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The 69th Legislative Assembly has come to an end! Please help us improve our newsletter with your feedback! If you would like to have something added to the newsletter, email us at laura.dronen@demnpl.com. Spread the word about our newsletter by sharing our sign-up link today: https://demnpl.com/join-our-newsletter/.
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2025 Rural Progress Summit
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Hosted by One Country Project
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Tuesday, July 8th – Thursday, July 10th, 2025
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This summer you can join One Country Project board members, influential speakers, policy experts, national leaders, and rural advocates for the fourth annual Rural Progress Summit July 8th - 10th. The keynote conversation will feature Sec. Pete Buttigieg in a virtual fireside chat with Sen. Heitkamp. As a former Transportation Secretary and small city mayor, Pete Buttigieg has the ability to speak knowledgeably and clearly on the biggest issues facing our country.
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The Rural Progress Summit reaches rural Americans where they are. It’s clear that rural America holds an essential role in moving our country forward and deciding who controls the agenda in Washington, D.C., yet rural America is often left out of important policy decisions. The Rural Progress Summit explores ideas and policies that will shape the future of rural America. The Summit brings together rural stakeholders from across the country to ensure future policy addresses the challenges rural communities face. Follow us to keep up with details on programming and speakers as we get closer to the Summit.
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Cass County Democratic-NPL Policy Meeting
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Tues, Jul 8, 5:30pm-6:30pm CDT
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1325 23rd St S, Suite B, Fargo
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Our monthly meeting which includes representatives from the 11 Legislative Districts in Cass County, elected Legislators and staff.
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Souris Valley Dem-NPL July Monthly Meeting
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Tues, Jul 8, 6:00pm-7:30pm CDT
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Parker Center
21 1st Ave. SE, Minot
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Join the Souris Valley Dem-NPL at our July Monthly Meeting!
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All Democrats and Nonpartisan Leaguers in Minot and the surrounding area are welcome as we discuss news and upcoming events.
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We will be meeting at the Parker Center (21 1st Ave SE, Minot, ND) on Tuesday, July 8th. There will be a social from 6PM – 6:30PM followed by the meeting from 6:30PM – 7:30PM.
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We look forward to seeing you there!
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Drinks and Discussion with Dems
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Wed, Jul 16, 5:00pm-6:30pm CDT
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El Zagal Shrine Fargo
1429 3rd Street North, Fargo
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Our informal get-together to talk about current events, brainstorm on activities we can do together as a two district partnership, and just enjoy each others’ company in general.
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How to Democrat in the Age of Trump Book Study – hosted by District 44 & 45 Dems
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Wed, Jul 16, 7:00pm-8:00pm CDT
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The District 44 & 45 Dems are hosting a book study and all are welcome to join! We’ll be reading How to Democrat in the Age of Trump by Mike Lux. It’s a short but impactful book to guide where we go from here.
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District 21 Summer Connection Series - July Coffee and Connect
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Sat, Jul 19, 9:00am-10:30am CDT
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Sweet Dreams Confections
4101 13th Ave S 1000, Fargo
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Join us at Sweet Confections for D21's July Summer Connection!
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Enjoy coffee and conversation with our local representatives! We will be there from 9:00-10:30am
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Century Club Appreciation Event 4e Winery 2025
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Sun, Jul 20, 3:00pm-5:00pm CDT
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4e Winery
3766 156th Ave SE, Mapleton
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Join us for a lovely afternoon at 4e Winery!
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People's Townhall with Trygve Hammer - Minot
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Thu, Jul 31, 7:00pm-8:30pm CDT
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Carnegie Center
105 2nd Ave SE, Minot, ND 58701
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Real change starts with real conversations. Trygve Hammer, 2024 Democratic-NPL Congressional Candidate, is a retired Marine Corps officer and a veteran of the Global War on Terror. In his civilian life, he's taught 7-12 grade science in a rural school, worked as a roughneck on oil rigs in the Bakken, as a freight rail conductor, and as a counselor for Job Corps in Minot, aiming to give young people a hand up in starting their lives. On Thursday, July 31, 7 pm at Carnegie Center in Minot, he'll answer your questions about the issues our nation faces today.
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People’s Town Halls are happening in all 50 states and 7 territories! They are your chance to connect with neighbors, community leaders, and organizers to discuss the issues that matter most. These events are open, inclusive, and built to amplify your voice! Check out more here: https://democrats.org/peoples-town-halls/
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Help us spread our message—share these recent posts!
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Federal funding cuts to North Dakota agencies total $100M so far, analysis shows
The next largest cut was the loss of about $20 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency grants that were designated for various North Dakota infrastructure projects. Lawmakers during the session approved a Bank of North Dakota loan of about $9.7 million to fund wastewater projects in two communities after the grants were canceled.
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Hundreds take U.S. citizenship oath in Fargo as lawmaker speaks of 'perilous times' for immigrants
Rep. Zachary Ista, D-Grand Forks, said each person’s perseverance, no matter their personal circumstances, speaks to their “dedication and grit.”
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An attorney who previously worked in immigration law for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Ista also made an indirect reference to President Donald Trump’s strict enforcement of immigration laws and actions by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.
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“It cannot be ignored, though, that we do gather here today at perilous times for those seeking to call America their home. As you learned in studying our country's history, America's relationship with immigration has been plagued by cyclical periods of suspicion, restriction and outright hostility,” he said.
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“Yet against this checkered history, a deeper truth endures. We are, always have been, and always will be, a nation of immigrants,” Ista said.
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Mark Watne: Farm Bills need to be bipartisan
The demise of the Farm Bill began when we chose to extend it, not only once but twice. As a result, we are seeing a bill drafted through a reconciliation process that only allows changes pertinent to a partisan push. Cutting SNAP and small enhancements to the farm safety net while leaving most other programs in limbo will widen the rural-urban divide and make the bill less bipartisan.
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This approach of reconciliation rather than the regular order of drafting a Farm Bill, where the merits and challenges of programs are debated, misses the point of a government of and for the people. It risks everything we have built as a nation -- from leading the world in food production to the U.S. becoming a residual supplier of food for the world. It takes the U.S. further down the path of becoming a food importer rather than having a surplus in agricultural trade. This is a poor choice when it comes to logical food policy for our nation, for farmers and consumers.
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Plain Talk: 'When someone on your own side is referring to them as cuts, you're losing that war'
Oban pointed out that while Fedorchak is disputing the claims that Medicaid is being cut, some Republicans, including Mehmet Oz, the Trump administration's administrator for Medicare and Medicaid services, are calling them cuts.
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"The problem that she has is it's not just people like me who are saying it's Medicaid cuts," Oban said.
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"You're like, 'Well, these aren't cuts,' but when someone on your own side is referring to them as cuts, you're losing that war," he continued.
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Letter: Trump's immigration policies are hurting farmers
Trump has admitted his immigration policies hurt farmers, which means it is hurting us. Where is the action we should expect to see from our senators and congressmen? There are a lot of things I think they should be doing in addition to pushing back on immigration, but the very least we should expect is that they not sit on their hands when the president admits to actions that harm farmers.
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Trump drive to defund NPR, PBS resisted by Republicans from rural states
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The Trump administration’s request to claw back $9.4 billion in previously approved spending on foreign aid and public media ran into significant opposition Wednesday, potentially dooming its path forward in the Senate.
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Numerous GOP lawmakers on the Appropriations Committee, including Chairwoman Susan Collins, expressed concern at how the proposed rescissions would affect American “soft power” as well as local radio and television stations that rely on the Corporation for Public Broadcasting — many in rural America.
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Letter: Big Beautiful Bill is cruel, immoral
This bill, recently passed in the U.S. House of Representatives on a party-line vote, is now being considered in the Senate. In its current form, it will drastically cut programs that support those who need a helping hand, while giving massive tax cuts to the very wealthiest among us. Programs on the chopping block include Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and the Affordable Care Act. The bill also proposes the deepest cuts to food assistance (SNAP) in the program’s history.
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Great Plains Food Bank campaigns against SNAP cuts
“We had a family that was growing tomatoes for us and we had to call and say we can’t purchase your tomatoes anymore. And the mom said I have six kids, I was counting on your funds to help, you know, take care of my children. And now we’re going to be standing in your line.”
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They’re asking residents of North Dakota to reach out to Senators Hoeven and Cramer about these cuts, and that they are always looking for volunteers
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Letter: Trump's 'big, beautiful bill' will devastate rural America
Apparently, it’s a thing of beauty to savagely cut health care for the 40% of children in our country who are on Medicaid. It’s big, but mostly beautiful, kicking grandma out of her nursing home because it’s closing. Drink in the beauty of your rural hospitals being shuttered for lack of funds. Maybe you can spend time in nature to heal yourself. Ope! Nope, sorry, our former governor is selling that land to big oil and gas.
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Speaking out: Ethics Commission has more power than lawmakers think
They should continue to push forward, follow their constitutional mandate with courage and vigor, and let the politicians try to stop them. The state constitution is on their side, as are the majority of the people who voted for the Ethics Commission and support its vital work.
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Concerns grow about increased ACA costs, medical debt
“Both of those programs are being cut back so there’s going to be a profound effect in rural areas,” Gibbens said.
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Those cuts will not only impact individuals who lose coverage, but also rural hospitals that treat patients in their ERs.
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“They’re going to be coming in through the ERs when they’re sicker, when we would have liked to have seen them earlier to address an issue, rather than when they come back and it’s more acute,” Gibbens said. “There isn’t any money then, to treat them, so that comes back as more bad debt for the hospital.”
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Gibbens said the moves are a “real step backwards” and would lead to significant negative impacts on the health of individuals but also on the financial viability of rural hospitals and clinics.
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Opinions on likelihood of North Dakota special legislative session vary by lawmaker
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However, legislative leadership said any special session induced by the funding cuts would take place after the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and its impacts on the state’s budget were better understood, likely several months in the offing, according to Hogue and Senate Minority Leader Kathy Hogan, D-Fargo.
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“We have to have the whole picture because we can't backfill until we know the whole picture,” Hogan said. “We've never been through anything like this before. This is new to us, but I'm pleased that we've got our staff growing and that we have really a collaborative approach. This is not a partisan issue.”
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Port: North Dakota's delegation needs to be loyal to the Constitution first, Trump second
North Dakota's delegation is made up of Republicans who are loyal to Trump, but before partisan loyalty should come fidelity to the role of Congress and its duties under our constitutional system.
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Mural at state School for the Blind in Grand Forks stirs controversy
Due to the term limits, many current legislators will be ineligible to run for re-election by the 2028 election cycle. This creates an opening for new candidates to step forward and represent their communities. Whether one wins or loses, running in 2026 would provide valuable experience for those interested in public service. There will be a measure on the November 2026 election ballot if passed would allow legislators more time in the same office.
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Emerado farmer, Todd Leake, speaks to the selling of public lands
Joel Heitkamp is joined by Todd Leake, a farmer in central Grand Forks County near Emerado, North Dakota. They talk about the Trump administration's agenda to sell public lands, and dig into Governor and Secretary Burgum's work towards it.
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Groups rally citizens to get engaged
“We just encourage people to seek some education and participate in local politics, where you actually have a chance to make a difference, and where you can see those differences made much more immediately,” Sherwood said.
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The intent also is to bring more representation to people who tend to be marginalized, whether due to disability, lower incomes, lack of property ownership or other factors, Gipson said.
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Check out these messages from national Democrats
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Remembering Melissa Hortman: Republicans and Democrats say her power came from her selflessness
The Reformer interviewed nearly two dozen legislators of both parties, Capitol staff, political operatives, and the many Hortman alums who have gone on to successful careers in business, law and public service thanks to her mentoring.
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The portrait that emerges is of an unusual politician: She merely tolerated the spotlight, happily shared credit and accepted blame, eschewed higher office, and by all accounts was motivated chiefly by an interest in public policy, its details and how it could help as many Minnesotans as possible.
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‘No Kings’ Protests Across Rural America Biggest To-Date
“We depend a lot on federal dollars for hospitals, for our public lands, for our food programs, and it’s really critical that people who might not have other exposure to news media other than their traditional conservative outlets, to see how many people in their own community are really concerned,” said Hall.
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Medicaid cuts are life and death for this family in Missourier Revealed To Be Trump Supporter
Courtney Leader is a mother of five children, one of whom has cerebral palsy and relies on Medicaid assistance in addition to private insurance to help keep her daughter alive. CNN's Jeff Zeleny speaks to families and organizations in Missouri about the potential cuts to Medicaid, food programs and rural hospitals in President Donald Trump's domestic policy bill.
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Sotomayor Warns No One Is Safe After Birthright Citizenship Ruling
“No right is safe in the new legal regime the Court creates,” Sotomayor’s dissent read. “Today, the threat is to birthright citizenship. Tomorrow, a different administration may try to seize firearms from lawabiding citizens or prevent people of certain faiths from gathering to worship.”
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Sotomayor used an analogy to illustrate the absurdity of granting the government’s request to strike down nationwide freezes on plainly unlawful orders: “Suppose an executive order barred women from receiving unemployment benefits or black citizens from voting. Is the Government irreparably harmed, and entitled to emergency relief, by a district court order universally enjoining such policies? The majority, apparently, would say yes.”
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‘People are going to die’: how Medicaid work requirements cost people their health insurance
Camille Richoux, the health policy director for Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families said the work requirements were more of a “paperwork requirement” and led to confusion. She said about 95% of individuals who lost Medicaid coverage were meeting the requirements or should have qualified for an exemption.
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“It was a mess,” said Richoux. “The rollout was chaotic and resulted in just a massive loss of insurance. Employment did not increase, wages did not increase during this time. The only impact was more people becoming uninsured.”
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ICE raids push farm workers to stay home ‘out of fear.’ That could hurt U.S. food production
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Many in the agriculture industry are concerned the policy will constrict labor and hurt both the farm business and everyday consumers. That includes Matt Teagarden, the head of the Kansas Livestock Association, which represents more than 5,000 members in the state.
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“These raids disrupt our food supply and contribute to higher food prices,” Teagarden said. “In addition to the workers who’ve been detained, these raids contribute to fear in these communities and lead to workers— fully legal workers — staying home out of fear.”
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Trump Lies Matter
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“Your Medicaid is left alone,” by contrast, is exactly the sort of lie Republicans wanted people to believe Obama had told, and yet it’s crickets from the press.
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Here is the manifest failure of a political media and partisan opposition that have become desensitized to Trump’s Orwellian deceptions. It has allowed Trump to neutralize his unrivaled dishonesty and corruption, as if they were ordinary gutter politics. Eight years ago, these were beats unto themselves. His lies would draw attention both to the issues he was lying about and to the inherent depravity of such flagrant deceit.
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Today they elicit barely a whisper. Any controversy around this abhorrent bill arises when other Republicans accidentally or privately let on that they know the truth, as when Mitch McConnell told his colleagues that Americans who lose their Medicaid will “get over it,” and Joni Ernst shrugged off the harm they will suffer: “we’re all going to die.”
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Trump's budget plan threatens to defund Planned Parenthood, could affect rural communities
Simpson said, “It concerns me because I know a lot of people use [Planned Parenthood] for care because it’s so difficult to get a primary care physician around here. It’s just hard to get into clinics."
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States Fear Critical Funding From FEMA May Be Drying Up
Upheaval at the nation’s top disaster agency is raising anxiety among state and local emergency managers — and leaving major questions about the whereabouts of billions of federal dollars it pays out to them.
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The Federal Emergency Management Agency still has not opened applications for an enormous suite of grants, including ones that many states rely on to pay for basic emergency management operations. Some states pass on much of that money to their most rural, low-income counties to ensure they have an emergency manager on the payroll.
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Federal Judge Deems Trump Administration’s Termination of NIH Grants Illegal
The mass cancellation of grants in response to political policy shifts has no historical precedent, experts told ProPublica, and marks an extraordinary departure from the agency’s established practices. ProPublica previously revealed that the Department of Government Efficiency — the administration’s cost-cutting initiative —— gave the agency direction on what to cut and why, raising questions about the provenance of the terminations.
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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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