Dear John,

We hope you had a good week. It’s been busy at TakeAction – from #StopLine3 organizing to caucus and convention trainings and the virtual legislative session.

In this week’s news digest, you’ll read stories tied to a few of the state policy issues we’re working on, from expanding health care to lowering drug costs. In the coming weeks, state lawmakers will get down to business deciding Minnesota’s budget for the next two years. Join us at a virtual rally this Thursday to #FundOurFutures and make sure the wealthiest are paying their fair share.

1. Texas

The U.S. is not prepared for climate change. This piece from The Guardian on blackouts and disasters that hit the U.S. this week is illuminating. For a local angle on what Minnesota can do on climate solutions, read this piece in MinnPost.

2. Vaccine

It is time for President Biden to reject the racist trade policy that has cut out the Global South from the COVID vaccine. Learn more about this global crisis.

3. Rx Costs

Minnesota’s Prescription Drug Affordability Board (H.F. 801) cleared its first committee hearing this week. Read how patients, Attorney General Keith Ellison, and state leaders are taking on Big Pharma to lower out-of-control drug costs.

4. COVID-19

Emilio Gonzalez survived COVID-19. Read this heart-wrenching deep dive into his recovery, and his family’s tender care. (And we need to pass a MNCare Public Option that includes coverage for undocumented Minnesotans. Learn more on our website).

5. Heartwarming or Alarming?

While the inspirational stories we see in the news may feel good, they’re indicative of a much bigger, insidious problem: our country’s lack of basic human rights and resources. Read about why we need to stop using “human interest” stories to obscure the big picture.

6. Public Safety

The police murder of George Floyd sparked an uprising and increased efforts to move resources away from police and into community. Get crucial context for what’s happening around public safety in Minneapolis.

7. Antisemitism

Our liberation is bound together. Deepen your knowledge on fighting antisemitism with this piece from Carin Mrotz in The Forge.

8. Domestic Labor

Domestic labor is undervalued – and the pandemic exacerbated that. Hear from influential socialist feminist theorist Silvia Fredereci on domestic labor and the future of our economy in the New York Times.

9. Ted Cruz

Back to Texas. As someone said on Twitter, his trip to Mexico during a national crisis in Texas wasn’t even the worst thing he did this year. Read about Cruz’s vacation plans.

10. Mars

NASA’s Perseverance rover landed on Mars. Check it out with this video of cheering scientists the moment it landed!

That’s a wrap. Send us what you’re reading.

- Kenza Hadj-Moussa and LyLy Vang-Yang