Monday notes

Hello CRAGgys!

Please continue sharing what you're learning, connecting with allies, and passing on tips on local impacts or concerns.

Places to engage and topics for this week

This week offers many possibilities to express your opinions on current developments. Remember that venues like to lovely Keweenaw Pridefest last weekend are great to connect with allies, but it's also essential to meet people outside your bubble. And some of them are at these local meetings.

Today: Townships: Adams, Portage, Hancock, Franklin, and L'Anse Village. Tomorrow: Houghton County, Schoolcraft and Quincy Townships, and Baraga Village (details on the calendar).

Many government actions threaten our local communities. Here are a few talking points:

Budget bill

The bill has passed the House and the Senate plans to vote on it in early July.

• Medicare and ACA. Analysis of the Big, Beautiful, Bombshell bill by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projects that in MI-01 30,379 people would lose health insurance in the next decade (12,800 from the ACA and 17,579 from Medicaid). Across the country about 16 million people are at risk of losing health insurance.
  • See ACASignups.net for other Michigan impacts.
• Medicare is also at risk because of automatic provisions that kick in with the expanding budget deficit.
• The bill slashes funding for research and development in the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, Environmental Protection agency, NASA, and others by 50%. These are investments in research on treatments for Alzheimer's, cancer, children's health, environmental toxins, climate change, energy systems, modern materials, education, forest health, and so many other fundamental drivers of our welfare.
• The bill increases the budget deficit to give tax cuts to the rich while cutting essential services for the rest of us.

Americorps and JobCorps

Both these programs were ordered closed and participants and employees notified. A lawsuit has temporarily reinstated Americorps (in some states). JobCorps students were abruptly sent home last week, though a lawsuit has been filed on their behalf as well.

Immigration

• Immigrants in Michigan paid $8.4 Billion in taxes in 2023.
• Only about 1.1% of Michigan's population are undocumented immigrants.
• Aggressive ICE attacks on law-abiding people are not popular. The criminals they claim to be targeting are not working in restaurants and Home Depots, so why are ICE agents raiding those places?

DOGE

The dangers of DOGE have not diminished with the ousting of Musk. DOGE minions have been inserted into powerful positions throughout the federal government, where they have bypassed critical security protocols. Your personal data is now being consolidated and likely available to to AI systems, private companies, and potential malicious actors. Palantir, the software company controled by Peter Thiel, has gained access to your IRS data. Security experts are raising the alarm, including this testimony by Bruce Schneier to congress last week (hearing page, with video):

Whether you fear government tyranny, attacks from foreign adversaries, or attacks from domestic malicious actors, the AI-fueled consolidation of citizen data should make your fears grow. If the consolidation is carried out recklessly and in secret, as DOGE affiliates are largely doing, this new and unchecked power presents serious risks to every American.

Why and how to attend local meetings

CRAG started with a plea for people to get out to talk to our local public officials. The crisis in democracy spans the spectrum from the very top down to local voters who elected them. Let me know your views and experiences about why local democracy is critical.

Lots of opportunities next week calendar; view in browser for the embedded version. (sorry, it doesn't show up in email.)

Hints on using the calendar: switch view format on the upper right, download a pdf with the 🖨️ icon, upper left. Select subcalendars (meetings, demos, etc) with >> on the upper left.

How can we get you out to your township/county/other meetings?

Small township meetings are often only 30 minutes long. Check the the CALENDAR for one near you.

• We can help:
  • Pair you with a buddy 👬;
  • Guidance in preparing remarks. (but just saying a few words from your heart is fine.)
  • Fact sheets on your township (demographics, recent federal funding, number of people on Medicaid, etc).
  • What else can we do? Childcare? Transportation 🚌? Lollipops 🍭? Let me know!

Bridgefest parade Friday, June 13

Keweenaw Indivisible, HC Dems, and the League of Women voters all invite participants in the Bridgefest parade on Friday, June 13. Contact these groups to help build floats (KI) or staff tables.

Events and meetings

The CALENDAR has details on events.
A list of Pro-democracy organizations in the UP has contact information. (Please share additions and corrections.)

• June 13. Bridgefest Parade. Starts 7 pm in Hancock. The LWV, Houghton County Dems, and Keweenaw Indivisible are all planning floats. Contact these organizations to participate.
• June 14th. No Kings protests nation-wide. This date is Bridgefest in Houghton.
• June 14. No Kings protest in Marquette
  • Lake Superior Region Indivisible will be hosting a protest from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday, June 14 at the corner of U.S. 41 and Wilson Street in Marquette to protest the Trump administration, coinciding with Trump‘s military parade in Washington DC.
  • Ride Sharing from Houghton: Please email JChadde @ gmail.com if you’re interested in going and sharing rides. We would leave Houghton at 7:30 AM.

Ongoing:

Details are on the CALENDAR.
It's time to thank Frank for allowing groups to meet in the Orpheum Theater; with their switch to summer hours many will be meeting elsewhere. Please confirm locations.

• Yoopers for Ukraine Rally at the bridge Wednesdays at 5 pm (correction).
• Keweenaw Indivisible meets alternate Tuesdays, from June 10th, 6-8 pm at the KUUF
• “Houghton County Dems meet every 1st Wednesday, 7 pm at the Super 8.
• 3rd Wednesday, 6 pm HC Dems April Meet-up.
• 4th Wednesdays AWAVE. Gathering at UU Fellowship Houghton.
• 3rd Sundays, 7-8:45 pm, Keweenaw Against the Oligarchy Monthly Action Committee (KATO). Please register at the link to help with the headcount.
• Marquette: Every Saturday morning from 11:30-12:30, between 40 - 80 people have been assembling at the Marquette Post Office, standing in support with long-established Citizens for Peace & Justice.

Kestrels

Since the owls are out and about they're rarely visible on the Owlcam, I've started watching this KestrelCam in Wisconsin. The chicks are growing fast!

Thanks for all your support

Stay Well

Sarah