Dear John,

We hope you’re doing well!

We’re busy getting ready for TakeAction Minnesota’s annual People’s Celebration coming up Saturday, December 14 at the Saint Paul River Centre. If you still need a ticket, we’ve extended the deadline to 11:59 p.m. tonight. We’d love to see you there.

Hurry and save your spot now and find more information on our website.

Email us if you have any questions. As always, we love to hear from you.

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

1. Single Payer

In the UK, everyone is covered by the National Health Service, and almost every treatment is free. Health care has become a major issue in the upcoming general election because Prime Minister Boris Johnson was caught trying to sell off parts of the NHS to American health care companies.

Earlier this week, this video of British people trying (and failing) to guess the price of American health care went viral. You shouldn’t be able to put a price on care. You’ve got to watch it.

2. Universal Family Care

Care is the work that makes all other work possible. We can imagine what #UniversalFamilyCare would look like this country—can our presidential candidates? Read more in The Hill.

3. Reproductive Justice

Ohio has some of the most restrictive anti-abortion laws in the country. But event as clinics close, the fight for reproductive justice continues. Read more in The Nation.

4. Baby Yoda

Nothing made the Internet happier this week than BABY YODA. Enjoy this video.

5. Fund the Village

Minneapolis residents made it clear to elected officials this week: we need investments in communities, not more cops. Artist and organizer Ricardo Levins Morales published a powerful commentary in City Pages on why Minneapolis doesn’t need more police. Check it out here.

6. Food Stamps

This week, the Trump Administration announced new requirements for food stamps that would kick nearly 700,000 people out of the program. This is the right wing playbook: stoke racial divisions, scapegoat immigrants, low-income people, and people of color, undermine the role of government, slash the safety net...then use those cuts to finance tax breaks for corporations and the greedy few.  Read more.

7. Knives Out

I (Patrick) saw the movie Knives Out this week and absolutely loved it. Come for the murder mystery. Stay for the expensive sweaters. Read a review of the film from NPR or just check out the trailer.

8. Women in Power I

The title of this thought-provoking piece: Americans want a woman to take down Trump. Just not in the election. Read it.

9. Women in Power II

Black women are the base, backbone, and future of the Democratic Party. With Sen. Harris resigning from the presidential race this week, this is a must-read article on race, gender, and the media. Read and share this one.

10. Wholesome Hedgehogs

Coming back to work after Thanksgiving can be rough. Luckily for all of us, this video of a hedgehog taking a bath exists. Watch it here.

That’s a wrap. Have a great weekend.

-- Kenza Hadj-Moussa and Patrick Burke