SCOTUS ends with some bangs

Last week, I announced I was not going to produce a newsletter this week. But I've changed my mind. Partly that was because I wanted one more chance to encourage you to sign up and attend our Grassroots North Shore party — To US: A Celebration of our nation's 247th birthday. John Nichols will treat us to a no-doubt rousing speech, inspiring us with hope for the 2024 elections. John leads an extraordinary life as the National Editor of The Nation and as Editor of Wisconsin's own progressive publication, Capitol Times. In addition, he's a frequent guest on MSNBC and the author of many political books. In short he has the perfect blend of national and Wisconsin political knowledge. Don't pass up this chance to hear him live.

The party — complete with cake and beverages — will also feature Bob Tatterson, the Democratic candidate for Assembly District 24. We need to get him over the finish line to prevent our local MAGA types from ramming through their "election integrity" schemes designed to keep them in power forever! (We did dodge a bullet on that one, which I explain in more depth below.) The party will be held on Sunday, July 9, at Doctors Park (1870 E Fox Lane) in Fox Point, from 3:30 - 5:30pm. So sign up, bring your friends and families and some lawn chairs!

A more pressing reason for wanting to write this newsletter, though, was the avalanche of Supreme Court rulings that were released last week. Many of us were deeply worried about the outcome of Moore v. Harper, a case that asked the Supreme Court to find that state legislatures and only state legislatures could determine the rules for federal elections. The plaintiffs in the case wanted the court to interpret the Elections clause of the Constitution to mean that state courts and governors could have no role in drawing congressional districts, determining who is eligible to vote, how ballots can be distributed and returned, and many more issues. And their plenary (or total) power in this area would hold even if they violate their own state's constitution. As Richard Hasen, a prominent constitutional and election law scholar, put it in an article in Slate (June 27, 2023), the ruling "made clear that legislatures do not have this free-floating power, and that one must understand the legislature’s power within the ordinary system of state government, including judicial review." (That's the bullet we dodged: the court's complete denial of what is known as the Independent State Legislature Theory.)

Nevertheless, Hasen finds a black cloud in what is otherwise a huge relief. "In the last part of his majority opinion for the court, the chief justice got the liberal justices to sign on to a version of judicial review that is going to give the federal courts, and especially the Supreme Court itself, the last word in election disputes." In essence, Hasen points out that the kind of ruling that the US Supreme Court issued in the Bush v. Gore and that awarded Florida's Electoral College votes to Bush was precedent-setting. "The Supreme Court has now set itself up, with the assent of the liberal justices, to meddle in future elections, perhaps to even decide the outcome of future presidential elections (as it has done in the past)."

There were a few other rulings the court released last week that were pleasant surprises for progressives:

In Allen v. Milligan, SCOTUS upheld Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, barring "election practices that result in a denial or abridgement of the right to vote based on race." The ruling requires Alabama to redraw its congressional district map to create two congressional districts, not just the one majority minority district in the current map. Both of these districts must have a reasonable chance to elect representatives that voters in minority communities prefer.
In Haaland v. Brackeen, the court upheld the Indian Child Welfare Act, meaning that it is constitutional to seek to keep Native American children with Native American families rather than separating them from their families and preferring to place Native American children who have to be removed from their families either with extended family or with foster families who are also Native American.
In US v. Texas, the court ruled that Texas and Louisiana lack standing to challenge the Secretary of Homeland Security's guidelines for immigration enforcement.

There were several other big cases whose reactionary decisions were handed down at the end of June. They included Biden v. Nebraska, a ruling that the Secretary of Education does not have authority under the Higher Education Relief Opportunities for Students Act to set up a loan forgiveness system. President Biden is seeking to ground his proposed program on a different law.

In two cases, Students for Fair Admissions v. University of North Carolina and Students for Fair Admissions Inc. v. President & Fellows of Harvard College, the court held that the affirmative action admissions programs violate the equal protection clause of the 14th amendment, an amendment whose purpose was and is to allow remedies for the harms and disadvantages that flowed from slavery — not to protect those already privileged! In essence, selective schools may no longer use race even as a factor in admission decisions, striking down all affirmative action programs in college admissions. (For an interesting view of how affirmative action has affected college admissions nationwide, see this article in the New York Times today. I've gifted it to you so you won't have to breach the paywall.)

And of course, the court ruled, designing a wedding website, like baking a wedding cake, is an act of free speech. Therefore the wannabe web designer who has yet to design anyone's wedding site is free to discriminate against hypothetical same sex couples who have yet to request one from her business that also does not yet exist (303 Creative LLC v. Elenis). The implications of this ruling go far beyond websites, wedding cakes, and the LGBTQ+ community. It might be used as the thin edge of a wedge, with potential application to interracial marriage and other civil rights!

Because there does not seem to be a viable path to reforming the structure of the US Supreme Court — such as expanding the number of justices, imposing term limits, and other proposals to rein in some of the worst outcomes — our only recourse is to win more elections. Seriously. At every level of government and at every opportunity. It will be a long hard slog to wrest control of the court from the radical right, but we have no choice. So, we have a special election in AD24 that needs everyone's help. You'll find the Events listings overflowing with opportunities to canvass for Bob Tatterson. Please help if you can.

EVENTS

Wednesday, July 5

Early In Person Voting, 8:30am - 4:30pm
Your Municipal Clerk's office
To be sure about the times and where to go in your community, check with MyVote.WI.gov.

Saturday, July 8

Canvass for the Assembly District 24 Special in GRAFTON! 9:00am - 12:00pm, 12:00 - 3:00pm & 3:00 - 6:00pm
1930 Wisconsin Ave, Grafton
Join us to knock on doors for the crucial Assembly District 24 Special Election in GRAFTON! Sign up.

Knock doors with Grassroots Germantown for the AD24 Special Election! 9:00am - 12:00pm & 12:00 - 3:00pm
Address provided with sign up
Join Grassroots Germantown to knock on doors in advance of the special election for Assembly District 24! Sign up.

Knock doors in Menomonee Falls, 9:00am - 12:00pm, 12:00 - 3:00 & 3:00 - 5:00pm
Fiddleheads Coffee, Menomonee Falls (N88 W16621, Appleton Ave, Menomonee Falls)
Join us to knock doors for the Assembly District 24 Special Election in Menomonee Falls! Sign up.

Canvass in the AD24 Special Election in MEQUON, 9:00am - 12:00pm
Address provided with sign up
Join us to knock doors for the Assembly District 24 Special Election in MEQUON! Sign up.

North Shore Knocks Doors for Bob Tatterson, 12:00 - 3:00pm
6563 N Crestwood Dr., Glendale
Join the North Shore team to knock doors for the special election in Assembly District 24! We'll be canvassing in Mequon. To make the effort easier, and more fun, ask for a driver. Please Sign Up.

Stand for Peace, 12:00 - 1:00pm
Kinnickinnic and Lincoln, Milwaukee
Stand for Peace demonstrates for peace at a different intersection in Milwaukee County every Saturday.

Sunday, July 9

Canvass in the AD24 Special Election in MEQUON, 9:00am - 12:00pm & 12:00 - 3:00pm
Address provided with sign up
Join us to knock doors for the Assembly District 24 Special Election in MEQUON! Sign up.

Knock doors in Menomonee Falls, 12:00 - 3:00 & 3:00 - 5:00pm
Fiddleheads Coffee, Menomonee Falls (N88 W16621, Appleton Ave, Menomonee Falls)
Join us to knock doors for the Assembly District 24 Special Election in Menomonee Falls! Sign up.

Canvass for the Assembly District 24 Special in GRAFTON! 12:00 - 3:00pm & 3:00 - 6:00pm
1930 Wisconsin Ave, Grafton
Join us to knock on doors for the crucial Assembly District 24 Special Election in GRAFTON! Sign up.

Knock doors with Grassroots Germantown for the AD24 Special Election! 3:00 - 6:00pm
Address provided with sign up
Join Grassroots Germantown to knock on doors in advance of the special election for Assembly District 24! Sign up.

Grassroots North Shore Presents: To US, 3:30 - 5:00pm
Doctors Park, 1870 E Fox Lane, Fox Point
It's a party to celebrate our country's 247th birthday. John Nichols — National Editor for The Nation, Madison Editor of the Capitol Times, author of Dollarocracy and other books, and the Voice of Wisconsin Progressivism — will get us ready for 2024 with a talk on where we have been and where we are going. Bob Tatterson, now running in a special election for Assembly District 24, will also be on hand to speak, meet, and greet. Enjoy beverages and birthday cake. Bring your family, your folding chairs, and your hope for our future as we celebrate our good work in recent elections. RSVP.

Monday, July 10

North Shore Fair Maps, 7:00 - 8:00pm
Zoom
Writer, lawyer, and former Ohio Democratic Party chair, David Pepper joins us to discuss America's laboratories of autocracy ("it's the statehouse, stupid!") and more importantly his latest book — Saving Democracy: A User's Manual for every American. With years of experience in the trenches and an engaging manner, Pepper will entertain, inform, and inspire. So sign up now!

Saturday, July 15

Knock doors in Menomonee Falls, 9:00am - 12:00pm, 12:00 - 3:00 & 3:00 - 5:30pm
Fiddleheads Coffee, Menomonee Falls (N88 W16621, Appleton Ave, Menomonee Falls)
Join us to knock doors for the Assembly District 24 Special Election in Menomonee Falls! Sign up.

Canvass in the AD24 Special Election in MEQUON, 9:00am - 12:00pm
Address provided with sign up
Join us to knock doors for the Assembly District 24 Special Election in MEQUON! Sign up.

North Shore canvassing for AD 24, 12:00 - 3:00pm
Join the Grassroots Glendale team to knock doors for Bob Tatterson in AD24! Sign up!

Stand for Peace, 12:00 - 1:00pm
Sherman and North Ave, Milwaukee
Stand for Peace demonstrates for peace at a different intersection in Milwaukee County every Saturday.

Sunday, July 16

Knock doors with Grassroots Germantown for the AD24 Special Election! 12:00 - 3pm & 3:00 - 6:00pm
Address provided with sign up
Join Grassroots Germantown to knock on doors in advance of the special election for Assembly District 24! Sign up.

Knock doors in Menomonee Falls, 12:00 - 3:00 & 3:00 - 6:00pm
Fiddleheads Coffee, Menomonee Falls (N88 W16621, Appleton Ave, Menomonee Falls)
Join us to knock doors for the Assembly District 24 Special Election in Menomonee Falls! Sign up.

Monday, July 17

Knock doors with Grassroots Germantown for the AD24 Special Election!

2:00 - 5:00pm & 5:00 - 8:00pm
Address provided with sign up
Join Grassroots Germantown to knock on doors in advance of the special election for Assembly District 24! Sign up.

Canvass for the Assembly District 24 Special in GRAFTON! 9:00am - 12:00pm, 12:00 - 3:00pm, 3:00 - 6:00pm & 6:00 - 8:30pm
1930 Wisconsin Ave, Grafton
Join us to knock on doors for the crucial Assembly District 24 Special Election in GRAFTON! Sign up.

Tuesday, July 18

ELECTION DAY IN AD 24, 7:00am - 8:00pm
At your polling location
Be sure you know where your polling location is! Since this is a special election for Assembly District 24 only — and with nothing else on the ballot — it is likely that your community provides fewer polling locations than usual. To check where you are to go to cast your ballot, visit MyVote.WI.gov. Or call your municipal clerk. Just be sure to VOTE.

Knock doors with Grassroots Germantown for the AD24 Special Election! 2:00 - 5:00pm & 5:00 - 8:00pm
Address provided with sign up
Join Grassroots Germantown to knock on doors in advance of the special election for Assembly District 24! Sign up.

Canvass for the Assembly District 24 Special in GRAFTON! 8:00 - 11:00am, 11:00am - 2:00pm, 2:00 - 5:00pm & 5:00 - 8:30pm
1930 Wisconsin Ave, Grafton
Join us to knock on doors for the crucial Assembly District 24 Special Election in GRAFTON! Sign up.

SAVE THE DATE

Wednesday, July 19

Ozaukee County Dems Meeting, 7:00 - 8:00pm
1930 Wisconsin Ave., Grafton
Join us at our Grafton Office as we gather to hear speakers and catch up on the local and state politics influencing Ozaukee County – while spending time with like-minded people. All interested people are encouraged to attend.

Thursday, July. 20

Wisconsin Conservation Voters Meet up, 5:30 - 7:30pm
Lincoln Park Shelter 1, Milwaukee
Conservation Voters do good things when we get together. So let’s meet up! We are inviting Wisconsin Conservation Voters members and all others interested in conservation and climate change to a Milwaukee Meet Up.

Saturday, July 29

Cartoon Skills Workshop with Eric Orner, 10:00 - 11:30am
Milwaukee Public Library, Good Hope Branch, 7715 Good Hope Rd, Milwaukee
Learn to bring your cartoon characters to life during this fast-paced and interactive 90-minute workshop. Eric Orner has worked as a Disney animator and his published comic strips and illustrations have appeared in The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, the San Francisco Chronicle, and The New Republic. In 2021, Metropolitan Books published his graphic novel, Smahtguy:The Life and Times of Barney Frank. For ages 10+. Registration requested.

One Smaht Guy: A Biography of Barney Frank, 2:00 - 3:30pm
Milwaukee Public Library, Good Hope Branch, 7715 Good Hope Rd, Milwaukee
Author Eric Orner will read from and talk about his graphic novel, “Smahtguy,” a biography of Barney Frank, followed by a Q&A and book signing. Eric is a former Congressional aide to Frank. He is also the creator of The Mostly Unfabulous Social Life of Ethan Green, one of the country’s first and longest-running gay comic strips. Eric has also published comic strips and illustrations in The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, the San Francisco Chronicle, and The New Republic. His cartoon story “Weekends Abroad” was included in Houghton Mifflin’s Best American Comics 2011. Books will be available for purchase from Boswell Books.

Saturday, August 5

Brown Deer Dem Team Launch, 12:00 - 2:00pm
Kurt Schulz Deli & Pastry Shoppe, 8752 N Deerwood Dr, Brown Deer
Join other Democrats in your area to launch a Brown Deer volunteer action team! We will be getting together, talking politics, and planning out what we can do to elect Democrats up and down the ballot in 2024. No need to sign up. Just come!

Sunday, August 6

Whitefish Bay/Shorewood Bridge Building Canvassing, 12:00 - 3:00
4845 N Newhall St, Whitefish Bay
Join the Whitefish Bay and Shorewood Dems for a volunteer meetup and neighborhood canvass! We'll be talking to voters about the issues that matter most to them ahead next year's crucial elections. First time canvassing? No problem! Our organizer will walk you through everything you need to know to knock doors. All you need to bring is yourself, your best walking shoes, and a fully charged phone. Sign up.

Friday - Monday, September 1 - 4

The Golden Rule, an historic sailboat, docks in Milwaukee
The Golden Rule, a storied sailboat that helped bring about an end to atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons, will stop in Milwaukee Sept. 1-4 as part of a 15-month, 11,000-mile voyage to inform and educate the public about the dangers of nuclear weapons proliferation. A number of public events will be held, and speakers / crew members will be available for presentations at schools, churches or other venues during the four-day visit. Boat tours and visits with the crew will be offered every afternoon. (See a real-time map of the boat's journey.) The Golden Rule is a project of Veterans For Peace.