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Welcome to the North Dakota Democratic-NPL Insider, a newsletter that features regular updates about upcoming Dem-NPL events, legislative happenings, and news that affects North Dakotans!
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Did you know the DNC hosts a morning news show called the Daily Blueprint that is livestreamed on YouTube weekdays at 9 AM CDT? You can watch it live or later on the DNC’s YouTube channel here.
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Democrats won big this week!
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Through GoodChange, each time you make a purchase, they'll round up your spare change to the nearest dollar. That spare change will add up to help elect Democrats right here in North Dakota! (click the spare change tab to sign up)
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Cass County Democratic-NPL Policy Meeting
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Tues, Nov 11, 5:30pm-6:30pm CST
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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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Dickinson Area Democratic-NPL meeting
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Wed, Nov 12, 7:00pm-8:00pm MST
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The Press Box at Players Sports Bar & Grill
2050 1st Ave E., Dickinson
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Districts 37, 36, and 39 meet every second Wednesday after Drinking Liberally!
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District 46 Meeting
5524 16 Street South Fargo
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Districts 37, 36, and 39 meet every second Wednesday after Drinking Liberally!
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Coffee with Friends
Luna Fargo
1545 S University Dr, Fargo
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We are excited to have a guest speaker, Carolyn Becraft, Captain, US Army, Retired. Carolyn once served as the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Manpower and Reserve Affairs and as an advocate for women and military families. The recipient of many awards during a lifetime of service will share some words with us. Hope to see you there!!
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Executive Committee Meeting
The Executive Committee Meeting for the State Democratic-NPL Party. Each Third Monday of the Month
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For more information contact Adam Goldwyn at adam.goldwyn@demnpl.com
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Letter Stuffing Party!
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Tue, Nov 18 - Fri, Nov 21
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Help us with our next mailing!
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District 24 Dem-NPL Meeting
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Lisbon Senior Citizen Center
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625 Main Street, Lisbon, ND
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District 24 Dem-NPL members meet every 3rd Tuesday or Thursday in either Enderlin, Lisbon, or Valley City (depending on the month).
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District 11 Meeting
1325 23rd St S, Suite B, Fargo
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District 11 Democratic-NPL meets every 3rd Wednesday of the month
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Drinks and Discussion with Dems
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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Help us spread our message—share these recent posts!
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After Dems Sweep 2025 Election, Dem-NPL chair says Now It’s Your Turn to Run
"With victories up and down the ballot—from Virginia to Mississippi and Georgia to Iowa—we are now a year minus two days away from Democrats taking back the House and the Senate and putting the brakes on the chaos, corruption, and cruelty of a regime that would deny food assistance, jack up health care costs, and have armed masked gunmen dragging citizens out of their cars on the streets of America.
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Here in North Dakota, we are committed to putting statewide candidates on the ballot who will represent the interests of the working people of this state first—people who will not cower as their overlord takes a metaphorical wrecking ball to the VA and a real one to the White House, or who hosts a Great Gatsby-themed party while letting Americans go hungry.
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Do you want leaders who support workers over out-of-state corporations? Who support family farmers and ranchers over big ag? Who will listen to North Dakotans, not hide from them? Then we need you. We need you to get into the fight and run for something. Yes, you. You need to run. Last nights’s election showed what we all know: 2026 is going to be the best election for Democrats in a generation. If you are waiting for an invitation, this is your invitation."
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McFeely: Nice to see NYC mayor-elect take a page from ND's playbook
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It’s nice to see New York City finally taking some ideas from North Dakota.
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Maybe life will be better in one of the historic crucibles of this great nation — and the single best example of the American experiment — now that the city slickers are taking a cue from Real America.
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Letter: Get back to work, Rep. Fedorchak
In the meantime, the House has refused to seat a legally elected new House member, Adelita Grijala, from Arizona, elected by the people over a month ago. This further delays the release of the Epstein files. But as importantly, the House closure means no work is being done to protect Americans who are being hurt or will be hurt by, not only the government shutdown, but by egregious components of the "big ugly bill."
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It's time for you to get back to work, Julie! You've been paid by the American taxpayer to do nothing for over a month. You should be denied your healthcare benefits for goodness sake!
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Hammer speaks at District 24 Democratic-NPL Roundup in Valley City
Hammer underscored the party’s values of honor and courage, which he said he internalized during his U.S. Naval and Marine Corps career.
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Other speakers on Thursday presented remembrances of Larry Robinson and George Gaukler, prominent Democratic-NPL leaders from Valley City who passed away in 2024. Robinson, who was extremely active in community organizations, served as District 24’s state senator for 32 years. A lifelong supporter of Valley City State University, he retired in 2024 as executive director of university advancement.
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For many years, Gaukler headed up the North Dakota Dem-NPL, making significant contributions to state and district campaigns. Throughout his life, he remained a respected political leader and adviser.
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Dustin Gawrylow: Kevin O'Leary from SharkTank is accused of fraud in investment lawsuit tied to Doug Burgum
Dustin Gawrylow is the Managing Director of the North Dakota Watchdog Network, and joins Joel on "News and Views." He talks with Joel about Kevin O’Leary, known as “Mr. Wonderful” from the reality TV show “Shark Tank,” and his accusations of defrauding investors and misleading state and federal officials. A lawsuit accuses him of fraud for investments as the CEO of the North Dakota Wonder Fund, one of Doug Burgum's big projects in the state.
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Kevin O'Leary, North Dakota Wonder Fund CEO accused of fraud in investment lawsuit
The lawsuit filed by entrepreneur Melissa Brandao alleges that executives at the company she founded pushed her out, stole her patents, and misrepresented the company’s financial position and prospects to investors. It also alleges North Dakota Wonder Fund officials were alerted to that information after investing in HerdDogg, took no corrective action, and were complicit in misrepresenting the company to the North Dakota state government and the federal government. She is seeking $350 million in compensation.
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Jamie Selzler speaks with Laurie Levenson on Supreme Court cases involving tariffs and gay marriage
Jamie Selzler is filling in for Joel Heitkamp on "News and Views," and is joined by Laurie Levenson to talk about the recent and upcoming Supreme Court cases involving President Trump's tariffs and gay marriage. Laurie Levenson is a Professor of Law at Loyola Law School and Legal Commentator for CBS, CNN, ABC, NBC, BBC, and NPR.
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Jamie Selzler speaks with fellow DNC member, Jason Rae, about Nov 2025 election night
Jamie Selzler, Committeeman for the DNC from North Dakota, is filling in for Joel Heitkamp and is joined by Jason Rae. Jason is the founder and President & CEO of the Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce and secretary of the Democratic National Committee.
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Plain Talk: 'He really believes that Americans are mean'
Heitkamp argued that Republicans are tone deaf on issues like health care costs and SNAP benefits. "They want to double down on all the policies under the theory that those are working," she said, arguing that Trump, in particular, seems to have a disconnect with the electorate.
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Questions Arise Over North Dakota's Involvement in Wonderfund
Dustin Gawrylow, ND Watchdog Network, is on Afternoons Live with Tyler Axness to discuss North Dakota's involvement with the Kevin O'Leary and the Wonderfund.
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Letter: Fedorchak needs better understanding of Medicaid
The federal government has never reimbursed states dollar for dollar under Medicaid either — 50% for most of these states. States are also required to try to collect such payments first. That would include getting civil judgments, which would allow wage garnishment. Approximately 40% of undocumented immigrants get a W-2 paycheck from which wages can be garnished.
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There would be NO reimbursement for primary or elective medical care. For example, if you have a scheduled surgery or are admitted to L&D for labor, the feds would not reimburse states that covered that for undocumented immigrants.
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In fact, in states that provide state-funded Medicaid to undocumented immigrants, one result is less pressure on emergency and acute care because those recipients can actually get primary and elective care without having to use the emergency room. In other worse, the slice of Medicaid Fedorchak is referring to is very small — a small slice of a 5% slice.
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David Graham from The Atlantic speaks to Project 2025 and support for Trump
David Graham is a staff writer at The Atlantic and author of The Project: How Project 2025 Is Reshaping America. He won the Toner Prize for Excellence in National Political Reporting for his coverage of the 2020 presidential election.
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North Dakota fund buys out $1.25M Wonder Fund investment that conflicted with fed rules
The company that was invested in also has not lived up to its commitment to establish a base in the state, and an official with the LandTrust company says it is still trying to become profitable. Commerce believes the company is moving in the right direction and remains “excited” about it.
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The developments came to light as the Tribune looked into a recently filed unrelated federal lawsuit against Wonder Fund overseer Kevin O’Leary and CEO Paul Palandjian. The Colorado suit accuses them of fraud; the fund’s lawyer denies the allegations.
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"I Have Four Words For You:"
At a Democratic-NPL fundraiser last Thursday, I talked about a compliment I received from an Iraqi man in 2003 when he came to my unit’s headquarters in Al Kut, Iraq to give me some information on a weapons cache. As we sat down, he said, “Major Hammer, I hear that you are a good and moral man.” I believe that most of us are good and moral people, and the people at that fundraiser and at protests around the country want a good and moral country lead by good and moral people.
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Letter: Stop the nonsense, Rep. Fedorchak.
No matter how you and your caucus spin this, you have the power to help hungry and hurting Americans. Open up this government. We’re tired of Mike Johnsons’s juvenile tactics on everything now ("I don’t know about that; I haven’t read that yet; I still need to look at it…”). With that degree of (willful) ignorance, maybe it’s time to vote in a new speaker. Open the House, swear in Adelita Grijalva, vote to open the Epstein files. There must be something truly damning in there for such a grievous delay. Stop this nonsense.
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Letter: Needing a break from administration policies
Our past health leaders wiped out several deadly diseases — polio, measles, the plague, and others — with vaccines. Now our new leaders, hoo-doo-voo-doo RFK Jr. and Dr. Oz (no relation to the wizard), say vaccinations will make your hair fall out, you’ll grow fangs, and start calling yourself Mr. Hyde.
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I need a break. I think I’ll grab a beer and go fishing — but not anywhere close to Venezuela. I don’t mind getting lit up, but not like the Fourth of July.
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Ah yes… just keep wearing those red caps.
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Dem-NPL remarks on the death of Former Vice President Dick Cheney
Vice President Cheney left a profound legacy—much of which I strenuously disagreed with—but one cannot say that he didn’t have a love for his country. When endorsing Kamala Harris for president, he said, ‘As citizens, we each have a duty to put country above partisanship to defend our Constitution.’
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McFeely: Of O'Leary, Cramer and news that doesn't surprise
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To see Kevin O’Leary accused of fraud was only the second most unshocking North Dakota news story of the weekend. I mean, how in the world could the super-smart people in Bismarck possibly sniff out that a fourth-rate reality TV host who nicknamed himself “Mr. Wonderful” and lost an $18 million investment in cryptocurrency is a clown? It’d be almost impossible.
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We say “almost” because there was one person whose BWM (Bovine Waste Matter) Meter went off when O’Leary slithered into town a couple of years ago. That’d be me. Re-read my columns at the time, particularly the one headlined, “North Dakota beclowns itself with hiring of ‘Shark Tank’ guy.”
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Letter: The No Kings Rally showed what democracy looks like
There were people, young, old, and in between, who were expressing their alarm and dismay at a president who believes his power is infinite and not bound by the Constitution. They were concerned by a congressional delegation that completely lacks courage. A delegation that remains silent no matter what act of craziness emanates from what was once “the people’s house.” The folks who gathered chanted “this is what democracy looks like.” We could not have been more proud to be a part of this wonderful gathering.
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Check out these messages from national Democrats
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EXCLUSIVE: Barack Obama Comments On Trump, Mamdani and 2025 Elections (feat. Jasmine Crockett)
Barack Obama drops by our Crooked Con live show to talk about Democrats' big wins and what we need to push for now. Then, Jon, Lovett, Tommy, Dan, and Alex Wagner talk about the latest data from Tuesday night, the White House's promise that Trump will now focus on affordability, whether Trump is psychologically capable of keeping that promise, and whether Democrats will cave on the government shutdown now that the administration is canceling everyone's flights. Then, Rep. Jasmine Crockett sits down with Dan to talk about a potential Senate run in Texas, and why Trump just can't stop talking about her.
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Trump: “I Don’t Want To Hear About The Affordability”
Americans are staring down the reality of a holiday season marred by inflation, higher prices, and rising unemployment caused by Donald Trump’s chaotic economic policies. Trump says he doesn’t want to hear about affordability — but the American people do, and they’re pissed off. Working families know they have been sold out by Trump and Republicans in order to rig the system for billionaires. Democratic candidates across the country were victorious on Election Day because Democrats met Americans at their kitchen table, fighting to lower costs like groceries, rent, and electric bills, while Trump is leading the country into his gilded recession.
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Interior Secretary Faces Scrutiny for Travel Amid Shutdown
“While our parks and public lands languish largely unstaffed, Burgum has exited the scene,” said Elizabeth Villano, a spokeswoman for Resistance Rangers, a group of off-duty and former park rangers and supporters. “We call on him to do his job as secretary of the interior, protecting our nation’s irreplaceable natural and cultural heritage. This is not a job that allows for remote work from Bahrain.”
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On Monday, Mr. Burgum met with Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the president of the United Arab Emirates, and signed a memorandum of understanding to expand collaboration on energy and artificial intelligence between the two nations. Mr. Burgum also spoke Monday at the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference, where he announced that the United States was convening a “club” of countries that would trade critical minerals.
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All 50 states will vie for funds from $50B Rural Health Transformation Program
However, the temporary fund could only offset a little more than one-third of the package’s estimated $137 billion cut to federal Medicaid spending in rural areas over the next decade, according to the nonpartisan health research organization KFF.
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'It's insane': ACA policyholders say soaring health insurance premiums are jeopardizing lives
And Doug Butchart, whose wife, Shadene, is living with the neurological disorder amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) said he doesn't know how he's going to pay for her medications. A retired mechanic from Elgin, Illinois, Butchart said he's gotten a notice that the monthly premiums on his wife's ACA policy will climb to $2,000. Combined with an annual deductible of more than $8,000 and $10,000 in out-of-pocket expenses, he said his wife's health care costs will total more than his monthly Social Security check, which they both live on.
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Missouri Medicaid expansion is nearing a funding cliff few Missourians realize
At the time expansion was implemented, many rural hospitals were already under severe financial strain. Four years later, the program delivered what voters intended: fewer uninsured patients, steadier hospital finances, and more federal dollars flowing into Missouri’s health care system.
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What hasn’t kept pace is how the state budgets its share. The expansion match belongs in the base MO HealthNet budget, not in temporary reserves.
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A permanent program needs permanent funding.
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Fact check: Trump falsely claims it’s only beef, but dozens of groceries have gotten more expensive this year
Grocery prices are up, not down. Grocery prices have increased during Trump’s second term. Average US grocery prices in September were 1.4% higher than they were in January, the month he returned to office, and 2.7% higher than they were in September 2024 under former President Joe Biden, Consumer Price Index figures show. The 0.6% increase in average grocery prices from July 2025 to August 2025 was the biggest month-to-month jump in three years, and it was followed by a 0.3% increase from August to September.
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Trump pardons former Tennessee House speaker and his aide, who were convicted on federal corruption charges
Casada, a Republican, was sentenced in September to 36 months in prison after being convicted on 17 charges, including wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Cothren, the aide, received a shorter sentence.
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What Happened to Don't Tread on Me?
Minnesota Governor, and 2024 Democratic nominees for Vice President, Tim Walz joins co-hosts Heidi and Joel Heitkamp to discuss the mounting economic and social challenges facing rural America.
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We discuss the farm economy, rural health care, trade policy, and how political messaging affects rural communities. Governor Walz shares how national policy decisions impact small-town life and agriculture. Heidi Heitkamp and Joel Heitkamp lead a candid discussion about trust, messaging, and what rural voters really want from their leaders.
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NEW REPORT: Trump’s Job Market is Bleeding, As Layoffs Hit Nearly 1.1 MILLION in 2025 Alone
Donald Trump’s economy gets worse by the day, and everyday Americans are paying the price. As working families already struggle to get by, Trump’s reckless tariffs are driving up prices and throwing the job market into freefall. Hiring is frozen, employers are slashing jobs left and right, and Americans are left wondering how they’re going to pay their rent and put food on the table. Meanwhile, Trump is keeping the government shut down, refusing to provide full SNAP payments to the 42 million Americans who rely on it, and letting health care premiums skyrocket. If Republicans are wondering why they lost so badly in Tuesday’s elections they should look no further than Trump’s disastrous economy.
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Sorry, But I’m Never Going to Stop Talking About Trump’s Perfectly Grotesque ‘Gatsby’ Party
Obviously, I thought, the fellow was having a laugh at my expense. Surely even this president knows better than to throw a Roaring Twenties-themed gala the day before the federal government shuts 42 million Americans out of their SNAP benefits? Or right before insurance companies jack up their prices because the health insurance marketplace subsidies expired with the budget. Any sane politician, no matter how odious, would put the kibosh on such a party at this moment of maximal anxiety for everyday Americans.
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BY THE NUMBERS: Democrats Made Historic Inroads Across the Country, Fueling Blue Wave
On Tuesday, Democrats swept elections up and down the ballot across the country, from New York City to Virginia and New Jersey to Pennsylvania to California to Georgia to Maine. Democrats won these tough races because we ran strong candidates focused on what matters most to Americans — affordability and kitchen table issues.
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Trump’s Failed Economy: Layoffs Are Surging and Jobs Are Disappearing
“Things couldn’t look more bleak for everyday Americans who are just trying to get by. Headline after headline proves what Americans are already feeling: Donald Trump’s job market is a disaster. As prices continue to climb and jobs disappear, working families are being forced to dip into their savings or go into debt to make ends meet. To make matters worse, Trump and Republicans’ refusal to extend the enhanced ACA tax credits or pay for SNAP funding is putting health care and food assistance on the chopping block for millions of Americans. With Trump’s economy already cratering, these mass layoffs are a daunting reality for everyday Americans.”
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Trump DOJ Appeals Ruling Ordering It to Fully Fund SNAP Benefits for November
The U.S. Department of Agriculture said it could not distribute emergency funds to pay for benefits in November in a timely manner — although past administrations have done so — delaying or even preventing crucial aid to go out to U.S. households.
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A week ago, U.S. District Court Judge John McConnell Jr. ordered the USDA to make partial payments and use all contingency funds available to partially fund November SNAP benefits.
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McConnell found that the Trump administration failed to comply and said they must fully fund the program for the month. He wrote in an order on Thursday that USDA’s actions had “arbitrarily and capriciously created this problem by ignoring the congressional mandate for contingency funds and failing to notify the states.”
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Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi will not seek reelection. A look at her life and legacy
She would always tell you the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, is the thing that she is proudest of. And she moved heaven and Earth to get that legislation through the House under very difficult circumstances when Barack Obama was president. She was also Obama's partner on his other legislative achievements, the stimulus bill, Wall Street reform. She worked on issues such as allowing gays to serve openly in the military. When Biden was president, she helped him pass his massive social spending and climate spending and infrastructure bills. And even when George W. Bush was president, during his first speakership, she opposed him on most things. But she also worked with him to pass the financial bailout that they saw as rescuing the economy during the 2008 crash.
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Share these Dem-NPL Graphics!
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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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