People’s Budget invests in our country to ensure its people prosper now and for generations to come. Is it perfect? No. But this is the path we want to take. Improvements can and will be made on the way. Head over to CPCBudget.org (or the official CPC website) to read the full budget and share it far and wide. Because of its extreme lack of media coverage, we highly encourage you to write a letter to the editor of local and national media outlets asking them to cover The People’s Budget in depth. If you can, write an article about it yourself. At the very least, share it on social media and talk about it with your family and friends - because if no one knows there is another way forward, we’re stalled before we can even begin.

    So, if showing America there is an alternative to Trumpism and heartless Conservatism is important to you, be sure to hit the share buttons to spread the word about The People’s Budget via social media so that others in your network can spread the word too.

      

     

    TAKE ACTION

    Check out The People's Budget at cpcbudget.org and spread the word. 

    Visit the Progressive Caucus website and follow @USProgressives on Twitter for updates.

    EDUCATE YOURSELF

    The Democrats are getting ready to govern again (The Week)

    This new budget points the way forward for Democrats (The Washington Post)

    The People’s Budget, Not Trump’s Budget, Will Help Working Americans (Common Dreams)

    The People’s Budget, not Trump’s budget, will help working Americans (Economic Policy Institute)

    The People's Budget: Progressive Proposal Aims to Un-Rig Failed Economic System (Common Dreams, 2015)

     

    Posted May 12, 2017; Written by Best of the Left Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman.

     

    Hear the segment in the context of Best of the Left edition #1103: Freedom isn't free, it's paid for with your taxes

     

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DW0_R0g3V64

  • Support Mama’s Bail Out Day This Mother’s Day via @NationalBailOut #FreeBlackMamas #EndMoneyBail

    MAMAS_FACT2.1-300x300.jpg

    For those of you not living the day to day oppression of black people in America, it’s possible you didn’t notice right away that The Movement for Black Lives has almost entirely dropped from the mainstream media headlines since November. 

    There is no question that this is a direct casualty of the election of Donald Trump. Maybe things will change as Jeff Sessions begins flexing his Attorney General powers, but it’s important to remember that nothing has changed for black people in America since November. Unarmed black people of all ages and walks of life are still dying at the hands of police and the police are still getting away with it. 

    So if you have found yourself unengaged from the movement, your first action is to jump back in. Visit the websites and social media pages of organizations like Advancement Project, Alliance for Educational Justice, Color of Change, Dream Defenders, Law for Black Lives, and of course, The Movement for Black Lives. 

    Your next action is to get involved this week with Mama’s Bail Out Day, leading up to and happening on Mother’s Day, this Sunday, May 14th. The day is organized by National Bail Out, a partnership with Color of Change and The Movement for Black Lives, with the goal of reuniting families, resisting mass incarceration and ending the cash bail system once and for all. 

    The idea is simple: Local and national organizations participating in National Mama’s Bail Out Day are raising money to pay the bail of as many incarcerated mothers as possible, in all of their varieties - queer, trans, young, elder, and immigrant - and give them an opportunity to spend Mother’s Day with their families. Additionally, the organizations plan to build community through gatherings that highlight the impact of inhumane and destructive bail practices on our communities, particularly communities of color.  

    Why the focus on mothers? Women held in local jails represent the fastest growing group of incarcerated people in the United States. Since 1970, the number of women in US jails has increased by 14 times. Nearly 80% of women in jails are mothers and nearly half are in local jails for crimes they haven’t been convicted of. According to National Bail Out, we spend $9 billion on pre-trial incarceration in this country and the results are devastating. Even a few days in jail can catastrophically impact a woman’s family and community by putting her job, housing and even the custody of her children at risk. But if she can’t pay bail, she has no way out.

    The idea of paying bail to release these women comes from the tradition of enslaved black people who used their collective resources to purchase each other’s freedom before slavery was abolished. The National Bail Out website states, “Until we abolish bail and mass incarceration, we’re gonna free ourselves.”

    The more money National Bail Out can raise, the more women can be brought home for Mother’s Day and reengage with their communities. Visit NoMoreMoneyBail.org to donate and find the cities and organizations taking part in this action. You can also follow the movement on Twitter @NationalBailOut and engage with the hashtags #EndMoneyBail and #FreeBlackMamas.

    So, if resisting the devastating impacts of mass incarceration and bail practices on people of color is important to you, be sure to hit the share buttons to spread the word about Supporting Mama’s Bail Out Day This Mother’s Day via social media so that others in your network can spread the word too.

     

    TAKE ACTION 

    Support Mama's Bail Out Day this Mother's Day via @NationalBailOut 

    Engage online with the hashtags #FreeBlackMamas and #EndMoneyBail

    EDUCATE YOURSELF

    Locked Up for Being Poor (New York Times)

    Federal judge: Harris Co. bail system unfair to poor, low-level defendants (Houston Chronicle)

    Black Is the New Black: Number of African-American Women in Prison Is Rising (BET, 2014)

    Incarcerated Women and Girls (The Sentencing Project)

     

    Posted May 9, 2017; Written by Best of the Left Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman

     

    Hear this segment in the context of Best of the Left #1102: Racism built a system we all suffer under

     

     

  • Take Part in Global Divestment Mobilization Week May 5-13 via @GoFossilFree @350


    C-LZ-IzXUAAoZ0r.jpgDuring the height of the Keystone XL fight in 2012, we sat in a theater in Washington, DC, along with hundreds of other climate activists and concerned citizens, and heard 350.org founder Bill McKibben talk about climate action via divestment. Back then, the divestment movement was just getting started and within a year, there were student-led divestment efforts happening on college campuses across the country and around the world. Since then, the divestment mobilization has become a core strategy of the climate movement.

    With the national spotlight on science and climate change, 350.org has organized a week-long, Global Divestment Mobilization week May 5-13, on the heels of the People’s Climate March. The last Global Divestment Day was two years ago, so, it’s more than time - and perhaps the perfect time - to reinvigorate a movement that has taken off and grown substantially over recent years. 

    As you’ve heard on this show and everywhere by now, renewable energy is becoming more efficient and cost effective every year, but to have a chance at that future we have to keep fossil fuels in the ground….and we don’t have time to wait for the market to fix things. We need to make change happen now and money seems to be the only thing that talks in our corrupt, capitalist society.  

    On their website, the Divestment Week organizers wrote, “Now it’s time to highlight the impacts of fossil fuels on our planet and to demand action that is rooted in the moral argument that investing in fossil fuels is not only a financial risk, but also risking the lives of human beings.”

    During Global Divestment Mobilization Week, actions will take place around the globe to demand the following moral responses from governments, universities, religious organizations, cultural institutions, individuals, and others: 

    • Immediate freeze of any new investments in fossil fuel companies.
    • Divestment from direct ownership and any commingled funds that include fossil fuel public equities and corporate bonds within 5 years.
    • Cutting of sponsorship ties with fossil fuel companies

    Visit GlobalDivestmentMobilisation.org to learn more and to find actions near you. If there isn’t an action in your area, the site offers ideas and resources to organize one of your own. You can also follow the movement @GoFossilFree on Twitter and by checking out and using the official global hashtag #FossilFree.

    So, if saving the planet before it’s too late is important to you, be sure to hit the share buttons to spread the word about Taking Part in the Global Divestment Mobilization Week May 5-13 via social media so that others in your network can spread the word too.

     

     

    TAKE ACTION

    Join or organize Global Divestment Mobilization Actions, May 5-13,2017 

    Follow @GoFossilFree and @350 on Twitter 

    Engage with the Divestment Mobilization hashtag #FossilFree  

    EDUCATE YOURSELF

    Why Divestment is Changing the Climate Movement (The Nation, 2013)

    The rise and rise of the fossil fuel divestment movement (The Guardian, 2015)

    This is a Timed Test (Slate, Bill McKibben, 2015)


    Posted April 28, 2017; Written by Best of the Left Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman.

     

    Hear the segment in the context of Best of the Left Edition #1099: The science of the times

     

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F26RQ9PFRjk

     

  • Fight the War Economy By Growing Local #Peace Economies via @CodePink

    PeaceEcon33.pngThe big marches happening over the next few weekends will likely have an additional anti-war component now that Trump has bombed Syria, provoked North Korea, and dropped the MOAB - the largest and most expensive non-nuclear bomb we had in our military arsenal - on Afghanistan. 

    We encourage you to get in the streets for those marches, but also organize local actions in your communities in the days in-between to voice your rejection of American imperialism and the war economy, and support of multilateral, diplomatic strategies and solutions. Calling Congress to express these opinions is also crucial to making our voices heard.

    But in addition to rapid response actions, we can work locally and personally in the longer term to create the world we want to live in. Code Pink, the women-led grassroots anti-war organization founded during the Bush years, has launched a campaign to help raise awareness and encourage reflection about the fact that each and every one of us is invested in the war economy. We invest by the way we live and the decisions we make each day. But they believe, as I do, that we can divest from the war economy and cultivate a just, “Local Peace Economy” that creates conditions conducive to life by redirecting our investments to our local communities and people.  

    The fact is that the war economy is killing us. America has been at war for the last fourteen years and now Trump has put us on the brink of multiple, new escalations. This perpetual war, the widening wealth inequality, and refusal to deal with existential issues like climate change, are inextricably linked. The wealthy few hold an immense amount of power and control political, social, and economic systems to safeguard and expand their power. As Code Pink explains, this situation has resulted in “a social, ecological, economic, and political crisis that threatens life on earth.” 

    On the Local Peace Economy campaign page on their website, Code Pink writes, “Even though there is evidence that shows that humans are predisposed to be cooperative and sharing, the war economy survives by creating the experience of scarcity that forces the reliance on greed, selfishness, competition, and a sense that we are separate.” 

    Head over to CodePink.org/peaceeconomy to read more about the campaign, take the Peace Economy Pledge and read the Next Steps to begin growing your Peace Economy now.  

    The next steps include questions to ask yourself to see where in your life you are not living your values, a list of suggested organizations and causes to engage with that align with Peace Economy goals, how and where to invest financially in your local community, and much more. 

    So, if supporting an economy that promotes peace over war is important to you, be sure to hit the share buttons to spread the word about Fighting the War Economy by Growing Local Peace Economies via social media so that others in your network can spread the word too. 

    Mr. Roger’s once said, “We live in a world in which we need to share responsibility. It’s easy to say, ‘It’s not my child, not my community, not my world, not my problem.’ Then there are those who see the need and respond. I consider those people my heroes.”

     

     

    TAKE ACTION

    Visit codepink.org/peaceeconomy to learn more about divesting from war and investing in your community

    Take action with Next Steps to building a Local Peace Economy 

    Follow Code Pink @codepink or their Peace Economy campaign account @PeaceEcon

    EDUCATE YOURSELF

    What does an 'America First' Policy Actually Mean? (The Nation)

    No Rural-Urban Divide Here: We All Want Good Jobs and Strong Local Economies (YES! Magazine)

    What a Policy of Real Solidarity with the Syrian People Looks Like (YES! Magazine)

    Why These Missile Strikes Won't Make Things Better for the Syrian People (YES! Magazine)

    To Billionaire Doomsday Preppers: Your Wealth Won't Save You (YES! Magazine)

    Is War Good for the Economy? (Huffington Post Blog, 2013)

    A State of Perpetual War (Huffington Post Blog, 2010) 

    The US and NATO are Preparing for a Major War with Russia (The Nation, 2016)

     

    Posted April 14, 2017; Written by Best of the Left Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman 

     

    Hear this segment in the context of Best of the Left #1095: Reckless Empire and the Forever War (Foreign Policy)

     

  • Stop HR 620: Tell Congress to #ProtectADA via @NDRNAdvocates

    No_way_not_my_ada_edited.pngThere is little enforcement of the nearly 27 year old Americans with Disabilities Act, also known as the A.D.A. Every time their civil rights are infringed upon, citizens with disabilities must fight to defend those rights in court. That’s not an ideal situation, but it’s often the path that produces more immediate results in the society we live in. 

    The reality is that businesses, even after 27 years, continue to blatantly ignore ADA compliance. And now, a bi-partisan backed bill has been re-introduced by Representative Ted Poe of Texas that will weaken the one tool available to people with disabilities fighting for their civil rights, and the primary way the ADA is enforced. 

    HR 620, or the ADA Education and Reform Act of 2017, was born out of complaints from business owners that a cottage industry of legal firms has popped up to capitalize on the ADA by filing a multitude of what they deem to be “frivolous” law suits that hurt businesses.

    So, in an attempt to “protect business owners” who are already violating the law, HR 620 puts even more of a burden on the person whose rights are being violated. If this bill passes, a disabled person must first be denied access; then must determine that violations of the law have occurred; then must provide the business with specific written notice of which provisions of the law were violated and when; and finally, the aggrieved person with the disability must afford the business a lengthy period to correct the problem. The person whose civil rights are being ignored would have to endure and do all of this before they could even file a lawsuit. 

    The legislation failed to pass the House last year due to successful activism from the disability community to squelch it, but under a new administration it has reared its head again.

    In a letter to lawmakers, the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities wrote, “If, after 27 years, a business has continued to not comply with the requirements of this legislation, why should a person have to wait more time for enforcement of their civil rights? Should an individual who is not allowed to enter a restaurant because of their race, gender or religion, have to wait before seeking to enforce their civil rights?” 

    You can help kill this bill again, and perhaps for good, by calling your legislators today and telling them you will not stand for legislation that weakens the ADA and puts more burden on the very people it aims to protect, while businesses continue to violate a 27 year old civil rights law. Get up to speed on the bill, read the statements from the disability community, and watch and share videos about the importance of the ADA and how we can build on it, on the National Disability Rights Network website at NDRN.org. 

    So, if defending civil rights for all is important to you, be sure to hit the share buttons to spread the word about telling congress to protect the Americans with Disabilities Act via social media so that others in your network can spread the word too.

     

     

    TAKE ACTION 

    Visit the NDRN website to read up on the response to HR 620 and learn what you can do to protect the ADA

    Call Congress, especially the 14 co-sponsors of HR 620 (7 Republicans, 7 Democrats) 

    Learn more about disability culture and experiences through personal stories via Disability Visibility Project and about the importance of disabled people in public service via #CriptheVote.

    EDUCATE YOURSELF  

    HR 620: ADA Education and Reform Act of 2017 (via Countable.us) 

    Overview of Concerns on HR 620 (via NDRN.org)

    Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities Letter of Opposition for ADA Education and Reform Act of 2017, HR 620 (via NDRN.org)

    People with Disabilities Battle Trump (via Workers World)

    Denham bill would fight ADA lawsuit abuse (via Central Valley Business Journal)

     

    Posted April 11, 2017; Written by Best of the Left Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman 

     

    Hear the segment in the context of Best of the Left Edition #1094: An identity group that any one of us might join at any time (Disability Rights)

  • Get in the Streets! Join #ScienceMarch on 4/22 & People's #ClimateMarch on 4/29 via @ScienceMarchDC and @Peoples_Climate

    Screen_Shot_2017-04-07_at_9.14.51_PM.pngIf you’ve been waiting for the second coming of the Women’s March, this could be it. Two major rallies, which both have had months of planning, preparation and outreach, are scheduled back to back weekends at the end of April. 

    On Earth Day, April 22nd, scientists around the world will march side-by-side with those who believe in science and want to defend it from climate deniers, religious extremists, oil and coal companies and the Trump administration - which, of course, is made up of representatives from all of those anti-science, special interest groups.  

    On the march website, the organizers wrote, “The march has generated a great deal of conversation around whether or not scientists should involve themselves in politics. In the face of an alarming trend toward discrediting scientific consensus and restricting scientific discovery, we might ask instead: can we afford not to speak out in its defense?”  

    Go to MarchforScience.com to learn more about the details of the march and, if you can’t make it to DC, find one of the 480 satellite marches near you. You can also follow the march on Twitter @ScienceMarchDC.

    After the March for Science, you have a week to rest up and then get in the streets again for the second People’s Climate March.

    In 2014, we were proud to be some of over 400,000 people who marched in the streets of New York City for the first People’s Climate March on the eve of the UN Climate Summit, demanding urgent action on the global climate crisis. We made history and our numbers and voices could not be ignored. Limited - but important - progress was made.

    This second march, taking place on the 100th day of the Trump Administration, is a fight to protect those gains, however small, and continue to push to make the climate crisis impossible to ignore politically. 

    As with every single political issue, climate is intersectional. The march aims to…

    • Advance solutions to the climate crisis [that are] rooted in racial, social and economic justice and committed to protecting front-line communities and workers.
    • Protect our right to clean air, water, land, healthy communities and a world at peace.
    • Immediately stop attacks on immigrants, communities of color, indigenous and tribal people and lands and workers.
    • Ensure public funds and investments create good paying jobs that provide a family-sustaining wage and benefits and preserve workers’ rights, including the right to unionize.
    • Fund investments in our communities, people and environment to transition to a new clean and renewable energy economy that works for all.
    • Protect our basic rights to a free press, protest and free speech.

    Go to PeoplesClimate.org to learn more about the march and, if you can’t make it to DC, find one of the sister marches happening across the country and around the world. You can also follow the march on Twitter @Peoples_Climate. 

    So, if you believe in science and saving humanity from climate change, be sure to hit the share buttons to spread the word about Getting in the streets for the March for Science and the People’s Climate March via social media so that others in your network can spread the word too.

    As the People’s Climate Movement has always said, “to change everything, we need everyone.” So, let’s show up for our future…and claim it. 

     

     

     

    TAKE ACTION

    April 22nd (Earth Day): March for Science Follow: @ScienceMarchDC

    April 29th (Trump’s 100th Day): People’s Climate March Follow: @Peoples_Climate

    EDUCATE YOURSELF

    Activists Announce People's Climate March (Huffington Post)

    Peoples Climate Movement Releases March Route (Common Dreams)

    Climate Justice Organizations Call for "People's Climate March" on April 29 (DemocracyNow!)

    Pussy Hats Making Way For Resistor Beanies In Science March (Huffington Post)

    This man in a space suit has a message for Earthlings (CNN)

    Congress’s one PhD-trained scientist will join march on Washington (STAT News)


    Posted April 7, 2017; Written by Best of the Left Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman

     

    Hear the segment in context on Best of the Left Edition #1093: The Exxon President goes to war with the planet (Climate)

  • #SaveOurSchools: Stop Legislation that Kills Public Education & Hurts Poor Children via @Network4PubEd

    Diane_Ravitch_quote.pngIf you haven’t heard about bill HR-610, which includes the “Choices and Education Act of 2017” and the sick and ironically named “No Hungry Kids Act,” you need to get it on your radar. This bill, introduced by Representative Steve King from Iowa, would not only defund our public education system as we know it, but literally remove any and all nutritional requirements for food provided to poor children, all in the name of “school choice.” 

    Luckily, while in committee, the bill stalled. So why are we talking about it? Because this is the first draft. An inside look, if you will, at what the Republicans want to do to public education. King’s bill is Betsy DeVos’ dream, and rest assured that this bill, wrapped in sheep’s clothing and a new name, will be what comes to the House floor for a vote in the near future.

    HR-610 basically reduces the role of the Department of Education down to a block grant distributer by repealing the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, and establishes an education voucher program. States are only qualified to receive the federal education block grants if they comply with the education voucher program requirements and make it lawful for parents to choose to send their child to any public or private school in the state, or to home-school. This cripples the entity in charge of setting and enforcing national education standards, including anti-discrimination and programs to help children with learning disabilities. It also sends your tax dollars away from public schools and into the coffers of private, religious and charter schools which aren’t held to the same standards as public schools. In short, this is the privatization of education.

    The second part of this bill has the audacity to repeal nutrition standards for the national school lunch and breakfast programs. Apparently, Republicans feel we can’t be wasting money on making sure poor children eat food that might help them stay healthy, become strong and able to focus better in the classroom.

    We can get ahead of bills like this by speaking up now and drawing attention to the damage this kind of legislation will do. That’s why your action today is to call Congress and tell them you oppose voucher programs, depletion of nutrition standards for recipients of free and reduced lunch programs, and any bill remotely similar to HR 610. 

    Get involved on the national and local level by joining up with the Network for Public Education, lead by Diane Ravitch. Head over to