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During the 69th Legislative Assembly, North Dakota Democratic-NPL Insider will provide updates and calls to action each day of the regular session. If you would like to have something added to the newsletter, email us at laura.dronen@demnpl.com. Spread the word of our newsletter by sharing our sign-up link today: https://demnpl.com/join-our-newsletter/.
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Missing and Murdered Indigenous People
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Today Rep. Jayme Davis' (D-9) bill to establish a feather alert for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons passed its final vote in the House and Senate! A Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons task force is also on its way to the Governor's desk.
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North Dakota Democratic-NPL Legislators are fighting to protect children
In light of Holmberg case, Sen. Tim Mathern (D-11) proposed a bill Monday to make lawmakers and higher ed employees mandated reporters of crimes against children. Republicans on the Senate Delayed Bills Committee killed it immediately.
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Holmberg was the longest-serving state Senator in the country when he was in office. He walked the halls of the Capitol as one of the most powerful men in North Dakota. He said it himself—that he would be in power as long as he wanted to, unless he was caught. Why would they reject this bill?
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The Legislative Session is almost over
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The Legislature will likely complete its business this week.
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Follow Along!
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Did you know you can watch along with these hearings or watch them later on your own time?
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Help us spread our message—share these recent posts!North Dakota
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Federal funding cuts prolong anxiety for North Dakota institutions
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Trump administration orders to slash funding across the country have put the future of some programs offered by the State Library of North Dakota at risk.
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Other federal funding cuts have already hit research at the University of North Dakota and North Dakota State University in health, science and the humanities.
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Pending cuts have programs on edge about their future, potentially impacting citizens whose lives are enriched by those programs.
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Letter: An educator's promise
Some days are better than others, both for teachers and for students. The beautiful (and, it really is beautiful) thing about public education is that we, as teachers, do not decide which students are or are not worthy of our time and effort; that decision is made for us the moment they are put onto our class rosters. We meet students where they are at in August, and day by day, sometimes by an inch, other days by a mile, we help students make gains in their goals. Looking back at the end of the school year to see how far each of our students, oftentimes 100 or more each semester, have come in just nine months is the greatest gift one can experience in a lifetime.
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Letter: Autistic people have worth
It really bothered me that Robert Kennedy Jr. said "these are kids who will never pay taxes. They'll never hold a job. They'll never play baseball. They'll never write a poem. They'll never go out on a date. Many of them will never use a toilet unassisted." What a gloomy Gus! This is simply untrue and demeaning. Autistic people may need a hand up, but having worked with many autistic children - it is a rewarding experience. Keep funding Medicaid and other programs that support people with special needs. It is worth it.
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Senator Tina Smith refers to President Trump's first 100 days as, "kind of a disaster"
Joel Heitkamp is joined on KFGO radio by Minnesota Senator Tina Smith. Senator Smith won't be seeking re-election in November, and chats with Joel about Trump's first 100 days in office, tariffs, and more.
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With session winding down, North Dakota lawmakers at roadblock on property tax bill
The North Dakota Legislature did not gavel in Wednesday, instead spending the day hashing out the final bills of the session in conference committees, including the long-awaited property tax relief and reform legislation that lawmakers say is stuck.
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Maybe Trump will make an executive order to remove parable from the Bible
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The next executive order that Trump might well make is to have the parable of the Good Samaritan removed from the Bible, because this parable contains all the elements of DEI.
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Diversity: three men, a priest, a Levite and a Samaritan
Equity: a "certain man" could be anybody who should be treated equally;
and Inclusion: includes everybody.
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Proposed legislation would make lawmakers, higher ed employees mandatory reporters; bill already rejected
“This would be a step forward toward justice as we continue to process Holmberg’s vile crimes and uncover more information on what has become the most egregious scandal in our state’s history,” Mathern said.
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Mark Watne, President of ND Farmers Union, won't seek reelection
Joel Heitkamp is joined by the President of North Dakota Farmers Union, Mark Watne, to announce his decision not to run for reelection to a 13th term as president at the organization’s annual meeting in December. They also talk about the future of the Farm Bill.
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ND Senate Rejects Funding for Deflection Center
Taylor Hort, program coordinator for the Withdrawal Management unit Fargo Cass Public Health, is in studio to help us understand what a Deflection Center is and what the next steps are now that the ND Senate has decided not to provide funds.
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Check out these posts from the national Democratic Party
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Trump administration discontinues $1 billion in school mental health grants
"They may not have agreed on everything, but Congress secured $1 billion in bipartisan mental health grants to help kids better understand themselves and the world around them," Weingarten wrote in a statement. "The benefits were obvious. Now, with the stroke of a pen, that halting progress has been wiped away, even as the president and his allies insist that improving mental health is the only way to fix the gun violence epidemic."
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Trump nominee gives misleading testimony about ties to alleged 'Nazi sympathizer'
However, in an email in September 2024, NPR wrote to Martin and made him aware of a laundry list of Hale-Cusanelli's prior antisemitic and racist statements. In subsequent weeks and months, Martin continued to praise Hale-Cusanelli as an "amazing guy" and "great friend," and they appeared at multiple events together.
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Waltz was in danger before Signalgate
Signalgate may have been the tipping point for national security adviser Mike Waltz, but his downfall began before he accidentally added a journalist to a private chat about a U.S. attack on Yemen.
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From the early days, senior administration officials were irked by his approach – seeing him as too cocky. “He’s a staff, but he was acting like a principal,” one person close to the White House who was granted anonymity to discuss internal dynamics said. National security advisers, while powerful, support presidents but do not run an agency like Cabinet secretaries.
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Trump's Recession Has Begun
Also, look at the difference with the last quarter of 2024, when GDP grew 2.4 percent under the president Trump sneeringly calls “Sleepy Joe Biden.” If 2.4 percent growth is sleeping and negative growth is waking, pass me another pillow. The Wall Street Journal’s Harriet Torry states bluntly: “The main driver of the first-quarter contraction was Trump’s trade war.” I agree. When the numbers make this recession official, I fully expect Trump to call this the China Recession. But China isn’t our president. It will be the Trump Recession. Let’s hope he doesn’t turn it into a Trump Depression.
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MAGA's Battle for Gen Z: Tradwives, Motherhood Medals & The 'Fertilization President'
The disturbing connection between Dobbs, "motherhood medals", and tradwife TikTok! How pro-natalism became the MAGA strategy to control women's reproductive choices.
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Thousands rally against Trump, Musk in nationwide May Day protests: Live updates
Over 1,000 demonstrations and rallies were scheduled in every state and abroad, most being held May 1 – historically known as May Day or International Workers' Day. The volunteer-led 50501 movement, which spurred other nationwide protests this year, helped organize the demonstrations along with labor unions, student groups and other grassroots organizations.
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Committees
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Every bill is voted on in the North Dakota legislature, but first, it must go through a committee hearing. The committee will vote to give the bill a "Do Pass" or a "Do Not Pass" recommendation. Below is a list of Standing Committees this legislative session.
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Senate Standing Committee Members
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Meets Thursday and Friday
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Meets Monday through Friday
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Meets Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
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Meets Thursday and Friday
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Desiree Van Oosting (R-36)
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Meets Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
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Meets Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
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Desiree Van Oosting (R-36)
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Meets Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
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Meets Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
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Meets Thursday and Friday
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Meets Thursday and Friday
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Meets Thursday and Friday
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House Standing Committee Members
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Meets Thursday and Friday
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Gretchen Dobervich (D-11)
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Cynthia Schreiber-Beck (R-25)
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Meets Monday through Friday
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Meets Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
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Cynthia Schreiber-Beck (R-25)
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Patrick R. Hatlestad (R-1)
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Meets Thursday and Friday
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Meets Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
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Mike Motschenbacher (R-47)
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Meets Thursday and Friday
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Gretchen Dobervich (D-11)
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Meets Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
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Lisa Finley-DeVille (D-4A)
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Meets Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
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Lawrence R. Klemin (R-47)
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Meets Thursday and Friday
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Patrick R. Hatlestad (R-1)
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Lawrence R. Klemin (R-47)
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Mike Motschenbacher (R-47)
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Meets Thursday and Friday
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Lisa Finley-DeVille (D-4A)
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The Century Club supports our year-round work to build party infrastructure supporting candidate recruitment, local district and regional leadership, issue-based education, and tools for Dem-NPL success.
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Help us elect great Democrats up and down the ballot!
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The North Dakota Democratic-NPL is launching a new grassroots program called “Neighbor to Neighbor” where volunteers will connect with voters in your community to elect Democrats up and down the ballot. As a volunteer, you will be responsible for connecting with voters in 25 homes in your neighborhood or friends and family to help elect Democrats up and down the ballot about 3-4 times this year.
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Grassroots organizers are the lifeblood of the Dem-NPL! Sign up to volunteer with the Dem-NPL!
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