Next Meeting!

When:

Wednesday, June 4, 6:30pm

Where:

Tower Civic Center
402 Pine St
Tower, MN

Topic: What’s Next for Northern Progressives?

A Brainstorming Session for Future Programs and Actions

Periodically over the nine years we’ve been in existence, we’ve taken time to discuss the most important topics about which we should be educating ourselves and what actions we should take to express our priorities.

It’s time now to assess where we are and look at what programs we’d like to sponsor and what actions we want to take to express our mission and goals.

NP’s mission statement says: "Northern Progressives supports a social and political agenda through active participation in civic affairs. Our goals are to inform elected officials about issues of concern to us and to increase public awareness and education to help people become politically and civically involved."

Through recent demonstrations and other activities, we’ve gained quite a few new members. This is a good time for us to get to know each other better and to make sure we’re hearing from those new voices as well from our long-time activists.

Light refreshments will be served.

Signing/Resisting Events

Each Friday at noon at the following locations:

Cook

Hwy 53 and River Street

Ely

Whiteside Park (note location change)

Tower

Mainstreet by the locomotive

Signs should include issues common to everyone like good jobs, enough money for food and healthcare, and a good education.

Fight for Our Future: For the People

Hosted by Sister District Project

When

June 10, 8:00–9:00pm EDT

Where

Online

As we reflect on the first 100 days of this presidential administration, one thing is clear: the voices of everyday people are more powerful—and more needed—than ever.

Join Sister District on June 10 for Fight for Our Future: For the People to hear directly from the elected officials, alumni, and volunteers driving the movement to build progressive power in the states. From breaking major legislative barriers to fueling grassroots momentum on the ground, these stories show what’s possible when people come together to fight for change.

No Kings Community Gathering

sponsored by We Are Rising & Resisting (W.A.R.R.) Indivisible

When:

June 14, 3:00-5:00pm

Where:

Iron Man
897 Iron World Drive
Chisholm

They’ve gone too far!

This is bigger than political disagreement. They’ve defied our courts, deported American citizens, disappeared people off the streets, and slashed our services—all while orchestrating a massive giveaway to their billionaire friends . Enough is enough!

For anyone who thinks he’s gone too far, please join us for a peaceful rally in support of democracy.

Speakers, food, and games. We will also be accepting donations for local veterans programs.

A core principle behind all No Kings events is a commitment to nonviolent action. We expect all participants to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree with our values.

Ely NO Kings Day

When:

June 14, 11:00am-1:00pm

Where:

Whiteside Park

More information coming soon.

Other Gathering Places - Join in!

Two Harbors Weekly Protests

Two Harbors Breakwall Indivisible

When:

Every Friday, 5:00–6:00pm

Where:

Free speech zone along Hwy 61, in front of Lakeview Cemetery.

We’re standing up against harmful government policies — and we invite all concerned community members to raise their voices with us! After each action, come hang out and socialize with us at the Harbor Rail.

Coffee with the DFL

Hosted by SD03

When:

Tuesday, June 3, 9:30–11:00am
(Monthly on the first Tuesday, 12 times)

Where:

The Social House-Hermantown
4897 Miller Trunk Hwy #100
Hermantown, MN 55811

Grand Rapids-Community Issues Discussion

When:

June 7, 10:00am–12:00pm

Where:

Brewed Awakenings
24 NE 4th St
Grand Rapids, MN 55744

Come talk about community issues and topics that are important to you while supporting a local business with a food or beverage purchase. Support. Plan. Organize. Resist.

Want to run for office?

Minnesota DFL

When:

Tuesday, May 27, 6:00–7:00pm

Where:

Online

Have you ever thought about running for office, but didn't know where to start? Join a Zoom meeting with DFL campaign professionals for a short intro to running for office.

Learn about: making the decision to run for office; what type of office best fits your interests, and what offices may be on the ballot in 2025-2026; how to build your campaign team; how to raise money for your campaign; and how to get support from the DFL in your race. After a short presentation, we will open this up for questions!

Everything You Wanted to Know About Tariffs But Were Afraid to Ask

Sponsored by Rural Urban Bridge Assemble
with Lori Wallach from Rethink Trade

When:

June 4, 4:00pm ET (3:00pm CT)

Where:

Online

Tariffs are, literally, all the rage these days. Are they always bad? Can they ever be useful? How do they impact rural industries and communities? Trade attorney Lori Wallach will tell us how we got into this mess and discuss how we can understand tariffs in the context of global trade agreements going back to 1944.

Navigating Difficult Conversations

A Two-Part Series on Conflict Management

Sponsored by Rural Assembly

When:

June 17 & 24 1:00pm CT

Where:

Online

Do you struggle with holding difficult conversations? Avoiding conflict may feel easier in the short term, but it often leads to disconnection, resentment, and missed opportunities for growth. Led by an expert facilitator, this interactive series explores how to approach hard conversations with clarity, confidence, and compassion at home, at work, and in your community.

The 2026 Blue Wave Starts Today

from Robert Hubbell

The ugly “one, big, beautiful” budget bill passed in a 215-214 vote after a marathon push that kept lawmakers debating the bill through two successive nights.

All of the chamber's Democrats and two Republicans voted against it, while a third Republican voted "present", neither for nor against the bill. Another Republican missed the vote because he had fallen asleep.

A few numbers to keep at hand:

• $500 billion cuts to Medicare
• $700 billion cuts to Medicaid
• $267 billion cuts to food assistance (SNAP)
• 8.6 million Americans who will lose Medicaid coverage
• $3.8 trillion new debt for the US
• $7 trillion in tax cuts that disproportionately benefit the top 1%

Army prepares tanks for DC military parade that could cost $45 million

The GAO (Government Accounting Office) defines waste as that which "squanders money or resources.” Are you infuriated about Trump’s plans for a military parade in his honor for his 79th birthday on June 14th, with a jaw-dropping $45 million cost for 6,500 troops, 150 military vehicles, and 50 aircraft? The M1 Abrams tanks alone could cost $25 million.

There are four ways to submit a complaint about fraud, waste, abuse, or mismanagement of federal funds: Complaints can be submitted anonymously.

• Phone (800) 424-5454
• Fax: (202) 512-2841
• Email via their “contact us” form here.
• Postal mail: GAO, 441 G St. N.W.
  Mail Stop 4T21
  Washington, D.C. 20548

Suggested Script

(it’s always best to personalize):

o

Thank you for this opportunity to report governmental waste and abuse. The planned military parade in Washington, DC, on June 14 is predicted to costs tens of millions of dollars of taxpayers’ money, with no significant benefit to the American people. This huge expense would be incurred while programs that do benefit people are being cut to the bone. This parade will “squander money and resources.” Therefore, the parade should be cancelled.

Learn more

What’s happening with the MN Budget?

We will have a special session which must be complete by 5/30 to avoid shutdown. Walz told reporters on Monday: ”There's some tough compromises in here. We know not everyone is happy. But I say once again to Minnesotans, against the backdrop of the dysfunction in D.C., this is a pretty remarkable thing to see the most closely divided legislature in Minnesota history, working together in a fiscally responsible way of dealing with it,"

Awakening the sleeping giant

from Robert Hubbells' newsletter

"America is like a sleeping giant whose passion for democracy and social justice is fearless, once awakened.

The giant doesn’t awaken easily, but a nightmare can do it."

Please Share your Sources of Information and Inspiration:

What reading, podcasts, subscriptions and other sources do you rely on for good information? Please respond to hello@northernprogressives.org with which sources you recommend and a brief (!!) reason why they're important to you.

Try Not To Laugh! Panda Bloopers!

Northern Progressives supports a social and political agenda through active participation in civic affairs. Our goals are to inform elected officials about issues of concern to us and to increase public awareness and education to help people become politically and civically involved.

We are a chapter of Indivisible in northern Minnesota's Congressional District Minnesota-08.

NP Group meetings:

1st Wednesday in Tower
3rd Wednesday in Cook

Breakfast Club:

Pattenn’s Café in Orr at 10 am on 2nd and 4th Wednesdays.

Northern Progressives Communication Committee

General email (submit ideas here):

hello@northernprogressives.org

Betty Firth

bfirth88@gmail.com

Beth Peterson

edithepeterson@gmail.com

Judith Ulseth

jgtulseth@gmail.com