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September Quick notes

September Quick notes

Hello CRAGgys!

Several important informational sessions are on the schedule for this week. Check the calendar for details.

Tuesday, 6 pm, KUUF : Michiganders for Money out of Politics and MI KIDS Townhall.

Wednesday, 6 pm, KUUF: AWAVE: AI data centers in the UP info session

  • Dr. Chloe Kannan from Sault Ste Marie will speak about the threat of data centers for AI and bitcoin mining coming into the UP. Thousands of acres are being bought up in northern WI for these purposes. Pizza at 6. Speaker starts at 6:15.

Wednesday, 7 pm, MTU, Fisher 138: Know your Rights, Forum on ICE Preparedness.

Some random news and notes

Local Internet News

Biden brings high speed fiber-optic Internet to the UP. Really?! Well, it's a little more complicated. The company Highline received $22 million in 2023 to expand into the UP. Federal broadband funding was scrambled earlier this year when the Commerce Department rewrote the rules to give a certain gazillionaire a better chance to get grants for his satellite Internet, which more expensive than fiber-optic for inferior service. I can't figure out how that delay affects Michigan.

  • But, I chatted with a worker inspecting utility lines on our road last week, and he expects Highline service to be installed here sometime next year (although we're not yet on their "coming soon" map).

📎 Paper Clip Protest 📎

It's a thing! Wear a paper clip, cheap, easy, recognizable. Know your tribe. Inspired by the Norwegian resistance during WWII. Promoted by Ollie and Janice Pedersen, and E. Jean Carroll, and recently amplified by Joyce Vance.

Signs of Fascism Protest in Marquette

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Keweenaw Now

Keweenaw Now posted an article about the Labor Day Rally, including photos and videos of speaker.

Interesting reads and resources

  • Justin Ling has written a clear-eyed, non-hysterical view of Charlie Kirk's trajectory from college dropout to MAGA saint. I found it very interesting to learn how he and his organization were deliberately driven to the right by self-avowed Nazi Nick Fuentes.
  • If, like me, you cannot stand to hear 10 seconds of that guy speaking, you can read daily transcripts of all his recorded interactions at RollCall. Warning: he's even more incoherent and unhinged than you imagined. And he frequently gives to floor to media sycophants.

Books

I've recently read several books that speak to this moment:

  • Autocracy, Inc. (2024), by Anne Applebaum explains how the global web of ultra-wealthy autocrats collaborate to consolidate power, monopolize resources, and suppress dissent.
  • Careless People (2025), by Sarah Wynn-Williams describes her time at Facebook trying to get Zuckerberg and his leadership team to care about anything besides personal profit (spoiler, she was unsuccessful).
  • The Anatomy of Fascism (2017), by Robert O. Paxton is a scary analysis of how fascists came to power where they did, including social and elite enablers. And a look at places they tried, but failed to gain power.

Save the Date: NO KINGS 2.0

October 18, 2025 NO KINGS 2.0 National Protests. Over 1200 locations have registered to date. Local actions TBD. Contact Keweenaw Indivisible to help organize.

Government News

Potential Government Shutdown(s)

  • Michigan

Ongoing: The Michigan Government could shut down if a balanced budget isn’t passed by October 1. The Senate (Democratic controlled) and House (Republican controlled) are still miles apart. The house passed a budget that slashes funding for health care, environment, arts and culture, public safety, the Secretary of State, and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

  • U.S.

The federal government is moving closer to a partial shut down on October 1. With no input from Democrats, the House passed a continuing resolution fund the government through November. Support from Senate Democrats is required and they are demanding to have (some) of the cuts to health programs (ACA subsidies, some Medicaid cuts) reinstated.

Michigan Statewide Petitions

At least SIX petitions are being circulated for proposals to go on the 2026 ballot. Bridge Michigan has a good summary; others may be added.

    • YES (if you are eligible.)::
    • NO! Decline to Sign. Watch out for the anti-voter rights petitions that seek to add repressive "proof of citizenship" language to the Michigan constitution:
        • Americans for Citizen Voting- DO NOT SIGN
        • Committee to Protect Voters Rights - DO NOT SIGN
        • AxMITax, The AxMITax proposal seeks to eliminate all property taxes in Michigan, shift the tax burden to regressive sales tax, and make it harder to raise any other taxes in the future - DO NOT SIGN

Upcoming Events

The CALENDAR has details, on these events and many more. Please share your events.

  • September 23, 6 pm, KUUF. Town Hall: Invest in MI Kids. Organized by KATO. (this is the correct time and location; I had errors in previous notes)
  • September 24, 6 pm, KUUF: AWAVE: AI data centers in the UP info session
    • Dr. Chloe Kannan from Sault Ste Marie will speak about the threat of data centers for AI and bitcoin mining coming into the UP. Thousands of acres are being bought up in northern WI for these purposes. Pizza at 6
  • September 25, 7 pm. Know your rights ICE Training at Michigan Tech.
  • October 15, 7 pm. Town Hall: Health Care for All. Orpheum Theater.
  • October 18, 2025 NO KINGS 2.0. Save the date. Local actions TBD.
    • No Kings Motor March, 11-2. Register for vehicle deccorating at Mobilize

When and Where to Speak UP

Check the calendar for details.

Local action groups convene regularly. Some public body meets somewhere every single week; take 30 minutes to show up and express your opinion. (Sample statements.) And let me know if you go and what you learn.

Remember, this is a long process. Showing up multiple times builds trust and demonstrates to people with diverse viewpoints that you don't have horns.

Why and how to attend local meetings

Organizing Meetings

Details are on the CALENDAR. (Please send updates, check to confirm.) These groups are all very welcoming. Drop by a meeting to connect with friendly faces. Any level of engagement contributes to making our world better.

Houghton/Hancock

Baraga

  • Baraga County Democrats, 3rd Tuesdays at 6 pm, L'Anse Township Hall

Marquette

  • Every Tuesday evening at 7pm, Yoopers Unite, a gathering of local pro-democracy groups, at LoveMarq Church, 728 W. Kaye Ave, Marquette.
  • 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.
  • Lunch at Lakenenland: Lake Superior Region Indivisible, Potluck at Lakenenland, September 13, 1-3 pm, contact lsrindivisible@gmail.com for details.
  • Join Lake Superior Region Indivisible

Apple Pie

So many apples this year. I hope you're getting some good ones.

Thanks for all your support

Stay Well

Sarah

References

Trump Team’s Reworking Delays Billions in Broadband Build-Out, Sarah Jane Tribble, June 20, 2025. https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/broadband-rural-west-virginia-bead-commerce-department-new-rules-delay-telehealth/

Op-Ed: Fiber is the gold standard for rural broadband - BEAD must emphasize it, Peter Rysavy, Aug 25, 2025. https://www.fierce-network.com/broadband/op-ed-fiber-gold-standard-rural-broadband-bead-must-emphasize-it

Broadband Comparison: Fiber, Cable, Wireless, and Satellite in the BEAD Era, July 21, 2025. (PDF) https://rysavy.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2025-07-rysavy-broadband-comparison.pdf

Who was Charlie Kirk Anyway, Justin Ling, Sept 12, 2025. https://open.substack.com/pub/justinling/p/who-was-charlie-kirk-anyway

Keweenaw Indivisible's Labor Day Anti-Billionaires Rally in Houghton honors workers, Michele Bourdieu, September 8, 2025, Keewenaw Now, https://keweenawnow.blogspot.com/2025/09/keweenaw-indivisibles-labor-day-anti.html

Paperclip photos https://mypaperclip.blogspot.com/2005/11/norwegian-binders.html and Wikimedia Commons

The Revival of the Paperclip Resistance Movement, https://thepaperclipresistance.com/

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Jamie Larson
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