breaking summertime news

Over the past week, the news has been breaking at a furious pace, considering that we're in the middle of summer! Locally, we learned yesterday that Tom Nelson, County Executive of Outagamie County, has dropped out of the race for the Democratic Party's nomination for US Senate. His name, of course, remains on the ballot for the August primary. But if you were planning to vote for him, choose one of the other seven candidates!

The Marquette Law School June poll on races in Wisconsin finds close races in the Senate and Governor primaries and in the November elections. You can also watch a video of Charles Franklin discussing the results. For a different look at the US Senate race in Wisconsin, you can read "Race to the WH."

Marquette recently produced a poll that tries to measure the impact of the Supreme Court's abortion decision and another measuring approval of the Court. Those last two polls were taken in July using a national sample of voters, not just those in Wisconsin.

In case you missed the prime time hearing on Thursday, July 21, you can see highlights at the Washington Post. You can see the complete hearing on YouTube. There are a lot of riveting details in the whole thing. The outtakes from speech The Former Guy (TFG) gave on January 7 are clear indications of his mental state. But the most hilarious (or Hawley-rious) bit is watching Senator Hawley run from the "peaceful demonstrators" — Hawleyng ass, if you will.

Yesterday, Congresswoman Elaine Luria, a member of the January 6 Select Committee, released another video on Twitter showing revisions TFG made to his January 7 speech. The video seems to have been prepared for the July 21 hearing but was simply left out because of time constraints. The clip includes members of his inner circle and his family testifying to TFG's refusal to say that the election was over or that his StormTrumpers should be prosecuted for breaking the law. The clip runs a little more than 3.5 minutes. And it is damning.

In momentous news, Marc Short, former Vice President Pence's chief of staff, confirmed that he has testified in front of a federal grand jury investigating the January 6 insurrection. His testimony is, of course, shrouded in secrecy so we cannot know what he was asked or what he said. But pundits are speculating that it's a big development not least because it reveals that the Justice Department has moved beyond trying those who invaded the Capitol to investigating those who were members the White House's inner circle. According to the New York Times, Greg Jacob, Pence's top lawyer, was also subpoenaed and testified in the federal criminal inquiry. "The testimony of the two Pence aides marked the first time it has become publicly known that figures with firsthand knowledge of what took place inside the White House in the tumultuous days before the attack have cooperated with federal prosecutors."

Meanwhile, in Georgia, there was a strange development in the criminal case Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is pursuing. In what may turn out to be a relatively minor digression, the judge overseeing the special grand jury Willis is using ruled that she cannot investigate one of the fake electors because he is the GOP nominee for Lieutenant Governor and she hosted a fundraiser for a Democrat seeking to become the party's nominee for that position in a run-off primary. Apparently, State Senator Burt Jones will have to be investigated by another prosecutor. Here's the New York Times's account. DA Willis will still be able to probe Mr. Jones's role in the scheme to send a phony slate of electors to the Vice President and the National Archives by asking other fake electors and GOP officials about his actions.

Politico reports that "six weeks into the committee’s public hearing schedule, an emerging consensus is forming in Republican Party circles — including in Trump’s orbit — that a significant portion of the rank-and-file may be tiring of the non-stop series of revelations about Trump." And Jennifer Rubin, a former Republican and a current opinion author at the Washington Post, thinks that "more Republicans are dumping Trump. But the GOP still imperils democracy." She goes on to note that even if prominent Republican rags like the Murdoch-owned NY Post and the Wall Street Journal are dumping Trump, "it’s arguably more important for Republican politicians to be warriors for Christian nationalism and generators of racial grievance than Trump apologists." She concludes: "So while it’s true that some Republicans are moving on from Trump, his two legacies — authoritarianism and ethno-nationalism — still dominate the GOP. The threat to pluralistic democracy remains."

Finally, some primary election reminders. Tuesday, August 9 is election day. But you can begin voting TODAY in your city/village clerk's office. Early voting runs through Friday, August 5. Our early in-person voting page will provide you with dates/times and contact information for North Shore and Ozaukee County clerks. For the city of Milwaukee, there are four early voting locations and early voting hours on Saturday July 30, Sunday July 31, and Saturday, August 6. So, make a plan. And VOTE.

And one more thing: the Democratic Party of Milwaukee County is looking for volunteers to staff their booth at the State Fair. The Democratic Party of Ozaukee County is looking for volunteers to staff their booth at the Ozaukee County Fair. Voting is super important, but showing up for party duty (and fun) helps the cause too.

EVENTS

Friday, July 29

McGovern Park Night Out, 5:00 – 7:00pm
McGovern Park, 5400 N. 51st Blvd, Picnic Area #4
The event is an opportunity for neighbors to socialize and learn more about community organizations that provide essential services. There will be a cookout, food giveaway, free passes to the zoo, and more. Numerous county departments will have resource booths. More information.

Saturday, July 30

Wisconsin Dems Voter Contact, 12:00 - 6:00pm
Fox Point
Join with other Democrats to contact voters by canvassing. Shifts are from noon-3pm and from 3-6pm. It's really important that we get as many of our voters as possible to turn out for the primary. That way we are more likely to nominate people who can appeal to a broad range of interests. And there are many contested races on our side of the ballot. Sign up.

Wisconsin Dems Voter Contact, 12:00 - 3:00pm
Shorewood
Join with other Democrats to contact voters by canvassing. There's just one shift: from noon-3pm. It's really important that we get as many of our voters as possible to turn out for the primary. That way we are more likely to nominate people who can appeal to a broad range of interests. And there are many contested races on our side of the ballot. Sign up.

Stand for Peace, 12:00 – 1:00pm
Martin Luther King Drive & Locust Street, Milwaukee
Stand for Peace has resumed in-person events with masks and social distancing. Check for more information. Organized by Peace Action Wisconsin.

Sunday, July 31

Author Event, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Boswell Book Company, 2559 N Downer Ave, Milwaukee
Professor and author Decoteau J Irby will discuss two of his current books that deal with racial equity reform within K-12 schools and the resilience of Black communities and families. More information and registration.

Tuesday, August 2

3rd Congressional District Forum, 4:30pm - 6:00pm
Zoom
Please join Wisconsin Jewish Democrats next week Tuesday, August 2nd as we discuss critical issues with the Democratic primary candidates in the 3rd Congressional District. This is a vitally important race with the winner moving on to the November election to retain the seat of retiring Congressman Ron Kind as a Democratic side and help maintain or grow the narrow Democratic majority in the House of Representatives. Zoom link.

Primary Town Hall, 6:30 – 8:00pm
WISN Channel 12
WISN will present a town hall for the Democratic candidates for Senate, including Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes, Milwaukee Bucks Senior Vice President Alex Lasry, and Wisconsin State Treasurer Sarah Godlewski. (Outagamie County Executive Tom Nelson has withdrawn from the election.)

Wednesday, August 3

Ozaukee County Fair, 10am - 10pm
Oz County Fairgrounds, W67N866 Washington Ave., Cedarburg
Come volunteer for the Oz Dems at the Ozaukee County Fair. Have fun completing the Scavenger Hunt for the fair! Meet local and state politicians and find out more about our local DPOC group. Sign up!

Headline Newsmaker Luncheon, Newsroom Pub, 137 E. Wells St., Milwaukee
Tarik Moody of 88Nine Radio Milwaukee will be the featured guest at a Newsmaker Luncheon. He is content producer and on-air host at 88Nine Radio and program director for HYFIN, the firm’s new Urban Alternative channel. More information and registration.

Living Liberally Waukesha, 6:30 – 6:30pm
Club 400, 322 Williams St., Waukesha
Living Liberally Waukesha meets on the first Wednesday of the month, in the upstairs bar at Club 400. All attendees should be vaccinated and wear masks when not eating or drinking. More information.

Author Event: Migrant Mexican Dairy Workers, 6:30pm
Boswell Book Company, 2559 N Downer Ave, Milwaukee
Wisconsin journalist Ruth Conniff will discuss her new book, Milked: How an American Crisis Brought Together Midwestern Dairy Farmers and Mexican Workers https://www.boswellbooks.com/book/9781620976371. More information and registration (required).

Thursday, August 4

Friday, August 5

Saturday, August 6

Oz County Dems GOTV, 10:30am - 8:00pm
Instructions after RSVP
Join the Democratic Party of Wisconsin as we reach out to voters and remind them to vote in the Tuesday, August 9 primary election. Contact the Ozaukee County party using the "CONTACT" link at the bottom of their home page.

Get Out the Vote Drive, 12:00 - 6:00pm
Fox Point
Join with other Democrats to contact voters by canvassing. Shifts are from noon-3pm and from 3-6pm. It's really important that we get as many of our voters as possible to turn out for the primary. That way we are more likely to nominate people who can appeal to a broad range of interests. And there are many contested races on our side of the ballot. Sign up.

Remembering Hiroshima and Nagasaki, 6:00 – 9:00pm
Riverside Park Urban Ecology Center, 1500 E. Park Pl., Milwaukee
No Stand for Peace this week. This Lanterns for Peace event will remember the devastation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Organized by Peace Action Wisconsin. More information.

Sunday, August 7

Ozaukee County Fair, 10am - 8pm
Instructions after RSVP
Come volunteer for the Oz Dems at the Ozaukee County Fair. Have fun completing the Scavenger Hunt for the fair! Meet local and state politicians and find out more about our local DPOC group. Sign up!

Wisconsin Dems Voter Contact, 12:00 - 6:00pm
Glendale
Join with other Democrats to contact voters by canvassing. Two shift: noon-3pm and 3-6pm. It's really important that we get as many of our voters as possible to turn out for the primary. That way we are more likely to nominate people who can appeal to a broad range of interests. And there are many contested races on our side of the ballot. Sign up.

Monday, August 8

Oz County Dems GOTV, 11:30am - 8:00pm
Instructions after RSVP
Join the Democratic Party of Wisconsin as we reach out to voters and remind them to vote in the Tuesday, August 9 primary election. Contact the Ozaukee County party using the "CONTACT" link at the bottom of their home page.

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Eilene Stevens published this page in Newsletter 2022-07-27 10:44:43 -0500