THE MIDTERMS MINUTE (Primaries): Support Progressives in Connecticut and Vermont (and MN and WI) on 8/14
Welcome 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)
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)
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)
THE MIDTERMS MINUTE (Primaries): #WhatsAtStake with Kavanaugh & Support Progressives in Wisconsin (and MN, CT, VT) on 8/14
Welcome 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.)
But before we get into the primary races today, we want to direct your attention to the Southern Poverty Law Center’s campaign to block the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh. SPLC has identified 6 key senators whose votes could make the difference. They are asking you to call each of them weekly until the confirmations hearings begin.
Those Senators include:
Republican Lisa Murkowski of Alaska
Republican Susan Collins of Maine
...and four politically vulnerable Democrats in deep red states:
Joe Donnelly of Indiana
Joe Manchin of West Virginia
Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota
and Doug Jones of Alabama.
Even if they're not your Senators, we need to flood their phone lines to make sure they understand what’s at stake. Encourage others to do the same by sharing this on social media with the hashtag #WhatsAtStake.
Now, on to the primaries, which are basically a practice run for civic action head of November.
Last episode, we featured Hawaii’s primaries on August 11th and of the August 14th primaries, we spotlighted Minnesota. If you missed it, check out the segment in episode #1196 or visit the blog post. Wisconsin, Connecticut and Vermont also have primaries on August 14th, and today, we’re diving into Wisconsin.
AUGUST 14th
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)
1st District: Change is already in the air in Wisconsin. Democrats soundly won two important state seats in red districts earlier this year. In Wisconsin’s 1st district, Justice Democrat and ironworker Randy Bryce is up against teacher Cathy Myers to run for Paul Ryan’s seat in November. These two candidates have very similar platforms, but Bryce - also known as the “Iron Stache” - was the candidate endorsed by Bernie Sanders and the United Auto Workers, among others. It recently came to light that Bryce was arrested multiple times for various offenses 20 years ago. Bryce has written a response.
7th District: In Wisconsin’s 7th district, two candidates are vying for the chance to take on four-term Republican Representative Sean Duffy. Veteran and lawyer Margaret Engebretson is running on a platform including single-payer, while her opponent wants a public option. Engebretson has been endorsed by the national advocacy group Demand Universal Healthcare.
Governor: This November, Wisconsin has a real chance to unseat anti-union, dark-money-puppet Scott Walker from his governorship once and for all. As a reminder, whoever holds the office will be involved in the state’s redistricting process following the 2020 Census. Former State Superintendent, Tony Evers, is leading in the Democratic primary polls. His campaign is focusing on unity and liberal policies, like the end of solitary confinement and adopting automatic voter registration. But candidate Mike McCabe - who is polling at only 5.5% right now - is refusing individual donations over $200, wants to test run a basic income program, and make the state healthcare an option for everyone. Bernie Sanders has said nice things about him, but hasn’t officially endorsed his campaign yet.
Important Dates: If you're a Wisconsin resident, to vote in the primaries your registration must be post-marked by July 25th, or you can register in-person by August 10th. More Wisconsin voting info.
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):
Take Action with SPLC's #WhatsAtStake SCOTUS Campaign:
Stop Kavanaugh: SPLC's list of 6 Senators and their contact information
RSVP to call these Senators weekly until the confirmation hearings
Midterms Resources:
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:
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)
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.
Due to time, the following states either have been *featured already or will be soon:
*Minnesota (Reg. Deadlines - Primaries: Online: July 24th, In person: Until August 14th / General: Oct. 9th)
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
*Connecticut (Reg. Deadlines - Primaries: Online & mail-in: Received by 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 - Primaries: 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
Posted July 17, 2018; Written by Best of the Left Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman
Hear the segment in the context of Best of the Left Edition #1197: Showing up at the last minute to fight for the Supreme Court
THE MIDTERMS MINUTE (Primaries): Support Progressives in Hawaii on 8/11 & Minnesota (and WI, CT, VT) on 8/14
Welcome 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.)
Whether it’s canvassing in your state, calling voters in another state or donating to progressive campaigns in the final weeks before primaries, you can make a difference.
AUGUST 11TH:
HAWAII (Reg. Deadlines - Primaries: Online: July 12th, In person: Until August 11th / General: Oct. 9th)
1st District: Hawaii’s primary election will take place August 11th. The state’s 1st district is facing a crowded field of candidates. But there is only one candidate fighting for a truly progressive vision and that’s Kaniela Ing, whose endorsements include Justice Democrats, The Working Families Party and 350 Action. In this heavily blue district, whoever wins the primary will very likely go to Washington.
2nd District: In Hawaii’s 2nd district, veteran and Bernie Sanders supporter Tulsi Gabbard is up for reelection. She’s facing two primary challengers - one of whom is criticizing Gabbard’s focus on peace and anti-interventionalism. Yup, you heard that right.
Important Dates: If you’re a Hawaiian resident, you must have been registered online by Thursday, July 12th to vote in the primaries. But if you missed this deadline, voters are eligible for late registration at either an early walk-in voting location or an election day polling place. Absentee ballot requests must be made by August 4th. For the general, the online registration deadline is October 9th.
AUGUST 14TH:
MINNESOTA (Reg. Deadlines - Primaries: Online: July 24th, In person: Until August 14th / General: Oct. 9th)
After Hawaii, a slew of Democratic primaries will be held on August 14th in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Connecticut and Vermont (click the links to see our spotlights for those states). Today, we’re focusing on Minnesota.
5th District: Minnesota is facing electoral musical chairs in November. House Rep and DNC Deputy Chair, Keith Ellison, has decided to run for State Attorney General this year and five candidates are running for his seat in Minnesota’s 5th district. Of the group, Somali refugee and former State Rep. Ilhan Omar has been endorsed by Our Revolution Twin Cities, MoveOn, and more. She is running on a progressive platform that includes $15 federal minimum wage and abolishing ICE.
8th District: Meanwhile, a hotly contested primary is brewing in Minnesota’s 8th district, which flipped from supporting Obama by 6 points to supporting Trump by 15. Former news anchor, Michelle Lee, is running on a progressive platform that includes Medicare for All and reversing Citizens United. She is also speaking out against a proposed copper nickel sulfide mining project that would pose great risk to the Lake Superior Watershed and communities.
U.S. Senate: Minnesota’s primaries will also include selecting a nominee for Al Franken’s Senate seat. Voters are choosing between former Bush ethics lawyer Richard Painter and former Minnesota Lieutenant Governor, Tina Smith. Painter recently left the GOP and and was endorsed by Our Revolution Minnesota, perhaps because he supports Medicare for All. His campaign is primarily based on impeaching Trump. Smith has been mostly ignoring Painters candidacy and has been endorsed by Keith Ellison, NRDC, SEIU Minnesota, and more.
Governor: Finally, the Minnesota gubernatorial race is critical. 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. Former nurse and long-time State Rep., Erin Murphy, has been endorsed by Our Revolution Minnesota, NARAL, and the state Democratic Party’s Disability Caucus.
Important Dates: If you’re a Minnesota resident, you can register online by July 24th to vote in the primaries. Minnesota also offers same day registration and voting up through primary day, but earlier is always better. The deadline for online registration for the general is October 16th.
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
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 11th Primary:
Hawaii (Reg. Deadlines - Primaries: Online: July 12th, In person: Until August 11th / General: Oct. 9th)
U.S. House - 1st District: Kaniela Ing
U.S. House - 2nd District: Tulsi Gabbard (Incumbent)
August 14th Primaries:
Minnesota (Reg. Deadlines - Primaries: Online: July 24th, In person: Until August 14th / General: Oct. 9th)
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
Due to time, the following states will be featured in depth on a future episode:
*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)
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.
*Connecticut (Reg. Deadlines - Primaries: Online & mail-in: Received by 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 - Primaries: 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
Correction: South Dakota was originally listed in on air segment, but 8/14 is actually the runoff date. There will not be runoffs.
Posted July 13, 2018; Written by Best of the Left Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman
Hear the segment in the context of Best of the Left Edition #1196: Building a media that support rather than undermines democracy
THE MIDTERMS MINUTE (Primaries): Support Progressives in TN (8/2) & KS, MO, MI, WA, OH (8/7)
"The 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.)
Primary season is in full swing. Democratic Socialist Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez knocking out Democrat Joe Crowley in New York last month, was the primary victory heard round the world. And we are going to need more progressive wins like that to solidify the message that real reform is finally here.
AUGUST 2ND:
TENNESSEE (Reg. Deadlines: Primaries: July 3rd/ General: Oct. 9th)
2nd District: Tennessee’s Democratic Primaries take place August 2nd. In Tennessee’s 2nd district, Brand New Congress has endorsed Marc Whitmire, a former veteran and small business owner, for Congress. He will now be running as an Independent and therefore will only be on the November ballot.
3rd District: In Tennessee’s 3rd district, Dr. Danielle Mitchell, a family physician, has also been endorsed by Brand New Congress and is running unopposed in the primary.
U.S. Senate: In the Senate race, former Tennessee governor and moderate Democrat Phill Bredesen is already leading in polls against rabid Trump Republican Marsha Blackburn in the race for Bob Corker’s Senate seat. Bredesen has one single-payer supporting primary opponent, John Wolfe, but he hasn't reported any campaign fundraising. Progressives may have to hold their noses in the general.
Governor: In the Democratic primary for Governor, no progressives are in the fight, but Craig Fitzhugh and Karl Dean have more than a few differences. Fitzhugh has an endorsement from a state teachers PAC, while Dean has a history of advocating and supporting charter schools. Dean has also been accused of attracting the NRA to Nashville to hold their convention there and he has no qualms about the state's capitol punishment law.
Important Dates: If you’re a Tennessee resident and you were registered to vote by July 3rd, you can vote in the primaries. If you missed this cut off, be sure to get registered before October 9th to be able to vote in the general election.
AUGUST 7TH:
KANSAS (Reg. Deadlines: Primaries: July 17th/ General: Oct. 16th)
3rd District: In Kansas’ 3rd District, labor lawyer Brent Welder has received endorsements from every progressive organization, including Congressional Progressive Caucus. He previously worked on Bernie Sander’s presidential campaign and is running on a platform of a $15 minimum wage and Medicare for All.
4th District: In Kansas’ 4th district, civil rights lawyer James Thompson is running for Congress and has received the same progressive endorsements as Welder. If he wins his primary, Thompson will run against a vulnerable incumbent backed by the Koch brothers.
Important Dates: If you’re a resident of Kansas, you need to be registered by July 17th to vote in the primaries and by October 16th to vote in the general.
MISSOURI (Reg. Deadlines: Primaries: July 11th/ General: Oct. 10th)
1st District: In Missouri’s 1st district, Cori Bush, a former teacher, registered nurse, and pastor, is running for congress against a long time Democratic incumbent. She’s recently been the victim of vicious, sexist trolling and is not having any of it. She’s endorsed by Brand New Congress, Justice Democrats, and others.
7th District: Jamie Schoolcraft has worked as a Fireman Paramedic, physician's assistant, and is the former Mayor of Willard for 2 terms. He ran for state senate in a dark red district, got 46% of the vote, and personally knocked on 32k doors.
Heads up! U.S. Senate: It’s also worth noting that moderate Democratic Senator Clair McCaskill is facing a hell of a fight to retain her seat in the general. Although she is no favorite of progressives, the left can’t afford to lose her seat. Another nose holding situation for November.
Important Dates: If you are a Missouri resident, your voter registration must be complete or post marked no later than July 11th to vote in the primary, and October 10th to vote in the general.
There were too many progressive candidates running in Michigan and Washington state to mention on the show (great problem to have!), so below is the "no frills" list for each state with links:
MICHIGAN (Reg. Deadlines: Primaries: July 9th /Absentee: Request by Aug 4th, received by Aug 7th/ General: Oct. 9th)
- 1st district - Matt Morgan (Justice Dem)
- 2nd district - Robert Davidson (Justice Dem)
- 6th district - David Benac (Justice Dem)
- 11th district - Fayrouz Saad (Justice Dem)
- 13th district - Rashida Tlaib (Justice Dem)
- Governor: Dr. Abdul El-Sayed (Justice Dem) (Rhodes scholar, physician & former health commissioner of Detroit)
Important Dates: You must be registered to vote by July 9th to vote in the Michigan primaries. Requests for absentee ballots must be received by August 4th and ballots themselves must be received by August 7th.
WASHINGTON (Reg. Deadlines: Primaries: Only July 9th; In person request by July 30th / General: Oct 8th)
- 3rd district - Dorothy Gasque (Justice Dem)
- 7th district - Pramila Jayapal (incumbent) (Justice Dem)
- 9th district - Sarah Smith (Justice Dem)
Important Dates: You must be registered to vote by July 9th to vote in the Washington primaries or register in person by July 30th.
OHIO (Reg. Deadlines: Primaries: July 9th / Early voting starts July 10th/ General: Oct 9th)
*Special Election* in 12th District : And finally, Ohio is having a special election for their 12th district congressional seat that has been empty since January. The winner could hold the seat for just 5 months, depending on the general, but those months will matter. Danny O’Connor is the Democrat in this race. He doesn’t have the far left endorsements, but he does have Democratic Progressives of Ohio, Planned Parenthood and the regional SEIU. And that’s gonna have to be good enough because Trump won this district.
Important Dates: If you’re a Ohio resident of district 12, you must be registered to vote by July 9th to vote in this special election. Early voting starts on July 10th and absentee ballots much be post marked by August 6th and received by the 17th.
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 around 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
Check your state 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 2nd Primaries:
Tennessee (Reg. Deadlines: Primaries: July 3rd/ General: Oct. 9th)
U.S. House - 2nd District: Marc Whitmire (not on primary ballot, running as Independent in November)
U.S. House - 3rd District: Dr. Danielle Mitchell (unopposed in primary, could face incumbent Charles Fleischmann in the general)
Governor - Craig Fitzhugh vs. Karl Dean (Dem debate coverage)
U.S. Senate - Phill Bedesen (moderate) vs. John Wolfe (for single-payer, no fundraising reports filed) (Could face Marsha Blackburn in the general)
August 7th Primaries:
Kansas (Reg. Deadlines: Primaries: July 17th/ General: Oct. 16th)
U.S. House - 3rd District: Brent Welder (Justice Dem, Brand New Congress)
U.S. House - 4th District: James Thompson (Justice Dem, Brand New Congress)
Missouri (Reg. Deadlines: Primaries: July 11th/ General: Oct. 10th)
U.S. House - 1st District: Cori Bush (Justice Dem, Brand New Congress)
U.S. House - 7th District: Jamie Schoolcraft (Justice Dem)
Heads Up! General Nov. 6th: U.S. Senate - Clair McCaskill (incumbent, moderate Dem facing tough GOP challenger)
Governor: Dr. Abdul El-Sayed (Justice Democrat)
1st district - Matt Morgan (Justice Dem)
2nd district - Robert Davidson (Justice Dem)
6th district - David Benac (Justice Dem)
11th district - Fayrouz Saad (Justice Dem)
13th district - Rashida Tlaib (Justice Dem)
Washington (Reg. Deadlines: Primaries: Only July 9th; In person request by July 30th / General: Oct 8th)
3rd district - Dorothy Gasque (Justice Dem)
7th district - Pramila Jayapal (incumbent) (Justice Dems)
9th district - Sarah Smith (Justice Dems)
Ohio (Reg. Deadlines: Primaries: July 9th / Early voting starts July 10th/ General: Oct 9th)
*Special Election* U.S. House - 12th District - Danny O’Connor (Democrat)
Posted July 3rd, 2018; Written by Best of the Left Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman
Hear the segment in the context of Best of the Left Edition #1194: The why and the how to make voting cool again (Elections)
Tell Congress: Punitive Drug Policies Don’t Work. Harm-Reduction Does. via @DrugPolicyOrg
This month, in the midst of the chaos of yet another major east coast snowstorm, Attorney General Jeff Sessions released a memo “strongly encouraging” federal prosecutors to apply charges that bring the death penalty in certain drug cases, including “dealing in extremely large quantities of drugs.”
As this is part of the Trump administration’s response to the opioid crisis, many, including myself, have wondered aloud if Sessions would advocate using capital punishment on pharmaceutical executives.
The ACLU responded to Session’s memo by calling it absurd and unconstitutional, stating, “Drug trafficking is not an offense for which someone can receive the death penalty. The Supreme Court has repeatedly and consistently rejected the use of the death penalty in cases where there has been no murder by the convicted individual.”
Beyond that, the organization Drug Policy Alliance has extensively detailed reports on why what are called “drug-induced homicide” laws are counterproductive and inhumane. At the peak of the War on Drugs in the 1980s, the federal government and many states passed these laws to punish people who provided drugs that led to accidental overdose deaths with sentences equivalent to those for manslaughter and murder. They were rarely used, but with the recent spike in overdose deaths, they have been revived by police and prosecutors. There was a 300 percent increase in these charges from 2011 to 2016.
As with most drug laws, drug-induced homicide laws disproportionately affect the poor, people of color, and those with felony records who have a difficult time getting jobs. Not only that, but they can provide a disincentive to call for help when witnessing an overdose if that person has provided the drugs. And we’re not just talking about selling drugs to a stranger. Many have lost loved ones from an accidental overdose after sharing drugs with them and then lost their freedom, and sometimes children, because they were the ones who provided those drugs.
The Drug Policy Alliance is encouraging people to respond to Session’s memo by writing and calling your members of congress. On their campaign page, which we’ve linked to in the show notes, they have provided a sample letter that you can send immediately to your members of congress. That letter can also double as a call script guide.
The Drug Policy Alliance advocates for the expansion of harm reduction services and effective treatment, including establishment of safe consumption services, drug checking, syringe access programs, 911 Good Samaritan laws and evidence-based drug education. The organization also advocates for the Marijuana Justice Act that would end federal marijuana prohibition, support racial justice, and help repair communities most devastated by the war on drugs. But, as you know, we need to take back the House and Senate this November if we ever hope to see that legislation passed. Head over to DrugPolicy.org to learn more.
So, if opposing failed policies and adopting the solutions that will save lives instead is important to you, be sure to hit the share buttons to spread the word about Telling Congress that Punitive Drug Policies Don’t Work. Harm-Reduction Does. via social media so that others in your network can spread the word too.
Trump’s proposal to execute people who sell drugs is alarming, appalling and wrong.
— Drug Policy Alliance (@DrugPolicyOrg) March 21, 2018
Help us fight back: Tell Congress to stand against punitive drug policies and to embrace harm reduction solutions that are proven to save lives. https://t.co/wiNnEM3A6E pic.twitter.com/CFAfl3R8DPTAKE ACTION
Tell Congress: Stand Against Harsh Drug Penalties via Drug Policy Alliance
Tip: Use the sample email as guidance for a call script.
EDUCATE YOURSELF
An Overdose Death Is Not Murder: Why Drug-Induced Homicide Laws Are Counterproductive and Inhumane (Drug Policy Alliance)
Experts React to Trump’s Plan to Escalate Drug War and Impose Death Penalty for Drug Offenses (Drug Policy Alliance)
Read: Jeff Sessions’s memo asking federal prosecutors to seek the death penalty for drug traffickers (Vox)
Eleven countries studied, one inescapable conclusion – the drug laws don’t work (The Guardian, 2014)
Posted March 27, 2018; Written by Best of the Left Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman
Hear the segment in the context of Best of the Left Edition #1174: Renewed and repackaged racism (Drug War)
Support #OperationPUSH & Join Juneteenth 2018 Call to End Prison Slavery via @IWW_IWOC
Two years ago, a nationwide prison strike on the anniversary of the Attica Uprising lead by prisoners behind the “Free Alabama Movement” put the inhumane conditions of America’s prisons in the national spotlight.
It’s clear now that was just the beginning.
On Martin Luther King Day this year, Florida inmates - part of the third largest prison system in the country - began a work stoppage and commissary boycott called Operation PUSH. Florida, like many other states, relies on prisoners to grow food, do laundry, cook, clean and handle maintenance in the prisons - work that would cost millions of dollars if contracted out to companies. Prisoners also do work outside the prison, performing 3.15 million hours of work valued at more than $38 million statewide in 2017, including cleanup work after Hurricane Irma. Just like workers in labor unions - which prisoners are not allowed to be part of - the prisoners are withholding their work to amplify their value and get Governor Rick Scott’s attention.
The Operation PUSH campaign demands are simple:
- They want payment for prison labor, rather than the current slave arrangement;
- an end to outrageous canteen prices;
- and reintroduction of parole incentives to lifers and those with parole or release dates unimaginably far in the future, also called “Buck Rogers dates.”
In addition to the three primary demands, the prisoners are also fighting to stop overcrowding and acts of brutality by prison officers; expose dangerous environmental living conditions; stop the state from executing prisoners by using a legal loophole to get around the execution moratorium, and restore voting rights as a basic human right regardless of criminal convictions.
It’s been two months now and this campaign is still active, despite retaliation on both the prisoners and their families. In response to the protest, the Florida Department of Corrections cancelled weekend visitations at several state institutions and have excused this act by claiming family members are bringing contraband into the prisons. Family members and activists have been rallying outside the public visitors entrance this week in response.
For more information on Operation Push and details on how you can support it, visit the Industrial Workers of the World's Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee website at incarcerated workers dot org. There you will find out how to attend or organize an upcoming event, have your organization officially endorse the campaign, write to a striking prisoner to show your support, and donate to the fundraiser to support the prisoners during their strike.
You can also follow Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee on Twitter at @IWW_IWOC and use the hashtag #OperationPUSH on social media to spread the word.
Whenever this strike ends, the fight will still be far from over. You can help carry the torch and raise awareness about the shameful state of American incarceration and the modern slavery it condones by joining the Juneteenth 2018 Call to End Prison Slavery.
This call to action for international organizing and solidarity on or around June 19th, or Juneteenth, a day commemorating the announcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in Texas three years after it was actually signed, comes from a prisoner activist in Texas, Keith ‘Malik’ Washington. Washington, along with the Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee and the New African Black Panther Party’s Prison Chapter, asks for “mutual aid in raising the public’s awareness in regard to the movement which seeks to abolish prison slavery and Amend the 13th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.” Currently, he is advocating for organized viewings of Ava DuVernay’s documentary “13th,” which if you haven’t seen, you must. You can learn more about this action by going to the Fight Toxic Prisons website.
So, if fighting mass incarceration and modern day slavery in America is important to you, be sure to hit the share buttons to spread the word about Support #OperationPUSH and Join the Juneteenth 2018 Call to End Prison Slavery via social media so that others in your network can spread the word too.
Tell them to recognize the human rights of prisoners:
— IWOC (@IWW_IWOC) March 8, 2018
Oppose the plan to cut visitation
Stop price gouging families for goods and services
Pay prisoners a fair wage for their labor
Bring back parole
End repression against prisoners organizing to improve conditionsTAKE ACTION
Support Operation PUSH - Incarcerated Worker’s Organizing Committee
Support Juneteenth 2018 Call to End Prison Slavery - Fight Toxic Prisons
Other Resources:
Check out Free Alabama Movement’s “ALABAMA'S EDUCATION, REHABILITATION, AND RE-ENTRY PREPAREDNESS BILL"
Check out ACLU New Jersey’s “A Vision to End Mass Incarceration in New Jersey”
EDUCATE YOURSELF
Prisoner Rights Advocates Rally Against Visitation Cutbacks In Florida Prisons (WUFT)
Both Red and Blue States Rely on Prison Labor (via The American Prospect)
Prison labour is a billion-dollar industry, with uncertain returns for inmates (The Economist)
The NCAA Says Student-Athletes Shouldn’t Be Paid Because the 13th Amendment Allows Unpaid Prison Labor (The Intercept)
Florida is afraid of its prison system. Here’s what lawmakers want to do about it. (Tampa Bay Times)
Florida Prisoners Prepare To Strike, Demanding an End to Unpaid Labor and Brutal Conditions (The Intercept)
Enlisting Prison Labor to Close Budget Gaps (via The New York Times, 2011)
4 Reasons to End Prison Labor Immediately (Care2)
Posted March 16, 2018; Written by Best of the Left Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman
Hear the segment in the context of Best of the Left Edition #1171: Debt, profit and modern-day slavery (Injustice System)
#TakeCTRL: Stop ALPR Surveillance in Your Community with CCOPS Laws via @ACLU
As if there weren’t enough reasons not to have a car, here’s one more.
Automated License Plate Readers, or ALPRs, are high-speed, computer controlled camera systems that automatically collect all license plate numbers that come into view along with location, date and time data. These cameras are bolted on traffic lights, telephone polls, overpasses, and squad cars, in towns and cities across America. Think of it like browser cookies, but instead of your web history, ALPRs track your whereabouts as you live your life in your community using your license plate as an ID. Local law enforcement agencies then purchase this data from ALPR providers to use as they see fit.
When ALPRs came on the scene, the civil liberty concerns were glaring. This was yet another surveillance technology with zero accountability or regulation disproportionately impacting communities of color and other unjustly targeted groups.
To help communities fight back, two months before the 2016 presidential election, the ACLU formed the Community Control Over Police Surveillance, or CCOPS, coalition effort, providing guiding principles for local anti-surveillance legislation, as well as a C COPS model bill. In short, these principles and the model bill emphasize the right for the people and City Councils to be notified and engaged at every turn when it comes to proposed adoption of surveillance technology in their community. Nothing will be grandfathered in, every approval will be specific, every technology will be thoroughly reviewed at all angles, and the process must be entirely transparent and well-informed.
Then came Trump, and the necessity for cities to protect themselves at the local level became even more urgent with the pending implementation of his racist, deportation-heavy agenda. Not to mention the attacks on First Amendment rights as the people immediately began resisting.
By the summer of 2017, cities like Seattle; Nashville; Somerville, Massachusetts; and Santa Clara County, California - yes, the home of Silicon Valley - had all passed CCOPS laws. As of that time, nineteen other cities had C COPS laws in the works with Maine and California working on passing statewide CCOPS measures.
But it is more important than ever to keep the anti-surveillance movement alive.
Last month, ICE announced that they have entered into a contract with an ALPR provider, giving them agency-wide access to a nationwide license plate recognition database and the ability to conduct real-time location tracking. ICE has claimed they will not collect or contribute any data to a national public or private database, but somehow that doesn’t make you feel any better, does it?
The Verge reported that the contract is with Vigilant Solutions, the largest ALPR provider in the country. According to The Verge, Vigilant has collected data on 2 billion license plate photos by partnering with vehicle repossession agencies and local law enforcement agencies. The photos come tagged with a date, time and GPS coordinates of the sighting. They know where you have been, where you came from, and they can even find out if other vehicles are associated with your location trends. I don’t think I have to spell out for you what that means.
Because Vigilant and other ALPR providers are private companies operating in the Wild West of mass surveillance technology culture, there are no regulations or oversight to reign them in. Contracting out this work makes it easy for ICE to violate civil liberties without having their hands directly dirtied.
Protecting your community and your most vulnerable neighbors, coworkers and friends must include stopping ALPRs, and therefore limiting the data available to Federal agencies like ICE. Go to www.CommunityCTRL.com for the CCOPS guiding principles and model bill. You can also contact the ACLU through the same page to get help passing a CCOPS law where you live.
So, if defending civil liberties in your community and across the country is important to you, be sure to hit the share buttons to spread the word about #TakeCTRL: Stop ALPR Surveillance in Your Community with CCOPS Laws via @ACLU via social media so that others in your network can spread the word too.
TAKE ACTION
Go to ACLU's Community Control Over Police Surveillance (CCOPS) for guidance principles and a model bill for your community
Check out the #TakeCTRL hashtag for more actions and information
EDUCATE YOURSELF
Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs) (EFF.org)
Exclusive: ICE is about to start tracking license plates across the US (The Verge)
California: We Need Privacy When We Park Our Cars (EFF.org)
ICE Accesses a Massive Amount of License Plate Data. Will California Take Action? (EFF.org)
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 #1161: Privacy, what is it good for? (Privacy Rights)
Thank Black Women with Actions Not Just Words
In the wake of the Alabama Senate race heard round the world, there has been a lot of well-deserved and overdue thanks going out to black women. According to exit polls, black turnout surged and 98 percent of Alabama black women who cast ballots voted for Doug Jones, helping deliver a sound victory against Roy Moore.
And while words of thanks are important, it’s time to turn those words into actions of support for a community that has been at the forefront of critical elections and movements throughout history.
Activist and writer Brittney Packet wrote a widely shared article in The Cut that highlights organizations you can support to put your money where your mouth is when it comes to thanking black women. In it she writes…
“Give because our power has been proven time and again — despite movements silencing us, funders forgetting us, and voter suppression restricting us. Give because Black women show up to save the country time and again.”
Another article along these lines was published in The Little Rock Sun with the title “15 Ways to Thank Black Women for Carrying the Country on Their Backs.”
We encourage you to check out both articles which we’ve linked to in the show notes, but we also wanted to highlight a few of these authors’ suggestions on the show today.
Black women are still underrepresented in politics. Higher Heights Leadership Fund seeks to elevate Black women’s voices to shape and advance progressive policies and to provide opportunities for these women to build their leadership skills. Check out their hashtag Black Women Lead campaign to help amplify and go to higherheightsleadershipfund.org to learn more.
Black voters in Alabama cast votes at a higher rate than white voters despite new strict voter ID laws and the closing of DMV offices in predominantly black parts of the state. The organization Woke Vote, a collaborative of grassroots organizers in the south, was part of that success. They heavily canvassed black neighborhoods to register voters and get out the vote for Jones. Go to WokeVote.us to learn more.
The all-black team at Stay Woke is working with Rock the Vote in Florida to restore the right to vote for those banned from voting due to a prior conviction. Because Florida has laws like that. Stay Woke is getting signatures for a petition to get an initiative on the ballot in 2018 that could restore 1.6 million Floridians ability to vote if passed. Floridians can sign petitions and volunteer and non-Floridians can donate petitions to be mailed and spread the word. The petition must be completed by February 1st. Go to Florida.ourstates.org to get involved.
We’re only skimming the surface here, of course. We need to work on closing the wage gap, reproductive rights, fighting voter suppression laws, fighting for a living wage, helping to reverse the alarming mortality rate for black mothers, and reading black publications and following black activists on social media to understand the issues that are important to the black community.
It’s the least we can do and the fact is all of society will benefit when we do.
So, if thanking black women in a tangible way is important to you, be sure to hit the share buttons to spread the word about Thanking Black Women with Actions Not Just Words via social media so that others in your network can spread the word too.
TAKE ACTION!
Read: Black Women Kept Roy Moore Out of Office. Here’s How to Thank Them. (The Cut)
Read: 15 Real Ways to Thank Black Women for Carrying the Country on Their Backs (The Little Rock Sun)
Learn About: Higher Heights Leadership Fund
Learn About: Woke Vote
Learn About: Stay Woke Florida Voting Initiative Petition (February 1st petition deadline!)
Learn About: Color of Change PAC
EDUCATE YOURSELF
Black Turnout in Alabama Complicates Debate on Voting Laws (The New York Times)
'Black Votes Matter': African-Americans Propel Jones To Alabama Win (NPR)
White Women Thank Themselves for Thanking Black Women Today (Reductress)
After Alabama: Say ‘Thank You’ to Black Women, and Mean It (LA Progressive)
Posted January 5, 2017; Written by Best of the Left Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman
Hear the segment in the context of Best of the Left Edition #1156: Women of color get the job done (Racism and Elections)
Tell Senators to Support the Video Visitation and Inmate Calling in Prisons Act of 2017 via @PrisonPolicy
Prisons across the country are replacing in-person visitation with video calls. According to a 2015 report from the Prison Policy Institute, 74% of local jails banned in-person visits when they implemented video visitation.
Of course, as you might have guessed, this is all about money. The video visitation industry has been working hard under the radar to nail down contracts, shut down traditional in-person visitation rooms and require families to pay up to $1.50 per minute. Meanwhile, millions of people use video calling every day for free via companies like Skype. The video visitation technology in prisons is typically poorly designed, does not work well, and makes a trying and limited time for families even more challenging. And ironically, the visitor will still need to take the time to fly/drive to a facility to sit at a terminal to talk to their loved one if they do not own a personal computer.
To address this injustice, this month Senator Tammy Duckworth introduced an updated version of the Video Visitation and Inmate Calling in Prisons Act of 2017. The bill would require the FCC to regulate the use of video visitation and inmate calling services in correctional facilities; protecting incarcerated people from the elimination of in-person visits, the high costs of calling services, and substandard video calling technologies.
Call your Senators today and ask them to support this bill, and spread the word about the video visitation industry within your networks and on social media. For more information on this bill and the impact of the video visitation industry on the prison system, visit the Prison Policy Initiative at prison policy dot org slash visitation.
Technology has come a long way, but the intimacy of talking face to face still cannot be replaced. Children, especially, need that face time with their parent or loved one to ensure bonds and connections are not lost during the time apart. But right now, an unregulated cottage industry trying to milk the system can take that away.
So, if stopping the corporate abuse of families and inmates caught up in our injustice system is important to you, be sure to hit the share buttons to spread the word about supporting the Video Visitation and Inmate Calling in Prisons Act of 2017 via social media so that others in your network can spread the word too.
.@SenDuckworth protecting families by introducing the Video Visitation and Inmate Calling in Prisons Act of 2017 https://t.co/zxhdWZYJjX pic.twitter.com/wgmOZO2yDv
— Prison Policy Init. (@PrisonPolicy) July 24, 2017TAKE ACTION
Call your Senators to tell them to support the Video Visitation and Inmate Calling in Prisons Act of 2017
Learn about and share facts on video visitation at PrisonPolicy.org/visitation
Follow Prison Policy Initiative on Twitter
EDUCATE YOURSELF
Massachusetts jail following nationwide trend, ending in-person inmate visits, in move critics call cruel (MassLive.com)
Video Calls Are Replacing In-Person Visits at Some Prisons (Smithsonian Magazine)
Senator Tammy Duckworth introduces the Video Visitation and Inmate Calling in Prisons Act of 2017 (PrisonPolicy.org)
Booker Urges FCC Chairman to Reconsider Decision Not to Protect Inmates Against Exorbitant Calling Charges (Booker.senate.gov)
Exploitation (PrisonPolicy.org)
Posted July 28, 2017; Written by Best of the Left Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman
Hear the segment in the context of Best of the Left Edition #1122: Real-Life Alternatives to the Prison/Industrial Complex
Call Congress to Support the Justice Safety Valve Act of 2017 via @DrugPolicyOrg
Remember that time before the election when politicians on both sides of the aisle were finally talking about - and actually agreeing on - criminal justice reform legislation? It may feel like a distant memory, but it really wasn’t that long ago and it’s still in the works.
As of April of this year, Senators Cory Booker and Rand Paul’s REDEEM Act has been re-introduced in the House and Senate. The REDEEM Act would seal or expunge records relating to Federal non-violent criminal offenses.
But Trump’s Attorney General Jeff Sessions has other plans. His recent memo directed prosecutors to seek the toughest possible sentences, even for non-violent drug offenders. In response, Senators Rand Paul and Patrick Leahy introduced new legislation to stop Sessions from taking us back to the Drug War years of the ‘70s and ‘80s. The legislation, known as the Justice Safety Valve Act, is not new. But a 2017 version was reintroduced in the Senate as S. 1127, with companion legislation H.R. 2435 reintroduced by Representatives Bobby Scott and Thomas Massie in the House.
The Justice Safety Valve Act is simple: it would empower federal judges to give out sentences below the mandatory minimum in certain cases. And, as Rolling Stone put it this week, it would effectively neutralize the memo from Sessions.
So, your action today is twofold: First, call, write, fax and leave voicemails for your Representatives and Senators telling them that you support passage of the Justice Safety Valve Act and the REDEEM Act, and that you oppose Jeff Sessions’ extreme, expensive and racist directives. And second, get involved with the organization Drug Policy Alliance, which works to promote drug policies that are grounded in science, compassion, health & human rights. Visit DrugPolicy.org and follow them on Twitter @DrugPolicyOrg.
Sessions has a long, well-known history of racism and a bizarre hatred for those who do what they want with their own bodies. At a time when the right is calling the Movement for Black Lives domestic terrorists and stoking fear of immigrants, it’s all too clear that Sessions is abusing his new position of authority to target people of color and advance a political agenda.
He must be stopped.
So, if stopping America from returning to some of its darkest days of injustice is important to you, be sure to hit the share buttons to spread the word about Supporting the Justice Safety Valve Act of 2017 via social media so that others in your network can spread the word too.
Senate Moves Forward with Bill to Rein in Jeff Sessions https://t.co/j8upOEO2mC DPA's @billjpiper quoted in @RollingStone
— Drug Policy Alliance (@DrugPolicyOrg) May 18, 2017TAKE ACTION
Call your Reps and Senators and tell them to support the Justice Safety Valve Act of 2017
Get involved with Drug Policy Alliance and follow them @DrugPolicyOrg
EDUCATE YOURSELF
Sessions Tells Prosecutors To Seek 'Most Serious' Charges, Stricter Sentences (NPR)
Senate Moves Forward with Bipartisan Bill to Rein in Jeff Sessions (Rolling Stone)
I prosecuted drug offenders in the ’80s. It was a disaster. Why is Sessions taking us back? (Vox)
Drug War Part 2: When the sequel is as bad as the original (The Hill, Opinion)
Report: Aide says Nixon's war on drugs targeted blacks, hippies (CNN, 2016)
Posted May 19, 2017; Written by Best of the Left Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman
Hear this segment in the context of Best of the Left #1105: The Surge comes to the War on Drugs