Early Saturday morning President Trump, apparently enraged at the New York Times’ investigation into his personal attorney, Michael Cohen, took to Twitter to attack White House correspondent and Pulitzer Prize winner Maggie Haberman as a “third rate reporter” and “Crooked H flunky,” accusing her and the newspaper of seeking to “destroy” Cohen and push him into “flipping” on his client. But Saturday’s Twitter assault on Haberman is only the latest in a series of attacks on both the press and the very idea of truth that no longer fails to shock but should alarm us all. The news is “fake,” “very biased,” “very unfair”; journalists are “the enemy of the American people.” Trump lies unceasingly and effortlessly; the Washington Post catalogued 2,436 presidential whoppers in 2017 alone. And Trump has repeatedly expressed his admiration, even friendship, for dictators like Putin and Duterte, under whose iron fist journalists who have the temerity to investigate governmental wrongdoing and corruption risk harassment and death. The American people owe a debt of gratitude to the investigative reporters who continue to rake through the muck of the swamp that is the Trump presidency, to the newspapers who support their work, and to the organizations and lawyers who stand ready to fight for freedom of the press. But, as the saying goes, freedom isn’t free… One of today’s action items is a call to support our free press, the defenders of our freedom, with our wallets. As Hannah Arendt so forcefully and eloquently argued: “The moment we no longer have a free press, anything can happen. What makes it possible for a totalitarian or any other dictatorship to rule is that people are not informed; how can you have an opinion if you are not informed? If everybody always lies to you, the consequence is not that you believe the lies, but rather that nobody believes anything any longer. This is because lies, by their very nature, have to be changed, and a lying government has constantly to rewrite its own history. On the receiving end you get not only one lie—a lie which you could go on for the rest of your days—but you get a great number of lies, depending on how the political wind blows. And a people that no longer can believe anything cannot make up its mind. It is deprived not only of its capacity to act but also of its capacity to think and to judge. And with such a people you can then do what you please.”
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:
Announcements
Events
Action Items
ANNOUNCEMENTS for our endorsed and supported candidates:
Kate Wiltz, candidate for Monroe County Council, District 2
needs volunteers to:
-Host a House Party! If you live in D2 and you can host a party, we would love that!
-Host a Yard Sign! Do you live in a good location and/or in District 2?
-Canvass! Kate is looking for volunteers to canvass her district or to walk with her! Email us to volunteer!
We would be oh-so grateful for your time. Even one or two hours makes a HUGE difference!
Email Kate: [email protected]
Lee Jones for County Commissioner needs help with a voter contact project.
To help contact [email protected]
OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Rides to the Polls
In an effort to ensure that every person who wants to can vote, the Monroe County Democratic Party is offering rides to the polls both for early voting and Primary Day on May 8th. If you want a ride, know someone who could benefit, or are interested in serving others, please contact Executive Director Kaisa Goodman at 812-272-3439 or [email protected].
Local Democrats Launch Online Guide to 2018 Primary Elections
The site, which went live on April 3 can be found at http://www.monroedems.org/our_candidates.
It is a “one stop shop for voters seeking information about the 2018 primary elections” that will make it easier for folks to learn about each of their candidates and ultimately create a well-informed voter base. The DWC will shortly link our candidates as well.
This Civic Education Project is a collaboration between Monroe County Democratic Party and Bloomington High School South Young Democrats and was put together in collaboration with members of the Bloomington High School South Young Democrats.
The site will be continuously updated throughout the election to include statements of candidacy, endorsements, letters to the editor, and press releases pertaining to the candidates competing in the Democratic primary and also includes links to publicly available candidate forums, interest group questionnaires, candidate guides, as well as information related to election law, early and absentee voting, precinct maps, and related voter information. The site will be available from April 2nd through Election Day on May 8th.
The 2018 Indiana Democratic Party Coordinated Campaign is hiring….
From Kat Rogers, the new Coordinated Campaign Director for the Indiana Democratic Party:
I am excited to let you all know that the coordinated campaign will be hiring Field Organizers and Regional Field Directors to help us elect Hoosier Democrats up and down the ballot in 2018!
2018 Indiana Coordinated Campaign Regional Field Director
2018 Indiana Coordinated Campaign Field Organizer
If you are interested in applying for these positions check out the job descriptions here
Applicants should send their resume to [email protected]
If you have any questions.
Kat Rogers, Coordinated Campaign Director
[email protected]
EVENTS:
Early Voting
Election Central: 401 W. Seventh St., Bloomington
(812) 349-2690
Early Voting Times:
April 10, 2018 – May 4, 2018
Monday – Friday: 8:00 am – 6:00 pm
April 28, 2018 and May 5, 2018
Saturday: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
May 7, 2018
Monday: 8:00 am – 12:00 noon
Tuesday, April 24, 2018, 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Dessert Pot-Luck Fundraiser to support the IU College Democrats
Home of John Hamilton and Dawn Johnsen
Bring a donation or dessert or both. (You know college students will welcome desserts to take with!) If you can’t attend, consider a donation, of any size, to support the IU College Democrats and our future.
Thursday, April 26, 2018, 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Indivisible Bloomington and 9th Meeting
Democracy Lab, 116 S. Madison St.
Tuesday, May 1, 2018, 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Democracy for Monroe County May Link-up: May Day and the Worker's Project
Upland Brewing Company Reception Room, 350 W. 11th St., Bloomington
In honor of May Day, DFMC and Jobs with Justice will host guest speaker Tom Lewendowski, co-founder of the Workers Project in Fort Wayne, Indiana. This project seeks to create a bond between union members and non-union members, workers of all stripes - white, Latino, black, Asian, undocumented, unemployed - and to organize them into one community.
Free beer and hors d'oeurves will be served. Click here for more information.
Tuesday, May 1, 2018, 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Liz for Indiana #Showing Up Town Hall Tour
Monroe County Public Library, 350 W. 11th St., Bloomington
The Liz for Indiana #ShowingUp Town Hall Tour continues! They’ll be at the Monroe County Public Library to talk about the future of public education. Hopefully, even our current Congressman will attend. Congressman Hollingsworth hasn't held a single town hall since taking office, so Liz’s campaign has invited him to join theirs! Call Trey at 202-225-5315 to extend a personal invite. The event is open to the public, so bring friends. Make your voice heard! To RSVP: [email protected] and/or via social media.
Sunday, May 6, 2018, 1:00pm - 5:00pm
Fundraiser for Penny Githens for Indiana State Rep District 60
2616 East Poplar Court, Bloomington
Sponsored by the Persisterhood Workshop: "Smashing the Patriarchy One Ceramic Piece at a Time!"
Wine stoppers, necklaces, brooches and decorative garden stakes priced to sell and support our candidate--preview below! 100% of sales go to Penny Githens for Indiana. Can't make the event but want a Persisterhood Workshop piece/ Contact [email protected]
And for the stressed among us? We have zen rocks!
Tuesday, May 8, 2018, 6:00am - 6:00pm
PRIMARY ELECTION DAY
to check on your precinct and who is on your ballot go to https://indianavoters.in.gov/
Tuesday, May 8, 2018, 6:30pm - 9:00pm
Primary Watch Party and Potluck
MCDP Headquarters, 116 S. Madison St., Bloomington
After the polls close on Primary Election Day, head over to MCDP headquarters to await the election results! The MCDP will be hosting a Primary Watch Potluck - bring a dish to share if you can, and the MCDP will provide the drinks! There will be a projector set up to watch the election results, and all candidates are invited to give acceptance or concession speeches.
ACTION ITEMS:
SUPPORT A FREE PRESS BY SUBSCRIBING TO OR PROVIDING FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO NEWSPAPERS, MAGAZINES, AND OTHER MEDIA OUTLETS INVOLVED IN SERIOUS INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING AND ANALYSIS. If you don't subscribe to the H-T already, take out a subscription, electronic or print--no one else is going to cover local news. Donate to organizations that support civil liberties and freedom of the press. Probably preaching to the choir here!
VOTE NOW. TAKE FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES ALONG! MAKE IT AN EVENT!
It's less than one month to primary voting day on May 8th and early voting has started. So many discouraged or misguided people think the primaries don’t matter, or that elections at all don't matter. Take a few minutes to convince some friends and colleagues that it DOES matter. Then drag them along to election central to vote. Bribe them with lunch or afternoon coffee, whatever it takes! Voting hours for early voting and primary election day are below again for your convenience.
EARLY VOTING HOURS: all voting at Election Central: 401 W. Seventh St., Bloomington
(812) 349-2690
Monday – Friday April 10, 2018 – May 4, 2018: 8:00 am – 6:00 pm
Saturday April 28, 2018 and Saturday May 5, 2018: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Monday May 7, 2018: 8:00 am – 12:00 noon
PRIMARY ELECTION DAY - May 8, 2018 6:00am - 6:00pm
Vote at your Precinct - to check on your precinct location and who is on your ballot go to https://indianavoters.in.gov/
Join the DWC or Renew your membership today.
The DWC is dedicated to inspiring, recruiting, training, supporting and funding women to increase the number of progressive, pro-choice women in the political arena. We ALL help with this mission, together, collectively. Make sure you have full rights and privileges of membership.
Only $20 for one year’s membership.
Join online here: https://democraticwomenscaucus.nationbuilder.com/membership
Do you have news items? Send your items of interest to us at [email protected]
Deadline for MMN is noon on Sunday.
Paid for by DWPAC - Democratic Women's Political Action Committee
Democratic Women's Caucus
http://www.democraticwomenscaucus.org/