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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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The 2026 Governors Dinner is coming up!
The North Dakota Democratic-NPL is happy to announce and invite you to the 2026 Governors Dinner! The event will take place on May 2nd at 5:30pm at 1603 E Main Ave, Bismarck, ND 58501.
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Our statewide candidates will be in attendance so please come connect and speak with them.
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Utah State Senate Minority Leader Luz Escamilla is our keynote speaker! Senator Escamilla has over 20 years of experience in government and is a strong advocate for democratic values. She has received numerous honors, including being the first Utahn recognized as an “Outstanding American by Choice” by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Let's show her some North Dakota hospitality and welcome her with a good showing!
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Finally Friday Social!
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Fri, Apr 24, 2026 6:00 PM CDT
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Every Friday, come celebrate the start of the weekend with the Souris Valley Dem-NPL!
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Meet the Candidate - Michael Steele
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Sat, Apr 25, 2026 9:00 AM CDT
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Daily Addiction Coffee House
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307 Main Street, Williston
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Every Saturday at 9:00 am through May 1st, I will be at Daily Addiction Coffee House ☕️to meet with community members and hold engaging conversations. I hope to see you there!
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Canvassing Doors and Phone Banking for Josh for Fargo
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Sat, Apr 25, 2026 10:00 AM and Noon CDT
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Fargo Democratic-NPL Office
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1325 23rd Street South, Suite B Fargo
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Join Josh for Fargo's team to contact voters and help Josh become the next Mayor of Fargo! We will be canvassing doors and making calls every Saturday from 10AM-2PM. Feel free to join anytime! Our shifts will run from 10AM-12PM and 12PM-2PM. We will give you all the materials and tips you need to be successful!
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Campaign Kick Off Social
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Sat, Apr 25, 2026 5 pm CDT
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The Bismarck-Mandan Democratic-NPL (region 6) is hosting a social hour. Kick off the 2026 campaign season with an evening of community and conversation! Meet our 15 legislative candidates, Congressional candidate Trygve Hammer, and other statewide candidates in attendance (invited).
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Guests will have the opportunity to walk through our candidate receiving line, hear fast-paced 2-minute "stump speeches" from our legislative team, and enjoy remarks from our Congressional candidate. We'll have a fundraising game and delicious hors d'oeuvres served throughout the evening.
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Our candidates have been on the ground listening to you. Now, it's our turn to show up for them. Bring your friends, family, and colleagues — let's start this journey together!
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Hammer for ND Meet & Greet
Deer Ridge Apartments
800 12th Ave NE, Jamestown
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Join for good food, beverages, and company! This is a chance to ask questions to a U.S. House of Representatives candidate who wants to hear from the people of ND.
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This event is free and open-house style. If you have other Sunday commitments, you can stop by for 10 minutes or the whole two hours!
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Bismarck Workers Memorial Day
Mon, Apr 27, 2026 9 – 10am CDT
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North Dakota State Capitol
600 E Boulevard Ave. Bismarck
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Hold the Line for Safe Jobs | As we grieve those we have lost from unsafe working conditions, we must hold the line against worker health and safety attacks.
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The Missouri Slope Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO will meet at 9am on April 27th to wrap trees on the Capitol lawn with ribbons emblazoned with the names of the North Dakota workers who died on the job in the last year. The ribbons will be up until Friday. Volunteers are welcome to join.
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Voter Contact Initiative – get ready to win!
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Mon, Apr 27, 2026 6:00 PM CDT
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Kennedy Center
1902 E Divide Ave., Bismarck
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Help Us Reach Voters in North Dakota!
North Dakota is the only state without voter registration, which means we have to work extra hard to connect with voters and build our contact list.
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That’s where the Voter Contact Initiative (VCI) comes in — and we need your help!
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Join the Bismarck–Mandan Democratic-NPL for a quick training and community call night:
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🗓 Every Monday!
⏰ 6:00–8:00 PM
📍 Kennedy Center (1902 E Divide Ave)
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You’ll learn how to make quick calls that help us update voter information and strengthen our organizing before the next election. Once you learn the system, you can make calls anytime from home — but we’ll also keep meeting Monday nights at 6 PM for those who like the energy of doing it together.
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Fargo-Moorhead Workers Memorial Day
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Tues, Apr 28, 2026 5 – 6pm CDT
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Fargo-Moorhead Labor Temple
3002 1st Ave N., Fargo
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Hold the Line for Safe Jobs | As we grieve those we have lost from unsafe working conditions, we must hold the line against worker health and safety attacks.
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Join the Northern Plains United Labor Council for our annual workers memorial day observance where we remember the workers in North Dakota and Minnesota that lost their lives on the job in the last year.
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We will have a short program where we will read the names of those who died on the job and place a flower for each name. We will also hear from local labor leaders as we join the call for safer jobs for everyone.
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GF-EGF Workers Memorial Day
Tuesday, April 28
5:30 – 6:30pm CDT
Family of God Lutheran Church
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Hold the Line for Safe Jobs | As we grieve those we have lost from unsafe working conditions, we must hold the line against worker health and safety attacks.
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Join the Northern Valley Labor Council on April 28th at Family of God Lutheran Church in East Grand Forks at 5:30 for our annual Workers Memorial Day commemoration. Food will be served after the program.
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Phone Banking for Josh for Fargo
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Tues, Apr 28, 2026 6:30 PM CDT
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Fargo Democratic-NPL Office
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1325 23rd Street South, Suite B Fargo
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Join us from 6:30-8PM to make calls and chat with the voters of Fargo. We will use an auto-dialer, so bring a laptop or tablet if you can!
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Candidate Meet and Greet hosted by Districts 41 and 46
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Thurs, Apr 30, 2026 6:30 PM CDT
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2510 S University Dr, Fargo
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Join us for a meeting with our candidates and our sister district, D46, for food and drinks at Peppers Sports Cafe!
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Policy Committee Meeting
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Sat., May 2, 2026 11:00 AM CDT
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Sixteen 03
1603 East Main Ave., Bismarck
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The Policy Committee is comprised of the Executive Committee, district chairs, and a second rep. from each district.
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9th Annual Governors Dinner
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Sat., May 2, 2026 5:30 PM CDT
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Sixteen 03
1603 East Main Ave., Bismarck
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The North Dakota Democratic-NPL is happy to announce and invite you to the 2026 Governors Dinner! The event will take place on May 2nd at 530pm at 1603 E Main Ave, Bismarck, ND 58501.
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Our statewide candidates will be in attendance so please come connect and speak with them.
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Utah State Senator Luz Escamilla will be our guest in attendance. Senator Escamilla has over 20 years of experience in government and is a strong advocate for democratic values. She has received numerous honors, including being the first Utahn recognized as an “Outstanding American by Choice” by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Let's show her some North Dakota hospitality and welcome her with a good showing!
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Dinner will be a taco bar buffet. Helpful dietary note: the tortillas and chips are gluten free!
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Thank you and we look forward to seeing you again!
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Help us spread our message—share these recent posts!
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Fertilizer, diesel woes make for difficult spring planting decisions
High fertilizer costs are a major concern with urea prices spiking 47% since February and nitrogen fertilizer prices up 30%, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation.
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“Just with fertilizer prices, you’re looking at $60, $80, $100 difference (per acre) in your crop budget for the year,” Montgomery said. “With a lot of this stuff, we’re working on thin or even negative margins, so this is a double-whammy if there ever was one.”
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An AFBF poll of over 5,000 farmers nationwide in early April found that 70% are unable to afford all the fertilizer they needed, with the rate in the Midwestern region at 48%.
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Interior’s Burgum accused of ‘kneecapping’ wind and solar power in favor of oil, gas
Members of both parties raised questions about proposed cuts to the Bureau of Indian Education budget after the Department of Education offloaded part of its responsibility in that area to Interior.
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The BIE would receive about $437 million less under the proposed budget, a roughly 32% cut.
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“While your agency begins to manage these new programs, I would strongly recommend — I’m sure you will — carrying out thorough tribal consultations to ensure that there are no funding award delays or program disruptions that would potentially harm,” full Appropriations Committee Chair Tom Cole told Burgum.
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Voters to weigh whether North Dakota constitutional amendments should be single subject
House Minority Leader Zac Ista, D-Grand Forks, said he voted against the resolution because he feels it would add a “layer of bureaucratic review” to the amendment process. He also said there isn’t clear criteria for determining what does or doesn’t meet the requirement.
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“I think in North Dakota, if we entrust the secretary of state and attorney general of being the sole arbiters of what is and is not a single subject, that’s really going to handcuff voter initiatives in the state,” Ista said.
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Fargo mayoral candidates try to set themselves apart in first debate
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The five candidates tried to set themselves apart from the others. Boschee, a Democrat, said people are “tired of the status quo,” as well as the fights during Monday night City Commission meetings and “the lack of cohesion and the lack of vision.” He said his record as a lawmaker shows he is willing to work with those who have different viewpoints.
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Boschee has set himself up as an outsider who would take the city in "a new direction."
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“If you want four more years of the same, you have plenty of options,” Boschee said. “If you are looking for someone who is going to bring change to City Hall, make sure we engage more with the public and deliver on results, then I ask for your vote on June 9.”
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Applied Digital responds to concerns over road damage in south-central North Dakota
“They (Applied Digital) made a good deal with the state to get their load limits to get their stuff in and keep working. And then we allowed them to use that road. And they worked hard trying to work with us, and I mean, and you can’t fault them, it’s just the nature of the beast,” said Charlie Russell, Emergency Manager and 911 Coordinator for Dickey County.
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Cory Haala discusses new book, "When Democrats Won the Heartland: Progressive Populism in the Age of Reagan, 1978-1992"
Cory Haala is an assistant professor of history and the Museum Studies Coordinator at the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point. He just published his book, When Democrats Won the Heartland: Progressive Populism in the Age of Reagan, 1978-1992.
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Tony Pipa of the Brookings Institution speaks to data centers in rural America
04/21/26: Tony Pipa is a senior fellow in the Center for Sustainable Development at the Brookings Institution. Pipa launched and leads the Reimagining Rural Policy initiative and hosts the award-winning Reimagine Rural podcast.
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He recently wrote an article, The local implications of data centers for rural communities in the US, and joins Joel to speak about it.
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YWCA honors 34 women for community impact
Those honored included principals, trainers and doctors, who use their gifts and passion to help people improve their lives, live safely and feel engaged and supported.
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Some of the winners included Dr. Stephanie Hanson, Beth Olson and Lisa Edison-Smith.
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Candidate for Mayor of Fargo Josh Boschee
Guest host Jamie Selzler welcomes North Dakota Senator Josh Boschee into the KFGO studio for a conversation about his run for Mayor of Fargo.
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Rural School Advocate Dr. Steven Johnson shares his thoughts on data centers
04/21/26: Dr. Steven Johnson is Superintendent of Lisbon Public Schools and Rural Schools Collaborative Advocate. He calls into "News and Views" to discuss the impact on rural schools from the increase in data centers.
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"News and Views" listeners call and text to express concerns over ND data centers
Joel Heitkamp speaks to the concerns around the increase of data centers in North Dakota, and the "News and Views" listeners share their thoughts.
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Fargo School Board President, Katie Christensen Mineer, hopes to serve another term
Katie Christensen Mineer is the Fargo School Board President and is running for reelection. She’s been a board member since 2022, and joins Joel to talk about her goals for another term.
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Rep. Fedorchak not planning to debate NDGOP opponent Balazs before primary
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“I don’t intend to debate Alex,” Fedorchak told the North Dakota Monitor Wednesday. “He hasn’t laid out any real differences in his record with mine, and there’s not a lot of issues to debate, in my opinion.”
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Balazs, who was endorsed last month by the North Dakota Republican Party, said he’s open to debating Fedorchak at any time, and he believes there are differences between their policy positions.
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“Everybody I’ve talked to wants a debate. Everybody wants us to get out there and discuss issues,” Balazs said.
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McFeely: Doug Burgum’s ugly legacy
Nothing defines this more than Burgum’s gathering of the Endangered Species Committee — also known as the “God Squad” because of its untethered power — so his buddies in the oil industry could drill helter-skelter in the Gulf of Mexico without the restrictions of the Endangered Species Act, one of the most successful federal environmental laws in U.S. history.
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In less than 20 minutes, with Burgum minimizing environmental laws as the “weaponization of regulations,” the six-person panel voted unanimously to push aside protections for vulnerable wildlife. They did it under the excuse of “national security.”
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The winner: Oil companies.
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Check out these posts from national Democrats
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The reasons why rural hospitals are closing across Pennsylvania and the U.S
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Closures can sometimes feel random, but they are predictable consequences of the combination of health policy and market forces.
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Recent federal legislation has made the financial outlook for rural hospitals more precarious. The package of tax breaks and spending cuts that President Donald Trump signed into law on July 4, 2025, reduced Medicaid eligibility for Americans and capped federal reimbursements to hospitals and other health care providers.
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These reimbursements are a critical revenue source for rural hospitals, which tend to serve large numbers of Medicaid patients.
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State officials estimate Pennsylvania could lose about US$20 billion in federal Medicaid funding over the next decade, beginning in 2028, due to the 2025 law. Pennsylvania currently receives $32.6 billion in annual federal Medicaid funding.
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Trump’s Energy Secretary Admits Prices Aren’t Coming Down Any Time Soon
“Donald Trump started a war that no one wanted, and now Americans are paying the price. Gas prices are soaring and families who were already struggling in Trump’s economy are forced to stretch their budgets even further while footing the bill for this war. Trump promised to bring down prices on ‘Day One,’ and while he might not have to worry about filling up his tank, he’s stuck everybody else with higher costs with no relief in sight. Americans literally can’t afford the Trump presidency.”
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Are Health Insurance Companies the Reason for Our Health System’s Ills?
Insurers also siphon off premium dollars for overhead and profit, averaging $846 per enrollee in the employer market, $987 in the individual insurance market, and $1655 in Medicare Advantage. Setting aside administrative costs, health insurers’ profit margins are generally modest as a share of premium revenues, typically no more than a few percentage points. However, that can add up to a substantial dollar amount in total.
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The FBI Director Is MIA
Some at the FBI are concerned that Patel’s behavior has left the country more vulnerable. One former senior intelligence official told me that there is a lack of experience at FBI headquarters and that the turnover rate is high in field offices, because of both voluntary departures and Patel-ordered purges. The result is an FBI workforce being asked to accomplish more with fewer resources, and with less direction from the top. “The instinctive level of muscle memory or discernment that is necessary to identify and counter a terror attack is missing,” the former official said. A current official described people inside the bureau feeling besieged and disillusioned—or even angry.
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Where Are Americans’ Tariff Rebate Checks?
“Donald Trump promised Americans over and over that they would get a refund for shelling out thousands of dollars for his reckless tariffs. Now he’s being forced to refund billions after the Supreme Court ruled that his tariffs were illegal — so where are the checks? Americans have gotten nothing but skyrocketing prices, mounting layoffs, and cuts to health care and food assistance programs they depend on, while Trump and his wealthy donors are the only ones seeing more money in their pockets. Trump owes working families, small business owners, and farmers a check for the billions of dollars they paid for his unhinged trade war.”
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The Atlantic: Kash Patel's behavior alarms FBI colleagues; FBI denies report
On Friday, April 10, as FBI Director Kash Patel was preparing to leave work for the weekend, he struggled to log on to an internal computer system. He quickly became convinced that he had been locked out, and he panicked, frantically calling aides and allies to announce that he had been fired by the White House, according to nine people familiar with his outreach. Two of these people described his behavior as a “freak-out.”
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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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