Cold Winds Are Blowing

So much is happening at the local, state, and national level that it is hard to focus on any one thing. So it is imperative that everyone prioritize. Yes, if you watch the confirmation hearings for Hegseth, and Bondi, and others, you're bound to be outraged by some or all of it. But your anger, disgust, or despair will not change the outcome of the process. All of our 47th president's choices for senate-confirmed positions will almost certainly become heads of the agencies for which they have been nominated.

At Talking Points Memo, Josh Marshall has an excellent take on this: "What happens or doesn’t happen is entirely a matter decided within the Republican caucus. It is totally out of Democrats’ control. What follows from that is that everything Democrats do, inside the hearing room or outside, is simply and solely a matter of raising the stakes of decisions Republicans make and raising those stakes for the next election." That includes Speaker Johnson's decision to cave to you know who and raise the flags at the Capitol to full staff for the inauguration. It's a small slight to President Carter but a telling one. Just consider the contrast between the gaudy home of the 47th president and the humble ranch house in Plains, Georgia, where our 39th president spent his entire adult life.

My advice is to avoid the confirmation hearings and the inaugural hoopla altogether! Personally, I'm watching old seasons of the British Baking Show.

Still you absolutely should tune in to hear President Biden's farewell address at 7pm CST tonight. He may have been defeated but his presidency has been an unsung success, culminating it seems with the long-sought ceasefire between Israel and Hamas that will begin with the exchange of hostages held in Gaza and Palestinian prisoners held in Israel, perhaps as early as Sunday. Here's a link to the New York Times breaking news article (gifted). And to mention just one more astounding achievement, Jill Lawrence at the Bulwark notes that "Biden has made history of his own: The economy added jobs every full month that he was in office, the first time that’s happened since the government began collecting data in 1939. 'Zero months with job losses,' said his press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre." I fervently hope the main stream media covers his speech in full. We owe him our deep gratitude.

Timothy Snyder, on his substack "Thinking about ..." spells out another worthy recipient of our gratitude:

Americans (and many others) owe Ukrainians a huge debt of gratitude for their resistance to Russian aggression. For some mixture of reasons, we have difficulty acknowledging this. To do so, we have to find the words. Seven that might help are: security, freedom, democracy, courage, pluralism, perseverance, and generosity.

For [Snyder] personally, the greatest debt concerns freedom. This is a word that we Americans use quite a lot, but we sometimes lose track of what it really means. For the past thirty years or so, we have fallen into a very bad habit of believing that freedom is something that is delivered to us by larger forces, for example by capitalism. This is simply not true, and believing it has made us less free. 'The whole history of the progress of human liberty,' Frederick Douglass said, 'shows that all concessions yet made to her august claims have been born of earnest struggle.' It will always be the case that freedom depends upon some kind of risky effort made against the larger forces. Freedom, in other words, will always depend upon an ethical commitment to a different and better world, and will always suffer when we believe that the world itself will do the work for us.

I hope you will read and think about his case. I haven't had much to say about the war in Ukraine but the incoming administration seems bent on pulling back American support. Snyder's essay says a lot about what is due to a country few Americans could find on a map a few short years ago and yet is delivering untold benefits to us and our fellow countrymen.

Here at home in Milwaukee, the dirty work of ICE is already beginning. Apparently, ICE is attempting to expand its facility at 310 East Knapp Street, where it has some office space and some rudimentary cells without beds. The Democratic Party of Milwaukee County has issued a press release reiterating that immigrants are our friends and neighbors who contribute to the health and wealth of our country.

The Democratic Party of Milwaukee County (DPMC) thanks Ald. Larresa Taylor for finally informing the public of ICE’s expansion plans. We know that many immigrants are our neighbors and work hard and pay taxes even though they may not get credit for them. We know many immigrant children were born here and are U.S. citizens (The Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution declares that “All persons born or naturalized in the United States … are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.”). We need real immigration reform to create a moral and just transition and a pathway for undocumented immigrants to legal status out of the shadows (so they can be paid fairly and receive the benefits of the taxes they pay). Intimidating our neighbors and the forcible removal of our neighbors is not the American way.

You can read the remainder of the statement in this PDF.

Right now, we're in an intense period of nervous waiting while shoes drop all around us in quick succession. In the still center of the maelstrom, though, our core duty remains: elect Judge Susan Crawford to the Wisconsin Supreme Court on April 1. In the coming weeks, we will have many opportunities to meet her and to learn more about her. At the Grassroots North Shore fundraiser — Move Wisconsin Forward — on Sunday, February 2, she will be a prominent speaker and will take our questions. Our featured speakers are Attorney Jeff Mandell, founder and general counsel for Law Forward, and Nick Ramos, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign. They will discuss what's at stake in this coming election. Donate what you can to Grassroots North Shore so that we can carry on the work of finding, educating, and turning out voters for Judge Crawford.

It's just as important to learn about her opponent. For an early run-down on his record, you could visit BRAD SCHIMEL: BAD FOR WISCONSIN. Here are just a couple of highlights:

  • After the 2016 election, Schimel bragged Trump had won in Wisconsin thanks to restrictions on the right to vote that the GOP passed and Schimel helped enforce as Attorney General.
  • Even before the Dobbs decision, he sued Planned Parenthood to enforce new restrictions on access to safe and legal abortion in Wisconsin.

More recently, he spoke with Vicki McKenna on her podcast complaining, "the Jan. 6 defendants never got 'a fair shot' in court and accused Democrats of 'abusing the court system' for 'political gain.'" (Wisconsin Examiner, January 6, 2025). In his view, these insurrectionists didn't get "a fair shot" because they were tried in D.C. so the preponderance of the jurors were likely to be Democrats. That's true but beside the point: defendants must be tried where the alleged crimes were committed. Surely as a lawyer, a former Attorney General, and as a judge he knows that!

Ruth Conniff, the author of the piece in the Wisconsin Examiner, points out that among the legion of Republicans trying to revise the history of January 6, "Schimel’s comments stand out. For a Supreme Court candidate to suggest that jury trials don’t work and that the whole U.S. system of justice is so politicized it can’t be trusted is deeply undermining of the very institution Schimel proposes to join."

Because we are in a rapid election cycle once again, I am introducing what I hope will be a recurring feature to this newsletter: a section highlighting specific actions to take right now. I hope you will do at least some of them.

TAKE ACTION

Here are some things you can DO to help our communities move FORWARD:

  1. WAVE, one of the many local organizations Grassroots North Shore works with, is circulating a petition to thank Governor Evers for signing an executive order to launch a state Office of Violence Prevention. The petition is well worth signing. You should be aware, however, that once you sign and submit the form you will be automatically directed to a donation page for the WAVE educational fund. This is a very common (dare I say universal) practice with online petitions. You can choose whether to contribute or not.

  2. Opportunities for social gathering and service to celebrate Martin Luther King. This link will take you to a page to sign up for any one of these three opportunities. We are asking folks who are able to bring donations from THIS LIST for the Kinship Community Food Center.

    • 5-8 Friday January 17 — Chili and fixins at Debbie Patel’s home, 9130 N. Spruce Road, River Hills. Folks may come and go as they like, but note that at 7PM we will listen to Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream speech” (17 minutes), and chat afterward. If you are able, please bring an item for the Kinship Community Food Center.

    • 1-4 Sunday January 19 — Chili and fixins at Debbie Patel’s home, 9130 N. Spruce Road, River Hills. Folks may come and go as they like, but note that at 3PM we will listen to Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream speech” (17 minutes), and chat afterward. If you are able, please bring an item for the Kinship Community Food Center.

    • 11:30 - 3:00 Monday January 20 —Chicken Soup (for the body and soul) at Cheryl Maranto’s home 6563 N Crestwood Dr., Glendale. Assuage your angst on Inauguration Day by building community and doing service. At noon we will watch Wisconsin’s 45th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Tribute and Ceremony from the Capitol Rotunda and chat afterward. If you are able, please bring an item for the Kinship Community Food Center.

EVENTS

Wednesday, January 15

WI Public Education Network: forum on "decoupling" funding for voucher schools, 7:30pm
Virtual

Voucher lobbyists and privateers have been pushing legislation that would change the way the state funds private school vouchers by “decoupling” them from education spending as a separate budget item. This bill was rejected last session, but is predicted to come back in 2025 and a similar proposal is under consideration by school board members as a resolution at the upcoming State Education Convention (Jan. 22-25 in Milwaukee). We’ve been fielding a lot of questions and concerns on this and have invited some experts to help us unpack what it all means in a special meeting this Wed. at 7:30 pm via zoom. Registration required.

Thursday, January 16

Waukesha Dems Meeting, 7:00pm
Southminster Presbyterian Church, Waukesha

Join us for our monthly meeting to kick off 2025. We will be joined by local candidates as well as presenting our 2025 proposed budget and priorities for approval. This will be a great time to get involved, shape our year ahead, and meet the candidates we are going to elect in April. Once the holidays are over, its time to get to work.

Friday, January 17

Forum on the Wisconsin State Supreme Court Election, 9:30am
ThriveOn Collaboration, 2153 N MLK Drive, Milwaukee

The League of Progressive Seniors and Souls to the Polls invite you to a forum on the Wisconsin State Supreme Court Election on April 1, 2025. Our two speakers — Judge M. Joe Donald (Milwaukee Circuit Court Judge for 13 years) and Attorney Walt Kelly (widely known for work in labor, employment, civil rights and liberties law) — will address what the WI Supreme Court does and why this election matters. Light refreshments will be available. for more info, email [email protected]. Please let us know that you plan to attend. If you are interested but cannot attend, also let us know. We hope to see you there.

Saturday, January 18

Stand for Peace, 12:00 - 1:00pm
King and North Ave, Milwaukee

Every Saturday, Stand for Peace advocates gather on a specified street corner with signs to advocate for peace.

Monday, January 20

Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., 11:00 - 1:00pm CST
Whitefish Bay Public Library, 5420 N Marlborough Dr, Whitefish Bay

MLK Celebration Featuring
     Spoken word with former MKE Poet Laureate Susan Frier and 2025 nominee Kavon Cortez Jones
     Readings by WFBHS Black Student Union


     Silk Screen poster-making for all ages with Melanie Ariens
Register.

Tuesday, January 21

LWV Lunch and Learn Series, 12:00pm
Zoom

Lunch and Learn now meets on Zoom quarterly. Our Lunch & Learn will focus on Where do we go from here with new voters? What lessons have we learned in Getting Out The Vote? with Bria Burris. Lunch and Learn follows the lead of women and the communities most impacted by racism and inequity. We focus on what we can do to make things better for humankind. Registration is not required. Link to event. Meeting ID: 963 9818 8822.

Thursday, January 23

LWVWI Civic Education Seminar, 6:30 - 8:00pm
TBD

LWVWI member, Joan Schwarz, is offering a virtual Civic Education Seminar this spring. She is an attorney and former university academic. Beginning on January 23 this virtual seminar will meet every other Thursday. Throughout eight meetings, Joan will lead group discussions about the Constitution, the rule of law, our democratic institutions, federalism and the tensions on our laws and norms. Many premises have been assumed and predicted for generations – the stability of our democratic republic, the optimism of the 20th Century about the inevitability of democracy, the invincibility of progress, the decency of human nature and the coming reign of reason and peace – but are now surely being tested and questioned. Registration is required.

Friday, January 24

LWVMC League Café, 10:00am - 12:00pm
TBD

League Cafe meets monthly and welcomes League members old and new, as well as community members. In a small group setting, we get to know each other better, share knowledge and have interesting conversations. In rotating months, we meet as a general discussion group, and in opposite months, convene as a book club to discuss noteworthy books on racial equity, immigration and/or voting.

Saturday, January 25

Stand for Peace, 12:00 - 1:00pm
KK and Lincoln, Milwaukee

Every Saturday, Stand for Peace advocates gather on a specified street corner with signs to advocate for peace.

Monday, January 27

Democratic Party of Milwaukee County Monthly Membership Meeting, 6:00 - 7:00pm
Fiesta Café, 1407 S 1st St, Milwaukee

Join us for the First Monthly Membership Meeting at Fiesta Cafe!

Tuesday, January 28

Brennan Center: Do the Police Care About White Supremacist Violence, 3:00-4:00pm
Virutal

After more than two dozen current or former law enforcement officials participated in the January 6 insurrection, what has been done to address extremist sympathizers within these ranks? Mike German explores such timely questions in his new book, Policing White Supremacy: The Enemy Within. Drawing on research and his experiences as an undercover FBI agent infiltrating white supremacist groups, German offers unique insight into domestic extremism and argues for a better way to combat far-right violence. Link to event.

Wisconsin Supreme Court Election: Ethics and Money, 6:00 - 7:30pm
Virutal

Join the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin for a virtual webinar at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, January 28. The program "Wisconsin Supreme Court Election: Ethics and Money," will provide voters with all the information they need for the next Wisconsin Supreme Court Election this spring. Speakers include: Jay Heck from Common Cause; former Supreme Court Justice Janine Geske; Attorney Doug Keith from the Brennan Center; and Attorney Rob Yablon from the State Democracy Research Initiative. Registration is required.

Wednesday, January 29

Brookings: What to expect from the new Trump administration, 9:00 - 10:00am CST
Virutal

On January 20, President-elect Donald Trump will take office. As he steps into the presidency again, many questions persist. What are the major goals of the administration? Will Trump be able to fulfill his campaign promises? What are the emerging conflicts within the new administration? What will the checks and balances be? On January 29, join the Center for Effective Public Management at Brookings for a webinar featuring experts on American politics to discuss the incoming Trump administration and what may lie ahead. Viewers can submit questions for speakers via email to [email protected]. To watch online, RSVP .

Sunday, February 2

Preserve the WI Supreme Court Majority! GRNS 2025 Fundraiser, 5:00 - 6:30pm
Virutal

Our Next Mission: Saving a Fair and Forward-Looking Majority on the Wisconsin State Supreme Court. On April 1, 2025, we need to protect an open seat of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, to keep us moving forward and to preserve our rights. Find out the stakes and the opportunities from our knowledgeable speakers: Nick Ramos (Executive Director of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign) and Jeff Mandel (Founder, General Counsel and President of Law Forward, a nonpartisan, nonprofit law firm protecting democracy in Wisconsin). Donate to our annual fundraiser (GRNS membership included in your donation). (If you prefer to donate via check, please mail your donation to: Grassroots North Shore, PO Box 170684, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53217-8056.) Every donation will be matched dollar for dollar up to $4000. Register for the event.

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