Today is Safe Harbor day. And that means the votes of electors who have been certified cannot be challenged by Congress when it meets to count the electoral votes on January 6. The electors will meet in their respective state capitals on December 14 to cast their ballots for President and Vice President. Apparently, Wisconsin is the only state to have missed the deadline. And that's because there is still a lawsuit in state court. There's a hearing in that case scheduled for Thursday. But even if the 10 electoral votes from Wisconsin will be challengeable when Congress meets in January, President-elect Joe Biden will still win, with 296 votes, in the Electoral College!

Meanwhile, the circus continues to make the rounds of various states. Today, there's a report in Daily Kos that the state of Texas is seeking to file a suit against Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Georgia. Suits between states are adjudicated only at the Supreme Court of the United States but first five justices must agree to let Texas file its suit. Let's pop some corn and watch.

On the vaccine front, there's some really good news, some really bad news, and some more crazy news. First the really good news: the Pfizer vaccine has been authorized for emergency use by the FDA AND it appears that even one dose of this two-dose vaccine is effective in preventing COVID-19. The really bad news is that President Trump declined to purchase large quantities of the Pfizer vaccine when the government was offered that opportunity last summer. (The tRump administration of course denies this.) Although the US has purchased something like enough Pfizer vaccine to inoculate 30-50 million people, Pfizer will be unable to supply more doses until June 2021, because the company has orders from many other countries that it will need to fulfill first. And in some more crazy news, tRump will sign an executive order today that purports to "to prevent the U.S. government from shipping any doses it has purchased to aid any foreign countries until all needs are met within the United States." But, "it’s not entirely clear on how exactly the executive order would work."

There's definitely a glimmer of hope, but we have a lot of tunnel to get through still. With the virus so widespread in our communities, everyone has to assume that wherever they go, they are likely to encounter one or more people who are infectious. It's hard with the winter holidays upon us, but everyone needs to stay home! Do not gather with family and friends for Christmas, Kwanza, Hanukah, or New Year's Eve. Forego that pleasure just this once and make a difference in your own and countless other people's lives. Our own Dr. Ian Gilson has provided us with an excellent and informative presentation on the coronavirus and what we now know about its nature and its infectiousness. If you missed his live event, you can watch a video of it on YouTube. Don't wait. As more information, especially about vaccinations, becomes available, we will be taking this presentation down. We'll ask him to provide us with an updated talk, possibly in January, when there will be new information about FDA approval of additional vaccines and perhaps even some concrete information about distribution and availability.

Signature gathering for the upcoming spring elections is under way. You can review the offices for which there will be elections on our website. The document is not quite complete for all the races in our communities. If you know about any additional ones, either in our seven North Shore Milwaukee County communities, or in Ozaukee County, please let us know.

Finally, I urge everyone to help elect two Democrats — Jon Ossoff and Rev. Raphael Warnock — to the US Senate from Georgia in the run-off elections to be held on January 5. The importance of Democratic success in these contests cannot be overstated. Success translate to Democratic governance at the national level; failure means more Washington gridlock and GOP glee! Grassroots North Shore has already sent 3000 postcards to voters in Georgia. So now is the time to phone, either with the campaigns themselves or through Fair Fight, the organization Stacey Abrams set up. The reception of these calls, based on the reports I've heard so far, is positive. People seem to be pleased to hear from fellow Dems. And since run-offs are always turn-out fights, let's help make sure the Georgia Dems do the necessary.

• Volunteer and/or donate to the Jon Ossoff campaign;
• Volunteer and/or donate to the Rev. Raphael Warnock campaign;
• Volunteer and/or donate to Stacy Abrams's Fair Fight organization;
• Volunteer through the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.

EVENTS

Tue Dec 8, 2020

Jon Richards for Judge Fundraiser, 5:30pm - 6:30pm
Online
Virtual reception to support Jon Richards for Milwaukee County Judge in Branch 30. More information.

Drinking Liberally Grafton/Mequon, 6:30pm - 8pm
Water Street Brewery, 1251 Gateway Dr. Grafton
TBA

Drinking Liberally MKE, 6:30pm - 8:30pm
Art Bar, 722 E. Burleigh St., Milwaukee
Now, more than ever, Drinking Liberally is a space to gather, support each other, and form the progressive community we need. Come share a pint with your fellow progressives! Drinking Liberally MKE meets on the second Tuesday of every month, hosted by Matt Filipowicz.

350 Milwaukee Virtual Meeting, 7pm - 8:30pm
Online
350 Milwaukee is part of the global organization building a grassroots movement in 188 countries to address global warming and solve the climate crisis. 350 Milwaukee usually meets every month on the second Tuesday. Check the following link for information on whether a meeting will occur. More information.

Wed Dec 9, 2020

Virtual: Community Justice Council, 9:30am - 11am
Online
Milwaukee Community Justice Council Meeting of the Whole will have an Online/Virtual meeting. More information.

Grass Roots South Shore Virtual Meeting, 6pm - 8pm
TBA
Check the following page to see if Grass Roots South Shore will have a virtual meeting. More information.

Suspended: Refuel the Resistance, 6pm - 8pm
Bounce Milwaukee, 2801 S. 5th Ct., Milwaukee
Bounce Milwaukee is closed, including delivery and carryout, until the COVID-19 spread in our area is under control. More information.

Thu Dec 10, 2020

Info: Mental Health Board Meeting, 8am - 8am
Online
This meeting is posted as a Teleconference Meeting (see Agenda for details). Public Comment: none. More information.

Trade Policy Changes Discussion, 12pm - 1pm
Online
Midwest trade experts and a top Canadian official examine trade issues and discuss how the new US-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement (USMCA) and the ongoing China-U.S. trade conflict may change under a new president. Free event sponsored by WisPolitics.com-WisBusiness.com. Registration (required).

Drinking Liberally West Allis, 6:30pm - 9pm
TBA
For information on whether the event will take place, check here.

Frank Talks, 7pm - 8:30pm
Zoom
Join us for an engaging discussion on Guest speakers will be Reggie Jackson, Educator and Consultant with Nurturing Diversity Partners, Jessica Boiling, Lead Organizer, AAPI-WI, and Adam Carr, Deputy Editor of Community Engagement at Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service. Real conversations following Frank Zeidler's legacy of civil discourse. Join others in dialogue on vital issues that matter. These talks are serving a dual purpose of providing thoughtful awareness around social justice issues and providing spaces to have vital conversations. Register.

Sat Dec 12, 2020

UN Association of MKE, 10am - 12pm
Suspended
This meeting seems to be suspended for the time being. More information.

Stand for Peace, 12pm - 1pm
TBA
Stand for Peace may be canceled due to the skyrocketing Covid numbers. Check here for more information. Organized by Peace Action Wisconsin.

Mon Dec 14, 2020

Grass Roots South Shore Meeting, 6pm - 8pm
Cudahy Library, 3500 Library Dr., Cudahy
Grass Roots South Shore holds its monthly meeting on the second Monday of each month. For more information call Jim Balk, 414-218-5944.

Tue Dec 15, 2020

Info: Drinking Liberally Wauwatosa, 6:30pm - 9pm
Suspended
Drinking Liberally Wauwatosa is suspended for the time being. More info.

Virtual Drinking Liberally MKE, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Zoom
Drinking Liberally MKE will get together on Zoom. More information.

Wed Dec 16, 2020

Suspended: Refuel the Resistance, 6pm - 8pm
Bounce Milwaukee, 2801 S. 5th Ct., Milwaukee
Bounce Milwaukee is closed, including delivery and carryout, until the COVID-19 spread in our area is under control. More information.

Info: Laughing Liberally MKE, 6:30pm - 8:30pm
Online
For information on the latest Laughing Liberally offerings go here.

Info: Southwest Region Dems Meeting, 7pm - 7pm
TBA
Southwest Dems (Region 5) cover Franklin, Greendale, Greenfield, Hales Corners, Milwaukee (Southwest), West Allis, West Milwaukee. For information on when a meeting may be held check here or contact [email protected].

Wed Dec 17, 2020

Waukesha County Dems, 7pm
Zoom
We have a really exciting annual meeting this December. Not only are we still celebrating Joe Biden being elected our next President, but we also have an interesting agenda. We'll be hearing from County Chair Matt Mareno, from Tom Nelson who will be running as a candidate for US Senate in 2022, and from Jill Underly, Candidate for State Superintendent (Tony Evers' old job). Zoom link.

Sat Dec 19, 2020

Stand for Peace, 12pm - 1pm
TBA
Stand for Peace may be canceled due to the skyrocketing Covid numbers. Check here for more information. Organized by Peace Action Wisconsin.

Milwaukee County Democratic Party

Ozaukee County Democratic Party

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