Dear John,

We’ve covered a lot of news about disinformation in our weekly digest, especially around election season. One of our national affiliates is taking a survey to see if you or a loved one has been harmed by disinformation shared by media corporations (i.e. Fox News downplaying the severity of COVID). If you have a story, please consider sharing it here.

Have a great weekend.

Here’s what we’re reading, watching, and listening to this week:

1. Gaza

We are heartbroken to see the news coming out of Palestine this week. Issues around military violence have touched many TakeAction staff and members personally. We know that globally, we are interconnected and that the militarization of our local police forces did not happen by accident.

Here’s what I’m reading to follow and learn more: this piece in Al Jazeera on what led up to this escalation, this article in the Washington Post about U.S. defense contracts & Senator Sanders, and I’ve bookmarked the Palestine issue of Mizna magazine, which Mizna shared for free this week. If you want more international news covered in the digest, let me know.

2. Brooklyn Center

Just weeks after the police murder of Daunte Wright, the Brooklyn Center City Council and Mayor Mike Elliott are poised to pass a nation-leading resolution – the Daunte Wright and Kobe Dimock-Heisler Community Safety & Violence Prevention Act. Learn more about how the Act would restructure the city’s approach to public safety.

3. Child Care

Care is the work that makes all work possible. Read about historic investments in child care, and the redefinition of ‘infrastructure’ that emerged during the pandemic, in the New York Times.

4. Cannabis

Last night, the Minnesota House voted to legalize recreational cannabis and expunge criminal records. If you’re new to the issue, this piece makes a compelling case for why we need to #LegalizeMN.

5. Podcast

Check out this podcast with our national affiliate People’s Action and Alicia Garza, co-founder of the Black Lives Matter movement. Listen here.

6. Ferguson

The movement in Ferguson is revolutionizing political power in St. Louis, MI. Read and listen to this piece from St. Louis Public Radio.

7. Flowers

It’s not just you. Check out this story about how we’re all noticing flowers more.

8. TV Rec

I’m adding Mythic Quest on Apple+ to my watch list. Let me know if you’ve seen it. Read the review for season two and watch the trailer of season one.

9. History Memes

These history memes are silly and fun. Enjoy ‘em.

10. Aliens

What if they’re real? What if that’s worth thinking about? Enjoy this food for thought in this op-ed published nationally and in the Star Tribune.

That’s a wrap. Send me what you're reading.
- Kenza Hadj-Moussa