Dear John,

Happy New Year! We’re glad to be back in the swing of things. Like you, we’re already feeling the enormous stakes of this year and the impact state and national elections will have for generations.

We’re excited to wrestle together through all of it.

Over the weekend, members of TakeAction Minnesota’s Leadership Assembly will be discussing how we are going to show up in 2020 election, potentially endorsing a presidential candidate for the first time. Stay tuned. We’ll have more information about our member-led endorsement process and a timeline for down ballot races on our website in the coming weeks.

There’s so much more we want to say, but will save it for the coming weeks. I (Kenza) will be on Almanac’s political panel tonight. Tune in!

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

1. No War with Iran I

“We need your solidarity. We need your congressional action, popular action, anything to prevent war with Iran and to hold to the searing light the truth about the path that got us here.”

St. Paul City Council Member Mitra Jalali wrote this courageous piece last week about growing up Iranian American – and what it feels like right now. If you don’t read anything else this week, read this.  

2. No War with Iran II

Even though we’ve been at war for 69% of my (Patrick’s) life, it still feels like 2003 again. Karl Rove and Ari Fleischer are lying to us on CNN, and the media feels overwhelmed by the sheer number of lies coming from the President. No war with Iran. And no war at all. Read more.

3. Gerrymandering 

The daughter of a deceased GOP strategist behind egregious gerrymandering in North Carolina published files Republicans wanted sealed. Full of twists, the story’s revelations about GOP gerrymandering aren’t surprising, but we’re fascinated by how the truth was revealed. Grab some popcorn and read it here.

4. #Megxit

In a needed distraction from more serious news, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry declared their independence from the royal family. The internet lost its mind. Read the latest here or check out this collection of Schitt’s Creek memes explaining what happened.

5. AOC

This widely circulated profile of Representative Ocasio Cortez’ first year in Congress details her progress shifting the Democratic agenda. Find it here in New York Magazine.

6. Australia

Seven things to know about the fires + how you can help. Read it here.

7. India

The Indian government is violently cracking down on protests over an anti-Muslim citizenship law. 25 people have died, a one-fifth of the population went on strike, and bigger protests are expected to follow. Learn more here.

8. Reproductive Care

Teen Vogue collected 39 stories from people who have had abortions – one for each U.S. Senator who signed on to a brief to the Supreme Court urging them to overturn Roe v. Wade. Read them here.

9. Fire Drill Fridays

Today is Jane Fonda’s last Friday getting arrested in front of the White House to raise awareness of climate change. But her Fire Drill Fridays are expanding to communities across the country. Check out pictures here.

10. Lunar Eclipse

The sky reminds us that no matter where we live in the world, we are interconnected. There’s a wolf full moon lunar eclipse today. See the live stream and checkout your January horoscope from the movement’s astrologer, Chani Nichols.

That’s a wrap. Have a great weekend.

-- Kenza Hadj-Moussa and Patrick Burke